Babamilo

Hate this game ...

▼

Hate this game ...

from GalCiv2 Forums
Every couple of days, I sit down and decide to give Twilight another try. After all I payed for it.

But seriously, how can you Stardock guys sleep at night after releasing such a - nicely designed - but horribly programmed pile of crap?
The memory leaks bring my framerate to a halt after 1-2 hours of play and force me to restart the game. The User Interface is totally sluggish, plus the game annoys you with constant popups and has a tendency to spring stuff on you (i.e. move the screen to the other corner of the galaxy without you doing anything.

Honestly, please put your next game(s) on a more solid technical base.
157,614 views 54 replies
Reply #26 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Stop running so many darn processes at the same time, install SmartException, play the game until it crashes, then send the results,


I never said I was running all those processes at the same time. I was merely offering an example on how to put stress on your system to make a rare bug more common (for testing purposes).
In fact, I am running only about 15-20 processes while playing. I have all unnecessary windows services disabled.

I have sent bug reports, I have not installed smart exception though (going to do that right now).
My beef is, that Stardock is already moving on. Check this official announcement:

The final expansion pack for Galactic Civilizations II has been released! And we're very happy with how much people like it.

At the same time, we're not done. Let me share with you some of our plans:

* Right now, we're finishing up The Political Machine. Once that is finished, part of the team will be shifted to the SDE-2 team which is working on the "fantasy strategy game" and the other part will return to GalCiv.

* The plan is to release a v1.92 in early June. v1.92 will be mostly bug fixing and balancing. There's two particularly annoying issues that have cropped up. The first one is that on some Vista systems, some "string now found" issues come up. No idea yet. The work around is to run the game as administrator but we have no idea why that fixes it as none of us do that. The other annoying one is the Alt-esc issue - it doesn't always come back when you try to return to the game. On top of that, there's various balancing and house cleaning that we will want to do.

* Then, probably in July or maybe early August we will be releasing Galactic Civilizations II v2.0. This update will affect all versions of GalCiv II but mostly Dark Avatar and Twilight. The biggest change will be the enhanced espionage system for DA and ToA users. There will also be additional graphical improvements in ToA to continue "future proofing" the game. The Metaverse will also be getting some much needed love with v2.0.

After that, it'll depend on you. Our budget post 2.0 is largely based on sales at that stage. Most people will be transferred to working on the fantasy strategy game so that we can announce it later this year. Other parts of the team will be working with Gas Powered Games on Demigod.

So that's where we're at. Cheers!


There will be two more patches, 1.92 in June and 2.00 in July. I just see too many problems with Galciv2 to warrant shelving the game so quickly.

Reply #27 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Stop running so many darn processes at the same time, install SmartException, play the game until it crashes, then send the results,


I never said I was running all those processes at the same time. I was merely offering an example on how to put stress on your system to make a rare bug more common (for testing purposes).
In fact, I am running only about 15-20 processes while playing. I have all unnecessary windows services disabled.

I have sent bug reports, I have not installed smart exception though (going to do that right now).
My beef is, that Stardock is already moving on. Check this official announcement:

The final expansion pack for Galactic Civilizations II has been released! And we're very happy with how much people like it.

At the same time, we're not done. Let me share with you some of our plans:

* Right now, we're finishing up The Political Machine. Once that is finished, part of the team will be shifted to the SDE-2 team which is working on the "fantasy strategy game" and the other part will return to GalCiv.

* The plan is to release a v1.92 in early June. v1.92 will be mostly bug fixing and balancing. There's two particularly annoying issues that have cropped up. The first one is that on some Vista systems, some "string now found" issues come up. No idea yet. The work around is to run the game as administrator but we have no idea why that fixes it as none of us do that. The other annoying one is the Alt-esc issue - it doesn't always come back when you try to return to the game. On top of that, there's various balancing and house cleaning that we will want to do.

* Then, probably in July or maybe early August we will be releasing Galactic Civilizations II v2.0. This update will affect all versions of GalCiv II but mostly Dark Avatar and Twilight. The biggest change will be the enhanced espionage system for DA and ToA users. There will also be additional graphical improvements in ToA to continue "future proofing" the game. The Metaverse will also be getting some much needed love with v2.0.

After that, it'll depend on you. Our budget post 2.0 is largely based on sales at that stage. Most people will be transferred to working on the fantasy strategy game so that we can announce it later this year. Other parts of the team will be working with Gas Powered Games on Demigod.

So that's where we're at. Cheers!


There will be two more patches, 1.92 in June and 2.00 in July. I just see too many problems with Galciv2 to warrant shelving the game so quickly.

The Political Machine 2024
Reply #28 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Stop running so many darn processes at the same time, install SmartException, play the game until it crashes, then send the results,


I never said I was running all those processes at the same time. I was merely offering an example on how to put stress on your system to make a rare bug more common (for testing purposes).
In fact, I am running only about 15-20 processes while playing. I have all unnecessary windows services disabled.

I have sent bug reports, I have not installed smart exception though (going to do that right now).
My beef is, that Stardock is already moving on. Reading the official announcement leads me to believe that there will only be two more patches, 1.92 in June and 2.00 in July. I just see too many problems with Galciv2 to warrant shelving the game so quickly.

Furthermore, how do you think Stardock would be able to help me? Say my game keeps crashing as I use Spies, but runs fine if I don't. Do you really think that problem could be fixed by updating my video card drivers (they are up-to-date btw)?
So I am just angry. Stardock should have extended the beta and/or fixed those glaring bugs. Instead they are rushing to release the Political Machine now, which needs to come out quickly before the election gets too close. Dare I wager a guess that Political Machine will be buggy too?
Reply #29 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Triple posts, sorry about that. Forums were laggy.
Reply #30 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
yada yada yada.

Great game. In-depth options and strategy. Great graphics. Killer AI. Maybe some minor bugs.

But I am not going to sound like some of the guys on the flight sim forums who complain that the 1936 flooperduster doesn't land on one wheel in a cross wind with one wing missing correctly. You know, like the real one. Plus the rivets don't match with the real one on the right under left side underbelly.

It's a GAME. For amusement. Have fun. If a major game crashes that often on your computer (aand you don't see hundreds of people screaming on their forums) then it is time for a re-wipe and reinstall. As an IT professional, take it from me, it's not the game, its your OS. Corrupted and messed up. Also, keep the reinstall pure. No crazy drivers. No virtual CD setups to get around copy protections. Nice and clean. Like God and Bill Gates intended. Everything will work just fine.

Now excuse me as I have an most excellent game to play. Thank you Stardock.
Reply #31 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I reinstalled my system 2 weeks ago. its clean, its up to date, its not running any major things.
I also play other games and they work fine. The Spy bug is - in fact - a bug with the game. Like so many others.

Also, I am trying to have fun with it, but am unable to, because I can't play a game without running into one of the many many bugs. Maybe you just haven't played it that much yet to get an in-depth look?
Maybe I just click too fast (i.e. moving ships or changing taxes while the turn is still going)?

Last game for example, I queued up a Colony Ship (1 turn build time), and advanced to the next turn. 2 seconds later the Turn button became visible again which means the turn is done (I guess). However my colony ship had not yet appeared on my planet. I went there and switched it back to a Constructor (also 1 turn build time).
Funny thing, the Constructor - not the Colony Ship - was built. Bug? or Intended? In this case it was fine, but could this non-atomaric nature of things cause other bugs if you click really really fast? (I love to play rts games with high apm)
Reply #32 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Babamilo, I don't want to get into a back-and-forth. But here's what I am willng to comment on:

Brad clearly loves GalCiv2. Note that he says the rest will "depend on you." He's said elsewhere that he's open to the idea of releasing more content. Furthermore, if it can be proven that there are problems with the game, I'm quite sure he and his team will work hard to fix them.

Second, if you can clearly show that placing spies causes a crash, and they can replicate it on their end (via a combination of your SmartException log, and maybe sending them the save game where it happens), then, again, they will work hard to fix it.

Since this doesn't appear to be happening with everyone else, then it behooves YOU to work hard on your end to give them a save game file that will make it crash on THEIR systems!

-HM
Reply #33 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Babamilo, everybody else is using spies with no problems.. That goes to show that there must be something wrong on your part.

Also, if you have been following Stardock's patching history then you know that they deliver. I'm sure they will iron out all the last problems by the time they "shelve" the game. It's their 'child' sort of to say, and they will not leave it problematic. Heck , they even work on it in their spare time! You think that they'll leave it at that? But eventually, when it starts to become a drain on their resources they will have to stop sometime, no?

Anyway, reporting the bugs and sending in the reports is the right step you need to solve your problems instead of going off in a rant. Since you did that and didn't choose to continue the hateposting, I'm sure that now you'll start to find the answers to what you want.
Reply #35 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Every couple of days, I sit down and decide to give Twilight another try. After all I payed for it.But seriously, how can you Stardock guys sleep at night after releasing such a - nicely designed - but horribly programmed pile of crap?The memory leaks bring my framerate to a halt after 1-2 hours of play and force me to restart the game. The User Interface is totally sluggish, plus the game annoys you with constant popups and has a tendency to spring stuff on you (i.e. move the screen to the other corner of the galaxy without you doing anything.Honestly, please put your next game(s) on a more solid technical base.


Not for me :D Smooth as butter even after 6 hours. On vista.....
Oopsie, might be your computer? ;)
Reply #36 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Babamilo, CanOpener was suggesting you reinstall everything and start from scratch, not just the game. While no game its perfect and all will still have minor bugs, Stardock has always been quick to patch the ones it can. As far as getting patches from Stardock for GC2 and it's expansions, I am sure Stardock will continue as they always have in the past. I doubt work on GC2 will be completely put aside until GC3 is released.

Since, you are alone in many of your problems that says to everyone the things you are mentioning are your problems alone, and not with the game itself. Some of the things you mentioned are very minor issues that do not affect most players, which is why you do not see much about them in the forums.

If you truly hate this game and Stardock, I would suggest you quit playing it and ask Brad Wardell for your money back. I'm sure (based on previous post and comments) he would be more than happy to refund all of your Stardock purchases and black list you from future purchases.
Reply #37 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
If you truly hate this game and Stardock, I would suggest you quit playing it and ask Brad Wardell for your money back. I'm sure (based on previous post and comments) he would be more than happy to refund all of your Stardock purchases and black list you from future purchases.


Alas, he apparently hasn't done that since the OS/2 days. :)

-HM
Reply #38 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Hollow Man, don't you think he would make an exception in this case? He has been ranting about just this kind of thing recently.
Reply #39 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
If you truly hate this game and Stardock, I would suggest you quit playing it and ask Brad Wardell for your money back. I'm sure (based on previous post and comments) he would be more than happy to refund all of your Stardock purchases and black list you from future purchases.


Alas, he apparently hasn't done that since the OS/2 days.


If you were here about a year ago or more you might remember Evil Stormbringer. He was banned and subsequently refunded due to an ongoing situation due to his game crashing and some abusiveness on ES's part. I don't believe the OP is anywhere close to that point yet, but it goes to show Mr. Wardell will exercise that option if he feels it's warranted.

The best thing you can do is as most have already mentioned. Try to work with SD and they will work with you. I have played this game for two years and besides well known and later fixed bugs nine out of ten problems I've had were my own system's fault. I've since learned to look there first before coming here and going on a rant.

Reply #40 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I feel you buddy. TOA has its share of bugs. They piss me off too.
Reply #41 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Since, you are alone in many of your problems that says to everyone the things you are mentioning are your problems alone, and not with the game itself.


Thats not a correct assumption by a long shot. If bugs were common, they would be fixed during the development phase.
Also, I tend to often save and reload games. I am starting to believe that this might be the root of all my problems. I think that somehow the memory isn't purged of all old data and when I reload a game, I often end up with corrupted data.

Reply #42 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
How can you guys say this game is not buggy and keep a straight face while typing that?


Cuz, it's the truth... knowing how widely complex, incoherent & imprecise the term *buggy* is or can be.

I mean, Seabass offered you a simple & direct definitive solution... but you log straight back in this thread and persist with being even more critical about anything your kiddy brain can mustard. Whadda ya expect, our understanding(s)?

Kay, i can do that;
- P4 (single core), 512MBs of Ram (only), NVidia-6200 along with an extremely busy swap file (expected and normal handicap conditions given the Very low-end system specs).

I don't HAVE any memory hogs (none, ziltch, nada, Zero), threads collision, multi-tasking background interference (Keeping XP essentials, Firewall & Anti-Virus on as usual plus a few more things) and even any noticeable slow downs which can't be handle (or tolerable -- in fact, Twilight performs BETTER than DarkAvatar; but i won't get into some technicalities since i'm sure you simply wouldn't care to read or comprehend most if not all) WHILE in the game.

If you can't seem to take this whole community seriously when they TRY to help you, maybe you do have a problem -- but, it's not game related, i guess.

You hate SD, fine.
TotA is not worth your precious money; cope with it, fix it (or ask someone politely to do just that much for you) or simply, uninstall it -- never to return here bothering us with your poisonous existence unless you change.

There. Deserved.


Reply #43 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
...Also, I tend to often save and reload games. I am starting to believe that
this might be the root of all my problems. I think that somehow the
memory isn't purged of all old data and when I reload a game, I often
end up with corrupted data.


Yeah - well. Speculate or determine IT.
Reply #44 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Here's the thing. GalCiv 2, concerning the scope of the game, demands one thing of those that play it. If you refuse to abide by that simple demand, you should reconsider your choice in genre.

That demand? Patience.

Just give it time, learn to work around the bugs, and you should learn to let this game leech your life away as it has to so many other happy geeks.
Reply #45 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Wow.

Two pages worth of complaints, and still no debug.err info.
Reply #46 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
If he is referring to getting something like Dumprep.exe on the process explorer, then i get it sometimes when i am playing galciv2, and some other times when i am running other applications not limiting to galciv2. I assume that is a memory dump or leaks or whatever it is call. Usually, my machine freezes for a bit, then i close whatever apps i am running.

but also, enabling mutl threading for Galciv 2 wlll get the comoputer to heat up fast, especially on a laptop, since it will be cpu intensive. Sooo, if running galciv, don't run other things at the same time.
Reply #47 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Brad, please refund his money and blacklist him. Please?
Reply #48 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I'm going to jump on the bandwagon with people with no problems and think it's on your end, in fact other than that fleet movement bug last year i don't run into any crashes or anything.

BTW just got ToA this week and i'm loving it!!!
Reply #49 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Yeah, you guys are right, and I'm sure Brad could be persuaded to make an exception if the circumstances warrant it.

-HM
Reply #50 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Maybe it's just me, but I have had issues with changing things while a turn processes. There's an easy fix:

Don't Do That.

It never occurred to me that anyone would be moronic enough to control-n while a turn was running. Babamilo, by all means continue smacking your head into a brick wall - the rest of us are enjoying the soggy thumping sound.

I vote for the forceable refund and blacklist.
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