And just like that, they were gone...

from GalCiv2 Forums
I'd like some help on this issue please. I installed the game on a xp sp2 with a ATI mobility 9700 (latest drivers). All went well with the first hour or so, and I saved my game as I had to go out.

When I loaded up again ALL the planets, ships and so on have disappeared, to be replaced by icons in the same manner as this guy's post https://forums.galciv2.com/?ForumID=162&AID=106593 (which I notice nobody from Stardock has replied to).

I've tried all the patches up to the latest beta, and changed my regional settings to UK English from US English (which I shouldn't really have to do to get a game to work correctly, right?) all to no avail.

From reading the forums it seems that the customer service is pretty helpful, though it seems as though there are a couple of bugs "left hanging", this one included. Could someone provide a fix please? Thanks.
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Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
those icons are the very same icons that appear when you zoom all the way out. the game is playable this way, but not very enjoyable. Does this also happen with a new game? or is it just this particular save? Im not sure what would cause it, but it sounds like a videocard driver issue to me (ive had similar things happen in other games).
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Now, did you take the odd route and drag "Tactical View Zoom Level" (in the interface options) to the max? Do you have the latest ATI drivers? Have you eaten any bad soup lately?
The Political Machine 2024
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I’m assuming that you are playing on a laptop, right?
If so, please provide type.
I’ll load it into my laptop to see if the same thing happens here, but it’s probably some driver. Laptops are hard to keep updated because of specialised hardware.
There is also the issue of what really happens when the laptop goes into sleep/suspended mode. Sometimes I have noticed that it’s not “all there”, if you follow me.

I’m not sure, but considering how other things are looking, the missing graphics are probably .PNG. Whatever files are responsible for reading .PNG could be broken. I also heard that SD has a nifty program that scales graphics. This could also be the problem, in particular if the laptop has gone into sleep and not restored file connections properly.

I’ll install it and see if I can duplicate this (might take some time, though).

I think Your best bet is to reinstall everything including windows (throw in a dual boot Linux partition while Your at it ), disable any and all suspend modes (don’t forget the closing of the lid feature/bug) and then reinstall the game.


Rygel XVI - Dominar to over 600 billion (more or less) loyal subjects.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
In the options, there is a slider called "Tactical Vew Zoom Level" ( third time this has been brought up now... ) - did you check that it is not set all the way to the right?
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
As far as a laptop is concerned, i recommend updating you video drivers. If you have specialised driver, as me--also 9700m, get that one Link They work pretty well for me.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thanks for the tips folks, to deal with them (most important first).

Actually, I did have some pretty bad soup last week Crustacean... I'll investigate this in due course...

I checked the zoom slider and fiddled with it to no effect. And it happens with all new games aswell as the save. As I said before I have the latest ATi mobility cats, but I'm going to try a complete reinstall of the game and install Omega drivers to see what happens. I'll let you know how that turns out.
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I finally managed to update everything on my laptop and install GC2.
I tried to shut it of while playing, close the lid while playing, alt-tab and some other abuses as well. I was, however, unable to reproduce the circle-planet thingy.

I’ll hope the reinstall fixes things for You.


Rygel XVI - Dominar to over 600 billion (more or less) loyal subjects.
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Joy, the reinstall with Omega drivers instead of the ATi cats seems to be working for now. I'll post again if the problem rears its ugly head once more.

Thanks for the advice.
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Now that's strange. Did ATI break something with the latest drivers?

(You might want to email stardock with this incase it shows up again)
Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Now that's strange. Did ATI break something with the latest drivers?


What's strange about that? They do that with every driver release.