They were probably trying to get the newest version out for people to check out over the weekend.

BTW: attempting to run in a window doesn't work either....from dos shell or command line or in an XP window...NO DICE!

Looks like they got some DLL coding to do.

Get it out for the weekend...I feel like a cheap used Beta Tester....I need a shower.

Hi! I got the beta only a couple of days ago, then I download the new version... same problem as everyone else.
I've downloaded the two 'fixes' and its not working. I guess i'll getting it into a window.

Oh and here's the debug.err log:

Debug Message: Version v 0.80 Beta 5 last updated on: Fri Dec 16 17:52:22 2005
Debug Message: Could not find a TGN Serial No.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 12/17/2005, 16:35:55
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: SWANBORO-4IRQWF
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: n/a
System Model: n/a
BIOS: Award Medallion BIOS v6.0
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 1700MHz
Physical Memory: 768MB RAM
Page File: 240MB used, 1637MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 4000
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce4 MX 4000
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0185&SUBSYS_81531043&REV_A4
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Default Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.8195
Driver Date: 11/11/2005 13:47:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Intel(r) Integrated Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2445&SUBSYS_80721043&REV_12
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ac97intc.sys
Provider: Microsoft
Driver Version: 5.10.0000.3523
Driver Date: 8/17/2001 22:20:04
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
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.

I hope this game gets back up and runnig soon because its really just a great game (and I've only managed to fit in a few hours with).

FYI, I have 4 Computers here and all have the same problem. All have Nvidia cards. Maybe a connection there, maybe not.

Ok....
Quick question, which file in the directory do I open to change the game so it opens in a window?
Even if it doesn't work it might still be helpful to know.

I haven't downloaded Beta4e yet, but previous betas had a "GalCiv 2 Config" program that you could use, among other things, to set the game to windowed mode and also start the game. It was off the Start menu ...

We were able to isolate the problem to NVidia machines (my home machine have a g-force and got the same crash).  I beleive we found a temporary solution and hopefully will be able to post a new version ASAP.

Sorry you guys have to trudge though bugs like this, but in a few weeks you'll have a better, more stable game because of it

It is definately an NVIDA problem. I have a desktop with NVIDIA and a laptop with ATI. Works on the laptop, not on the desktop!

Lots of nervous people last night around here. Good that Stardock people are not mean and vindictive, otherwise some of us would remain citizens for the rest of our lives. Well, maybe they are just a little bit mean, I yet have to check if the flagships still do not upgrade and if the rounding of the percentage of random planet improvements is the same (plain mean) old.

Now, about the crashes. It might be NVIDIA but not any NVIDIA. The game crashes on my desktop with NVIDIA Quadro 4 900 XGL but works fine (at list does not crash immediately) on my laptop with NVIDIA Quadro FX Go 1400. This assuming that you didn’t post new build since 2 AM.

And I have to say that I'm impressed with the fact that somebody was helping us on Sunday at 2 AM. This is just a beta release. But I’m surprised that you guys cant access Stardock e-mail accounts from home? Security issues

I can access my email from home, but I think Brad chooses not to as a step towards seperating home life from work life (but you can see how well that worked out but the 2am posts above ).

I have the problem fixed (or at-least patched) on my home computer, but I don't quite know how to perform a release build, so we're going to have to wait until I get in touch with a member of the team that can make a fresh EXE.  Until then we just have to wait   Thank you all for your paticence

Heh, as I said the game plays OK on my desktop but the tactical screen was zoomed in to the maximum. I didn't know (and I still don't) how to zoom out without mouse so I went to the interface menu and lowered tactical view zoom level to 7% and turned grid on. Then something funny happened. My ships, anomalies and all planets except the homeplanet became small and represented with their icons (which I expected) but home star and home planet became humongous and remained represented as full shape. When I saved and reloaded the game, home planet became small too and represented with the icon while home star remained humongous.

Question: How do I zoom out on the Dell laptop without the mouse?

Thanks for the updates and for working during the weekend.

Veteran Comnenus? Thanks for letting others know how old I really am! Anyway, I’m glad if I could help a bit.

talk about bad luck. it was nice though how frog boy was with us at 2 am. but that doesnt forgive the rest of you! (just kidding) .... stupid geforce drivers.... i've updated mine and reinstalled another one and that was before yesterdays update.

Delta Leader: You must be new to the beta system so let me illustrate how it's supposed to work.

We put up builds at the end of the week so that when we come in on Monday we can go through the bug reports and start addressing them. This allows for a 7 week cycle.  The game not running on your computer is a bummer indeed but it is also part of the beta process. The beta system is, as they say, working as designed.

I tried applying those two patched files and it still doesn't work.... I have a dell dimension dual 3.2 xeon with a nvida quadro card.      Stardock SmartException Logging Information
-------------------------------------------

OS Version : Windows XP
Video Card : NVIDIA Quadro FX 3000
Application Exception code: C0000005 ACCESS_VIOLATION
Crash Addr:  0042536E 01:0002436E C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\galciv2.exe

Processor Registers (x86):
EAX:00000000
EBX:00000000
ECX:00DD4D70
EDX:0018C024
ESI:00000001
EDI:77D50B3E
CS:EIP:001B:0042536E
SS:ESP:0023:0012FDC8  EBP:0012FDD4
DS:0023  ES:0023  FS:003B  GS:0000
Flags:00210212

Current Application Call Stack:

Addr      Frame     Logical addr  Module Name
---------------------------------------------
0042536E  0012FDD4  0001:0002436E C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\galciv2.exe

Debug information for each stardock app follows ....

Stardock SmartException Logging Information
-------------------------------------------

OS Version : Windows XP
Video Card : NVIDIA Quadro FX 3000
Application Exception code: C0000005 ACCESS_VIOLATION
Crash Addr:  0042536E 01:0002436E C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\galciv2.exe

Processor Registers (x86):
EAX:00000000
EBX:00000000
ECX:00DD4D70
EDX:0018C024
ESI:00000001
EDI:77D50B3E
CS:EIP:001B:0042536E
SS:ESP:0023:0012FDC8  EBP:0012FDD4
DS:0023  ES:0023  FS:003B  GS:0000
Flags:00210212

Current Application Call Stack:

Addr      Frame     Logical addr  Module Name
---------------------------------------------
0042536E  0012FDD4  0001:0002436E C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\galciv2.exe

Debug information for each stardock app follows ....

 

Did any of you try updating your video drivers? I noticed that one of you posted a debug.err with drivers from 2001. I can reproduce the problem on my laptop with an NVidia card but when I put a NVidia in my work pc with the latest NVidia drivers (right from the NVidia website) I don't get the problem.

--Cari

All right, I've fixed the crash.  If you're interested, it was only happening for people whose systems run GalCiv2 in software mode, so it wasn't necessarily just a NVidia issue.

I imagine we'll probably put another update up today.