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Tech Problem
Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2019 5:11 am
by Maruko
Good morning,
yesterday I buyed TOAW4, my pc responds to the minimum requisites but when I start the game i can't play...
When I click the mouse I receive the command after 5 seconds, so it's unplayable.
What's the problem? Someone can help me please?
Thank you
RE: Tech Problem
Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2019 8:21 am
by 76mm
You should ask this question on the Tech Support subforum for TOAW. Good luck!
RE: Tech Problem
Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2019 8:46 am
by Shadrach
Better to report the issue to Matrix Support. You can find the Helpdesk link from "My Page" on the store:
https://www.matrixgames.com/member/helpdesk
Then you can get professional help, since none of the Matrix staff seem to read this forum these days [8|]
RE: Tech Problem
Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2019 1:10 pm
by Zovs
ORIGINAL: Maruko
Good morning,
yesterday I buyed TOAW4, my pc responds to the minimum requisites but when I start the game i can't play...
When I click the mouse I receive the command after 5 seconds, so it's unplayable.
What's the problem? Someone can help me please?
Thank you
Like the other fellows said.
But what the heck does "When I click the mouse I receive the command after 5 seconds, so it's unplayable." mean?
Where did you click a mouse, on a button and exe, after the game opened or maybe it was the game launcher or was it steam?
What command? That does not make sense.
More details or screen shots would help some of us help you out.
RE: Tech Problem
Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2019 1:46 pm
by Lobster
ORIGINAL: Maruko
Good morning,
yesterday I buyed TOAW4, my pc responds to the minimum requisites but when I start the game i can't play...
When I click the mouse I receive the command after 5 seconds, so it's unplayable.
What's the problem? Someone can help me please?
Thank you
sPzAbt653 seems to have3 the handle on this. At least how to minimize it. Might want to ask him.
RE: Tech Problem
Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2019 2:37 pm
by Menschenfresser
I doubt this will help but I just purchased it, too, and saw the same issue.
However, I'm running it on Linux via wine. I noticed that clicking a button (main menu or scenario selection) took several seconds to respond. One core of my CPU would spike to 100% during that time. Then the game would more forward. Then I realized the wineprefix I was using wasn't 32-bit. Created a new 32-bit prefix, reinstalled under that, and the issue disappeared.
RE: Tech Problem
Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2019 3:32 pm
by Blond_Knight
I have the same issue on the main screen and the scenario selection screen but not in the game itself. I chalk it up to the programs age.
RE: Tech Problem
Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2019 4:58 pm
by Hellen_slith
If you can, try setting the game to run in Win7 "compatibility" mode. That may help.
RE: Tech Problem
Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2019 5:01 pm
by tomlowshang
ORIGINAL: Menschenfresser
I doubt this will help but I just purchased it, too, and saw the same issue.
However, I'm running it on Linux via wine. I noticed that clicking a button (main menu or scenario selection) took several seconds to respond. One core of my CPU would spike to 100% during that time. Then the game would more forward. Then I realized the wineprefix I was using wasn't 32-bit. Created a new 32-bit prefix, reinstalled under that, and the issue disappeared.
Which version of Wine? I have that problem on the older stable Wine release. The game works much better on the developer release (currently 4.20) which has improved mono support.
Other issues you may see: rotated text doesn't work, and no transparency on the hex info popup (I disable the popup anyway).
RE: Tech Problem
Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2019 5:48 pm
by Menschenfresser
ORIGINAL: tomlowshang
Which version of Wine?
Yeah, it's the stable release. I tried to install the devel branch but there were issues with lingering files from a previous install. Those files cause the devel package install to demand itself (stable version, I think) as a dependency. Something along those lines. Known bug, I believe.
Came on one of those days when I didn't feel like scouring every corner to find the conflict. I might try again because I can only run TOAW4 in an emulated desktop. Can't run fullscreen. Crashes with the following errors:
0009:fixme:font:get_outline_text_metrics failed to read full_nameW for font L"Ani"!
0009:fixme:font:ExtTextOutW flags ETO_NUMERICSLOCAL | ETO_NUMERICSLATIN unimplemented
RE: Tech Problem
Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2019 6:14 pm
by tomlowshang
ORIGINAL: Menschenfresser
ORIGINAL: tomlowshang
Which version of Wine?
Yeah, it's the stable release. I tried to install the devel branch but there were issues with lingering files from a previous install. Those files cause the devel package install to demand itself (stable version, I think) as a dependency. Something along those lines. Known bug, I believe.
Came on one of those days when I didn't feel like scouring every corner to find the conflict. I might try again because I can only run TOAW4 in an emulated desktop. Can't run fullscreen. Crashes with the following errors:
0009:fixme:font:get_outline_text_metrics failed to read full_nameW for font L"Ani"!
0009:fixme:font:ExtTextOutW flags ETO_NUMERICSLOCAL | ETO_NUMERICSLATIN unimplemented
Sorry, the error doesn't mean anything to me. I run everything in emulated desktop anyway. Is your full screen a common size like 1920x1080 or something much larger?
I should have mentioned I use the Wine build from the winehq site. I'm running Debian unstable.
RE: Tech Problem
Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2019 6:37 pm
by Menschenfresser
ORIGINAL: tomlowshang
Sorry, the error doesn't mean anything to me. I run everything in emulated desktop anyway. Is your full screen a common size like 1920x1080 or something much larger?
I should have mentioned I use the Wine build from the winehq site. I'm running Debian unstable.
Xubuntu 18.04 and wine from the ppa off the winehq site (not sure what's in the default ubuntu repos). The monitor is 2k and a second screen running off my laptop. I'll try running it on just my 1920x1080 laptop screen later tonight. But i'd rather have 1920x1080 emulated on the big monitor than full screen on the laptop.
RE: Tech Problem
Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2019 6:45 pm
by tomlowshang
I did a test and see one of the messages that you get:
0009:fixme:font:ExtTextOutW flags ETO_NUMERICSLOCAL | ETO_NUMERICSLATIN unimplemented
The game runs OK so I doubt that message is related to the crash.
RE: Tech Problem
Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2019 5:53 am
by Maruko
Thank you all for support, I have tryed to start the game in windows 7 compatibility mode and now it's a little better...
In the start screen and in the scenario menu it's the same with a very slow respond to mouse click, in the "game" screen it's a little bit better.
I don't know why, a 2 years old game...
RE: Tech Problem
Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2019 9:39 am
by Shadrach
The game is badly optimised and will lag, even on modern CPUs that run full-3D games with no problem.
I kind of suspect the lag when clicking could come from issues with the ANCIENT audio system it uses (Audiere). Try turning off sounds.
Another thing to try (if Windows 10): In the same Compatibility tab where you set the mode, go to "Change high DPI settings" and set "Override high DPI scaling" to Application.
RE: Tech Problem
Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2019 1:07 pm
by Hellen_slith
Yes, turning off sound helped me.
Also, I did some other things when I had the problems,
here are the settings I use now, and it seems to work pretty good for me:
Do these under "Player Options" menu from in the game and it may help:

RE: Tech Problem
Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2019 6:28 pm
by sPzAbt653
The ones highlighted Blue are most critical.

Not a Tech Problem - bad default
Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2019 11:04 am
by John T_MatrixForum
As I understands it,
Noone can play the game smoothly without changing a number of configurations after installation.
After I started to run in win8 mode and fixed a reasonable resolution for my laptop screen (1600*900) TOAW IV where more stable than Microsoft own development tool (Visual Studio)
on my new laptop, win10 with compatibility mode win8 it also fairly stable even at 4k resolution and 27" screen.
cheers
RE: Not a Tech Problem - bad default
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2019 8:15 am
by Maruko
Now with the settings you advice to me, the program works better, very better. Now the game is playable.
Thank you
RE: Not a Tech Problem - bad default
Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2019 4:02 pm
by Hellen_slith
Excellent!
Next is to understand the nuances of "on line" play ...
If you START an on-line challenge game,
I recommend that you NOT "password" the challenge ...
that way others can accept your challenge easily.
Good luck!