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Should I sink this game?

C

cwineman

Landlubber
Scalawags, I'm having some problems with this game. I love it when it is working and appreciate the help from the folks on this forum, but the frustration is driving me mad.

A while back I made a post about <a href="http://forum.piratesahoy.net/ftopic831.php" target="_blank">crashes</a> during ship battles. Well, those crashes pissed me off and I quit playing.

Since then, I put together a new machine. I reinstalled POTC and it looked great. I loaded the latest build that the folks from this site put together and loved it. At first.

The crashes started happening again during ship battles. Same as I describe in the old post. I tried to follow the advice that people gave me from then. It didn't work. Now, every time I try to board an enemy ship the game hangs. It gets stuck on the screen where you see the two ships firing at each other with the "boarding" caption.

Now, I would like to fix this problem. So if anyone knows pretty specifically what is wrong, please tell me. But if other people are having the same problems and they haven't been able to fix them, I'd like to know that too.

My hunch is that these problems are going to continue. In that case, I guess I'll finally give up on this game. Maybe I'll explode the CDs off with some bottle rockets on this 4th of July.

Advice appreciated,

-cwineman
 
I can't really help you with this, but I can tell you I have never hard the game continuously crashing, with or without the builds, and I've played it through to the finish a number of times. That said, I haven't played the game very far with the latest build, so maybe the problem lies with that.

One thing I found that seemed to make the game more stable (it would always crash if you `ALT-TAB`'ed) was to run it in a window. If your desktop size is 1024 and you play the game in a 1024 window, it looks exactly the same as when you're playing it in full screen (the window covers the taskbar and everything), but you can tab out and perhaps this may somehow resolve your situation (probably not though).

Actually I do recall a time when the game would crash at a certain point (I think it was when I arrived at an island doing a cargo run), so I just reloaded from a slightly earlier save game, picked up the same cargo run and continued. The game ran fine after that.
 
I'm going to move this to TECHNICAL.

<b>cwineman, </b>do you have the errorlogging enabled?

If you are getting an errorlog, post it here and maybe we can help track down the problem...
 
Arrgh,

sampow,
I'm not sure if the problems I'm having are similar to yours or not. If it means anything, whenever I go from the game to the Windows desktop, I can never get back to the game. I can hear some music and some noise from button clicks, but the screen is always black. I have to kill the game and restart. It was never a big problem, so I just dealt with it.

CatalinaThePirate,
Thanks for moving this to the appropriate forum. I just posted to the main forum in the hope that enough eyes would see it and maybe someone would have a solution for my problem.

Not sure about error logs. How do I:
1)Know what my current setting is
2)Find the error log
 
Sorry to `double-post`, I wanted to add a tidbit.

When my game hangs now, the screen with the ships firing at each other and the "Boarding" (or something very similar) caption is showing. I never see anything different. But after a while I can hit buttons and hear clicks and sometimes the music changes. It changes to the music that normally plays when you get away from enemy ships. Like if you get out of their cannon range or whatnot.

I'm not sure if I'm being clear. What I mean to say is, the screen gets stuck, but the game is still responsive to some extent.
 
The chances are better HERE that you will get an answer from a techie who knows what he's talking about. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" />

Okay, here's the error logging info:

Open POTC folder.
Open tools.
`Double-click` POTCModHelper.exe
Go to settings tab.
Check Debug Mode.
Click Start Game.
Wait for POTC to crash, then click OK to the box, then click Generate Report, and `copy-paste` it here.

Hopefully we can figure out what's happening... <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/par-ty.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheers" border="0" alt="par-ty.gif" />
 
maybe its a graphic driver probs, i had the same kind of prob before i change my drivers( i have a Gforce 2 mx, running on an amd processor(on a VIA mobo)with winBLOWS XP, and found out that this cocktail was a deadly one thru various hardware forums) , the game was stoping at the loading screen of boarding and sometime when i was going to the main map or when i entered a map...

maybe you can post your system spec, and especialy your graphic card, your OS and your type of processor (and the mother board)... and eventualy check hardware forum too in case.

EDIT :
If you have a NVidia Graph Card, and the model is a geforce 2 or 4 Mx use the detonators 41.09.
 
Ok, I finally have time to respond.

Catlina,

When I run that helper tool, the start game button is `greyed-out` along with pretty much every other option. What does that mean to ya?


John,

System specs are below. It might be a conflict of some sort. I never had crashes until I play for several weeks. Even on my old system. Just after a while, they start happening. And then I can't even seem to finish any ship battles where I engage any more than 1 time. I can usually get through one battle.

OS: Win XP SP1
Motherboard: Asus P4P800 Deluxe
CPU: Pentium -4 2.8CGHz 800M 478P 512K
PSU: Antec True Power 550W
RAM: 2*512MB Corsair DDRAM PC3200
Video: ATI RADEON 9700PRO128M RTL
HD: Western Digital 80GB 7200RPM
Also: generic DVD, TDK CDRW, and IOMEGA ZIP installed
 
Ah. With ModHelper, you have to set the game directory parameter first before you can actually use the utility. Go under "File" and select "Search PotC Directory" and once you've set that, you should be able to run the program. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen1.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":cheeky" border="0" alt="icon_mrgreen1.gif" />

<img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_eek.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":shock:" border="0" alt="icon_eek.gif" /> My gosh, someone else who actually owns a Zip Drive! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_eek.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":shock:" border="0" alt="icon_eek.gif" />

Really handy device, wish it was constructed better. I've been through about eight of them already. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="xD:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" />
 
That's right, a zip drive, baby. Of course, I use it even less than I use my 3.5 floppy drive.

I crashed my game - didn't take long. I'll post the generated report at the end of this post.

I noticed what might be a pattern in my game crashes during sea battles. It's happened in two consecutive crashes, and hell, it may have been the same case in all my crashes and I didn't realize, because I didn't do it exactly the same way.

In both crashes I removed my Cannoneer, who happens to be Rhys Bloom, from my party. He's a wimpy fighter (at least right now) and I wanted just me and my goons doing the fighting. After I took the ship and was back in sea battle mode I hit F2 and tried to put Bloom back. After doing so, when I try to ESCAPE back to sea battle mode it has crashed twice.

Maybe it has something to do with taking an officer out and putting him back in the same slot. Or maybe it has something to do with Rhys Bloom, because he's a "special character". I mean as opposed to some guy you hire from a tavern. Also, in the error log there are lines like:
"Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=683) "
I remember posting about problems when having 10 or more characters and things starting to get flaky. Maybe that problem is related to this problem.

Anyway, maybe someone can decipher my problem that information. Here's the error log. I hope someone knows what the problem is.

BTW, before each of the two crashes decribed above, I hit the 't' key to reinitialize settings or do whatever it does.

-----------------------------------------------------------
Error summary
-----------------------------------------------------------
File ....: programlocationslocations_loader.c
Line ....: 849
Type ....: RUNTIME ERROR
Error ...: Invalid conversation
Count ...: 6
Status ..: File is older as the file from build
Local file : 2003.12.06 08:50:00
Build file : 2003.12.06 14:50:00
Local CRC : d459fcdb
Build CRC : d459fcdb
-----------------------------------------------------------
File ....: programlocationslocations_loader.c
Line ....: 849
Type ....: RUNTIME ERROR
Error ...: incorrect argument index
Count ...: 6
Status ..: File is older as the file from build
Local file : 2003.12.06 08:50:00
Build file : 2003.12.06 14:50:00
Local CRC : d459fcdb
Build CRC : d459fcdb
-----------------------------------------------------------
File ....: programsea_aiAIShip.c
Line ....: 1032
Type ....: RUNTIME ERROR
Error ...: missed attribute
Count ...: 1
Status ..: File is unchanged
-----------------------------------------------------------
File ....: programinterfaceboal_map.c
Line ....: 98
Type ....: RUNTIME ERROR
Error ...: no rAP data
Count ...: 1
Status ..: File is unchanged
-----------------------------------------------------------
File ....: programinterfaceboal_map.c
Line ....: 98
Type ....: RUNTIME ERROR
Error ...: missed attribute
Count ...: 1
Status ..: File is unchanged
-----------------------------------------------------------
Error.log
-----------------------------------------------------------
RUNTIME ERROR - file: locationslocations_loader.c; line: 849
incorrect argument index
RUNTIME ERROR - file: locationslocations_loader.c; line: 849
Invalid conversation
RUNTIME ERROR - file: locationslocations_loader.c; line: 849
incorrect argument index
RUNTIME ERROR - file: locationslocations_loader.c; line: 849
Invalid conversation
RUNTIME ERROR - file: locationslocations_loader.c; line: 849
incorrect argument index
RUNTIME ERROR - file: locationslocations_loader.c; line: 849
Invalid conversation
RUNTIME ERROR - file: locationslocations_loader.c; line: 849
incorrect argument index
RUNTIME ERROR - file: locationslocations_loader.c; line: 849
Invalid conversation
RUNTIME ERROR - file: locationslocations_loader.c; line: 849
incorrect argument index
RUNTIME ERROR - file: locationslocations_loader.c; line: 849
Invalid conversation
RUNTIME ERROR - file: locationslocations_loader.c; line: 849
incorrect argument index
RUNTIME ERROR - file: locationslocations_loader.c; line: 849
Invalid conversation
RUNTIME ERROR - file: interfaceboal_map.c; line: 98
missed attribute: realencountertype
RUNTIME ERROR - file: interfaceboal_map.c; line: 98
no rAP data
RUNTIME ERROR - file: sea_aiAIShip.c; line: 1032
missed attribute: fantomtype
RUNTIME ERROR - file: sea_aiAIShip.c; line: 1032
no rAP data

-----------------------------------------------------------
Compile.log
-----------------------------------------------------------
Init encounters complete.
Init weathers complete. 320 weathers found.
Init character names complete.
Main_LogoVideo() 0
PauseAllSounds
ResetSoundScheme
Main_LogoVideo() 1
PauseAllSounds
ResetSoundScheme
Main_LogoVideo() 2
PauseAllSounds
ResetSoundScheme
Main_LogoVideo() 3
Number of locations: 291
bool CreateParticleEntity()
n is 2
SETTING MUSIC: musicCoridor.ogg
ResetSoundScheme
ResetSoundScheme
bool CreateParticleEntity()
!!! Reload to 150
LoadLocation(ref loc) Douwesen_port
LocLoadShips: need (ships_other): 4, but max_num_ships_other: 4
LocLoadShips: need (ships_other): 5, but max_num_ships_other: 4
LocLoadShips: need (ships_other): 6, but max_num_ships_other: 4
LocLoadShips: need (ships_other): 7, but max_num_ships_other: 4
LocLoadShips: need (ships_other): 8, but max_num_ships_other: 4
LocLoadShips: need (ships_other): 9, but max_num_ships_other: 4
ItemLogic: On load location Douwesen_port
ItemLogic: found 0 buttons
ItemLogic: Loaded model ammopistol1
ResetSoundScheme
SetSoundScheme: port
AddSoundScheme: land_day
AddSoundScheme: seashore_weather
SETTING MUSIC: music_gorod
locator_name = reload2_back lockedReloadLocator =
reload_cur_island_index = -1
reload_cur_location_index = 150
reload_island_index = 5
reload_location_index = -1
Start reload
ResetSoundScheme
PauseAllSounds
ReloadStartFade
UnloadLocation(aref loc) Douwesen_port
ItemLogic: On unload location
ReloadEndFade
Load from location to sea sLoc = l1, x = -475.677,z = 6.15854
ResetSoundScheme
AddSoundScheme: sea
SETTING MUSIC: music_spokplavanie
AddSoundScheme: sea_weather
ResumeAllSounds
SETTING MUSIC: music_sea_battle
For character 403 fall Mast name mast1 has index 1
Add good : sailcloth, rCharacter.id = CrDouwesen2, iQuantity = 30
Add good : planks, rCharacter.id = CrDouwesen2, iQuantity = 26
Add good : wheat, rCharacter.id = CrDouwesen2, iQuantity = 43
Add good : rum, rCharacter.id = CrDouwesen2, iQuantity = 20
Add good : coffee, rCharacter.id = CrDouwesen2, iQuantity = 22
Add good : cotton, rCharacter.id = CrDouwesen2, iQuantity = 8
Add good : sailcloth, rCharacter.id = CrDouwesen1, iQuantity = 8
Add good : planks, rCharacter.id = CrDouwesen1, iQuantity = 33
Add good : wheat, rCharacter.id = CrDouwesen1, iQuantity = 9
SETTING MUSIC: music_spokplavanie
PauseAllSounds
ResetSoundScheme
ResetSoundScheme
AddSoundScheme: sea_map
SETTING MUSIC: music_map
ResumeAllSounds
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=683)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=684)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=682)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=685)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=680)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=681)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=679)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=683)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=684)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=682)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=685)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=680)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=681)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=679)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=683)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=684)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=682)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=685)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=680)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=681)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=679)
PauseAllSounds
For character 403 fall Mast name mast1 has index 1
ResetSoundScheme
AddSoundScheme: sea
SETTING MUSIC: music_spokplavanie
AddSoundScheme: sea_weather
ResumeAllSounds
PauseAllSounds
ResetSoundScheme
ResetSoundScheme
AddSoundScheme: sea_map
SETTING MUSIC: music_map
ResumeAllSounds
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=683)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=684)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=682)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=685)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=680)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=681)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=679)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=683)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=684)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=682)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=685)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=680)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=681)
Error!!! Overup maximum crew quantity (character=679)
PauseAllSounds
For character 403 fall Mast name mast1 has index 1
SEA: Login quest encounter Usurer_Avenger
ResetSoundScheme
AddSoundScheme: sea
SETTING MUSIC: music_spokplavanie
AddSoundScheme: sea_weather
ResumeAllSounds
SETTING MUSIC: music_sea_battle
PauseAllSounds
ResetSoundScheme
ResetSoundScheme
AddSoundScheme: sea
SETTING MUSIC: music_spokplavanie
AddSoundScheme: sea_weather
ResumeAllSounds

-----------------------------------------------------------
System.log
-----------------------------------------------------------
Scanning modules
Loading modules...
Loaded 0
Reset...
Initializing CORE...
Creating atoms space: 128
done
initializing complete
Initializing DirectX 8
Techniques: 9 shaders compiled.
Techniques: 179 techniques compiled.
Techniques: compiled by 281601712 ticks.
Video Error!!!(0x80040216) Can`t load video file = resourcevideosWaltDisneyLogo.wmv
Video Error!!!(0x80040216) Can`t load video file = resourcevideosBethesdaLogo.wmv
Video Error!!!(0x80040216) Can`t load video file = resourcevideosAkellaLogo.wmv
BeginScene
The method call is invalid For example, a method's parameter may have an invalid value
Bad rope data for rope: (rope num = 0) (begin group=0, end group=0)
Begin pointer = 0? end pointer = 0
Bad rope data for rope: (rope num = 5) (begin group=0, end group=-1)
Begin pointer = 0? end pointer = 236382772
Bad rope data for rope: (rope num = 6) (begin group=0, end group=-1)
Begin pointer = 0? end pointer = 236382772
Ship Boat doesn't have fire places
Fader::Init() -> Fader already created, fade out phase
Bad rope data for rope: (rope num = 55) (begin group=0, end group=-1)
Begin pointer = 0? end pointer = 232744676
Bad rope data for rope: (rope num = 15) (begin group=-1, end group=0)
Begin pointer = 234793820? end pointer = 0
Island Set
Island Set
Fader::Init() -> Fader already created, fade out phase
Island Set
Island Set
 
I am having much the same problem as Cwineman. After downloading some new drivers, I'm still having the game crash during cut scenes (graphics are set to low, screen res 800x600x32- could this be a problem associated with the sound files?).
I have noticed a lot of lag when there are many characters in town, and the weather is foggy and rain (I've changed the fog option, but it's still present). Reinitialize doesn't seem to help (or it may even contribute to the crash...).
Anyway, Build 11 is superb, keep up the great work.

Yours, Mike
 
<b>MadMike</b>,

That sounds exactly like a problem I had when I upgraded my graphics card driver. I suggest that you try older drivers or try the Omega drivers from <a href="http://www.omegadrivers.net" target="_blank">http://www.omegadrivers.net</a>

Just try older and older version until you get a version that works OK. On my machine I had to go back to the exact driver that I fisrt started with.

<b>cwineman</b>,

If you are running the Build 11 have you run the Updates within the last month? If not then that could possibly help.
 
MadMike,

While my problem might be somehow related to yours, I have only been having problems with sea battles. I haven't had any problems on shore.

Sirus_Darke,

What updates do you mean? Video drivers or something specific to the POTC builds? If you mean POTC updates, where do I get them? From the POTC files from the main menu, all I can see is an all in one build for 11.

-cwineman
 
Got the game to run smoothly after going into PROGRAM/BuildSettings.h and tweeking the fog option to zero, and the coast raiders and traders also to their lowest settings. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="8)" border="0" alt="cool.gif" />
Now I can enjoy the game in service of the crown as a pir... oops, privateer.

Yours, Mike
 
Just when I thought it was safe to go back into the water...

The game froze while on land trying to gain access to my ship... reloaded and later crashed during a sea battle (after sinking three French ships).
Anyway, the nice blue screen gave me a ialmdd5.dll error listing and told me to reboot in safe mode. Updated drivers with no effect. <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad.gif" />

In any regard, is there a way to diminish or outright do away with rain and stormy weather in the files (crowds of people also). I noticed my system lags when there are ships in harbor (taken care of in BuildSettings), but any other advice would be greatly appreciated (have 256mb RAM).

Yours, Mike
 
did you deinstall the previous drivers first ? sometime if you dont it create errors or change nothing... oh and to find the best driver version for your Graph card you can visit this forum (http://www.hardwareanalysis.com) its great for finding solutions to problems...
 
Excellent tip, thanks John! <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/me.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":onya" border="0" alt="me.gif" />
 
my pleasure,

This happend to me too for a while, except that it wasnt always at the same place (but always during battle or loading (and generaly when i didnt saved for a while or just got a Very good ship)). I found out that my drivers where creating the problem (and a problem inherant to windows XP too, its getting worse with an Amd Athlon XP processor) but the only difference was that i had a Geforce 2 mx 400 of death hehe, i had to revert back from like 10 driver's versions and now i still have the CTD but far less BSOD/loop.

Btw looks like its getting really worse when your comp is faster, i had a p3 733mhz before and never had those kind of problems but since i upgraded, looks like my comp was possessed by BSOD lord ... <img src="http://www.piratesahoy.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pirate2.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p:" border="0" alt="pirate2.gif" /> I know i should upgrade my Graphic card tho
 
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