SH4: Please tell my why my game crashes!

Safe-Keeper · 12-26-06, 03:42 PM

I'm currently kneed-deep in bug-solving in NorOps, experiencing CTDs and not succeeding at finding the reasons. For example, my LND file is causing a CTD because of probably one single city. Problem is that out of 286 entries, it's hard to find the single one causing the CTD.

Currently, I'm experiencing a CTD without knowing that causes it. Is it the new additions to the locations.cfg file? Is it that they're too close together? Is it the new entries to the Norwegian ship roster? Is it something else? Is it a combination of the changes? I don't know, I'm frustrated, and I'm getting tired of fixing bugs when I could've been adding more content (as if I need to explain. I'm sure that as game developers, I'm sure you know what I mean better than me

).

So either way, is there a possibility of you incorporating a good "CTD report" system into Silent Hunter 4.

For example, if I add a new entry into Locations.cfg

Code:

[Location 639]                ; More Pearl Harbour Industry
Long=So and so
Lat=Such and such
Heading=60
OnLand=true
ShowOnMap=true
FileName=Small_US_Idnustry
LocationName=PearlIndustry

Let's say this entry is what causes a CTD. Rather than having the game crash without telling me why, I'd love it if it told me something like

Code:

Silent Hunter 4 crashed due to an error in Location 639 in locations.cfg. The file "Small_US_Idnustry" was not found.

in which case I'd know that I'd mis-typed "Industry" and that fixing this error would solve the problem (I was actually stuck for about ten minutes wondering why a new harbour I'd placed didn't show up - before realizing I'd forgotten the "m" in "Wilhelmshaven"

).

Please, dearest developers, when I mess up your splendid game due to my clumsy modding efforts, please tell me what I've done wrong so I can put it right! I'd make me a happy Norseman! It'd make me love Romania! It'd make me love you! Please!

Love (of which there'll be even more if you do as I say:p),
Safe-Keeper.
PS: Is there a possibility you could have a future Dev Diary shed some more light on modding SH4 (discussing mod tools, de-bugging, etc.)?
PS2: How many wondered if I'd gotten my hands on an alpha version of SH4?

jimmie · 12-27-06, 01:20 PM

Those "debug msgs" are usually stripped out in favor of performance boost... They do have those messages with debug/devlopement build, or I guess they may even have dynamically re-loadable cfg file etc feature to some extent...

But yes I too hope SH4 can be run on with debug console..

jimmie · 12-27-06, 01:29 PM

ps. and just more a bit hint for binary files! just leave even unfinished in-dev only text would save dozen or hundreds of painful pure reverees engineer hours...

John Channing · 12-27-06, 01:54 PM

One of the tricks we used to use in Projeckt Messerwhatitsname was, when you thought you were finished with changes to the config files, we would copy and paste them into word for a quick spell check.

It was a long way from perfect, and still missed about a million problems, but it did help from time to time.

JCC

12-26-06, 03:42 PM	#1
Safe-Keeper Ocean Warrior Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Norway Posts: 3,234 Downloads: 11 Uploads: 0	SH4: Please tell my why my game crashes! I'm currently kneed-deep in bug-solving in NorOps, experiencing CTDs and not succeeding at finding the reasons. For example, my LND file is causing a CTD because of probably one single city. Problem is that out of 286 entries, it's hard to find the single one causing the CTD. Currently, I'm experiencing a CTD without knowing that causes it. Is it the new additions to the locations.cfg file? Is it that they're too close together? Is it the new entries to the Norwegian ship roster? Is it something else? Is it a combination of the changes? I don't know, I'm frustrated, and I'm getting tired of fixing bugs when I could've been adding more content (as if I need to explain. I'm sure that as game developers, I'm sure you know what I mean better than me). So either way, is there a possibility of you incorporating a good "CTD report" system into Silent Hunter 4. For example, if I add a new entry into Locations.cfg Code: [Location 639] ; More Pearl Harbour Industry Long=So and so Lat=Such and such Heading=60 OnLand=true ShowOnMap=true FileName=Small_US_Idnustry LocationName=PearlIndustry Let's say this entry is what causes a CTD. Rather than having the game crash without telling me why, I'd love it if it told me something like Code: Silent Hunter 4 crashed due to an error in Location 639 in locations.cfg. The file "Small_US_Idnustry" was not found. in which case I'd know that I'd mis-typed "Industry" and that fixing this error would solve the problem (I was actually stuck for about ten minutes wondering why a new harbour I'd placed didn't show up - before realizing I'd forgotten the "m" in "Wilhelmshaven"). Please, dearest developers, when I mess up your splendid game due to my clumsy modding efforts, please tell me what I've done wrong so I can put it right! I'd make me a happy Norseman! It'd make me love Romania! It'd make me love you! Please! Love (of which there'll be even more if you do as I say:p), Safe-Keeper. PS: Is there a possibility you could have a future Dev Diary shed some more light on modding SH4 (discussing mod tools, de-bugging, etc.)? PS2: How many wondered if I'd gotten my hands on an alpha version of SH4? __________________ First Strike Mod tester. Hardcore sub skipper.

12-27-06, 01:20 PM	#2
jimmie Lieutenant Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Japan Posts: 259 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Those "debug msgs" are usually stripped out in favor of performance boost... They do have those messages with debug/devlopement build, or I guess they may even have dynamically re-loadable cfg file etc feature to some extent... But yes I too hope SH4 can be run on with debug console..

12-27-06, 01:29 PM	#3
jimmie Lieutenant Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Japan Posts: 259 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	ps. and just more a bit hint for binary files! just leave even unfinished in-dev only text would save dozen or hundreds of painful pure reverees engineer hours...

12-27-06, 01:54 PM	#4
John Channing Sea Lord Join Date: Sep 1998 Posts: 1,846 Downloads: 163 Uploads: 5	One of the tricks we used to use in Projeckt Messerwhatitsname was, when you thought you were finished with changes to the config files, we would copy and paste them into word for a quick spell check. It was a long way from perfect, and still missed about a million problems, but it did help from time to time. JCC