Matrix Games Forums

Sorry - could not find a thread specific to this problem.

Is there any known issue with Alt+Tabbing or coming back to a session after leaving it alone for a while?

Typically the game is fine if I play and don't Alt Tab or minimize and come back later but sometimes it creates this odd

effect where the hexes are all oddly mirrored or it goes to a white screen.

From there I needed to exit and reload.

Any insights would be appreciated.

run the game as admin, then you shouldn't have any issues on alt tabbing in or out on most games, but not all, some don't like it at all, then a solution is run as admin but also alter to windowed mode so yes a slight border then technically your not alt tabbing in or out just selecting other items off the task bar[;)]

Ok thanks - it is in the Task Bar already and is not full screen - it takes up the whole screen except the task bar.

The odd hex shimmering / replicating thing / or white screen happens when selecting from the task bar as well - just like an Alt + Tab

As far as the run as Admin part - are you suggesting this for the JTS CS launcher or to find the specific EF executable and run that as Admin?

for me either, as if you use the shortcut, it adds it to the game anyway on launch.

it may help, it does me on some games, but not all either.

as i also alt tab out the game all day while testing them, so for me it's needed or used a lot in most stuff i test

I haven't seen this while Alt-Tabbing, but Sleep/Hibernate does this to the game often in my setup as well.

ORIGINAL: Crossroads

I haven't seen this while Alt-Tabbing, but Sleep/Hibernate does this to the game often in my setup as well.

Actually Crossroads - that may be the same issue I have.

Thinking about it now, I believe it's been after I've let the system hibernate that I have Alt Tabbed and seen the issue.


I'll keep an eye and see if it also happens when I am working with other Apps and then Alt Tab or go back to the Task bar to

switch back to EF.

Which operating system are you on? Come to think I might have seen the Task bar/Minimize issue with my W7 desktop but not since I upgraded. But never on my W7 laptop... Go figure.

Windows 8.1

So - just confirmed that it went to the "white screen" without hibernate / sleep.

I was working on other Apps / had a RDP session open to another machine.

But it seems to happen randomly / over time?

Meaning - if I start EF again ... and then Alt Tab around - and try to force the issue, it is not likely to trigger.


If I wait a bit however and then click on the task bar - it eventually will happen.

alter hibernate / sleep to black screen in options on timer, then you get no screen burn out but doesn't force game to close or hang once in it

Thanks for reporting this, DC. So when this happen, and if you have unsaved changes, select File - Save. Then exit and restart. I don't know why this happens, but I'll post here should there be news on this.

@ Zak - unfortunately I see this happening without hibernate / sleep as well.


Thanks Crossroads - it's not a game breaker but just gets annoying unless I save often. I'm playing Giants on the Vistula now so ... losing a turn of moves can be very labor intensive

sorry about that, no idea why then either tbh

if anyone know or can sort it, Crossroads is my best bet [;)]

ORIGINAL: DonCzirr

Thanks Crossroads - it's not a game breaker but just gets annoying unless I save often. I'm playing Giants on the Vistula now so ... losing a turn of moves can be very labor intensive

That's the thing I wrote about: should it happen just select File - Save. You can do that. Then exit, reopen the save file and you're good to continue.

ORIGINAL: Crossroads

ORIGINAL: DonCzirr

Thanks Crossroads - it's not a game breaker but just gets annoying unless I save often. I'm playing Giants on the Vistula now so ... losing a turn of moves can be very labor intensive

That's the thing I wrote about: should it happen just select File - Save. You can do that. Then exit, reopen the save file and you're good to continue.

Yep - it's not horrible - just annoying at times.


QQ - are the new Vietnam and Middle East games using the same core engine but with updated rules and units?

Or was different programming done there?

-> leading to the question as to whether one could expect the same behavior there or perhaps updated code has eliminated that problem on the newer releases.

ORIGINAL: DonCzirr

QQ - are the new Vietnam and Middle East games using the same core engine but with updated rules and units?

Or was different programming done there?

Yes, same common game engine. Being upgraded all the time, and back ported to previous games. Eventually. [:)]

-> leading to the question as to whether one could expect the same behavior there or perhaps updated code has eliminated that problem on the newer releases.

This is deep system stuff. As you might imagine, it's difficult to test, even more to get just right, across all Windows variants, all video drivers. Windows 10 is still in flux, for example, still in the process of settling down, if it ever will entirely.

I am in the process of upgrading my development environment to latest standards. We shall see what happens here.

It's all good brother ... I'm just glad that you guys are keeping this series alive and evolving - especially if it eventually leads to NATO vs. Warsaw Pact. [:D]


On the other hand, I guess it's good to keep identified issues visible on the forums so you guys can monitor trends.

Yes please, all bug reports appreciated! [:)]