What\'s wrong with my Dominions?
 

I'm having problems running Dominions 3 on my new laptop and i'm not sure if it's a computer deficiency or a vista error. At startup it only half loads the menu while the 'please wait' remains, the sound plays but the animated hills and trees background is just black. The amount of menu loaded seems random as it's been different every time i attempt to play the game. Yes, i've tried compatibility mode and i can't find the settings file so i'm not sure if the disparity between the games starting resolution and my own [1280x800] could be causing the crash. Is this just vista or my computer, how the hell do i fix this?

system specs
Intel® Centrino® Duo 1.86GHz
1GB RAM
Hard Drive Size 160GB
graphics Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950

I searched the first few live pages about vista errors but i didn't find any, if there's a specific support forum i couldn't find it either.

Re: What\'s wrong with my Dominions?
 

Do you know how to edit the shortcut that calls the game.
Here is a list of the command line switches.
http://www.dom3minions.com/docs/CommandLine.txt

usage: dom3 [option(s)] [gamename]
options:
-v --version Print version number and exit
-d Increase debug level
-g --host Generate new turn and exit
--verify Verify all 2h-files and exit (creates .chk files)
--statfile Create a player info file after each turn (stats.txt)
--scoredump Create a score file after each turn (scores.html)
--finalhost Generate new turn, send out final score msg and exit
-c --nocredits Disables the end credits
******* Network Options *******
-C --tcpclient Connect to a Dominions multiplayer server
-S --tcpserver Start a Dominions multiplayer server
--ipadr XXX Use this IP-adr when connecting to server
--port X Use this port nbr
--preexec CMD Execute this command before each turn generation
--postexec CMD Execute this command after each turn generation
-t --hosttime X Y Host on day X (0=sunday) hour Y (0-23)
--minutes X Set host interval in minutes
-h --hours X Set host interval in hours
--pauseday X Stop timer on this day (0=sunday)
-q --quickhost Host as soon as all turns are done
-n --nonationsel No nation selection when resuming a network game
--noclientstart Clients cannot start the game during Choose Participants
--uploadtime X Game is created after this many minutes.
--uploadmaxp X Game is created if this many players join.
--closed X Nation closed X=nation number (0-79)
--easyai X Nation ai controlled X=nation number (0-79)
--normai X Nation ai controlled X=nation number (0-79)
--diffai X Nation ai controlled X=nation number (0-79)
--mightyai X Nation ai controlled X=nation number (0-79)
--impai X Nation ai controlled X=nation number (0-79)
******* New Game Options *******
--mapfile XXX Filename of map. E.g. eye.map
--randmap X Make and use a random map with X prov per player (10,15,20)
--research X Research difficulty 0-3 (default 1)
--hofsize X Size of Hall of Fame 5-15 (default 10)
--indepstr X Strength of Independents 0-9 (default 5)
--magicsites X Magic site frequency 0-75 (default 40)
--eventrarity X Random event rarity 1-2, 1=common 2=rare
--totalvp X Vic. points available in the world 0-25
--capitalvp One extra victory per capital
--requiredvp X Vic. points required for victory (default total/2)
--summervp Vic. points are accumulated each summer
--richness X Money multiple 50-300 (default 100)
--resources X Resource multiple 50-300 (default 100)
--supplies X Supply multiple 50-300 (default 100)
--masterpass XX Master password. E.g. masterblaster
--startprov X Number of starting provinces (1-9)
--renaming Enable commander renaming
--noscoregraphs Disable score graphs
--nonationinfo No info at all on other nations
--era X New game created in this era (1-3)
-M --enablemod XXX Enable the mod with filename XXX
******* Random Map Options *******
--makemap XXX Generate a random map with filename XXX and exit
--riverpart X 100 = normal amount of rivers, 0=no rivers
--seapart X Percent of map that is below water level (default=30)
--mountpart X Percent of map that is mountains (default=20)
--forestpart X Percent of lands that are forests (default=20)
--farmpart X Percent of lands that are farm lands (default=15)
--wastepart X Percent of lands that are wastes (default=10)
--swamppart X Percent of lands that are swamps (default=10)
--mapaa Enable antialiasing for random maps
--mapsize W H Set width and height of random map (default=1600 1200)
--mapprov X Set number of provinces (default=150)
--passmount Don't use impassable mountains on random maps
--mapgcol RGBA Ground color 0-255 (default=170 146 116 255)
--mapscol RGBA Sea color 0-255 (default=54 54 130 255)
--mapbcol RGBA Ground border color 0-255 (x4)
--mapsbcol RGBA Sea border color 0-255 (x4)
--mapnoise X Ground color noise 0-255 (default 15)
--borderwidth X Border width 0-500 (default 100)
******* Video Options *******
-w --window Run Dominions 3 in a window
-u --fullscreen Use the entire screen
--bitplanes X Try to use a color depth of X bits per pixel
--zbuffer X Try to use a depth buffer of X bits per pixel (default=16)
-T --textonly Use this with --tcpserver to get graphicless server
--gamma X Set gamma function (brightness) 0.1 - 5.0 (default=1.0)
--opacity X Set gui opacity 0 - 100
-r --res X Y Set screen resolution / window size (default=800 600)
--animback Use animated backgrounds
-a --noanimback Don't use animated backgrounds
--fade Use fade effects
-f --nofade No fade effects
--nopopups No helpful popups
--fps X Aim for this nbr of frames per second (default=20)
--maxfps X Maximum nbr of frames per second (default=50)
--filtering X Quality of OpenGL filtering 0-3 (default=2)
--maxtexsize X Max texture size in pixels 32-4096 (default=unlimited)
--treequal X Tree quality 1-5 (default=3)
--texqual X Texture quality 1-5 (default=3)
--nolightfx No light effects in battles
--partamount X Max nbr of particles 0-8 (0=none, 4=default, 8=max)
--nograss Don't draw the grass
--noarcade Don't draw floating damage numbers
--noglext Don't use any OpenGL extensions
--vsync Enable vsync
-V --novsync Disable vsync
--renderpath X Use different optimizations 0-1 (0=good for low mem cards)
-x --fastgrx Faster graphics (use 3 times for best performance (-xxx))
-p --perftest Run a performance test and exit
******* Audio Options *******
-s --nosound No sound effects or music
-m --nomusic No music
--musicvol X Set music volume, 0-100
--clickvol X Set mouse click volume, 0-100
--arts Route sound through aRts (default)
-o --oss Use direct oss sound output (best quality)
Example: dom3 -wm Run Dominons 3 in a window and without music

Re: What\'s wrong with my Dominions?
 

Are you running Vista? If you are, that's your problem right there and it might be helped by up to date latest graphics drivers but I wouldn't bet on it.

Re: What\'s wrong with my Dominions?
 

So is that it then? I mean do you plan on fixing that or are you already? It's near impossible to find a new computer that doesn't ship with vista.

Re: What\'s wrong with my Dominions?
 

Well... I could point out some PC distributors with more flexibility, or go into linux dualboots. And mention that even in brick and mortar stores, you can easily find a new computer without Vista. It's called a Mac. Surely you've heard of Apple?

Sorry, had to get that smart-aleck out of my system.
I know what you meant. And considering where the bulk of the market is, Vista capability may be an unfortunate necessity.

Personally, I have no interest in Vista. I may go out of my way to avoid migrating to it. But I do want to be helpful, so I'm doing some google searches online. Unfortunately, my searchs didn't turn up much. But you may want to try window's vista's compatibility mode. It allows you to select specific versions, including Windows XP, Service Pack 2.
http://cws.internet.com/article/3645-.htm
It's described down at the bottom of the article. I'm not confident it will help, but it is very quick to try out.
http://www.worldstart.com/tips/tips.php/3817

Re: What\'s wrong with my Dominions?
 

Dell offers systems without Vista... not hard to find. And if gaming is your interest then you want to stay far away from Vista even the benchmarks show XP is better.
So I guess we should be asking you... "Do you plan on fixing that or are you already done ordering a better laptop without Vista?"

Re: What\'s wrong with my Dominions?
 

I have vista and have no problems with Dominions 3, just make sure all hardwares are properly updated, then reinstall the game.

Re: What\'s wrong with my Dominions?
 

... Vista's the 'new thing' though, right? At the moment it's not necessary, but won't we start seeing vista-only games released once it's been out for a few years and covers the bulk of the windows market?

Re: What\'s wrong with my Dominions?
 

Yep. I wouldn't upgrade to Vista now, and won't for some years I think, but if I bought a new computer now I would get one with Vista on it (and then I'd put ubuntu on dual-boot).

Anyway, poor old LuckyRaccoon, you've obviously already got a computer with Vista and don't want to hear all this. It sounds like Lazy_Perfectionist's idea with the compatibility mode might help. The first thing though is definitely to upgrade your video drivers.

Re: What\'s wrong with my Dominions?
 

And run windows update. There aren't any that deal specifically with Dominions, but there have been updates that improve compatibility with a long list of programs, some of which are games. Don't need to install them all, just look them over, see if any might help, then decide which ones are worth installing. DirectX, I recommend you update that if there are any new versions available.