Tutorial black screen

Fulgo · November 2015

So me and few others have had this problem where you get a black screen when trying to play the tutorial via server browser (the game requires to complete tutorial when trying to connect a server). It loads the map and after that comes the black screen, only cursor showing up. I managed to complete it straight from the main menu (not via server browser), but not everyone.

You should fix this bug before trying to get any more players in the following months.

Asraniel · November 2015

Could you provide the logfile of ns2 when this happens? There might be an error.

Fulgo · November 2015

This log is from a player that can't get through the black screen at all:

Date: 11/30/15
Time: 23:11:05:
--------------------------------------------------------------
[  0.176] Unbound/Unknown : Filesystem initialized, cache enabled
Build 277
Windows 7 64-bit (build 7600)
Steam initialized
Num displays: 1
Direct3D 9 initialized: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570  (10.18.13.5582)
Sound Device: 8=0<8:8 (#AB@>9AB2> A ?>445@6:>9 High Definition Audio) stereo
Record Device: 8:@>D>= (#AB@>9AB2> A ?>445@6:>9 High Definition Audio)
Loading config://ConsoleBindings.json
Loading config://FavoriteServers.json
Loading config://HistoryServers.json
Main Menu Initialized at Version: 277
Steam Id: 78113327
[ 49.462] MainThread : Error: M4::WebView::OnDocumentReady: Failed to create Spark JS API. Error: 4
Server tickrate 30, client sendrate 20, bandwidth limit per player 25600
Connected to Steam servers
Downloading mods
Finished downloading and installing mods
Connecting to server 127.0.0.1:27015
Mounting mod 'tutorial' from C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Natural Selection 2/tutorial/
VAC Enabled
Client connecting (127.0.0.1:51672)
Loading config://ServerConfig.json
[ 81.733] Worker 11 : Error: lua/ServerConfig.lua:58: attempt to index local 'config' (a nil value)
[Server] Script Error #1: lua/ServerConfig.lua:58: attempt to index local 'config' (a nil value)
    Call stack:
    #1: lua/ServerConfig.lua:58
        kKeyValueUpdateRate = 5
        lastKeyValueUpdateTime = 0
        configFileName = "ServerConfig.json"
        defaultConfig =  {settings= {alltalk=false, auto_kick_afk_capacity=0.5, auto_kick_afk_time=300, auto_team_balance= {enabled=true, enabled_after_seconds=10, enabled_on_unbalance_amount=2 }, consistency_enabled=true, dyndns="", enabledyndns=false, end_round_on_team_unbalance=0.4, end_round_on_team_unbalance_after_warning_time=30, end_round_on_team_unbalance_check_after_time=300, force_even_teams_on_join=true, hiveranking=true, jit_maxmcode=35000, jit_maxtrace=20000, mod_backup_before_steam=false, mod_backup_servers= { }, pregamealltalk=false, rookie_friendly=true, use_own_consistency_config=false, voting= {votechangemap=true, votekickbantime=30, votekickplayer=true, voterandomizerr=true, voteresetgame=true, votingforceeventeams=true } }, tags= {1="rookie" } }
        config = nil
    #2: oldScriptLoad [C]:-1
    #3: Load lua/ModLoader.lua:168
        fileName = "lua/ServerConfig.lua"
        reload = nil
    #4: lua/Server.lua:32
Loading config://ServerAdmin.json
Error while opening ServerAdmin.json: no valid JSON value at line 1, column 1
Loading config://BannedPlayers.json
Loading config://MapCycle.json
Error while opening MapCycle.json: no valid JSON value at line 1, column 1
Hashed 1 game_setup.xml files for consistency
Hashed 840 *.lua files for consistency
Hashed 37 *.hlsl files for consistency
Hashed 30 *.shader files for consistency
Hashed 17 *.screenfx files for consistency
Hashed 150 *.surface_shader files for consistency
Hashed 1 *.fxh files for consistency
Hashed 5 *.render_setup files for consistency
Hashed 2 *.shader_template files for consistency
Hashed 27 *.level files for consistency
Hashed 6072 *.dds files for consistency
Hashed 73 *.jpg files for consistency
Hashed 68 *.png files for consistency
Hashed 922 *.cinematic files for consistency
Hashed 2260 *.material files for consistency
Hashed 3986 *.model files for consistency
Hashed 103 *.animation_graph files for consistency
Hashed 202 *.polygons files for consistency
Hashed 3 *.fev files for consistency
Hashed 11 *.hmp files for consistency
Skipped 387 ui/*.dds files for consistency
Skipped 138 *_view*.dds files for consistency
Skipped 60 *_view*.material files for consistency
Skipped 148 *_view*.model files for consistency
Skipped 21 models/marine/hands/* files for consistency
Skipped 1 sound/*_client.fev files for consistency
Skipped 1 shaders/DarkVision.hlsl files for consistency
Skipped 1 shaders/DarkVision.screenfx files for consistency
Skipped 1 shaders/DarkVision.shader files for consistency
Skipped 73 screens/*.jpg files for consistency
Skipped 1 models/marine/male/flashlight.dds files for consistency
Hashed 1 lua/entry/*.entry files for consistency
Consistency checking took 4 seconds
[ 85.126] Worker 11 : Error: lua/JitConfig.lua:32: attempt to call field 'GetConfigSetting' (a nil value)
[Server] Script Error #2: lua/JitConfig.lua:32: attempt to call field 'GetConfigSetting' (a nil value)
    Call stack:
    #1: Get lua/JitConfig.lua:32
    #2: UpdateJitParams lua/JitConfig.lua:73
    #3: lua/JitConfig.lua:84
        kUpdateRate = 5
        lastUpdateTime = 0
        JitConfig =  {Get=function, Save=function }
        UpdateConfig = function
        UpdateJitParams = function
    #4: oldScriptLoad [C]:-1
    #5: Load lua/ModLoader.lua:168
        fileName = "lua/JitConfig.lua"
        reload = nil
    #6: lua/Server.lua:51
[ 85.127] Worker 11 : Error: lua/Server.lua:77: attempt to call field 'GetReservedSlotsConfig' (a nil value)
[Server] Script Error #3: lua/Server.lua:77: attempt to call field 'GetReservedSlotsConfig' (a nil value)
    Call stack:
    #1: lua/Server.lua:77
        chatMessageCount = 0
[ 85.127] Worker 11 : Loading 'maps/ns2_docking.level'
Finished loading 'maps/ns2_docking.level'
[124.152] Worker 12 : Downloading mods
[124.152] Worker 12 : Finished downloading and installing mods
[124.152] Worker 12 : Filesystem initialized, cache enabled
Mounting mod 'tutorial' from C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/Natural Selection 2/tutorial/
Loading config://ConsoleBindings.json
Loading config://FavoriteServers.json
Loading config://HistoryServers.json
[163.892] Worker 12 : Loading 'maps/ns2_docking.level'
Loading pathing mesh for level maps/ns2_docking.level
Finished loading 'maps/ns2_docking.level'
Client  : 0.000000 : INFO: LuaJIT setup: maxtrace=9,000, maxmcode=16,000
Loading took 38.223026902166 seconds
Client connected (127.0.0.1)
[200.620] ServerUpdate : Error: lua/Gamerules_Global.lua:36: attempt to index a nil value
[Server] Script Error #4: lua/Gamerules_Global.lua:36: attempt to index a nil value
    Call stack:
    #1: lua/Gamerules_Global.lua:36
        client = ServerClient { }
[200.621] ServerUpdate : Error: lua/NetworkMessages_Server.lua:332: attempt to index local 'player' (a nil value)
[Server] Script Error #5: lua/NetworkMessages_Server.lua:332: attempt to index local 'player' (a nil value)
    Call stack:
    #1: lua/NetworkMessages_Server.lua:332
        client = ServerClient { }
        message =  {name="MiracleFrenzy" }
        name = "MiracleFrenzy"
        player = nil
Client disconnected (127.0.0.1) Server shutdown
[215.128] MainThread : Error: lua/Gamerules_Global.lua:40: attempt to index a nil value
[Server] Script Error #6: lua/Gamerules_Global.lua:40: attempt to index a nil value
    Call stack:
    #1: lua/Gamerules_Global.lua:40
        client = ServerClient { }
Loading config://ConsoleBindings.json
Loading config://FavoriteServers.json
Loading config://HistoryServers.json
Main Menu Initialized at Version: 277
Steam Id: 78113327
[227.464] MainThread : Error: Attempted to load remote options from a file that does not exist.
CinematicsUpdate: exit
ClientGame::UpdateWorld: exit
CollectGarbage: exit
ServerUpdate: exit

Asraniel · November 2015

Thank you very much!

GhoulofGSG9 · November 2015

Those errors indicate that Natural Selection 2 is not able to process your config files.

You could delete your %appdata%/Natural Selection2/ folder and see if that helps,

Otherwise please read this guide and provide us with your tech_support.zip

Fulgo · December 2015

Deleting the folder did the trick, so thanks for that. Anyway, I have an impression that this bug is fairly common and it should be fixed, since many players won't be searching these forums for help and deleting their folders, thus just moving on to other games. I can imagine a scenario, where a new player gets repeatedly black screened and after he gets tired of trying, he'll be like "This game doesn't even have a working tutorial, back to CSGO".

GhoulofGSG9 · December 2015

Fulgo wrote: »

Deleting the folder did the trick, so thanks for that. Anyway, I have an impression that this bug is fairly common and it should be fixed, since many players won't be searching these forums for help and deleting their folders, thus just moving on to other games. I can imagine a scenario, where a new player gets repeatedly black screened and after he gets tired of trying, he'll be like "This game doesn't even have a working tutorial, back to CSGO".

Thanks for the feedback. I fully agree with you that a corrupted config file should not have such kind of an impact and will work on finding a way to avoid that players have to face this situation asap.

Tutorial black screen

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