Greek S-300 graphic
 

I noticed that recently (I haven't changed anything in the game) during a PBEM battle or PBEM Campaign, in some games (not all battles), appear on the map as just the crew. It will move just fine and fire its missiles fine, just the graphic remains its crew and not the system. A bit funny and it doesn't really affect anything (I hope), just thought to mention it.

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

You should have a recent save right?;)

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

I think it might be an idea to finnish of your PBEM games & reinstall.
You seem to come across quite a few problems, could just be unlucky mind:)
If you havent recently defrag before reinstalling though I cat see how it finds the right icon sometimes & not others.
Thought 3 icons summer winter dessert one might have gone walkies.

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

Or that I actually pay attention or even bother to mention them. There is also the fear that some people have coming out and posting about them.

Yes, I am unlucky that I have them, but I haven't done any tampering to the game and I am not exactly a noob with computers, owning one or more at a time since the mid 80s.
I don't know what the problem is with the thing I mentioned, and it is not a big deal for me, I just thought I would mention it.

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

Unless a guy or gal from the development team or shrapnel, asks me for one, what would be the point of adding one here? They are pass protected anyway.

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

No point.

Simple test - buy some for a random battle and deploy, which I just did. They are fine. (Since the area SAM is meant to be a launcher and not a truck, they come with a crew "superimposed").

So my best guess is that you may have missed one of the upgrades when installing, or you have damaged files somehow.

Once your PBEM is done, I would suggest that you defrag your hard drive, and then reinstall your game taking care to install each patch in order.

Andy

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

I play quite a bit & one thing about this game you have to give credit for is its rock hard stable. It does not matter whats going on in the background it soldiers on glitch free regardless even if other stuff hangs.
Yes a few in game issues needed sorting like for instance problems with PBEM campaigns when introduced but these were quickly sorted & due to the game not doing what was expected.
For actual glitches only time I have experienced was playing you hence the reasoning your install is broken.
A big shout to the team by the way for the level of support & constant upgrades we still get despite the age of the game. It constantly evolves even now & the last patch with arty & giro ATGM made a huge diffrence. Not to mention the 5 key all top ideas & name another year old game that gets this level of attention let alone a relic.

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

Imp, what was the point of that post of yours?

Mobhack, since all my pbem games are campaigns, I can simply uninstall and reinstall the game without any problems, correct?

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

Since they use basic security, then there should be no problems. Emphasis on the "should" :)!.

But it is up to you, if you feel you want to take the risk with the ongoing campaigns. Me, I would tend to let the campaigns play out then fix.

I would also suggest that you do a full disk surface test, since you do seem to have been having a lot of problems. That is something to run overnight as it is slow. But a dodgy disk cluster can cause file read errors etc., so best to eliminate the possibility.

Andy

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

When you see the main launcher come and go is it ONLY when playing a PBEM battle or PBEM Campaigns? Do you ever play against the AI and see this and if yes has it ever happened while you were playing continuously one turn after the other ?( as opposed to ending a turn, shutting down the computer then starting it up again the next day for example like you would for PBEM )

The only reason the game could miss picking up a graphic is if the SHP file were missing OR the game forgot where that SHP file was ( or it's been redirected someplace "confusing" to the game code. ) If you are seeing it sometimes but not others then it cannot be missing which leaves "confused".

What operating system are you using and if it's Vista has Vista installed all your files in the same place?

TO ALL ON THE FORUM:
Has anyone else seen anything like this when playing? missing graphics that come and go ?

Don

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

I have uninstalled the game and reinstalled it. The directory is C:\Games (x86)\winspmbtv4_5
I am not sure what you mean by having Vista installing all the files in the same place. If you mean the patches, I am very careful with them and made sure again that I install them properly.
I think it was fixed with the new installation, but I can't be certain so over the next few days (I have 3 ongoing games, 1 is on hold due to the other guy for a while, 2 I play at least one turn per day), probably later tonight, I will notice the two games and let you know.
I don't remember having any such problem with single player, BUT, I haven't played any single player game using the specific unit for more than a battle or two, so I don't know what happens in the long run, if anything.



I want to add one more thing, and not start a new thread. Do you remember how I reported a couple of times about crews appearing out of nowhere and that it was something to do with not buying companies, but instead platoons, etc? Well, the problem has appeared again, during a battle. I don't remember which campaign of them, but as soon as I notice I could just upload the files here if you want to have a look. The weird thing is that the crews are from IFVs that belonged to companies. Will let you know asap.

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

No, I'm not referring to the patches. I'm referring to some versions of Vista that decide to place game files and folders where it wants them instead of where we want them. That problem was showing up when people used the standard "Program files" installation that Shrapnel asked us to use when we started working with them. AFAIK this isn't an issue with some versions of Vista when a NON "Program files" installation of the game is used

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

Oh, I didn't know that. I install only demos and non games under "program files". I haven't noticed any problems with folders or files for this or any other game that I have installed right now, under \Games (currently 74 games).

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

Odd I never considered the people in this little group to be shy and retiring about mentioning weird little things like this and if you read the release history list we've been fixing things like this for years but it is somewhat suspicious when these little issues seem to happen to one person or they are the opponent when someone else has a problem. Yes, you may indeed be paying attention more but usually there are confirmations from others when a "bug" is mentioned

Where you in our shoes you might wonder if there might be something in the way the game is running on that individual computer............ yes ? You mention you have uninstalled the game and reinstalled it. Did you run a disk diagnositic and surface scan as well as defragging first as Andy suggested ?

Don

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

If you read though the "Vista" threads on both games forums this is mentioned. It doesn't happen with every version of the O/S

We have had a report from someone testing WINDOWS 7 RC that the game runs good and is running faster than XP ever did so perhaps some good news for the future


Don

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

All I know is that even for things that were not so serious, players that I have played against/with told me on their own that didn't want to post here because of perceived attitude from official replies here, they see as attacking or talking in a rude way to anyone asking questions, especially if the said questions have been answered before, or if the answer is in the manual or it is a stupid question. If you want you can believe me, or not. It's up to you. I have very thick skin and I am not worried but for one or two things (unrelated to anything "online"), so I don't see the problem, but if they have said similar things to me in different times about this, then perhaps there are other people too that believe the same thing.
I am trying to help, not start a fight.


I can understand your points and I would do the same thing, think that there is something wrong on that person's computer/installation. I try to help people in other forums, daily, with games' related problems, and most of the time it is something wrong on what they did. Other times I find weird about listing of certain problems that I have never encountered after many hours of playing a game. I completely understand and I didn't take it personal or anything.

I didn't do defrag or surface check because I forgot to do so. I have defrag on auto, but I will do that too some time. Thanks for reminding me.

I don't check the threads about the WWII game because I never play it. Perhaps I have checked it a few times, but rarely. I did read the thread about Vista and this game, but that was a long time ago iirc. I guess I don't have such problems since I never allowed games to be installed in the default directory, Vista, or any version before that. :D but I know that many people do, so thanks for telling me that.

Interesting about Windows 7. I don't plan on installing it since I have heard rumours that it has problems with some older games and I am 100% satisfied with Vista 64 Home Premium as it is.

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

Here's the problem

We've been doing this for over 10 years now and we've fixed a lot of bugs and added a lot to the original code in that time. We've also dealt with literally thousands of different people from all over the world and believe it or not, my patience has actually increased over the years but I don't pretend to be a saint and I don't suffer fools gladly.

There are people who couldn't ask a question in a way that wasn't either mildly offensive or vaguely insulting to save their life. ANYONE who has asked a question with respect on this forum has been answered in kind but I won't suggest that we've always been as patient as some would like but I don't plan to change either. If people ask nice , they get nice back but give me attitude and you'll get it right back and maybe booted off the forum as well. ( there is a REASON why very few actual game designers interact on forums like this )

I have no problem with your questions but we have noticed some weeks ago that you are the common denominator in many of these really obscure issues and It may be that you are just looking at this more closely than anyone else but usually one person having a problem relates back to that person and if others don't speak up by saying " I saw something like that happen too" then it looks more like an individual set up issue which can always happen with PC's simply because there are an almost infinite number of combinations of O/S and hardware. Toss in all the different anti-virus programs that can run behind the scenes most people don't think about any longer and it makes our job of fixing these things much more difficult when we cannot reproduce them on our machines. I run XP now but for most of the development I was using ME and that behaved differently than XP did on certain things then Vista came along and was it's own headache that has mostly been sorted out but it's still difficult to fix something we cannot reproduce but it's NOT is if we don't even try

Don

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

Understood. I am very glad and I am sure most people here are, that you guys keep working on this game we all love. Don't take what I said as a criticism. :)

Of course the problem might be with my system. I can't say that it isn't.
I am on a different time zone that my opponents so I will have to wait a bit longer for the files.
Thanks for trying.

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

Here is a game where there are no missing graphics (although the replay didn't bother to show me one of my planes attacking for some reason, no biggie) but there is the re emergence of the ghost crews, this time during the battle. It is the second battle in our PBEM campaign. When I finished the previous battle I repaired a few units manually, then I auto repaired the rest (all). I also upgraded a couple of units, but they weren't even damaged in the battle and they were further down the list, far away from where the extra ghost crews appear. The crews in question did not appear during deployment/upgrades/repairs. Only after the battle begun. I can't actually see them, but they are chosen when using the N,P keys. It is not a big deal, I am just curious about it.

I have already played my turn, but this file is when I received it.

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

here is from the 2nd game. First battle of a campaign, no ghost crews yet, but the graphics for the s-300 is not there.

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

Password .........?

Don

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

I sent you a pm. I am not going to share the password in the open for on going games. :D

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

Yeah I figured the PM was the way you were going to handle this

The missing graphic for this save is confirmed. After viewing your save I set up a game of my own and the graphics were shown. There may be a connection with that unit class OR your computer is cursed. For now I'll assume it's UC related.

The alternate explanation has not been totally ruled out....

Don

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

Thank you. Alternate explanation? Sounds nice.

One detail, the problem with the graphic, appeared in the previous game installation. So, any problem that first appeared there it moved (for the specific battle) through the save game files to the new installation?

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

Apparently Windows 7 is going to ship with virtualization built in, which will make playing older games easier.

Regards, Warwick







Interesting about Windows 7. I don't plan on installing it since I have heard rumours that it has problems with some older games and I am 100% satisfied with Vista 64 Home Premium as it is.[/quote]

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

windows 7 ultimate (I think) will come with it. Even that though it is nothing but a beautiful word for virtualpc 2010.

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

If it's a corrupted save file it will stay corrupted so if this problem never shows up again with your new installation ( and disk defrag we trust ) then that's the reason this occurred and why it occurred when I looked at it

If the save file doesn't have the correct SHP file info recorded ( or that bit is corrupted ) then no matter who you sent it to it's going to act the same way

Don

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

Thanks. Then to be certain I will just wait till the next campaign (a few months?) for each opponent.

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

JUST FOR FUN.....

I would like both you and your opponent to check the graphics folder in both or your games for Icon0005.shp and report back what size it reports as and the "Date Modified" date

Thanks

Don

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

Mine is 17/04/2008 02:39 74KB

I will ask him for his.

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

His is 73.8 kb 4/16/2008 7:39 pm

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

Interesting...

Your opponent has the exact same info for Icon0005.shp as my master game AND my development game

Your's is different

When Icon0005.shp is right clicked on and properties choosen is should read

SIZE:73.8 KB (75,573 bytes)
SIZE ON DISK:76.0 KB (77,824 bytes)

CREATED:Tuesday, October 03, 2006, 2:11:11 PM
MODIFIED:Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 7:39:55 PM

How yours got to be a day older is a bit of a mystery.

Don

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

Hmm, I didn't click on properties for mine, just the pop up.
I just click the properties of the file and this is what I get.
Size 73.8 KB (75,573 bytes)
Size on disk: 76.0KB (77,824 bytes)
Created 01 June 2005, 10:06:12
Modified 17 April 2008, 02:39:55
Accessed 29 April 2008, 22:21:16

Is there something I can check with the actual disc the game comes?

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

Icon0005.shp was last updated in the MBT V4 patch and when I make a fresh extraction of that patch into a test folder and check the details of the file I get the same info I reported earlier.

Your's is different. The sizes are exactly the same but the the reported Modified date is not the same. The Created date for all three version of my file I checked are different.

My master game shows

CREATED:Tuesday, October 03, 2006, 2:11:11 PM

my working game shows

CREATED: Monday, December 31, 2007, 8:28:42 PM

the Test folder I just created shows

CREATED: Tuesday, March 25, 2008, 11:47:04 AM

However ALL three show

MODIFIED: Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 7:39:55 PM

AND........ all three show today as the Accessed date. Why your's shows 29 April 2008 as "today" is another mystery ( you may refer back to my earlier remark that your computer may be cursed )


I cannot explain why but I can guess but that's not the same as knowing. I would suggest as a start you extract the V4 patch to a test folder then check the dates the version of Icon0005.shp that pops out reports and see if they are the same as mine or your old install.

We'll take it a step at a time depending on the answer.


Don

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

Here is the info from the patch v4.0 in an empty folder
size 73.8 (75,573 bytes)
Size on disk: 76.0 KB (77,824 bytes)
created 25 March 2008, 18:47:04
Modified 17 April 2008, 02:39:55
Accessed 29 April 2008, 22:21:16

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

I belive I have solved the "accessed" Mystery.

My Icon0005.shp reads
MODIFIED: Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 7:39:55 PM

and your's reads

Modified 17 April 2008, 02:39:55

Becasue your timezone is 7 hours in advance of mine and if I add 7 hours onto 7:39:55 PM on April 16, 2008 I get 17 April 2008, 02:39:55


Well that was fun but the problem still remains. If I think of anything else to check I'll let you know. This doesn't explain why when you access the file it gives you 29 April 2008, 22:21:16 though. I'll assume it's some kind of Vista quirk becasue that is supposed to be (quote)" displays the date this file or folder was last opened" and everything I open with XP tells me it's today



Don

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

Ok Don, thank you.

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

I'm using Vista as well and it reads Icon0005.shp
Modified 17 April 2008, 01:39:55
Accessed 29 April 2008, 21:21:16

so, confirms it is a Vista ****

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

Vista must handle this a bit differently than XP and it obviously reads what timezone the file originated from and adjusts to the users local timezone. It's all very nice and very creative on MS's part but it does make sorting things like this a PITA


From the accessed time both Pats and WDII report and counting back 6 and 7 hours that looks to be about the time the file was likely being compiled into the installer. The installer was fully created at 15:27:22 my time on 4/29/08 and it's quite conceivable that Icon0005.shp could very well have been processed by the installer at 15:21:16 and that's why it's reporting those times.



Don

Re: Greek S-300 graphic
 

btw, irrelevant I know, but Pats is not my opponent in the game. :)