Crash on 1.21f beta

[markles]

Yeah, I know, it's a beta so crashes can be expected. Nevertheless, here's the problem.

Mac OS 9.2.2; Beige G3; 448MB RAM; Civ III 1.21f beta.

Program starts properly. But it crashes when I'm loading my saved data. It didn't start until I got to about 1740AD, and now my saved files just won't load without the program "unexpectedly quitting" because of a Type 2 error. I've boosted the memory allocation bigtime, but no change. Loading autosave didn't help.

Sometimes I can get it working, and I don't know why that time was different. Maybe I loaded a much earlier save (like 5 saves ago, which loses up to an hour of playing). But then eventually the problem returns.

Any ideas anyone?

[dojoboy]

Is the saved-game a post-1.21f game? If so, this may very well be the problem.

I don't believe increasing memory will prevent crashes.

I recommend starting a new game to see if the problem persists.

Check out the open-beta 1.21f read-me for some clues. I believe there is a comment about the instability of pre-patch (1.21f) games.

Good luck, and welcome to the boards.

[markles]

Wow, thanks for the pronto posting, dojoboy!

The saved file was saved using version 1.21f beta. In fact, I started the whole game using the beta. Is that what you mean by "a post-1.21f game"?

As suggested, I looked at the readme file, but there's no help on this.

Any other ideas? I'm getting kind of worried here.

[markles]

I should add, BTW, one correction and one additional fact:

Correction:
It's a Type 1 error, not Type 2.

Additional fact:
When the save file is loading, it takes a long time at 37%. Maybe several (3-5) minutes. It just hangs there at 37%. On the times it crashes, it only sits at 37% for about 10 seconds, then the application quits/crashes. When it doesn't crash, it hangs there for 3-5 minutes. It never did the hanging thing in earlier versions (1.17 or 1.0), although it used to take some time around 54% (or was it 57%?), but only for about 15 seconds or so.

Eh?

[Grey Randall]

Beige G3 233 384 MB RAM OS X 10.1.4

using 2.1f, I started a new game, loaded a scenario (kittenofchaos's world) and started playing.

Saved the game 4 times, the only problem is, that it is 400 AD, and every time I end my turn after loading this game, it hangs forever, and I have to force quit.

I don't know if it's the save game file or what. When I go to previous saves, it still hangs immediately at then end of 400 AD.

I went and reinstalled Civ 3, leaving the 2.1f beta version on the drive as well. Bringing that new installation up to 1.7 and starting a new game with kittenofchaos' scenario and seeing if 1.7 will let me get past 400 AD.

[dojoboy]

Originally posted by markles

When the save file is loading, it takes a long time at 37%. Maybe several (3-5) minutes. It just hangs there at 37%. On the times it crashes, it only sits at 37% for about 10 seconds, then the application quits/crashes. When it doesn't crash, it hangs there for 3-5 minutes. It never did the hanging thing in earlier versions (1.17 or 1.0), although it used to take some time around 54% (or was it 57%?), but only for about 15 seconds or so.

Eh?

The hanging at 37% is normal, and it gets longer in the late game. I believe Firaxis programmers said that this is when the computer is placing units on the map (I guess similar to pathfinding). Before the open-beta patch, the "hang" occurred at 57%, now 37%.

Post a save game here and send one to infogrames. You can find their email for the open-beta bugs here in the mac forum (under one of the open-beta threads).

[Lummox]

I had a similar problem in a few games back, it would just get stuck at 37 percent and quit about 10 minutes later, im using roughly the same computer as you (different things here and there, nothing to big) eventually i put the memory way up and the problem went away and i havent had a problem with it since, so id put the memory up a whole lot more than it already is.....


Lummox

[Shogoth]

I have the same problem often enough.
I don't know why, kind of voodoo, but if I go back some saves until I get one that works and save the game each turn it often works again !?!
It might also help to empty the save folder from unnecessary games.

I know this sounds quite superstitious, what I'm not (except with computers), but these things help...