My map is always blacked out

[Nailfoot]

I seem to have the exact opposite problem. The main map is fine, but if I Alt-Tab out I get the screens I posted here:

http://apolyton.net/forums//showthread.php?postid=4090397#post4090397

[alva]

see if this helps you guys, no guarantees but it never hurts to try.

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=140854

[baktone]

I have the ATI Radeon 7500 card (32MB with T&L, came with a Gateway laptop) and was able to see some of the map by turning on fast write when I installed the omega 5.1 drivers. During installation of the drivers (sorry I don’t have the website for the omega drivers, see other threads), it prompts you to enter whether you want fast write enabled or not. The first time I put no and got the cheshire cat/black background everyone is complaining about. I reinstalled the omega drivers and chose to enable fast write this time, and when I entered the game I could see part of the map. However, this window of visibility moved with my cursor so I could actually look at the entire map by scrolling over it. Moving my units increased the size of the window (as if removing the fog) to a certain point, after which I couldn’t get it to grow any further.

It is still very annoying to play the game this way, but I thought I’d post this in hopes that the root of the problem can be discovered. It is also possible that I began at the center of the map and therefore the window was created (I saw someone post yesterday that if you started at the center of the map you could see part of the ground).

Finally, I played a full game with the ground visible (although sort of dark & w/out some of the horses/sheep/etc...) by starting in the future era. I tried this in other eras but only succeeded by choosing future.

[Willem]

Originally posted by aberwak
If you aren't sure of what your system has, you might want to go to http://www.srtest.com/ for a system requirements check. I did that and it told me my machine has T&L abilities.

Alot of people are using the results of that site as being completely accurate, which it isn't. It told me that I had a 1700 mhz CPU overclocked to 1800+, which isn't true at all. I'm only running at 1400, with no overclocking. Don't rely to much on what it's telling you. If in doubt, you're better off consulting the manufacturer's web sites.

[vtravi]

I just got mine working. I went to nvidia website. I downloaded the new driver (81.85), but that made it so the game wouldn't run at all. Then I went to the FAQ and found out how to download old drivers. Then with trial and error I kept downloaded and restarting my computer until one of them worked (77.56). So If you have Nvidia geforce maybe this will work for you also.

[aceshigh]

Originally posted by Willem


Alot of people are using the results of that site as being completely accurate, which it isn't. It told me that I had a 1700 mhz CPU overclocked to 1800+, which isn't true at all. I'm only running at 1400, with no overclocking. Don't rely to much on what it's telling you. If in doubt, you're better off consulting the manufacturer's web sites.

*sigh* Something like this?

What is the Radeon® 7500 graphic card and what chipset does it use?

A1: Radeon® 7500 (Radeon® 7500 64MB DDR) is ATI's high performance graphic solution addressing a wide range of home and business graphic needs. Radeon® 7500 graphic cards are powered by the Radeon® 7500 GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The Radeon® 7500 GPU is able to perform the complex and demanding T&L (transform and lighting) calculations that are required by the latest 3D games and applications. To address the wide range of needs that are demanded by the consumer, the Radeon® 7500 graphic card also supports dual display, TV output and can drive a digital flat panel monitor (DVI-I).

Source: http://www.ati.com/products/radeon7...on7500/faq.html

As I posted in another thread, I have this particular card, and I've actually gotten the game to work to a point. However, I'm still experiencing crashing and graphical issues.

I'd be willing to chalk it all up to needing to upgrade the card to play if someone would post an official announcement of some kind stating that this particular card will not work. But considering it's mentioned by name as being supported, even at the low end, I have to proceed as if it is possible somehow to get it to work correctly (through driver updates or some kind of patch from the developer).

What really upsets me now that I've played the game a bit, albeit under less than optimal conditions, it seems like alot of fun and I really wish I could play the game fully, without issues...

[Willem]

Originally posted by aceshigh

I'd be willing to chalk it all up to needing to upgrade the card to play if someone would post an official announcement of some kind stating that this particular card will not work. But considering it's mentioned by name as being supported, even at the low end, I have to proceed as if it is possible somehow to get it to work correctly (through driver updates or some kind of patch from the developer).

Yes, it's looking to me like that particular card just isn't good enough even though it's supposed to be. I've been reading a number of posts by people using it that are having the same problems. I mentioned in another thread that maybe since this is one of the first Radeon cards to use T&L, that the hardware it uses is no longer compatible. Not being a techie, though I can only speculate.

[iiisamiii]

Originally posted by wouellette
I had the same problem Black map no bodies for the leaderheads..... I have a Radeon 7500. I downloaded the omega driveres and it still happened.


Good news though I fixed it by turning of the AGP setting in the SmartGart tab.

Now it all works at all setting for high perfomance low quality but the game crawls!!!!!!


The support line will just leave you on hold for 20 minutes then answer to tell you to call back in 24 hours.

Thanks dude!!!! This worked for me too!!!! I have a Mobility Radeon 7500. Got the omega driver http://www.omegadrivers.net/ and now I'm good to go.