Alright I know this has been discussed in at least 2 other posts but... still no dice... I tried alt+enter... I tried ctrl+esc... I tried updating the video drivers, the directx drivers, as well as the new patch 1.3... I deleted my firewall as well as closed my virus scanners... changed my resolution as well as the resolution in the config.txt... and I have done every combination in between... but I still receive "failed creating direct3d device"... am I doomed to a life without goo?

Run Wubi and play under Linux instead. ;)

stickyunit/command'help'notfound
problems/tecnicaldifficulties/SpontaneousMentalExistenceFailure/help
FILE NOT FOUND
WARNING
SELFDESTRUCT
SELFDESTRUCT
SEL-
command: restart
starting up...
(fanfare)
"Hello! I'm Stickybomb67 2.0! What would you like to know today?
...
I see. Well, I can't do anything without hardware specifications.
I am a computer engine, written with O.M.N.I. and coded in Strangesque 6.8. Not a psychic.
If I am of no help, please contact Mike the Mushroom, the only known U.S.E.R. who understands my coding.
Have a nice day!"
command: shutdown

hmm... I was hoping not to have to switch OS's to play a puzzle game ;) ... I sense sarcasm stickybomb, to be more specific Windows XP Pro Service pack 3, AMD 2400+, 2 gigs ram, nvidia 9600 graphics card... more specifically on the graphics card:

Name RADEON 9600 SERIES
PNP Device ID PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4150&SUBSYS_00021002&REV_00\4&102AC5BC&0&00F0
Adapter Type ATI Radeon Graphics Processor AGP (0x4150), ATI Technologies Inc. compatible
Adapter Description RADEON 9600 SERIES
Adapter RAM 128.00 MB (134,217,728 bytes)
Installed Drivers ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version 6.14.10.6727
INF File oem1.inf (ati2mtag_RV350 section)
Color Planes 1
Color Table Entries 4294967296
Resolution 1280 x 1024 x 60 hertz
Bits/Pixel 32
Memory Address 0xD8000000-0xE7FFFFFF
I/O Port 0x0000D000-0x0000DFFF
Memory Address 0xE9000000-0xE900FFFF
IRQ Channel IRQ 19
I/O Port 0x000003B0-0x000003BB
I/O Port 0x000003C0-0x000003DF
Memory Address 0xA0000-0xBFFFF
Driver c:\windows\system32\drivers\ati2mtag.sys (6.14.10.6727, 2.34 MB (2,456,064 bytes), 3/1/2009 1:58 AM)

Name RADEON 9600 PRO SEC Family (Microsoft Corporation)
PNP Device ID PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4170&SUBSYS_00031002&REV_00\4&102AC5BC&0&01F0
Adapter Type ATI Radeon Graphics Processor AGP (0x4170), ATI Technologies Inc. compatible
Adapter Description RADEON 9600 PRO SEC Family (Microsoft Corporation)
Adapter RAM 128.00 MB (134,217,728 bytes)
Installed Drivers ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version 6.14.10.6727
INF File atiixpag.inf (ati2mtag_RV350 section)
Color Planes Not Available
Color Table Entries Not Available
Resolution Not Available
Bits/Pixel Not Available
Memory Address 0xE0000000-0xE7FFFFFF
Memory Address 0xE9FF0000-0xE9FFFFFF
Driver c:\windows\system32\drivers\ati2mtag.sys (6.14.10.6727, 2.34 MB (2,456,064 bytes), 3/1/2009 1:58 AM)

I'll be working on this.
If it's all updated and you have the right version, then I can only think of several other things to do.
And I am deadly serious. Stickybomb67 2.0 will not be doubted.
The ultimate program.
command:websearch@askmom.co.cm
command:playsound'thismaytakeawhile
command:snort
command:deleterandomwebsites
command:hibernate
zzz...

[quote author=Nefarii link=topic=1742.msg11469#msg11469 date=1239061036]
Windows XP Pro Service pack 3, AMD 2400+, 2 gigs ram, nvidia 9600 graphics card...
NVIDIA 9600? Are you sure? Your drivers seem to believe you have an ATI Radeon card. Maybe that's your problem?

Something else to try: can you manually switch to an 800x600 resolution? If so, can you then run the game?

[quote author=Soultaker link=topic=1742.msg11482#msg11482 date=1239099562]
[quote author=Nefarii link=topic=1742.msg11469#msg11469 date=1239061036]
Windows XP Pro Service pack 3, AMD 2400+, 2 gigs ram, nvidia 9600 graphics card...
NVIDIA 9600? Are you sure? Your drivers seem to believe you have an ATI Radeon card. Maybe that's your problem?

Something else to try: can you manually switch to an 800x600 resolution? If so, can you then run the game?

I knew that.
command:rolleyes
command:swichtohigherexistence
command:playsound'ohdarnthatdidntwork
SYSTEM UPDATE
command:buymoreRAM
Argh...
TYPO! REBOOT! HAHAHAHAHA!
I AM IN MY HAPPY PLACE! HAHAHA!

^^ Yet another really useful post... ::)

@Nefarii: I had a similar problem last year with a Radeon 9200. Tried reinstalling drivers, older drivers, drivers without Catalyist, and so on. Would work fine for a while then after a few system restarts a few games would complain about not being able to create D3D surface. Tried an older Radeon and it seemed ok, so took the plunge and bought a newer one! Never did find out exactly what was wrong. Have you another videocard you can try instead?

Of course I'm useful.
I AM the ultimate program.
command:revealdeepestsecret
command:revealdesigns
command:playsound'uhoh
SYSTEM VIRUS
Hack...
Killing...
Me...
command:savefilestofloppyA
I'll be back.
window: Refer to Mike the Mushroom for reinstallation.
If you don't care, press X.
command:terminateexistence
window:You have suffered a SMEF.
Please scream. The ultimate program is almost dead.
command:die

changing the screen resolution to 800x600 was no good so I went through and reinstalled everything - audio, graphics, the game, directx 10, and the patch - restarted the computer - and now everything seems to work - so I have no idea what it could of been - I would encourage everyone that is having the "direct3d device" problem just to start from scratch, reinstall every driver that you can think of to make sure they are all up to date

thanks guys

You're welcome.
I'm sorry I was annoying.
I'm sure you referred to me as a piece of 'stubborn, arrogant software'.
My files were recovered from a disc by a corporation and they want me to figurehead their advertisings!
How great is that?
Gotta go, so here it is:
command:adveriseworldofgoocorporationproducts