Missing GUI elements (planets, seedlings) in Windows XP

[Swingerzetta]

I recently got this game through Humble Bundle, and when I start the game, it runs smoothly, but once I get to the first level, there are no planets or seedlings on screen. I am prompted to send a seedling to another planet, and shown a tutorial graphic explaining how, but still there's nothing to click on except pause, help, etc. Random clicking reveals nothing hidden. It seems that everything that's procedurally generated is failing to appear entirely.

I'm using Windows XP SP3.

[sillytuna]

This is almost certainly a video driver issue. Do you see he tree on the main menu? A screenshot may be useful.

I suggest making sure you have the latest official drivers. I know the game doesn't work on old intel chipsets such as found in very cheap laptops and netbooks, at least older ones. I think that's gma500 chipsets.

[Swingerzetta]

Thank you for the quick response. I tried re-downloading and installing drivers for my graphics card, but it had no effect.
I do not see a tree in the main menu.

Are the old intel chipsets you mention just the integrated graphics? I'm using an old (ten years old) desktop computer that was running on the Intel integrated graphics chip, but I have installed an Nvidia Gforce graphics card (FX 5200) some time ago.
It might be time to upgrade my graphics card anyway. Would this be likely to help?

[sillytuna]

That will almost certainly be the problem. The integrated chipset will definitely not work. The nvidia looks very old too.