Text overlapping

Never heard of this happening before. Are all your drivers up to date?

this is the same with my game, i downloaded the demo and it did this. but then i bought the full game and it still did it. im trying to reinstall it but i have to download the whole game again which is taking a while. when i skip the intro movie the picture stays in the background as it gradually builds up and becomes un readable.

 graphics drivers update, could it be processor or direct x??

Out of curiosity, are you trying the original demo or the GC2 Gold demo? The former is *really* outdated, so if you're running it on Vista or the Win7 beta that would probably explain the strange behaviors.

well the demo was the gc2 gold. but im getting the exact same problem with the full game.

In that case, please open your debug.err file in notepad, and copy/paste the contents into a post here. This will give us some technical information that can help troubleshoot your problem. The location you'll find the debug.err in varies depending on which game you're playing:

Dread Lords: My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2
Dark Avatar: My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar
Twilight of the Arnor: My Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor

heres my debug.err

Debug Message:  Version v1.53 last updated on: Tue Nov  4 11:55:35 2008
Debug Message:  Checking DX Version.
Debug Message:  *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 7/13/2009, 16:58:43
DirectX Version: DirectX 10
Machine Name: JAY
Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6000) (6000.vista_gdr.090302-1506)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
System Model: HP G6000 Notebook PC             
BIOS: PhoenixBIOS 4.0 Release 6.1    
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor TK-57 (2 CPUs), ~1.9GHz
Physical Memory: 1982MB RAM
Page File: 1030MB used, 3151MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce 7000M / nForce 610M
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce 7000M / nForce 610M
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0533&SUBSYS_30EA103C&REV_A2
Display Memory: 64 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 800 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: nvd3dum.dll,nvwgf2um.dll
Driver Version: 7.15.0011.7713
Driver Date: 12/4/2008 02:42:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes
 


Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Speakers (Conexant High Definition SmartAudio 221)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_14F1&DEV_5051&SUBSYS_103C30EA&REV_1000
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: CHDRT32.sys
Provider: Conexant
Driver Version: 4.36.0007.0000
Driver Date: 3/4/2008 10:32:00
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
 


Debug Message:  *********END dxdiag info.*********
Debug Message:  Entering WinMain
Debug Message:  ******* Starting Game Shell *******
Debug Message:  Going Fullscreen
Debug Message:  Preparing to change display settings.
Debug Message:  Using hardware vertex processing
Debug Message:  Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONE
Debug Message:  Game Resolution: 1024 x 768
Debug Message:  Running fullscreen.
Debug Message:  HAL (hw vp): NVIDIA GeForce 7000M / nForce 610M
Debug Message:  D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_DEFAULT
Debug Message:  Refresh rate: 60
Debug Message:  Bit Depth: 32 bit.
Debug Message:  *********Checking D3DDevice Caps***********************
Debug Message:  A full-color cursor is supported in hardware at high resolution modes.
Debug Message:  RGB in format 6:6:6, Masks reported as ff0000:ff00:ff
Debug Message:  Now Fullscreen
Debug Message:  Shell initialization complete
Debug Message:  GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message:  ***** Initializing Game *****
Debug Message:  Timer Frequency is 0 17d7840
Debug Message:  Initializing sound card.
Debug Message:  initailizing bink
Debug Message:  No string tables in C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default/Data/*.str
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Movies\*.bik
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Movies\techs\*.bik
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Gfx\*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Gfx\Race\*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\sfx\*.wav
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Music\*.mp3
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Event Music\*.mp3
Debug Message:  Create setup screens.
Debug Message:  Clear galaxy settings.
Debug Message:  Clear influence.
Debug Message:  Clear up laws.
Debug Message:  Clear first time events.
Debug Message:  Clear wonders and trade goods.
Debug Message:  Clear sector mapper.
Debug Message:  * Collectors Edition *
Debug Message:  Set mouse.
Debug Message:  Set update timer.
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\*.xml
Debug Message:  Clear data definitions.
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Techs\*.xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\ShipComponents\*.xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\ShipDefs\*.xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Jay\Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Gfx\Planets\C0*.png
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\PlanetImprovements\*.xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\TerrainColorSchemes\*.xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\PlanetDescriptions\*.xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\Jay\Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipcfg
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Anomalies\*.xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Events\*.xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\UPIssues\*.xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Invasions\*.xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\PoliticalParties\*.xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\StarTypes\*.xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\StarbaseModules\*.xml
Debug Message:  Reading Star Names
Debug Message:  Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\CustomMaps\*.gc2map
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Scenarios\*.gc2scenario
Debug Message:  Creating Galaxy
Debug Message:  Killing threads.
Debug Message:  Kiling civs.
Debug Message:  Killing ships.
Debug Message:  Killing rallypoints.
Debug Message:  Killing misc objects.
Debug Message:  Killing stars.
Debug Message:  Killing anomalies.
Debug Message:  Killing space resources.
Debug Message:  Killing colonies and planets.
Debug Message:  killing scenario.
Debug Message:  Clearing Turn Event Log
Debug Message:  Clear galaxy settings.
Debug Message:  Clear influence.
Debug Message:  Clear up laws.
Debug Message:  Clear first time events.
Debug Message:  Clear wonders and trade goods.
Debug Message:  Clear sector mapper.
Debug Message:  Galaxy Size Set: 4 x 4
Debug Message:  Creating Random Map
Debug Message:  Creating Random Map... Stars
Debug Message:  Number of Unplaced Stars: 4.
Debug Message:  Creating Random Map... Planets
Debug Message:  Creating Random Map... Anomalies
Debug Message:  Num Anomalies: 42
Debug Message:  Creating Random Map... Resources
Debug Message:  Creating Random Map... Done
Debug Message:  Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message:  Device lost
Debug Message:  Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message:  Device lost
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\CustomMaps\*.gc2map
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Default\Data\Scenarios\*.gc2scenario
Debug Message:  TitleWnd: Quit Button.
Debug Message:  Posting WM_CLOSE message.
Debug Message:  WM_CLOSE message received.
Debug Message:  GameUninitialize start
Debug Message:  Killing Galaxy
Debug Message:  Killing threads.
Debug Message:  Kiling civs.
Debug Message:  Killing ships.
Debug Message:  Killing rallypoints.
Debug Message:  Killing misc objects.
Debug Message:  Killing stars.
Debug Message:  Killing anomalies.
Debug Message:  Killing space resources.
Debug Message:  Killing colonies and planets.
Debug Message:  killing scenario.
Debug Message:  Clearing Turn Event Log
Debug Message:  Clear galaxy settings.
Debug Message:  Clear influence.
Debug Message:  Clear up laws.
Debug Message:  Clear first time events.
Debug Message:  Clear wonders and trade goods.
Debug Message:  Clear sector mapper.
Debug Message:  Clear data definitions.
Debug Message:  Killing Galaxy: Completed
Debug Message:  Shutting down sound system.
Debug Message:  Clearing sound and music handles.
Debug Message:  GameUninitialize end
Debug Message:  Device not cleared. -1 counts left.
Debug Message:  Destroying Window.
Debug Message:  Main Shell terminating normally

Current Display Mode: 1280 x 800 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Debug Message:  Game Resolution: 1024 x 768

Try running the game at your native desktop resolution of 1280 x 800. It could be a scaling error, especially since you are using a different aspect ratio and are using a generic monitor driver.

thanks for the reply but no it hasnt changed anything.. any other suggestions please.