(with instant hotkey – e.g., F12)

Sometimes, the black screen is a hardware limitation. Here are the minimum requirements to avoid the black screen crash:

If none of these fixes work, you may want to consider:

Additional Tips:

Fixing the black screen issue in Hooligans: Storm Over Europe on modern Windows involves using dgVoodoo2 to wrap DirectX calls or configuring DxWnd for windowed mode. Additionally, setting compatibility mode to Windows XP and disabling fullscreen optimizations can resolve rendering conflicts. For detailed instructions and files, visit the SourceForge discussion thread. Hooligans: Storm Over Europe (2002) - DxWnd - SourceForge

Since the problem didn't seem to be caused by DxWnd, then I deleted the game and installed it again form a CD image, full install, SourceForge Guide :: Windows 10 / 11 Fix super easy - Steam-Community

The black screen issue in Hooligans: Storm Over Europe on modern operating systems like Windows 10 and 11 typically stems from outdated DirectDraw compatibility or DRM issues. Essential Compatibility Fixes

If you are experiencing a black screen at startup, try these steps first:

Compatibility Mode: Right-click Hooligans.exe, go to Properties > Compatibility, and set it to Windows XP (Service Pack 2) or Windows 2000.

Disable Fullscreen Optimizations: In the same Compatibility tab, check the box for Disable fullscreen optimizations.

Run as Administrator: Ensure the game and its installer are run with Administrator privileges.

Unblock the Executable: If you downloaded the game, right-click the .exe, select Properties, and check the Unblock box at the bottom if it appears. Advanced Graphics & Renderer Fixes

Since the game uses legacy DirectDraw, modern GPUs often fail to render it correctly in fullscreen.

Use dgVoodoo2: This wrapper converts old DirectX calls to Direct3D 11/12, which modern systems understand.

Download dgVoodoo2 from a trusted source like the official site.

Copy the files from the MS\x86 folder into your Hooligans game directory.

In the dgVoodoo2 configuration tool, try setting the Output API to Direct3D 11 MS WARP if standard settings still result in a black screen.

DxWnd for Windowed Mode: Some users find the game only runs properly in windowed mode. Using DxWnd can force the game to run in a window, bypassing fullscreen rendering errors. Common Pitfalls

DRM Issues: The original game uses SafeDisc DRM, which is no longer supported on Windows Vista and later. You may need a no-CD patch (crack) to bypass this, as even original discs may fail to launch.

Corrupt "RIP" Versions: If you downloaded a "RIP" version of the game, it may be missing essential library files. A full installation from a CD image is often more stable. Download Hooligans - Storm Over Europe at XTCabandonware