1.95 bugs

Updated video drivers-check

Updated sound drivers-check

1.  Planet view-previous/next button doesn't go in the order you set it in the main window.  I think it only goes by sectors or something?  *scratches head*.

2.  Combat view-screen flickers at the very end of combat sometimes or in some camera modes.  With 1.95 the game becomes very unstable after any combat is viewed in the combat window for me.  Everytime it will CTD within 1-3 turns after combat.  Right now I am mid-game.  I think the early combats were OK but as the game progresses the combat viewer makes the game increadingly unstable.  It never crashes in the combat viewer, only 1-3 turns after the combat viewer is closed.  I must save every single turn while at war.

I can give the system specs as well if needed.

Debug Message:  *********END dxdiag info.*********
Debug Message:  Entering WinMain
Debug Message:  ******* Starting Game Shell *******
Debug Message:  Going Fullscreen
Debug Message:  Preparing to change display settings.
Debug Message:  Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_4_SAMPLES
Debug Message:  Game Resolution: 1024 x 768
Debug Message:  Running fullscreen.
Debug Message:  HAL (hw vp): NVIDIA GeForce 6800
Debug Message:  D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_DEFAULT
Debug Message:  Refresh rate: 60
Debug Message:  Bit Depth: 32 bit.
Debug Message:  *********Checking D3DDevice Caps***********************
Debug Message:  A full-color cursor is supported in hardware at high resolution modes.
Debug Message:  RGB in format 6:6:6, Masks reported as ff0000:ff00:ff
Debug Message:  Now Fullscreen
Debug Message:  Shell initialization complete
Debug Message:  ***** Initializing Game *****
Debug Message:  Timer Frequency is 0 b2651910
Debug Message:  Initializing sound card.
Debug Message:  initailizing bink
Debug Message:  Create setup screens.
Debug Message:  Clear galaxy settings.
Debug Message:  Clear influence.
Debug Message:  Clear up laws.
Debug Message:  Clear first time events.
Debug Message:  Clear wonders and trade goods.
Debug Message:  Clear sector mapper.
Debug Message:  * Collectors Edition *
Debug Message:  Set mouse.
Debug Message:  Set update timer.
Debug Message:  Clear data definitions.
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\ManBear Master\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\ManBear Master\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipcfg
Debug Message:  Reading Star Names
Debug Message:  Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\CustomMaps\*.gc2map
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Scenarios\*.gc2scenario
Debug Message:  Creating Galaxy
Debug Message:  Killing threads.
Debug Message:  Kiling civs.
Debug Message:  Killing ships.
Debug Message:  Killing rallypoints.
Debug Message:  Killing misc objects.
Debug Message:  Killing stars.
Debug Message:  Killing anomalies.
Debug Message:  Killing space resources.
Debug Message:  Killing colonies and planets.
Debug Message:  killing scenario.
Debug Message:  Clearing Turn Event Log
Debug Message:  Clear galaxy settings.
Debug Message:  Clear influence.
Debug Message:  Clear up laws.
Debug Message:  Clear first time events.
Debug Message:  Clear wonders and trade goods.
Debug Message:  Clear sector mapper.
Debug Message:  Galaxy Size Set: 18 x 18
Debug Message:  Creating Random Map
Debug Message:  Creating Random Map... Stars
Debug Message:  Number of Unplaced Stars: 110.
Debug Message:  Creating Random Map... Planets
Debug Message:  *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message:  *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message:  *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message:  *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message:  *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message:  *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message:  *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message:  *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message:  *************** Failed To Place Planet ***************
Debug Message:  Creating Random Map... Anomalies
Debug Message:  Num Anomalies: 300
Debug Message:  Creating Random Map... Resources
Debug Message:  Creating Random Map... Done
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\CustomMaps\*.gc2map
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Scenarios\*.gc2scenario
Debug Message:  TitleWnd: Quit Button.
Debug Message:  Posting WM_CLOSE message.
Debug Message:  WM_CLOSE message received.
Debug Message:  GameUninitialize start
Debug Message:  Killing hidden planet surface init thread.  Waiting for it to die.

Debug Message:  Aborting hidden planet surface initialization.
Debug Message:  Hidden planet surface init thread dead.
Debug Message:  Killing Galaxy
Debug Message:  Killing threads.
Debug Message:  Kiling civs.
Debug Message:  Killing ships.
Debug Message:  Killing rallypoints.
Debug Message:  Killing misc objects.
Debug Message:  Killing stars.
Debug Message:  Killing anomalies.
Debug Message:  Killing space resources.
Debug Message:  Killing colonies and planets.
Debug Message:  killing scenario.
Debug Message:  Clearing Turn Event Log
Debug Message:  Clear galaxy settings.
Debug Message:  Clear influence.
Debug Message:  Clear up laws.
Debug Message:  Clear first time events.
Debug Message:  Clear wonders and trade goods.
Debug Message:  Clear sector mapper.
Debug Message:  Clear data definitions.
Debug Message:  Killing Galaxy: Completed
Debug Message:  Shutting down sound system.
Debug Message:  Clearing sound and music handles.
Debug Message:  GameUninitialize end
Debug Message:  Device not cleared. 1 counts left.
Debug Message:  D3D not cleared. 1 counts left.
Debug Message:  Destroying Window.
Debug Message:  Main Shell terminating normally

3.  Can only launch one ship at a time from orbit because multiple ships can't be highlighted at once.  Makes it very annoying to launch large amounts of ships from orbit.

4.  AI (Iconian Refuge) offered me a peace treaty while we were already at peace.

5.  AI fleets that are killed by my starbase remain in that square as 0 fleet boxes.  They keep accumulating there until I restart the game.  Could this be a reason for crashes?  Dead fleets not being cleared out properly.

6.  AI behavior-they won't attack mining bases even if it is the only good target and would weaken their enemies production capacity.  I can leave all my asteroids completely undefended even against The Drengen Hordes!   :NOTSURE: 

7.  Press the little triangle button to bring up the galaxy view map.  Yeah I played for a longtime before I even knew there was a button there.  You can zoom in but you can choose where to zoom to, you always zoom to the lower right corner.  Either zoom should be disabled or zoom to cursor or edge scrolling should be enabled.  Maybe this was thrown in at the last second before release?

Current game setup has led to an awesome game using Brad's best algorithms.

Huge map-anything larger sucks because you can only have 9 major and 8 minor races.  With anything larger there is too much "breathing room" and everyone can be nicey nicey until mid-game or later.  Now if Brad allowed 12 majors then a bigger map might be better.  It would be nice to put all of the stock races in one game plus my custom race.

Tech trading off-believe me you will thank me.  Currently I am in a tech race with The Drengen, their advanced mass drivers versus my advanced armors.  With tech trading on I always had the best of everything which sucks.  No hard choices.  I also don't waste 95% of my game time in the diplomacy window anymore.

Blind exploration on-much more touch and feel exploration but the AI builds so many scouts it doesn't really matter for them.

All races set to intelligent with 100% CPU useage.  I don't believe in giving the AI's cheats except they have more powerful race stats than me because I spent all their race build points to make them as specialised as possible.  Going above intelligent just gives them extra income for free.

The AI's build too many colony ships and weaponless fighters at game start.  They shouldn't be building combat vessels with zero weapons.  Is this coded in so when they get a weapon they can "upgrade" quickly to have a massive fleet?  If that is the case, sounds like a gamey player tactic.  Who can blame the AI?

The AI Drengen and AI Torian Confederation I have had fights with have 100% offense and 0% defense on ships.  Is that really the optimum strategy?  Are they setting such high offensive rations because a race profile?  My ship style which is high defense?

Thanks Michael

5,334 views 5 replies
Reply #1 Top
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1024 x 768

I have it set as 1280x1024 in the video settings and that is my native LCD desktop setting. I wondered why the debug would then show 1024x768? And yes before you ask I have restarted the game many times as 1280x1024 setting. ;-)

This can't be good, can it?

Debug Message: Killing hidden planet surface init thread. Waiting for it to die.

Debug Message: Aborting hidden planet surface initialization.
Debug Message: Hidden planet surface init thread dead.

or

Debug Message: Device not cleared. 1 counts left.
Debug Message: D3D not cleared. 1 counts left.

By the way I think rebooting helps the problem for awhile. I had to reboot for the updated sound drivers and it seemed to run fine for awhile, then got crashy again during war. Right now the whole galaxy is at war, the good/neutral races versus the two evil races.
Reply #2 Top
My documents debug file

Debug Message: Version v1.95 Twilight of the Arnor last updated on: Thu Jun 19 11:41:00 2008
Debug Message: Can't find TGN or GalCiv2 serial number.
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 6/28/2008, 10:35:26
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: *deleted*
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_qfe.070227-2300)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: Dell DXG051
BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A11
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 3.00GHz (2 CPUs)
Physical Memory: 2046MB RAM
Page File: 544MB used, 3393MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce 6800
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce 6800
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_00C1&SUBSYS_024510DE&REV_A2
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution: 1600,1200
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0011.7516
Driver Date: 5/2/2008 22:46:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: SB X-Fi Audio [DCE0]
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0005&SUBSYS_10031102&REV_00
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Provider: Creative
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.1283
Driver Date: 2/25/2008 09:43:24
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0



Debug Message: *********END dxdiag info.*********
Debug Message: Entering WinMain
Debug Message: ******* Starting Game Shell *******
Debug Message: Preparing to change display settings.
Debug Message: Using hardware vertex processing
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_3_SAMPLES
Debug Message: Attempting to create D3DDevice at resolution 1280 x 1024, Windowed: 1, Multisample: 3
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1280 x 1024
Debug Message: Running in windowed mode.
Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): NVIDIA GeForce 6800
Debug Message: D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_IMMEDIATE
Debug Message: Refresh rate: 0
Debug Message: Bit Depth: 32 bit.
Debug Message: *********Checking D3DDevice Caps***********************
Debug Message: A full-color cursor is supported in hardware at high resolution modes.
Debug Message: Border size reported as 6 by 32
Debug Message: RGB in format 6:6:6, Masks reported as ff0000:ff00:ff
Debug Message: Now windowed.
Debug Message: Shell initialization complete
Debug Message: GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message: ***** Initializing Game *****
Debug Message: Timer Frequency is 0 b2660370
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\./Data/ShipTemplates/\*.shipcfg
Debug Message: Initializing sound card.
Debug Message: initailizing bink
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar\Movies\techs\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask Movies\techs\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask Gfx\Tutorials\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\ManBear Master\My Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor\Gfx\Movies\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\ManBear Master\My Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor\sfx\*.wav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\ManBear Master\My Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor\Music\*.mp3
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\ManBear Master\My Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor\Event Music\*.mp3

Debug Message: Create setup screens.
Debug Message: Clear galaxy settings.
Debug Message: Clear influence.
Debug Message: Clear up laws.
Debug Message: Clear first time events.
Debug Message: Clear wonders and trade goods.
Debug Message: Clear sector mapper.
Debug Message: Set mouse.
Debug Message: Set update timer.
Debug Message: No files found matching mask ./Data/*.xmlDebug Message: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: Killing ship styles:
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2./Data/English/\ShipStyles\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\ManBear Master\My Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor\ShipStyles\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar./Data/\FleetFormations\*.fleet
Debug Message: No files found matching mask ./Data/\FleetFormations\*.fleet
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar\Gfx\Planets\C0*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask Gfx\Planets\C0*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideN*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideE*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideS*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideW*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideN*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideE*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideS*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideW*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideN*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideE*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideS*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideW*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideN*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideE*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideS*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideW*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/1SideN*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/1SideE*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/1SideS*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/1SideW*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/2SideN*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/2SideE*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/2SideS*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/2SideW*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/3SideN*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/3SideE*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/3SideS*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/3SideW*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/4SideN*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/4SideE*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/4SideS*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar/gfx/Terrain/4SideW*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\./Data/ShipTemplates/\*.shipcfg

Debug Message: Reading Star Names
Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message: No files found matching mask ./Data/English/Tutorials/*.xml
Debug Message: GalaxyWnd: Cannot find OBJID Scenaro_MoreDetails_FText
Debug Message: GalaxyWnd: Cannot find OBJID Scenaro_Details_FormattedText
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\CustomMaps\*.gc2map
Debug Message: No files found matching mask ./Data/English/Scenarios/*.GC2Scenario
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Scenarios\*.gc2scenario
Reply #3 Top
Maybe I need to reinstall from scratch? I had the GCII Gold Demo which I deleted but I am sure I did not choose to delete any shared files when I uninstalled it. I haven't seen any missing graphics in the game.
Reply #4 Top
Not a 1.95 specific bug so much, but the crash on placing spy bug is just as bad as before if not worse - happens 95% of the time now if there's been a significant delay between my new attempt (at placing a spy) and my last one. Disappointed it wasn't fixed given how frequently it's occuring.
Another (not 1.95 specific) more minor bug: Ability bonuses from buildings don't work if the building isn't a galactic achievement/trade good (e.g. cathedral of valour's soldiering bonus). The cathedral also doesn't provide a planetary defensive bonus.

There are variuos others but I can't think of them off the top of my head atm.
Reply #5 Top
The highlighted segments of the debugs you posted are nothing out of the ordinary.

1. Planet view-previous/next button doesn't go in the order you set it in the main window. I think it only goes by sectors or something? *scratches head*.
End of quote


It goes in whatever the internal ordering is in the engine, I'd expect.

2.  Combat view-screen flickers at the very end of combat sometimes or in some camera modes.  With 1.95 the game becomes very unstable after any combat is viewed in the combat window for me.  Everytime it will CTD within 1-3 turns after combat.  Right now I am mid-game.  I think the early combats were OK but as the game progresses the combat viewer makes the game increadingly unstable.  It never crashes in the combat viewer, only 1-3 turns after the combat viewer is closed.  I must save every single turn while at war.
End of quote


Please install 'SmartException' from the free stuff section in Stardock Central. Make sure that SE is running and start your game as normal. If the game crashes it will generate an exception report that can be emailed to gc2bugs@stardock.com.

Include in/attached to the email:
+ A description of what you were doing at the time.
+ How to reproduce the crash (if possible).
+ A zipped save (if applicable).
+ The appropriate debug.err file.

The devs cannot help if you do not provide these details!