Error log

[Pen]

This seems to be the best place I can find to report this crash report.

Console started
UFO:Extraterrestrials game engine v 1.0 - Apr 15 2007, 11:17:11
Initializing filesys
[00:00:00.000] Creating main window
[00:00:00.023] Switching console to window output
[00:00:00.023] Loading configuration from data\ufo-et.ini
[00:00:00.024] Initializing events
[00:00:00.024] Initializing graphics
[00:00:00.029] Vertex shader version: 3.0
[00:00:00.029] Pixel shader version: 3.0
[00:00:00.031] Antialiasing enabled - Samples: 2, Quality: 0
[00:00:00.459] HLSL shader 'shaders\tree.fxs' is using technique: T0 (Passes: 1)
[00:00:00.501] HLSL shader 'shaders\planetselect.fxs' is using technique: TEsperanzaSelect20 (Passes: 1)
[00:00:00.524] HLSL shader 'shaders\earth.fxs' is using technique: TEarth20 (Passes: 1)
[00:00:00.546] HLSL shader 'shaders\instancing.fxs' is using technique: TInstancing11 (Passes: 1)
[00:00:00.548] HLSL shader 'shaders\bullet.fxs' is using technique: T0 (Passes: 1)
[00:00:00.550] HLSL shader 'shaders\fire.fxs' is using technique: T0 (Passes: 1)
[00:00:00.566] HLSL shader 'shaders\atm.fxs' is using technique: TAtmosphere14 (Passes: 1)
[00:00:00.599] HLSL shader 'shaders\planet.fxs' is using technique: TEsperanzaStates20 (Passes: 1)
[00:00:00.599] Pixel shaders loaded: 1
[00:00:00.599] Vertex shaders loaded: 1
[00:00:00.599] Effect shaders loaded: 8
[00:00:00.599] Switching console to graphic output
[00:00:00.625] Initializing input
[00:00:00.651] Initializing scripts
[00:00:02.510] Version EN-20070418
[00:00:02.802] Loaded texture set: nodxtc (2)
[00:00:03.043] Loaded texture set: globe (15)
[00:00:04.075] Initialization done
[00:00:36.000] Loading game, slot1
[00:00:37.792] opening pack police
[00:00:40.791] 18.May 2109 Game started
[00:00:44.239] Loading mission terrain: levels\police level:level_1_d file: police
[00:00:54.666] WARNING: game::CShadowManager Can't load lightmaps.
[00:01:08.838] Texture Memory Usage: 88 957 KB
[00:02:08.053] Starting computer turn 1
[00:02:36.547] Finished computer turn
[00:03:33.692] Starting computer turn 2
[00:03:49.242] Finished computer turn
[00:04:37.209] Starting computer turn 3
[00:04:54.580] Finished computer turn
[00:05:32.750] Starting computer turn 4
[00:06:07.318] Finished computer turn
[00:11:05.245] Starting computer turn 5
[00:11:21.707] Finished computer turn
[00:15:17.806] Starting computer turn 6
[00:15:26.066] Finished computer turn
[00:16:17.756] Starting computer turn 7
[00:16:27.255] Finished computer turn
[00:16:57.638] Starting computer turn 8
[00:17:15.976] Finished computer turn
[00:17:47.148] Starting computer turn 9
[00:17:53.156] Soldier lost Greg Simpson
[00:17:59.440] Finished computer turn
[00:19:05.735] Starting computer turn 10
[00:19:19.466] Finished computer turn
[00:20:08.705] Starting computer turn 11
[00:20:24.604] Finished computer turn
[00:20:30.312] Starting computer turn 12
[00:20:45.196] Finished computer turn
[00:20:47.471] Starting computer turn 13
[00:20:53.565] Finished computer turn
[00:21:39.664] Starting computer turn 14
[00:21:46.183] Finished computer turn
[00:22:48.923] Error from frame call Can't calculate length of null list.
[00:22:48.923] placeGroundItemBillboard (inv.xscr 886:5)
createItemOnGround (inv.xscr 819:49)
putItemOnGround (inv.xscr 841:43)
bulletExplosion (combat.xscr 2070:24)
bulletOnDeath (combat.xscr 2026:64)
bulletFrameUpdate (combat.xscr 1990:26)

[00:23:04.690] Starting computer turn 15
[00:23:16.652] Finished computer turn
[00:24:26.616] Starting computer turn 16
[00:24:36.393] Finished computer turn
[00:25:06.988] Error from frame call Can't calculate length of null list.
[00:25:06.988] placeGroundItemBillboard (inv.xscr 886:5)
createItemOnGround (inv.xscr 819:49)
putItemOnGround (inv.xscr 841:43)
bulletExplosion (combat.xscr 2070:24)
bulletOnDeath (combat.xscr 2026:64)
bulletFrameUpdate (combat.xscr 1990:26)

[00:25:24.897] Starting computer turn 17
[00:25:30.539] Finished computer turn
[00:26:20.251] Starting computer turn 18
[00:26:26.236] Finished computer turn
[00:26:57.356] Starting computer turn 19
[00:27:02.977] Finished computer turn
[00:27:43.506] Starting computer turn 20
[00:27:50.935] Finished computer turn
[00:28:23.754] Starting computer turn 21
[00:28:45.690] Finished computer turn
[00:29:40.090] Soldier lost Brian Smith
[00:30:31.096] Starting computer turn 22
[00:30:36.743] Finished computer turn
[00:30:52.716] WARNIG: Can't delete object from sorted group.
[00:30:57.465] Starting computer turn 23
[00:31:08.581] Finished computer turn
[00:31:41.910] Starting computer turn 24
[00:31:52.740] Finished computer turn
[00:32:20.874] Starting computer turn 25
[00:32:52.359] Finished computer turn
[00:32:57.350] Starting computer turn 26
[00:33:08.743] Finished computer turn
[00:33:40.193] Starting computer turn 27
[00:33:40.195] Leaving mission, we WON
[00:33:40.881] Closing pack police
[00:34:34.944] Saving game, slot0
[00:34:39.351] 18.May 2109 refueling of ship Raptor 3 on base Main Base is finished.
[00:36:10.452] 18.May 2109 AKEW pistol (personal weapon) researched.
[00:39:05.939] Rect is 2.000000 2.000000 3.000000 3.000000
[00:42:03.819] 19.May 2109 refueling of ship Raider 1 on base Main Base is finished.
[00:42:03.912] 19.May 2109 AKEW rifle (personal weapon) researched.
[00:42:46.224] 20.May 2109 Plasma cannon produced.
[00:43:34.030] 20.May 2109 rearming of ship Lightning 1 on base 0 is finished.
[00:43:34.722] 20.May 2109 AKEW cannon (ship cannon) researched.
[00:44:14.681] 22.May 2109 AKEW defense researched.
[00:46:57.730] 23.May 2109 Thunderbolt (ship rocket) researched.
[00:48:34.996] 23.May 2109 AKEW pistol produced.
[00:49:03.459] 23.May 2109 AKEW rifle ammo produced.
[00:49:42.641] Can't read property. ship doesn't exists.(globe\globegui.xscr 2197:77)
[00:49:42.641] createGlobeShipButtons (globe\globegui.xscr 2197:39)
recreateGlobeShipButtons (globe\globegui.xscr 2339:27)
clickedOnObject (globe\globe.xscr 3673:66)
confirmStartingTransports (globe\globe.xscr 4874:28)
globeMouseButtonReleased (globe\globe.xscr 1656:46)

[00:49:42.642] Int values:5
Float values:2
String values:5
Bool values:2
Object values:7
List values:2
Null values:2

[00:49:42.646] Waiting for sounds to stop playing
[00:49:43.184] Done waiting for messages.
[00:49:43.619] scripts done
[00:49:43.619] Switching console to window output
[00:49:44.029] graphics done
[00:49:44.115] input done
[00:49:44.116] event done
[00:49:44.118] Exiting with error

[Pen]

2nd error report for the day...

This problem has no log report. It happened also a few days ago earlier in the game. I am not able to save the game from August 1, '09. I believe the earlier instance was for Jan 1, '09. the last game I was able to save is July 18th of 2109. Is this a common problem?[&:]

Last time I tried playing for a few more battles but never did regain the ability to save, so reverted to the last possible save time and downloaded the latest patch, thinking that might solve the problem - and it did seem to for 8 months of play. But the problem has reoccured.

I like the game and it is almost as good as the original X-COM with much better graphics. But the non-save problem is a big one and I hope there is a solution.

EDIT: I checked later in the day for a new version, found one and downloaded it. There is now an autosave but I'm not sure what triggers it. I've tried it for a few game days, but now can save no further than the August 1, '09 Autosave date.

EDIT: I found a work-around. I started a new game and was able to save in that with no problem. After playing that for a while, I went back to game #1. That now allowed saves, and it has done so well since, with just one episode of stickiness. I seem to be talking to myself here, but perhaps this might help someone else who encounters the "unable-to-save" problem.