Doesn't Start!

from Stardock Forums
Hi, just bought / downloaded the game from star dock and can't get it to run... at the first the debug file said something about assert error in file memman??? but looking now after trying again it doesn't say anything about any errors?

I've got a PIII 800 with 128mb ram, loadsa free HD space and a TNT model 64 graphics card... any help'd be cool, I wanna play this game!

Cheers

Just tried again and the last couple of lines from that debug file reads:

Debug Message: Begin playing intro movie.
Debug Message: Preparing to change display settings.
Debug Message: RGB in format 5:6:5, Masks reported as f800:7e0:1f

Thats after applying the patch from the galciv site (v1.05 i think!) I've never seen the intro movie mentioned in the first line! The screen just goes black and I see a white cursor on the screen, can't get out of it, have to reboot my PC...
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345 views 11 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
Not too sure what your problem is right off the bat, but it can't hurt you to try setting up Stardock Central and downloading v1.10 through that (8.3mb download).

It sounds like you're having trouble with GC not working properly with your computer, but then as I said the latest and greatest patch can't really hurt...
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Hey kryofx cheers for the quick response, have updated to v1.10, still getting the same problem, screen goes black after clicking on the game icon but then nothing happens, a white arrow mouse cursor appears that I can move around with my mouse but I can't get out of the black screen I have to reboot still, looked at the debug file and it still says:

Debug Message: Begin playing intro movie.
Debug Message: Preparing to change display settings.
Debug Message: RGB in format 5:6:5, Masks reported as f800:7e0:1f

Please tell me there's a way to solve this!

Cheers
Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Gary I had same problem too at beginning.
Use this list to isolate your problem.

1)Go to microsoft and do all operating system file upgrades.
2)Microsoft again and download latest version of directx 9.0b
3)Find your video and sound card manufacturers website and download and install all latest drivers and patches
4)retry galciv if still no luck then go on.
5)got to website http://www.radgametools.com/bnkmain.htm and and download their bink video tool.This will help to reassociate all .bik files back to galciv.(just install)
6)Try galciv again if no luck next.
7)Somewhere on this forum is an audio codec to install but I don't remember where.Winamp and one other player has buggy codecs that cause game to freeze.Hopefully someone at SDC will point it out to you.
8)Last resort open windows explorer to galciv/movies.
Look for intro.bik and rename to disabledintro.bik and sf_intro.bik and rename to disabledsf_intro.bik.
9)Once up and running then upgrade game to 1.1.073(if not already)make sure very last is .073 and not .072 as some ships cause crashes in game.

Well I hope this helps get your game to work.I will mark this post to view and help further if I can. :HOT:

What are system components such as OS and video/audio cards are you using?
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
Hey Eradicu cheers for the reply, okay I tried the steps you listed apart from the sound codec at Stardock as I couldn't find it... anyway at one point the intro movie started playing and I got some sound through but it froze around1 or 2 seconds in, i got to see a kinda gig blue cirlce shape but then as i said it froze.

Now I've renamed intro and sf_intro files and the game opens up to a screen. It has a space station? in the top left corner of the screen, Gal. Civ. logo in top right with a grey panel underneath but the game now freezes on this screen :( and more ideas?
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
Gary here is the link .From what you are telling me it is a sound codec problem.This should fix your problem. http://www.stardock.com/files/ms_mp3codec.exe

Also noticed you don't belong to an empire yet.Please think about us at the PanGaea Coop if you decide to join one.

http://www.galciv.com/metaverse/empires.asp?id=506
Just hit the join button at bottom.
Senator Eradicus
:HOT:
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Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
I just disabled my sound card and the game ran fine, got my arse whipped though! Oh well only my first go i guess! Belong to an Empire? Hmmm don't understand properly yet as haven't read to much about the game but yeah cause I'll consider PanGaea Coop, cheers for the link I'll try it now...

Cheers again ;)
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
Gary look at left side of webpage.Click on GC strats for some help learning game.

Also PanGaea emporer is from GB as well.

Use the above link to reload the audio codec that is buggy.Winamp and I think Realplayer have a buggy codec that this link will fix.

Senator Eradicus :HOT:
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
Just downloaded + installed the codec you linked to but the game still doesn't work with sound, oh well I guess I'll get by without for the time being, cheers for helping.

I think i'd better go look at the strats part of this site asap!
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
GalCiv crashed randomly on my PC...so I upgraded from ME to XP and haven't had a crash since. :)

~SDC~
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

Gary, do you have WinDVD or Winamp3 or any other media players installed other than Windows Media Player?

--Cari