Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

Every once and a while everything on the map disappears except the map and won't come back. I Can't even get out, so Instead I have to Cntrl ALT DELETE.

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

I don't know what a "neogame" edition is .. AFAIK the game is sold by Shrapnel only, to some local game shops, maybe, too.

Do you have a fat, 300-page manual with spiral binding, the serial key printed on the first right page within, a CD on the last page (color printed!) and a cover that looks like this:
http://www.shrapnelgames.com/Illwint...ages/45110.jpg

If not .. maybe you should try ordering your legit copies of your games directly from Shrapnel ?

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

It patches fine and lets me access multilayer games, I'm assuming neogames just translated it. I think it's just something I'm pressing by mistake , but I don't know what. I didn't get the manual because it was in russian 8/. I did some research (google) and they appear to be a Finnish company.

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

I checked Neogames. I did find a Finnish site, www.neogames.fi, but it seems to be a site about game development and for game developers. I didn't find mentions of Dominions from their site, and they don't seem to sell anything.

I also found [Link Disabled by Annette], which has Russian text and sells games. I think it includes Dominions 3, but I'm not quite sure.

EDIT: corrected the link. "com.ua", not "com"

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

[Link Disabled by Annette] you mean, I guess...

The [Link Disabled by Annette] seem to indicate that this is one of those places that sell pirated copies of software. Which is not illegal in Russia, because there are no copyright laws like that. You can find full versions of anything for barely the media cost on every flea market (black market?) or in normal shops. The game version of Dom3 in question they're selling converts to a little under $1 USD in exchange, for example.

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

Well I can certainly report it, but why does my game patch then? Last time I checked the patch will lock the game if it's illegal. I wonder if there are any from the company on the forum who can clarify this.

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

As far as I understand, the game will cause various problems that make the game harder to play, such as the user interface disappearing.

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

Eldanesh, can you afford to buy the game from Shrapnel? I would really like to play with you multiplayer. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

At this point, no, and the multiplayer does work, so I dunno if it's legit or not. I've never been burned on ebay before save with DOM 2, which was entirely different. I was planning to get it eventually, but I always watch ebay to save money.

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

I have a totally legit copy (ordered from Shrapnel) that has this problem. It crops up sporadically when I hit Esc; it happens much more rarely, but not never, when I'm playing SP instead of MP.

When the GUI disappears, the keyboard commands still work, so you can still save/end your turn if you need to!

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

Well thanks for saying so. How do you deal with it? Other opinions on this matter appreciated, it's getting confusing.

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

It doesn't happen often for me (less than once per large handful of MP turns, no more than once a month in SP), so generally I just suck it up. For MP though, it's gotten me to make sure I take my turns offline; if everything goes blank, I can hit E before force-quiting the program, so I don't lose anything when I come back.

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

I experience it about as often as Ewierl in single player, and I don't remember a time I have ever experienced it in MP play. I have no idea what it is linked to. It probably has something to do with the copy protection and it just glitches up occasionally with legit players.

I think your probably going to be SOL until you break down and buy the game.

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

I did buy the game, apparently.

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

Actually, when the GUI disappears you can even click on the buttons with your mouse aswell, you just won't be able to see them because they're invisible... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/image...es/biggrin.gif

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

No other insights here?

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

If you're using a known pirated CD key for your game then you're supposed to have issues, as simple as that, AFAIK.

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

<font color="#5bebe5">link to pirate site oppressed ~Edi</font>

Wow, you really got a dominions 3 copy on this site. Even with an own layout.

However this is clearly a pirate site (maybe somehow legal in russia) and your key isn't a valid one.

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

My copy is a legal one, bought from Shrapnel, and I do have the VERY NICE manual.
It still loses the menus from time to time, but only on one of my computers.
The original installation is fine, but the second one on my laptop messes
up from time to time.

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

Tuidjy, the same happened to me, but only for my test games in Silent Seas. Nowhere else as far as I can remember, and not anymore since quite some time too.

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

I never saw the website, I got it off ebay thinking it was legal, anyway, I'll see what I can do.

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

I've disabled a couple of links in this thread which lead to a site selling illegal versions of the game. We cannot and will not offer technical support of anything other than legitimate versions of the game. If you purchased Dominions 3 from someone other than a reputable, authorized reseller or directly from our site, thinking what you bought was a legal copy of the game, we recommend you contact the seller and request a refund. You should find pricing fairly comparable among legitimate resellers. So if you find the game in "new" condition for one dollar, you can be sure it's a pirated game and that we won't be able to help you make it function properly.

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

Buying a used copy off of Ebay can be a problem also. You have no idea if the person deleted their key, or lent it to friends.

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

I should also note that if your game has been translated into something other than English and/or it was delivered without a 300 page printed manual, it is not a legal copy of the game. If anyone needs help determining if a seller is legit or if the copy you have in your possession is authorized, feel free to bring your questions to our online customer support center. There's a link on the left sidebar of this page.

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

It should be noted that if it was bought from the Neogames site, it is automatically a pirate copy. A Russian friend of mine checked the place out at my request and the conclusion was that they are flat out lying about being an official distributor.

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

Do also note that there are people among us (ie, myself) who bought their copy straight from Shrapnel yet still have this problem. There's a lot of jumping to conclusions, "If you have this problem you must have a pirated version, therefore..." that always crops up in this discussion.

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

Well in this case the site pretty well settled things.

But you are correct. On the other hand, even with legal copies its often been a good suggestion to delete the key and re-input it from the manual.

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

As Gandalf said, this case was pretty straightforward. We had his own words and the site in question and we had that checked out just to be certain.

On a more general note to everyone:

I have noticed that there have been instances of people jumping to conclusions, which they should not do. Everyone should be given the benefit of the doubt and assumed to be innocent until proven guilty. That said, healthy suspicions are not wrong. Just don't accuse anyone unless you have actual evidence of piracy. If in doubt, contact a moderator first and let them sort it out.

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

Have you entered a customer support request for technical support?

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

To me that sounds like something is altering the key file either during or after it's creation. Wonder if over-aggressive anti virus or similar could be to blame...

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

Aha, thanks for the useful advice http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

I've reset the key, if it crops up again I'll submit a tech support request.

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

I get this in linux (Fedora) on rare occasions and I do not have anything that can interfere with the program. It is very annoying though and I would like to see it fixed once and for all. Paying customers should not be treated this way.

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

Really? What file system are you running? EXT2? How often do you reboot? Do you run fsck?

Ive had it happen once on my windows machine but in years Ive never had it on my linux. And they are both full time servers running many instances of Dom3 so I would expect it to happen to them if it was a bug they were susceptable to.

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

On the partition where Dom3 resides I'm running EXT3 with fsck disabled, SELinux disabled. One reboot since install. Current uptime 283 days.

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

With ext3 you might need to run fsck. Your key file might have gotten trashed.

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

Thanks for the tip, Gandalf. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Re: Not sure how to fix this (bug or otherwise)
 

Well, I am re-sending it to the guy who sold it to me. He's a middleman (not that I don't think he knows he selling pirate copies), but at least it means I can get most of my money back.