Loud Distortion/White Noise Bug? FIX Here.

[rjwoer]

A few days ago I posted about a loud distortion noise during the late stages of a Warlords game, which seems to come at random--albeit, regular--intervals, and which fades out after a few seconds. Several other people began reporting the problem in the Occassional Game Hiccup thread. At first I didn't think so many others would be reporting the same problem; in hindsight, I should have created a new thread. Better late than never.

Yin26 reports that Alex (Firaxis Software Engineer) is aware of this problem and is working toward solving it. This is difficult as the problem does not seem easily reproducable from save files, although I've provided mine to Alex.

Originally posted by yin26
Alex is aware of the issue, but since we can't seem to reproduce it reliably, this one might take time to fix. Please continue to post any of your findings. For example, a few of us have already taken to listening to all sounds individually to listen for a single corrupt file, but that doesn't seem to be it. Most likely it's two or more sounds playing at exactly the same time or something? Of course, Spock can read the tech discoveries on top of himself, so who knows...

In an effort to help as much as possible, I thought it made sense to post this poll and establish this new thread so more people are likely to give feedback. Please don't vote unless you've played at least one complete Warlords game (the sound seems more common in the end-game stages).

So far Akaoz, jdchambe, nauris, phlucas, Shogun Gunner, monkspider, MasterDave, and I have encountered and reported this problem. I encourage anyone else who has experienced this, or who has thoughts on its nature, to post here.

[yin26]

Good idea. Thanks for the thread. One theory is that this is tied to the SAM unit somehow. The noise does sound a bit like a rocket launching. Others think this appears after spies...but we all agree this happens in the late game, so it's (clearly?) era-specific.

I posted at the Firaxis board that, in fact, this noise will happen even if I just leave the computer alone (in the end game). So are unit noises repeating during that time? Is it something to do with the background music? Theories abound.

The first one to sort it out wins a banana!

[yin26]

By the way, since this is a sound issue, let's post our sound card information. To get at this information (a ton of great information, actually), go to Start --> Run --> type 'dxdiag' without the quotes --> wait for the diagnostic to finish --> click 'save all information' to a .txt file. Here is my audio setup:

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 6/19/2006, 01:22:08
       Machine name: KCM33HOME
   Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.                
       System Model: OptiPlex GX280               
               BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A08
          Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.20GHz (2 CPUs)
             Memory: 3070MB RAM
          Page File: 432MB used, 4012MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0007&SUBSYS_10071102&REV_00
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: P17.sys
         Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0512 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 7/7/2005 17:14:30, 1389056 bytes
            Other Files: 
        Driver Provider: CREATIVE
         HW Accel Level: Full
              Cap Flags: 0xF5F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 4000, 96000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 64, 63
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 64, 63
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: Yes
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: Not run

[rjwoer]

For the first time, it's just happened to me four times in the space of twenty seconds (1963 AD). No kidding. The volume of the distorition is still outrageously louder than the game volume (which I'm forced to turn almost all the way down), but the length of the distortion has decreased. Strange. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to it.

Although I am beginning to think the error happens (only?) when a unit is selected. Or that selecting units "encourages" the error, makes it more likely. Right now I've got a group of five selected and the deafening noise just keeps on coming.

Save file attached.

Originally posted by yin26
One theory is that this is tied to the SAM unit somehow. The noise does sound a bit like a rocket launching. Others think this appears after spies...but we all agree this happens in the late game, so it's (clearly?) era-specific.

Yin, yes it does sort of sound like a rocket launching. Interesting theory. It will be wonderful when this is finally solved, because the bug is really ... well ... bugging me. It has quite a negative impact on the late game experience (scares the **** out of me every time it happens!). No spies yet for me in this case. Hmmm.

[rjwoer]

Excellent idea.

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 8/1/2006, 13:23:04
Machine name: RJW_LAPTOP
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
System Model: Pavilion dv4000 (PC253AV)
BIOS: Ver 1.00PARTTBLX
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) M processor 1.60GHz
Memory: 502MB RAM
Page File: 247MB used, 979MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: SoundMAX Digital Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_266E&SUBSYS_3081103C&REV_04
Manufacturer ID: 65535
Product ID: 65535
Type: WDM
Driver Name: smwdm.sys
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.5240 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 9/1/2004 12:17:46, 259648 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Analog Devices
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0xF5F
Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 192000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 33, 32
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 33, 32
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: Yes
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): Yes
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run

[EDIT: I was retarded and posted the wrong system specs initially (for my desktop, which I use to Apolyton, not my laptop, which I use to play!). I have made the correction]

[Petek]

I downloaded the file that attached to post #4 in this thread and tried to load it. When doing so, Warlords terminates with the following error message:

Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library

Runtime Error!

Program: ...Civ4Warlords.exe

This application has requested the Runtime to terminate it in an unusual way. Please contact the application's support team for more information.

I downloaded the file a second time and rebooted my PC. Still get the same error message.

Can anyone else open the game save?

BTW, I have not seen (rather, heard) the problem.

Petek

[jcontre905]

Same exact problem here, Very frustrating. I had no problems at all with Civ 4 Vanilla

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: SB Audigy 2 ZS Audio [CCC0]
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0004&SUBSYS_20061102&REV_04
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0445 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 8/6/2004 17:43:26, 366384 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Creative
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0xF5F
Min/Max Sample Rate: 4000, 192000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 64, 55
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 64, 55
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: Yes
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run


I hope they can figure out what is causing this, Playing this game without the music and sound effects is dissapointing.

[jdchambe]

Originally posted by yin26
Good idea. Thanks for the thread. One theory is that this is tied to the SAM unit somehow. The noise does sound a bit like a rocket launching. Others think this appears after spies...but we all agree this happens in the late game, so it's (clearly?) era-specific.

I posted at the Firaxis board that, in fact, this noise will happen even if I just leave the computer alone (in the end game). So are unit noises repeating during that time? Is it something to do with the background music? Theories abound.

The first one to sort it out wins a banana!

It started happenning to me before any player in the game had finished researching Rocketry, so that seems to rule out the SAM.

Spies still seem a possibility at least. I didn't build any spies in my game where the problem happenned a lot, but the AI built lots of them.

I can give more information: I've played three games to completion.

first game (standard map size, standard game speed, pangea): no sound problems.

second game (standard map size, standard game speed, continents map): numerous LWN problems, all in the late game. (though I think it started before 1900, it didn't start until after 1800). I reloaded this particular game multiple times from multiple different save points and the problem always eventually started happenning in the late game.

third game (small map size, quick game speed, fractal map): no problems.


that's all I've got as far as the conditions under which the problem occurred. as for what it sounds like when it happens: it is very loud, usually through all speakers (though sometimes through onlythe left or only the right), and it always sounds like a white noise source. Though it sometimes appears to have some other effect overlayed on top of it (like a fading echo or some such).

[jdchambe]

I'll post my sound card details later. As for the volume of the sound: it's loud enough to startle people on the other end of my house through two layers of closed doors at a time when the actual game volume was barely discernable through a single close door.

[DirtyMartini]

Had my first episode today -- happened as I was clicking the bombard button on my stack of bombers. Then occurred several more times at random (not to imply the first time wasn't random).

I'll post my sound card later.

Dirty

[jdchambe]

here is my high level system information: not sure if anything is relevant in this, but the directX version might be, so I'm including it.

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 7/31/2006, 21:41:49
Machine name: MONSTER
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Computer Corporation
System Model: Dimension XPS
BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A02
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 2046MB RAM
Page File: 495MB used, 3448MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode


here is my sound card information:
-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: SB Audigy 4 [CCC0]
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0008&SUBSYS_10211102&REV_00
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.1164 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 12/8/2005 11:55:46, 439296 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Creative
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0xF5F
Min/Max Sample Rate: 4000, 192000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 64, 61
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 64, 61
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: Yes
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run

[Nugog]

I've had no issues, and are currently running Warlords on my mother in-laws old hunk of ...........

Sound Devices
-------------
Description: SoundMAX Digital Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_24D5&SUBSYS_01551028&REV_02
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: smwdm.sys
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.3650 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 6/18/2003 18:52:18, 578176 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Analog Devices
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0xB5B
Min/Max Sample Rate: 8000, 96000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run

[yin26]

Including the system information is a good idea, too. I've edited that back in my post above.

[Lesbaker]

Have played one complete Warlords game at a lower level as Victoria so far. Got this sound in the 1700's (which WAS the endgame for me) specifically when clicking on a SAM unit. Continued at other times - although not on the same turn- when activating other SAM units. Other units were active in the same squares on each occasion IIRC

Les

[Lesbaker]

Another thing has just occured to me which would be interesting to cross reference with others experiences is that I had at least two Warlords units in or around the SAM units when they made the noise. Since the Warlord attached unit is a major difference to the code in CivIV Warlords, maybe this is a logical answer. Anyone else have active Warlords attached when they get the noise?
Les