Slitherine

I recently (three weeks ago) purchased a copy of Panzer Corps from Amazon UK (and hence from Slitherine).

The game arrived and I successfully installed it on my PC. I played the first tutorial scenario, progressed to the second and saved it and all was well. I have since been back into the game a second time and again, all was fine. However, I have just tried to load the game (by double-clicking on "play" as before) and this time the load screen has a white border across the top, the introductory video is slow and slighty juddery (the sound also comes and goes e.g. is patchy) and then, following completion of the introductory video, the screen goes black and there is no main menu screen.

I have uninstalled the game and re-installed it several times, downloaded patch 1.2 and executed the patch but the same problem occurs each time and it will not load to the menu screen.

Having successfully installed the game the first time around and played it with no problem (my system specification is beyond that even at recommended level) why will the game now not load properly now please?

I'd be grateful for your assistance as I am really pleased with the game and just want to play it again.

Should I return my disk?

Welcome.
Sorry to hear you're having issues with your game.
No, I don't believe the problem is related with the disk.
I've a suspicion of what it is.
But first I want you to rename the subfolder "Video" of Panzer Corps main folder, to "_Video".
Then test it. And see if it crashes when you start moving your units.
Report back and post your DxDiag, please.

The problem is not related with your system specifications, but with what have happened to your Windows after you've played successfully and now. An update? Installed a new program? A new codec pack?

Thanks for coming back so quickly.

I've renamed the sub-folder "_Video" as instructed, but when I click Play it doesn't do anything at all now (not even go to the Slitherine logo page and then intro video).

Changing the name of Video will bypass the normal startup screens, so that's OK. When you say it does nothing do you mean it does not open any PzC screen at all?

Yes, once I'd changed the name to _Video I double-clicked on the Panzer Corps icon on my desktop. It brought up the sytandard menu (Play, Support etc). I double-clicked on Play but nothing happened.

Start the Windows in safe mode, and run Panzer Corps.
Report back, if there's any difference.

None I'm afraid. The video starts but with the white line at the top and juddery etc.

It's strange as when I went into the Video folder and ran the video by iteself it played in the RealMedia player and ran fine (without the white border and judderyness etc). It just doesn't want to run properly after I double-click play on the initial game menu.

But if you renamed the Video folder the video shouldn't even start.

RealMedia player uses a different API to play video and sounds than the one used by Panzer Corps. The problem is that the API which Panzer Corps uses (MCI), might be broken in your Windows..

Anyway post your dxdiag, please.

AndyClarke wrote:None I'm afraid. The video starts but with the white line at the top and juddery etc.

It's strange as when I went into the Video folder and ran the video by iteself it played in the RealMedia player and ran fine (without the white border and judderyness etc). It just doesn't want to run properly after I double-click play on the initial game menu.

And whatabout the directx?

Adean wrote:

AndyClarke wrote:None I'm afraid. The video starts but with the white line at the top and juddery etc.

It's strange as when I went into the Video folder and ran the video by iteself it played in the RealMedia player and ran fine (without the white border and judderyness etc). It just doesn't want to run properly after I double-click play on the initial game menu.

And whatabout the directx?

Panzer Corps don't use directshow to replay video and sounds.

I'd be happy to post my "dxdiag", but what is this and how do I get it to you?

Apologies for my computer ignorance.

Regards

Andrew

AndyClarke wrote:It just doesn't want to run properly after I double-click play on the initial game menu.

I was able to produce a problem by doing this, too. The "Play" on that menu should be a *single* click. Try that.

This could be an issue for other players, now and into the future, too - is there a way to make it double-click proof?

AndyClarke wrote:I'd be happy to post my "dxdiag", but what is this and how do I get it to you?

Apologies for my computer ignorance.

Regards

Andrew

Take a look at this thread, Andrew:
viewtopic.php?t=25873

El_Condoro wrote:I was able to produce a problem by doing this, too. The "Play" on that menu should be a *single* click. Try that.

This could be an issue for other players, now and into the future, too - is there a way to make it double-click proof?

When I double click on Play, the launcher creates two instances of Panzer Corps. One comes with an error and the other runs fine. But yes, you're right. The launcher shouldn't permit that to happen. I'll report this Iain, El_Condoro.

When I did it on my laptop the screen went white and I couldn't do anything without a Ctrl-Alt-Del and then ending one of the two PzC tasks. Just tried it again now and it simply opened two instances of PzC. Both were using 281Mb memory so a PC on 'the edge' of its resource usage may have difficulties.

VPaulus wrote:

Adean wrote:

AndyClarke wrote:None I'm afraid. The video starts but with the white line at the top and juddery etc.

It's strange as when I went into the Video folder and ran the video by iteself it played in the RealMedia player and ran fine (without the white border and judderyness etc). It just doesn't want to run properly after I double-click play on the initial game menu.

And whatabout the directx?

Panzer Corps don't use directshow to replay video and sounds.

I didnt know it, I tried to help thx

Adean wrote:I didnt know it, I tried to help thx

Yes I know, it's ok.
And thanks a lot for trying to help.

Hi guys,

can I just get clarification on exactly how you are running the game so we can ensure we are repeating it correctly. If you could post a screenshot it would be great to avoid any possible confusion!

Cheers

Iain

When I double-click "Play" is when the problem occurs - it starts two instances of Panzer Corps, both of which run at around 280Mb. One time it caused my laptop to white screen requiring a Task Manager end task to end. Only did this once, though. Normally, I use one click but the OP had specified he double-clicked so I tried that.

What is happening is as follows:

I double-click the shortcut icon on the desktop and then the PanzerCorps menu appears as normal. I click "Play" and the intro video appears. BUT it appears with a white border across the top, is slightly juddery and the sound keeps breaking up. Once the intro video is over the screen goes black and nothing happens.

Since I was able to succesfully install the game originally and play it with no problems, I don't understand what has happended.

I've tried re-installing the game several times, but the same white border etc appears on the intro video.

Please help.

Just to confirm too that I only have clicked "Play" once (not twice) and the intro video still has the white border at the tope of the screen and won't load properly.

I'll post my diagnostic report shortly.

Thanks

Andrew