Covered in darkness! :( :(

[snoopy369]

You can get a PCI card, if you don't have an AGP slot ... not necessarily the fastest things ever, but they're at least capable of playing civ4

[Khaim]

There's a thread at CFC about this: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=133056

Basically, the game for some reason thinks you're looking at the center of the map, and draws fog appropriatly. It's only a graphically issue; the game will actually play just fine. (I have the same issue, in fact.) If you explore the center of the map, you'll be able to see the map okay. You can either do this normally or use world editor to a) reveal the world map or b) put a unit at the center and explore.

The food/production bug isn't related, although I'm getting it too. No fix for that. Also, you almost certainly have cheshire cat leaders, but that doesn't affect gameplay much.

[Franklinnoble]

Originally posted by Solver
The Intel "video cards" do NOT support T&L which is required for Civ4. Yes, those integrated Intel video chipsets are crap. There's no solution for this, unfortunately, the machines simply don't meet the minimum specification.

The only solution is to buy a new video card. It's possible to buy an older card, such as a GeForce 4 MX or a GeForce FX 5200 real cheap, however.

You know, you're REALLY not helping at all here.

Given the symtoms of the terrain problem, and the available workarounds that have already been posted, it is clear that there is a software solution to the issue.

Telling people they have crappy video cards and to run out and buy new gear is not at all productive. If you're not going to be an advocate for those of us who meet the minimum published specs (I have a Radeon 7000), then please keep your opinions to yourself.

[alexgomp]

From what I understand, it's just a case of lack of hardware support. In the case of people who have these integrated intel video controllers these are only pseudo video cards. They don't support the hardware T&L features that civ4 requires. It's my understanding that software workarounds won't work simply because this particular chipset does not support T&L.

But if anyone can, please please please prove me wrong because this really sucks.

-alex

[Franklinnoble]

Originally posted by alexgomp
From what I understand, it's just a case of lack of hardware support. In the case of people who have these integrated intel video controllers these are only pseudo video cards. They don't support the hardware T&L features that civ4 requires. It's my understanding that software workarounds won't work simply because this particular chipset does not support T&L.

But if anyone can, please please please prove me wrong because this really sucks.

-alex

If you're getting the dark terrain problem, you can work around using the reveal map option... (let me know if you need help figuring this out).

There should be a way to programmatically fix this bug. My system meets (and in most cases, exceeds) the minimum published requirements to run the game. Thus, I expect full support from Firaxis regarding this.

[Maniac]

Originally posted by Solver
Yes, those integrated Intel video chipsets are crap.

No. Civ4 is crap.

[JoeGator]

No.

The chipsets are crap.

[ElConejo]

Regardless of any types of crap... I will attempt to steer the thread back on course:

I have (according to that website in previous thread) a Radeon 9800/GeForce 5600 so therefore would I need the new drivers then correct? How do I get them and where would I find them?

Thank you.

[poundcommapound]

Yeah... I see lots of "certain" responses telling lots of people that they should blame Intel for their crappy chip... but none to say what us users with the same problem with Radeon chips should do to reconcile the issue. It's obviously not just affecting Intel chips, so if someone has something constructive to add to users that don't have those chips, it would be greatly appreciated.

[Cartman]

Originally posted by Franklinnoble


If you're getting the dark terrain problem, you can work around using the reveal map option... (let me know if you need help figuring this out).

There should be a way to programmatically fix this bug. My system meets (and in most cases, exceeds) the minimum published requirements to run the game. Thus, I expect full support from Firaxis regarding this.

I do.....Apparently, its' the only way to play this game until someone gets off their ass and provides a decent software workaround

[Franklinnoble]

Originally posted by Cartman



I do.....Apparently, its' the only way to play this game until someone gets off their ass and provides a decent software workaround

You basically need to start a game, then go into the world builder, then choose the reveal all tiles option. I don't know the exact menu sequence - you may have to hover over the icons to figure it out, but it's there.

This doesn't fix the leaderheads, it just makes the map visible so you can play on it.

[ElConejo]

Originally posted by Franklinnoble


You basically need to start a game, then go into the world builder, then choose the reveal all tiles option. I don't know the exact menu sequence - you may have to hover over the icons to figure it out, but it's there.

This doesn't fix the leaderheads, it just makes the map visible so you can play on it.

Does it make the terrain completely visible for you? On mine, once I turn off the world builder it goes back to the darkness; only thing that changes is maybe some outlines...

[Franklinnoble]

Originally posted by ElConejo


Does it make the terrain completely visible for you? On mine, once I turn off the world builder it goes back to the darkness; only thing that changes is maybe some outlines...

You have to find the "reveal map" icon in the world builder, then there's a sub-menu icon for "reveal all tiles." Once you do this, you will see the entire map if you go back to the game.

[sezyew4242]

Originally posted by Solver
The Intel "video cards" do NOT support T&L which is required for Civ4. Yes, those integrated Intel video chipsets are crap. There's no solution for this, unfortunately, the machines simply don't meet the minimum specification.

The only solution is to buy a new video card. It's possible to buy an older card, such as a GeForce 4 MX or a GeForce FX 5200 real cheap, however.

EXcept that I'm having this darkness problem and I'm already running a GeForce4 MX! At first, Civ IV wouldn't run at all; it kept crashing and then telling me that my "nv4_disp driver" had "stopped working normally." Thanks to the helpful people on these forums, I was directed to NVidia where I got the correct/updated drivers.

Now the game runs, but all I can see are bits and pieces of the map just like in the screenshot posted by ElConejo.

It's really annoying because I spent an hour going over the various forums and making sure that I had the minimum requirements to run the game before buying it (in fact, I meet all of the *recommended* requirements, not just the minimums). I really don't want to have to go around cheating (by illuminating the whole map from the beginning) in order to play at all. Where's the fun in that?

Anyone have any suggestions??

[ElConejo]

To be honest, I have lost about 90% of my hope of being able to play Civ4 on my machine. I await a patch not because I think it will help, but simply for the sake of all my fellow civers who I think it will help. I still hope.. but it is quickly evaporating.. I hope that the patch will greatly help you however! As I trust it will...

If I hear anything I will post on this thread..