Game Freeze

[Beavil]

My symptoms sound very similar to johnstumbo's description.

I have been checking in on these forum posts all afternoon/evening trying to figure out why my screen keeps locking up requiring a reboot of my computer.

I have all the game settings down to their lowest possible quality/best performance.

Approximately three minutes into the tutorial game (Kingdom Campaign), just as I am trying to place a well, or a grain field, the game freezes. It seems more impacted by the amount of time the game has been running than by anything else.

I also attempted to play one of the stand alone scenario games. I built for some time in pause mode, but once I started the characters running again the game froze.

My computer meets all of the requirements listed on the game box. I have the nVidia GeForce 6600 GT card, and I have the newest driver for it (9.1.4.7). My graphics card is DirectX 9 compliant according to Keith's list (See the attached DXDiag for details).

I have all the proper software updates, but I'm still having no luck getting this game to run on my computer. I have games that are equally as complex (if not more so) than Caesar 4 that I play on a regular basis with no problems (i.e., Oblivion).

I have had the demo for a week and it has been running fine. I have had no problems with any of my other games or software. This game is the only one that's not running right.

I am encouraged by Phil's suggestion that those "who need to know" are working on a solution, but I'll be VERY unhappy if the solution is, "Whoops! Looks like you need a newer (insert technical jargon here)! Tough luck, sister!":rolleyes:

I hope to hear an official announcement of a patch very soon! The anticipation of not knowing when I'll finally get to start lording over my tiny virtual subjects is killing me!

Thanks.

[goonsquad]

I'm having exactly the same issues. Lockups in the first tutorial. I had no such problems with the demo . DxDiag is attached. It is a very similar graphics card. Note that my processor speed is incorrectly stated in the dxdiag, presumably because it's a dual core processor.

[PCDania]

@goonsquad

Have you installed the AMD Dual-Core Optimizer patch from AMD (or Microsoft)?
You can get AMD's patch here: http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_871,00.html by clicking on the "AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual Core Processor Utilities and Updates" link. The AMD Dual-Core Optimizer is at the top. If you have allready installled the DualCore patch from Microsoft then you might not need the AMD patch.

[goonsquad]

Thanks Phil and PCDania, I'll try that suggestion.

It worked OK today in the first mission, but when I tried Caesar's Challenge (Caesarea) it began to lock up about 6 months in.

[Vanthi]

Greetings all. I just got the game yesterday, and am having freeze issues as well. In the third tutorial it was particularly bad, often when placing fountains. However, it has locked my machine up at other times as well.

I do have an ATI card (dxdiag attached), hopefully it is not a problem with the card. I have the settings on 'best performance'.

[vic_4]

Thanks Phil and PCDania, I'll try that suggestion.

It worked OK today in the first mission, but when I tried Caesar's Challenge (Caesarea) it began to lock up about 6 months in.
When I play on line I get often stutters, but I think it depends from internet connection, could it br this your problem?

[Vanthi]

Thanks Phil, I will look into rolling back the drivers. If I can figure it out, that is!

The new favorite freeze point is when I get the message that Caesar is sending an army to replace me. Maybe my citizens really don't want me to go....

[goonsquad]

My problem seems to be fixed now. As was suggested by PCDania and Phil, I downloaded the Athlon Dual Core update and also all Windows updates. Now it's running good. Thanks peoples.

[Nimlot]

I also have freezing problems (in the game that is :D ).

Especially in connection with requests or demands from Rome, when the request screen comes up and I click "ship it" - game will freeze and I have to reboot. Same problem if I try to do too many things at once, like click "undo" and try to place new building right after each other.

[mouse]

Nimlot two suggestions for your system try by rolling back your Ati video drivers to older ones dated between January 2006 and May 2006 and set your page file minimum to 1000mb. It will speed things up because windows won't have to resize the page file as often.

[Nimlot]

Hi Mouse :cool:

I actually had to update my driver to the new one because the old was lagging so bad I could not play the demo, so that might not be such a great idea :D

[Manni]

Hi Mouse :cool:

I actually had to update my driver to the new one because the old was lagging so bad I could not play the demo, so that might not be such a great idea :D

It is a matter of trying sometimes......:rolleyes:

I`d even say you try it with Catalyst 6.9 which shows up after install as
6.14.0010.6635
yours at the moment is 6.14.0010.6631 which is Catalyst 6.8 from August

Please use the ATI-driver-uninstall-tool when you change to make it a clean job.
Or use driver-cleanerPro instead which I use every month when changing

[Vanthi]

I spent some quality time with the ATI Catalyst Control Center last night. I have found something that works for me so I wanted to share it. I have my settings set for an MMO I play and changed a few to see if it made a difference.

Going into the 3D controls and setting the anti-aliasing to 'let application decide' seems to have stopped the freezing. I played for over an hour and half with no freezing, and I deliberately tried to make it freeze any way I could.

Could be a coincidence, but it might be worth a try. :)

[Keith]

I have all my settings that have that options set that way on my control panel. Game runs fine here.

[Nimlot]

I spent some quality time with the ATI Catalyst Control Center last night. I have found something that works for me so I wanted to share it. I have my settings set for an MMO I play and changed a few to see if it made a difference.

Going into the 3D controls and setting the anti-aliasing to 'let application decide' seems to have stopped the freezing. I played for over an hour and half with no freezing, and I deliberately tried to make it freeze any way I could.

Could be a coincidence, but it might be worth a try. :)

I already have that setting - and game still freeze from time to time here :(