Guide For Heroes of Might and Magic 3 (GOG.com Version)

 Getting Heroes of Might and Magic III Complete Working!

 Introduction

    So, in more recent times, whether you are playing on newer Windows Operating Systems, or if you are playing a Windows Game on Mac OS using Codeweavers™Crossover, you don't seem to be able to open the game or it crashes out while booting up.  Well what's the problem?  The problem is that Heroes of Might and Magic III is not built to run on today's resolutions.  Back in 1999 and in 2000, applications weren't made to run in 720p or 1080p as the resolution.  But fear not!  There is a fix to this!  It's in a Patch, which gives a launcher, so that the game is read and has the needed code added to run in HD resolutions!  If you're a Mac OS User, I will offer additional guides to Install and Patch the GOG.com version on your operating system.

 

What you need to do first is to buy the game through the retailers : GOG.com, Ubisoft Store, or Epic Games.

 

You can find the patch over here! 

Heroes 3 Complete HD Patch 

 

If you are a PC User or a Windows User,  the process is rather simple : Install the HD Patch using the downloaded file : "HoMM3_HD_Latest_setup.exe".  At this point, when running the installer, select the folder containing the game files for Heroes of Might and Magic 3! If you installed it using GOG.com, then the folder is inside the folder of "GOG Games" for a GOG.com install.  As a general guide, the folder has the name, "HOMM 3 Complete" to help you find it.

 

 

 

Now, let's take a look at the game after installation.  The new launcher for the game in HD looks like this.

 

Now, double click on the icon to launch the game in HD.  Here you will get the game launcher menu, where you can set up to make sure that the game is set to start with the new launcher file, as well as choose what you want the resolution of the game to be in along with other graphics settings.  When you're done, click the "Play" button and you're set to go!

 Crossover Installation

    And now, if you're not a Windows user?  Have no fear!  There's multiple ways to install and run Heroes of Might & Magic 3 on Mac OS!  I will be going over two methods of running Windows native applications on Mac OS I will be going over The Porting Kit and Codeweavers Crossover , starting with the Crossover Installation method.  With the new Crossover version 25, you can check out the new guide to installing Steam if you're interested!  This installation, however, will not involve Steam, but rather involve installing the version of the game from GOG.com.  So, first install the GOG.com version of the game, and if you have already done so, get ready for the next step! Video guide below on running the HD Install if you have not done this before with Crossover.  Change the installation for Heroes of Might and Magic III or Heroes 3 Complete into a Windows 10, 64-bit for installation.

 

 

Using the Special Installer for HD Patch 

    So, now that you have installed the GOG.com version of the game, I will show you through with screenshots how to get the installation running for the HD Patch.

 

1) First you should have the HD Patch of the game downloaded from its source

 Heroes 3 Complete HD Patch

 

2) Now, setup the installation in Crossover for the HD Patch, by selecting to install it into your already existing Heroes of Might and Magic 3 Bottle from your installation of the GOG.com version of the game.  For the application, select "unlisted application" as the game patch is not listed in the database at Codeweavers as of yet.  The installer file is "HoMM3_HD_Latest_setup.exe".

 

3) Now, run the installation and locate the correct Folder in which the files for Heroes of Might and Magic 3 is located.  In the case of a Codeweavers Crossover Bottle with the GOG.com version of the game installed, you can find it right here.

 

"drive_c/GOG Games/HoMM 3 Complete"

 

 Look at the screenshot below for reference for the installer

 

 

 4) After the setup is complete, check the bottle of Heroes of Might and Magic 3 or Heroes 3 Complete, there is the new icon for the new launcher.  Play the game through this new launcher.  You're set to go from there!

 

 

 

 Porting Kit

    Now, the Porting Kit is another way to run Windows native applications on Mac OS using an emulated Windows machine in order to do so.  Porting Kit is run by Paul the Tall and has a website for the application.  Porting Kit asks for linking to your Steam and/or GOG.com account to Install Applications from either.  It's your choice depending on your privacy and security concerns if you wish to do this.  Porting Kit also has plenty of security verification for if you don't mind a longer login with each time opening the app.  But the one thing Porting Kit does have is it has a different compatibility for various Windows Applications.  What may not be compatible with Codeweavers Crossover may be compatible with Porting Kit. 

 

Now, let's get started with the Porting Kit Installation!

 

1) Select Heroes III Complete for Installation in the Porting Kit Library!  Take care of any logging in to your GOG.com library and/or the Porting Kit App!

 

  

 2) Install Heroes III Complete from the list.  This process is quicker if you already have downloaded the installer on your hard drive.  If you have not, The Porting Kit will download the installer files from GOG.com for you!

 

3) Now that you have installed the App from GOG.com with the Porting Kit, you have to get into the wrapper or Bottle for the Application to apply the HD Launcher Update. 

 

Go into the Bottle, found in your "Applications" Folder and right click on the Application's Icon to get a drop down menu.  Choose "Show Package Contents" to access the Installation Menu within the Bottle.

 

 4) Access the Wineskin App within the Contents, as shown in the screenshot below.

 

 5) Now, Within the Wineskin App, Click the "Choose Setup Executable" command from the Wineskin Menu.  This will be how you install the HD Launcher you downloaded earlier.

 

 

 

6) Select the file for the HD update patch, "HOMM3_HD_Latest_setup.exe".

 

   

 

 7) Now run the Installation, selecting the folder of "drive_c/GOG Games/HoMM 3 Complete" when asked on which folder the patch should be installed into.  Once that is over, leave the wineskin and you should be able to get the new game launcher updated for HD and modern graphics settings, and you should be good to go!

 

 

 Conclusion

    Now, you should have a great time with Heroes of Might and Magic III on Crossover 25 or on The Porting Kit!  Also provided are guides for Age of Empires II : Definitive Edition, Age of Empires III : Definitive Edition, Command & Conquer Generals & Zero Hour, and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, in addition to other guides for Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Final Fantasy VII, and Final Fantasy VIII.  In conclusion, I would like to invite you to check out the Forums on Codeweavers.  Entries for various apps have forums and Tips for getting the Applications to work!  If you are available to actively test and rate the compatibility of various Applications on Codeweavers Crossover, you may want to consider becoming a Bettertester!  As a Bettertester, you regularly test Apps and can be rewarded with Bettertester Points to buy merchandise or even extended subscriptions to Crossover, saving money you would need for renewing your subscription!

 

    You can follow additional guides for getting Windows applications running on Mac OS over here on my blog : Radio Kaos.  You can also follow additional instructional video guides on my YouTube Playlist, Kaos Tutorials.  Kaos Tutorials episodes are also available on the Rumble Channel of the same name.

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