Returned to Game Menu after Movie

[Noypi53]

I've installed both PC Winter Storm & PC Kharkov without any problems. When I tried to run PC Kharkov, I was returned to the game menu. I also tried to run PC WS & got the same result ... back to the game menu after the movie intro.

Attached is the log of my latest attempt to run PC K. I'm not very technical so I can't really understand what's wrong. I've tried all sort of settings combinations from the very basic setup to a very demanding setup. All the same result.

I've run more graphics intensive games on this unit (NWN2, Oblivion, etc.) & have never come up against this problem.

Any help would be appreciated.

Noypi53

[Erik Rutins]

Hi,

I can't open your log (can you paste the contents into a post)? But what you describe sounds like you skipped installing some of the required components (.NET and DirectX).

Can you go to the /redist sub-folder of your Kharkov installation and double click on each of the following in turn and allow them to install, then see if that resolves the issue?

dotnetfx

dxsetup

mdxredist

mdxredist102004

Regards,

- Erik

[Noypi53]

Hi Erik!

I clicked on the files you mentioned but still got the same result.  I uninstalled both PC WS & PC K from my 2nd HD & installed just PC WS in my drive C.  Same result ... being returned to the game menu.

I clicked on the files you mentioned in PC WS's redist directory & tried running the program again.  Again, same result.

Below is what was in my log file after this attempt:

18-Apr-08 22:28:49: ******************** New Game *******************
18-Apr-08 22:28:49: Current Directory: C:\Matrix Games\Panzer Command Operation Winter Storm
18-Apr-08 22:28:49: OS Version: Microsoft Windows NT 5.1.2600.0
18-Apr-08 22:28:49: CodeBase: file:///C:/Matrix Games/Panzer Command Operation Winter Storm/PCOWS.exe
18-Apr-08 22:28:49: Assembly Name: PCOWS, Version=1.1.3.18704, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null
18-Apr-08 22:28:49: Managed DirectX:
18-Apr-08 22:28:49: Microsoft.DirectX, Version=1.0.2902.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35
18-Apr-08 22:28:49: Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3DX, Version=1.0.2906.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35
18-Apr-08 22:28:49: Microsoft.DirectX.DirectInput, Version=1.0.2902.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35
18-Apr-08 22:29:09: Loading Guns...
18-Apr-08 22:29:09: Loading Armoured Units...
18-Apr-08 22:29:10: Loading Infantry...
18-Apr-08 22:29:10: Loading Scenarios...
18-Apr-08 22:29:10: Loading Campaigns...
18-Apr-08 22:29:10: Loading Tables...
18-Apr-08 22:29:10: Assembly Name: Lib, Version=1.1.3.18702, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null
18-Apr-08 22:29:10: Graphics format: X8R8G8B8
18-Apr-08 22:29:10: DeviceIdentifier: d7b71e3e-4551-11cf-9869-372503c2cb35
WhqlLevel: 0
Revision: 162
SubSystemId: 87822558
DeviceId: 1553
VendorId: 4318
DriverVersion: 6.14.11.6902
DeviceName: \\.\DISPLAY1
Description: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT
DriverName: nv4_disp.dll

18-Apr-08 22:29:10: Manager Adapter value: 0
18-Apr-08 22:29:10: Create device.

18-Apr-08 22:29:10: HardwareVertexProcessing
18-Apr-08 22:29:10: MultiSampleQuality: 0
PresentationInterval: Immediate
FullScreenRefreshRateInHz: 60
PresentFlag: None
AutoDepthStencilFormat: D16
EnableAutoDepthStencil: True
Windowed: False
DeviceWindowHandle: 0
DeviceWindow:
SwapEffect: Discard
MultiSample: None
BackBufferCount: 1
BackBufferFormat: X8R8G8B8
BackBufferHeight: 1024
BackBufferWidth: 1280
ForceNoMultiThreadedFlag: False

18-Apr-08 22:29:10: Create Flags: HardwareVertexProcessing
18-Apr-08 22:29:10: Device Type: Hardware
18-Apr-08 22:29:13: System.InvalidOperationException: Specified IComparer threw an exception. ---> System.FormatException: String was not recognized as a valid DateTime.
   at System.DateTimeParse.GetDayOfNNY(DateTimeResult result, DateTimeRawInfo raw, DateTimeFormatInfo dtfi)
   at System.DateTimeParse.ProcessTerminaltState(Int32 dps, DateTimeResult result, DateTimeRawInfo raw, DateTimeFormatInfo dtfi)
   at System.DateTimeParse.Parse(String s, DateTimeFormatInfo dtfi, DateTimeStyles styles)
   at System.DateTime.Parse(String s, IFormatProvider provider, DateTimeStyles styles)
   at System.DateTime.Parse(String s, IFormatProvider provider)
   at GameLib.BattleEngine.Data.ScenarioComparer.Compare(Object x, Object y)
   at System.SorterObjectArray.QuickSort(Int32 left, Int32 right)
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
   at System.SorterObjectArray.QuickSort(Int32 left, Int32 right)
   at System.Array.Sort(Array keys, Array items, Int32 index, Int32 length, IComparer comparer)
   at System.Collections.ArrayList.Sort(Int32 index, Int32 count, IComparer comparer)
   at System.Collections.ArrayList.Sort(IComparer comparer)
   at GameLib.Mainmenu.SetBattle.LoadResources()
   at GameLib.GameState.MainmenuStateMachine.Startup()
   at GameLib.GameState.MainMenu.OnEnter()
   at GameLib.GameState.GameStateMachine..ctor()
   at MainClass..ctor(CommandLine commandLine)
   at MainClass.Main(String[] args)
18-Apr-08 22:29:13:



18-Apr-08 22:31:58: ******************** New Game *******************
18-Apr-08 22:31:58: Current Directory: C:\Matrix Games\Panzer Command Operation Winter Storm
18-Apr-08 22:31:58: OS Version: Microsoft Windows NT 5.1.2600.0
18-Apr-08 22:31:58: CodeBase: file:///C:/Matrix Games/Panzer Command Operation Winter Storm/PCOWS.exe
18-Apr-08 22:31:58: Assembly Name: PCOWS, Version=1.1.3.18704, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null
18-Apr-08 22:31:58: Managed DirectX:
18-Apr-08 22:31:58: Microsoft.DirectX, Version=1.0.2902.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35
18-Apr-08 22:31:58: Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3DX, Version=1.0.2906.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35
18-Apr-08 22:31:58: Microsoft.DirectX.DirectInput, Version=1.0.2902.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35
18-Apr-08 22:32:12: Loading Guns...
18-Apr-08 22:32:12: Loading Armoured Units...
18-Apr-08 22:32:12: Loading Infantry...
18-Apr-08 22:32:12: Loading Scenarios...
18-Apr-08 22:32:12: Loading Campaigns...
18-Apr-08 22:32:12: Loading Tables...
18-Apr-08 22:32:12: Assembly Name: Lib, Version=1.1.3.18702, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=null
18-Apr-08 22:32:13: Graphics format: X8R8G8B8
18-Apr-08 22:32:13: DeviceIdentifier: d7b71e3e-4551-11cf-9869-372503c2cb35
WhqlLevel: 0
Revision: 162
SubSystemId: 87822558
DeviceId: 1553
VendorId: 4318
DriverVersion: 6.14.11.6902
DeviceName: \\.\DISPLAY1
Description: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT
DriverName: nv4_disp.dll

18-Apr-08 22:32:13: Manager Adapter value: 0
18-Apr-08 22:32:13: Create device.

18-Apr-08 22:32:13: HardwareVertexProcessing
18-Apr-08 22:32:13: MultiSampleQuality: 0
PresentationInterval: Immediate
FullScreenRefreshRateInHz: 60
PresentFlag: None
AutoDepthStencilFormat: D16
EnableAutoDepthStencil: True
Windowed: False
DeviceWindowHandle: 0
DeviceWindow:
SwapEffect: Discard
MultiSample: None
BackBufferCount: 1
BackBufferFormat: X8R8G8B8
BackBufferHeight: 1024
BackBufferWidth: 1280
ForceNoMultiThreadedFlag: False

18-Apr-08 22:32:13: Create Flags: HardwareVertexProcessing
18-Apr-08 22:32:13: Device Type: Hardware
18-Apr-08 22:32:14: System.InvalidOperationException: Specified IComparer threw an exception. ---> System.FormatException: String was not recognized as a valid DateTime.
   at System.DateTimeParse.GetDayOfNNY(DateTimeResult result, DateTimeRawInfo raw, DateTimeFormatInfo dtfi)
   at System.DateTimeParse.ProcessTerminaltState(Int32 dps, DateTimeResult result, DateTimeRawInfo raw, DateTimeFormatInfo dtfi)
   at System.DateTimeParse.Parse(String s, DateTimeFormatInfo dtfi, DateTimeStyles styles)
   at System.DateTime.Parse(String s, IFormatProvider provider, DateTimeStyles styles)
   at System.DateTime.Parse(String s, IFormatProvider provider)
   at GameLib.BattleEngine.Data.ScenarioComparer.Compare(Object x, Object y)
   at System.SorterObjectArray.QuickSort(Int32 left, Int32 right)
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
   at System.SorterObjectArray.QuickSort(Int32 left, Int32 right)
   at System.Array.Sort(Array keys, Array items, Int32 index, Int32 length, IComparer comparer)
   at System.Collections.ArrayList.Sort(Int32 index, Int32 count, IComparer comparer)
   at System.Collections.ArrayList.Sort(IComparer comparer)
   at GameLib.Mainmenu.SetBattle.LoadResources()
   at GameLib.GameState.MainmenuStateMachine.Startup()
   at GameLib.GameState.MainMenu.OnEnter()
   at GameLib.GameState.GameStateMachine..ctor()
   at MainClass..ctor(CommandLine commandLine)
   at MainClass.Main(String[] args)
18-Apr-08 22:32:14:


Hope the above is of help.  Thanks in advance.

Best regards, Noypi53

[Erik Rutins]

It seems it's having an issue with your date/time format. What regional settings are you running? Have you tried switching to US English?

Could you post a DxDiag as well?

[Noypi53]

I use the 24-hour format for time (2 PM = 14:00) & use the European format for dates (April 18, 2008 = 18 April 2008).  I do use US English for the language.

Where / How can I find the DxDiag?

Thanks,
Noypi53

[Erik Rutins]

ORIGINAL: Noypi53
I use the 24-hour format for time (2 PM = 14:00) & use the European format for dates (April 18, 2008 = 18 April 2008).  I do use US English for the language.

Try switching to the US format temporarily to see if that resolves this.

Where / How can I find the DxDiag?

Please see the pinned instructions on that at the top of this forum.

[Noypi53]

Finally got both PC WS & PC K to run by changing the date & time formats to the US format as you suggested!  Many thanks!

Noypi53

P.S. You may want to give your European customers a heads up on this in case they are using European date & time formats as well.

[Erik Rutins]

Thanks, we do list this in our FAQ in this forum, but we are still working to duplicate the exact cause as simply changing the date/time format here doesn't generate the issue. I hope to have this fully resolve for the first update.

[Noypi53]

Erik,

My computer's time zone is set for Hong Kong. Maybe a combination of the time zone & the European time / date formats may duplicate the problem. Just a suggestion.

Best regards,
Noypi53

[Erik Rutins]

Thanks, we did figure out the cause and it's already fixed for the first update. The problem was that a single registry entry that is created when the game is first run was not handling _some_ international combinations well. It's all fixed up now, I'll be able to share the fix in the next beta update, but FYI once you've gotten past it you can switch back to the non-US settings with no further issue.