Weird Graphics Bug Makes Demo Unplayable...

[Shamic]

All the menus and load screens are fine, but once I get in game the graphics are completely screwy. What happens is whenever I move around, what was on the screen last just smears in the direction I moved. Eventually, if I let it sit, it usually then updates the image to coincide with wherever I told it to go. It seems there's not really much actual animation going on, except everything seems to be always vibrating a bit. I've tried every settings configuration possible and the problem still occurs.

I'm running a P4 3.0GHz with 512 MB RAM and a GeForce FX 5200, and all my drivers are up to date... any guesses? Never seen this problem before in any game. I'm really disappointed because this game looked like it had real potential, and I probably would have bought it, but now I'm scared to since the demo doesn't work for me.

[AngloSaxon88]

Since you own an NVIDIA card I would suggest you DOWNGRADE your video drivers.

Many others, including myself, have had this "smearing" issue with the v66.93 Unified Drivers from NVIDIA (dated early November). The drivers from July, v66.77, work just fine with CotN.

I own an FX5200 and had this problem. It doesn't appear to be a Titled Mill issue; more of an NVIDIA issue.

You can either "rollback" your driver within windows, if you know how, or simply download the v66.77 from NVIDIA within their driver archives.

If you have Windows XP/2000, then follow this link:

http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp-2k_archive.html

Hope this helps!

[Shamic]

Fixed it right up. Thanks a million.

[trypist]

I am having a similar problem with the demo. I have an ATI Radeon 9800 XL and when the demo comes up it is all to one side and twisted and I can never put it quite right, no matter how I try. When I have finished putting it right and exit the game, then, when I try again the same graphics come up.
In addition to that when I exit the game the general graphics of the monitor have twisted and, again, I have been unable, so far, to put them quite right. I was thinking that I would have to do a system restore and delete the demo, but that shouldn't be necessary, should it?
Philip Tarbuck 22 Nov 04

[trypist]

I forgot to mention that I have been to the ATI site to update the drivers but I cannot see where, on that site, you can simply update the drivers without installing completely new drivers. There are severe warnings about what might happen if you happen to instal the wrong driver. Are you able to help with that?
Philip Tarbuck 22 Nov 04

[NeilV]

I forgot to mention that I have been to the ATI site to update the drivers but I cannot see where, on that site, you can simply update the drivers without installing completely new drivers. There are severe warnings about what might happen if you happen to instal the wrong driver. Are you able to help with that?
Philip Tarbuck 22 Nov 04

With ATI you need to uninstall old drivers compleatley they do have a tool for this find at ATI Cat Uninstall Tool (http://www.ati.com/support/drivers/misc/catalystutils.html) then reboot and install new version it saves a whole lot of trouble to do it this way.

PS Latest Cat driver for Radion cards (http://www.ati.com/support/drivers/win2k/radeonwdm-2k.html?type=2k&prodType=graphic&prod=products2kdriver&submit.x=13&submit.y=7&submit=GO%21) (XP and 2000)

Its from the 2000 page but driver is for both OS

[Manni]

Hello Trypist,

I am having a similar problem with the demo. I have an ATI Radeon 9800 XL and when the demo comes up it is all to one side and twisted and I can never put it quite right, no matter how I try. When I have finished putting it right and exit the game, then, when I try again the same graphics come up.
I have the same card and no problems. How did you connect your card with the monitor? per DVI or VGA cable?
Do you have the ATI Control-Center installed or the ATI Control-Panel? With the C-Center you will be able to fix the position on the screen.
--------------------------------
In addition to that when I exit the game the general graphics of the monitor have twisted and, again, I have been unable, so far, to put them quite right. I was thinking that I would have to do a system restore and delete the demo, but that shouldn't be necessary, should it?
No, it`s not necessary. I had the same problem. I had set my gamma to a lower point and stored it there. By finishing the demo my ATI-settings were pushed back to default....always. Until I deleted all ATI-drivers and installed the Omega. Now my gamma-settings are solid.

[trypist]

I have looked and I can't tell which sort of control centre I have for the ATI or even how to find the ATI. Search doesn't find it directly but finds loads of things using it, so far as I can tell. Have you any idea where to find it or which particular file to make Search seek?
The only trouble with lowering the gamma, I find that when the gamma is lower the picture is darker and I can't really quite see what is going on. I am not quite sure what the rest of the paragraph there means.
I am sorry to be such a pain but any help you can give would be greatly appreciated. I like city building games and don't really like war games. I am not into brutality.
Philip Tarbuck 22 Nov 04

[Manni]

Hello Trypist,

with the 9800XL card you have one of the finest that comes along!
If you go to www.ati.com and choose "drivers & software"....a box will open where to pick your driver.
Now in the left square you pick your system--in the next, which will open after system, you pick Graphic driver--then opens another square where you take RADEON family and GO----and there you are! You`ll find the Catalyst driver Version 4.11 !
Now then............the top lot shown includes Display Driver,Control Panel and WDM Capture driver, all in all 26.1 MB

the next lot includes Display Driver, CATALYST Control Center, WDM Capture driver, all in all 29.8 MB .

Underneath you can get them all separately if you wish.

Of course, when you muck about with the gamma, things will get darker. Just do it the way you like.
Along with the control-center comes a big HELP-FILE which explains most.

Do pay attention to the ATI Driver and Software Installation Instructions on the same page!

[Keith]

One word of caution about installing the Catalyst control panel version of the ATI drivers. Catalyst Control panel requires that you also install Microsoft's FRAMENET 1.1 application.

Once FRAMENET installed you will be prompted to to "login" each time you power up or reboot the computer. To get rid of this prompt you will have to change the user account settings for your local user account.

Here's what the Catalyst Control center looks like on my system:

[NeilV]

I dont use the Control Centre myself i always down-load The version with the control panel i find it just as useful

[trypist]

Some things work easily and without trouble but, from my point of view, CotN is not like this. I shall be in touch again shortly. I have downloaded the demo again (just in case there is a corrupted file in it) and will write again.
Many thanks for your very kind help.
Philip Tarbuck 22 Nov 04

[Manni]

One word of caution about installing the Catalyst control panel version of the ATI drivers. Catalyst Control panel requires that you also install Microsoft's FRAMENET 1.1 application.

That`s true Keith but no problem.

Once FRAMENET installed you will be prompted to to "login" each time you power up or reboot the computer. To get rid of this prompt you will have to change the user account settings for your local user account.
But that is easy to handle. It works fine with me....as long as no one else uses the pc.
No problem...

[trypist]

I have discovered very recently that my monitor is full of dust and will not do some of the ordinary things that monitors will do, such as adjusting the screen when you get a picture badly presented. This may be the reason that the downloaded demo I had for Children of the Nile was badly presented and I could not put it right.
I shall try again.
Philip Tarbuck 26 Nov 04

[trypist]

This time the download was just fine and the demo plays well. I don't know about the sound just yet because I haven't connected my sound card.
This game looks really good.
Philip Tarbuck 26 Nov 04