The Inexplicable Crash Bug (tm)

[ZhayTee]

So, we all know that in all forms of multiplayer mode (internet or LAN) there is an inexplicable crash-to-desktop bug which happens at seemingly random times during the course of any given game on any given computer.

This bug wouldn't even remotely be a concern if this game didn't completely obliterate most other games in terms of sheer fun-factor.

In other words, my friend and I adore the crap out of this game, and we play it even despite the fact that we KNOW our multiplayer games are going to fail. It's that good.

Thus, I present two questions to the Mucky Foot cats:

1) Is the bug completely shrouded in mystery, or do you think you guys will ever be able to take a crack at locating/fixing it?

2) If the answer to #1 is "no", when will you release the game source to those of us who can code and would go rabid at the opportunity to fix the bug (and, hell, even expand the game as we see fit!*&@#%)

3) Meef.

Anywho. Loot.

--JT

[DMA57361]

See my theory, here -> http://forums.eidosgames.com/showthr...threadid=21755

I've not tested it yet.

But my sister got back from holiday this morning, so I can finally get to her computer to try it out.

Basically, I think it's the auto-saving. If you write-protect the autosave files the game comes up with a "autosave failed warning" so it doesn't crash. Try locking the autosave files on every computer and report back! (Please, so whatever result I get from the test is verified!)

Hey, it's worth a shot!

[DMA57361]

Managed to play for 1hr 30 without any crash, two PC's, both sets of autosaves locked. (It didn't crash after 1hr 30, but we had to stop for other reasons)

That's a lot longer than the 15-30mins we normally get.

Look's like it might be helping thou.

[Hand-E-Food]

Wow. And I honestly thought it was a silly idea!

[Tyrain]

We had three PCs running Startopia over IPX. We continually got Failed to Autosave messages and the game ran about 35 minutes, which isn't bad but then one PC dropped to desktop.

We're considering reverting back to pre-patch. Has this crash always happened in multiplayer?

This game is addictive but not playable with the consistency of the crashes.

Considering how some PCs don't have the latest Autosaves when the directory isn't read-only, I still think the theory is worth investigating. I'd really love to have a way to disable the autosaves during Multiplayer and test that.

For all I know, the autosave process could still be crashing the game before it gets to the point of attempting to write to the save folder.

[Overmind]

Even though write-protecting helps, I still believe that players should save every ten minutes to be on the safe side. Crashes can happen for other reasons with this, the best of all games.

[DMA57361]

Silly idea! Pffft. I did look into it a bit before I posted it out to everyone!!

Considering how some PCs don't have the latest Autosaves when the directory isn't read-only, I still think the theory is worth investigating. I'd really love to have a way to disable the autosaves during Multiplayer and test that.

Good, that happens to someone else, which helps back it up a bit.

Main problem with this is it can never be proved true (with out MF telling us after checking the code, etc) because there's always the chance it might crash after just another hour, etc - and so on to infinity. Or if it crashes, was it linked to autosave, or something else? should be reasonably easy to prove false though . . .

And, Tyrain, why IPX? I was always under the impression TCP/IP was faster and more stable (althought I'm not a network whizz, so feel free to correct me) . . in fact Startopia's the only game made within the past few years I remember seeing the IPX option on anymore.

Oh, and Overmind - how says it's not just saving in general that does it? Constant manual saving might as well. But, that's pure speculation as I've never played long enough to want to manual save it for later . . although since the game is paused when you do so it'll probably be fine, since I think the games probably fall out of sync, although that doesn't explain the DTD.

What we really need it's as many people to test this with as many other people so we can see if it's going to make multiplayer more worth it . . .

[Overmind]

Right now, all we can do is disable Autosave and whistle as we go. There may well be something in your theory of Autosaving bringing it out of synch, though. Precautions should still be taken, StarTopia is a bit tricky crash-wise. Regular saving is required, Auto or not. How about once ever fifteen, twenty minutes unless a player is playing from a particularly cantankerous machine?

[DMA57361]

It crashed. After about 1hr or so it did the bug again. We were saving manually every so often so didn't loose that much game play, but still . . . locking the autosave files does seem to help at the very least, although not fix the problem.

Ah well.

[Overmind]

I think we can say, for the record, that locking Autosave helps. Now, would someone sticky this thread please?

[Hand-E-Food]

[SpaceZuluWarrior]

Well that solves that.

[AlphaOmega]

Ahahaha, thank you Hand-E-Food, you make my job easier.

[Overmind]

Um. Thanks. I never knew you were a mod, Hand-E-Food... well, thanks. Really!