[Outdated] KNOWN ISSUES AND POSSIBLE FIXES

ZaggyZaggy NullPointerExceptionThe Netherlands Join Date: 2003-12-10 Member: 24214Forum Moderators, NS2 Playtester, Reinforced - Onos, Subnautica Playtester
edited November 2013 in Technical Support
[b]Note: This topic is out of date, information might no longer be correct or even relevant.[/b]

<div class="IPBDescription">Another collection topic.</div>Steps that worked for SOME people (thanks to <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=122577&view=findpost&p=2002080" target="_blank">GibbyLOL</a>! and <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=122577&view=findpost&p=2002306" target="_blank">Whosat</a>!):
Game not loading issues or crashes on connect:
<ol type='1'><li>Run <b>dxsetup</b> in <!--fonto:Courier New--><span style="font-family:Courier New"><!--/fonto--><i>drive</i>\Program Files<i> (x86)</i>\Steam\steamapps\common\Natural Selection 2\redist\directx\<!--fontc--></span><!--/fontc--></li><li>Delete the folder <!--fonto:Courier New--><span style="font-family:Courier New"><!--/fonto--><i>drive</i>\Program Files<i> (x86)</i>\Steam\steamapps\common\Natural Selection 2\ns2\shaders<!--fontc--></span><!--/fontc--></li><li>Press the Windows key and R (Win+R) (No Windows key? Try <a href="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/What-happened-to-the-Run-command" target="_blank">this</a>) and type <!--fonto:Courier New--><span style="font-family:Courier New"><!--/fonto-->%APPDATA%\Natural Selection 2<!--fontc--></span><!--/fontc--> then press enter.
Delete all the files in this folder</li><li>Verify the Integrity of the NS2 Game Cache:
In Steam, go to the Natural Selection 2 menu option, Right-click>Properties>Local Files>Verify Integrity of Cache
(this will re-download the files you deleted, but it will be the correct files this time)</li><li>Disable all mods or even unsubscribe from them in Workshop</li></ol><ul><li>If all else fails, delete local Steam files for NS2 and reinstall NS2.</li><li>Crash on startup? Disable any overlay applications that might interfere such as mumble, fraps and GPU tweakers <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showtopic=124336&view=findpost&p=2027511" target="_blank">Source</a> </li><li>Lower texture quality in NS2, this *may* allow you to get through pre-cache</li><li>Got a BT Home Hub and/or Thomson router and have issues connecting? Try this fix: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8YiopTocPk" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8YiopTocPk</a> - <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showtopic=122598&view=findpost&p=2006784" target="_blank">Source -Thanks Whosat!</a></li><li>Menu not showing up? Try the following command in console: "i_rawinput false" - <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showtopic=123489&st=0&gopid=2011876&#entry2011876" target="_blank">http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/in...p;#entry2011876</a> Thanks Veon!</li><li>No textures? Black screen? Try setting the Full Screen Anti-Aliasing setting in your CCC to application preference - thread: <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=119735" target="_blank">http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index....howtopic=119735</a></li><li>Black screen workaround/fix: edit the %appdata%\Natural Selection 2\system_options.xml so it uses the actual screen resolution - <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=122598&view=findpost&p=2014503" target="_blank">source </a></li></ul>
Server list empty?
Is probably a corrupt cache, clear your "%appdata%\Natural Selection 2" folder.
Outdated: In <drive>\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<userid>\4920\remote\options.xml, make sure <filter_gamemode>asdfasd</filter_gamemode> is <filter_gamemode></filter_gamemode>. With thanks to <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showtopic=122673&view=findpost&p=2006193" target="_blank">KrustyKrogan </a>
Workaround: use below websites to browse and connect to servers
<a href="http://hypernovadesign.co.uk/nanogrid/" target="_blank">http://hypernovadesign.co.uk/nanogrid/</a>
<a href="http://www.play4dead.com/ns2/" target="_blank">http://www.play4dead.com/ns2/</a>
<a href="http://ns2stats.org/server/index" target="_blank">http://ns2stats.org/server/index</a>
<a href="http://ns2servers.devicenull.org/index.php" target="_blank">http://ns2servers.devicenull.org/index.php</a> - only shows IP addresses, to manually connect, open the console with ~ and type "connect 123.123.123.123" and hit enter to connect
<a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showtopic=120313" target="_blank">Camron's server browser tool</a>

<b>Game frozen</b>
<a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?act=Post&CODE=02&f=108&t=125176&qpid=2033695" target="_blank">http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/in...mp;qpid=2033695</a>
<!--quoteo(post=2033695:date=Nov 24 2012, 09:17 PM:name=ironhorse)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ironhorse @ Nov 24 2012, 09:17 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2033695"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->If NS2 crashes, do not close any windows, even if its a black screen or error. Navigate to your NS2 install folder and run techsupport.exe. This will make a potentially large dump file (inside the zip that techsupport.exe makes, there will be a folder called "minidump") that you can then upload to somewhere online (like Drop box) and provide a link to it in here or to a dev. This dump file is the fastest, most accurate method to catch a crash!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Please post on results or the lack thereof here!
<b>
Please provide UWE with information, do the following (ripped from <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showtopic=111496" target="_blank">here</a>):</b>
<b>Attach or post a DXDIAG information log file, this provides UWE with your system specs, driver and OS info:</b>
Click on your Windows Desktop Start menu.
In winXP you want to find "RUN", in Vista/7 you want the search bar at the bottom of the menu.
Type in DXDIAG and hit Enter
A window pops up, Either a Diagnostic will auto run or you need to click on a button: Run DxDiag now ~something similar to that.
When the progress bar is done, Click on the "Save All Information" button, you can either copy paste it to the forums or post it into a website such as <a href="http://www.pastebin.com" target="_blank">http://www.pastebin.com</a> and post the link here on the forums.
<b>
Attach or post the contents of the NS2 "log.txt" file, this contains useful error messages for the UWE devs:</b>
To get to the file, press windows key + R, fill in "%appdata%\Natural Selection 2", hit enter.
You can either copy paste it to the forums or post it into a website such as <a href="http://www.pastebin.com" target="_blank">http://www.pastebin.com</a> and post the link here on the forums.
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Comments

  • BucketheadYoBucketheadYo Join Date: 2012-10-31 Member: 164875Members
    still crashing while pre-caching :< says somethin about a runtime error
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  • WhosatWhosat Singapore Join Date: 2006-11-03 Member: 58301Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    Right okay so we should add the last step:

    5. If all else fails,<a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showtopic=121587" target="_blank"> reinstall the game</a>.
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  • WhosatWhosat Singapore Join Date: 2006-11-03 Member: 58301Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    edited October 2012
    Could add another step before the last resort: Disable all overlays (mumble, fraps, etc.)

    <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showtopic=122572&st=20&start=20" target="_blank">http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/in...20&start=20</a>

    EDIT: Also try installing this: <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=3387" target="_blank">Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable Package (x86)</a>

    (Some server operators had to do that to get their servers running on their systems. Thought it may work for the game client too)
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  • BucketheadYoBucketheadYo Join Date: 2012-10-31 Member: 164875Members
    thx for your effort man, but nothing works for me :<
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  • redrageredrage Join Date: 2012-10-31 Member: 164896Members
    yeh, these steps don't work.
    Off Topic Disagree 1Agree Awesome
  • pir4nhapir4nha Join Date: 2012-10-31 Member: 164889Members
    thanks for the effort, but this wont work!
    somehow the broke it apparently only for ppl that already had the game.
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  • ObraxisObraxis Subnautica Animator & Generalist, NS2 Person Join Date: 2004-07-24 Member: 30071Super Administrators, Forum Admins, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, NS2 Developer, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Silver, WC 2013 - Supporter, Subnautica Developer, Pistachionauts
    One thing you can try is running in Windowed Mode.

    People who are still getting a black screen please post screenshots & your system specs, especially your graphics card. Thanks!
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  • BucketheadYoBucketheadYo Join Date: 2012-10-31 Member: 164875Members
    already tried in windowed mode, same problem.

    i dont even know if this si the right topic, my game crashes during pre-caching.

    <a href="http://pastebin.com/3uAWunV4" target="_blank">http://pastebin.com/3uAWunV4</a>
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  • ZaggyZaggy NullPointerException The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-12-10 Member: 24214Forum Moderators, NS2 Playtester, Reinforced - Onos, Subnautica Playtester
    <!--quoteo(post=2002466:date=Oct 31 2012, 12:44 PM:name=BucketheadYo)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BucketheadYo @ Oct 31 2012, 12:44 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2002466"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->already tried in windowed mode, same problem.

    i dont even know if this si the right topic, my game crashes during pre-caching.

    <a href="http://pastebin.com/3uAWunV4" target="_blank">http://pastebin.com/3uAWunV4</a><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Thanks for the log file!

    Try deleting the contents of the models folder and then verifying your Steam cache files.
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  • BucketheadYoBucketheadYo Join Date: 2012-10-31 Member: 164875Members
    didnt work either :( now i dont even get a bug report when it crashes
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  • pir4nhapir4nha Join Date: 2012-10-31 Member: 164889Members
    <!--quoteo(post=2002468:date=Oct 31 2012, 04:47 AM:name=Zaggy)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Zaggy @ Oct 31 2012, 04:47 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2002468"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Thanks for the log file!

    Try deleting the contents of the models folder and then verifying your Steam cache files.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I just ask you to consider stop giving that workaround to people with the same problem/bug.
    Its obvious that the development team broke something in the 1.0 release if so many people are having the same problem.
    Maybe it is worth to try, but definitely it is not the fix.
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  • BucketheadYoBucketheadYo Join Date: 2012-10-31 Member: 164875Members
    i didn't ask him about THE fix, I'm actually happy that there are people who try to help, even if it doesnt work.
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  • DamDSxDamDSx Join Date: 2004-08-10 Member: 30506Members
    Ok, adding my problems here since they are related.

    I gave up on this about 2AM last night, after 4 hours of trying to get it to work.

    There are several problems that I could see from my troubleshooting, none related to the computer.

    Shaders fail to apply to textures, causing the crash.
    Materials fail to load (could not open file)
    .dds is being considered an invalid format while precaching.
    Physx problems, User allocation NULL.
    Textures missing (big box type sprites randomly appear, when I manage to get in the game)


    I must have tried about 100 times, of which I only got into the game 5 times, crashing either immediately after joining a team, or a few seconds after spawning.

    I did all I could on my side to make it work, elevated it, sandboxed it, everything I could think of to make it run and couldnt. I verifyed, reinstalled, a few other things I cannot remember now.

    There is obviously something broken here.
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  • ZaggyZaggy NullPointerException The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-12-10 Member: 24214Forum Moderators, NS2 Playtester, Reinforced - Onos, Subnautica Playtester
    Well, it's getting close to San Francisco morning office time, looking forward to a fix from UWE.
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  • bagderbagder Join Date: 2012-10-30 Member: 164786Members
    GEFORCE GTX 560


    bestServer = nil
    (for index) = 1
    (for limit) = 237
    (for step) = 1
    vs = 1
    possibleServer = {1= {name="UWE Official NA-East #22 - All Official 16p", rookieFriendly=0 }, address="206.217.128.66:28215", isLANServer=0, mapname="ns2_veil", maxPlayers=16, numPlayers=0, percentFull=0, ping=33, rookieFriendly=0 }
    #2: UpdateLogic lua/menu/GUIMainMenu_PlayNow.lua:101
    playNowWindow = Window { }
    mainMenu = GUIMainMenu { }
    #3: Update lua/menu/GUIMainMenu.lua:1866
    self = GUIMainMenu { }
    deltaTime = 0.011307695880532
    currentTime = 83.346260753958
    alertText = nil
    #4: Update lua/GUIManager.lua:222
    self = GUIManager { }
    deltaTime = 0.011307695880532
    (for generator) = function
    (for state) = {1=GUIMainMenu { } }
    (for control) = 1
    index = 1
    script = GUIMainMenu { }
    #5: lua/GUIManager.lua:320
    deltaTime = 0.011307695880532
    Saving config://FavoriteServers.json
    Saving config://FavoriteServers.json
    Saving config://FavoriteServers.json
    Connecting to server 50.97.95.130:27515
    Client : 0.000000 : Loading VM Client
    Loading config://ConsoleBindings.json
    Loading config://FavoriteServers.json
    Error: Couldn't open file ''
    Error: Couldn't open file ''
    Loading 'maps/ns2_refinery.level'
    Error: Couldn't open file 'models/props/summit/oreconveyor_rail.model'
    Error: Couldn't open file 'models/props/refinery/refinery_oreextractvert_temp.model'
    Error: Couldn't open file 'models/cinematics/exoreveal/page_1_panels_1-11 - onosemerges/camera7.model'
    Error: Couldn't open file 'materials/descent/descent_wall_02_a.material'
    Error: Couldn't open file 'materials/descent/descent_wall_02_a.material'
    Error: Couldn't open file 'materials/descent/descent_wall_02_a.material'
    Error: Couldn't open file 'materials/descent/descent_wall_02_a.material'
    Error: Couldn't open file 'materials/descent/descent_wall_02_a.material'
    Error: No shader specified for material 'materials/descent/descent_wall_02_a.material'
    Finished loading 'maps/ns2_refinery.level'
    Predict : 0.000000 : Loading VM Predict
    Error: IDirect3DDevice9::CreateVertexBuffer 536560 bytes failed (Out of video memory)
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  • goblingoblin Join Date: 2004-09-05 Member: 31412Members
    win xp/7 ? 32 bits or 64 bits?

    how much ram?
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  • oceN-shottyoceN-shotty Join Date: 2003-04-21 Member: 15718Members
    I have followed the instructions above several times and tried most everything by now. Still won't work :(

    Here is my appdata ns log:

    <a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4727526/log.txt" target="_blank">https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4727526/log.txt</a>


    And 2 screen shots for good measure :)

    <a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4727526/Untitledns2p3.png" target="_blank">https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4727526/Untitledns2p3.png</a>

    <a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4727526/Untitledns2p2.png" target="_blank">https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4727526/Untitledns2p2.png</a>



    Any help is appreciated

    //Neco
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  • pir4nhapir4nha Join Date: 2012-10-31 Member: 164889Members
    <!--quoteo(post=2002608:date=Oct 31 2012, 07:11 AM:name=oceN-shotty)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (oceN-shotty @ Oct 31 2012, 07:11 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2002608"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I have followed the instructions above several times and tried most everything by now. Still won't work :(

    Here is my appdata ns log:

    <a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4727526/log.txt" target="_blank">https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4727526/log.txt</a>


    And 2 screen shots for good measure :)

    <a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4727526/Untitledns2p3.png" target="_blank">https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4727526/Untitledns2p3.png</a>

    <a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4727526/Untitledns2p2.png" target="_blank">https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4727526/Untitledns2p2.png</a>



    Any help is appreciated

    //Neco<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    it wont work cause the build is broken and UWE need to fix it. be patient, it probably will be fixed today
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  • GimrigzGimrigz Join Date: 2012-10-31 Member: 164809Members
    Be aware that running mumble with overlay will cause the game to crash with similar symptoms. This should probably be in the sticky at the source of the problem can get confusing.

    Credit goes to esotericizm for figuring it out.
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  • oceN-shottyoceN-shotty Join Date: 2003-04-21 Member: 15718Members
    Yeah my mumble overlay is already deactivated since CoD.MW3 or which ever it was had known problems with mumble overlay.

    Also I haven't had mumble running since first start-up of NS2. The other 5 hours I been trying to get it to work I haven't had mumble running :/


    @pir4nha Ok thanks. Lets hope for a miracle :)
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  • GibbyLOLGibbyLOL Join Date: 2012-07-26 Member: 154371Members
    edited October 2012
    Make sure you actually follow all the steps in the proper order. Files need to be deleted from those folders THEN you verify the cache of the game. It took about 10-15 seconds to start up after it re-downloaded the files I deleted on purpose.

    It worked for me.

    What didn't work was uninstalling game through steam, deleting all files, and then reinstalling and running dxdirect. Because when I downloaded the whole game again, it loaded up into black screen.

    Instead of downloading the whole game again, just delete the appdata info for ns2, and delete the shaders folder THEN verify the cache. (I spent 2-4 hours trying to figure this out yesterday, and the steps provided in the original post were the only ones that worked.)

    So again, I re-iterate. Even if you've tried the verify cache before, try it after deleting the files, in the right order. It should work. (Note, this only started to happen to me after the reworking of the menu before launch)

    Edit: Mumble Overlay with steam overlay makes the game crash. Disable them for a possible fix?
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  • WhosatWhosat Singapore Join Date: 2006-11-03 Member: 58301Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    <!--quoteo(post=2002489:date=Oct 31 2012, 08:10 PM:name=pir4nha)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pir4nha @ Oct 31 2012, 08:10 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2002489"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I just ask you to consider stop giving that workaround to people with the same problem/bug.
    Its obvious that the development team broke something in the 1.0 release if so many people are having the same problem.
    Maybe it is worth to try, but definitely it is not the fix.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Actually we do ask them to try because there are many people who managed to fix by using the above steps, as well as many who didn't. Since it has worked before, it would be worth a shot!

    We are all waiting for an official fix from UWE because it really is bugging lots of players, I'm sure it is of top priority of them now - never seen the Technical Support subforum so active before! :)
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  • WhosatWhosat Singapore Join Date: 2006-11-03 Member: 58301Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    edited October 2012
    Zaggy, could you add a line to note that the shaders folder is in the ns2 folder within the natural selection 2 folder?

    i.e. \steamapps\common\Natural Selection 2\<b>ns2</b>\shaders

    NOT \steamapps\common\Natural Selection 2\<b><i>core</i></b>\shaders
    EDIT: Also, could you add a step to reset graphic card settings (ATi catalyst/nVidia Settings), as well as to disable ATi Overdrive or any other GPU overclocking
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  • AgentXAgentX Join Date: 2003-05-17 Member: 16420Members
    I tried every step suggested above, from deleting suggested folders and verifying cashe to downloading again the entire game with no luck. I will wait for a official fix from Charlie and the guys at UWE. I have faith they will get it all fixed soon.
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  • TheFreshMakerTheFreshMaker Join Date: 2012-10-30 Member: 164788Members
    This fix was no luck for me either. Looks like we'll have to wait for an official fix.
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  • oceN-shottyoceN-shotty Join Date: 2003-04-21 Member: 15718Members
    Yeah still no luck for me neither. I have followed the steps to the detail several times. And I have tried everything else between this earth and the heavens. No luck today either :(

    Let the waiting game begin :)
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  • Leto Atreides IILeto Atreides II Join Date: 2012-10-31 Member: 164835Members
    Based on an increasing amount of evidence, it's looking likely that running 32-bit Windows instead of 64-bit is the real cause of many peoples' crashes, and thus this fix will not help you.
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  • AgentXAgentX Join Date: 2003-05-17 Member: 16420Members
    I was a Beta Tester, I have 32 Bit Windows 7 and the game worked perfectly for me till the 5pm download of the new server clients.
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  • BadIronTreeBadIronTree Join Date: 2005-01-09 Member: 34252Members
    <a href="https://dl.dropbox.com/u/29267291/DxDiag.txt" target="_blank">https://dl.dropbox.com/u/29267291/DxDiag.txt</a>
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  • BucketheadYoBucketheadYo Join Date: 2012-10-31 Member: 164875Members
    just fyi:

    Natural Selection 2 ‏@NS2

    @nico__22 currently in intensive testing to produce reliable reproduction steps, then patching it
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