Game won't start after 1.0.1 Hotfix

[AndrewT]

I can't explain your issue or why you have to jump through such hoops to get the game to work for you.

Are your Steam installation, game installation, and Windows User (Documents) folders all on C: drive? Or are any elsewhere?

 

[Cablenexus]

I can't explain your issue or why you have to jump through such hoops to get the game to work for you.

Are your Steam installation, game installation, and Windows User (Documents) folders all on C: drive? Or are any elsewhere?

Everything is on C: except my game installation. It's on another harddisk inside my PC (as 800 other Steam games doesn't have trouble with that and also all Paradox games I have are on the same disk).

Also, maybe the only hoop I have to go through is the make my computer work at the moment Imperator is loading.

- I notice if I launch Imperator with my taskmanager open it stop responding directly.
- I notice that I have to make my computer work (using other apps while loading Imperator) to bypass InitGame.
- I notice none of those problems happened in V1.0, only since hotfix.
- I notice that in my V1.0 user folder there is a cache, terraincache folder created. In my V1.0.1 and V1.0.2 it's not.

I suspect somewhere here lies the problem.
There are at least 2 other users with the same problem in the thread btw.

 

[AndrewT]

Everything is on C: except my game installation. It's on another harddisk inside my PC (as 800 other Steam games doesn't have trouble with that and also all Paradox games I have are on the same disk).

As an experiment can you try installing it on C: ? I know it should not matter, but ... !

 

[AndrewT]

- Make sure Taskmanager isn't open at launch. It will result in not responding directly after launch.

Just noticed this ... umm really? That should have nothing to do with anything!

 

[Cablenexus]

Just noticed this ... umm really? That should have nothing to do with anything!

I will try to install on my C disk (I have only 30 GB left there so I use other disks for my games).

I can't help it. It happens. When I launch Imperator while my taskmanager is open it goes in "not responding" mode directly. I also never experienced this before, I simply noticed it since I wanted to check my GPU, CPU and ram usage for Imperator.

I also noticed by accident that when I am in a Steam chat or using the forums while Imperator is loading it bypass the InitGame at a moment. While all my other attempts I was making sure that nothing else (except Steam) was running as adviced in such cases which makes Imperator loading screen stays on InitGame forever.

 

[Cablenexus]

As an experiment can you try installing it on C: ? I know it should not matter, but ... !

It doesn't change a thing. Empty user folder and clean install V1.0.2 will result in the game get stuck (not responding) while InitGame is showing in the upper right hand part of the screen.

V1.0 creates a terraincache folder and a cache folder in my user folder for Imperator. V1.0.1 and 1.0.2 does not. Isn't that something that can cause the trouble?

Just installed V1.0 again over the exisiting V1.0.2 installation and started the game. It bypass InitGame and it creates a cache folder and a terrain cachefolder.
I keep those folders and install V1.0.2 again, start the game and can bypass the InitGame.
(Still if I let my pc idle, it doesn't bypass it, or it just takes much longer).

btw thank you for the support. I hope anything from the discussion you can eventually look into if you have any time left. You are quit busy atm I think.

-edit-

Played another few hours and stability and performance is perfect. No issues. No crashes. Not "much" stuttering till speed 3 (I don't use faster anyway). It's just the loading screen. And only after the fixes. So I hope you get 1.0 in the beta branch for the time being. I played with V1.0.2 now but can only do so after installing V1.0

 

[HistoryDude]

I'm having the same problem.
I've attached the files that were requested.

 

[Cablenexus]

I'm having the same problem.
I've attached the files that were requested.

There is a solution that works for me and at least one other user in post #36 if it may help you. But just the steps in #46 are probably enough.

 

[QuackingIdiot]

Big tip to not go through a nightmare when trying to play the game, just alt tab away from the game while it loads, make sure you use windowed borderless this should fix it.

 

[Cablenexus]

Big tip to not go through a nightmare when trying to play the game, just alt tab away from the game while it loads, make sure you use windowed borderless this should fix it.

It does when I install V1.0 first and afterwards 1.0.1 or 1.0.2. Otherwise Imperator app simply stop responding at all while alt/tab or use other apps.

 

[AndrewT]

V1.0 creates a terraincache folder and a cache folder in my user folder for Imperator. V1.0.1 and 1.0.2 does not. Isn't that something that can cause the trouble?

Yes, the only thing i can think of that would cause that, would prevent the game from making those folder, is an antivirus app getting in the way. Which one do you use?

So I hope you get 1.0 in the beta branch for the time being.

Typically old versions are left there forever, no reason to remove them.

 

[Cablenexus]

Yes, the only thing i can think of that would cause that, would prevent the game from making those folder, is an antivirus app getting in the way. Which one do you use?


Typically old versions are left there forever, no reason to remove them.

As already posted multiple times in this thread, I don't use any, except WIndows Defender. Ransomware protection is disabled and Imperator has permission to run both public and private in Windows Defender settings.

Anyway, why should any antivirus V1.0 pass and let V1.0.1 and 1.0.2 stop responding?

 

[Cablenexus]

I once again post my issue (I read at least 7 other players have simular issues in Steam and PDX forums. So maybe it can be of help.

- I bought Deluxe version and DLC soundtrack at release.

- Installed release version V1.0 launch via Steam, PDX launcher start. Game load. InitGame is 30 seconds visible in loading screen, then it creates checksum and game start.

- Hotfix released. Game stuck at InitGame. Same desktop, same settings. Nothing changed on my site in the meantime.

- Reinstall V1.0 game runs normally. If I compare user folder, the V1.0 user folder contains two folders V1.0.1 and 1.0.2 does not create. Cache and Terraincache. Everything else is the same.

- Installing newer version over V1.0 while keeping those Terraincache and Cache folder in the userfolder will let me play V1.0.1 and 1.0.2.

- I need to actively alt/tab and actively use other apps at the moment Imperator loads InitGame, otherwise it keeps being stuck forever.

- No antivirus here, no ransomware protection, Windows Defender exception for Imperator created both public and private.

Some extra notes:

- Running in fullscreen (not windowed or borderless) result in endless loading screen always, since alt tab also doesn't work anymore in fullscreen mode. So make sure you use borderless mode or windowed mode.

- Having taskmanager open atm I launch Imperator result in direct not responding.

- The only way to have guarantuee to start V1.0.1 or V1.0.2 for me is launch the game via Steam while no other apps are open. Make sure V1.0 is previously installed, make the computer work when InitGame is visible loading, wait 3 minutes alt/tab and chat in Steam a bit and it will continue.

- If I can bypass InitGame I can play hours with good performance and without issues. Also loading and saving works fine.

- Not a single issue with any other PDX game on the same system.

 

[Sir Roma]

I once again post my issue (I read at least 7 other players have simular issues in Steam and PDX forums. So maybe it can be of help.

- I bought Deluxe version and DLC soundtrack at release.

- Installed release version V1.0 launch via Steam, PDX launcher start. Game load. InitGame is 30 seconds visible in loading screen, then it creates checksum and game start.

- Hotfix released. Game stuck at InitGame. Same desktop, same settings. Nothing changed on my site in the meantime.

- Reinstall V1.0 game runs normally. If I compare user folder, the V1.0 user folder contains two folders V1.0.1 and 1.0.2 does not create. Cache and Terraincache. Everything else is the same.

- Installing newer version over V1.0 while keeping those Terraincache and Cache folder in the userfolder will let me play V1.0.1 and 1.0.2.

- I need to actively alt/tab and actively use other apps at the moment Imperator loads InitGame, otherwise it keeps being stuck forever.

- No antivirus here, no ransomware protection, Windows Defender exception for Imperator created both public and private.

- Having taskmanager open atm I launch Imperator result in direct not responding.

- If I can bypass InitGame I can play hours with good performance and without issues. Also loading and saving works fine.

- Not a single issue with any other PDX game on the same system.

If I make alt-tab meanwhile imperator loading the game stop working. Do you mean that I must to left open an app or that I must to use it when the game load? Use steam app on smartphone help? Or it must be a computer app?

 

[Cablenexus]

If I make alt-tab meanwhile imperator loading the game stop working. Do you mean that I must to left open an app or that I must to use it when the game load? Use steam app on smartphone help? Or it must be a computer app?

On the same desktop I make sure all other apps are closed except Steam client. I have the Steam client visible in my screen and start Imperator via the Steam app. I do nothing else at that moment. I just wait for the Imperator screen pops up, I see loading entities, I wait more till InitGame pops up.
That moment I start using alt tab and use Steam chat, my browser, this forum etc while I keep the game loading in the background. (ignore the stop responding if it's not a window that pops up yet). If the window stop responding pops up choose cancel and try again. Do not click anywhere in the Imperator loading screen itself when it becomes unresponsive.
That's why i also important to not start fullscreen. That way you cannot alt tab anymore.
At one moment (it can take minutes) it will bypass InitGame, if it is in the background you will be notified by a soundeffect if Imperator makes it to the menu.

 

[AndrewT]

Anyway, why should any antivirus V1.0 pass and let V1.0.1 and 1.0.2 stop responding?

When you add a .exe file to an AV app's exception list, that does not mean subsequent versions of that same .exe file are automatically excepted too. Quite the opposite in fact, changes to a .exe file are viewed as suspicious by AV apps for very good reasons! Commonly when you get a game patch you need to add that game to exceptions lists again.

 

[Cablenexus]

When you add a .exe file to an AV app's exception list, that does not mean subsequent versions of that same .exe file are automatically excepted too. Quite the opposite in fact, changes to a .exe file are viewed as suspicious by AV apps for very good reasons! Commonly when you get a game patch you need to add that game to exceptions lists again.

You are the expert, I'm not. I'm just a gamer with 25 years gaming experience and 1k games on Steam. I have 10 updates for installed games every day. Also for all Paradox games and dlc releases. I never had to add the .exe from a newer version manually to the exception list. I will try to do it however.

I didn't added the exception for Imperator V1.0 manually btw. It was just there like every other game, when I looked into it.

 

[AndrewT]

Use Notepad to make a new text file called userdir.txt . In that file place a single dot, save and exit. This tells the game to write the user files right there instead of under Documents.

Now we have not nailed down 100% where that file should go with Imperator yet, so if I can ask you to place it in all three locations that it could be:

Steam/SteamApps/common/Imperator/
Steam/SteamApps/common/Imperator/games/
Steam/SteamApps/common/Imperator/binaries/

The thinking here is it definitively works around anything stopping the game from accessing the Documents folder when trying to write those Terraincache and Cache folders.

 

[Cablenexus]

Use Notepad to make a new text file called userdir.txt . In that file place a single dot, save and exit. This tells the game to write the user files right there instead of under Documents.

Now we have not nailed down 100% where that file should go with Imperator yet, so if I can ask you to place it in all three locations that it could be:

Steam/SteamApps/common/Imperator/
Steam/SteamApps/common/Imperator/games/
Steam/SteamApps/common/Imperator/binaries/

The thinking here is it definitively works around anything stopping the game from accessing the Documents folder when trying to write those Terraincache and Cache folders.

Thank you. What I did. I deleted my complete user folder for Imperator. I uninstalled the game. I reinstalled version 1.0.2.
I added an empty (except one dot) notepad file named userdir.txt in the binaries, game and Imperator directory.
I started a fresh launch of V1.0.2.

I still have to alt tab a few times between Steam, my browser, a chat window and back to the game, but at least it bypass the InitGame now withot me having to do all those previous steps.

My user folder is almost empty now, except some dlc info etc. and all info seems to be added to the game directory in Imperator in the Steam installation now. (In Imperator folder itself and in binaries I don't see differences, only in game folder in Imperator).

I notice that both the terraincache and cache folder are about 10 minutes later created then the other folders here.

Game is normal running for an hour now, even on highest settings.

 

[Sir Roma]

For me the only way to play Is to start in window mode and then change specifics and return to full screen, and I haven't do all the previous step. This for me bypass Initgame for now and other things are normal

Edit:
We will have this bug resolve whit the final release of 1.0.2 or we must to have this pain all the times?