Black Screen - Game Won't Launch

nacrusnacrus Join Date: 2012-11-17 Member: 171987Members
in Technical Support
<div class="IPBDescription">No error log, followed advice from previous threads</div>I've been trying to play for a while, but I can't on this computer. Every time I try to start the game, I get a black screen with just a cursor appearing, and nothing appears on the screen.

I took the time to record what happens every time I try to launch the game:

<a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZEgX5SG9SW0" target="_blank">http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZEgX5SG9SW0</a>

<a href="http://pastebin.com/4tgc0RyN" target="_blank">Here is my log.txt located in %appdata%/Roaming/Natural Selection 2/</a>

<a href="http://pastebin.com/VHe6mcWB" target="_blank">Also, here is my system_options.xml</a>

So far I have tried <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showtopic=122598" target="_blank">the solutions listed in the stickied thread at the top of this sub-forum.</a> I've deleted the shaders folder and I've run the DXSETUP file. Neither have changed this for me.

I should also note that I am running Windows 8, and I'm fully aware there may be some compatibility issues.

==========
Thanks for all the Dev's work on this awesome game, and I can't wait to play it!
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Comments

  • MaxMax Technical Director, Unknown Worlds Entertainment Join Date: 2002-03-15 Member: 318Super Administrators, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, NS2 Developer, Constellation, Subnautica Developer, Pistachionauts, Future Perfect Developer
    It looks like it didn't initialize your sound device (typically that would be the next line in the log file). Is there anything usual about your sound setup?
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  • nacrusnacrus Join Date: 2012-11-17 Member: 171987Members
    I'm not doing anything funny or out of the ordinary with my sound. However, given that I just installed Windows 8, i have not installed any kind of audio drivers, instead relying on the ones built into Windows 8. I am going to try installing the appropriate Realtek audio drivers, and I will report back.
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  • nacrusnacrus Join Date: 2012-11-17 Member: 171987Members
    edited November 2012
    Alright, after installing RealTek Drivers, I am still not able to start Natural Selection 2. <a href="http://puu.sh/1roAb" target="_blank">Here is a picture of my sound card configuration (as provided by the program Speccy).</a>

    EDIT: As I was typing this, I tried some thing:

    I figured if this was a sound issue, I should disable things that might use sound in an odd way. The only thing I did was close the Mumble voice-chat application.

    <b>Now, the game works. I have tested it with Mumble and without Mumble, and it always crashes with Mumble on, and always works with Mumble off.</b>

    This could be a Mumble thing, it could be a Windows 8 thing, it could be a Natural Selection 2 thing. I just don't know.

    I hope this can help other people.


    Second Edit:
    It seems that the graphics overlay plugin for Mumble is actually what is crashing Natural Selection 2. If that is disabled, I can reliably start NS2.

    <!--coloro:#FF0000--><span style="color:#FF0000"><!--/coloro--><!--sizeo:4--><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->I repeat: The graphics overlay for Mumble crashes Natural Selection 2 (at least with my configuration it does).<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec--><!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->
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  • IronHorseIronHorse Developer, QA Manager, Technical Support & contributor Join Date: 2010-05-08 Member: 71669Members, Super Administrators, Forum Admins, Forum Moderators, NS2 Developer, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Subnautica Playtester, Subnautica PT Lead, Pistachionauts
    Thanks for posting the solution!
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  • nacrusnacrus Join Date: 2012-11-17 Member: 171987Members
    edited November 2012
    <!--quoteo(post=2027495:date=Nov 17 2012, 06:48 PM:name=ironhorse)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ironhorse @ Nov 17 2012, 06:48 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2027495"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Thanks for posting the solution!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Indeed, after being on the internet for a while and troubleshooting what feels like hundreds of games, I have resolved to always explain how I fixed a problem. I don't want to be this guy:

    <img src="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/wisdom_of_the_ancients.png" border="0" class="linked-image" />


    Also, since I've now got the game going, a forum mod can mark this thread/issue as [Solved]
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  • slayer.faithslayer.faith Join Date: 2007-12-10 Member: 63127Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    edited December 2012
    Solved: gigabyte video card monitor/over clocking tool used overlays.... causes black screen of doom.


    -----


    This is what i am seeing, except I get past sound....

    Date: 12/03/12
    Time: 00:22:49
    --------------------------------------------------------------
    Build 232
    Steam initialized
    Render Device: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 (9.18.13.697)
    Sound Device: Speakers (Sound Blaster Recon3Di) 5.1
    Record Device: Microphone (Sound Blaster Recon3Di)

    then it hangs. Not running mumble (but it got past the sound setup I assume).
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