No idea! I too have the same problem. My last Windows update blue screen my gaming PC and I had to reboot to the bios to get it fixed. Not sure if it's related to my Civ 3 not working now or not.

This also is happening to me. Was working on three computers and then first there was the "open Steam dialog box and now there is nothing at all happening. Isn't there a steam support dealio to assist us in this?
edit: I did the game verification suggestion and one file was missing and then the dialog screen did return to "open steam" and still nothing. Checked off the list of suggestions on the support page and all seems okay with computer and network.
Hoping for another suggestion.

i did have the original disc will try loading and running seperate from steam and see if that fixes it Just got to locate the disk Civ iv works ok its just civ 3

the civ3.exe file and the civ3PTW.exe files if you have civ3 play the world are missing. I have uninstalled and redownloaded but no exe file came through it seems to be a problem with the latest update on windows and steam I thougt it should at least down load the executable file with a reinstall but no joy here.

I'm having same issue. Just got a new PC that is on Win 11. It's been playing fine on my old pc that was still on Win 10. Other games launch fine but not Civ3.

Perhaps try to launch it with
Keepres=1 in the conquest.ini in the conquest folder first.

If that works, then also:

"There's a fix for the music clitch

https://www.indirectsound.com/

extract the two files into the conquest folder.

Found it from this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_psi0Lxoh2E

Also this for custom resolutions:
https://www.bcheck.net/apps/reso.htm
"

Not sure if it's a resolution issue though, but just throwing this out there.

I just buy the game ans it doesn't start, i'm on W11

Think with these older Civ games, they should remaster them or at least make them compatible with today's technology, resolutions and such.
There are workarounds for things, but its if you know you know.

Those workarounds should be stickied. They really should make these older civ games at the very least compatible with todays tech. As in the audio and the resolution. I think some older games have speed issues, but I don't see that with this game. Its more resolution and audio issues.

Here is a link to the fix

https://steamhost.cn/steamcommunity_com/app/3910/discussions/0/1480982971158937819/

Originally posted by drbradyvape:

I downloaded this morning and it was working perfect. Now my computer updated and my other games on steam work but not this one. It says play on the main steam page and then nothing happens. Any help?

Yup, I downloaded it back onto this machine. It goes to just black screen, nothing else.

This will be either another dodgy Microsoft FORCED onto our computer update or a FORCED onto our computer STEAM update.

So it is not just me then, it is a lot of people, who suddenly are unable to play the game.

Windows 10 or STEAM UPDATE, one or the other.

I have played Civ III for years and years, never had an issue until now.

I own the steam one, but I use the CD version (seems to be the most stable IMO). However, I also own the GOG version. The GOG version has always seemed more stable than the Steam.

What do you mean by just black screen?
Have you tried turning off the video intro in the Conquests.ini? That video is buggy as all get out - especially after Steam tried to alter it.

On the black screen have you ever tried just hitting the up/down arrow on your keyboard? I haven't seen a fully black screen, but I have seen it where it will have the upper left visible of the main menu, but the rest of the screen black. The fix for this when it happens to me is just hit the arrow keys up or down. This causes the selected menu item to change which causes a redraw of the menu which fixes display issue.