For those having the "loading sounds" crash: possible fix

[GoShogun]

I don't know if this is a Windows 7 issue, OpenAL issue or Soundblaster X-fi issue, but I kept getting the crash at the "loading sounds". What finally worked for me is I opened up the playback devices menu (right-click on sound icon in lower right) and then disabled ALL playback devices. Then I started up Osmos, got it to load up, and then alt-tabbed back into Windows and re-enabled the sound device I wanted to use and then everything worked out fine with sound and all.

[Meal Worms]

Awesome GoShogun, thanks for the tip! I've added your tip to the Osmos FAQ.

FYI, I've got a code fix that should address this issue. If any of you bought the Steam version of the game and would be will to help test this fix, please email me at daveburke@hemispheregames.com

Thanks!
Dave

[jogger]

Hello,
I'm french and i bought Osmos on steam.
I have windows RC 7, so i'm interested to test your fix.
The game is crashing on "loading sounds" and the tip of GoShogun don't work (maybe i'm doing his tip wrong).
Thanks
Sorry for my english

[Meal Worms]

Hi jogger,

Can you please send a copy of your Osmos.log (in the Osmos documents of your Documents folder) to daveburke@hemispheregames.com?

Thanks!
Dave

[Marq]

Posting here to report that using a steam-version of osmos on a Win7 Professional (engl) machine produces the same error as described above. Disabling all sound devices didn't help Oh, and if there's a fix I can try out, I'd be more than happy to do so. Let me know if you need log etc

[eddybox]

Hi Marq,

I'm running Win7 RC on one of my machines without any problem. Could you post your osmos.log please?

Thanks!
Eddy

[Marq]

Sure, here it is:

Code: Select all

Log opened on Sat Oct 24 14:12:16 2009
Commandline: e:\program files (win7)\steam\steamapps\common\osmos\Osmos.exe
Preinitializing game: STEAM version 1.5.8 1103
Localization: using language "de"
Localization: couldn't load Osmos-de.loc
Localization: falling back to Osmos-en.loc
using sound
showing splash
not using cloud
Creating window...
PC running with 2 monitors
Current res of primary display: 1920 x 1200
Attempting fullscreen mode
Using fullscreen mode: 1920 x 1200, 32 bpp
Initializing GLRenderDevice...
OpenGL version: 1.1.0
Initializing game
Initializing renderer
Loading textures
Loading fonts
Backed up stats to Stats\Backup\Osmos_Oct_24_2009_0010.sta
machine bigEndian-ness = 0, stats file bigEndian-ness = 0, flipping = 0
not using vsync
Received stats and achievements from Steam
Initializing SoundSystem...
Initializing OpenAL
Getting OpenAL device list
Found 1 devices:
  Device 1: Generic Software(256) (DEFAULT)
Using and opening 0: "Generic Software"...
Creating OpenAL context
ALFWInitOpenAL opened device "Generic Software"
Loading pre-splash sounds
Loading post-splash sounds

In case this helps, let me be a bit more precise on what happens:

- doubleclick on Osmos in Steam window
- both screens flash shortly
(1 x 1280x1024; 1x 1920x1200)
- main monitor turn all white for approx 5sec
- menu background appears with nothing else (no menu, no messages): 2-3sec
- message "loading sounds..." appears centered at the bottom, mouse pointer appears
- message "loading sounds..." disappears and it seems nothing else is happening.
- after approx 2minutes, a very light "hemisphere games" logo becomes visible
- the logo fades in with one fade-in step every 10sec
- fully visible, nothing else happens anymore (from what I can tell)
- Leaving the game only works with alt+tab and "end process".

[eddybox]

Hi Marq,

Ahhh... the game isn't actually crashing, it's just running extremely slowly. This is a known issue with some graphics drivers. Update to the latest driver and your problem should be solved. (I had the exact same problem when I first installed win7 on my new laptop until I updated my driver.) Let us know if that works for you, and if not, what graphics hardware you're running.

Thanks,
Eddy

[Marq]

eddybox,

thanks for your answer, you were absolutely right.

For the records, my box is equipped with a GeForce 8800GT. Win7 (Pro final) initially installed a driver ver. 8.15.11.8593.

Manually selecting:

Control Panel
Device Manager
Display Driver
<my card>
Properies
Driver
Update Driver
yes, check
install
reboot

solved the problem. Current driver now is 8.16.11.9107 dated 27.09.09

Starting the game from the Steam window still makes Win7 change back from the Aqua, sorry, Aero-Theme to the standard Theme with a notification and the 3sec all-white screen during the start up remains, but the game acts normally.

Big thanks for all the help - what a great game!

[eddybox]

awesome, glad to hear it's working well for you now marq!
cheers,
eddy