News on Sound Crashes...

[Erik Rutins]

Hi,

Just want to keep you all up to date on progress. We believe we found the exact source of the sound issues last week, thanks to help from some dedicated customers who ran some test programs and worked with Keith to narrow things down (we still can't duplicate this on any of our own machines). The problem seems to be within some of the sound files and how the drivers and DirectX on certain systems handle them. I can play the same sound files here without an issue, but on the right system/driver combination, they generate a crash. We have to work with the sound studio we used to re-do these sound files (and first, investigate what set them apart). This process began last week, they are investigating and working with us to generate files that won't cause this issue.

The thing to realize is that every company has its own business hours and pace of operations. We generally have a fairly short decision loop and can fix our own issues quickly, but when we have to deal with outside companies (Digital River, the sound studio, etc.) things will take a bit longer, in many cases just because we work insane hours and they don't. [;)] It didn't get done by the weekend, but we're confident that it will be resolved during the next week. For those of you affected by this, thanks for your patience. When this is resolved, we'll have a patch up immediately as well as updating the major setup file for future purchases and for those of you that may wish to re-download a new master copy.

FYI, we currently believe the list of problem sound files for affected systems to be as follows:

Skip(1055.sfx)
Skip(1056.sfx,1057.sfx,1058.sfx,1059.sfx)
Skip(1065.sfx)
Skip(1077.sfx)
Skip(1093.sfx)
Skip(1128.sfx)
Skip(1151.sfx)
Skip(1159.sfx)
Skip(1172.sfx)
Skip(1186.sfx,1187.sfx,1188.sfx,1191.sfx)
Skip(1203.sfx,1204.sfx)
Skip(1217.sfx)
Skip(1221.sfx)
Skip(1231.sfx)
Skip(1233.sfx)
Skip(1236.sfx)
Skip(1238.sfx)
Skip(1240.sfx)
Skip(1254.sfx)
Skip(1277.sfx)
Skip(1286.sfx)
Skip(1293.sfx)
Skip(1392.sfx)
Skip(1395.sfx)
Skip(1400.sfx)
Skip(1407.sfx)
Skip(1410.sfx)

Regards,

- Erik

[Banquet]

Thanks a lot for the update Erik.

I wonder if we can remove/rename just those files and get some sound going? I might try it.

Thanks again for letting us know how things are going [:)]

[daft]

Thanks Erik! Nice to hear that you're close to a release. All I need is a little sound and this baby will be the ultimate wargame. [:)]

[Banquet]

Typing skip in front of the files mentioned seems to work. I just got through turn 1 and I never have before. So I can now play with sound. Sweet! [:D]

I did get some odd sounds. One (played when the ack ack burst over a port) seemed speeded up and odd.. but I don't care. Most of the sounds are working now

Thanks for listing the files.

[TheHellPatrol]

Thanks for the feedback, it is a breath of fresh air[&o]. I can't wait to get into the big scenarios and then PBEM. Another week? You have made my Wife and Kids day[:D][;)].

[GBirkn]

Interesting -- I wonder if these are the same files that play as a "squeal" on my system from inside the game. They seem to work fine through winamp, but I don't think I've heard several of them in the game.

[Bob L]

Tried renaming all listed files with SKIPnnnn.sfx and set the directory name back to SOUND. Loaded saved campaign game selected a CV task force. Clicked Replenish from Port and got an immediate CTD.

Back to being "vewy vewy quiet" so as not to spook that waskaly CTD wabbit!

[Sonny]

Renamed the files. Some of the sounds are a little squeally but no crashes!!!! Woohoo!!

Thanks Erik and the rest of the testers.[&o]

[Germ29]

Hello Erik. I was one of the ones who sent in the DX file because of the sound problem, but I wanted to let you know that today I burned my copy and put it on my laptop. It is a Gateway p-4 160ghz, 256ram with an ESS allegro pci(wdm) sound card, all drivers updated all original hardware(hardly use it)...well the sound works with no problems. Hope you can use this info..maybe its certain types of sound cards.[X(] I might go get the allegro card for my desk top. BTW the sounds are awesome[:D]

[Germ29]

Just a note...itsn still DX 8.1 so maybe the above info wont help....but it does run with no problems.

[Sonny]

Hope that all of the sounds will be redone and not just the ones listed.

After renaming those listed the game works but there are some strange sounds and squeals with the ones that do not crash the system.

[Zorfwaddle]

Ill have to check what DX mine has. Ive got a Dell Inspiron 1150 that WiTP is working fine on too. A little slow, but thats due to all the crap running in the background. Ill have to shutdown all that stuff and see if there is any change in the speed. Sure makes doing laundrey quicker and more fun!

Regards,

[Germ29]

[:(]well that was a short lived fantasy. Crashed durring ground combat and when upgraded to dx9.0b if did the same, whereas on my desk top it crashes when bombers bomb. Guess it has to do alot with sound card type. I shall live though, played pacwar without sound for 4 years. love this one more[:)]

[Grotius]

Thanks for the update, Erik. I stand ready to test anything more if you need help. I might try renaming the files you listed, or I might not; I can live without sound for a few more days, I think.

[Grotius]

For those of you who renamed successfully: did you just add Skip in front of each filename? Skipnnnn.sfx? Or did you also insert some sort of parentheses somewhere? (Skipnnnn).sfx or some such?

[Banquet]

I just added skip, I didn't bother with the brackets.

I've still had no crash after maybe 20 turns to it seems ok.. but who knows, there could be another bad file that hasn't been identified yet, and maybe I've just been lucky that it's not played so far in my game?

[irrgang]

Removed the listed files and so far no CTD. However, there seems to be more files that are bad. For example, during bombing animation I get some weird 'clicks' and strange noise from the PC (not the speakers, but the PC itself)

[Speedysteve]

Thanks for the update. I'll try skipping these tonight and see if it works too.

Regards,

Steven

[CoffeeMug]

Hi guys,

I just made a little batch file to rename the files mentioned by Eric so not everybody has to go through the chore. [;)]

You get it here: sound fix

Just unpack the CMD file into your SOUND directory and click on it. [:)]

Cheers,

CoffeeMug aka Panzermann (whose other account is FUBAR) [;)]

[Grotius]

Thanks, CoffeeMug! I'll try it out.