BTS graphics and audio issues

[kamfer]

Hello

I've been playing CivIV BTS without problems on my old MacBook with the latest update (3.19) and SL (10.6.8), but today after installing it on a new MacBook Pro (i7, HD3000, SL) it's acting very strangely indeed.

First of all I get the same audio bug I used to get when playing vanilla CivIV on my MacBook several years ago when I'd been playing it for a very long time and my machine was "tired" (after playing for several hours it usually popped up, along with graphical issues). It's a kind of annoying buzzing sound that is only audible when you zoom in on certain tiles. I'm sure you're familiar with it.

The second issue is slightly more perplexing, it's a kind of graphical glitch that only occurs in the forest graphic. Attaching screenshot. Neither of these problems occur in CivIV vanilla or CivIV Warlords.

Even though it's still playable, it's quite annoying. Any advice appreciated!

 

[Xyth]

The forest graphics issue is because you're using the wrong graphics chipset in your MBP. I see it also on my MBP if I accidentally load BTS with Intel graphics active. The HD3000 (and/or its drivers) are not very good at 3D games. Your MBP also has dedicated Nvidia or ATI/AMD graphics and BTS should be using that. Note that your MBP usually defaults to Intel graphics when running off the battery (can be toggled in the Energy Saver panel of System Preferences).

I highly recommend installing this free application. It will tell you which graphics chipset is currently in use and let you easily switch between them to suit you.

As for that audio issue, it's a bug in BTS. It's usually related to the unit on a particular tile and sometimes it disappears if you deselect that unit. Other times it will only vanish if the unit is deleted. There's also a much nastier audio bug that can cause your framerate to drop to less than 1 per second. That usually only happens when starting or loading a second game without having quit BTS in between.

I've reported these to Aspyr several times but they've blatantly stated they aren't interested in fixing them.

 

[kamfer]

Ah, that's a shame. It feels really strange how my much older MacBook can run this game with less glitches! It doesn't seem to make any sense that it would be a bug unique to BTS and not exist in any of the previous iterations of the game, either.

The problem in my case is that I'm on the 13" MBP without the extra gfx chipset, so I guess I'm screwed. Oh well. Guess I better stick to my MacBook with the crap fps.

 

[Xyth]

Ah, that's a shame. It feels really strange how my much older MacBook can run this game with less glitches! It doesn't seem to make any sense that it would be a bug unique to BTS and not exist in any of the previous iterations of the game, either.

The problem in my case is that I'm on the 13" MBP without the extra gfx chipset, so I guess I'm screwed. Oh well. Guess I better stick to my MacBook with the crap fps.

Ah I forgot the 13" MBP didn't have a dedicated graphics chipset. What graphic chipset does your MacBook have?

 

[kamfer]

Exactly what you've got (Intel HD), except without the extra chipset. I'll just have to hope for some updated drivers I guess