bbr91 bbr91

[1.0][Performance Issues] FPS drops

[1.0][Performance Issues] FPS drops

I'm sorry if these issues are already known, but I only got my beta yesterday and I'm experiencing some slight performance issues on my first game and I thought I should do my part for the beta testing process.

1. FPS drop. I should start by mentioning I have an Nvidia 9600GT card with latest drivers, running at 1920x1080. It's a decent card, it does its job in games far more prettier than FE. While in 3D mode I usually get around 25-30FPS, as indicated by Fraps, but while looking at an Imperium zone, with many walls, many trees, 1-2 cities, I experience a FPS drop down to 12FPS which is very noticeable and annoying. The FPS is of course worst when at maximum zoom out (the level before switching to cloth map). I keep the cloth map zoom change level to default. I was able to gain 5 more FPS by disabling outlines. Antialiasing does not seem to affect FPS when switched between 0 and 2. In cloth map I get a constant 60FPS. Disabling Shadows, Particle effects or Pedestrians has no effect on FPS either.

2. Clunky switch between 3D and cloth map. When either zooming in from cloth to 3D or zooming out from 3D to cloth, there isn't a fluid transition, but rather feels like a stop-motion transition and I find myself zoomed in or zoomed out more than I wanted because of this. This issue was also reported by Keith Turner in his preview of Fallen Enchantress on Space Sector. EDIT: After further testing I can say that this issue is caused by antialiasing. When set to 0 the transition is visibly smoother and more fluid. When set to 2 however, it is very clunky, as described.

I didn't think a debug.err was needed for these issues. If anyone has any suggestions, or if more details are needed please say so.

EDIT: Without opening another thread, I should also mention health bars during combat do not update correctly to reflect the actual health of the unit.

EDIT: The Knights of Asok camp building seems to be missing. It shows when not constructed, but when under construction it disappears and doesn't appear even when finished. Its icon does show on the cloth map and it does spawn units. But it's not visible nor selectable in 3D view.

219,654 views 98 replies
Reply #77 Top

So, Brad, now that the game is released, maybe after the first patch, you guys can take a look at that engine issue you were talking about? :)

Sales seem to be good so far, so that's a good sign.

Reply #78 Top

Hey, just want to say that I have the same issue.  Windows XP, a solid nvidia card, a modern computer.  It isn't a problem with my hardware being able to handle modern games.       

The game starts out fine at 60 fps, but about midgame the fps drops to around 10-20.  Taking off all the bells and whistles (ie shadows, terrain objects, anti-aliasing, pedestrians, reducing resolution... everything) only help a little bit.  It's still pretty unplayable at the midgame.

I'm hoping that Stardock can address this because the underlying game is dramatically better than WoM.  It was fun enough that I tried to simply plow through the FPS drop, but it just started to become unplayable.  

I hope you can look into this and fix it because the game seems very good - what I'd hope WoM would be - and I'd really like to play it.  

 

 

Reply #79 Top

Like I said in other thread you owe it to yourself to just play with outlines off, I had big problems until I did and not only does the game play much smoother it looks better!

Reply #80 Top

I've turned off the outlines and in fact put the graphics settings to the lowest level and yet the issue persists.  Massive FPS hit in the midgame.  Others are having the same issue - someone posted a video of it on another thread.  

 

I understand the game has quite a bit of detail, but this drastic of a decrease in performance versus early game seems to be more than that.  My system is pretty modern and no slouch.  I know Frogboy said his copy runs at a smooth 50-60 fps at all times... 

Reply #81 Top

Brad also said he thinks this is a problem caused by the way Nvidia card do... something. He said they'll take a look after release, which is now. It's clearly an engine problem, I hope they fix it, it's quite annoying and off-putting. The worst I got was 12 FPS with outlines off, which is quite alarming.

Reply #82 Top

I might have something this evening for peple to play with. But bear in mind, these are unofficial builds off my home PC between playing XCOM.

Reply #83 Top


frogboy, are you trying to mod xcom into the game, you naughty frog.

Reply #84 Top

Quoting Glowing_Ember, reply 84

frogboy, are you trying to mod xcom into the game, you naughty frog.
End of Glowing_Ember's quote

Every time I load up XCOM and see that smooth rotating logo when it's loading I cry.  DirectX 11 is...so wonderful.

With DirectX 11, your threads can call the GPU.  

 

Reply #85 Top

If it is so good, why not use it? (It may already do, I do not know for certain, but by what you say. :S) Is to so that more people can play FE? (This is just out of curiosity, in no way I am criticizing Stardock, I am sure they have reasons for the decisions they do, and that said choices are not 'to screw players' :P)

 

My game also dies FPS wise, and it worries me that it is in the campaign of all places, where I have one city, and a single stack of units, and 90% of the map is always in FOW, so I should barely have anything rendering...

My computer is also pretty new, a Dell bought last december, best I could find, and to boot, I use Game Booster, which does help a fair amount...

Any ideas anyone?

Reply #86 Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 83
I might have something this evening for peple to play with. But bear in mind, these are unofficial builds off my home PC between playing XCOM.
End of Frogboy's quote

I volunteer to test anything as long as it doesn't need DirectX 11, as my card doesn't support it.

You're not gonna give me your cooties, right? XD

Reply #87 Top

Just thot I'd check in......my performance mid game is good avg 55fps.  Late game is still really good 45-55fps.  I did turn off outlines, just cause it looks better to me anyway.  Ok that's all I got :)

 

Reply #88 Top


i had some FPS issues at first, i was only getting around 25 fps at start and quickly droping to around 10 but after investigating my system was not properly switching from my onboard gpu to the discrete gpu for some reason with FE, works fine with others.  I simply told my control panel instead of auto select gpu to always use the discrete and my fps went to 60+.  Not sure yet what it will be as the game progresses as i've been testing some modding ideas of mine instead of playing.  FYI i play on the new second gen Razer Blade laptop.

Reply #89 Top

Got same problem as most of you, no matter if the map is explored or not, midgame = Death by fps drop.
Overwise, i still manage to play it cauz i luv FE hard

Reply #90 Top

Glad to see that Stardock is aware of this issue.  

I've supported Stardock since Galciv 1 and I've come to expect excellent post-release support (far surpassing any other game company) so I'm hoping they can fix this issue.  From what I've played FE is very well crafted, this midgame FPS issue is just making it unplayable.  

Did anyone encounter this in the beta? Or is this new since release?  

 

Reply #91 Top

Quoting Tsathoggua, reply 91
Did anyone encounter this in the beta? Or is this new since release?  
End of Tsathoggua's quote

I play the game since the first Beta 4 came out, like 6 weeks ago I think, and the problem was there. It probably hasn't been fixed already because not many people have the problem, and of those, few of us actually take it to the forums.

I'm eagerly waiting Brad's solution :)

Reply #92 Top

Quoting bbr91, reply 92
I'm eagerly waiting Brad's solution
End of bbr91's quote


I've already seen some improvement with his personal build. Hopefully it will be implemented.

Reply #93 Top

Quoting parrottmath, reply 93
I've already seen some improvement with his personal build.
End of parrottmath's quote

What? How? Where? I want it! How do I get it? Do I have to go to his house?

Reply #94 Top

Quoting bbr91, reply 94
Quoting parrottmath, reply 93I've already seen some improvement with his personal build.

What? How? Where? I want it! How do I get it? Do I have to go to his house?
End of bbr91's quote

https://forums.elementalgame.com/434964

I'd recommend making a back-up of your fallenenchantress.exe before you play with this, but hey there you go.

Reply #95 Top

Just want to chime in and say I'm having the same problem.

Game starts out buttery smooth at 60FPS and then drops to 20 or less as the game goes on (especially when I have more than one city in view, but even when I have nothing but scenery in view it still tends to hover around 30).

I tried out the unofficial build and it might have a helped slightly but not much, so I'm going back to the official for now since the unofficial also seems to break a few random things (like Loading Screens for some reason).

Reply #96 Top

Just going to bump this so that this issue stays alive.    

I'm personally running windows XP - could that be the culprit?  Are you other guys using windows 7?

Reply #97 Top

Quoting Tsathoggua, reply 97
Are you other guys using windows 7?
End of Tsathoggua's quote

I am. There's a sticky thread about performance issues on Windows XP. Did you check it out?

Reply #98 Top

Yeah, already did that and it doesn't help.