The Political Machine: Beta 4 available

Last public beta

from JoeUser Forums

The beta 4 series will be the last set of public betas of The Political Machine. After that, it'll be on an individual basis based on feedback and such.  Hopefully this version corrects any remaining technical glitches.

Just a reminder:

1) This game requires DirectX 9
2) It needs a 3D video card with typically 16 megs of RAM or more on it (so some laptops or very old machines may have problems)

Remember: At this point, the game is running flawlessly in our internal compatibility lab. Don't assume that we know about a problem you're having. So if you experience crashing or corrupt graphics or anything else, REPORT IT PLEASE HERE. We need to know what operating system you're running and what video card you have in order to duplicate.

This version has the campaign mode in it.  Please let us know how well it works for you. We will be doing bug fixes like crazy of course between now and going gold. We also hope to release a free update after general availability to take into account new events in this year's political race and any cool ideas people come up with that can be added to the game (those of you who were beta testers on Galactic Civilizations know what we mean).

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18,915 views 19 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
Hi Brad,

There seems to be a problem with the Issue Editor. There is a 25 cararacters limitation for issue name, but some of the issues are well above that ("Private Accounts for Social Security" is 35 car long for exemple). Changing those is not possible. Even editing them brings an error dialog box.

I'm also having problems with the intro. There is a lot of graphic corruption in the bottom of the screen.

Windows XP SP2 RC1
Ahtlon XP 2200+
1G RAM
Geforce Ti4200 - Drivers 61.11
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
I sent an email with extended information regarding my PC to you guys at support@stardock.com yesterday regarding the 'triangles on the main map'-problem.
I hope you'll be able to fix it with this information. Should you need specific details, please let me know!

Stefan.
Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
At the commentary that pops up 31 weeks into the game, it says that half the campaign season is left, when really, only a quarter is left.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
We put up a new buidl today with a LOT of new bug fixes and additions.
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
We put up a new buidl today with a LOT of new bug fixes and additions.


I tried the latest build and it has no solution to the triangles on the main map problem.
In addition, upon quitting the game, an access violation occurs and the game does not reset the screen to the proper resolution it had before starting the game.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
Does anyone know where I can still get to try out the beta? Or has time completely passed?
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
I just played a game with the 0.97 beta. You're definitely almost there. All the major stuff is working fine, but there are a number of minor issues that need to be fixed.

- When you load the game, the images change too fast. Also, the credits scroll up the screen too fast.

- Joe user description: "wide ranging" should be hyphenated. Also, the last sentence is a run-on sentence. Suggest you split into two sentences after the word "ranging".

- I build an HQ in Texas appeared so far north and west that it looked like it was in OK.

- The description of a smear merchant says "... joining the
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
It's started crashing me to the desktop some times, with the 0.97 version. I have a Athelon 900 /w Radeon 7200 video card. Here's what debug.err has:

Debug Message: ******* Starting Game Shell *******
Debug Message: Going Fullscreen
Debug Message: Preparing to change display settings.
Debug Message: Now Fullscreen
Debug Message: Shell initialization complete
Debug Message: ***** Initializing Game *****
Debug Message: Timer Frequency is 0 1234dc
Debug Message: LoadAllModelsInDirectory: No files matching mask *.mdl.
Debug Message: LoadAllModelsInDirectory: No files matching mask Gfx\*.mdl.
Debug Message: LoadAllModelsInDirectory: No files matching mask Setup\*.mdl.
Debug Message: Added fonts: font2 font1 Arial13B Arial16B2 Arial10
Debug Message: Added fonts: Arial12 Arial12B Arial14 Arial14B Arial16
Debug Message: Added fonts: Arial16B Arial18 Arial18B
Debug Message: Initializing sound card.
Debug Message: Issues Loaded
Debug Message: Issues Tweaked
Debug Message: Loading 8 questions from Data\HardHitterQuestions.questions.
Debug Message: Loading 4 questions from Data\JoeUserQuestions.questions.
Debug Message: Loading 9 questions from Data\KingQuestions.questions.
Debug Message: Loading 22 questions from Data\NightTimeQuestions.questions.
Debug Message: Loading 11 questions from Data\OMaleyQuestions.questions.
Debug Message: Loading 4 questions from Data\SawyerQuestions.questions.
Debug Message: Question Files Loaded
Debug Message: Special Interest Loaded
Debug Message: Create setup screens.
Debug Message: setting size 0 x 0
Debug Message: MemMan: Unable to find pointer in GetBlockInfo. Memory system: EditFields
ASSERT ERROR in file \Projects\Pear\Source\memman.cpp at line 581.
Debug Message: Initialize Tilemaps
Debug Message: Set mouse.
Debug Message: Unhide opening menu.
Debug Message: Set update timer.
Debug Message: MemMan: Unable to find pointer in GetBlockInfo. Memory system: EditFields
ASSERT ERROR in file \Projects\Pear\Source\memman.cpp at line 581.
*DEBUG ERROR: *** No edit field definitions for group passed to EditFieldsUpdate ***
Debug Message: ******* GameStarted *******
Debug Message: Error. String Not Found. Book:IssueUtil String:
Debug Message: Error. String Not Found. Book:IssueUtil String:
*DEBUG ERROR: *** No edit field definitions for group passed to EditFieldsUpdate ***
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
If you can download from Stardock Central the program Smart Exception and send us the .cra file (or paste the contents here) that would be very helpful.
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
Took me a while to find the CRA file (it was in the root directory, not in one of the Stardock directories like I expected it to be in)


Stardock SmartException Logging Information
-------------------------------------------

OS Version : Windows 98
Video Card : ALL-IN-WONDER RADEON
Application Exception code: C0000005 ACCESS_VIOLATION
Crash Addr: 004024A0 01:000014A0 D:\PROGRAM FILES\STARDOCK\DRENGIN.NET\POLMACHINE\POLMACHINE.EXE

Processor Registers (x86):
EAX:032DFDA3
EBX:00000000
ECX:00000000
EDX:032DFDEC
ESI:00000000
EDI:032DFDE8
CS:EIP:0177:004024A0
SS:ESP:017F:032DFDA4 EBP:032DFDB4
DS:017F ES:017F FS:120F GS:0000
Flags:00010206


Current Application Call Stack:

Addr Frame Logical addr Module Name
---------------------------------------------
004024A0 032DFDB4 0001:000014A0 D:\PROGRAM FILES\STARDOCK\DRENGIN.NET\POLMACHINE\POLMACHINE.EXE
004056F1 032DFDD0 0001:000046F1 D:\PROGRAM FILES\STARDOCK\DRENGIN.NET\POLMACHINE\POLMACHINE.EXE
004FF7F3 032DFE14 0001:000FE7F3 D:\PROGRAM FILES\STARDOCK\DRENGIN.NET\POLMACHINE\POLMACHINE.EXE
0040437F 032DFF98 0001:0000337F D:\PROGRAM FILES\STARDOCK\DRENGIN.NET\POLMACHINE\POLMACHINE.EXE
BFF88F20 032DFFCC 0002:0000FF20 C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\KERNEL32.DLL
BFF869EF 032DFFEC 0002:0000D9EF C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\KERNEL32.DLL


Debug information for each stardock app follows ....


Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
More bugs/issues.

- On the candidate details screen, the issues are in an odd order. By variable name perhaps? Drilling in ANWR appears with the A's, for example, although the phrase begins with a D. The order needs to be revisited.

- On candidate details, there is a space for Wardell rating. The rating is blank and what the Wardell is is not defined.

- On candidate details, there is a space to display what characteristic descriptions. Nothing is displayed.

- The Barry King Live intro begins "This show is a softer show." Grammatically redundant. Suggest: "This is a soft show." or "Barry King Live is a soft show."

- The description of an endorsement usually says +10 to something and +5 to another. Is that accurate? I don't get 10 green or red dots on my issue stances when I get an endorsement. Or do the green dots have a different level of measurement? It's not intuitive what the dots mean, other than that the more you have the stronger your position.

- The headlines read that candidate "a" blasts candidate "b" even when you take out an "I support" ad.

- The halfway message isn't very appropriate when the race is virtually tied. I was up 271 to 267 but the message said I was "reigning supreme".

- On the big movie star screen, the text under the picture doesn't fit.

- Awareness seems to only rise to 99% in many states. Odd.

- I am having trouble quitting on my computer. The game doesn't exit to windows. Instead it just hangs. I eventually have to terminate the program to get out of it.

--Aaron
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
Yeah!! No crashes with this beta!!!

Outstanding!

The only problem I had was the same one Aaron had...

- I am having trouble quitting on my computer. The game doesn't exit to windows. Instead it just hangs. I eventually have to terminate the program to get out of it.


This happened to me as well. When I clicked the "Quit" button, it just hung. But hey...the game worked so !
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
Several Problems:

Still getting the top of the screen going to the bottom for the opening movie. May have something to do with the fact that my computer is a laptop and the LCD is what screws it up, or the fact that I run it from Stardock Central. Don't really know.

Also got the hangup when clicking "Quit Game" from the Options within a game.

Biggest problem: Started a campaign and for the first time ever got a interview before I even moved, this might have triggered it. But did the interview, no problem, moved as much as I wanted and had 2 moves left, but that has never been a problem before. This is when I notice that my opponent hasn't moved, and they usually do before I do, but Condie was just sitting there. So clicked next turn, the button greys out and the game just sits there. Left it for a minute or two, but no dice, the game just hung up. Can't give you a Smart Exception because the game didn't crash, just sat there.

Hope the description helps.

Hardware:
Sony Vaio
Windows XP
x86 Intel 2.6 GHz
512 MB RAM
Mobility Radeon 64 MB 9000
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
- A few times I could have sworn that my opponent took my interview. They generally appear in pairs, but sometimes after my opponent gets done moving all I can see is one interview for my opponent--nothing for me. Very strange. Will look into this further.


A couple of times when I thought my interview had disappeared, it turned out to be in one of the northern states and the icon was half off the screen so it was pretty hard to notice unless you were really looking for it. Not necessarily what you ran into, but keep that in mind if it happens to you again.
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
I think the game is great, here's a list of what i like/dislike/didn't work

Things i liked
- Getting the extra money at half race. Allows the game to be set up in phases.
- The different consultants, they provide the use of several different strategies.
- The income of money from HQs: Well balanced.
- Campain mode: Great concept

Things i didn't like

- Political opportunities: My opponent just run for it, and by the time i noticed it was there, he already took it.
Suggestion: Make some opportunities for democrats, others for republicans, and some (not most) for both.
- Web master: They reduce the upkeep cost of ads too much. The fact that i can just move him, create a TV ad for only 7000$ upkeep is just too unbalancing.
- Interviews: They're always the same questions.
- Difficulty level: At normal, i'm able to get ALL electoral votes.

Things that didn't work
- My opponent grabs my interview
- I went to one interview, and by clicking "YES", nothing happened
- I can't quit the game. I have to use the "Task list" and end the task.

Good job. Keep it up.
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
Oh, one last thing. I liked the PR man (Boost the image during interviews) better then the intimidator.
Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top
I'm still seeking complete lockups when playing more than one game at a time. This makes playing the Campaign a tad difficult.
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
Still haven't been able to start the game. Computer says that MakeCriticalSectionGlobal procedure entry point in the file kernel32.dll is missing.
I am using XP.
Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top
I also had a problem closing the game down after a campaign match. Hung the system tight.