Game Fails To Run

Shellshock41 · May 2010

<div class="IPBDescription">Game shows a brief moment of lines and then stays black</div>When I try to run the game it goes black (usual game-starting black screen) then it shows some white-ish lines on the screen and then it just goes black. My mouse is still there but the game will not begin whatever comes up after it starts. This is coming from me trying to start the game from the Launch Pad. I have checked the editor in the Launch Pad and it also has these lines, but the editor still runs despite them. Does anyone know what is wrong?

SgtBarlow · May 2010

Yeh, The Game Engine does not understand your hardware, You need to post your Specs so it can be fixed.

Shellshock41 · May 2010

Video Card: Nvidia Geforce FX 5500 (128)
Processor: AMD Sempron Processor 3300+ (2 GHz)
1G RAM
Windows XP

Is this what is needed?

JAmazon · May 2010

I know this is the most contrived response ever, but check for latest drivers at nVidia website. The hardware is definitely up to snuff. Anyone else have similar hardware and similar problems?

pSyk0mAn · May 2010

Specs seem very low.

Did you try to set the quality on zero manually in the config file, before starting the game?

Shellshock41 · May 2010

@JAmazon: Yes, I have the latest driver for it.

@pSyk0mAn: No, I usually don't mess with config files and such.

pSyk0mAn · May 2010

You can change quality and full screen in the options.xml located somewhere in user->AppData->roaming->Natural Selection 2

Try quality 0 and maybe a lower resolution with full screen on.

Shellshock41 · May 2010

I can't seem to find it.

pSyk0mAn · May 2010

Change options in the windows explorer so it shows hidden files and paths

..or you could set up a search for the file options.xml

Shellshock41 · May 2010

Found it, but it's for the Editor. I found one for the Lauch Pad, but it's only got one line in it. Should there be another one?

Also, would I be looking for the words "quailty" and "screen resolution"? I can't find them in the Editor one.

Karrde · May 2010

I'd be willing to bet that his card is simply too weak. FX 5500 was a low to mid range card in the series, and was originally released in like 2003. It really stradles that DX8/DX9 border and may be missing something critical. It only runs shader model 2.a so that could be it if NS2 is running any SM3 effects. I'm not 100% on all of this, but either way, the hardware is very old. My 256mb 8600m GT struggles to run NS2 right now. All I can say is to try to drop all settings to minimum using any configs you find. But if you really want to do any gaming, you really need an upgrade.

pSyk0mAn · May 2010

Sorry, dude, I'm running out ot ideas here.
It may be possible that this file wasn't created yet, because you didn't end ns2 properly?!
Have you tried to quit the "white line, black screen" thing with multiple alt+f4, when the music starts (does it?) ?

The options.xml looks like this:
<div class='codetop'>CODE</div><div class='codemain'><options>
    <graphics>
        <display>
            <fullscreen>true</fullscreen>
            <quality>2</quality>
            <y-resolution>768</y-resolution>
            <x-resolution>1024</x-resolution>
        </display>
    </graphics></div>

Karrde · May 2010

Hmmmm, odd, can't find the xml on mine either. Someone who has one might be able to post one with specs turned all the way down.

pSyk0mAn · May 2010

Maybe its location has changed with the transition to steam?
It has to be somewhere though unless the game never had an opportunity to create it!?
(If he found the editor config in the next directory and was able to start spark, I think this might be the case).

spellman23 · May 2010

I found mine here:
C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Natural Selection 2

Nice options.xml file to edit.

If it breaks before it can even set one up.... wow, that'd be a new one.

ED0ggY · May 2010

this could help for those that have <b>Win7</b>. and cant located your options file. Mine was located in :

C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Roaming\Natural Selection 2

BJHBnade_spammer · May 2010

not new my laptop had the same problem and would not create the options.xml had to manually create the file or just copy it from a computer i knew worked
<div class='codetop'>CODE</div><div class='codemain'><options>
    <graphics>
        <display>
            <fullscreen>false</fullscreen>
            <quality>0</quality>
            <y-resolution>480</y-resolution>
            <x-resolution>640</x-resolution>
        </display>
    </graphics>
    <input>
        <Crouch>LeftControl</Crouch>
        <ScrollLeft>Left</ScrollLeft>
        <ToggleFlashlight>F</ToggleFlashlight>
        <Weapon4>4</Weapon4>
        <PrimaryFire>MouseButton0</PrimaryFire>
        <ActivateSteamworksOverlay>F3</ActivateSteamworksOverlay>
        <Use>E</Use>
        <Jump>Space</Jump>
        <Weapon1>1</Weapon1>
        <mouse>
            <sensitivity>1.000000</sensitivity>
        </mouse>
        <MoveRight>D</MoveRight>
        <ToggleSayings2>C</ToggleSayings2>
        <LockViewFrustum>F4</LockViewFrustum>
        <NextWeapon>MouseZ</NextWeapon>
        <ToggleSayings1>X</ToggleSayings1>
        <Weapon3>3</Weapon3>
        <LockViewPoint>F5</LockViewPoint>
        <SecondaryAttack>MouseButton1</SecondaryAttack>
        <ToggleConsole>Grave</ToggleConsole>
        <ToggleDebugging>F7</ToggleDebugging>
        <Weapon2>2</Weapon2>
        <Buy>B</Buy>
        <Exit>Escape</Exit>
        <MoveForward>W</MoveForward>
        <ScrollBackward>Down</ScrollBackward>
        <SecondaryFire>MouseButton1</SecondaryFire>
        <VoiceChat>F9</VoiceChat>
        <Weapon5>5</Weapon5>
        <Reload>R</Reload>
        <MoveBackward>S</MoveBackward>
        <MovementModifier>LeftShift</MovementModifier>
        <RotateYaw>MouseX</RotateYaw>
        <PrimaryAttack>MouseButton0</PrimaryAttack>
        <Taunt>Z</Taunt>
        <Drop>G</Drop>
        <MoveLeft>A</MoveLeft>
        <RotatePitch>MouseY</RotatePitch>
        <Scoreboard>Tab</Scoreboard>
        <ScrollRight>Right</ScrollRight>
        <ScrollForward>Up</ScrollForward>
    </input>
    <mapName>ns2_dm2.level</mapName>
    <lanGame>false</lanGame>
    <gameMod>ns2</gameMod>
    <playerLimit>10</playerLimit>
    <musicVolume>65</musicVolume>
    <nickname>Name</nickname>
    <serverName>NSServer</serverName>
    <soundVolume>75</soundVolume>
</options></div>
make a options.xml and copy that into the file put the file in to C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Application Data\Natural Selection 2
will not work at a resolution lower than that
plus please run dxdiag and tell us what version of directx you have should look like this
go to >start >run >type dxdiag and hit enter
System Information

Machine name: BHW0277
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.091208-2036)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: LENOVO
System Model: 8934FAU
BIOS: Ver 1.00PARTTBL
Processor: Intel® Core2 Duo CPU T8300 @ 2.40GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 2038MB RAM
Page File: 1178MB used, 2742MB available
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)

directx version is what we are looking for

Shellshock41 · May 2010

My specs from the diagnostic:

Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3(2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.100216-1514)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Gateway
System Model: Product Name
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Sempron Processor 3300+, MMX, 3DNow, ~2.0GHz
Memory: 1022MB RAM
Page File: 775MB used, 1684MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)

And I checked in my user folder for the Application Data folder and it wasn't in there. I have multiple users on this computer, so would that have something to do with it?

spellman23 · May 2010

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shellshock41 @ May 27 2010, 12:23 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1772514"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>And I checked in my user folder for the Application Data folder and it wasn't in there. I have multiple users on this computer, so would that have something to do with it?</div>

It should be in the user folder for whoever is currently logged in and trying to run the game.

Shellshock41 · May 2010

It wasn't in there, so I decided to uninstall the game and re-install it. I checked for the folder again and it still wasn't there and the game still isn't working. Same problem.

spellman23 · May 2010

OK, try making the file manually and use the posted one from BJHBnade_spammer

vaccinelol · May 2010

you're not the only one having problems like this. It seems like almost no performance related issues on even the get satisfaction page are getting answers.

Shellshock41 · May 2010

Found the folder and stopped it from being hidden. I also put the options.xml in there with the specs from BJHBnade_spammer and it didn't fix the problem. However, I do see the log for the game now, here's what it says:

Date: 05/28/10
Time: 20:01:12
--------------------------------------------------------------
Build 148
RenderDevice: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5500 (6.14.11.7519)
IDirect3DDevice9::CreateTexture(640, 480, 1, D3DFMT_A2R10G10B10) failed (Invalid call)
Direct3DDevice::Texture initialize failed- A2R10G10B10, xSize=640, ySize=480)
IDirect3DDevice9::SetRenderTarget failed (Invalid call)
IDirect3DDevice9::SetRenderTarget failed (Invalid call)
IDirect3DDevice9::SetRenderTarget failed (Invalid call)
IDirect3DDevice9::SetRenderTarget failed (Invalid call)
IDirect3DDevice9::SetRenderTarget failed (Invalid call)
IDirect3DDevice9::SetRenderTarget failed (Invalid call)
Couldn't open file "models/marine/build_bot/build_bot.model"

Anyone know what this all means? Bad video card or is it an error?

pSyk0mAn · May 2010

Have you tried different video options with this options.xml?

Try full screen and 800x600 or something?
Even quality 1 might help (don't go to 2 though :p)

Shellshock41 · May 2010

It made it to the menu screen, but the lines are there and much of it is black, minus the lights and stuff. It is also very slow and none of the buttons responded to clicking.

spellman23 · May 2010

So, we've made it to the menu, but it's failing epically on performance. Hm.

I'm guessing you've now hit the point where it's the engine test being unoptimized and not your fault. Really it doesn't seems to run well on lower hardware and I'm pretty sure it will simply not run on the posted min specs considering performance issues even on higher end systems (since I don't have a min spec machine, I can't vouch for it's ability to work).

Zeirus · May 2010

Hi at all,
I've the same problem. In attachments there is my dxdiag.txt and follow the screengrab of the visual artefact (GeForce6800 with 128 MB).

<img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_m0mSVjhu_0k/TAKYYXE-MXI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/aozHBSs__LA/s800/ns2_GeForce6800.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Display driver: nVidia Forceware 197.45 32bit WHQL (the latest downloadable from nVidia website and applicable to my videocard's generation)

I've no problem with other games like HL2 series, Insurgency, NeoTokio... TorchLight, Painkiller, etc... that are all fast with high framerating.

Karrde · May 2010

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Zeirus @ May 30 2010, 11:55 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1772860"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>Hi at all,
I've the same problem. In attachments there is my dxdiag.txt and follow the screengrab of the visual artefact (GeForce6800 with 128 MB).

<img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_m0mSVjhu_0k/TAKYYXE-MXI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/aozHBSs__LA/s800/ns2_GeForce6800.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Display driver: nVidia Forceware 197.45 32bit WHQL (the latest downloadable from nVidia website and applicable to my videocard's generation)

I've no problem with other games like HL2 series, Insurgency, NeoTokio... TorchLight, Painkiller, etc... that are all fast with high framerating.</div>

Although the engine test hasn't been optimized yet, I'd say your computer's specs are not helping. A P4, 1 gig of ram, and a geforce 6800 (card from 2004-2005). Source is a very CPU happy engine vs Spark, which seems to be more GPU dependent. Could be wrong about that, but I think not.

vaccinelol · May 2010

here's the problem i'm running into, with almost exact specs

<a href="http://getsatisfaction.com/unknownworlds/topics/minimum_specs_not_enough" target="_blank">http://getsatisfaction.com/unknownworlds/t...pecs_not_enough</a>

Zeirus · May 2010

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Karrde @ May 31 2010, 02:49 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1772924"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>Although the engine test hasn't been optimized yet, I'd say your computer's specs are not helping. A P4, 1 gig of ram, and a geforce 6800 (card from 2004-2005). Source is a very CPU happy engine vs Spark, which seems to be more GPU dependent. Could be wrong about that, but I think not.</div>

Ok. I will try on another PC, but on this configuration I never had problems with other graphic engines, including the U3 (setted with low detail, of course)

spellman23 · June 2010

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Zeirus @ May 31 2010, 02:44 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1772963"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>Ok. I will try on another PC, but on this configuration I never had problems with other graphic engines, including the U3 (setted with low detail, of course)</div>

Yeah. Unfortunately the Engine test is giving even high-end systems a run for their money. We're assuming poor optimizations at this point, but no one's 100% sure.

Game Fails To Run

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