If you are having graphics problems with the demo...

[Dominik]

EU3 forced me to buy Gf 7600GS video card, I hope it will work smoothly. Bye bye hard earned cash... Add this to the price of CE, this makes EU3 the most expensive game I have bought.

 

[KingOfTheIsles]

I love this whole Integrated graphics thing, the developer blames the manufacturer, the manufacturer blames the developer and it's the customer who gets screwed over in the end. If EU 3 has virtually identical system reqs to another game that plays like a dream on my laptop, who is to blame for its failure to work?

For my part, I cannot belive that the game was never tested before the release of a demo on what (judging by this thread and the local adverts for new laptops) is a very common laptop chip. As getting a new graphics card for a laptop is not an option, it appears that laptop owners will have to send a message with their wallets, that the buck has to stop somewhere.

That said, I am eager to buy this game if a solution presents itself, and paradox has never been a company that has let people down for extensive product support before.

 

[unmerged(64752)]

Several possible things to try:

1. Make sure you download and install the latest video drivers for your card. I have nearly the same model as you do so I believe the latest set (that aren't betas) are from early November. Go here to locate them.

2. It's possible that there was some sort of glitch during install or initialization that has caused a problem with the map cache. Go to the folder \map\cache\ and delete all of the files in it (yes...all of them). When you launch the game, it will appear to hang for a while and you'll get a message that says it will take several minutes to build paths. It isn't kidding...it really does take between 2-5 minutes to rebuild them so go make a cup of coffee or have a beer while you're waiting. When it finishes, the rest of the launch process will continue. This may clear out the problem (it did resolve some of the artifacts that I was experiencing with the demo, though I still get the windows mouse pointer for some bizarre reason that I haven't figured out yet).

Let me know (here) how that works out for you.

I've tried everything U wrote and nothing worked I have the newest drivers on my CD (the same like on nVidia page) - reinstallation, clearing map cache and downloading and installing the demo once again didn't helped.

Another problem:

When EU is loading


When scenario is loading


(polish language, with english was the same problem)
Can someone help me, please

 

[unmerged(64679)]

Yes my card does have 128mb, and it is listed on the list of cards that Mr. T posted on the main FAQ that should be supported....

Lynchy75, Nobegow: Have your graphic cards 128 MB or more?

 

[unmerged(64849)]

OK, MrT, I am getting crazy with that Graphics Problems. Today i've spent more then 4 Hours on solving that. Here is what i've found out:

I have two computers. A Dell PC with an ATI X300 SE with 128MB RAM and a HP Notebook with a Mobility Radeon 9600 with 64 MB RAM.

So i have downloaded Directx 9c. Then .Net Framework 2.0, installed both, then i went to the hardware configuration and deleted all Graphics drivers. Then I downloaded ATI Catalyst 7.1 (ATI Catalyst Mobility 7.1 on the notebook of course) and installed it. After that, I restarted the PC and - what a wonder - was able to play some hours.

That was yesterday. And that worked on both Computers. The scrolligspeed was not very nice on the notebook, but i was able to play.

Today i couldent wait to come home to play, so i first tried it on my notebook. I was surprised to find out that the 128MB RAM Message was again there. So I went to the other computer, and there i've got the same problem. I was surpised, because i was able to play yesterday, then i checked the driver settings, and i guess windows reinstalled the older drivers, because the driverdate was again something from 2005. i guess windows did that because the new downloaded drivers where not microsoft certified (because when i installed them in the first time i got this message that warned me to proceed because the drivers where not MS certified)

well then i've tried on both computers to change the drivers. i've tried about 10 variations on both computers. but it was just not working anymore.

now, i found a funny way - very voodoo magic like: - I deinstalled the graphicsdrivers on the notebook, and everything from ATI and restarted the notebook. Then i doubleklicked two times on the game and it worked. it seems like i outsmarted the graphics card check from EU3 by just not having a graphics driver installed. how ridiculous is that? anyway, of course the resolution was just at 640x480 and i couldent see the right and lower part of the game screen, and there was no way to change that. by pressing ALT + TAB i got back to windows and installed the display drivers. i changed the resolution to something higher but when i got back to the game the resolution there was still low. after restarting i got the message again, that the game needs at least 128mb video memory.

anyway. i am very frustrated by now. because the game is really really really cool. it's highly addictive but i dont understand why paradox cant just hire some more competend programmers. i dont say that they are not good, but it seems that the are in need of more capacity.

i really really really hope that this problem wont occure on the final version.

somebody still have an idea?

 

[Kosh]

Is 128 MB on board or 128 TuirboCache or 128 Hypermemory?
I suppose you have updated drivers

Yes my card does have 128mb, and it is listed on the list of cards that Mr. T posted on the main FAQ that should be supported....

 

[mib]

Im missing something here....I dont see a ROOT directory in the EU3 file. Sorry for being sooo challenged at this

just a friendly reminder that in the future when prompted to "press any key", there is no any key, just press a random key on the keyboard.

 

[lonewolf371]

Is 128 MB on board or 128 TuirboCache or 128 Hypermemory?
I suppose you have updated drivers

I have a Radeon 9600 Pro and I'm having the same problem. I believe the card has 128 MB of on board memory, and I believe that it is supposed to fully support DirectX 9.0.

 

[unmerged(6777)]

I love this whole Integrated graphics thing, the developer blames the manufacturer, the manufacturer blames the developer and it's the customer who gets screwed over in the end. If EU 3 has virtually identical system reqs to another game that plays like a dream on my laptop, who is to blame for its failure to work?

For my part, I cannot belive that the game was never tested before the release of a demo on what (judging by this thread and the local adverts for new laptops) is a very common laptop chip. As getting a new graphics card for a laptop is not an option, it appears that laptop owners will have to send a message with their wallets, that the buck has to stop somewhere.

That said, I am eager to buy this game if a solution presents itself, and paradox has never been a company that has let people down for extensive product support before.

Other games that work on your laptop either (1) don't use the Dx9.0 library, or (2) have been dual-coded at incredible expense to support graphics output in both Dx9.0 and Open GL.

If you read posts #4 and #5 in this sticky you will see that EU3 is by no means the only game that doesn't support the Intel chipset and its faulty implementation of the Dx9.0 library. Companies with development budgets that are many times larger than Paradox's simply couldn't justify the expense -- particularly when the extra work has nothing to do with Paradox and everything to do with Intel. They're looking to see of there's a workaround, but perhaps more of your ire should be directed to Intel's customer support site and asking them why it is that they sold you a motherboard that they said fully supported Dx9.0 when it is well known that is doesn't.

I've tried everything U wrote and nothing worked I have the newest drivers on my CD (the same like on nVidia page) - reinstallation, clearing map cache and downloading and installing the demo once again didn't helped.

I can't think of anything off hand. I've forwarded it to the graphics folks and hopefully they'll have some ideas.

....Mobility Radeon 8600/9700...

I wonder if it may be incorrectly reporting its size. If so, it should work with EU3 1.1 but the vintage of that series of laptops makes me a bit worried about the possible performance of the game on that system.

....Radeon 9600 Pro...

I have similar thoughts and concerns with this card since it was released just as Dx9.0 was introduced. It should work with the EU3 1.1 patch but I suspect the performance is likely to be very borderline in terms of playability.

 

[Roberto]

Friends

I am forcing myself not to try to install and run until 1.1 is out (tomorrow? please?) but would value advice from anyone on two points.

My desktop is underspecified in many ways and is a no-no until upgraded.

One laptop is a couple of years old and has ATI Mobility Raedon 7000 1GP with 64Mb. Demo won't start saying this is because there is less than 128Mb - but does not have the dreaded "Failed to create a graphics device". Will 1.1 allow us to try starting on a card like this, and see just how bad it is?

Another laptop is pretty new and has Mobile Intel 945GM Express Chipset Family with 128Mb. Demo won't start, with the dreaded "Failed to create a graphics device". In his sticky, Mr T thinks this should support the main game but "wouldn’t want to guaranty it". Other aspects of this laptop should support the game (processor, RAM). Has anyone actually got the main game to work on this card? Can anyone suggest how (if) 1.1 would improve the chances of the game running on this?

Many thanks.

 

[unmerged(6777)]

Friends

I am forcing myself not to try to install and run until 1.1 is out (tomorrow? please?) but would value advice from anyone on two points.

My desktop is underspecified in many ways and is a no-no until upgraded.

One laptop is a couple of years old and has ATI Mobility Raedon 7000 1GP with 64Mb. Demo won't start saying this is because there is less than 128Mb - but does not have the dreaded "Failed to create a graphics device". Will 1.1 allow us to try starting on a card like this, and see just how bad it is?

I don't see that exact card listed, but the closest one I do see does not support the Dx9.0 library. If that's the case, it will not work with EU3.

Another laptop is pretty new and has Mobile Intel 945GM Express Chipset Family with 128Mb. Demo won't start, with the dreaded "Failed to create a graphics device". In his sticky, Mr T thinks this should support the main game but "wouldn’t want to guaranty it". Other aspects of this laptop should support the game (processor, RAM). Has anyone actually got the main game to work on this card? Can anyone suggest how (if) 1.1 would improve the chances of the game running on this?

Many thanks.

That one is worth trying but I am a little worried about whether it will work. I checked out the chipset and it doesn't seem to support the "usual suspects" that also typically call on the Dx9.0 functions. I'd give it a 20:80 chance of working.


Edit: note that I have spent a good portion of the afternoon looking through Intel's compatibility specs and was actually in the process of editing my other post when I saw this. It is looking more and more like all of the Intel GMA controllers are somewhat unlikely to work.

 

[Kosh]

One laptop is a couple of years old and has ATI Mobility Raedon 7000 1GP with 64Mb. (...)

Not support DX9:
Mobility Radeon 7000 IGP is a"first generation" Radeon (RV100 series chipset), a cost-reduced version of first Radeon ever released in 2000 (R100) to compete with GF2MX. It is the only Radeon chip that can't do hardware T&L and only has support of DX 7. Was also know as Radeon VE.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radeon_R100#RV100
(see the table too)

So you CAN'T run the game. Sorry!

 

[Roberto]

Thanks

Will abandon hope of the older laptop , and try the newer one once 1.1 is available.

Edit: 100 posts! Wootttttttttttttt!

 

[Kliwarrior]

MrT,
I own a laptop, which has all the "horsepower" needed, but also the infamous GMA945 intel chipset. For years my laptop was my "Paradox machine" of choice...

As you can imagine Intel based laptops are quite common (IBM/Lenovo, Acer....) and it's very difficult (if not quite impossible) to change/upgrade the graphic cards.

3D-Analyze "nearly" does the trick to enable such cards to run EU3: it runs, with just a weird blue color all over the map.
Do you think that a little effort can be done by the Devs to transform that "nearly" into a "completely" ?

I understand your point (clearly described in your previous post) that even other games don't run with those cards, but the nature of that games, ( and their customer target ) are quite different from the usual paradox fan/users (who would ever play TES4: oblivion on a IBM T60 laptop???)

As a bottom line, do you think there is any hope for us fortunately owners of intel cards, with enough V-Memory and PS 2.0 support, but without hw T&L capability?
Do you think that a petition on something like this - to show that a consistent fan-base could be positively impacted by this development effort - could do the trick ?

thanks in advance

 

[unmerged(46069)]

Did anyone with an FX5000 series video card buy the game yet? If yes, then can you tell us how the performance is? As in the demo, or better/worse?

 

[unmerged(6777)]

MrT,
I own a laptop, which has all the "horsepower" needed, but also the infamous GMA945 intel chipset. For years my laptop was my "Paradox machine" of choice...

As you can imagine Intel based laptops are quite common (IBM/Lenovo, Acer....) and it's very difficult (if not quite impossible) to change/upgrade the graphic cards.

3D-Analyze "nearly" does the trick to enable such cards to run EU3: it runs, with just a weird blue color all over the map.
Do you think that a little effort can be done by the Devs to transform that "nearly" into a "completely" ?

I understand your point (clearly described in your previous post) that even other games doesn't run with those cards, but the nature of that games, ( and their customer target ) are quite different from the usual paradox fan/users (who would ever play TES4: oblivion on a IBM T60 laptop???)

As a bottom line, do you think there is any hope for us fortunately owners of intel cards, with enough V-Memory and PS 2.0 support, but without hw T&L capability?
Do you think that a petition on something like this - to show that a consistent fan-base could be positively impacted by this development effort - could do the trick ?

thanks in advance

I'm not an expert, but I think the likelihood is somewhat slim. Paradox is actively looking at it, but I have to wonder whether they'll succeed where companies like Bethesda, Raven, Firaxis, Rockstar North, etc have either failed or not considered it possible to do (or perhaps worth trying?). Each of these companies has said (multiple times) that the biggest hope of their games running on an Intel GMA controller is if Intel releases a driver that actually supports the Dx9.0 library like its supposed to do (and, from a legal perspective, marketed to do...hmm...I wonder if enough people have been screwed yet to launch a class action lawsuit?).

I don't think a petition would change Paradox's interest in the matter. They want to do it. The question is whether there's any part of Intel's f'ed-up Dx emulation that can do the job without a massive investment of capital. Any coding time they devote to it has to be worth it. Intel isn't going to pay them for the extra work, so the cost of it has to be borne by the increase sales and corresponding profit it might generate. Again, that makes it look grim because you'd think that if the task wasn't mammoth, a company like any of the four I mentioned above would easily be able to recoup their added costs from the expanded market share.

So until the folks at Paradox figure out whether they can do it (or until Intel relents and makes drivers for their cards that actually allow them to do what they're supposed to do), I think you'll just have to wait patiently for an answer.

 

[Kliwarrior]

Paradox is actively looking at it, but I have to wonder whether they'll succeed where companies like Bethesda, Raven, Firaxis, Rockstar North, etc have either failed or not considered it possible to do (or perhaps worth trying?).

Perhaps just because the use of HW T&L in EU3 is almost not existent (see 3danalyze resuolst) , while it's deeeply used in other games?
Or because the average FPS die-hard gamers usually look for "best of the breed" graphic cards while the usual paradox customers don't?

Actually the problem is not related to the intel driver. These cards doesn't have an hardware "capability" which may (or may not) be addressed with additional coding.
More or less is the same with PS2.0 support: if it is not in the card, it is not in the card.. period.
Except that the PS2.0 programming is widely used in the Eu3 engine ( I can say it is used for everything...)

So until the folks at Paradox figure out whether they can do it (or until Intel relents and makes drivers for their cards that actually allow them to do what they're supposed to do), I think you'll just have to wait patiently for an answer.

Hm.. perhaps yes..
Until then the only thing for me is battle for the possession of the home PC (with a "good" graphic card in it )with my daughters :rofl:

thanks again for you quick (as usual) answer

 

[unmerged(53612)]

Well, I re-downloaded the demo, and still didn't work.
THE EU3DEMO.EXE found problems and had to be closed ...That's Windows says...I mean, before it opens when I clikck it open the window but before running it the msg come: THE EU3DEMO.EXE found problems and had to be closed .

My Graphic card is:
NVIDIA 7300GT 256MB using 1024 X 728(NEITher in 800x600 worked).
My pc:
Intel Pentiun Dual Core 2,66ghz
512 RAM


Any help please?

 

[unmerged(64314)]

Ok, I'm having a very strange graphical issue with the demo. My system meets the specifications (geforce 5600fx, 512mb ram, XP, 2.4 ghz pentium 4) and the game loads. However the map is completely ruined and the seazones are multicolored and pixelated. Here's the kicker, when I take screenshots to illustrate the problem they are totally normal...?!?! Is this a monitor issue?

 

[unmerged(64314)]

Ok, I'm having a very strange graphical issue with the demo. My system meets the specifications (geforce 5600fx, 512mb ram, XP, 2.4 ghz pentium 4) and the game loads. However the map is completely ruined and the seazones are multicolored and pixelated. Here's the kicker, when I take screenshots to illustrate the problem they are totally normal...?!?! Is this a monitor issue?

I've tried to make a video with Fraps as well and the effect is still gone.

The only other problem like this I had is when RTW had anti-aliasing auto enabled upon install. I turned off the AA in the options and it disappeared. Does EU3 force you to use AA? (I doubt it but am at a loss for any kind of explanation)