PTW 1.04f Bug & Crash Reports

[Backpack]

Well,
I guess it's better to start this now so the problems can be solved quicker.

Sys Specs -
AMD Athlon 800 Mhz
256 MB RAM
WinXP (Up to date)

Crash Report -
The game crashed in the multiplayer lobby room. The system in on an internal network (192.168.1.x) behind a firewall/NAT to a cable modem (Internet is up).
The action that initiated the crash was clicking on the 'host' button. The screen appeared to freeze up, so I then clicked on the internet button. I know the game was frozen when next I clicked the X to back out of the screen, and the game proceeded to crash about 30 seconds later.
I installed PTW, then patched to 1.04f, I had gamespy installed (if that was needed) but I hadn't run gamespy seperatly yet.The game had been run and played and saved successfully before this, and in fact, I had done all that in this instance of running the game.

Bug Report -
The CD copy protection apparently doesn't like me or my system. I dunno which. In 15 times of trying to run the game, I have gotten it to run 3 times now.

First - After installing and patching, I used the desktop icon. I got the large spinning CD cursor. after about 2-3 minutes this went away and the game didn't start.
Second - Repeat of first.
Third - Removed the disk, reinserted it, and ran the game from the autoplay pop-up. This worked.
4th - after quitting from the third time, I used the desktop icon and got the game to run correctly.
5th - after quitting I tried using the program menu link - I got the spinning disk and no joy after a couple of minutes.
6th - repeat of first
7th - repeat of first
8th - I reinserted the disk and tried to start from the autoplay pop-up... No luck.
9th - I tried running the program from the Civ PTW executable in the PTW folder on my HD. - No luck.
10th - I reinserted the disk - autoplay - No luck.
11th - I logged off and rebooted the machine,, Used the desktop icon, no luck.
12th - I reinserted the disk and used autoplay menu - SUCCESS. (It was on this success that the game crashed out of multiplayer)
13th - Desktop Icon - No luck
14th - Reinsert Disk - No luck

OK, I admit it, it was only 14 times with 3 successes.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Note: I never ran the original PTW. I patched before I ever tried to run it and I modified my INI to include the KeepRes=1 flag

Second Note: Why is the intro movie flag in the readme, when I don't believe the keepres flag is listed anywhere but at places like apolyton in the boards?

Third Note:Civ III PTW didn't show up in Gamespy when I ran it, nor was it listed in the running games screen online. Maybe they need to turn something on???

Thanks

KP

[punkbass2000]

I may be wrong, but I thought I saw somewhere that you can't host with NAT.

[Backpack]

I don't think I can host an internet game, but I should be able to host a LAN game on the internal 192.168.1.x network. Heck, I had no intentions of hosting anything today, I just wanted to see what the interface was going to do (you know, going around and pushing all the shiny new buttons (grin)). I only mentioned the NAT so that if that's where the problem is coming from, someone knows.

Bug Update -

15th - Desktop icon - no luck
16th - Reinsert Disk - No Luck
17th - Reinsert Disk - Ahh, I am now Hannibal of the Carthaginians..... Ahh the joys of being Commercial and Industrious without being German. and can I say I LIKE those Numidian Mercenaries (2/3/1) in place of Spearmen. Looks like a prime Builder Civ.

Prima Guide Error Report - The guide book claims that the Mercs aren't upgradable, but the Pedia says they are upgradable to Musketmen. (and for some reason, maybe because I am playing as Carth, the Pikes don't have an upgrade listed in the Pedia.) I will confirm or deny these rumours when I get around to that timeframe in my game.


Later

[notyoueither]

re Firewalls

See the readme. You have to open up a lot of the firewall to be able to host behind one.

[CSO_Cory]

I have the same exact problems and have only been able to get into the game once. I too downloaded and installed the patch before first playing it.

Cory

[ixnay]

I have the same problems with the game not starting up. If this is how it's going to be, I'll get a no-CD patch so the damn cd protection doesn't keep doing this all the time.

[notyoueither]

Try the Civ3 disk in the CD?

[CSO_Cory]

Just tried it and it doesn't work.

[Backpack]

No on the Civ III Disk. The game docs specifically say that you will need the PTW CD in the drive to play, NOT the CIV III CD. Additionally, I belive that somewhere I read something that reminded you that you needed to have done a full install of Civ III as well.

As far as the not being able to host on a LAN, I understand the issues involved in hosting through a firewall, I was contemplating hosting BEHIND the firewall. Does anyone know of any reason why I shouldn't be able to host a game that way (i.e. the other computer is local? In fact, Isn't that what the game means when it you switch it to local? The only reason I mentioned that I was on a firewalled LAN was to fully inform the powers that be of the conditions of the crash, not to confuse the issue.

Update - On # 17 as described above I did enter the multiplayer lobby again and poked around a bit. The game didn't crash and I subsequently left it and started and played a single player game for a while.

[notyoueither]

re the start up problems. I'm stumped.

re the hosting issue. What version of Windows?

[Ed O'War]

I'm also having a problem getting PTW to start. I just get the spinning disk symbol when I click on the PTW icon. Same when I try to auto-start from the CD-ROM. Well, at least I can play with the editor until someone figures out how to fix this.

[Chuckles]

I started by loading a regular Civ3 game and was playing for several turns. Then, when the game is moving my units that already have move orders from previous turns (go-to), the game freezes. It consumes 99% of my CPU and I have to kill the process. I have reloaded 4 times and it freezes at the same point all the time. I have an Athlon1800XP+, Radeon 8500, 512DDR, WinXP with SP1. I had path 1.21f or whatever the latest one was on regular Civ and I have installed 1.04f on PTW.

I am going to try to load another regular Civ3 game into PTW and see if I get the same behaviour.

[Chuckles]

Check this out. If I reload the game, and hold down shift while my units are auto-moving, the game does not freeze. If I reload and let them move normally it freezes again.


WIERD.

[TheeLord]

WOW>>>>>>

This is the most screwed up thing I have ever seen, I never thought Firaxis would release something THIS buggy, i do not think I am ever buying a firaxis release until I hear word from the community that it is bug free.. I am disgusted... havent even been able to play the game keeps freezing randomly and without reason. Hope they get a patch soon..... I was reallly lookin forward to this. Thaaaankkks Firaxis/ infogrames, and Thaaaaanks for updating your "Official" website with any news or patches, the only freakin way to get the patch that I could see is the encryptic firaxis.com or much easier Apolyton.com.

Hey, has Infogrames made Apolyton.com their official website?!!! wow, quality.... how unique..

[Chuckles]

You're game is freezing up too? Is it during automoves like mine?