I downloaded Galactic Civilizations 2 Ultimate Edition from Stardock directrly. I installed it (without any patch - version 1.97) and played for about 3 hours. At that point the game kept crashing whatever I did. I tried many different things none of which worked in the end.
So I downloaded patch v2.03 through Impulse. But now I cannot even get the game to start. Whenever I choose to play the game through autorun menu or *.exe file, the screen goes black, like when the game starts to load, and then it always returns to desktop.
After having searched the forum, I tried many things, like updating video drivers, changing resolution in desktop or ingame resolution, anti-liasing and window mode through *.ini files, verifying installation through impulse, reinstalling the game and reapplying the patch and finally playing only the base game or every expansion seperatelly before and after the patch. I have even compared the Twilight *.ini and debug.err files with the other ones line by line and still I cannot find the problem.
Making it short, Dread Lords and Dark Avatar run flawlessly, Twilight of Arnor v2.03 crashes just after the first black screen, Twilight v1.97 runs but crashes later in the game from some game bug.
Would be grateful for any help, many thanks in advance.
Below there is the Twilight debug.err file
Debug Message: Version v2.03 Twilight of the Arnor last updated on: Thu Jul 23 11:47:38 2009
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 8/25/2009, 16:09:04
DirectX Version: DirectX 10
Machine Name: NICKTHEGREEK-PC
Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6001) Service Pack 1 (6001.vistasp1_gdr.090302-1506)
Languages: Greek (Regional Setting: Greek)
System Manufacturer: TOSHIBA
System Model: Satellite A200
BIOS: Ver 1.00PARTTBL0
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) Duo CPU T2350 @ 1.86GHz (2 CPUs), ~1.9GHz
Physical Memory: 2046MB RAM
Page File: 890MB used, 3433MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce Go 7300
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce Go 7300
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_01D7&SUBSYS_FF021179&REV_A1
Display Memory: 1020 MB
Current Display Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: LG L227W (Analog)
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: nvd3dum.dll,nvwgf2um.dll
Driver Version: 7.15.0011.7948
Driver Date: 1/30/2009 09:12:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes
Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0862&SUBSYS_1179010C&REV_1000
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: RTKVHDA.sys
Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5361
Driver Date: 1/18/2007 20:56:56
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
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 hardware vertex processing
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONE
Debug Message: Attempting to create D3DDevice at resolution 1024 x 768, Windowed: 0, Multisample: 0
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1024 x 768
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): NVIDIA GeForce Go 7300
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
