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IDProjectCategoryLast Update
0002216AI War 1 / ClassicBug - OtherJan 8, 2011 2:09 am
Reporternorthcornice Assigned ToChris_McElligottPark  
Status resolvedResolutionfixed 
Product Version4.058 
Fixed in Version4.063 
Summary0002216: AI SuperTerminal causes system freeze on planet capture
DescriptionI noticed this about 8 versions ago, and thought it might go away if I updated to the latest build. I am playing a 60 planet snake map. One planet has an AI SuperTerminal on it. When capturing the planet, as soon as the logistical command station is finished building, the game freezes. The only way to clear it is to log out, the task cannot be cleared in Task Manager. I have a before save, and I've pretty much had to leave this planet alone in order to continue playing. Task Manager (Process Explorer) does not respond, although it tries to open.

Updated to 4.058 and it still freezes.
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northcornice

Dec 29, 2010 4:33 pm

reporter  

7evenx.sav (135,463 bytes)

TechSY730

Dec 29, 2010 4:47 pm

reporter   ~0007228

Last edited: Dec 29, 2010 4:47 pm

This should all be considered an IIRC:

One of two things. One, do you have a single or dual core system? If it is a single core, AI War may be in a loop and starving the OS the cycles it needs to start task manager. Once task manager is (eventually) up, it has a higher priority and should run just fine.

Or two, sounds like some sort of weird graphics API issue or something. Long technical explanation up ahead; you have been warned.

Windows is terrible at managing top-bottom states of windows when one of the applications involved is in the middle of a call to the graphics API of Windows. This is most prominent with DirectX; if an application hangs on such a call, then that application may stay on top pretty much no matter what. In other words, if a call into some parts of Windows' graphics API hangs (like if DirectX has a bugged loop in it or a deadlock or something), the app behaves weird. (Worse, sometime USER LEVEL calls to DirectX can cause a BSOD, DirectX is weird)

Now, I think this can also happen if the application spams calls to DirectX, so this may be AI War's fault or Microsoft's fault.

It may also not be DirectX, but some other part of Windows' graphics API.

In other words, this may be a bug in AI war, but the task manager not showing up is Microsoft's fault.

northcornice

Dec 29, 2010 9:10 pm

reporter   ~0007236

Quad-core. At any rate this can be reproduced. I have been playing this same game on and off for about 2 weeks. Every time a new beta comes out, I install and try again. The planet is Tang.

TechSY730

Dec 29, 2010 9:36 pm

reporter   ~0007237

Yea, sounds like maybe a bug in AI war (or maybe not a bug) that is triggering a bug somewhere in the Windows' API (or maybe some device driver). There is just so many hooks that could lock up the UI it isn't funny at all.

northcornice

Dec 30, 2010 8:16 am

reporter   ~0007250

I was able to get a dump file using procdump for the hung window if you are interested.

Chris_McElligottPark

Jan 7, 2011 6:53 pm

administrator   ~0007791

Thanks for the report, and particularly for the save!

* Fixed a bug in recent versions of the game that was causing the game to hang in some savegames when a superterminal planet was captured. It depended on which ships the AI had unlocked as to whether the freeze would happen.

northcornice

Jan 8, 2011 2:08 am

reporter   ~0007957

Cheers, glad I could contribute.!

Chris_McElligottPark

Jan 8, 2011 2:09 am

administrator   ~0007960

It's much appreciated!

Issue History

Date Modified Username Field Change
Dec 29, 2010 4:33 pm northcornice New Issue
Dec 29, 2010 4:33 pm northcornice File Added: 7evenx.sav
Dec 29, 2010 4:47 pm TechSY730 Note Added: 0007228
Dec 29, 2010 4:47 pm TechSY730 Note Edited: 0007228
Dec 29, 2010 9:10 pm northcornice Note Added: 0007236
Dec 29, 2010 9:36 pm TechSY730 Note Added: 0007237
Dec 30, 2010 8:16 am northcornice Note Added: 0007250
Jan 7, 2011 6:53 pm Chris_McElligottPark Note Added: 0007791
Jan 7, 2011 6:53 pm Chris_McElligottPark Status new => resolved
Jan 7, 2011 6:53 pm Chris_McElligottPark Fixed in Version => 4.063
Jan 7, 2011 6:53 pm Chris_McElligottPark Resolution open => fixed
Jan 7, 2011 6:53 pm Chris_McElligottPark Assigned To => Chris_McElligottPark
Jan 8, 2011 2:08 am northcornice Note Added: 0007957
Jan 8, 2011 2:09 am Chris_McElligottPark Note Added: 0007960