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General FreeSpace => FreeSpace & FreeSpace Open Support => Topic started by: tkecanuck341 on January 23, 2010, 04:30:37 pm

Title: [Solved] Black Screen while flying missions.
Post by: tkecanuck341 on January 23, 2010, 04:30:37 pm

Just bought Freespace 2 from GOG.com.  Installed it and played the first few missions without incident.  Haven't done any mods or patches since installation.

When I began the 5th or 6th mission, my entire screen is black, with the exception of a square inch or so in the upper left hand corner.  The audio plays like normal, and I can use all the controls, fire weapons, etc.  If I hit 'esc' to pause the mission, then the entire screen shows up like normal, only to go back to black when I unpause.  When I end the mission, the debriefing and mission screens show up with no problems.

I am running Windows 7 Professional x64
2x Geforce 9800M in SLI-mode - latest graphics drivers installed

Any suggestions on how to fix this?  Thanks.

Title: Re: Black Screen while flying missions.
Post by: General Battuta on January 23, 2010, 04:38:03 pm

That's bizarre.

I'd suggest you grab FSOpen using Turey's Installer or the hip63 offline installer. We'll move from there. If FSOpen alone doesn't solve the problem (which would really surprise me), it will give you the tools we need to help you fix it.

You'll also get vastly enhanced graphics and tons of user-made campaigns.

Title: Re: Black Screen while flying missions.
Post by: tkecanuck341 on January 23, 2010, 04:49:45 pm

Downloaded...currently installing.  I'll let you know if I still have the same problem once it completes.

Thanks.

Title: Re: Black Screen while flying missions.
Post by: General Battuta on January 23, 2010, 04:53:14 pm

Righto.

While nominally user-friendly, getting FSOpen working can occasionally be tricky, and we old hands often forget how confusing it can be at times. So just post here if you need any help.

Title: Re: Black Screen while flying missions.
Post by: tkecanuck341 on January 23, 2010, 06:05:18 pm

Update process was pretty simple and straightforward.  Installed OpenAL as recommended by the installer.  Ran the game and it seems to work just fine.  Fixed my black screen problem.

There were a few error messages that I got in the install process that I'm not quite sure how to fix.  I don't know if they affect gameplay or not, but better safe than sorry i guess.

I get the following error message:

"Post-Installation Notes for ___________"
IMPORTANT NOTE:  There was an error while installing this section.  You may need to run the Installer again in order to ensure that this section works correctly."

This message shows up for these sections:
Multiplayer Missions
Multiplayer Voice Files
.OGG Cutscenes
Freespace 1 Cutscenes
Homesick

I've ran the installer again a few times to see if it would fix the sections with no success.  Is this something I should worry about?

Title: Re: [Solved] Black Screen while flying missions.
Post by: General Battuta on January 23, 2010, 06:15:29 pm

Right. It's only slightly worrisome. The reason it happens is because the Installer looks in a static location for files, and those files are no longer there.

You're missing the .ogg cutscenes pack. It'd be awesome to have those. Let me get you a link...

Other than that you're okay, except that you should go over to the FreeSpace Upgrade Project subforum and grab the 3.6.10 MediaVPs patch from the release thread.

Do you have all the various awesome settings enabled in the Launcher? Do you have the MediaVPs selected as a mod in the Launcher?

Title: Re: Black Screen while flying missions.
Post by: The E on January 23, 2010, 06:16:37 pm

One thing you will ABSOLUTELY need is the mediavps patch, found here: http://freespacemods.net/files/MVP3610/3610_Patch.zip

The vp needs to be placed in your mediavps folder.

Not exactly. The game will run without these, but some of them are recommended  for multiplayer and other things.

Multiplayer Missions
Multiplayer Voice Files --> both of those can be found here: http://www.fubar.org/FS2/multi.rar
The vp files included need to be placed in your FreeSpace 2 directory.

ogg cutscenes for FS2: http://www.freespacemods.net/download.php?view.128 Unpack the files included to <FreeSpace 2 directory>\data\movies

ogg cutscenes for the FSPort: http://www.freespacemods.net/download.php?view.187
Unpack to <FreeSpace 2 directory>\fsport\data\movies

Title: Re: [Solved] Black Screen while flying missions.
Post by: tkecanuck341 on January 23, 2010, 06:48:45 pm

Thanks for all the help.  I'll go and make sure I download all of those.

I did enable the mod in the Launcher.  I read the "installing FSO for real men" thread and got all the instructions from there.  The game does look a lot better than it did.  Kudos to whoever made the improvements.

Also, if "Jeff Vader" got his name from the Eddie Izzard bit, that is insanely awesome.  Please let him know that I appreciate it.

Cheers!

Title: Re: [Solved] Black Screen while flying missions.
Post by: Jeff Vader on January 24, 2010, 01:51:13 am

Quote from: tkecanuck341 on January 23, 2010, 06:48:45 pm

Also, if "Jeff Vader" got his name from the Eddie Izzard bit, that is insanely awesome.  Please let him know that I appreciate it.

:yes: