Uh oh. What's going on?

Syxx_Killer · 11-30-05, 03:02 PM

I just recently started playing around with SHIII again after quite a while off. I had just started the game and was enroute to DH22 from Brest. I was just a day or two out when I went topside from the map screen. I was shocked at what I saw. It was cloudy and there were lots of distortions. It was as if the wormhole and somehow exploded. I am using the atmosphere mod, but have seen clouds before with no distortions. I have not installed anything driver wise except when I installed the CCC version of the ATI Catalyst 5.10 drivers quite a while back. I took a few screenshots:

Here is an ocean view. I'm not sure how much this shot will be of any significance.

Is this a known issue with the atmosphere mod? I never played with the mod extensively, so I cannot be absolutely sure. I exited the game and reloaded a few minutes later. I saved at a point when the skies were clear. I waited until the next game day and the clouds turned overcast. I again went topside and they looked normal. This one has me worried. Please tell me it's mod related and not a screwy video card (less than a year old).

I have never experienced any graphical anomalies since I had the game (got it shortly after patch 1.2 was released).

CWorth · 11-30-05, 03:21 PM

The top screenshots are showing a flaw that has been in the game since its release..and has been fixed by a mod since then.Nothing to do with your video card or drivers.

Not sure what Im looking at in the screenshot of the water as that looks normal to me.

Look for Seeadler's "Cloud Fix" mod here

Not sure if this will work with the atmosphere mod at all though.

Curval · 11-30-05, 03:35 PM

That second pic is FREAKING ME OUT MAN!

Syxx_Killer · 11-30-05, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CWorth

The top screenshots are showing a flaw that has been in the game since its release..and has been fixed by a mod since then.Nothing to do with your video card or drivers.

Not sure what Im looking at in the screenshot of the water as that looks normal to me.

Look for Seeadler's "Cloud Fix" mod here

Not sure if this will work with the atmosphere mod at all though.

I think I'm confused. Doesn't the atmosphere mod have that cloud fix? I know the wormhole is gone.

Marhkimov · 11-30-05, 04:37 PM

Hmm... Never seen that one before...

Before we "freak" out and get carried away, could you report back if you ever get those "distortions" again? Maybe it was a one-time deal?

Personally, I once did experience certain sound anomalies, but I think it was more due to the fact that I left the computer on for over 48 hours. My system probably just got overheated...

So it could just be as a simple problem as that. Could it have been a graphic card overheat? I dunno, just a thought.

Anyways...

I would've thought that atmosphere mod fixed that problem, because Seeadler made us a custom scene.dat file with the new cloud model. So far, there haven't been any other instances of such "distortions" due to atmosphere mod.

Dowly · 11-30-05, 04:45 PM

I had distortions like that on my last patrol. When the clouds changed to overcast, it was all messed. Then awhile later it went back to normal. I havent installed any sky-related mods in a loooong time, so thatÂ´s not it.

I was thinking of that my graphics cardÂ´s temperature grew too high....

Oh and I have ATI card too, X600 series with omega drivers.

Marhkimov · 11-30-05, 04:58 PM

When I play the game, sometimes I use time compression while still in 3D rendering mode (i.e. I am on the conning tower and I go to 1024x TC).

When the weather changes in those instances, my graphics take a momentary "hit." For instance, I go from clear skies to stormy and overcast: things get blocky while the graphics have to load themselves. However, this momentary graphic "lapse" only lasts for split second, and then all is well when the graphics are fully loaded.

Now using my example, it is possible that Dowly and Syxx_Killer's systems might have gotten overheated after extended play. If so, your system's loading capabilities might be a little slower... Thereby making your graphics load slowly... i.e. overheated computers give you temporary graphic anomolies.

I'm no computer whiz (obviously... :rotfl: ), but maybe this is it?

Syxx_Killer · 11-30-05, 05:31 PM

I was afraid of hearing it might overheat. If it does, that means the fan on my video card is borked.

However, when I exited the mission I went to the Museum. The clouds there were normal.

Marhkimov · 11-30-05, 05:44 PM

I guess you could cross your fingers and hope that it doesn't happen again?

Or you could try running the game with your computer open. That way, you can see if your graphics card fan is running or not.

Marhkimov · 12-01-05, 02:05 AM

Well... I'll be darned... Look:

I tried to make it happen, and guess what?? I was pretty successful...

Basically, I stayed in 3D render and went into 1024x TC. Then all of a sudden, the weather switched from sunny to stormy.

I think when that happens, the graphics just do not load fast enough. It's not too big a deal... Afterwards, all I did was submerge the boat, stayed inside and went into TC for a short while, and then I surfaced again. I went outside and everything was back to normal.

I don't think it's a problem with any mods. I'll bet this also existed in vanilla SH3.

Syxx_Killer · 12-01-05, 08:58 AM

That's EXACTLY like my issue. I guess in a way it's a good thing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by marhkimov

Basically, I stayed in 3D render and went into 1024x TC.

What do you mean by "3D render"? Do you mean you were on the bridge? Did you mod the TC settings?

Marhkimov · 12-01-05, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syxx_Killer

That's EXACTLY like my issue. I guess in a way it's a good thing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by marhkimov

Basically, I stayed in 3D render and went into 1024x TC.

What do you mean by "3D render"? Do you mean you were on the bridge? Did you mod the TC settings?

Yes, I stayed on the bridge and went to full TC.

Yes, I have also changed my TC settings:

[TIME COMPRESSION]
TimeStop=0
RealTime=1
LandProximity=4
CriticalDamage=1
CrewEfficiency=1
AirEnemyDetected=1
SoundEffects=2
CharacterAnim=4
EnemyDetected=8
RadioReport=8
Particles=8
PrayState=8
HunterState=32
3DRender=1024
Maximum=1024

If I want, I can be out on the conning tower and go to 1024 TC. But based on our findings, I don't think that's a very good idea...

Btw, Syxx_Killer, did this cloud effect happen while you were playing normally? The only reason it happened with me was because I forced it...

Syxx_Killer · 12-01-05, 11:53 AM

Oh nuts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by marhkimov

Btw, Syxx_Killer, did this cloud effect happen while you were playing normally? The only reason it happened with me was because I forced it...

Yes, it happened under normal circumstances. I never had the problem before. I still think it might be a mod problem.

Marhkimov · 12-01-05, 12:39 PM

Well, has anyone else seen this?

11-30-05, 03:02 PM	#1
Syxx_Killer Admiral Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 2,387 Downloads: 21 Uploads: 0	Uh oh. What's going on? I just recently started playing around with SHIII again after quite a while off. I had just started the game and was enroute to DH22 from Brest. I was just a day or two out when I went topside from the map screen. I was shocked at what I saw. It was cloudy and there were lots of distortions. It was as if the wormhole and somehow exploded. I am using the atmosphere mod, but have seen clouds before with no distortions. I have not installed anything driver wise except when I installed the CCC version of the ATI Catalyst 5.10 drivers quite a while back. I took a few screenshots: Here is an ocean view. I'm not sure how much this shot will be of any significance. Is this a known issue with the atmosphere mod? I never played with the mod extensively, so I cannot be absolutely sure. I exited the game and reloaded a few minutes later. I saved at a point when the skies were clear. I waited until the next game day and the clouds turned overcast. I again went topside and they looked normal. This one has me worried. Please tell me it's mod related and not a screwy video card (less than a year old). I have never experienced any graphical anomalies since I had the game (got it shortly after patch 1.2 was released).

11-30-05, 04:37 PM	#5
Marhkimov Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Location: Bay Area, California, USA Posts: 2,377 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Hmm... Never seen that one before... Before we "freak" out and get carried away, could you report back if you ever get those "distortions" again? Maybe it was a one-time deal? Personally, I once did experience certain sound anomalies, but I think it was more due to the fact that I left the computer on for over 48 hours. My system probably just got overheated... So it could just be as a simple problem as that. Could it have been a graphic card overheat? I dunno, just a thought. Anyways... I would've thought that atmosphere mod fixed that problem, because Seeadler made us a custom scene.dat file with the new cloud model. So far, there haven't been any other instances of such "distortions" due to atmosphere mod. __________________ It takes two to tango

11-30-05, 04:58 PM	#7
Marhkimov Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Location: Bay Area, California, USA Posts: 2,377 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	When I play the game, sometimes I use time compression while still in 3D rendering mode (i.e. I am on the conning tower and I go to 1024x TC). When the weather changes in those instances, my graphics take a momentary "hit." For instance, I go from clear skies to stormy and overcast: things get blocky while the graphics have to load themselves. However, this momentary graphic "lapse" only lasts for split second, and then all is well when the graphics are fully loaded. Now using my example, it is possible that Dowly and Syxx_Killer's systems might have gotten overheated after extended play. If so, your system's loading capabilities might be a little slower... Thereby making your graphics load slowly... i.e. overheated computers give you temporary graphic anomolies. I'm no computer whiz (obviously... :rotfl: ), but maybe this is it? __________________ It takes two to tango

11-30-05, 05:44 PM	#9
Marhkimov Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Location: Bay Area, California, USA Posts: 2,377 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I guess you could cross your fingers and hope that it doesn't happen again? Or you could try running the game with your computer open. That way, you can see if your graphics card fan is running or not. __________________ It takes two to tango

12-01-05, 02:05 AM	#10
Marhkimov Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Location: Bay Area, California, USA Posts: 2,377 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Well... I'll be darned... Look: I tried to make it happen, and guess what?? I was pretty successful... Basically, I stayed in 3D render and went into 1024x TC. Then all of a sudden, the weather switched from sunny to stormy. I think when that happens, the graphics just do not load fast enough. It's not too big a deal... Afterwards, all I did was submerge the boat, stayed inside and went into TC for a short while, and then I surfaced again. I went outside and everything was back to normal. I don't think it's a problem with any mods. I'll bet this also existed in vanilla SH3. __________________ It takes two to tango

11-30-05, 03:21 PM	#2
CWorth Grey Wolf Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Gettysburg PA Posts: 845 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	The top screenshots are showing a flaw that has been in the game since its release..and has been fixed by a mod since then.Nothing to do with your video card or drivers. Not sure what Im looking at in the screenshot of the water as that looks normal to me. Look for Seeadler's "Cloud Fix" mod here Not sure if this will work with the atmosphere mod at all though.

11-30-05, 03:35 PM	#3
Curval Navy Dude Join Date: May 2005 Location: Bermuda Posts: 177 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	That second pic is FREAKING ME OUT MAN!

11-30-05, 04:45 PM	#6
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,052 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	I had distortions like that on my last patrol. When the clouds changed to overcast, it was all messed. Then awhile later it went back to normal. I havent installed any sky-related mods in a loooong time, so thatÂ´s not it. I was thinking of that my graphics cardÂ´s temperature grew too high.... Oh and I have ATI card too, X600 series with omega drivers.

11-30-05, 05:31 PM	#8
Syxx_Killer Admiral Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 2,387 Downloads: 21 Uploads: 0	I was afraid of hearing it might overheat. If it does, that means the fan on my video card is borked. However, when I exited the mission I went to the Museum. The clouds there were normal.

12-01-05, 12:39 PM	#14
Marhkimov Admiral Join Date: May 2005 Location: Bay Area, California, USA Posts: 2,377 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Well, has anyone else seen this? __________________ It takes two to tango