CTD: when moving task pointers

[GoodGuy]

Well....

I use to move a unit's task pointer most of the time, in order to reduce the clickology (since hitting the appropriate task button in the menu each time would be pretty cumbersome, especially with a larger amount of detached units), and I get CTDs on a regular basis again, that way.

It seems that disabling the use of "in-situ" formation combined with attack-tasks reduced the amount of crashes for me (I used that combo pretty often), plus the player can't "cheat" that way anymore (means he can't aggressively drive his tired forces to desired locations anymore - which is good, it was pretty unrealistic, although i loved to use it), but it just treated the symptoms obviously, as CTDs still happen, with defend tasks and move tasks, even with attack tasks at times.
I can't get help thinking that it happens if you move the tasks often, and on quite some occasions when moving tasks of tired units.

If I'm not mistaken, the patch fixed the silly behaviour where every task that had been moved was switched to "undefined" on dropping (releasing the mouse button) the task, automatically - that was extremely disturbing if playing with order delay, as the game had to be paused each time one wanted to move a task, in order NOT to shove the (undesired) "undefined" route into the order queue.

.... I'm happy that this has been fixed, since the current state allows for a fast paced commander "workflow" again. [:)]
Getting rid of this silly feature got us back to the old state tho, it seems, since CTDs increased again, at least on my end.
Initially, I thought the CTDs rather occur if playing on "fast", but it also happens when playing on "real" time (I tend to think that it only occurs regulary on real time after one has played an extensive period at "fast" speed, though).... anyway, it's like that since HTTR.

It would be nice if you could investigate this finally and maybe even fix it. It's pretty disturbing, even with autosave enabled.

[Arjuna]

GoodGuy,
 
Not seeing that behaviour here. Can you please provide a saved game and describe specifically the steps ( ie I dragged this task icon to X location etc ). I'll then look into it.

[GoodGuy]

Well, I remember you asking me b4 to deliver a savegame for this same type of CTD in this forum, within the first few weeks after Cota hit the shelf, IIRC, and I remember that I told u that it's pretty easy to repeat it, PLUS I told you how to trigger it.

I am not sure if a savegame will be helpful here, since you could load this savegame and play without any CTD for ages, possibly .....anyway, I'll send a savegame along with instructions about how I think the CTD gets triggered.

[Arjuna]

GoodGuy,
 
I suspect there is something not quite right with your system. See my response here: http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=1283576&mpage=1&#1283750
 
I could be wrong but we have not received any other reports of this behaviour since Patch 1 went out. Has anyone else noticed this?
 
 

[Arjuna]

GoodGuy,
 
Are you playing with orders delay when this occurs?

[GoodGuy]

Scenario: Elasson Rear Guard.

I played this yesterday, after my "DX" test on the Malta scenario.....2 minutes into the game: CTD on moving a task pointer.

I was playing at "normal" game speed, and I had to move around a defend task several times, taking enemy movement into account. CTD after 3rd or 4th "drag+drop"-action.

Painfully realistic order delay. No savegame. I tend to think it mostly happens if playing without any order delay, though. I'll do some more testing.

[Arjuna]

GoodGuy,
 
What is the game and real time difference between drags? Are we talking like constantly moving the order icon or is there many minutes of game time elapsed before you drag again?

[GoodGuy]

Constantly moving order icons ! Real time difference could be anything between 4 seconds and like let's say 5-20 seconds......and even minutes. Also, that does not necessarily mean that I'm moving the icon of the same unit each time.

Just got another CTD on "Spartans at the Pass", i did not move any icon for like 5 mins, then i moved one icon woooop CTD even before i could drop it. Painfully realistic order delay now, so it's not like it's happening in games with zero order delay only.

[Arjuna]

GoodGuy,
 
None of my testers, nor I, have been able to get this to repeat. This includes those with 64 bit processors - see James Sterret's post here: http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=1283576&mpage=1&key=&#1285170
 
If we cannot get it to repeat we can't fix it. I strongly suspect it's something with your rig. I know you maybe reluctant to hear that, but did you try disabling your sound card? Did it make a difference?

[GoodGuy]

ORIGINAL: Arjuna

GoodGuy,

See my post in the Support forum. Re sound card. Could you please physically remove the card and test?

Will do this tomorrow. Gonna disable it first, then I'll have a run with the card removed.

Re freezes. Basic hw acceleration in the DX setup delivers the best results (same for 3D-FPS, usually). Best result was like 3-5 sec freezes every now and then. Worst: 15-20 seconds.
Full hardware acceleration would bring back those kinda freezes that last for up to several minutes, ZERO acceleration would make the msg sounds (the "bing") squeaky (sounds like a sick/low quality EAX effect, a bit like a metallic delay, when the "bing" fades away). My guess is that ZERO accel. means that sound will be processed by software (cpu)?

[Arjuna]

GoodGuy,
 
5 second delays every now and then sounds normal - due to planning ( well aminly route finding ). 20 seconds is still a bit long IMO but it may do so on some of the really complex terrain maps like Pindos. The behaviour you describe with the acceleration settings and its impact on sound is weird. Anyone else experience anything like this?