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Author Topic:   #@&%/*! this game!!!!!

Vasgo posted 02-12-99 10:50 PM ET
I have never been so frustrated with a game! These crashes are just ridiculus. I downloaded the patch did all the other things in the readme and still I get this tantalizing taste of the game then CRASH! I live VERY close to the Firaxis crew in Hunt Valley ( about 5 miles away actually) And I am just about tempted to march up to their Swanky Suite, computer in arms , and force those jokers to make this amazing game work on my system!
But jeff morris rules for his tireless watch over this crisis.
HELP ME DAMMIT!
VvGaMeRXvV posted 02-12-99 11:01 PM ET
Do you mean the problem where the TERRAN.EXE file gets an illegal function thing.. GPF error or whatever? It happens to me when Spartan aircraft goes by certain cities... to counter it, i load the last saved game and make the exact same maneuver impossible.
dirwulf posted 02-12-99 11:04 PM ET
Update your video card drivers! What kind of video card do you have? Have you run DXINFO.EXE or DXDIAG.EXE to check the driver date and certification? When was the last time you went to the video card manufactureres web site and downloaded new drivers AND installed them?
Prerogative posted 02-12-99 11:07 PM ET
Vasgo, hate to sound crude, but I don't think your problem has anything to with SMAC, considerng very few people have also reported your problem.
Some things to check out:
DirectX, it causes plenty of crashes. Be sure to downgrade to DirectX 6.0, the higher versions tend to get real buggy, being new and all, and SMAC can run with DX 3.0 anyway.
Overclocking, it can make a few problems. Be sure to clock your CPU to its regular setting. Forcing it to go too fast can make crashes happen.
Conflicts, sort've related to DirectX. Try and look for any COM port conflicts on your CPU. Get updated drivers for your hardware, and if you have conflicts be sure to fix 'em.
Virtual Memory, free up some space on your master drive, and the drive that SMAC is on. Windows tends to do alot of swapping, especially in gaming enviroments, and a lack of virtual memory can cause your system to lock up.
If you've never had any crashing problems before, it's probably the DirectX. Unless you've installed some new hardware recently...
Hope this helps.
Jeffrey Morris FIRAXIS posted 02-12-99 11:08 PM ET
Dude, come on by. How's tomorrow at 12 noon sound? Email me at [email protected] and I'll give you directions.
jkm
firaxis games
Old_Guy posted 02-12-99 11:52 PM ET
You can't ask for better customer service than that.
I actually got lockups in SMAC 2.0 when the Firaxis logo would appear. Then I remembered that I had installed the low res Caviar files so I uninstalled SMAC, reinstalled it, and reinstalled the patch and now everything is fine.
So my $.02 is to copy ANY customizations you made before loading the patch, then do what you want to do. I created a batch file to load all the default high res Caviar files to a separate folder in case I want to switch back and forth.
PrinceBimz posted 02-13-99 01:37 AM ET
Vasgo don't worry, you will get it working and believe me when you do it will be worth the aggravation. Better yet, if you have anything important to do or take care of do it now while the game is not working because when it does get working all you are going to want to do is PLAY, PLAY, and PLAY it! Reminds me of when I first played Civ and Civ2. Maybe instead of gambler's anonymous they should have SMAC players anonymous :-)
Vasgo posted 02-13-99 10:54 PM ET
Hehehe thats funny Prince, and I am positive that its true. One thing that has been cool about this experience is this forum...This up to the minute community of Civ/Alpha fans has been an amazing experience. Lots of advice now and all the collective hand rubbing and beta boasting of the pre-release period built up such a hype inside me for the game and i am glad to see SMAC hasnt disappointed. the fact that jeff morris actually took me up on my threat to come up there is amazing tech support and if this continues i will take him up on it.(the fact that EB had SMAC for $10 off on Thursday makes it even nicer.)
This kinda thing just helps to make this game more special to me.
I am kinda viewing the constant crashes that always interrupt my game as when you savor the last oreo...or more truthfully the first and only oreo. Taking very small bites...savoring the taste then remembering and cherishing it as i wait for my &%@$*! computer to reboot.
God Bless Sid Meier and Brian Reynolds and Jeffrey Morris
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Author	*Topic: #@&%/! this game!!!!!**
Vasgo	posted 02-12-99 10:50 PM ET I have never been so frustrated with a game! These crashes are just ridiculus. I downloaded the patch did all the other things in the readme and still I get this tantalizing taste of the game then CRASH! I live VERY close to the Firaxis crew in Hunt Valley ( about 5 miles away actually) And I am just about tempted to march up to their Swanky Suite, computer in arms , and force those jokers to make this amazing game work on my system! But jeff morris rules for his tireless watch over this crisis. HELP ME DAMMIT!
VvGaMeRXvV	posted 02-12-99 11:01 PM ET Do you mean the problem where the TERRAN.EXE file gets an illegal function thing.. GPF error or whatever? It happens to me when Spartan aircraft goes by certain cities... to counter it, i load the last saved game and make the exact same maneuver impossible.
dirwulf	posted 02-12-99 11:04 PM ET Update your video card drivers! What kind of video card do you have? Have you run DXINFO.EXE or DXDIAG.EXE to check the driver date and certification? When was the last time you went to the video card manufactureres web site and downloaded new drivers AND installed them?
Prerogative	posted 02-12-99 11:07 PM ET Vasgo, hate to sound crude, but I don't think your problem has anything to with SMAC, considerng very few people have also reported your problem. Some things to check out: DirectX, it causes plenty of crashes. Be sure to downgrade to DirectX 6.0, the higher versions tend to get real buggy, being new and all, and SMAC can run with DX 3.0 anyway. Overclocking, it can make a few problems. Be sure to clock your CPU to its regular setting. Forcing it to go too fast can make crashes happen. Conflicts, sort've related to DirectX. Try and look for any COM port conflicts on your CPU. Get updated drivers for your hardware, and if you have conflicts be sure to fix 'em. Virtual Memory, free up some space on your master drive, and the drive that SMAC is on. Windows tends to do alot of swapping, especially in gaming enviroments, and a lack of virtual memory can cause your system to lock up. If you've never had any crashing problems before, it's probably the DirectX. Unless you've installed some new hardware recently... Hope this helps.
Jeffrey Morris FIRAXIS	posted 02-12-99 11:08 PM ET Dude, come on by. How's tomorrow at 12 noon sound? Email me at [email protected] and I'll give you directions. jkm firaxis games
Old_Guy	posted 02-12-99 11:52 PM ET You can't ask for better customer service than that. I actually got lockups in SMAC 2.0 when the Firaxis logo would appear. Then I remembered that I had installed the low res Caviar files so I uninstalled SMAC, reinstalled it, and reinstalled the patch and now everything is fine. So my $.02 is to copy ANY customizations you made before loading the patch, then do what you want to do. I created a batch file to load all the default high res Caviar files to a separate folder in case I want to switch back and forth.
PrinceBimz	posted 02-13-99 01:37 AM ET Vasgo don't worry, you will get it working and believe me when you do it will be worth the aggravation. Better yet, if you have anything important to do or take care of do it now while the game is not working because when it does get working all you are going to want to do is PLAY, PLAY, and PLAY it! Reminds me of when I first played Civ and Civ2. Maybe instead of gambler's anonymous they should have SMAC players anonymous :-)
Vasgo	posted 02-13-99 10:54 PM ET Hehehe thats funny Prince, and I am positive that its true. One thing that has been cool about this experience is this forum...This up to the minute community of Civ/Alpha fans has been an amazing experience. Lots of advice now and all the collective hand rubbing and beta boasting of the pre-release period built up such a hype inside me for the game and i am glad to see SMAC hasnt disappointed. the fact that jeff morris actually took me up on my threat to come up there is amazing tech support and if this continues i will take him up on it.(the fact that EB had SMAC for $10 off on Thursday makes it even nicer.) This kinda thing just helps to make this game more special to me. I am kinda viewing the constant crashes that always interrupt my game as when you savor the last oreo...or more truthfully the first and only oreo. Taking very small bites...savoring the taste then remembering and cherishing it as i wait for my &%@$*! computer to reboot. God Bless Sid Meier and Brian Reynolds and Jeffrey Morris