Map problems?

[Cmcastl]

This is my first time on this forum.

I have to say immediately that my two all time favourite games are MOO3 and SMAC but if I had only one to take to a desert island it would be SMAC! More than any other sci-fi game I have ever known it is like living in your own Sci-fi novel.

Anyway, I took the trouble to register because I keep getting crashes. I think it may be one of the maps - the "XXL" one is what I am using at present. It is a lovely map, full of islands and therefore strategic possibilities. But in the game I am using it I keep getting the grief of these crashes; I just can't think what else it might be. I have installed both games plus the patches - but no MODs - and my previous game worked fine on one of the other maps.

If anyone has any ideas how I can track down the cause of this occasional crash I would appreciate it, whether it be the map or not.

Oh, I did reinstall again to try and eliminate the problem but that hasn't worked this time but I would be read to reinstall all over again if need be.

Live long and prosper.

PS: That image you need to be able to read register, it is not only computer proof it is almost human eye proof! I needed two tries!

 

[NwabudikeMorgan]

Welcome to the CFC forums!

regarding your crash problem, do you find it's happening at the end of turns, during the movies, or any other more specific place in the game?

my version of SMAC sometimes crashes just for fun at the end of a turn, and all I have to do to get around it is load up the Autosave, and not do exactly the same moves. for example, of all i did was move a scout rover 2 tiles left, and a former 1 tile up, and it crashes, if I do the same thing it'll crash again, but if I move the rover downleft, then left, and the former up-right, it doesn't crash. Thanks for autosaves eh?

When if crashes during movies I find it's the same thing, either delay production of the Secret Project one turn, or just skip the movie by clicking the mouse during the movie.

 

[Cmcastl]

Thank you for your reply, NwabudikeMorgan.

And may I say your faction is giving mine, the Peacekeepers, considerable problems right now!

It crashes any old time, as far as I can see. Your experience is interesting and I am always glad of company in my misery!

Yes, I save on every turn now (deleting them after I exit the game) so that I can always go back a turn or two. Usually it then goes on for a while before the next crash.

I can't see how a map could cause a crash and, as I said, in my thread I haven't added any MODs just the two games and the last SMAC patch. But I had previously played a game right through, no problems, with another map which makes me wonder if it is the particular map? If I was more of a geek I might be able to find out. I shall try another map at some point to see if that makes a difference?

Oh, I forgot to say I have XP, with the patch for that, of course, and I am wondering if that, along with my much more powerful processor, just makes the game more buggy? I originally got the game when I had a much more humble processor and it all proceeded much more sedately but I am you have noticed how the units just zip around now as if they are ampethamines!

As I said, the XXL is marvellous map, full of islands large and small and strategic possibilities thereof. I would hate to have to abandon it.

I do, do, do wish that Firaxis would consider an update for this marvellous game with all the increased sophistication of imagery and AI that modern home PC power makes possible. Or I would get Civ 3 or 4 if a decent SMAC mod was invented!

That said, the MAC AI holds up remarkably well for a game which is more than ten years old!

Well, thanks again for the reply, N-M, and live long and prosper. And will you please withdraw your units from my territory or it's war!

 

[Petek]

Hi Cmcastl,

Welcome to the forums! I'd be glad to help to figure out what's causing your problem. First, please post a save file from right before a crash, together with a description of what actions you took that turn. That should help to narrow down the possibilities.

Petek

 

[Cmcastl]

Many thanks for your offer of help, Petek.

How and where would I post the file, please?

I was thinking about this last night after posting my thread and reply. I am no expert but I am wondering if with the increased CPU power we all have these days, which was never envisaged at the time the game was designed, causes the program just occasionally to trip over itself? It is a big and very busy map, this XXL map, you see, just the way I like it but maybe not the way the poor 10 year old program does!

Anyway, please tell me how to post the save game file - the next time crash happens and it surely will -and I shall gratefully do so.

Live long and prosper.

 

[Petek]

Many thanks for your offer of help, Petek.

How and where would I post the file, please?

This entry from the FAQ (What Are Attachments?) explains how to do so.

I was thinking about this last night after posting my thread and reply. I am no expert but I am wondering if with the increased CPU power we all have these days, which was never envisaged at the time the game was designed, causes the program just occasionally to trip over itself? It is a big and very busy map, this XXL map, you see, just the way I like it but maybe not the way the poor 10 year old program does!

I remember that in the early 1990's exactly this problem occurred. Games weren't programmed to handle the faster CPUs. IIRC, utilities were available to slow your computer down, allowing the games to run. However, this is no longer a problem. Your crashes aren't being caused by a faster CPU.

Petek

 

[GooglyBoogly]

have to say immediately that my two all time favourite games are MOO3 and SMAC

Has there been an update or patch in the last few years that actualy makes that game playable?
I bought it 2nd hand for NZ$2 (seriously), and spent the next three days non-stop trying to get the hang and feel of it. However, because the automation was so ABSYMALLY POOR (even completely non-functional), and the battles were zoomed out so much, i pretty much consigned it to the dustheap (it is still in storage somewhere). I would really LOVE to hear that someone has made the game playable again, but dont want to waste another 100hrs+ of my life finding that out.

Your statement gives me hope, but I would like to have something more to go on. Perhaps a link to another thread discussing the changes? I am not trying to hijack your thread

 

[Cmcastl]

No problem, Googly-Boogly.

I don't know if I was just lucky but I played the last game on the "All Night Long Map" all through to victory no problem. That also is a map-mod.

I am using AC and the SMAC expansion with the XP patch to play.

Hope that helps.

 

[GooglyBoogly]

Um... maybe I wasn't clear enough. I was referrring to MOO3 (that is why I highlighted it), not SMAC

 

[Cmcastl]

I have found MOO3 eminently playable despite all the MODding I have inflicted on my own program.

I can only recommend for all your patches and MODs

www.moo3.at/mods

 

[M_J_M]

Back to SMACx:

You might have the same problem i have: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=287228

The problem (if we have the same problem) is that the game simply isn't programmed for a to big number of units. If your game has become too big (and i mean really big), the game simply doesn't move all the units correctly, doing strange things with them, and finally crashes when it gets an AI faction to interact with bugged units. Due to the nature of this problem, this problem just hits very few but very enthusiastic players, gets worse the longer you play and finally gets so hard that you can't get any turn further without having douzens of crashes. I've googled for whole days and i found only two forum entrys where this problem was mentioned. There is as far as i know no solution to this problem, and as this seems to be a hardcode problem, so no mod or so avaiable or even possible.

 

[NwabudikeMorgan]

Is it really neccesary to play in that large a world setting?

 

[M_J_M]

It is fun to me so i do it, point.

 

[Cmcastl]

Thanks, MJM; what you say make sense and corresponds with my suspicion.

I will however continue to play the game so long as my backup saves work.

Oh, for a new version of SMAC!

Live long and prosper.

 

[Cmcastl]

MJM,

You must be right. I have tried half a dozen times to get beyond a certain game point and it just freezes every time at the same unit movement!

Despite the XP adaptor programme and the increased computer power the program must be at fault. But to be fair to Firaxis it was never designed for the powerful computers of today.

I am starting again with a smaller map. With fingers crossed.

Pity. I was really looking forward to a Titanic struggle with the XXL map. Which, strategically, is a beautiful map!

I don't have a state of the art computer but I would buy one if a new, improved SMAC came out! That is how much I love the game!

Live long and prosper.