Once I finally got the game activated, I tried to play my first game (I am yet to do so) I couldn't connect, and I thought: maybe my internet connection is playing up (this happens a lot) A few hours later, i tried again. and i thought: maybe the servers are down I left the game for a few days, hoping this would be sorted out. Each and every time I try to play, the same issue occurs: It loads fine, says "starting game" Screen is black It says "pick a spot for your commander to spawn" Screen still black, I can only see the message, I can see my username in the top corner (as well as the AI's) I can move my mouse Everything disappears Mouse returns, its the blue spinning wheel I can the the "chrono-cam" bar, it is laggy The cam takes ages to load anything; it takes 15 seconds to load a couple of seconds on the chrono-cam bar Game goes blank, and completely freezes
Try that. Create game with AI and then don't press "ready" before red circle indicator turns green. Depends on number of planets and your CPU/GPU performance this can take up to few minutes. As well you can press Ctrl+P twice and see how GPU memory usage growing, it's indicate that textures are generated at moment. This is indicator which show planet generation status and for some reason in current version when you start before this process finished you'll see black screen and HUD instead of game.
OK thankyou! You said in "current version", so this could be changed later on in the development of the game?
Obviously yes, I totally sure developers know about this behavior. They only introduced planet generation in lobby (before it's generated after you press "ready") and it's probably why it's not work properly. Just try to wait before game generate planets and only then start.
Unfortunately it's make a difference. For some people who start game immediately it's showing black screen and in result client still lagging while server already started game. In result they can't even choose starting position because time out. In the same time start after indicator turn green is fast and let them choose starting position. PS: As I see when you (and everyone) click "ready" server will start game immediately no mater all players generated planets/textures already or not.
That's weird, when I try to ready before the system is generated it gives the message "The game will start when the system has been generated".
We don't have exact details what this message mean, might be it's indicated planets generation status on server-side and not client. Other guess: game start when planet geometry already generated, but textures are not. When you wait in lobby you'll see that game not only using more RAM (it's indicates that planet generation going), but as well video memory. UPD: For those who don't know: video memory usage might be checked by pressing Ctrl+P twice. Might be when game generate textures "in background" in lobby this process going fast, but if you start game fast it's trying to render un-textured planets as well as generate textures and in result both processes going slow and make game freeze.
Oh, that information has helped me as well, now I know of the information behind the problem. I'll give more information upon my next playing of the game (I am busy with homeworks right now)
