Spidweb

We have made some script fixes for the two problematic encounters in the hope that they will fix the problem. They are in Windows v1.0.1 and they will be in Mac v1.0.3. If anyone encounters one of these freezes again, please let us know, and we'll get back to work on it. - Jeff Vogel

We have released Geneforge 5 v1.0.1, which now contains pretty much all of the speed tricks we can come up with to make the game run faster. Hopefully, this will help most of the people with msot of their problems. Thank you very much for your patience while we worked on this! - Jeff Vogel

Originally Posted By: Kygron On my system (GMA X3000) the demo appeared to play fine until I opened a certain window (equip the knife I believe) at that point it nearly froze up. The mouse would move every 2 secs or so and wouldn't register clicks. Now I can't get to that point since other windows have the same trouble. Most importantly, the preferences window. I am unable to change video resolution (or settings) because I can't use the mouse in that window. Is there any other way I can try this new version? I'll be releasing v1.0.1 on Monday or Tuesday. Just uninstall v1.0 and get v1.0.1 when its out. There is a good chance that it will improve your situation. - Jeff Vogel

The vast majority of the time, something like this is caused by a corrupted game file. Enter the tech support forum and, at the top, there's a list of things to try. Uninstalling, redownloading, and reinstalling (do all three!) is definitely the place to start. By the way, a bit of friendly advice. When asking for tech support, always give as much information as you can about your system. You don't even mention if you're on Windows or Mac, and this information is of great value when diagnosing a problem. - Jeff Vogel

@FabledOne: Go to your documents folder, enter the Spiderweb SOftware/Geneforge 5 folder, and delete the file Geneforge5Settings. The next time you run Geneforge 5, you'll get that dialog box again. rclear666: The game is looking for 32 bit resolutions. I'll fix this in v1.0.1 so that, if your monitor only supports 16 bit color, the game can handle it. - Jeff Vogel

Originally Posted By: Slarturnalia One thing I'm curious about is why this affects the PC version so much more than the Mac version. Presumably the processing demands of the graphics are similar, but the Mac version runs fine with built-in crap like my GMA 950. I am very, very curious about that too. It is very weird. Maybe poor OpenGL support? Maybe bad drivers? Maybe weird interaction with the OS? Maybe I messed up initializing OpenGL? The test3 version is more careful in how it sets up OpelGL, and _some_ GMA users have reported improvement. It's so frustrating. Macintosh Geneforge 5 was DEVELOPED on a GMA chip. - Jeff Vogel

@br553: It will actually work with 32MB, especially if you play in Fast Graphics Mode. But I think that the age of your video card will defeat you. It is unfortunate that I had to make the move to video acceleration, but I have reached the point where I simply cannot take the engine in the direction I want to without taking advantage of video hardware. @Lost Anvil: Have you tried using Fast Graphics mode? - Jeff Vogel

I haven't read the whole thread, I admit, but I do want to correct a few things. Erika and Prazac are named after friends in High School. JR, Aimee and Hamer were named after friends in grad school. Patrick Padraig and Hathwisa are named after friends in the SCA. Along with Bevan and Anastasia. Bjorn is another friend. These days, I try to give most of my names a sort of generic fantasy twist. It's bland. I will do something much better when I write my new engine/world. - Jeff Vogel

As of the afternoon of February 27th, I have replaced the v101 test with a new test application file. The download link is the same, and the version number on the title screen will be v1.0.1testc. I have maintained the optimizations in v101testb that put far less pressure on video hardware when running in Fast Graphics Mode. In addition, I have set some flags which should help OpenGL to locate and use hardware acceleration. Thank you for your patience during this refining process, as I use data from the field to try to get Geneforge 5 working better with a wide variety of hardware. As always, if you have speed problems and try out the new version, please tell me how it goes. - Jeff Vogel

As of the afternoon of February 27th, I have replaced the v101 test with a new test application file. The download link is the same, and the version number on the title screen will be v1.0.1testc. I have maintained the optimizations in v101testb that put far less pressure on video hardware when running in Fast Graphics Mode. In addition, I have set some flags which should help OpenGL to locate and use hardware acceleration. Thank you for your patience during this refining process, as I use data from the field to try to get Geneforge 5 working better with a wide variety of hardware. As always, if you have speed problems and try out the new version, please tell me how it goes. - Jeff Vogel

Originally Posted By: The Lost Anvil I have tried this out and to my great pleasure it works! Thank you Jeff! EDIT: It is still a bit slow in combat for some reason though. Same goes with menus and convos and such. Basically, this new version (1.0.1testb, released 2/26) halves the amount of memory graphics take up in your system (with a small loss of quality). Computers have several places they store graphics. From some places, they can draw the graphics quickly, and in some places, slowly. When lots of graphics are loaded (like combat or dialogue windows), the game is forced to put more graphics in slow places. And thus the speed hit. I just made it so the machine could fit more in the slow places. Thank you very much for the feedback. Let me know if you ever hit a spot where it's unplayable again. - Jeff Vogel

As of the evening of February 26th, I have replaced the v101 test with a new test application file. The download link is the same, and the version number on the title screen will be v1.0.1testb. I made some more optimizations, and this version, when you select Fast Graphics Mode on the opening dialog box, will be faster. How much faster? I'm not sure. But it will put a lot less pressure on your video hardware. As always, if you have speed problems and try out the new version, please tell me how it goes. - Jeff Vogel

As of the evening of February 26th, I have replaced the v101 test with a new test application file. The download link is the same, and the version number on the title screen will be v1.0.1testb. I made some more optimizations, and this version, when you select Fast Graphics Mode on the opening dialog box, will be faster. How much faster? I'm not sure. But it will put a lot less pressure on your video hardware. As always, if you have speed problems and try out the new version, please tell me how it goes. - Jeff Vogel

This means you're playing in fast mode (with Graphics Extras set to Don't Draw). Keeping the icons around with the colors flipped like that eats up video memory, resulting in slowness. - Jeff Vogel

Geneforge? Do you mean Geneforge 5? When you enter the tech support forum, there are a bunch of steps to try at the top, and some information to provide if they don't help. They them out and, if they don't help, let us know more about your machine. - Jeff Vogel

Geneforge 5; Overthrow is, graphically, not a very demanding game. However, some systems, due to hardware or video driver problems, have been having trouble running it at an acceptable speed. Other users have had a few odd, graphical glitches. Should the game not run properly for you, follow the steps below: 1. If you are using Geneforge 5 v1.0, uninstall it and download and install the newest version. It is here ... http://www.spiderwebsoftware.com/geneforge5/index.html When you run the game, on the Resolution window, select the Play In Fast Graphics Mode check box. Many users have had dramatic performance improvements when using this setting. 2. If you are using the newest version of Geneforge 5, you might have a corrupted game file. Uninstall the game, redownload the installer, and reinstall. Don't skip uninstalling! 3. Download the newest versions of your video card drivers and install them. Do this even if you think you have the newest version. Driver files and settings can sometimes become damaged or corrupted. 4. Don't run any other applications at the same times as Geneforge 5. 5. If the above steps don't work, try running the DirectX version. You can launch it from the Start menu, by going to My Programs > Spiderweb Software > Geneforge 5. If that still doesn't help, run the DirectX version again but select Fast Graphics mode on the Resolution window. If you still have problems, we would like to know about them. To be any help, I will need to have detailed information about your system. Go to the Start Menu, select Run, and enter dxdiag. Once dxdiag has run, select the option to save settings and E-mail the resulting file (with a description of your exact problem) to spidweb@spiderwebsoftware.com. - Jeff Vogel

This is what we have been sending to users with odd graphics problems. Apart from these steps, there is not much I can say at this point: There have been some reports of slowness and graphics glitches in Geneforge 5: Overthrow. This game requires a video card with OpenGL support and at least 32 MB of memory. A video processor like the Intel GMA might work, but some users have had speed problems. We have noticed that video cards over 6 years old or so are having a really hard time. While Geneforge 5 can run well on even fairly old hardware, when a machine is sufficiently old, it may not work. However, there are steps that might help. STEP 1 First, read the section "Geneforge 5: Overthrow Is Running Slowly On My System!" on the support page http://www.spiderwebsoftware.com/geneforge5/techsupp.html Be sure to follow all of these steps. STEP 2 If these steps don't help, we have made a new test version of Geneforge 5 that might work better. You can download the beta version here: http://www.ironycentral.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=155801#Post155801 If you still can't get Geneforge 5 to run, your system might just not have enough power to run our newer games. This is very unfortunate, but we suggest checking out our older titles. These do not use the graphics card at all, and you might find that they work better. STEP 3 Finally, if you can't get your system to run the game, it would be helpful to know what its system specs are. Select Run from the Start Menu, run dxdiag, choose to save your system profile, and E-mail it to us. We might be able to use it to give you more information. Good luck!

Originally Posted By: The Lost Anvil I have tried this, and it improves the speed slightly. However, it is still slow to the point of unplayability. For 16-bit colour do you mean in the Geneforge settings or the actual monitor settings? Thanks for this feedback, but it's not really helpful without my knowing anything about your machine. Could you select Run from the Start Menu, run dxdiag, and tell me your processor, your operating system, and, most importantly, what video card/hardware you have? 16 bit color would be the actual monitor setting. - Jeff Vogel

Don't worry, I don't take it personally. It is amazing how an offhand phrase or two in a game can cause such hassles later on. It provides valuable lessons for when I come up with my all-new game world next year. - Jeff Vogel

I said that the Shapers owned a second continent? Doh. What game was that in? Someday, when I rewrite all the Geneforge games, this will be changed. I'll have perfect continuity as soon as I have a brain large enough to contain all the minutia of 13 distinct storylines (counting Avernum 6, in development). - Jeff Vogel

Originally Posted By: fansinceexile1 I tried G5 v1.0.1 (on my cheap dell Inspiron laptop dual 64X processors with no graphics card) and now I don't even see the "screen size" box, it just goes straight to the game. The game still crashes when I choose a character or go to settings. (Only difference: With v1.0 I did see the screen size/resolution box) Thanks for trying to help us stone age computer users. Go into My Documents, then Spiderweb Software, then Geneforge 5 Saved Games. Delete the file Geneforge5Settings. Then try again. You should get the dialog box. - Jeff Vogel

Originally Posted By: The Mystic I get a bit of a lag in G5, but it's only when I start and end the program, when the resolution changes. Is there an option for so resolution doesn't change? My resolution is already set to one that G5 initially requests me to use, so it doesn't need to be changed. You don't way whether you're using the v1.0.1 test or the v1.0. If you're using v1.0.1, you can keep the resolution from changing by not checking the Fast Graphics box. Then, in Settings, change Graphics Extras to Don't Draw. But you won't get as much of a speed bump when playing. - Jeff Vogel

Originally Posted By: Dogterror For those that are horrendously bad with computers; what do you mean by "unpack"? I've saved the file to my desktop, and I tried opening the file but nothing opens it. If it matters, I'm using Windows Vista Basic. Thanks in advance! The file is compressed, so that you can download it faster. When you download it, it probably uncompresses (i.e. unpacks) it and turns it into the regular file. Then, to get it to run, you need to find and drag it into the Geneforge 5 folder. Or you can just wait. In a week or two, this version will probably be available by the regular simple download. I'm just testing it out now. Thanks to everyone for your feedback. - Jeff Vogel

Some users have had speed difficulties with Geneforge 5: Overthrow for Windows. On some machines without an OpenGL compatible video card, the game can play slowly. Alas, this includes many machines with Intel GMA graphics chips (which are common). Based on feedback from the field, we have released a test beta application which might be able to solve some of these speed problems. If the game plays slowly for you, to get the new version: 1. Download the new application file at ftp://ftp.spiderwebsoftware.com/temp/Geneforge5v101test.zip 2. Unpack it. Copy it into the Geneforge 5 folder (which should be in Program Files/Spiderweb Software) and run it. (To verify it's running, the version number of the title screen should be v1.0.1test.) 3. When the Screen Size dialog box at the beginning of the game comes up, select the Play In Fast Graphics Mode checkbox. 4. See how it runs. Please let me know if this helps (or doesn't help). You can post in this thread or write us at spidweb@spiderwebsoftware.com. When you give feedback, it is VERY helpful if you tell us about your system (OS, chip type, video hardware). Without any system information, your feedback probably won't help. You can give us the most helpful information by: Select Run from the Start Menu, run dxdiag, hit the Save All Information button, and E-mail the resulting file to us. I really hope this helps, and thank you for your patience. - Jeff Vogel

(This is copied from the other thread.) Some users have had speed difficulties with Geneforge 5: Overthrow for Windows. On some machines without an OpenGL compatible video card, the game can play slowly. Alas, this includes many machines with Intel GMA graphics chips (which are common). Based on feedback from the field, we have released a test beta application which might be able to solve some of these speed problems. If the game plays slowly for you, to get the new version: 1. Download the new application file at ftp://ftp.spiderwebsoftware.com/temp/Geneforge5v101test.zip 2. Unpack it. Copy it into the Geneforge 5 folder (which should be in Program Files/Spiderweb Software) and run it. (To verify it's running, the version number of the title screen should be v1.0.1test.) 3. When the Screen Size dialog box at the beginning of the game comes up, select the Play In Fast Graphics Mode checkbox. 4. See how it runs. Please let me know if this helps (or doesn't help). You can post in this thread or write us at spidweb@spiderwebsoftware.com. When you give feedback, it is VERY helpful if you tell us about your system (OS, chip type, video hardware). Without any system information, your feedback probably won't help. You can give us the most helpful information by: Select Run from the Start Menu, run dxdiag, hit the Save All Information button, and E-mail the resulting file to us. I really hope this helps, and thank you for your patience. - Jeff Vogel