I have a lot of issues with GalCiv2. I played GalCiv (1) without any trouble, so purchasing the german collector's edition was a no-brainer. Or so I thought. Actually I don't remember having so much trouble with another game ever before. First there is the matter of lacking support for localized versions (in this case, the german) and the downloadable content (bonus pack causes trouble with german version). Then there is the matter with the game crashing left and right. The game does not run stable on my comp. I keep the Dread Lords at bay at normal difficulty hands down, but the bugs (?) are killing me. Seriously, I play for several days now and I've experienced at least 50 crashes. On the other hand, sometimes (rarely though) I can play 2-3 hours in a row without trouble.
More trouble ahead: I'm in mission 5 of the campaign now, and I noticed it takes longer and longer to load a saved game. Currently I'm at SEVEN minutes (!) of "loading time", and sometimes it doesn't even work. Now I'm wondering: I don't have the fastest comp around, but the game should run with my specs. Or does it not? In short:
Win98
AMD Athlon 1.2 Ghz
512 mb RAM
ATI Radeon 9600 Pro
Soundblaster Audio PCI128 (yeah, it's old but it gets the job done)
All drivers are the latest availible version.
Here's the latest debug. While I'm open to suggestions like "dude, get a new mainboard and a faster cpu, not to mention WinXP", all the "***Unable to find ..." and "No files found matching" lines in the debug don't look good to me.
Debug Message: Version v1.0 last updated on: Sat Feb 4 16:26:34 2006
Debug Message: Could not find a TGN Serial No.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 4/4/2006, 19:51:32
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: HAL 9000
Operating System: Windows 98 (4.10, Build 1998)
Languages: German (Regional Setting: German)
System Manufacturer: n/a
System Model: n/a
BIOS: Award
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) Processor, MMX, 3DNow, ~1.2GHz
Physical Memory: 510MB RAM
Page File: 93MB used, 1444MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\Display1
Card Name: RADEON 9600 SERIES
Manufacturer: ATI Tech. - Enhanced
Chip Type: RADEON 9600 Series AGP (0x4150) Rev 0
DAC Type: Internal
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4150&SUBSYS_0200174B&REV_00\000800
Display Memory: 127.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit)(optimal refresh rate)
Monitor Name: SyncMaster 910V/910M/913V/915V
Monitor Max Resolution: 1280,1024
Driver Name: ATI2DRAG.DRV
Driver Version: 4.15.0001.9165
Driver Date: 1/25/2006 04:42:58
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes
Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Creative SBPCI Direct Sound Driver
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1274&DEV_5880&SUBSYS_20001274&REV_02\BUS_00&DEV_09&FUNC_00
Manufacturer ID: 2
Product ID: 501
Driver Name: CTPCI9X.VXD
Provider: Creative
Driver Version: 4.12.0001.2016
Driver Date: 10/29/2001 01:00:00
Type: VXD
Other Drivers: ctpci9x.vxd
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: Preparing to change display settings.
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_4_SAMPLES
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1024 x 768
Debug Message: Running in windowed mode.
Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): RADEON 9600 SERIES
Debug Message: D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_IMMEDIATE
Debug Message: Refresh rate: 0
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: Border size reported as 6 by 25
Debug Message: RGB in format 6:6:6, Masks reported as ff0000:ff00:ff
Debug Message: Now windowed.
Debug Message: Shell initialization complete
Debug Message: ***** Initializing Game *****
Debug Message: Timer Frequency is 0 1234dc
Debug Message: Initializing sound card.
Debug Message: initailizing bink
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: Set mouse.
Debug Message: Set update timer.
Debug Message: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Download\My Games\GalCiv2\*.StarSystems
*DEBUG ERROR: ***Unable to find required tech Xeno Industrial Theory for TinyHull0. ***
*DEBUG ERROR: ***Unable to find required tech ImpossibleTech for PirateShip. ***
*DEBUG ERROR: ***Unable to find required tech Xeno Industrial Theory for TinyHull0. ***
*DEBUG ERROR: ***Unable to find required tech Xeno Industrial Theory for TinyHull0. ***
*DEBUG ERROR: ***Unable to find required tech ImpossibleTech for Starbase. ***
Debug Message: Reading Star Names
Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Download\My Games\GalCiv2\Metaverse\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Download\My Games\GalCiv2\temp\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Download\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Download\My Games\GalCiv2\Mods\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Download\My Games\GalCiv2\Logos\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Download\My Games\GalCiv2\Portraits\*.sav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Download\My Games\GalCiv2\Dread Lords Kampagne\*.sav
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: 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: Loading Campaign Data
Debug Message: Loading Scenario Data
Debug Message: Loading Custom Map
Debug Message: Loading Data Defs
Debug Message: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: Loading TechDefs
Debug Message: Max num techs: 248
Debug Message: Loading ImprovementDB
Debug Message: Loading Component Defs
Debug Message: Loading ShipTypes
Debug Message: Loading ShipConfigs
Debug Message: Loading AnomalyTypes
Debug Message: Loading RandomEvents
Debug Message: Loading UPIssues
Debug Message: Loading ResourceTypes
Debug Message: Loading InvasionTactics
Debug Message: Loading SBmodules
Debug Message: Loading PoliticalParties
Debug Message: Loading Planet Types
Debug Message: Loading Star Types
Debug Message: Loading Game
Debug Message: Loading Galaxy
Debug Message: Loading FOW Map
Debug Message: Loading ZOC Map
Debug Message: Loading Planets
Debug Message: Loading Stars
Debug Message: Loading Anomalies
Debug Message: Loading Resources
Debug Message: Loading Civs
Debug Message: Loading Colonies
Debug Message: Loading RallyPoints
Debug Message: Loading Ships
Debug Message: Loading Fleets
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Flotte in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Flotte in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Flotte in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Flotte in definitions
Debug Message: Can't find ship type Flotte in definitions
Debug Message: Loading Influence
Debug Message: Loading Tech Order
Debug Message: Loading ENDGALAXYDATA
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: UIBeginGame called with g_ulLocalPlayerID = 0
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: Dread Lords (23): Researching:
Debug Message: Destroying ship 23-Truppentransporter M3-1 803. Orbiting: 0
