My laptop and still no terrain

[lightnng]

Alright, I actually got the game today. I was very surprised, since Amazon listed it as due to arrive 11/7 (I chose free shipping), and yet here it is.

My laptop:

IBM X31
768MB RAM
Embedded Mobility Radeon AGP (M6-C16h), 16MB on board, hardware support for T&L

The game installed easily, although it claimed it couldn't find the CD afterwards (yes, I used the correct one). Rebooting solved that problem.

First run was horrible - everything was so slow I had to just get out as soon as I could. Nothing looked right or at all, either.

I removed all my video drivers, and installed Catalyst. Same.

I removed all my video drivers, and installed Omega. Now the game runs at a reasonable speed. Whoever wrote these needs to be hired by ATI.

However, I still have the black terrain/cheshire cat problem. Sure I can see it by changing the XML file but that's no fun. However, if the game is able to show ALL terrain and run without a hitch, then it would seem that showing some of the terrain (normal mode) should also be possible, no?

So... anyone have any ideas how to fix this yet? I am really excited that my laptop is actually on the face of it able to run this - lowest gfx settings and all, but its running - and I would really like to play. Anyone? Someone mentioned using 3Danalyze to fix the black terrain problem, but I can't figure out what to do with that tool.

 

[Willem]

Could have something to do with your video memory. The minimum required is 64, not 16 like you have.

 

[lightnng]

Could have something to do with your video memory. The minimum required is 64, not 16 like you have.

I understand that but in that case the case should not run with full terrain on, either. The fact that it IS able to run with no problem with all the terrain on - basically, as if I had already discovered the whole map - indicates that it is not, in fact, a video memory problem.

The fact that its the same problem people with a large variety of setups are encountering is also a strong indication that this is not the issue.

So, anyone has any other ideas about this by now?

 

[Willem]

The fact that its the same problem people with a large variety of setups are encountering is also a strong indication that this is not the issue.

No it's not. It's only happening with low end borderline cards, which yours is one of. If it's not a laptop, then get yourself a half decent video card. If it is a laptop, you're probably SOL. There are a couple of work arounds, but they're compromises at best.

 

[lightnng]

It is a laptop.

And I still don't understand how the same setup could run the game perfectly fine with the FULL TERRAIN ON (by editing the XML file to always show terrain), while not being able to run it WITH SOME TERRAIN ON. That does not sound like a hardware issue. Please explain why you say that, Willem.

Even more interesting: after some more experimenting, some terrain tiles are revealed when I try to play withou the XML change. Its almost random, but they do appear. I found to my surprise that they stay on even if I save, EXIT THE GAME, and go back in. Now THAT is really strange - if this was a rendering or hardware problem, I would anticipate them to disappear if I go out and back in again. However, it seems to be somehow part of the savegame file. THAT appears to be a VERY strong indication that this is a game related bug.

 

[Willem]

It is a laptop.

And I still don't understand how the same setup could run the game perfectly fine with the FULL TERRAIN ON (by editing the XML file to always show terrain), while not being able to run it WITH SOME TERRAIN ON. That does not sound like a hardware issue. Please explain why you say that, Willem.

I'm not sure how Firaxis is using the T&L, but what you're mentioning is consistent with all the reports coming from people who don't have it supported on their video card. They also get the "Cheshire Cat" civ leaders. There are a few bottom end cards that even though they are supposed to support T&L, don't actually do so, or not very well. The Radeon 7500 is one of them and obviously yours is too. My guess is because they're older, the configuration they're using is no longer compatible.

Even more interesting: after some more experimenting, some terrain tiles are revealed when I try to play withou the XML change. Its almost random, but they do appear. I found to my surprise that they stay on even if I save, EXIT THE GAME, and go back in. Now THAT is really strange - if this was a rendering or hardware problem, I would anticipate them to disappear if I go out and back in again. However, it seems to be somehow part of the savegame file. THAT appears to be a VERY strong indication that this is a game related bug.

That is also consistent with no T&L cards. Many people have reported that the more they explore and reveal the map, the more terrain they can see.

I have read posts though that people who reduce the ARP setting in SmartGart have been able to get the cards to work properly with the graphics, but at the expense of game speed. I'm not sure how that's done exactly, since it's only something I've read, and I may not even be passing the info on correctly.

If it's any consolation, most people with laptops won't be able to play this game properly thanks to their crappy video cards, so you aren't alone in this issue. If you really want to play Civ 4, I'd suggest you get yourself a cheap used desktop system somewhere and play it on that. Or else spend alot of money getting a laptop with a half decent video card. It seems only the newest ones have video cards capable of handling the T&L.