These are my experiences with game so far, and couple of fixes that works on my hardware.
1 - Initialize Renderer error
Occurs: when trying to run game (ATI Radeon 9800 pro and Catalist)
Solution: Install Omega drivers instead of Catalist - www.omegadrivers.net
These are very good and stable drivers (in my opinion) and I assume that nVidia users who has troubles/gliches/crashes with treir Civ4 should try these (it helped me with instalation and crashes of couple of games on GF 5600 Ultra).
I've tryed Catalist to (after couple hours of playing) and imidietly got Initialize Renderer error.
2 - Players name changes in to computer name
Occurs: When trying to load game by double clicking on Civ4 savegame file
Solution: Only solution that I know of is opening *.Civ4SavedGame with HexWorkshow (or Notepad but that is dangerous
) and editing it.
3 - Loading game crash
Occurs: When loading certain (not all) save game. After progress bar loads to 100% you get black screen, ocasionaly error (asterix) sound and then game freezes. If you try to move mouse to the corner of the screen you will see some weard artefacts (from cursor). When you try Alt-Tab and wait about 2-3 min. you will see your desktop in 8-bit colors and error massage witch says that your driver file stoped responding and system will reboot.
Solution: Run civ4 and set your resolution to minimum. Exit game, go to Civ4 folder and open _Civ4Config. Edit the ini file:
AllowScreenShots = 0
FullScreen = 0
Save changes, run civ4 and load save game.
You will be able to play only in windowed mode but most important is that you will be able to play this *&%$( game.
I think the reason the game crashes is becouse some missing graphic elements or info (and definitely by memory leeks or misadressed memory). If you like to see more details see the logs:
LSystem.log
-----------
...
building:Art/Structures/Buildings/Colosseum/Colosseum.nif does not contain a node called SHADOW. Its shadow, if present, will be corrupt!
Failed to place goal building ART_DEF_BUILDING_MARKET.
Failed to place goal building ART_DEF_BUILDING_THEATRE.
Failed to place goal building ART_DEF_BUILDING_LIBRARY.
Failed to place goal building ART_DEF_BUILDING_COAL_PLANT.
Failed to place goal building ART_DEF_BUILDING_AIRPORT.
Failed to place goal building ART_DEF_BUILDING_RECYCLING_CENTER.
building:Art/Structures/Buildings/BombShelters/BombShelters.nif does not contain a node called SHADOW. Its shadow, if present, will be corrupt!
Failed to place goal building ART_DEF_BUILDING_BUNKER.
...
-----------
legacy.log (a lot of null references)
-----------
...
[Jason] Using old cut tree: Art/Terrain/Routes/Rivers/River05c.nif_clone
[Jason] Using old cut tree: (null)
[Jason] Using old cut tree: (null)
[Jason] Using old cut tree: (null)
[Jason] Using old cut tree: (null)
...
-----------
resmgr.log (the file exists, dont know why it doesnt load)
-----------
RESMGR: Texture PlayerColor01.tga failed to load
RESMGR: Texture PlayerColor02.tga failed to load
-----------
The list goes on and on.
My spec:
Athlon XP 2600+ @ Gigabyte GA-7N400 Pro2
2x512 MB DDR Kingston Value @ 333 Mhz (2x166)
Saphire Radeon 9800 PRO 128MB
Windows XP SP2
I would like to apologise for my spelling and grammar but English isn't my mother language.
I also would like to hear your oppinion about those fixes, do they work or not and on what platform.
Artur
1 - Initialize Renderer error
Occurs: when trying to run game (ATI Radeon 9800 pro and Catalist)
Solution: Install Omega drivers instead of Catalist - www.omegadrivers.net
These are very good and stable drivers (in my opinion) and I assume that nVidia users who has troubles/gliches/crashes with treir Civ4 should try these (it helped me with instalation and crashes of couple of games on GF 5600 Ultra).
I've tryed Catalist to (after couple hours of playing) and imidietly got Initialize Renderer error.
2 - Players name changes in to computer name
Occurs: When trying to load game by double clicking on Civ4 savegame file
Solution: Only solution that I know of is opening *.Civ4SavedGame with HexWorkshow (or Notepad but that is dangerous
) and editing it. 3 - Loading game crash
Occurs: When loading certain (not all) save game. After progress bar loads to 100% you get black screen, ocasionaly error (asterix) sound and then game freezes. If you try to move mouse to the corner of the screen you will see some weard artefacts (from cursor). When you try Alt-Tab and wait about 2-3 min. you will see your desktop in 8-bit colors and error massage witch says that your driver file stoped responding and system will reboot.
Solution: Run civ4 and set your resolution to minimum. Exit game, go to Civ4 folder and open _Civ4Config. Edit the ini file:
AllowScreenShots = 0
FullScreen = 0
Save changes, run civ4 and load save game.
You will be able to play only in windowed mode but most important is that you will be able to play this *&%$( game.
I think the reason the game crashes is becouse some missing graphic elements or info (and definitely by memory leeks or misadressed memory). If you like to see more details see the logs:
LSystem.log
-----------
...
building:Art/Structures/Buildings/Colosseum/Colosseum.nif does not contain a node called SHADOW. Its shadow, if present, will be corrupt!
Failed to place goal building ART_DEF_BUILDING_MARKET.
Failed to place goal building ART_DEF_BUILDING_THEATRE.
Failed to place goal building ART_DEF_BUILDING_LIBRARY.
Failed to place goal building ART_DEF_BUILDING_COAL_PLANT.
Failed to place goal building ART_DEF_BUILDING_AIRPORT.
Failed to place goal building ART_DEF_BUILDING_RECYCLING_CENTER.
building:Art/Structures/Buildings/BombShelters/BombShelters.nif does not contain a node called SHADOW. Its shadow, if present, will be corrupt!
Failed to place goal building ART_DEF_BUILDING_BUNKER.
...
-----------
legacy.log (a lot of null references)
-----------
...
[Jason] Using old cut tree: Art/Terrain/Routes/Rivers/River05c.nif_clone
[Jason] Using old cut tree: (null)
[Jason] Using old cut tree: (null)
[Jason] Using old cut tree: (null)
[Jason] Using old cut tree: (null)
...
-----------
resmgr.log (the file exists, dont know why it doesnt load)
-----------
RESMGR: Texture PlayerColor01.tga failed to load
RESMGR: Texture PlayerColor02.tga failed to load
-----------
The list goes on and on.
My spec:
Athlon XP 2600+ @ Gigabyte GA-7N400 Pro2
2x512 MB DDR Kingston Value @ 333 Mhz (2x166)
Saphire Radeon 9800 PRO 128MB
Windows XP SP2
I would like to apologise for my spelling and grammar but English isn't my mother language.
I also would like to hear your oppinion about those fixes, do they work or not and on what platform.
Artur
