Game freezes at 95% loading

The INI file can be modified to address the issue and can be found in City LifeBINDataConfigSTART.INI. The game should successfully load if you change the language setting to English by typing in: LANGUAGE ENG. Otherwise it’s a widely reported firewall problem. City Life has some compatibility problems with Norton Internet Security, which leads to the game loading to stop at the 95% mark. It also happens with the editor. The Norton window opens behind the editor's splash screen, and you should let the program work across the firewall by choosing the option "always authorise". This can only be done with the editor since the game does not allow any Alt+Tab or Ctrl+Alt+Del tricks to change focus from the City Life software, thus the firewall dialog box will stay hidden behind the loading screen. That's why you have to go to the Norton Internet Security window and allow the authorization of all City Life ports. The two applications which need authorization are in City Life's BIN directory. C:Program FilesMonte CristoCity LifeBIN is the default location and the applications are citylife.exe and CLEditor.exe.


The game won’t load at all

There is a known Starforce issue when the game does not recognize the City Life disc, although it’s in the drive. Make sure you put the disc in the appropriate drive since Starforce will only recognize the drive where you first installed the game from and no other. There might be an issue with the Starforce game code identifier which needs to be addressed by properly authenticating the support. You need to download and install this official Starforce update.


Starforce doesn’t ask identification number

If the protection program doesn't ask for the identification number, despite the fact that an error message is displayed, you have a possibility to activate the Identification query and then enter the Rescue Key. Run City Life, and then press both Shift keys until the protection asks you to enter the identification number. Release Shift and type the Rescue Key, then click Continue or Next. Now you shouldn't face any protection problem.
Beware, this does not remove game protection, Star Force is always present, game CD is always required and the Rescue Key will function only on your PC.


GeForce MX cards issues

Wether you’re using an old GeForce 2 MX graphical card or its relatively newer GeForce 4 counterpart you will definitely fall under the minimum specifications for City Life. There is a way to go around the major problems causing your game screen to go black and it involves using third party software that tweaks pixel shader versions. City Life needs Pixel Shader functions in order to run, and they’re not supported by your card, causing the game to crash. 3D-Analyze prevents the game from using this feature. Once you've launched 3D-Analyze, select EXE file of City Life (which should be at C:Program FilesCity LifeBIN). Click "RUN" to get a useable version of City Life after checking the following options:

"emulate pixel shaders"
"skip pixel shader version 1.1"
"skip pixel shader version 1.4"
"skip pixel shader version 2.0"


AMD Dual Core issues

First off you should download the dual core hotfix provided by AMD. To enable the hotfix edit your registry by clicking Start -> Run and type Regedit in the open box. Go to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetContro lSession Manager location and right click to create a New Key, which should be named Throttle. Right-click Throttle, point to New, and then click DWORD Value. Type PerfEnablePackageIdle for the value name, then right-click it again to Modify its value. In the Edit DWORD Value box, type 1. Make sure that hexadecimal is selected in the value data box, then click Ok and exit the Registry Editor.

Right click on My Computer, go to Properties -> Advance tab -> Startup and recovery -> Settings -> Edit and fill in /usepmtimer. Then install the latest AMD Dual Core Optimizer from here.