checkerboards instead of textures

CrusherCrusher Join Date: 2012-08-21 Member: 156083Members
in Technical Support
Every time I play, after a while I start to get blue checkerboards instead of some textures. I can play sometimes for 10 minutes just fine, sometimes for 15. If the game is in a developed stage I get the checkerboards faster.
It starts with smaller textures (for example I play as aliens and if we get a new upgrade, a checkerboard appears instead of the icon of the upgrade) - alien structures appear to have them, then the hive has one. It continues to get worse (more and more textures are like this) and finally when I respawn after dieing, I just see one huge checkerboard (the minimap is still there and I can see myself there moving and other stuff...)

I'm not sure what the cause of the problem is. I tried reinstalling the game, verified integrity of game cache, but nothing helped.
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  • AngeluszAngelusz Harmonic entropist Join Date: 2003-07-10 Member: 18072Members, Forum Moderators, Constellation, NS2 Playtester
    Do you have this problem in <b>any</b> other games? Normally, seeing 'checkerboards' is often a sign of problems with your video memory. Somehow, the game is unable to load them, I guess.

    Can you post some system specs, drivers etc.?

    Also, if you hadn't already, update your drivers.
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  • CrusherCrusher Join Date: 2012-08-21 Member: 156083Members
    edited August 2012
    I can play pretty much any other game without problems at all( Starcraft 2, Civ 5, League of Legends..) for hours.. .

    AMD Phenom II X4 945 3.01 GHz
    ATI Radeon HD 4850 - driver version : 8.920.0.0
    4 GR RAM
    32-bit OS (win 7)

    drivers are up to date
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  • SmaugSmaug Join Date: 2011-05-23 Member: 100283Members
    edited August 2012
    Just thought I'd mention, a teammate of mine (Cyd'WILDMAN) gets exactly this same problem, just so you know it's not just you, *edit* and that it's only NS2 that it happens in, and his drivers are updated.

    I will get him to give me the details of what happens to him (and what window size he plays in etc etc) as soon as he gets online.
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  • AngeluszAngelusz Harmonic entropist Join Date: 2003-07-10 Member: 18072Members, Forum Moderators, Constellation, NS2 Playtester
    Okay. Next question: What does the console show when you see this problem?

    I'm still thinking towards video memory. Perhaps the engine tries to allocate it, but is unable to do so. How much video memory does that 4850 have?
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  • CrusherCrusher Join Date: 2012-08-21 Member: 156083Members
    I wanted to make a screenshot...but when I use printscreen it's just pitch black. The console shows bunch of errors like this.

    Error: invalid format for resource 'ui/unitstatus_alien.dds'
    Error: couldn't lock file for resource 'ui/unitstatus_alien.dds
    Error: invalid format for resource ui/marine_hud_frame.dds
    Error: couldn't lock file for resource ui/marine_hud_frame.dds
    Error: invalid format for resource ui/unitstatus_marine.dds
    Error: couldn't lock file for resource ui/unitstatus_marine.dds
    Error: invalid format for resource ui/health_cicrle.dds
    Error: couldn't lock file for resource ui/health_cicrle.dds
    Error: invalid format for resource ui/ui_smoke_tile.dds
    Error: couldn't lock file for resourceui/ui_smoke_tile.dds

    The 4850 has 1gb memory.

    When the checkerboards start appearing (on textures like under the command center, alien structures) it's still playable. Then When I respawn the whole screen is covered by a huge one. When I alt+tab into win and pop back into the game it's all gone and I can play again. But they reappear pretty soon again so I have to alttab again... .
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  • SupiSupi Join Date: 2012-08-22 Member: 156231Members
    I get exactly the same problem. Here are my computer specs :

    Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit Service Pack 1
    System Model: P5QL PRO
    Processor: Intel® Core™2 Quad CPU Q9550 @ 2.83GHz (4 CPUs), ~2.8GHz
    Memory: 4096MB RAM
    Available OS Memory: 3072MB RAM
    Page File: 2302MB used, 3837MB available
    DirectX Version: DirectX 11

    Card name: ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2
    Chip type: ATI display adapter (0x9441)
    DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
    Display Memory: 3314 MB
    Dedicated Memory: 2035 MB
    Shared Memory: 1279 MB

    I run the game in 1440 x 900, fullscreen (non-windowed). I'm running Catalyst 12.4 (latest version is 12.6 I believe). Seems to run a bit smoother on that version.

    Overall, since build 216, the game performance has taken a hit compared to all previous versions. When there is a little bit of action, the game gets choppy. I've tried re-installing, turning off shaders in Catalyst, deleting caches files, nothing seems to work. I've also disabled some of the graphical options in the game.

    Keep up the good work Unkown Worlds!
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  • PlaguebearerPlaguebearer Join Date: 2002-03-21 Member: 338Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    I want to chime in with this problem, same circumstances: only happens in NS2, happens after a while of playing. When it does start happening, it snowballs fast into full-screen checkerboards.

    I'm using an Intel i3-2120 CPU, 3.3ghz, 32 bit Windows Ultimate with 8 gigs (not all usable, of course, must upgrade to 64 bit!). I'm using a Radeon 6870 with 1 gig of RAM. I just built this system yesterday, and everything (drivers, etc) is up to date.

    Thanks!
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  • Dirt KingDirt King Join Date: 2012-08-26 Member: 156500Members
    Yep, also have this problem, my computer is pretty bad though.

    OS: Win 7
    Card: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600 XT
    Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo, T7700 @ 2.40GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.4GHz
    Memory: 2048 RAM
    DX11

    Although my computer is dated (to put it gently), I shouldn't be having problems with this game. I know it isn't optimized yet, but I've never had this problem before. I took some screenshots.

    <a href="http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/558699179562130854/68212B9DE1333E8BB2F25CAFC6875324CE6336B7/" target="_blank">http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/55869917...875324CE6336B7/</a>

    <a href="http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/558699179562131262/BB0AD62CC51959FBB1C19F84EA0A0ED7ED4BC919/" target="_blank">http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/55869917...0A0ED7ED4BC919/</a>

    <a href="http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/558699179562131726/8E670D0C6E00D67DDD5E96FA3A97AAB5468CD6BE/" target="_blank">http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/558699...97AAB5468CD6BE/</a>
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  • PlaguebearerPlaguebearer Join Date: 2002-03-21 Member: 338Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    That's how mine begins, but it accumulates as the game progresses, eventually replacing the entire screen.
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  • Dirt KingDirt King Join Date: 2012-08-26 Member: 156500Members
    Yep same, I just started taking these pictures as soon as I saw the glitch. It progresses into unplayable-ness after a while.
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  • swalkswalk Say hello to my little friend. Join Date: 2011-01-20 Member: 78384Members, Squad Five Blue
    Really hope this one is fixed for the patch.
    I get this too, often. And only happened in 216. Along with increasing crashes.
    Here is a demo of it accuring for me, it happens at the end of the first round (fastforward could really be useful here):
    <a href="http://www.speedyshare.com/GzwCU/archaeapcw4.rar" target="_blank">http://www.speedyshare.com/GzwCU/archaeapcw4.rar</a>
    Hope the devs can use that to solve the problem.
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  • WILDMANWILDMAN Join Date: 2011-07-15 Member: 110630Members
    Here's what it looks like when i get it:
    <img src="http://i.imgur.com/IVVrx.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
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  • SupiSupi Join Date: 2012-08-22 Member: 156231Members
    Just installed build 217.

    The bug is still there. This time, there is also checkerboard pattern following structures and players.
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  • CrusherCrusher Join Date: 2012-08-21 Member: 156083Members
    Yeah I just tried 217 as well and still checkerboards remain:(
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  • GeENiEGeENiE Join Date: 2002-06-09 Member: 740Members, Constellation
    edited August 2012
    got same issue(217):
    never had it before 217, it starts after a few minutes in game, and sometimes goes away.


    <img src="http://i48.tinypic.com/8xvssh.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
    <img src="http://i47.tinypic.com/34t8ps1.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
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  • [AwE]Sentinel[AwE]Sentinel Join Date: 2012-06-05 Member: 152949Members
    I have the same problems, but they started for me with 216 and are still there.
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  • SPASMadnessSPASMadness Join Date: 2012-08-30 Member: 156958Members
    edited August 2012
    I have the same problem since the 216. As soon as the checkerboards apears, there's some horribles performances issues, especially during the fights (about 1 frame per second), and since the 217, that problem often end with a crash of the game. Same messages in the console than the others here.
    I'm in the beta since the last year, the few patch before 216 were absolutly fine. I'm waiting for the next patch, the news features looks amazings.
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  • SmaugSmaug Join Date: 2011-05-23 Member: 100283Members
    This is WILDMAN's log, both of which was the entire screen going blue checkerboard:

    <a href="http://i.imgur.com/RK2F3.jpg" target="_blank">http://i.imgur.com/RK2F3.jpg</a>

    <a href="http://i.imgur.com/bGADZ.jpg" target="_blank">http://i.imgur.com/bGADZ.jpg</a>

    Both say the same thing, but in different ways I believe:

    "Invalid format for resource "something.dds"" and "Couldn't load "something.dds" (Invalid Format)"

    WILDMAN also says that it mostly seems to happen when he respawns after something is researched from the Proto lab, so it might be something to do with the game screwing up when it tries to show you something has been researched when you spawn in, but that's just a stab in the dark.

    This is becoming pretty serious, as more and more people are coming across this error. Hope it gets sorted pretty soon.
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  • SPASMadnessSPASMadness Join Date: 2012-08-30 Member: 156958Members
    I hope so.
    I tried crusher's method (alt+tab then come back in the game when the bug shows up) and it seems to work for a few minutes, then I have to do it again. I had the chance to test the exo thanks to that (amazing feature ! overpowered, but amazing !). Still waiting for the next patch to solve this.
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  • AngeluszAngelusz Harmonic entropist Join Date: 2003-07-10 Member: 18072Members, Forum Moderators, Constellation, NS2 Playtester
    Thank you for all the console info and screenshots guys, I've added this bug to the tracker so it'll be looked at.
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  • woodywoody SoCal Woody56 Join Date: 2004-02-14 Member: 26541Members
    I get the same issue + no Xhairs using menumod, with out it no it no issues.
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  • phoenixbbsphoenixbbs Join Date: 2003-02-10 Member: 13379Members, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Subnautica Playtester
    I came across the invalid file format error the other day (as a newbie playtester), and the answer was to clear the cache for NS2, as found here:

    %appdata%/natural selection 2/cache
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  • PlaguebearerPlaguebearer Join Date: 2002-03-21 Member: 338Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    I have no such cache that I can find in my appdata dir. I'd love to be able to resolve this.
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  • HozartisHozartis Join Date: 2009-09-01 Member: 68668Members
    Right now I'm using "windowed" mode and I haven't had a problem since.
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  • PlaguebearerPlaguebearer Join Date: 2002-03-21 Member: 338Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    Weird. Since my last post, that cache dir showed up. Clearing it out fixed this problem, and my marine-weapons-switch lag.
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  • DukeBRDukeBR Join Date: 2007-02-07 Member: 59904Members
    I'm having the same problem ati 4850
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  • Dirt KingDirt King Join Date: 2012-08-26 Member: 156500Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1969452:date=Aug 31 2012, 03:28 PM:name=phoenixbbs)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (phoenixbbs @ Aug 31 2012, 03:28 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1969452"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I came across the invalid file format error the other day (as a newbie playtester), and the answer was to clear the cache for NS2, as found here:

    %appdata%/natural selection 2/cache<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Cleared the cache, started playing, still got those checkerboards :<
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  • DukeBRDukeBR Join Date: 2007-02-07 Member: 59904Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1969793:date=Sep 1 2012, 09:03 PM:name=Dirt King)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dirt King @ Sep 1 2012, 09:03 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1969793"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Cleared the cache, started playing, still got those checkerboards :<<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Already cleaned and the problem continues
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  • SPASMadnessSPASMadness Join Date: 2012-08-30 Member: 156958Members
    <!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Already cleaned and the problem continues<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    It didn't worked for me neither, however, playing with the "windowed" mode seems to work. I still have a few performances issues but at least I can play a full round without massive lag or crash.
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  • DukeBRDukeBR Join Date: 2007-02-07 Member: 59904Members
    Playing in windowed mode no longer has problems

    Tkz guys
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