Gold: S.T.A.L.K.E.R.

[shaihulud]

Well, apparently, I have found the issue. It seems to be a pathing problem and intrinsic to the game. According to the log it wants to find a file in the wrong location of the drive and not in the correct folder. Who else here has the game manually installed to another location rather than default?

Here is the error section of the log:

FATAL ERROR

[error]Expression : Not available
[error]Function : CRender::texture_load
[error]File : D:\xray-svn\xr_3da\xrRender\Texture.cpp
[error]Line : 357
[error]Description : D3DXCreateTextureFromFileInMemoryEx ( HW.pDevice,S->pointer(),S->length(), D3DX_DEFAULT,D3DX_DEFAULT, IMG.MipLevels,0, IMG.Format, D3DPOOL_SYSTEMMEM, D3DX_DEFAULT, D3DX_DEFAULT, 0,&IMG,0, &T_sysmem )
[error]Arguments : d:\program files\s.t.a.l.k.e.r. - shadow of chernobyl\gamedata\textures\ui\ui_icon_photo.dds

Interesting too the game detects the architecture as a P3. A bit behind the times….

* Detected CPU: GenuineIntel P3 family, F6/M15/S6, 2666.00 mhz, 65-clk 'rdtsc'
* CPU Features: RDTSC, MMX, SSE, SSE2

[CrowdAds]

[TQ]

I never use default install paths for games and Stalker would be included in that.
I'm going to make a backup copy of my saves before applying the patch just to be on the safe side.

[polonyc2]

Originally Posted by TQ

I never use default install paths for games

any special reason for this?

[TQ]

Yep...traditionally it's been to keep my OS partition dedicated to critical files. It makes keeping images of the OS small and keeps defrag times down.

Also back in the early days of computer gaming, games were notoriously unreliable and tended to muck with the operating system.
Certainly in large part that's no longer true but it's an old habit that I haven't seen a good reason to change.

[traveler]

Originally Posted by shaihulud

[snip]

Edit: Ugh, never mind found them. I am getting seriously tired of these games placing my data where ever they please. The files are located in: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\STALKER-SHOC\savedgames

I hate ... stupid idiot programmers !!!!!

They seem to think that everyone has unlimited space in the partition where the OS and settings are.

Stupid idiots !!!!!!!!!!!



__________________

Visit and chat with the Buds at the #ABxZone channel on EFnet Internet Relay Chat
If you don't have it then download mIRC from www.mIRC.com

[traveler]

Originally Posted by TQ

Yep...traditionally it's been to keep my OS partition dedicated to critical files. It makes keeping images of the OS small and keeps defrag times down.

[snip]

Yep. I do the same.

The OS partition is not the place for games or programs.



__________________

Visit and chat with the Buds at the #ABxZone channel on EFnet Internet Relay Chat
If you don't have it then download mIRC from www.mIRC.com

[CanterwoodBoy]

I have not installed the patch as the readme suggests that it mainly fixes bugs in Multiplayer, and i do not want to risk screwing up my game. Anyone made positive experience with the patch?

[zapionics<alt>]

Originally Posted by CanterwoodBoy

I have not installed the patch as the readme suggests that it mainly fixes bugs in Multiplayer, and i do not want to risk screwing up my game. Anyone made positive experience with the patch?

So far I'd say my experience is neutral, ie: no problems but no visible benefits either. I went from 1.0001 to 1.0003. They do list a couple of fixes in the readme so I think its worth it. My game wasnt installed to the default path either (whatever that is).

[polonyc2]

bought S.T.A.L.K.E.R the day it came out played for a little bit, wasn't really blowing me away so I put it on the shelf...started a new game after the new patch was released and I'm enjoying the game a lot right now...this game definitely requires a bit of a learning curve though before it becomes really enjoyable

a few gripes I have with the game so far...the manual sucks...doesn't give you important information...you pretty much have to figure it out on your own as you play...like the fact that you can break open crates (which even at the very beginning of the game gets you artifacts, weapons, med kits etc etc)...manual also doesn't tell you what all the on screen icons mean...after a few minutes of playing a spoon and fork icon appeared on the screen...after messing around in my PDA and inventory I finally got it---means you are hungry and need to eat

side quests are numerous early on but barely give you anything of importance that cannot be found for free scavenging...some side quests are broken---I killed the trader stalker (who turned out to be Nimble, the guy I rescued earlier in the game) only to not have the game recognize this fact

they should have given you more then 1 day (game time) to complete side quests as sometimes you have to travel far off to complete them and time runs out

to be continued...

[shaihulud]

Traveler, did you ever play the new Pool of Radiance (http://poolofradiance.com/)? It was so riddle with bugs my gaming click called it Poop of Radiance. One of the worst bugs was the installer. Even though you selected another drive or partition it installed it only to C:\ no matter what! A patch was later released and moved the game to the “installed” location. However, I was so infuriated because I could not believe such a simple bug was missed. This took me literally one second to spot.

I have always segregated my data. I have 3 hard drives in my system and each has its own purpose of usage. One of the very main reasons is I know how to gain better concurrent drive usage.

[TQ]

Originally Posted by polonyc2

...the manual sucks...doesn't give you important information...you pretty much have to figure it out on your own as you play...

You're right about that. I found this link to be helpful:

IGN Advertisement

(...it says "ad" but once you're past that it's on to the very helpful game guide and walkthrough...)

[polonyc2]

Originally Posted by TQ

You're right about that. I found this link to be helpful:

IGN Advertisement

nice!!...actually gives you most of the important info...along with a few tips...here's one nice tip from that site...

Time Variation

The passage of time can vary with the pressing of the NUMPAD / and NUMPAD * keys.

These two keys are bound permanently but not listed on the control options. If you find yourself dying quickly, change the time passing to the slowest setting so you can deal with things in real time.

When you fast forward the game's time, note that enemies do not move or act faster (neither do you). Only the time of day passes faster as you move from one map to another.

[zapionics<alt>]

Originally Posted by polonyc2

...Time Variation
...

I think this feature has been mentioned about 3 times in this thread already!
I recommend on your first play through dont use it, otherwise you might lose out on some of the really scary firefights that happend in darkness.

I may have to take back what I said earlier about no performance improvement with the 1.0003 patch, the gameplay is very smooth at the moment with all sliders maxed out, but I'm only at the garbage so will see how it goes once I get into the more complex levels.

Replaying the game on veteran is very enjoyable as the enemies are nicely challenging. The firefight at Bes's camp took a few reloads to complete.

For some reason when I was searching for the stash at the little house by the bridge in Cordon the army unit at the checkpoint attacked me, which didnt happen the first time. They actually came over to the house and I had to escape to the roof where I picked them off one by one. I climbed down again after a very tough fight and as I was crawling through the house a dog came walking in through a door! I had to quickly reload my empty gun before it detected me and as my reload animation played all I could do was look at it standing there in the doorframe with the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. Suddenly it lunged at me just as I managed to squeeze off a round at it, just in the nick of time. Awesome fun!

[polonyc2]

question: I'm trying to complete an many of the side quests and stashes as possible...but with at least 2 of the stashes so far they are pretty much being guarded by an anomoly and there is no way of getting to it without significant health loss, death or the use of a few med kits (which I do not want to waste)...do I just wait it out and will the anomoly eventually move away or do they always remain in the same spot guarding the stash?

I currently am equipped with 1 Thorn artifact and 2 Stone Blood artifacts...I generally like to use artifacts which help reduce radiation...anything that increases radiation I just sell to the trader

[traveler]

Originally Posted by shaihulud

Traveler, did you ever play the new Pool of Radiance (http://poolofradiance.com/)? It was so riddle with bugs my gaming click called it Poop of Radiance. One of the worst bugs was the installer. Even though you selected another drive or partition it installed it only to C:\ no matter what! A patch was later released and moved the game to the “installed” location. However, I was so infuriated because I could not believe such a simple bug was missed. This took me literally one second to spot.

I have always segregated my data. I have 3 hard drives in my system and each has its own purpose of usage. One of the very main reasons is I know how to gain better concurrent drive usage.

Is Pool Of Radiance first or third person?



__________________

Visit and chat with the Buds at the #ABxZone channel on EFnet Internet Relay Chat
If you don't have it then download mIRC from www.mIRC.com