[Mongoose]

I've been experiencing some CTDs during main FS campaign missions that I believe are related to the most recent set of FS2_Open VP files.  They occur during the mission loading screen.  Everything works fine when I keep the SCP VP files in their own separate mod folder, but when I try putting them in the main FS2 folder, that's when I experience the crashes.  I suspect that it's related to the Cain model issue, since it first occurred in the mission where you first see the Taranis (The Darkness and the Light?).  I'm using Karajorma's temporary fix, but it doesn't seem to make any difference.  As I said, I can keep running it without any problems by keeping the SCP VPs in a separate mod folder, but I'd like to see the upgraded effects while playing the Port.  Any ideas, or should I just wait until the Cain issue is resolved?

P.S.  I noticed something else unusual while running the Port with the SCP VP files in the main FS2 folder.  Since I ran the Launcher with the -mod flag set to the folder where the Port VP files were installed, I expected to see the Port's splash screen.  Instead, I saw the SCP's one.  I checked inside the VP files, and while the names of both pictures are the same, their formats are different.  (I think they're .pcx and .tga, but I can't remember which is which.)  The splash screen appears normally when the SCP VP files are in a separate mod folder instead of the main FS2 directory.  It's not a big issue or anything; I was just curious as to what the cause of it was.

[Galemp]

Are you having these same problems with the main FS2 campaign, or is it just with the Port?

[Mongoose]

Nope, just with the Port.  I did initially have them with the main campaign, but karajorma's fix worked.

[Mongoose]

So...anyone have any idea as to what the problem would be?  Or should I try posting in the General Freespace forum so that more people might see it?

[Galemp]

Wait for Goober. Maybe he can help.

[Goober5000]

I've been lurking on this thread but haven't figured it out yet.

Moved to the SCP forum.  Maybe karajorma has some ideas.

[WMCoolmon]

http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,29938.0.html

[Goober5000]

It sounds like he's already tried that.

Originally posted by Mongoose
I'm using Karajorma's temporary fix, but it doesn't seem to make any difference.

[WMCoolmon]

I posted about the OGG problem a couple posts down. If mv_zpack or mv_music is used with almost any build, it usually causes some sort of problem.

[karajorma]

Hmmm. This is a little odd. I think I need a little more data first.

By keep the SCP vp files in their own seperate folder do you mean putting them in a folder (e.g called SCP for instance) and then running the port using the command line like -mod FS1Port,SCP?
 Or do you mean placing them in the same folder as the port and running using -mod FS1Port?

Cause if you aren't using the multiple mod support then FS2_open won't be able to find the vp files and will ignore them. That would indicate that you've got a fault with the vp files somewhere. In which case the mv_music or mv_zPack bugs are the most likely cuplrits.

[Mongoose]

I'm not using either the Zpack or the music VP, so those aren't an issue.  And yes, I do have Karajorma's fix applied.  In fact, during the main FS2 campaign, I don't experience any major errors other than the odd crash; it's only with the Port that I've found something this serious.

Karajorma, normally I keep the SCP VP files and the Port VP files in their own separate mod folders.  Previous to the most recent VP release, when I wanted to play the Port, I just used the -mod FS1Port flag, since its graphics were on-par with the SCP VP files.  However, with the many graphical enhancements added in the latest VP release, I decided to move the SCP VP files to the main FS2 directory, so that any campaign/mod I planned on playing would use the new enhancements.  However, when I put the SCP VP files and the main FS2 directory and used -mod FS1Port, that's when I experienced the crashes.  It doesn't occur if I set it up the way I always did, with the SCP VP files in their own mod folder.  I haven't tried the multiple-mod flag; I'll give that a whirl and let you know if there's any change in what happens.

Edit:  I tried the multiple mods flag; the exact same crash occurred.  I tested the same mission on which I had first noticed the problem; specifically, "The Darkness and the Light."  Interestingly enough, even with the Port folder listed first, the regular SCP splash screen came up instead of the Port's.  Is that due to a file type/name change for that particular file?

[taylor]

Originally posted by Mongoose
Interestingly enough, even with the Port folder listed first, the regular SCP splash screen came up instead of the Port's.  Is that due to a file type/name change for that particular file?

Yes, the new splash screen in the MediaVPs is TGA which gets searched first.  All splash screens need (or should have) a TGA version for when -jpgtga is used and a PCX version for when it's not.  I think the Port only has a PCX version.

[karajorma]

Originally posted by Mongoose
I tried the multiple mods flag; the exact same crash occurred.  I tested the same mission on which I had first noticed the problem; specifically, "The Darkness and the Light."  

Yep. Thought it would. The SCP VP files were being completely ignored before. When you add them (either by moving them to the Freespace2 folder or by using multimod) you got the crash which is pretty much what I had expected.

Okay. Now we know that the problem is being caused by the presence of the media_vp files this should be easier to troubleshoot. Try starting FS2 with only the mv_core.vp present. Then add mv_textures followed by mv_effects (add my fixes at this time if the mission features a leviathan or cain). If you're using them and still haven't found the cause of the crash add adveffects followed by aseffects.

[Descenter]

i have also been having crashes with the main campaign for FS2, hiwever i have resolved that the problem relies in the effects for the Z-pack.vp and the mv-effects.vp, havent narrowed it down as far as which one it is but all i know is that it keeps crashing on certain missions.

Michael