Announcement

**Boris Godunov** · October 30, 2001, 16:03

Just curious--have you guys called tech support? Dan is fantastic, but he isn't exactly a tech guru. They may have people there better suited to sort out your system quirks with the game. Dan is, after all, only 1 guy, and he isn't tech support!

**Koyaanisqatsi** · October 30, 2001, 16:04

DX reinstall using the version on the game disc...no change

Background programs closed...no change

Vid driver reinstall...no change

**Huntred** · October 30, 2001, 16:05

And Huntred makes 3 people with the same problem. Dump follows:

CIVILIZATION3 caused a divide error in module CIVILIZATION3.EXE at 017f:005626c8.
Registers:
EAX=00000051 CS=017f EIP=005626c8 EFLGS=00010202
EBX=00000040 SS=0187 ESP=00a53c8c EBP=00000000
ECX=00a59ccc DS=0187 ESI=00a596fc FS=4b0f
EDX=00000000 ES=0187 EDI=00000000 GS=0000
Bytes at CS:EIP:
f7 79 70 89 41 60 8b 46 04 8b 48 04 84 9c 31 a0
Stack dump:
80000200 00a59030 00a59ccc 00000020 0056289d 80000200 00a56980 00a596fc 00577f16 00a54194 00000295 00000094 00000000 00000013 00a56980 00000001

**Huntred** · October 30, 2001, 16:14

Originally posted by Boris Godunov
Just curious--have you guys called tech support? Dan is fantastic, but he isn't exactly a tech guru. They may have people there better suited to sort out your system quirks with the game. Dan is, after all, only 1 guy, and he isn't tech support!

A tech support call is on it's way later today. However I secretly hope that this method is a rather faster track to resolution than tech support. I would like to pretend that soon Dan will storm back into the Developer's Hole and inform them that there's a signifigant problem with system compatibility in a few cases or with one of the release batches. In either case, it's pretty public and it would do well for them to address this quickly - especially here where the on-order and potential copy sales number in the thousands.

**Koyaanisqatsi** · October 30, 2001, 16:32

Don't bother calling tech support.

I just did. They said that mostly nVidia users (I was the first ATI he'd talk to) with high end video cards (A TNT2? But anyway) have been reporting this problem. It's only fixable with a yet-to-be-created patch from Firaxis or MS (Yeah, right) and it is a DX problem. Apparently they've been flooded, because he knew exactly what I was talking about as soon as I started describing the problem.

**chris007jg** · October 30, 2001, 16:45

Can you show us a link to the phone number for tech support. They might not be able to help but atleast it will make me feel better.
Thanks
Chris
He of famous title screen

**Boris Godunov** · October 30, 2001, 16:47

Originally posted by dv8ed
Don't bother calling tech support.

I just did. They said that mostly nVidia users (I was the first ATI he'd talk to) with high end video cards (A TNT2? But anyway) have been reporting this problem. It's only fixable with a yet-to-be-created patch from Firaxis or MS (Yeah, right) and it is a DX problem. Apparently they've been flooded, because he knew exactly what I was talking about as soon as I started describing the problem.

That sucks royally. But it happens with almost any game released that a minority of peoples' systems won't run it. Hopefully they have been ready to address problems quickly and will have a patch out ASAP.

It's weird--since my system was put together by a friend who worked at a computer shop, I always imagined I'd have more problems than others, but I think I have less. I was in the minority of people who could run Ultima 9 right out of the box with minimal sluggishness. It still stank as a game, but it ran!

Civ3 works beautifully for me so far, except the music (which I hope to fix tonight).

**Koyaanisqatsi** · October 30, 2001, 16:54

Originally posted by Boris Godunov
That sucks royally. But it happens with almost any game released that a minority of peoples' systems won't run it. Hopefully they have been ready to address problems quickly and will have a patch out ASAP.

It's weird--since my system was put together by a friend who worked at a computer shop, I always imagined I'd have more problems than others, but I think I have less.

Custom built systems usually have fewer problems than OEMs if it's somebody who knows what they're doing. Mine is custom built by me, and the only games I've had problems with required game patches to fix. Like this one.

Tech support number: 425-951-7108. 7 minutes worth of menu time for a two minute non-fix.

**Huntred** · October 30, 2001, 17:42

Originally posted by dv8ed
Don't bother calling tech support.

I just did. They said that mostly nVidia users (I was the first ATI he'd talk to) with high end video cards (A TNT2? But anyway) have been reporting this problem. It's only fixable with a yet-to-be-created patch from Firaxis or MS (Yeah, right) and it is a DX problem. Apparently they've been flooded, because he knew exactly what I was talking about as soon as I started describing the problem.

Thanks for the update.

When I called tech support I was cut off during the opening message right in the middle of the recording talking about how on July 2001, Info was going to stop selling When I called back, I got the same result in at the same place. Since these aren't toll-free calls, I'm not calling back.

And I believe I was misquoted early on - I don't have a TNT2. I am using a regular TNT here (no o/cing). This is most certainly not high end. If tech support said it was a high-end issue then either there was inadequate testing of the entire Nvidia line, the Detonator drivers are incompatiable or there's something else going on. I'm giving up on this machine with this card.

Update: It works fine on my laptop (P3-600, 256MB, NeoMagic MagicMedia256ZX). As it turns out, I was missing more than I knew. On the former machine, the Dawn of Civilization screen is blank as opposed to the information given. So I guess I'm playable and happy. A sincere good luck to those of you who are still having problems.

**LdyMox** · October 30, 2001, 18:03

Plus I have a Voodoo 3 not a TnT2

**LdyMox** · October 30, 2001, 18:07

Sir Fraxis is there any information about the systems having this problem you need to know. Myabe you can make a list of what you need to know and a tech e-mail to send it to? Something to help the programmer track down the problem.

**Darkknight** · October 30, 2001, 20:55

The DirectX .cpl works in win2000 but I can't get it to show up in the Control panel in my Win95 PC.
I just hope that my S3 works with the game

**PrimitiveCiv** · October 30, 2001, 21:55

Hey is anybody having any problems with the TNT2 cards? Just curious......i should have the game by tommorow.

**LdyMox** · October 30, 2001, 21:57

I played with the setting on the DirectX control panel and nothing helps

**ExoD2** · October 30, 2001, 22:50

Hi all.

I'm also having the problems that Ldy Mox is describing.
My system as follows:

P3-450
192 ram
1+ GB HD free
Voodoo3-2000 AGP
SB128 sound

I've tried practically everything that the troubleshooting has to offer, to no avail. I did the whole hardware accel, DirectX reinstall, video card driver update and a few othering things.

I'm still getting the font problem, the build city termination, the start new game termination. I only thing I seem to be able to do is start the tutorial and move around - building a city causes termination, meeting another civ causes termination. So the game is effectively unplayable for me... DOH!

I've read in another forum of Voodoo3 troubles... But am I to assume most Voodoo3 users are ok out there?

Cheers.

Announcement

3 Technical problems in running Civ3.

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