When trying to launch it gives this error, "the procedure entry point gettickcount64 could not be located in the dynamic link library"

Some googling tells me this is likely due to the libcurl.dll that the GOG version installs calling a function that isn't compatible with Windows XP.

Do I really need to buy a physical copy if I want play this on my XP machine? Has anyone else had any success?

Don't get me wrong but …. XP? Time to jump into this decade bro/sis.

I actually just upgraded my gaming computer from Win 7 to 10 and was worried some older games wouldn't work. Guess what? No worries as everything works fine, just fine, fine.

IOW: Upgrade your OS.

You notice that I said "my XP machine" ? Like, my Playstation 2... or my Nintendo Gamecube? Just because I have a legacy machine doesn't mean that's my daily driver -- which is running Windows 7. Your older games work fine because Windows 10 essential runs on the same core from Vista. Windows XP was the last significantantly different OS which is why XP games often have compatibility issues with Windows 7 or later.

One of the reasons I buy my games here and not on Steam is because I like to play them on the OS they were developed for. Having offline installers makes that possible since I keep my ethernet drivers disabled on my Windows XP drive. Beyond compatibility issues many games hvave playing games like DOOM 3, Bioshock or F.E.A.R. on anything but my Windows XP with an X-FI Titanium and EAX sound enabled is an inferior experience. Hardware accelerated sound was dropped after XP.

Sorry, Not trying to jump down your throat -- it's just that the whole point of my topic is getting it to run in its native OS.

All windows versions after Win95 are based off Windows NT code.
Either way, it seems your missing a .dll file (typical for XP).
If I cared more I'd help....but I don't.

Fortunately they do over at Vogons I was able to have someone send me a list of what files they had in their directory and beyond the usual GOG files there is actually an extra .dll -- not a missing one.

For anyone who finds this and wants to install this game on a retro PC with Windows XP you can run the GOG installer just fine. Delete the d3d9.dll file from the directory after install and the game will run.

So the "extra" .dll is the one that was missing.

Thank you so much for such an invaluable information from a faithful WinXP user and Jade Empire fan.

You're most welcome! Love my EAX machine!

EAX fan here, have a XP machine for the exact same reasons as you do. The best audio experience in gaming is an EAX experience!

Thank you so very much for the info. I have various os machines (DOS, Win98SE, XP) and enjoy them very much. Jade Empire runs now.

Happy to hear it! What are the specs of your DOS/ 98SE and XP machines?