SpeedrunSilentPatch

SpeedrunSilentPatch for

Grand Theft AutoVice City

Installation

  1. Download and extract the ZIP

    Extract all archive contents into your game folder, beside gta-vc.exe.

  2. Check the files

    SpeedrunSilentPatchVC.asi and SpeedrunSilentPatchVC.ini should be directly in the main game folder, without an extra subfolder.

  3. Set your preferences and play

    Optionally edit SpeedrunSilentPatchVC.ini in a text editor for windowed mode, music replacement and other settings. Save the file, then start the game.

Settings won’t save? See the INI troubleshooting answer below.

Included fixes

The fixes included in SSP for Vice City.

From SilentPatch

  • Fixed an issue where installing the game on A: or B: drive made the game ask for the CD.
  • The mouse should not lock up randomly when exiting the menu on newer systems anymore.
  • The mouse will no longer go beyond the game window dimensions, making it possible to play the game on multi-monitor setups without problems.
  • DirectPlay dependency has been removed - this should improve compatibility with Windows 8 and newer.
  • The game will not crash on startup if Data Execution Prevention is enabled for all applications anymore.
  • The "Cannot find enough available video memory" error showing on some computers has been resolved.
  • Path to the User Files directory is now obtained using a dedicated API call rather than a legacy registry entry, future-proofing the games more.
  • The mouse vertical axis sensitivity now matches horizontal axis sensitivity.
  • Mission title and 'Mission Passed' texts now stay on screen for the same duration, regardless of screen resolution.
  • Free resprays will not carry on a New Game now.
  • Fixed ambulance and firetruck dispatch timers - they reset on New Game now.
  • Lines read in CPlane::LoadPath and CTrain::ReadAndInterpretTrackFile are now null-terminated, fixing issues with plane/yacht paths under specific conditions in a modded game.
  • Mouse sensitivity is no longer reset on starting a New Game.
  • Fixed the "Greetings from Vice City" outro splash displaying longer than intended - now displays for 2.5 seconds.
  • If the settings file is absent, the game will now default to your desktop resolution instead of 640x480x16.
  • All censorships from German and French versions of the game have been removed.

Added in SpeedrunSilentPatch

  • Windowed mode, toggleable in ini. Inspired by III.VC.SA.WindowedMode.
  • CPU affinity mask (core pinning), toggleable in the INI and off by default. Needed in very rare cases.
  • Copyrighted ambience music in the Pole Position Club and the Malibu Club is replaced with default VC ambience, and Publicity Tour cutscene audio has music removed, to prevent DMCA-strikes on video and streaming platforms like Youtube and Twitch. Toggleable in ini with ReplaceDMCAMusic.
  • All startup movies in the Japanese executable of Vice City can be skipped with SkipIntroSplashes or the /SkipIntroSplashes command-line argument when using the DDraw component.
  • Fix an inconsistent crash and/or an error message on game start if the system has no disc drives.
  • The game writes a crash log after an unhandled exception. An optional full-process memory dump can also be written beside the executable. Full dumps are disabled by default because they can be large.

Frequently asked questions

Are runs with SpeedrunSilentPatch allowed on the leaderboard?

Yes. Runs using SpeedrunSilentPatch are legal and eligible for the leaderboard. SSP includes fixes selected for speedrunning and is optional to use. Follow the rules for your category when configuring optional settings. In particular, leave intro skipping disabled if you start or restart the game during the timed portion of a run.

View Vice City leaderboards & rules
Why aren’t my INI changes working?

If the game is installed in Program Files, Windows may block or redirect writes to the INI. Copy the whole game folder to a location outside Program Files, such as C:\Games, and edit SpeedrunSilentPatchVC.ini in that copy. Make sure it stays beside the ASI file, save your changes, and restart the game. Also check that you are launching the copy you edited.

Can I use a custom resolution in windowed mode?

Not currently. SSP’s windowed mode uses the game’s supported resolutions. Unlike dxwnd, it does not add custom resolutions, because they could give an unintended advantage over runners who do not use the patch.

Does SSP unlock VSync in the menus?

No. Unlike dxwnd, SSP does not unlock VSync in menus. This could give an unintended speed advantage over runners who do not use the patch.

How do I enable windowed or borderless mode?

Open SpeedrunSilentPatchVC.ini in a text editor. Under [SilentPatch], set WindowedMode=Framed for a bordered window, WindowedMode=Borderless for borderless, or WindowedMode=Off for fullscreen. Save the file and restart the game. Press Alt+F while in windowed mode to switch between framed and borderless so you can reposition the window. You can also edit Documents\GTA Vice City User Files\SpeedrunSilentPatchVC.WindowedMode.ini to adjust positioning to the pixel level.

Is this the same as the original SilentPatch?

SSP is a fork of SilentPatch with a curated set of compatibility and quality-of-life fixes for speedrunners, plus SSP-specific additions. The original SilentPatch includes a broader range of fixes and is the better choice for casual play.

Does it work with the Definitive Edition?

No. SpeedrunSilentPatch is for the original PC games. Check the supported executable version listed beside the download before installing.

I see some NG+ fixes,, do I still have to reset my game in between runs?

Yes. We’re not sure we’ve fixed all problematic instances of NG+ behavior, so a complete game restart is still required.

Can I replace music that may trigger copyright claims?

Yes. Set ReplaceDMCAMusic=1 in SpeedrunSilentPatchVC.ini to replace certain copyrighted ambience tracks and remove music from the Publicity Tour cutscene. This is disabled by default. It does not replace all of the game’s music or guarantee that a recording will avoid copyright claims.

Can I skip the intro videos?

The Japanese executable supports SkipIntroSplashes in the INI, or /SkipIntroSplashes for a single launch with the DDraw component. Keep it disabled for runs that start or restart the game while the timer is running, including 100% and trilogy runs. The option is off by default.