The case of the disappearing 'Star Map'...

[ChristopherC]

Well, at turn 734 the game has either just got too big for my computer (2200 processor, 512K RAM) or I am finally paying the price for having incorporated too many MODs!

You see, quite often now, I go from a sitrep scheme to virtually blank starmap! I can go to any other screen alright but the starmap stays a blank black! Anyone else had that problem?

I really feel Infogrames should give me a medal for persevering with this game for so long but I cant quite break away from it as yet. It still has such potential and playability. I reckon I shall reach a point whereby I will reinstall with just a few choice MODs. But there again Haegemonia beckons!

Live long and prosper.

[vmxa1]

I doubt it is a function of your system. It is probably a problem with the game code or the mods.

Can the game (save) be played without the mods? IOW if you posted it, could I load it in a unmodded game to see if that occurred on my system? I have 1GB mem on 3.066GH system.

[Stormhound]

I've had that happen occasionally for no reason I can discern. It always staightens back out after I hit next turn, but in the meantime I can't do anything that requires the star map.

[bakalov]

Cristopher, I have experienced the same with no mods ... Sure, the next turn helps. Or reloading. May be it is related to a special sequence of actions - for example opening the sitrep while you have opened a planet screen, or something like it ....

[ChristopherC]

Gentlemen, if I am to be in misery over something it is wonderful to find partners!

Stormhound, your response was particularly heartening because you havent, (I dont think?) added the plethora of MODs which I have! And Bakalov, you say you have experienced this with no MODs. I thought I might be paying for the sins of adding so many MODs but, as I have said, I have been pleasantly surprised, how well most of the MODs mesh.

What a game this is, gentlemen. I played the old unmodded, unpatched game well over a 1000 plus with this particular bug not happening! There is always a new wrinkle to keep you on your toes, isnt there, apart from it being bloody impossible to win as human even on the easiest level. Hours of fun!

This game is full of surprises! But it does help to know I am not alone with this weird bug. As you will know, you can actually play through all the other screens, amend your production lines, do diplomacy etc., so make most of your moves and then click on turn hoping that your next move will provide a clear map!

Thanks for the offer, vmxa1, but I will soldier on for a while. In a hopeless cause, since being human I am now hopelessly overmastered by a machine civilisation. I shall then have an important decision to make. Do I replay the game with a 'select' number of MODs or go to Haegemonia? I shall go to Hamletian lengths of indecision over that.

Thanks for all your responses, live long and prosper, gentlemen!

[Stormhound]

Actually, I've modded the game somewhat extensively, but I've done so manually...and in ways I no longer entirely recall nor could really "package" for anyone else. As a result, I've largely stayed away from the published mods (except to grab ideas and implement them manually).

It's actually nice, now that the firestorm of criticism has passed (along with the people who hate the game and thus have little reason to hang out here), to hear of people who are playing and enjoying it. Makes me feel a bit better about the whole experience, you know?

[ChristopherC]

I say again, Stormhound, with some morework it still has the makings of a classic space strategy game! That is why I have stayed with it so long!

If only I had programming competency, there are things I would love to do with with it but I dont so must rely on the published MODs!

You can be proud of your part in this enterprise, Stormhound, and if I won the Lottery and had the money, I would buy up the rights to the game and put you in charge of putting it right! To my specs, of course, starting with greater game balance, better battle displays and pane presentations and a scenario editor!

If only the the publishers could realise that add-ons, adding new features and correcting bugs, could make them more profits? As the publishers of Civ3 have done! (And did the publisher of Alpha Centauri-Alien Crossfire a few years back, still my all time favourite.) Perhaps, some other publisher, could take over the MOO franchise and finish the product to our satisfaction. Well, we can dream, cant we? It is an article of faith with me that the space strategy genre is as much here to stay as the shoot-em kind! So for publishers there is money to be made! I am glad to hear that Galaxy Andromeda reportedly may be resurrected under a new title.

I wish, I wish, I wish though, Stormhound, you had published your MODs. MODs from a designer of the game are exactly what we need!

Once again many thanks for all your advice, my friend, it has been invaluable!

Live long and prosper.

[Vince278]

I see this issue occasionally. Sometimes alt-tabbing has helped. I usually either reload the turn or finish the current one in the blind and hit the next turn button. It kind of reminds me of the earlier DirectX redraw issue.

[ChristopherC]

DirectX issue?

Alt-tabbing? What do you mean by that, Vince? Are you saying that fingering ALT-TAB simultaneously sometimes restore the map?

Yes, I have sometimes reloaded the turn or carried through the turn 'blind' to proceed. But thanks for making sure I knew about that option.

Incidentally, what is this DirectX issue? There was a rather nice MOD, to balance the game, on MOO3.MOD.com which I tried to add which caused a DirectX problem, so I had to discard it, Could you explain this DirectX issue in relatively simple terms?

Live long and prosper.

[Vince278]

Well, the alt-tabbing doesn't always work, even for me. Its just a way of forcing the PC to redraw the screen and hoping for the best.
The DirectX issue was common to the original, un-updated version of the game. The whole screen would blank out (not just the map) and the words "DirectX error" (or something like that) would appear in small white letters. The only way out was ending the program and restarting. You were usually able to continue with the most recent save. There wasn't any discernable that I was aware of.

[ChristopherC]

Many thanks for the information, Vince.

There is this MOD which is supposed to provide for a more balanced game, as I told you, but when I added it to a current game I got the DirectX error. If I replay the game, restructuring the MODs, I shall take another chance with this MOD. This is always the problem when you superimpose more than one MOD upon another, unintended side-effects, including sometimes a crash, and you know just how MS loves having to restart with scan-disk when you just have to pull the plug! You sit there holding your breath, hoping you OS has been permanently wrecked!

I do wish that whenever one had a problem with a game, one could just CTR-ALT-DEL to get back to the MS screen but these games NEVER allow you just do to that! That would save so much hassle and anxiety!

Live long and prosper, my friend.

[ChristopherC]

Amendment: I meant 'hoping your OS HASNT been permanently wrecked'!

[bakalov]

There is some info in the FAQ that is topped on this forum which explains a possible directx surface error. It may be caused by having too much saved games.

[Vince278]

Originally posted by ChristopherC
This is always the problem when you superimpose more than one MOD upon another, unintended side-effects, including sometimes a crash, and you know just how MS loves having to restart with scan-disk when you just have to pull the plug! You sit there holding your breath, hoping you OS has been permanently wrecked!

The game I'm playing now has alot of mods stacked together and some of the effects overlap on the same files. I had to manually alter some of those so all of the effects were in the same file.

[ChristopherC]

Thanks for your replies, Bakalov and Vince. Very informative. But I reckon Bakalov, there is more to the DirectX error problem than just that.

Unfortunately, not being that much of a computer buff I just have to add the MODs and hope for the best! So far, fortunately, most of them have meshed with each other, except for one particular one which unfortunately didnt come with a read-me. It sound kinda intriguin' for improving game balance. It was Jazkal's OptimistMod (from the MOO3.Mods site) but I could never get Jazkal or anybody to tell me how I should I apply it, i.e. perhaps only in starting a new game. I introduced it into my current game and got the DirectX error. Maybe it should only be applied in a new game?

Live long and prosper. my friends.