catphive catphive

dark avatar choppy even with graphics all the way down

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dark avatar choppy even with graphics all the way down

from GalCiv2 Forums
I'm running on a 1.5 ghz pentium m with integrated graphics (intel 850).

I found death lords to be very playable on my system even with graphics turned all the way up. Moving and rotating space when zoomed in on the map didn't result in spectacular frame rates, but it wasn't that bad at all. Now when I launch dark avatar, I find that there are long pauses when I try to move, rotate or anyting, and that it's completely unplayable. These problem persists with all graphics options turned down to zero, which is ridiculous, since textures aren't even being displayed.

I should mention that when I zoom out to the point where all the planets and ships become just icons, all of a sudden the framerate becomes perfectly smooth.

I've heard other people complain about DA running much choppier than DL even on pretty decent systems, does anyone know any fixes, or anything to help alleviate the problem? Why would there be such a change during the upgrade? Is the DA team aware of the choppyness and looking into performance problems?
45,875 views 95 replies
Reply #26 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Has there been any progress on solving the extremely slow scrolling issue that I posted about earlier?


It was passed on to nVidia, last I'd heard.
Reply #27 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

catphive,

I'll have to talk with our 3D engine guru to find out why the lighting might be different.  In the meantime, if you turn off Point Sprites from the video options, that might make the game run more smoothly.

 

Star Control: Origins
Reply #28 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Bump-mapping seems to be the problem for me. Reducing the specular intensity to 0 hasn't improved anything. Nor has turning off point sprites. But bump-mapping is still related to lighting, so the problem seems to be there.
Reply #29 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

In both GC2 and DL , the ships are lit by only one light source.   If you turn the specular intensity down, it doesn't save any calculations, it just changes the value used in the equation, so I don't think that is causing a slowdown.  jstarz01, can you think of any other settings you may have changed that helped improve the performance? 

I have been working on some improvements to make the game run smoother. In the meantime, turning off bump mapping will save you memory and computation time, so that may help increase performance. 

 

Reply #30 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
i was fiddeling with the specular intensity slider today and it was inconclusive as to weather or not it was causing any framerate problems.the framerate drops in my games are very inconsistant so now i'm not sure why they have returned to normal.the first game i played i tuned the bump mapping off and that helped because when ever i scrolled over stacked drengin ships or certain other single drengin ship designs the framerates would drop.this second game i played without the drengins, turned bump mapping back on turned the specular intensity off and at times the framerates were good at other points in the game bad.today i turned every thing on and had no major framerate drops.so now i'm not sure what to think.the one solution that improved framerates consistantly was to turn the bump mapping off.unfortunatlly the side effect of that was you would lose a lot of nice eye candy on the ship designs.so i guess i'll have to wait for the 1.6 patch and hope for the best.
Reply #31 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I have virtually the same configuration as Catphive, only with less RAM. I read the reviews of this game and I'd very much like to purchase it, provided that the expansion will run on my system.

So... eagerly waiting for Catphive's reply on whether the solution suggested by Carielf works
Reply #32 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
We'll be very interested to find out if 1.6 beta 1 fixes this.
Reply #33 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Hamanu: If you don't have the base game without the expansion, you might as well get that. That seems to run ok on my system. The framerate isn't spectacular, but it's very playable and certainly fun.

Turning off point sprites doesn't seem to solve it for me.

I should note that I'm seeing the framerate issue in first part of the DA campaign where there are a number of ships, and some big ships on the screen simultaneously since that's as far as I've gotten in the game.

As I delete ships, the framerate increases. Maybe it is just a matter of too many polygons on the screen for my dinky integrated graphics card to handle. If you have any curved surfaces in the models, it might be nice to have an option to turn down the number of polygons used to approximate the curve, or similar level of detail stuff. Aside from that, maybe I just need a new computer *sigh*.
Reply #34 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
catphive, you could try building your own ships with fewer parts and see if that helps.  Then you can edit the AI opponents to use templates that you create for them. 
Reply #35 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Catphive: Thanks for the info. Since TBS games are the only games I still play (RPG died after Fallout2 and Planscape: Torment ) I like to get my hands on anything I can, especially if the game has such great reviews as GC2 does. And reading the reviews DA seems to add quite a lot to the game.

Its a pity, IMO that strategy games started making such huge demands on hardware. I spent $1500 on my laptop 2 years ago and since I use it for Word and Surfing 90% of the time it definitely doesn't pay off to buy a new one just to be able to play an occasional TBS. It was a big disappointment when I saw that EU3 required Pixel Shader 2.0 (and Hardware T&L that our Intel integrated doesn't have), but I was actually pissed off when I saw the game on a computer that could run it and noticed that the graphics are nothing special and completely unnecessary for such a game. The little twirling-whirling marketplaces, the trees and the shades don't add anything to the game, in fact, EU2 was much easier to navigate in than EU3.

I'm not criticizing Stardock for improving the graphics in DA, if all else fails, maybe (just maybe ) my brother will let me use his laptop to play. I just want to stress that TBS fans like myself might not require spectacular graphics, but gameplay And from what I've heard this game offers spectacular gameplay.

I'll probably end up buying the Gold edition (to pay less in total than buying the expansion later) and hoping that a patch will fix the error with the ships. If not then I'll enter begging mode and request access to my bro's supercomputer (running WOW, C&C3 etc )
Reply #36 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well,

I just updated the newest DA and it did not fix my scrolling, zooming, rotating lag issue. I really hope that 1.6 or a new nvidia driver will fix this problem. It is very difficult to play with this issue and a progress update would be greatly appreciated. I SOOOO regret upgrading to vista. I knew better and now I am paying the price.

Reply #37 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I am so dissapointed. I just tried the beta 1.6 release for DA and it did not fix my video issue. Does anyone else have this problem? Is there a solution in sight or does it all hinge on nvidia and their drivers? Man do I wish I had an ATI right now but that won't happen. Updates please!
Reply #38 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Well, in the meantime are you hiding the minimap?  I am still waiting for word from my contact at NVidia.

Reply #39 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Well, in the meantime are you hiding the minimap?  I am still waiting for word from my contact at NVidia.



Yes and it is working but it is annoying as you can guess. Whenever you hear anything from NVidia, please post it. I check daily and would love to know what the prognosis is. I have to imagine they can fix it or provide you with info on a patch for the game as a work around. I have noticed other threads on this forum as well devoted to this problem, so it seems like it's effecting lots of folks with similar machines as mine. Thanks for the reply. I don't blame you, I blame NVidia.
Reply #40 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I just wanted to add some input to this problem. I am also experiencing this and I can rule out that it has anything to do with Vista since I'm running Win2K. First here are my specs:

AMD Sempron 3000
Nforce3 250
2 GB RAM
Nvidia Geforce 6600GT w/128 MB (Forceware 81.94 drivers)
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS
Windows 2000 SP4

I had recently upgraded the Forceware to the newest because of another game (Stalker... grrrrr), but frankly the newer drivers seem to be less stable and didn't improve anything in Stalker anyway; and these drivers seem to work perfectly for everything which is working at all.

I notice the scrolling and rotating jerks already at the beginning of a game (only Dark Avatar, not vanilla GalCiv II); if I minimize the context/minimap area everything is as smooth as silk, i.e. I can rotate literally as fast as I can move my mouse.

Now, here's an interesting data point: if I use the minimap to "scroll" (i.e. hold the mouse button and move around, instead of just clicking somewhere), then the screen movement is also very smooth. I'm thinking this indicates that the problem is in the syncronization between the main view and the minimap, rather than the graphics drivers.

Can anyone confirm this?
Reply #41 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I just wanted to add some input to this problem. I am also experiencing this and I can rule out that it has anything to do with Vista since I'm running Win2K.


Can you post your debug.err?
Reply #42 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Here you go....

Debug Message: Version v1.6 beta 1 Dark Avatar last updated on: Tue Apr 3 16:54:35 2007
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 4/12/2007, 14:54:18
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: ORCRIST
Operating System: Windows 2000 Professional (5.0, Build 2195) Service Pack 4
Languages: German (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: ASUSTek Computer Inc.
System Model: K8N
BIOS: BIOS Date: 02/16/06 15:44:49 Ver: 08.00.09
Processor: AMD Sempron(tm) Processor 3000+, ~1.8GHz
Physical Memory: 2048MB RAM
Page File: 284MB used, 2374MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINNT


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce 6600 GT
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_00F1&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_A2
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (85Hz)
Monitor Name: Plug und Play-Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution: 1600,1200
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.8194
Driver Date: 11/4/2005 18:03:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: SB Audigy 2 ZS Audio [D800]
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0004&SUBSYS_20021102&REV_04
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Provider: Creative
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.1196
Driver Date: 8/11/2006 15:45:38
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 multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_4_SAMPLES
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1152 x 864
Debug Message: Running in windowed mode.
Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT
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 25
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 369e99
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:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\Administrator\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Gfx\Movies\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\Administrator\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\sfx\*.wav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\Administrator\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Music\*.mp3
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\Administrator\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\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: 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:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\Administrator\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ships\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\Administrator\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\shiptemplates\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\Administrator\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ShipStyles\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask ./Data/\FleetFormations\*.fleet
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:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\Administrator\Eigene Dateien\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: No files found matching mask C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\Administrator\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Dark Avatar\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\Administrator\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Gfx\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\Administrator\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Metaverse\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\Administrator\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ships\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\Administrator\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ShipStyles\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\Administrator\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\shiptemplates\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\Administrator\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Story Logs\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\Administrator\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\temp\*.sav
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: Loading Custom Map
Debug Message: Loading Data Defs
Debug Message: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: Killing ship styles:
Debug Message: Loading TechDefs
Debug Message: Max num techs: 273
Debug Message: Loading ImprovementDB
Debug Message: Loading Component Defs
Debug Message: Loading ShipTypes
Debug Message: Loading ShipTemplates
Debug Message: Loading ParsedHardpoints
Debug Message: Loading AnomalyTypes
Debug Message: Loading RandomEvents
Debug Message: Loading UPIssues
Debug Message: Loading ResourceTypes
Debug Message: Loading InvasionTactics
Debug Message: Loading SBmodules
Debug Message: Loading PoliticalParties
Debug Message: Loading Planet Types
Debug Message: Loading Star Types
Debug Message: Loading AFMBModules
Debug Message: Loading ShipStyles
Debug Message: Loading Game
Debug Message: Loading: Game mode is normal.
Debug Message: Loading Galaxy
Debug Message: Sectors across: 4 x 4
Debug Message: Loading FOW Map
Debug Message: Loading ZOC Map
Debug Message: Loading Planets
Debug Message: Loading Stars
Debug Message: Loading Anomalies
Debug Message: Loading Resources
Debug Message: Loading AsteroidFields
Debug Message: Loading AFMiningBases
Debug Message: Loading Civs
Debug Message: Loading Colonies
Debug Message: Loading RallyPoints
Debug Message: Loading Ships
Debug Message: Loading Fleets
Debug Message: Loading Turn Event Log
Debug Message: Loading Treaties
Debug Message: Loading ENDGALAXYDATA
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: UIBeginGame called with g_ulLocalPlayerID = 0
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: New Game Started
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: Mods are Disabled
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=20
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding QuarterlyWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=16
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: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=21
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding QuickProjectWnd
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 9
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: StarportWnd: Cannot find OBJID StarPort_Planet_Logo_Image
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 8
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 0
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 0
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: Game Screen: Setting mode to 6
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 7
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 9
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 0
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 5
Debug Message: CampaignVictoryWnd: Cannot find OBJID Campaign_Status_Title
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: Game Screen: Setting mode to 4
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 5
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 5
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 3
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 4
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 3
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 2
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 2
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 0
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 2
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=19
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding OptionsWnd
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 2
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 2
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 0
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 1
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=19
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding OptionsWnd
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 3
Debug Message: DomesticTradeWnd: Cannot find OBJID DTrade_TradeMiniMap_Title
Debug Message: DomesticTradeWnd: Cannot find OBJID DTrade_Button_Back
Debug Message: DomesticEspionageWnd: Cannot find OBJID Espionage_Slider_Title
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 0
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 5
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 9
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 5
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 0
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=19
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding OptionsWnd
Debug Message: Save Game: About to save
Debug Message: Saving game C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\Administrator\Eigene Dateien\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\QuickSave.sav
Debug Message: Num Sectors Across: 4
Debug Message: Saving: Game mode is normal.
Debug Message: Save game finished.
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=19
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding OptionsWnd
Debug Message: OptionsWnd: Quit Btn
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=10
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding MessageBoxWnd
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. 13 counts left.
Debug Message: D3D not cleared. 1 counts left.
Debug Message: Destroying Window.
Debug Message: Main Shell terminating normally
Reply #43 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.8194
Driver Date: 11/4/2005 18:03:00


Your video drivers are not as updated as you thought (they're a year out of date). I'd suggest rechecking nvidia's website and getting Forceware 93.71 (Nov 2006).
Reply #44 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
You obviously didn't read my post very carefully

I know my drivers aren't now the most current ones, I said I had upgraded to the most current ones, but they are less stable overall. I have since "downgraded" to 81.94 which exhibit no problems. The fact is:

1. The people experiencing this symptom are all over the map as far as driver versions go - or for that matter which graphics card they're using.
2. The problem does not seem to be a graphical one; again look at what I wrote in my post:

Now, here's an interesting data point: if I use the minimap to "scroll" (i.e. hold the mouse button and move around, instead of just clicking somewhere), then the screen movement is also very smooth. I'm thinking this indicates that the problem is in the syncronization between the main view and the minimap, rather than the graphics drivers.


I was primarily trying to contribute additional info for analysis of the problem, not necessarily trying to get help in my particular case, since it's apparent that it's not just my particular case. I'm getting the feeling that the graphical corruption problem (which seems to be related to the Nvidia/Visa woes, and which several of the posters here are not experiencing) is getting mixed up with the stuttering scrolling/rotating problem.

EDIT: Well I removed some of the more stupid stuff I wrote.

Mea Culpa

After trying it out on my laptop (ATI Mobility Radeon 9800 with 64MB and really old drivers) and not observing the problem... I went ahead and reinstalled the 93.71 drivers on my desktop to test, and lo and behold: the scroll is smooth. I feel sheepish. Still I hope the data above is interesting for solving the problem for others; I don't care anymore though since it's working on both of the computers where I'm likely to play
Reply #45 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I went ahead and reinstalled the 93.71 drivers on my desktop to test, and lo and behold: the scroll is smooth. I feel sheepish.


Good to hear

This would seem to indicate then that there might have been some issue that was fixed on the XP/2k end after the drivers were forked for Vista (at least, that'd be my guess, but then I'm not a coder).
Reply #46 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

We don't render ships that are defending a planet, unless you're zoomed in really close and you have the little ships flying around.  You can turn that off in the options screen, though. 


As for the lag while scrolling, does it help if you hit the little button that hides the minimap + context area?


We will see what we can do to improve performance for 1.6



My framerate is fine until there's a lot on screen then it'll drop to be somewhat choppy. It's true that if I close the minimap + context, the framerate shoots right back up.

Windows XP (latest updates)
Pentium D 3 ghz
2 GB RAM
2 GB Swap File
Sound Blaster Audigy2 zs (latest driver)
Nvidia Geforce 7950 GT (latest driver)
Reply #47 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Sound Blaster Audigy2 zs (latest driver)
Nvidia Geforce 7950 GT (latest driver)


Some many people say they have the latest ones when they dont...
This may come as surprise but you should probably post your debug.err
Fancy that
Reply #49 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Sound Blaster Audigy2 zs (latest driver)
Nvidia Geforce 7950 GT (latest driver)


Some many people say they have the latest ones when they dont...
This may come as surprise but you should probably post your debug.err
Fancy that


Debug.err's take up so much space. I looked through there and hopefully picked out the relevant part. It's not a big problem, just thought I'd give some feedback that I noticed FPS increase when the minimap was closed so maybe the devs could take a look.

How about being civil when giving advice? Fancy that.

Debug Message: Version v1.6 beta 1 Dark Avatar last updated on: Tue Apr 3 16:54:35 2007
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 4/15/2007, 15:54:04
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: DEEP-BLUE
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.061219-0316)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Gateway
System Model: FX400
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 3.00GHz (2 CPUs)
Physical Memory: 2044MB RAM
Page File: 278MB used, 11610MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce 7950 GT
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce 7950 GT
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0295&SUBSYS_C6333842&REV_A1
Display Memory: 512.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (75Hz)
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 13:22:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: SB Audigy 2 ZS Audio [1000]
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0004&SUBSYS_20041102&REV_04
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Provider: Creative
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.1196
Driver Date: 8/11/2006 15:45:38
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

Sound device 1:
Description: USB Audio Device
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: USB\Vid_0d8c&Pid_000c&Rev_0100&MI_00
Manufacturer ID: 65535
Product ID: 65535
Driver Name: usbaudio.sys
Provider: Microsoft
Driver Version: 5.01.2600.2180
Driver Date: 8/3/2004 23:07:56
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Reply #50 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well, that's just great.

I downloaded the 158 drivers from nvidia and they did not fix the problem. Now what are we all supposed to do. Playing the game with the minimap minimized is stupid. You can't do it and really get the information you need. Switching back and forth is also stupid because it's clunky. Thus, I am stuck playing a choppy game that is extremely annoying to navigate through. This is really too bad, as I REALLY like this game. But what the hell am I supposed to do?

How is it possible that this issue (which has been fixed before) remains unfixed 2 months after it's reported?

How is it possible that this is the only game that says "vista" for an operating system on the box and it doesn't work normally?

How is it possible that this issue can't be patched in the game itself?

I am so frustrated by this! I know I am not the only one who is having this problem. Everyone who has a system similar to mine is stuck with this. It's going to be at least another month before nvidia releases another driver. Are we all screwed for another month and maybe longer if they don't catch it by then?

Am I upset, you bet. If everyone on this form wants to mock me in my frustration, feel free. Is my lack of satisfaction justified, I think so. Please fix this issue ASAP are at least keep trying to contact your nvidia people and don't just wait for them to get back to you!