I don't really know what's causing it, but it seems to only happen in multiplayer. After going through all of the loadout stuff and being completely ready to play, the game crashes on me. That's bad.
I don't have much information really. The error occurs in release builds, but if my memory serves, I tried with a debug build and ran into a different error (during or after mission load).
Following are some excerpts from errorlog.txt:
This one is from running the debug build (3.6.10 RC3)
fs2_open_3_6_10_RC3_debug caused an Access Violation in module igldev32.dll at 001b:0ac8e5e5.
Exception handler called in FreeSpace 2 Main Thread.
Error occurred at 6/12/2009 23:31:14.
C:\Games\FreeSpace2\fs2_open_3_6_10_RC3_debug.exe, run by Andrew.
2 processor(s), type 586.
1014 MBytes physical memory.
Read from location 0ba88000 caused an access violation.
...
Last safe point: last safepoint: E:\Storage\FSO\fs2_open_3_6_10_export\code\Starfield\StarField.cpp, 1062; [leaving starfield_generate_bitmap_instance_vertex_buffers]
Seems it was in a graphics-driver related DLL when it crashed, so it might be related to my crummy Intel integrated card (Intel 945 GM Express Integrated Chipset, if that's at all useful).
Error from running a release build:
fs2_open_3_6_10_RC3 caused an Access Violation in module fs2_open_3_6_10_RC3.exe at 001b:0048db36.
Exception handler called in FreeSpace 2 Main Thread.
Error occurred at 6/12/2009 23:27:48.
C:\Games\FreeSpace2\fs2_open_3_6_10_RC3.exe, run by Andrew.
2 processor(s), type 586.
1014 MBytes physical memory.
Read from location 812c4ad4 caused an access violation.
Unfortunately, nothing really decipherable there. I have also had the same problem with RC2, and possibly RC1. I know, however, that I was able to play a multi game, with Takashi in some coop mission not too long ago, and that worked fine (aside from the fact that the mission was insanely easy). I don't know what build that would have been, though. It could have been RC1 or 2, or a recent nightly or /trunk build. Since it caused no errors, I don't have any logs I know of that would say which build was the last one that worked.
I did consider the possibility that some of my modding might be interfering with multi somehow, but I disabled all of my mods other than mediavps (with MV_Complete.vp and my custom missile trails and Shivan beams patch .vp file (it's on FreeSpace mods if you think it may be an issue)).
Could this be due to pilot file corruption, or...? I'm really out of ideas here. Also, it's 5:06 AM and I should be getting to bed.