empires linux client 2.9.3.46 map emp_palmbay black border problem

Discussion in 'Bug Reports' started by VVoss, Aug 27, 2016.

  1. VVoss

    VVoss Member

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  2. VVoss

    VVoss Member

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    System specification:
    Notebook XMG A522
    CPU Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3630QM CPU @ 2.40GHz
    RAM 16GB
    OS Ubuntu 16.04.1 LTS / Windows 7 x64
    Graphics Processor:
    GeForce GTX 660M Optimus
    Intel HD Graphics 4000
    NVIDIA Driver Version linux: 361.42
     
    Last edited: Sep 3, 2016
  3. Tama

    Tama Developer Staff Member Web Developer

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    That's weird, I didn't have that on Ubuntu 14.04 or on Debian 9. Could you try verifying the game cache?

    Edit: I suspect though that the real fix will be to delete the materials directory or whatever contains that texture, and then verify the game cache - this is a steam distribution bug; when two files differ only by their casing, steam decides it's the same, even on unix systems.
     
  4. VVoss

    VVoss Member

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    Yes.

    Test 1:
    1) Verifying game cache
    2) Test map emp_palmbay with lokal server
    3) Result: problem black border

    Test 2:
    1) Delete folder
    .steam/steam/steamapps/common/Empires/empires/materials
    2) Verifying game cache with download of data files
    3) Test emp_palmbay on lokal server and again a black border

    Test 3:
    1) Delete folder
    .steam/steam/steamapps/common/Empires
    2) Verifying game cache with download of data files
    3) Test emp_palmbay on lokal server and again a black border

    The complete download of all empires data files should fix any problem with non updated data files.

    Next test: I try a different nvidia driver version.
     
  5. VVoss

    VVoss Member

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    Ubuntu 16.04 LTS offers this drivers for my notebook:
    X.Org X server - Nouveau
    NVIDIA binary driver - version 361.42 from nvidia-361
    NVIDIA binary driver 340.96 from nvidia-340
    NVIDIA legacy binary driver-version 304.131 from nvidia-304-updates
    NVIDIA legacy binary driver-version 304.131 from nvidia-304

    After selecting a different driver and a restart of the ubuntu system the black border remains on the empires map emp_palmbay.

    Update for Intel HD Graphics 4000:
    The notebook also has a Intel HD Graphics 4000 integrated in the cpu. I can switch between these graphic cards using the nvidia-settings program option Prime profile. I have the black border problem with an active Intel graphic card on map map emp_palmbay too.

    I don't use Bumblebee (http://bumblebee-project.org/) on ubuntu, because it does not work for me.
     
    Last edited: Sep 3, 2016
  6. VVoss

    VVoss Member

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    I have modified the empires start options to redirect stdout and stderr from the hl2 program to files.
    -console > hl2stdout.txt 2> hl2stderr.txt
    The files were stored in the directory
    '/home/vvoss/.steam/steam/steamapps/common/Empires'
    Both files are added to this post.
    The conext of this file include launch empires from steam and the start of a lokal server with map emp_palmbay showing a black border.
    Could some check the conext of those files in comparison with an working linux system?
     

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  7. VVoss

    VVoss Member

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    Sorry. I forgot to post the context of the console window.
     

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  8. Thexa4

    Thexa4 Developer Staff Member Moderator

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    I can't see anything obvious in the logs. Does this problem only happen on palmbay?
    Does the problem also occur if you disable hdr? (or enable it if it's off right now)

    What are the texture quality settings set to?
     
  9. Smithy

    Smithy Developer Staff Member Administrator

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    This texture is the green grid that appears when you are approaching the sky box on certain maps, it works using mipmap levels to fade in. If it is caused by the texture it would happen on emp_duststorm also.
    Can you try opening the map emp_duststorm and see if it happens there too?
     
  10. VVoss

    VVoss Member

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    I have the black border problem with the map emp_duststorm too.

    Changing the setting of hdr (None, Bloom, All) seems to have no influance on the black border problem. Normally I set this setting to None.
    Hower, if I set hdr to all the water of the river near ruins is black. Screenshot emp_duststorm0001.jpg attached to this post.

    Changing the texture quality settings seems to have no influance on the black border problem.
    Normally I set this setting to low.
     

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  11. Smithy

    Smithy Developer Staff Member Administrator

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    It uses textures in the folder: "materials\Keef\mitmaptest"
    I think it uses "mapedgegreengrid.vtf", my guess would be that the issue is with that file or the corresponding .vmt file.

    EDIT: Just spotted that capital in the "Keef" folder. That's most likely the cause of your issues; try removing the capital in the directory name and test again. Keep us posted so we know if this worked.
     
  12. VVoss

    VVoss Member

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    Confirmation. After changing directory
    '.steam/steam/steamapps/common/Empires/empires/materials/Keef'
    to
    '.steam/steam/steamapps/common/Empires/empires/materials/keef'
    the black border problem has gone. Also the green grid shows up correctly. Works for both maps emp_duststorm and emp_palmbay.

    Thanks to everyone for the support.
     

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  13. Thexa4

    Thexa4 Developer Staff Member Moderator

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    Thanks for helping with debugging. We'll add the fix to a future release.
     
  14. VVoss

    VVoss Member

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    Update: empires linux client version 2.10.0.84

    I have to rename folder
    '.steam/steam/steamapps/common/Empires/empires/materials/Keef'
    to
    '.steam/steam/steamapps/common/Empires/empires/materials/keef'
    to prevent the black border problem with the maps emp_duststorm and emp_palmbay.

    Also I have to rename folder
    '.steam/steam/steamapps/common/Empires/empires/materials/Silk'
    to
    '.steam/steam/steamapps/common/Empires/empires/materials/silk'
    to prevent problem of missing textures on other maps like emp_glycencity.
     

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  15. Smithy

    Smithy Developer Staff Member Administrator

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    I have a list of directories that cause the same issue. We just haven't worked through them yet. I'll see if I can get some of them fixed for 2.11.0.
     

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