SMAC on new G4 won't run

[SteveH]

HELP

I've been running SMAC on an iMAC with no problems for months. Having now gotten my dream machine I can't get the game to run. New system is:
G4 500MP
17" Apple Studio Display
Radeon Card

When I try to run SMAC the display is all messed up. The game does not fill the entire screen. There is a large white border around the game in the middle of the screen, and the mouse doesn't work properly. I've tried most of the obvious fixes with no luck:
Trashed preferences file
Tried all combinations of the game screen options file
Played with monitor setting
Played with various combinations of extensions
Tried different versions of Game Sprockets extension

I'm out of ideas. Anybody have any suggestions?
Anyone with success running on a new G4?




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mollusk

[SteveH]

That sort of works, but is still problematic. The main problem is that I can't get the map to scroll using the mouse. It is stuck in one spot. Have read the troubleshooting suggestion w/ the game but they haven't solved the problem. Still stuck.
Thanks for the suggestion. More would be appreciated.

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mollusk

[-Ashman-]

Try running SMAC in a window. Ii should explain how to do this in the readme file. If I remember correctly, there are also some other troubleshooting tips in the readme.

goodluck!

Ash
[This message has been edited by -Ashman- (edited October 06, 2000).]

[illiria]

have you tried using an older version of DrawSprocket and/or InputSprocket?

[Flomper]

No, I know what the problem is.

When SMAC launches it switches to a different resolution -- one that you have not calibrated your monitor for yet. You have to find that resolution and calibrate. If you have a colorsync monitor (like any of the recent Apple Monitors) what you do is go into the monitors control panel, switch to a different resolution (it is probably a smallish one, like 640x480 or 800xsomething) and you will notice that the monitor looks messed up. You can then switch to the "colors" tab (I think that's it, I'm going by memory) and you'll see a button for calibrate now. Press that. You might also need to move the image over on the screen that is on the "geometry" tab. I still have that problem with Diablo @ in the chat window, the image looks folded over on itself at the left edge, but I never figured out which resolution it was using for that.

I have had this same problem in Descent 3, Tomb Raider 2, and Diablo 2, so it is not a specific problem with SMAC, just something related to setting up your new computer.

Enjoy!

[SteveH]

Did try going back to older versions of games sprockets but it didn't help.

Thanks for the suggestion regarding calibrating the monitor. Haven't done that. I'm on the road for a few days and will give it a try when I get home and let you know. Thanks again.

[bradman]

quote: Originally posted by SteveH on 10-06-2000 07:51 AM When I try to run SMAC the display is all messed up. The game does not fill the entire screen.

I managed to work this out with Steve. Turns out his new monitor supports refresh rates whose minimum is higher than the maximum that SMAC knows about. Interestingly, letting DrawSprocket "automatically" choose the proper rate just results in pain. The next patches of SMAC/SMACX should have this fixed via settings for the higher refresh rates.

Brad