A problem!!!

[issagm]

Hi all, I am huge fan of this site…and logically Civi.
I tried to play Civi4 BTS …. But unfortunately I have problems with the Graphics,
The pictures of the Leaders don't appear at all, at the new Game menu, and during the playing!!!!!
The map on the bottom right area appear but with some problems……
All the other things appear normal….
I never experienced such problems in Civi4 or Civi4 Warlords…..
If any body know the solution for that problem, please tell me!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks in Advance

Regards,
IssaGm

[snoopy369]

Sounds like you need to reinstall - you probably have an art assets issue. You may also want to ensure you have the newest DirectX by going to www.gamesforwindows.com and running the DirectX web installer - it will check everything and make absolutely sure. BtS does use a newer version of DirectX.

What graphics card/OS/RAM/etc. do you have?

[issagm]

thanks Snoopy369 for your reply!!!!

i did reinstall it sveral times, but with no use!!!!
i will try installing the DirectX.........
i have a 256 RAM and a Graphics 128!!!!

i want so much to play it !!!!!!!!!!!

thanks again!!

[snoopy369]

"Graphics 128" is not that useful... you have a particular kind of graphics card, such as "Geforce 4200TI" or "Radeon 9650". That is more important.

256MB RAM is very low for Civ. It's techincally the minimum, but playing with less than 512 is incredibly frustrating, and usually 1GB (1024MB) is needed for good performance on anything but smaller maps. It shouldn't cause the above errors, but ... who knows.

I'm impressed you could play vanilla Civ and warlords with 256mb ram ...

[issagm]

LOL yes its frustrating.....but i did play it....i have to deal with it, i love Civ so much!!!!!!

i have a Geforce2 MX 400!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

so i understand that i have to upgrade my computer!!!
or buy a new one?????

i have the wosrt luck in the world

one last thing.......if i buy a 256 Graphics do you think it will work?????????

thanks Again Snoopy369, i really Appreciate your help!!!

Regards,
IssaGm

[snoopy369]

I would upgrade your graphics card and RAM. The mx400 is technically right at the edge of playing Civ, so I suspect BtS probably introduced something it wasn't able to handle. You'll need to find out if your computer can handle a new graphics card and more RAM, and which kind of both it needs.

You probably have an AGP slot for your video card, and probably could use a GeForce 6600 series card or around that. A later 5000 series card would also work, and might be safer (less power drain, so less risk of not having enough power - I suspect your power supply is not more than 400W; if it's 400 that's enough for a 6000 series card, but barely, and 350 is probably not enough.)

RAM may be more difficult, as you have to find out what sort of RAM you use. If you have DDR ram, which you may, then just find out how many slots you have (do you have empty ones? do you have 2 slots total both filled with 128m each? etc.) and then buy appropriately; if you have 2 slots, then I recommend 2 512MB memory modules.

If you don't have DDR ram, or aren't sure, you may need to take the computer into a shop and ask them to upgrade it for you. If you're not that familiar with computers, this may be your best idea anyway.

It's certainly possible to play Civ with this computer (though some depends on your CPU - do you have a Pentium or an Athlon, and which model?) with some relatively inexpensive upgrades. $100 should make it pretty good at playing Civ, if your CPU is remotely reasonable.

[issagm]

i just did took my computer to a shop and asked them to upgrade my RAM to 512 and to install a new Graphics 256!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i don't know what the type of the Graphics!! but befor installing it they will call me and tell me!!!!!!

do think that will do??????


Regards,
IssaGm

[issagm]

my comp. is pentium 4 !!!!!!!!!

[Unimatrix11]

Please stop the extensive use of question- and exclamation-marks. In case you need to know still what is in your comp, i´d suggest using an analyzer tool such as everest:

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Info/Everest-Home-Edition.shtml

There is also a website, which lets you choose a game and then will tell you, if your comp can run it, and if not what is lacking... unfortunately i have no time right now to look for it... maybe later...

[issagm]

ok i am sorry

[snoopy369]

Originally posted by issagm
i just did took my computer to a shop and asked them to upgrade my RAM to 512 and to install a new Graphics 256!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i don't know what the type of the Graphics!! but befor installing it they will call me and tell me!!!!!!

do think that will do??????


Regards,
IssaGm

That may do ... 512 is a bit low, 1024 would be better, but 512 is certainly better than 256 that you have now.

The 'graphics 256' of course will be better, although it's better to know what kind, it can't be worse than you have now. Usually when going to shops it's better to tell them more specifically what to install, if you can, because that way they won't give you a bad deal by giving you an old card that isn't very good ... but hopefully they're someone you are familiar with and can trust If so it should be fine.

[Willem]

Originally posted by issagm
i just did took my computer to a shop and asked them to upgrade my RAM to 512 and to install a new Graphics 256!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Video memory means nothing if the processor itself sucks. I strongly suggest you do some research into video cards before you invest in a new one, as you obviously don't know very much about them. Or your computer in general for that matter. There's no point in just throwing your money around if you can't make an informed decision as to what's good and what's not. As it stands now, it's going to be very easy for the computer store to take advantage of you.

Oh and, 512 RAM still isn't enough. If you're running Windows XP, the OS is going to eat up about half of that. You need at least 1 gig, preferably 2. Frankly, I'm surprised you've even been able to run Civ 4 with only 256.

[issagm]

hmmm,
i will wait for there call and tell you guys what they say.
when i played at 256 one turn will take me like 5 min, and during the modern era lol, too long, but i managed my self,

i would like to thank you all for your help,

[issagm]

and i am sorry for using many question- and exclamation-marks, i won't do it again

[Unimatrix11]

My comment about the question marks was intended as a polite request - not to intimidate you or something - so dont worry about it too much, okay ?

But i have to agree with people here - since you have access to the net, and as long as you dont have money like hay, an afternoon (or even less) of doing some hardware research will probably be worth it. As for graphic cards, one thing i would take into consideration when buying a new one, would be the ´pixelshader version´ for example. Should be 3.0 (or above - if there is an above - i am a bit behind on info as well). Some games require it (´Bioshock´ for example).

But first you need to find out, what mainboard you have. You can find out either by having a close look on your startup screen, or by using ´everest´ (see above), i think. Then google your mainboard´s name and see what specifications it has. For the graphics adapter upgrade, you will wanna know, if you have a ´PCIe´ slot for example - or AGP. Graphic cards come either for one or the other. Then you wanna know, about the memory slots and their frequency - as well as the clocking of the memory thats already installed - here again use ´everest´. Try to get memory of exactly the kind (except size - may be more than 256MB) you already have.

5 min for a turn ?! Impresses me that you enjoy the game like that - reminds me of my ´good-old´ days, when i had to get save games from a friend in order to start playing Civ1 on my XT (generating maps would just take too long).