DA herky jerky, not much fun

from GalCiv2 Forums
This game plays very herky jerky. When I select ships and try to move them there is repetative clicking and then jump to post movement. Same when I open View Ships/planets and select between ships. Lot's of hesitation, clicking, then jumping to selected object. Very annoying. I run XP, on a good system and have set resolution to mid level and turned off most details. Also the income vs expense on the planet side of view planets always shows income and expenses as the same even though I am running a deficit.

Unless I loaded the game wrong somehow there are serious problems in smoothness of operation and thus game is very disappointing. Too bad, all the new features look interesting.

So far, I am not very impressed. Going back to Dread Lords II, which continues to play nice and smooth.
9,320 views 24 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Please go to C:\Program Files\Stardock\Totalgaming\GalCiv2 (or wherever you installed the game at), open the debug.err file you find there in notepad, and copy/paste the contents into a post here. If this is a DA report, you'll find the debug in C:\Program Files\Stardock\Totalgaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar instead. This will give us some technical information that can help troubleshoot your problem.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I've got a similar problem (I posted elsewhere about it), but are you sure I should post the whole debug err file here? It's 504kb and from opening up in notepad, about 50% of this is

Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=32

repeated over and over again. Do you just need to see the first bit before all the debug messages appear?
Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Do you just need to see the first bit before all the debug messages appear?


At least post everything ABOVE where it says "Debug Message:  ***** Initializing Game *****".
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I get the herky jerky thing too but only when im playing Gigantic map... My video card is a bit older ati 9600 pro 256 . . so i'm just blamin it on that. Outside of that and it sometimes plays video catch up game is runnin great...
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Funny - I've also got very poor performance in Dark Avatar, altough for me it does not matter what size of galaxy map you are playing on, I've also noticed that Gal Civ 2 Dread Lords runs fine as well - I'll post by debug file as well then.

System
Intel Pentium 4HT 3.80 and 3.79GHz
Windows XP - Latest Build
2 GB ram
Nvidia Geforce 7800 GTX (93.71 -latest driver-)
Xear 3D sound chip.

Debug Message: Version v1.50 Dark Avatar last updated on: Fri Feb 9 14:05:57 2007
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 2/16/2007, 03:47:42
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: ADVENT
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: DIXONSXP
System Model: MS-7046
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.80GHz (2 CPUs)
Physical Memory: 2048MB RAM
Page File: 240MB used, 3698MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GTX
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce 7800 GTX
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0091&SUBSYS_02C210DE&REV_A1
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Philips 190X5 (19 inch LCD MONITOR 190X5)
Monitor Max Resolution: 1280,1024
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.9371
Driver Date: 10/22/2006 12:22:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: C-Media Rear Panel Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_434D&DEV_4980&SUBSYS_70461462&REV_0904
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: cmudax.sys
Provider: C-Media Electronics Inc.
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0008
Driver Date: 5/12/2005 13:39:56
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

Sound device 1:
Description: Modem #2 Line Playback (emulated)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID:
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 81
Driver Name:
Provider:
Driver Version:
Driver Date:
Type: Emulated
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: Going Fullscreen
Debug Message: Preparing to change display settings.
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_4_SAMPLES
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1280 x 1024
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GTX
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: GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message: ***** Initializing Game *****
Debug Message: Timer Frequency is 0 e1ef33f0
Debug Message: Initializing sound card.
Debug Message: initailizing bink
Debug Message: No files found matching mask Movies\techs\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Chaz Vinten\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Gfx\Movies\*.bik
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: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=0
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding FullscreenBink
Debug Message: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: Killing ship styles:
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Chaz Vinten\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ships\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Chaz Vinten\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\shiptemplates\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Chaz Vinten\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ShipStyles\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask ./Data/\FleetFormations\*.fleet
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2Gfx\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:\Documents and Settings\Chaz Vinten\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ships\*.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: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=1
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=33
Debug Message: Error loading mission 10 from C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar\./Data/English/Campaigns/Dark Avatar.gc2campaign
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding CampaignWnd
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Chaz Vinten\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Dark Avatar\*.sav
Debug Message: Error loading mission 10 from C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar\./Data/English/Campaigns/Dark Avatar.gc2campaign
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 asteroid fields.
Debug Message: Killing asteroid field mining bases.
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: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=40
Debug Message: Loading custom map: ./Data/English/Campaigns\A Matter of Genocide.gc2map (4 x 4)
Debug Message: Num Anomalies: 167
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding MissionWnd
Debug Message: CustomPersonalityWnd: Cannot find OBJID Personality_Special_Title
Debug Message: CustomPersonalityWnd: Cannot find OBJID Personality_Special_Disctiption_Spinner_Back
Debug Message: CustomPersonalityWnd: Cannot find OBJID Personality_Special_Disctiption_Title
*DEBUG ERROR: ***CustomShipStyleWnd: Unknown edit field ShipList_List_Entry type: CustomListEntry ***
*DEBUG ERROR: ***CustomShipStyleWnd: Unknown edit field ShipList_Avalible_List_Entry type: CustomListEntry ***
Debug Message: WARNING: GetShipStylePrefix called for civ and civ has no ship style
Debug Message: LoadHardpointsFromPrefsFile failed to load ship config file: ./Data/ShipCfg/\(null)_ColonyShip.shipcfg
Debug Message: Setting Game Options
Debug Message: Creating Civs
Debug Message: Drengin Empire: Intellence -> 40
Debug Message: Drath Legion: Intellence -> 50
Debug Message: Thalan Empire: Intellence -> 50
Debug Message: Korath Clan: Intellence -> 80
Debug Message: Creating Civs... Done
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Creating ships...
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Galaxy Create... Done
Debug Message: UIBeginGame called with g_ulLocalPlayerID = 0
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: New Campaign Game Started: Dark Avatar
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: Mods are Disabled
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=14
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 2
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding ResearchWnd
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 9
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 0
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 9
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 0
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 9
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 10
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 0
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 0
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 3
Debug Message: EconomicWnd: Cannot find OBJID Template_Button_Back
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 3
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 4
Debug Message: ForeignRelationsWnd: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Relations_Destabilize_Slider
Debug Message: ForeignRelationsWnd: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Relations_Destabilize_Scale
Debug Message: ForeignRelationsWnd: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Relations_Destabilize_Title
Debug Message: ForeignRelationsWnd: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Relations_Destabilize_Value
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=5
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding TradeWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=8
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding MessageBoxWnd
Debug Message: ForeignStats: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Stats_Race_Button_11
Debug Message: ForeignStats: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Stats_Race_Image_11
Debug Message: ForeignStats: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Stats_Race_Button_12
Debug Message: ForeignStats: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Stats_Race_Image_12
Debug Message: ForeignStats: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Stats_Race_Button_13
Debug Message: ForeignStats: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Stats_Race_Image_13
Debug Message: ForeignReportWnd: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Report_Race_Button_11
Debug Message: ForeignReportWnd: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Report_Race_Image_11
Debug Message: ForeignReportWnd: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Report_Race_Button_12
Debug Message: ForeignReportWnd: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Report_Race_Image_12
Debug Message: ForeignReportWnd: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Report_Race_Button_13
Debug Message: ForeignReportWnd: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Report_Race_Image_13
*DEBUG ERROR: ***ForeignTreatiesWnd: Unknown edit field Foreign_Treaties_Lines_Window type: DrawingWindow ***
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 0
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 7
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 0
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=17
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding OptionsWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=1
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=17
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding OptionsWnd
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 9
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 0
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=17
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding OptionsWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=17
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding OptionsWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=17
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding OptionsWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=8
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding MessageBoxWnd
Debug Message: Destroying ship Kaira Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=20
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding HeadlineWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=14
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 2
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding ResearchWnd
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 0
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=17
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding OptionsWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=17
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding OptionsWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=17
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding OptionsWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=1
Debug Message: TitleWnd: Quit Button.
Debug Message: Posting WM_CLOSE message.
Debug Message: WM_CLOSE message received.
Debug Message: GameUninitialize start
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 asteroid fields.
Debug Message: Killing asteroid field mining bases.
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 ship styles:
Debug Message: Killing Galaxy: Completed
Debug Message: Shutting down sound system.
Debug Message: Clearing sound and music handles.
Debug Message: WorkAreaBack.png not cleared 1 counts left.
Debug Message: GameUninitialize end
Debug Message: Device not cleared. 5 counts left.
Debug Message: D3D not cleared. 1 counts left.
Debug Message: Destroying Window.
Debug Message: Main Shell terminating normally
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
At least post everything ABOVE where it says "Debug Message: ***** Initializing Game *****".


Okay kryo. As I said there is a lot more but it might annoy other forum users to have to wade through it all in the thread. The problem is not so much that gameplay is jerky (with the graphics card I've got I'm used to that!) but that it was smooth as silk with DL so the change is really noticeable. Anyway, thanks for your help:

Debug Message: Version v1.50 Dark Avatar last updated on: Fri Feb 2 10:52:32 2007
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 2/12/2007, 18:25:49
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: AUSTIN-B5D55FE6
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: VIAK8_
System Model: AWRDACPI
BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3000+, MMX, 3DNow, ~2.0GHz
Physical Memory: 1024MB RAM
Page File: 547MB used, 1912MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: RADEON 9250
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip Type: RADEON 9250 AGP (0x5960)
DAC Type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_5960&SUBSYS_280117EE&REV_01
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution: 1600,1200
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6546
Driver Date: 5/4/2005 02:28:54
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Realtek AC97 Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1106&DEV_3059&SUBSYS_A0021458&REV_60
Manufacturer ID: 65535
Product ID: 65535
Driver Name: ALCXWDM.SYS
Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5440
Driver Date: 1/9/2004 15:17:02
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

Sound device 1:
Description: Modem #0 Line Playback (emulated)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID:
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 81
Driver Name:
Provider:
Driver Version:
Driver Date:
Type: Emulated
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: Going Fullscreen
Debug Message: Preparing to change display settings.
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONE
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1024 x 768
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (sw vp): RADEON 9250
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: GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message: ***** Initializing Game *****

Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
chazzie, you definitely shouldn't be having any performance issues with that system. Try making a shortcut directly to the game (GC2DarkAvatar.exe) and add 'framerate' to the end of the path in the shortcut's properties. So it would look something like:

"C:\Program Files\Stardock\Totalgaming\GalCiv2\Darkavatar\GC2DarkAvatar.exe" framerate

That will add a FPS display in the game. Go play and post back here about your typical framerate and any low spots you notice so we can get an idea if just how your performance is. Or if you have FRAPs and know how to use its benchmarking features, do that as it will give much more detailed data.
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Col80, please do the same and post about your framerates as well. Though as you have a low-end video card, poorer performance is not really unexpected. You can do the same thing for a GC2 shortcut and post your typical FPS from it for comparison too.
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I get the herky jerky thing too, and it's sporadic. There's nothing going on in the background on my system. You select a ship and move it 5 squares, and the game makes a clicking noise 5 times and 'selects' the ship on all 5 squares. It's annoying, but because it's sporadic I can live with it. I can hit the 'Turn' button and it'll go away (until next time).

I've gotten an even weirder problem where you click on a ship w/ 5 movement and it will move *HALF* a parsec and stop. We're talking the ship is sitting off-grid. But I just hit the 'Turn' button again and let autopilot do its work, and everything's fine. I hope I don't run into this bug when I'm facing combat.
Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I'm pretty sure it's to do with ships. My latest game is a medium galaxy with a handful of other players. At the start of the game I'm at a steady 50 framerate; a couple of hundred turns in I'm still between 35-50 generally except where my ships are gathered where the framerate is around 6-7 - not unplayable but a bit of a chore.

For comparison I set up a similar game on DL and with a similar number of ships at around the same time I was getting a framerate of about 25. I should note that all graphics settings have been left untouched in both DL and DA apart from having anti-aliasing turned off for DA as I read a forum post saying this improved performance (if it does it's negligable).
Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Or if you have FRAPs and know how to use its benchmarking features, do that as it will give much more detailed data.


What is this????
Reply #13 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

If you run GalCiv with the cheat parameter, you can hit Ctrl-F and the framerate should show up.

I have a Geforce 7950 and never ran into anything like this.  We will be looking into it but it's clearly not something that should be happening.

Reply #14 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
BTW, have any of you guys tried turning down the video optons to see if there's something that might be the culprit? Turn off sound too. 
Reply #15 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I was going to say to reduce Anti-aliasing and see if that helps. Even on my Dual-core i needed to reduce the AA to 3 as 4 was too jerky.

God luck guys!

High-Res Graphics Mod by LogicSequence - 110MB but worth every byte!
Reply #16 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
DA currently screams "memory leak" at me. Itll be fine when I first start playing it, but the longer i have it running, the slower and more "jerky" everything gets, eventually leading to a crash. And it *will* eventually crash, every time, If I dont restart the program from time to time. Mine is not a "lo-ram" system, either.
Reply #17 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I agree, I see a memory leak. I was running only Galciv2 and was doing frequent save-and-reloads (due to a different bug), and I got the "Warning: your system is running low on Virtual Memory" message. The machine was getting really slow.
Reply #18 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
That's strange, Bingjack, I had that exact problem you're describing with DL, and DA fixed it for me (so far).

I've got 2.5 RAM and a 4K page file, and can now run gigantic maps with 9 races. Have you increased the size of your page file?
Reply #19 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Most of the time DA runs at about 810mb in my page file and much much less on the main memory. Not yet had a problem and i only have 1GB of memory
Reply #20 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
No, its the same sytem, same settings Im able to run DL fine on almost indefinitely. But DA performance definitely degrades the longer I'm playing, and will eventually crash after a few hours(on large maps, anyways). Ive taken to just restarting the game ever hour or so. I have 4 gigs of ram I use for CPU based CG rendering.


Ill keep an eye on Memory usuage while Im playing, and If I can see a pattern, Ill post system info. Wont be playing for a while though, I'm in the middle of another project, and theyll probaly have it fixed with a patch by then.
Reply #21 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Do you by chance have the advanced AI on?

It allows the AI to design ships far more often. More designed ships means more memory used.

I can assure you there aren't memory leaks in GalCiv II. One of the things that's come a long way over the past few years in terms of debug tools are memory leak tools. It's one of the things we are very careful about.

However, ship designs stay around within a given game. It's not an issue in Dread Lords (the original) because the aI only designs ships once in a great while. But in Dark Avatar, the AI does it more often.

Reply #22 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I do play with Max cpu enabled. Im am also a rather prolific ship designer myself. But I would think that would slow the specific game in progress down over time, but not neccesarily the degrading performace for each play session.

In any event, its far from unplayable, and just restarting the program every so often seems to avoid the crashes. Its probably just the impact of the heavier CPU usage from DA in relation to DL.
Reply #23 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
In any event, its far from unplayable, and just restarting the program every so often seems to avoid the crashes


Indeed! I restart every couple of hours or so just to give the CPU's a breather for a minute
Reply #24 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I have this 'Memory leak' type problem with it slowing down and becoming jerky, here is the debug before the initilizing of the game.

Debug Message: Version v1.50 Dark Avatar last updated on: Fri Feb 9 14:05:57 2007
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 2/16/2007, 23:46:27
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: TATER
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
System Model: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
BIOS: BIOS Date: 12/13/05 11:07:57 Ver: 08.00.09
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.20GHz (2 CPUs)
Physical Memory: 1024MB RAM
Page File: 225MB used, 2235MB 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_0041&SUBSYS_A3433842&REV_A1
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (72Hz)
Monitor Name: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution: 1600,1200
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.9371
Driver Date: 10/22/2006 12:22:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: SoundMAX Digital Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_24D5&SUBSYS_80F31043&REV_02
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: smwdm.sys
Provider: Analog Devices
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.3630
Driver Date: 6/2/2003 12:42:14
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: Going Fullscreen
Debug Message: Preparing to change display settings.
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONE
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1280 x 1024
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): NVIDIA GeForce 6800
Debug Message: D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_DEFAULT
Debug Message: Refresh rate: 72
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: GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message: ***** Initializing Game *****


The thing is here that i turned antialiasing down to zero, turned off battles, and turned the game into a pure symbol/icon only map, where no matter how far i zoom in it is always 2D, but STILL expierience slowdown after a halfhour to hour of gameplay. Temperature is never past 72 C. I play BF2 and Company of Heroes with medium graphiocs each with smoothness.