Linux - Black screen at start-up, then exit

Daz · March 2014

Tbh I'm not sure how exactly I got that error log now. I believe I tried running it from terminal after failing to launch with 3.101 driver after reverting from 3.125 version and that is what I got. Right now I can't find the thread from which I got the instruction to do that. Anyway I reverted to generic linux driver right now since that one seems to get along best with cinnamon (no missing icons) and I can't play the game in either case.

Confused · March 2014

There should be linux instructions in my signature.

Please post a log though, it's in ~/.config/Natural Selection 2/log.txt

Daz · March 2014

Log is too big to post it so I will attach the file. Here is the first part:

Build 263
Linux Mint 16 Petra x86_64
Steam initialized
Num displays: 1
OpenGL 3.1.12337 Compatibility Profile/Debug Context 13.101 initialized (ATI Technologies Inc. AMD Radeon HD 7660D)
GLSL version 4.30
ARB_texture_storage extension present
ARB_get_program_binary extension present
Disabling ARB_texture_storage extension to work around AMD drivers
Sound Device: default stereo
Record Device: default
Loading config://ConsoleBindings.json
Loading config://FavoriteServers.json
Loading config://HistoryServers.json
WARNING: Corrected case of '/home/user/.local/share/Steam/SteamApps/common/Natural Selection 2/ns2/materials/eclipse/Eclipse_ceilingmods_D_02.material'
WARNING: Corrected case of '/home/user/.local/share/Steam/SteamApps/common/Natural Selection 2/ns2/materials/eclipse/Eclipse_ceilingmods_D_02.material'
WARNING: Corrected case of '/home/user/.local/share/Steam/SteamApps/common/Natural Selection 2/ns2/materials/eclipse/Eclipse_Hallway_02_D4.material'
WARNING: Corrected case of '/home/user/.local/share/Steam/SteamApps/common/Natural Selection 2/ns2/materials/eclipse/Eclipse_Hallway_02_D4.material'

and so on....

Confused · March 2014

That looks like a clean enter and exit. The last error happens during steam cloud sync on successful shut down. Can you post a log after it fails? or did it fail there?

Daz · March 2014

As I said before withe fglrx version 3.101 game doesn't fail. It enters and exits clearly however abysmal framerate makes it unplayable.

Confused · March 2014

ahh, well in the case I cant give you great recommendations . There should be some APU tweaking guides for linux somewhere on the internet. If nvidia is any indication, they may install with all the settings at quality not speed so check their config tool. You might be able to squeeze a few more FPS out of the driver that way.

You can also always try the mesa drivers, versions above 9 should support ns2 now. Worth a shot but probably not a huge 3d help.

Skvate · March 2014

I bought an A10-7850K APU. Wanted a less noisy system with no discrete gfx card. Not expecting NS2 to run well on this system right now since we're waiting for AMD to get their promised OpenGL driver optimization in place.
I get this black screen thing, but it doesn't exit. It just stays black, and one core is working 100%. log.txt in .config shows this:

Date: 03/31/14
Time: 21:02:36:
--------------------------------------------------------------
Build 264
Ubuntu Trusty Tahr (development branch) x86_64
Steam initialized
Num displays: 1
OpenGL 3.1.12798 Compatibility Profile/Debug Context 13.35.1005 initialized (ATI Technologies Inc. AMD Radeon(TM) R7 Graphics)
GLSL version 4.30
ARB_texture_storage extension present
ARB_get_program_binary extension present
Disabling ARB_texture_storage extension to work around AMD drivers
Compiling 'renderer/Drawer.shader'
Sound Device: default stereo
Record Device: default
Compiling 'renderer/DeferredShading.shader'

Seems like it's struggling to compile the shaders. When i check the cache folder, theres 3 "OpenGL_" files there. If i delete them, they reappear next time i start the game.

I don't remember that debugging thing with gdb, but i'll refresh that if that will help solve the problem(s).
I'm on Xubuntu 14.04 with latest fglrx 14.3 beta driver(we only get beta drivers it seems....), even though it shows as 13.35

paupav · April 2014

I have same problem. This is what I get in terminal when i run Natural Selection2
I'm using Closed source AMD drivers 14.3 on radeon 7770. I'm using Ubuntu 64bit. And my CPU is Pentium(R) Dual-Core E6500.

(steam:3427): LIBDBUSMENU-GLIB-WARNING **: Trying to remove a child that doesn't believe we're it's parent.
OnFocusWindowChanged to window type: k_EWindowTypeNonSteamDesktop, 0
ERROR: ld.so: object '/home/paulo/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/gameoverlayrenderer.so' from LD_PRELOAD cannot be preloaded: ignored.
CGameStreamThread: Added instance ID 3559 for appid 4920
CGameStreamThread: Added instance ID 3560 for appid 4920
warning: The VAD has been replaced by a hack pending a complete rewrite
warning: The VAD has been replaced by a hack pending a complete rewrite
Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(gameoverlayui)/version(20140225134510_client)
Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(gameoverlayui)/version(1.0_client)
CGameStreamThread: Set render instance ID 3525 for appid 4920
Fontconfig error: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/10-scale-bitmap-fonts.conf", line 70: non-double matrix element
Fontconfig error: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/10-scale-bitmap-fonts.conf", line 70: non-double matrix element
Fontconfig warning: "/etc/fonts/conf.d/10-scale-bitmap-fonts.conf", line 78: saw unknown, expected number
Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(gameoverlayui)/version(1.0_client)
Gtk-Message: Failed to load module "unity-gtk-module"

(gameoverlayui:3568): Gtk-WARNING **: Unable to locate theme engine in module_path: "adwaita",

(gameoverlayui:3568): Gtk-WARNING **: Unable to locate theme engine in module_path: "adwaita",
/usr/share/themes/Adwaita/gtk-2.0/gtkrc:1137: error: unexpected identifier `direction', expected character `}'
[0410/183033:WARNING:proxy_service.cc(958)] PAC support disabled because there is no system implementation
Installing breakpad exception handler for appid(gameoverlayui)/version(1.0_client)

shpinog · April 2014

I, too, does not work with the latest version of Mesa. In steam discussions say that you can run instalation Catalyst, it will compile shaders and return to Mesa, I do not have this capability (many dependencies computer for work), somebody can put these shaders (files) to say where to copy them and so on?

murray · April 2014

shpinog wrote: »

I, too, does not work with the latest version of Mesa. In steam discussions say that you can run instalation Catalyst, it will compile shaders and return to Mesa, I do not have this capability (many dependencies computer for work), somebody can put these shaders (files) to say where to copy them and so on?

Thats the other way around. If you get the game running with mesa, then you can switch back to Catalyst!
See this thread here:
http://forums.unknownworlds.com/discussion/134613/linux-possible-workaround-for-amd-catalyst-users#latest

Ok... i uploaded my shaders, which I compiled with Mesa. Download it here, maybe it will work with your graphic card. I am using a Radeon HD 6850. So at least it should work you, if you have the same graphic card and are using the catalyst driver. I dont know if this also works with other graphic card generations.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/euj2n2l5p7ejrpk/ns2_shaders_version2.tar.bz2

Download the file and extract it in the following folder

cd ~/.config/Natural\ Selection\ 2/

Maybe there are still some missing shaders, which must be compiled. Just left a message.

shpinog · April 2014

I copied these files anyway game does not work, I also have ati 6850

murray · April 2014

shpinog wrote: »

I copied these files anyway game does not work, I also have ati 6850

I think you are using mesa? Thats another problem. Maybe you are missing some 32 bit libs.

Check with ldd, if the ns2 binary can find the requiered libraries.

shpinog · April 2014

Mesa Yes, all the libraries I have, but after starting splash screen appears, and just loading the game closes on Mesa 10.2, 10.1 and she did not even run a rendering bug

d2_ricci · August 2014

I know this is old to bump but AMD Catalyst™ 14.4 driver says the following:

"Resolved Issues:
...
Blank screen observed while running steam games with Big picture"

Source: http://support.amd.com/en-us/kb-articles/Pages/AMDCatalyst14-4LINReleaseNotes.aspx

wasn't sure if anyone's tried this. 14.4 also comes with the current build of SteamOS.

d2_ricci · September 2014

With the most recent update to NS2 it is now at least showing the loading screen in debian linux (Steam OS). I just had to edit the systems_options.xml and change <window-mode>fullscreen-windowed</window-mode>.

nevermind. Still doesn't load. just gets stuck after "Loading config://ConsoleBindings.json"

bedhead · October 2014

Necroing an old thread. But glad to say that this is now fixed with the newest catalyst version on amd's website. Frame-rate isn't the best but its very playable.

MrOption · October 2014

So funny, I finnaly upgraded to an nvidia card, seriously in part because I assumed this bug was never getting fixed (13+ months?).

Two weeks after I installed it... Lol

Glad it's worked out though.

bedhead · October 2014

It seems that AMD finally got their act together probably because of Valve and SteamOS. I hope there will be better OpenGL optimizations in the future so I can get similar framereates to windows. I have 120 fps in Windows and about 60-70 fps on Linux.

hazote · December 2014

hi,
some help:
archlinux 64 bits with dual graphic card (optimus)
one day the game doesn't want to launch/ or black screen.
after reading many post I find that can be due to the kernel.

actually, I am back on kernel "3.14.23-1-lts" (LTS with only nvidia installed, so "big" graphic card is always on)
and now this work fine !
could play on linux on a 30 + server where in win I can't play even single

to launch, this now work under steam, if not, could launch under NS2 diirectory : "./ns2_linux32"
hope this can help someone.

Linux - Black screen at start-up, then exit

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