Crashing mission preventing further play

[craby44]

Hello,

I have been playing TGS after upgrading from the original game. Everything has been going just fine, until I hit mission 15 on Operation Nightfall. This is the mission with the empty enemy ships and the zolon attack fleet.

The mission starts normally, but then after about 2-10 seconds, it crashes and brings up the windows bug screen. I've tried changing all the graphics and sound settings within the game, rebooting, transferring to a different fleet, using a different screen, or trying to quantum out before it happens, but it continually does it.

I have gone back a few saves, but it still happens when I hit this mission.

Has anyone else had this drama? Any suggestions? Its not a driver etc issue, as the game has worked perfectly until now.

regards,

[craby44]

Just further to this, I've noticed that the problem seems to be when the abandoned ships are either viewed or fired upon. I went back to day 14 and set a nav point to where they are located. As soon as I attempted to fire on them, the game crashed.

Hopefully there's a fix so I can keep going with the game.

regards,

[fins_3]

I am also having this problem and this does appear to be a game breaker as I cannot progress any further. I am also experienceing the fighters crashing while landing, usualy about 25 percent of the time. Another bug that I experience is when I control capital ships that fire on an enemy carrier the game crashes to desk top.

We really need a patch, heres hoping it is soon as I really enjoy the game.

[ryuto]

I just encountered this problem, myself, I've also encoutered the crashing fighters problem earlier but I've yet to encounter the crash to desktop when attacking a carrier bug. So far this is the worst bug I've run into considering that its completely frozen my advancement through the game and nobody seems to know any ways around it.

[John DiCamillo]

Could someone please post either a savegame file or errlog.txt file showing this problem?  You can email me directly (milo@starshatter.com) or post here.

Thanks!

[craby44]

Hello Milo,
 
Here's the error file that was generated today:-
 
+====================================================================+
| STARSHATTER 5.0.0                          2 Dec 2006,  9:18:53 AM |
+====================================================================+
|                                                                    |
| Windows XP 5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 2                         |
|                                                                    |
| Registered Owner: craby,                                           |
|                                                                    |
| CPUs Detected: 2    CPU Level: 15.3.4    CPU Speed: 3008           |
| x86 Family 15 Model 3 Stepping 4                                   |
| GenuineIntel                                                       |
|                                                                    |
| 1024 MB RAM    2461 MB Max Swap    2012 MB Avail Swap              |
|                                                                    |
| DirectX 9 installed.                                               |
|   DDRAW   5.03.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)                |
|   D3DIM   5.1.2600.0 (xpclient.010817-1148)                        |
|   DINPUT  5.03.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)                |
|   DPLAY   5.00.2134.1                                              |
|   DSOUND  5.3.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)                 |
|   DMUSIC  5.3.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)                 |
|                                                                    |
|                                                                    |
| NVIDIA GeForce 6800                                                |
|                                                                    |
+====================================================================+
  Checking authorization codes...
  Authorized
  Initializing Game
  Gamma Level = 128
  Initializing instance...
  Window created.
  Instance initialized.
  Initializing game...
  Palette loaded.
  Init Video...
  Request 1280 x 1024 x 32 mode
********************************
*   Direct 3D version 9        *
********************************
   Creating Video Device for HWND = 000503e2
   SoundCardD3D Primary Buffer Format:
     bits: 16
     chls: 2
     rate: 44100
  Created video object.
  Created screen object.
  Established requested video parameters.
Loading Ranks and Medals
  Remapping: 'KEY_MINUS_Y' => VK_END(35) null(0) KEY_JOY_9(457)
  Remapping: 'KEY_CYCLE_PRIMARY' => VK_BACK(8) VK_SHIFT(16) KEY_JOY_5(453)
  Remapping: 'KEY_CYCLE_SECONDARY' => VK_BACK(8) null(0) KEY_JOY_6(454)
  Remapping: 'KEY_LOCK_HOSTILE_SHIP' => Y(89) null(0) KEY_JOY_10(458)
  Remapping: 'KEY_CYCLE_SUBTARGET' => ;(186) null(0) KEY_JOY_7(455)
  Remapping: 'KEY_CAM_VIRT_PLUS_AZ' => VK_LEFT(37) VK_SHIFT(16) KEY_POV_0_LEFT(498)
  Remapping: 'KEY_CAM_VIRT_MINUS_AZ' => VK_RIGHT(39) VK_SHIFT(16) KEY_POV_0_RIGHT(499)
  Remapping: 'KEY_CAM_VIRT_PLUS_EL' => VK_DOWN(40) VK_SHIFT(16) KEY_POV_0_UP(496)
  Remapping: 'KEY_CAM_VIRT_MINUS_EL' => VK_UP(38) VK_SHIFT(16) KEY_POV_0_DOWN(497)
  Remapping: 'KEY_CONTROL_MODEL' => =1(1) (0) (0)
  Remapping: 'KEY_JOY_SELECT' => =0(0) (0) (0)
  Remapping: 'KEY_JOY_RUDDER' => =1(1) (0) (0)
  Remapping: 'KEY_JOY_THROTTLE' => =1(1) (0) (0)
  Remapping: 'KEY_JOY_SENSE' => =1(1) (0) (0)
  Remapping: 'KEY_JOY_DEAD_ZONE' => =500(500) (0) (0)
  Remapping: 'KEY_MOUSE_SELECT' => =1(1) (0) (0)
  Remapping: 'KEY_MOUSE_SENSE' => =10(10) (0) (0)
  Remapping: 'KEY_MOUSE_ACTIVE' => =192(192) (0) (0)
  Mapping: 'KEY_MOUSE_INVERT' => =0(0) (0) (0)
  Mapping: 'KEY_AXIS_YAW' => =416(416) (0) (0)
  Mapping: 'KEY_AXIS_PITCH' => =417(417) (0) (0)
  Mapping: 'KEY_AXIS_ROLL' => =421(421) (0) (0)
  Mapping: 'KEY_AXIS_THROTTLE' => =422(422) (0) (0)
  Mapping: 'KEY_AXIS_YAW_INVERT' => =0(0) (0) (0)
  Mapping: 'KEY_AXIS_PITCH_INVERT' => =0(0) (0) (0)
  Mapping: 'KEY_AXIS_ROLL_INVERT' => =0(0) (0) (0)
  Mapping: 'KEY_AXIS_THROTTLE_INVERT' => =0(0) (0) (0)
  Loaded key.cfg

Starshatter::InitGame() create joystick
Joystick: initialized DI7 pdi = 001b15ac
Joystick: preparing to enumerate devices
EnumJoystick 1: 'Logitech Freedom 2.4'
   guid:    {1e2189f0-4664-11db-800444455354}
*** NaturalPoint Game Client Initialization ***
NPClient - Unable to initialize interface: NaturalPoint DLL not found
Loading System Designs 'sys.def'
Loading Weapon Designs 'wep.def'
+====================================================================+
|                              RUN                                   |
+====================================================================+
Loading ship design catalog: Ships/catalog.def
Loading Galaxy: Galaxy.def
Loading StarSystem: Jarnell/Jarnell.def
Loading StarSystem: Borova/Borova.def
Loading StarSystem: Athenar/Athenar.def
Loading StarSystem: Paragon/Paragon.def
Loading StarSystem: Thralis/Thralis.def
Loading StarSystem: Janus/Janus.def
Loading StarSystem: Solus/Solus.def
Loading StarSystem: Silessia/Silessia.def
Loading StarSystem: Haiche/Haiche.def
Loading StarSystem: Renser/Renser.def
Loading StarSystem: Loris/Loris.def
Loading StarSystem: Ostara/Ostara.def
Loading StarSystem: Kolchev/Kolchev.def
Loading StarSystem: Korius/Korius.def
Loading StarSystem: Tarsus/Tarsus.def
Loading StarSystem: Nephrys/Nephrys.def
Loading StarSystem: Radix/Radix.def
Loading StarSystem: Isham/Isham.def
Loading StarSystem: Garrison/Garrison.def
Loading StarSystem: Trocanther/Trocanther.def
Loading StarSystem: Marak/Marak.def
Loading StarSystem: Black/Black.def
Loading StarSystem: Museum/Museum.def
Order of Battle Loaded (Terellian Alliance).
Order of Battle Loaded (Dantari Separatists).
Order of Battle Loaded (Haiche Protectorate).
Order of Battle Loaded (Marakan Hegemony).
Order of Battle Loaded (Brotherhood of Iron).
Order of Battle Loaded (Silessian Confederacy).
Order of Battle Loaded (Independent System of Solus).
Order of Battle Loaded (Zolon Empire).
Loading Form 'MenuDlg'
Loading Form 'ExitDlg'
Loading Form 'AudDlg'
Loading Form 'CtlDlg'
Loading Form 'OptDlg'
Loading Form 'VidDlg'
Loading Form 'ModDlg'
Loading Form 'TacRefDlg'
Loading Form 'CmpSelectDlg'
Loading Form 'NetLobbyDlg'
Loading Form 'NetClientDlg'
Loading Form 'NetServerDlg'
Loading Form 'NetUnitDlg'
Loading Form 'NetAddrDlg'
Loading Form 'NetPassDlg'
Loading Form 'MsnEditDlg'
Loading Form 'MsnEditNavDlg'
Loading Form 'MsnElemDlg'
Loading Form 'MsnEventDlg'
Loading Form 'MsnSelectDlg'
Loading Form 'PlayerDlg'
Loading Form 'AwardDlg'
Loading Form 'JoyDlg'
Loading Form 'KeyDlg'
Loading Form 'FirstTimeDlg'
Loading Form 'ModInfoDlg'
Loading Form 'ConfirmDlg'
Loading Form 'LoadDlg'
MusicDirector::SetMode() old: NONE  new: INTRO
Opened Ogg Bitstream 'Music/Intro/SS_TGS_Main-Theme.ogg'
Sony Ogg Vorbis 1.0 Final
Bitstream is 2 channel, 44100Hz
Decoded length: 6210849 samples
Encoded by: Xiph.Org libVorbis I 20020717
MusicDirector::SetMode() old: INTRO  new: MENU
Opened Ogg Bitstream 'Music/Menu/SS_TGS_Temp_Menu-Loop.ogg'
Sony Ogg Vorbis 1.0 Final
Bitstream is 2 channel, 44100Hz
Decoded length: 4762729 samples
Encoded by: Xiph.Org libVorbis I 20020717
Campaign: Selected 'Operation Nightfall'
-------------------------
LOADING SAVEGAME (Nightfall Day 15 (Xanthe)).
Order of Battle Loaded (Terellian Alliance).
Order of Battle Loaded (Marakan Hegemony).
Order of Battle Loaded (Zolon Empire).
WARNING - DataLoader could not load bitmap 'Campaigns/05/Actions/banner-alliance.pcx'
Campaign::Start()
Campaign::SetPlayerUnit(Devastator)
  destroying mission list...
SAVEGAME LOADED (Nightfall Day 15 (Xanthe)).

-----------------------------------------------
CMS CreateMission() request: Patrol (no target)
WARNING - DataLoader could not load buffer 'Ships/Marakan_Ships/Hulk-Volnaris.mag'
MAG Open Failed:  could not open file 'Hulk-Volnaris.mag'
ERROR: Could not load detail 0, model 'Hulk-Volnaris.mag'
WARNING - DataLoader could not load buffer 'Ships/Marakan_Ships/Hulk-Frigate.def'
Loading ShipDesign 'Orion'
   Ship Design Radius = 4906.457520
Loading ShipDesign 'Courageous'
   Ship Design Radius = 1719.520996
Loading ShipDesign 'Asher'
   Ship Design Radius = 1550.380371
Loading ShipDesign 'Falcon'
   Ship Design Radius = 50.249485
   Loaded cockpit model 'FalconPit.mag', preparing tangents
Loading ShipDesign 'Stormhawk'
   Ship Design Radius = 53.858109
   Loaded cockpit model 'StormPit2b.mag', preparing tangents
Loading ShipDesign 'Eagle'
   Ship Design Radius = 60.355484
   Loaded cockpit model 'EaglePit2t.mag', preparing tangents
Loading ShipDesign 'Thunderbolt'
   Ship Design Radius = 61.936596
   Loaded cockpit model 'BoltPit2a.mag', preparing tangents
Loading ShipDesign 'Zodiac'
   Ship Design Radius = 167.549774
Loading ShipDesign 'Devastator'
   Ship Design Radius = 2238.863525
Loading ShipDesign 'Spectre'
   Ship Design Radius = 1634.010254
Loading ShipDesign 'Berents'
   Ship Design Radius = 1020.568115
CMS Created 001 'MSN-001 Patrol' Patrol
Campaign: Selected 'Operation Nightfall'
VideoDX9::RecoverSurfaces()
* Invalidating Texture Cache
* Vid Mem Free: 163577856
* Recover Surfaces Complete.
>>> Starshatter::SetGameMode(1) (CLOD_MODE)
Loading Form 'LoadDlg'
Loading Form 'CmpLoadDlg'
Loading ShipDesign 'Station1'
   Ship Design Radius = 6720.016602
Loading ShipDesign 'Station2'
   Ship Design Radius = 10218.046875
Loading ShipDesign 'Station3'
   Ship Design Radius = 13269.809570
Loading ShipDesign 'Station6'
   Ship Design Radius = 11413.044922
Loading ShipDesign 'Observatory'
   Ship Design Radius = 5599.141602
Loading ShipDesign 'Farcaster'
   Ship Design Radius = 4411.073730
Campaign::Start()
>>> Starshatter::SetGameMode(2) (CMPN_MODE)
Loading Form 'CmdOrdersDlg'
Loading Form 'CmdForceDlg'
Loading Form 'CmdTheaterDlg'
Loading Form 'CmdIntelDlg'
Loading Form 'CmdMissionsDlg'
Loading Form 'FileDlg'
Loading Form 'CmdMsgDlg'
Loading Form 'CmpCompleteDlg'
Loading Form 'CmpSceneDlg'
  CMD::Accept Mission 1
Campaign::SetMissionId(1)
Campaign::GetMission(1) generating sitrep...

Campaign Start Mission - 1. 'MSN-001 Patrol'
  current time:  Day 15 02:59:45
  mission start: Day 15 03:00:00
>>> Starshatter::SetGameMode(3) (PREP_MODE)
Loading Explosion Defs 'Explosions.def'
>>> Starshatter::SetGameMode(4) (PLAN_MODE)
Loading Form 'MsnObjDlg'
Loading Form 'MsnPkgDlg'
Loading Form 'MsnNavDlg'
Loading Form 'MsnWepDlg'
Loading Form 'AwardDlg'
Loading Form 'DebriefDlg'
MsnDlg::Show() mission id = 1 name = 'MSN-001 Patrol'
MsnDlg::Show() mission id = 1 name = 'MSN-001 Patrol'
>>> Starshatter::SetGameMode(5) (LOAD_MODE)
Loading Form 'AudDlg'
Loading Form 'CtlDlg'
Loading Form 'OptDlg'
Loading Form 'VidDlg'
Loading Form 'ModDlg'
Loading Form 'JoyDlg'
Loading Form 'KeyDlg'
Loading Form 'ModInfoDlg'
Loading Form 'NavDlg'
Loading Form 'EngDlg'
Loading Form 'FltDlg'
  World Created.
Exec Mission: 'MSN-001 Patrol'
Creating Star System Marak
Celestial Sphere 'stars.mag' loaded
   radius: 19808.375000
Point Stars: 500
Nebular Sky 'Nebula-Marak.mag' loaded
   radius: 18296.201172
   constructing Planet patch Suns/F8.pcx
   constructing Planet patch Marak/marak_hi.jpg
   loading gloss texture Marak/marak_gloss.jpg
   loading atmospheric limb texture PlanetLimb.pcx
   constructing Planet patch Moons/Moon3.jpg
Inserting Ship(Unknown) into Region(Marak) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Unknown) into Region(Marak) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Unknown) into Region(Marak) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Unknown) into Region(Marak) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Unknown) into Region(Marak) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Unknown) into Region(Marak) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Unknown) into Region(Marak) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Unknown) into Region(Marak) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Unknown) into Region(Marak) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Unknown) into Region(Marak) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(ZD01) into Region(Marak) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(ZD02) into Region(Marak) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(ZD03) into Region(Marak) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(ZD04) into Region(Marak) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(ZF01) into Region(Marak) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(ZF02) into Region(Marak) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Orion) into Region(Xanthe) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Courageous) into Region(Xanthe) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Asher) into Region(Xanthe) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Devastator) into Region(Xanthe) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Steadfast) into Region(Xanthe) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Dauntless) into Region(Xanthe) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Havoc) into Region(Xanthe) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Braveheart) into Region(Xanthe) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Spectre) into Region(Xanthe) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Charon) into Region(Xanthe) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Robinson) into Region(Xanthe) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Sorrel) into Region(Xanthe) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Antares) into Region(Xanthe) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Fearless) into Region(Xanthe) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Ryan) into Region(Xanthe) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Annihilator) into Region(Xanthe) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Assurance) into Region(Xanthe) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Vanguard) into Region(Xanthe) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Gibson) into Region(Xanthe) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Vortex) into Region(Xanthe) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Defiant) into Region(Xanthe) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Capable) into Region(Xanthe) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Mahan) into Region(Xanthe) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Wraith) into Region(Xanthe) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Nemesis) into Region(Xanthe) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Unknown) into Region(Xanthe) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Unknown) into Region(Xanthe) (00:04.117)
Inserting Ship(Unknown) into Region(Xanthe) (00:04.117)
  Mission Instantiated.
>>> Starshatter::SetGameMode(6) (PLAY_MODE)
  Starting Game...
  Stardate: 1090269270.7
MusicDirector::SetMode() old: MENU  new: FLIGHT
Opened Ogg Bitstream 'Music/Flight/SS_TGS_Flight-loop-1.ogg'
Sony Ogg Vorbis 1.0 Final
Bitstream is 2 channel, 44100Hz
Decoded length: 8996400 samples
Encoded by: Xiph.Org libVorbis I 20020717
Inserting Ship(Tigers) into Region(Xanthe) (00:24.041)
Inserting Ship(Tigers) into Region(Xanthe) (00:24.041)
Inserting Ship(Pirates) into Region(Xanthe) (00:24.041)
Inserting Ship(Pirates) into Region(Xanthe) (00:24.041)
Inserting Ship(Bearcats) into Region(Xanthe) (00:24.041)
Inserting Ship(Bearcats) into Region(Xanthe) (00:24.041)
Inserting Ship(Vipers) into Region(Xanthe) (00:24.041)
Inserting Ship(Vipers) into Region(Xanthe) (00:24.041)
Inserting Ship(Pirates) into Region(Xanthe) (00:24.041)
Inserting Ship(Vipers) into Region(Xanthe) (00:24.041)
Inserting Ship(Pirates) into Region(Xanthe) (00:24.041)
Inserting Ship(Vipers) into Region(Xanthe) (00:24.041)
  TIME     1:00
Inserting Ship(Pirates) into Region(Xanthe) (05:47.192)
Inserting Ship(Pirates) into Region(Xanthe) (06:02.239)
Inserting Ship(Pirates) into Region(Xanthe) (06:02.911)
Inserting Ship(Pirates) into Region(Xanthe) (06:02.911)
*********************************************
FATAL EXCEPTION:
Registers:
EAX:    00000000
EBX:    212d2050
ECX:    212d2050
EDX:    00701500
EDI:    0012fb50
ESI:    22abaf48
EBP:    0012fb10
CS:EIP: 001b:004f8547
SS:ESP: 0023:0012fa44
DS:     0023
ES:     0023
FS:     003b
GS:     0000
Flags:  00010202
Exception Code:  c0000005 ACCESS_VIOLATION
Exception Addr:  004f8547
                 Program attempted to READ from address 0x0000002c
Loaded IMAGEHLP.DLL
Stack Trace (Symbolic):
Address   Frame
004f8547  0012fb10  0001:000F7547 D:\games\Starshatter The Gathering Storm\Starshatter-TheGatheringStorm.exe
0052935d  212d2050  0001:0012835D D:\games\Starshatter The Gathering Storm\Starshatter-TheGatheringStorm.exe
*********************************************
PROGRAM TERMINATED.

[John DiCamillo]

The error log helps, but not enough.  Can you send me a save game from just prior to the crash so I can reproduce the issue on my system?  Just email it to milo@starshatter.com

Thanks!

[craby44]

Milo,
 
I've emailed the file.  Thanks again,

[craby44]

Milo,
 
I've been trying to mail that file for 2 days, but it keeps being bounced by the host as a spam message.  I've tried both of my email accounts, and also zipped the file up, but it's a no go.
 
Can I get it to you some other way?
 
regards,

[BradMick]

Thought i'd add that I too have run into this issue.

[John DiCamillo]

ORIGINAL:  craby44
Can I get it to you some other way?

You should be able to attach a zip file to a post in this message forum.  

Someone else sent me a save game that shows a crash in that campaign, and I've fixed that problem.  I'm guessing it's the same one you are experiencing, but it's hard to be certain without the data.

[Bryax]

I, too have just come upon this issue.

[Nerevarine]

Me too. Same thing happening. Kinda sucks, I got so far into the game and now this crash. I gotta play something else in the meantime...and I don't want to!

[Nerevarine]

I patched the game too. what gives. Basically, I get a patrol mission, there's some asteroids around. I hit the two nav points but pretty much 10seconds into the game. CRASH.

Can't email a saved game as there is no email address for Starshatter Support. I'd attach a .zip of a saved but it links to my computer (example: "c:/matrixgames/savedgames/...etc.") so forget that.

[Player 5]

yea, i think most, if not all people who play this experience this, and it seems to be triggered, as has been stated, by the unknowns being fired upon

[BlackAngel]

I just sent two saved missions that are will show what is going on and what mission it is that is failing. I hope to get a reply soon, but judging from the lack of positive reports in this forum I will not hold my breath.
Too bad too as I just bought the game two days ago and can't imagine why a game that has been around for so long is still having these issues.

[John DiCamillo]

I sent you a response via email on 4/11 - did you get a chance to try out my suggestions yet?