Battle Academy has started crashing

[PhilDunphy]

Hi, I have been playing Battle Academy for a while without any problems but suddenly a couple of days ago the game started freezing whenever I press either the 'Load' menu item or 'Options' which make it impossible to load or save games. I can still launch campaigns OK and it plays until the point I want to save the game through the Options button where everything freezes again. This makes the game effectively unplayable, which is a real pity as it's become a favourite of mine.
I have tried uninstalling it then reinstalling again on Steam and have verified the files - they come up OK. I am playing on a Nitro AN515 using Windows 11. As far as I am aware nothing changed in terms of settings & updates to my laptop immediately before the problem started. I'd be grateful for any help as although the game is very dated and relatively straightforward, I really enjoy it. Thanks.

[pipfromslitherine]

Is it possible that something has changed regarding your folder protections?

Can I get you to try the following:

1 - run in Windowed mode (you can change this in the OPTIONS.TXT file in Documents/My Games/BBCBA - change the FULLSCREEN entry to 0 (zero) and save the file before running the game). This should let you see (more easily) any error popup.
2 - try renaming the BBCBA folder noted above (to anything) and then re-running the game, to determine whether some file(s) have become corrupted.
3 - please post the contents of the error.log file found in the same folder, immediately after causing the issue you describe.

Sorry for the hassles, and hopefully we will have you back playing asap.

Cheers

Pip

[PhilDunphy]

Hi I have followed your instructions and here is the error log:

VER:20600
PLATFORM: WINDOWS
CPU String: GenuineIntel
Stepping ID = 1
Model = 13
Family = 6
Extended model = 8
CLFLUSH cache line size = 64
APIC Physical ID = 4
CPU Brand String: 11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-11400H @ 2.70GHz
Cache Size = 256K
UNKNOWN TAGS IN: CONFIG/SYSTEM.TXT
Unknown Tag: MOVIEMODE
Unknown Tag: DYNAMICENV
Unknown Tag: LAYOUTKILLSENEMYX,
END: CONFIG/SYSTEM.TXT
Found DirectX Version Number: 4.09.00.0904
Creating Device.....
MonkeyInitStart
MonkeyInitStart Is Windowed
MIS: Found DD
MIS: IsHW
MIS: SetCoop
MIS: Done Init 3D Device
MIS: Tex Enum
MIS: SDRS
MIS: Init Decal Render
INITIAL LOAD 3271

[pipfromslitherine]

Was there any error popup when in Windowed mode?

Did renaming the folder allow you to start the game and successfully open options etc?

Cheers

Pip

[PhilDunphy]

The error popup said "BA_STEAM.exe is not responding". Renaming the BBCBA folder did not give me any additional information, the game still crashed at the same point and there was no indication of what was wrong. What about the error log posted above, does this mean anything? Is there a problem with the CONFIG/SYSTEM.TXT?

[pipfromslitherine]

No - that's just normal logging.

So when you run the game, you get into the main menu, but it hangs when you hit Load? In theory if you have renamed the BBCBA folder it shouldn't show the Load option as being available, but I guess you mean if you go into battle and try to save it?

I'll dig in some more - it's frustrating when W11 changes break games that have been working for many years. I agree with you - BA rocks!

Cheers

Pip

[PhilDunphy]

Yes it crashes when you hit 'Load', even with the BBCBA folder renamed this happens, the Load option seems as available as any other menu item but the game freezes when you hit it, the same happens when you hit the Options button. One thought I have had is possibly that a saved game has got corrupted as the Load and Options buttons both relate to loading games. I would be happy for all my saved games to be deleted if it means I can play BA again, I can delete the local saves but not the ones saved to the cloud. Is this something you could do? Could it be the source of the problem? Thanks

[pipfromslitherine]

If you renamed the BBCBA folder, then the game isn't trying to load (or see) your savegames.

Ah - unless perhaps Steam is replacing all your saves from the cloud? Can you try this:

1 - disable cloud saving (go to the game in the Steam list, right click, Properties, then toggle off the option next to "Keep games saves in the Steam cloud...")
2 - now rename the BBCBA folder again
3 - now run the game, and see what happens. You should (if the cloud saving is off) see the popup asking you about firewalls etc.

Cheers

Pip

[PhilDunphy]

YEESSSSSS that worked! At last! I've lost my saves but I don't care as I can play the game again. I think a save game had got corrupted and BA kept trying to load it from the cloud. Thanks so much for your help.

[pipfromslitherine]

You can copy in your saves from the renamed folder (in the SAVES folder) one by one to find the corrupted one.

Glad we managed to sort you out!

Cheers

Pip