Dominions II: Technical/Hardware Issues

Pirateiam · #1 April 23rd, 2004, 02:29 AM

I am having proplems with game freezing at the map view when I am panning the view around. This is a Hard lock up. I seems to happen when I get further into games (turn 40+) possible memory leak? Once it happens it seems to happen almost every other turn after reboot. Here are my specs:

CPU - AMD Athlon XP 2000+
256 MB Ram
VIA/S3 onboard graphics 32 MB
Windows 98SE
Full Game Version 2.11

[ April 23, 2004, 02:19: Message edited by: Pirateiam ]

Psientist · #2 April 25th, 2004, 12:05 AM

Some startup options for Dominions2 require parameters to be set while starting up from the command line. You can do this from Terminal, but I've provided an Applescript that can do this for you automatically without using the terminal at all.

1. Open Script Editor.
2. Paste the following script:

doshell script "cd /Users/Username/PathToDominions/Dominions2;dominions2.app/Contents/MacOS/dominions2 --badmouse"

3. Save as a run-only application, naming it whatever you want - I named my "Dominions 2 Startup".

You can then alias, or double click that applescript application to boot up Dominions 2 for you with whatever flags you wanted to set.

Some important points:
- The above example sets the "badmouse" flag; sometimes, when you play using the reduced window mode, the mouse coordinates are messed up, and this parameter will fix that. There are other options (I believe the "-w" mode will force the game to be played as a window instead of fullscreen).
- Be sure to replace the "Username/PathToDominions/" part of the script with YOUR login userid, and the path to wherever you keep the Dominions 2 application.

Good luck.

Pirateiam · #3 April 25th, 2004, 12:53 AM

Psientist,

Thanks for the ideas. I have already tried running it in a window, also I have tried everything under the sun with my grapics settings. I will try this badmouse command switch but during my hard lock-ups my mouse stays active but the screen and sound freeze. I will look at all the command switches and see if they help.

Johan K · #4 April 25th, 2004, 09:51 AM

You could try to run Dominions II without sound as well (switch: -s), that will eliminate one possible source of error. But since it crashes when you pan around I would guess that it is something weird with the graphics drivers. Maybe the card manufacturer has an updated Version.

Pirateiam · #5 April 25th, 2004, 07:36 PM

Yeah I have already tried that. What is strange is that I run Dominions II during the week on a laptop (work/traveling)with almost the identical onboard graphics chipset and it runs fine. The glaring difference is that the workstation that I run it on the weekend (that is failing) is a AMD Anthlon - Windows 98 OS system. I built the workstation myself so I know I have the most updated bios and graphic drivers. I think I have narrowed it down to either the graphic chipset or I am having power drops on my motherboard. I will be able to eliminate the power issue this weekend since I am running a monitoring log right now (I knew I should have used a 300 watt PS

) One question I have that you may help me with is the Direct Draw Version that is supported (I assume you use Direct Draw calls in your code right?) My drivers say Version 1.0, is there not a newer Version?

I also think I am going to throw a AGP graphics card in to see if that eliminates the problem. Tell me which inexpensive AGP cards that you know for SURE that works with Dominions II. Also if there is anyone out there that has an AGP card lying around that they do not want anymore let me know. I would be willing to even spend a few bucks for it

.

[ April 25, 2004, 18:41: Message edited by: Pirateiam ]

Johan K · #6 April 25th, 2004, 09:58 PM

Direct draw is not used so I don't think it should cause any trouble, but you never know. Dominions II is developed with an AGP geforce2mx in mind (I have that one), so that card should work flawlessly.

MCArt · #7 July 27th, 2004, 10:39 PM

I am having problems to start the Demo. I get a Nagot gik fel error message that tells me it 'failed to init OpenGL'. I have tried the things suggested in the thread linked to from Zen's post here, to no avail.

I suspect NVidia's latest graphic driver (56.64) is at fault - because the demo was working some months ago, before I had de-installed, and later re-installed it - but I am not sure.
Does anyone have ideas how to get it back working again?

My system is an Athlon XP 2000, 256MB RAM, Windows ME and NVidia GeForce 4 MX 440

[ July 27, 2004, 21:40: Message edited by: MCArt ]