Dark Orbit Gameplay (2001)

Gameplay of a really old WildTangent Game, back when they were still a small company. I just thought to upload it here for archival purposes.

UPDATE 9/11/15 (Oh hey its 9/11)
Heres a link to the game. Also uninstall Java and Install Microsofts Java VM version 3805. (Included with the game)

Update: So apparently you can disable Sun Microsystems Java, Just look for MiloRans Comment. It should be highlighted.

[Beatfear]

08/01/2018 Update:
CONFIRMED. Thanks to +justastranger for sharing the info. I downloaded and install VMware Workstation 14 Player and set up a virtual computer installed with Windows 7. I installed the old Wildtangent games AND THEY WORKED!!! (OMG) My host computer is running Windows 10.

This is going to solve a lot of technical issues pertaining to trying to get the games to run on your computer. If you guys have been following this post, I have mentioned that the games are most likely to run properly if your computer is a fresh install without installing anything else or updating your Windows.

Now with a virtual computer, you don't have to worry about messing around with your actual computer because if anything went wrong, you can always reset the virtual computer and its very likely you won't mess up since you don't have to update Windows or install anything else in the virtual computer.

Will update again on how to set up your own virtual computer to run these games. =D

02/01/2018 Update:
Installing Adobe CS6 software will cause the games to stop working. Uninstalling Adobe CS6 software and reinstalling "msjavx86_3805.exe" make the games work again.

Will try VMWare Virtual Machine instead as mentioned by +justastranger and update again.

11/12/2017 Update:
After further testing, I found out you don't have to reset Windows 10 even after you have install "Feature update to Windows 10 Version 1709" in order to play the games again. You just need to go to "Settings >> Recovery >> Under "Go back to the previous version of Windows 10", click "Get Started". Then follow the instructions (To be safe, backup your files first). You should be able to play the games after going back to the previous version before 1709. If you are unable / failed to "Go back to the previous version of Windows 10", you will have to reset Windows 10 (Remember to back up your files). (Yes, I tried updating and going back to the previous version myself and the games works again.)

10/12/2017 Update:
Updating Windows 10 will cause the game to stop working. (I installed "Feature update to Windows 10 Version 1709". So if you want to play old Wildtangent games, don't update your Windows. Otherwise, you will have to reset your computer because the update cannot be uninstall (it might also be Windows Update disabling or removing Windows Java, if you have already apply this update to Windows 10, you will NOT be able to install "msjavx86_3805.exe". Even when you install and the installer tell you that "Installation is completed", Windows Java will still not work.)

9/12/2017 Update:
I managed to get the game running on my ASUS ROG701VIK running on Windows 10 with a NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1080 graphic card. I did a System Reset, tried installing "msjavx86_3805.exe" and run the game again and this time, the game works.

Before that, I wasn't able to install "msjavx86_3805.exe" properly because the installation will fail, no matter what I try. This strengthen the claim that the old Wildtangent games will work on a fresh installed computer.

If you are trying to reset your computer, remember to BACKUP YOUR FILES. Good luck! =)

4/12/2017 Original Post:
Ok, so far after trying on multiple computers, here are my conclusions.

1) The old Wildrangent games really works on Windows 10 (yes, I got the games to work). It also worked on XP, Vista, and 7 (tested in VirtualBox, managed to get into game menu. Read on for details.)

2) The games are more likely to work on fresh computers (brand new installed OS without installing anything else).

3) It has nothing to do with ActiveX. For those trying to run the game and was directed to install a plugin on the browser but end up getting nothing, the webpage is actually directing to a link to download Microsoft Java Virtual Machine (which is already discontinued and removed from download on MS website). If you keep getting this, you just need to install Microsoft Java Virtual Machine which is already included in +jackedup447 's download. The filename is "msjavx86_3805.exe". Read on for details.

4) Java (Sun Microsystem's Java) is NOT the same as Microsoft's Java. Installing Sun's Java will not make the game work. (The games are programmed using Microsoft's variant of Java which is different from Sun Microsystem, that's why you'll keep getting script error. You can read about "Microsoft Virtual Machine" on Wikipedia, it explain why Microsoft Java is discontinued.)

5) You don't need to uninstall Sun's Java in order for the game to run. You just need to disable it. You can go to Control Panel >> Java >> "Security" tab >> Uncheck "Enable Java content in the browser". (Yes, I managed to play the game without uninstalling Sun's Java.)

6) If after a) installing Wildtangent Game Driver, and b) Microsoft Java Virtual Machine "msjavx86_3805.exe", and c) disabling Sun's Java, the games still don't work. It means that your computer can't play the game. (Probably your computer is not supported or you can try reinstall a flesh OS and try again. DISCLAIMER: Not guaranteed to work.)

7) The most important thing for the game to work is Microsoft Java Virtual Machine. If you can't even install it properly, or your computer can't complete installation of this, or you installed it but your computer still do not have VM support, you can give up now. I'm sorry but the game just won't work for you. (You can Google "Diagnostic Tool for the Microsoft VM", download and run. If the tool can't find Microsoft VM support, it means the game will not work.)

8) For those who went as far as setting up a virtual PC on VirtualBox, you are out of luck too. The game will go into game menu but will fail to proceed to the actual game because Direct3D Acceleration is not available ever though you enabled it. The games will definitely run if you can solve this part. But after much Googling around, there is no solution. (So don't bother doing this, you can only play on a actual computer unless until someone solved the acceleration problem.)

Add on:
Also if you intend to install a older version of Windows (XP, 7, 8, etc) on a actual computer, make sure that there are drivers (especially the graphics card) for the version of Windows you are installing. If you install a very old Windows (example Windows XP) on a new computer with advanced hardware, it is very likely that there won't be any drivers because Windows XP is no longer supported. Also, you won't be able to install the latest web browsers. Anyway, you can actually play the games on newer Windows like Windows 10, so don't bother installing older Windows.

9) The actual computer models I used that worked, a) GPD WIN, 2) Teclast Tbook 16 Pro, both running on Windows 10. (If you noticed, both are Hong Kong / China brand, and both runs on Intel HD Graphic, not sure if it's the reason it works. Also note these 2 I tested on are quite fresh install, meaning I have not installed much programs or updates on them.)

10) If you managed to get any old Wildtangent games to work, it's very likely you can play any other WT games. If not, the other games probably won't work as well.

11) If you're one of those fortunate ones who managed to get the games to work and is interested in more old Wildtangent games. Try Googling "wildtangent lostgames00" There's a blog where you can find more of the games.

After more than a decade of trying, I finally get to play these games again. Hope these info helps. Good luck. =)

[amthomas]

OMG all the sounds are ingrained in my head, watching this gave me the shivers, lol. This would be a fantastic mobile game if re-realeased

[arcticfox]

well i'll be. I played the ever-loving hell out of the demo for this game when i was like 11 and mom always refused to let me buy the full copy. Been looking for a copy of this for near on 16 years now and had given up hope. You sir are a scholar and a gentleman for somehow digging this thing up AND shareing it with all us nostalgia nerds. Going to get a USB and check to make sure the game is safe then likely play the holy hell out of it.

[MindMason]

I cannot express enough, like Jeff, my awe and wonder at the fact you found a working download of this game. Years ago, I tried searching for this game, even pulled out one of my old XP computers from the attic to see if it still had it, and everything was gone and discontinued by WildTangent. Needless to say I gave up for a few years, and today was just possessed to try searching again and I found this video. I'm forever in your debt man, much love.

[BeauChaotica]

Holy mother of God. If this works and is the real deal...I played the demo to death way back when. Rode the nostalgia all the way here.

[ultimatecorgi]

Oh my goodness, you found it. You.... You found the game I was looking for! I remember this as a kid.

[nameredacted]

OH MY LORD, I HAVE BEEN ALWAYS THINKING OF THIS GAME AND TRIED MANY TIMES TO RE-DISCOVER IT. I WILL NOW SPEND A LOT OF TIME TRYING TO PLAY THIS GAME AGAIN. THANKS A TRILLION!!!

[havenkeeper]

OMG. What a blast from the past! I wasted so much time playing this when I was little.

[levinorthway]

Gotta say thanks. looked for this game (at a loss for why i kept finding the wrong game when i googled 'dark orbit') for about 15 years. super glad i got the chance to play it again.

[AlmightyyCres]

this was one of my all time favorite games when i got my first PC at a really young age =D had no idea what i was doing at the time but i did enjoy flying around and shooting. glad you posted this i spent years trying to find the game i didnt know what the name was.

[dell]

Used to play this games all the time when I was 8. lost it when we moved, I'm now 19 and finally found it. Great game, only had the demo though

[tench]

Loved this game back in the day. It was the first digital game I ever bought.

[isaiahere]

Thank you so much for finding this crack. I didn't think I would ever get to play the game again.

[vinicius]

Thanks so much for this game! I have a demo version, but I could not install in recent versions of Windows. Very good job! I still can't believe I can play this again lol!

[eshcadaba]

Thanks for the memories of this most awesome game!!

[dave]

OH GOD I LOVE YOU, I tried finding this game for ages, but every time I looked up dark orbit only the new mmo game appeared, I remember loving this but being scared of it as a 4 yo boy xD

[MetallicBlade]

Finally! I rediscovered this game again. Mad props to you sir.

[gerardomoreno]

Thank you just like most of you I was idk 5 when I played this the wav of nostalgia this took me thank you for this

[zacharybaird]

Does anybody else remember playing the demo for this on that AOL disc?

[thenagazai]

2019, download still working, I love you <3