Lots of bugs for a game with few graphics!

from PolMach Forums
Hello,
I just bought the game yesterday and have also installed the new patch. My drivers are fine, so don't ask.
I've already gotten a lot of the bugs: drop to desktop when trying to get an endorsment; game freeze with strange tent-like graphics; etc.
I'm hearing about a patch which only online purchases provide, what gives with that? The game is lots of fun, but I hate waiting for the other shoe to drop while playing. Is there any hope for the future?
Please help me tech support!!
9,087 views 12 replies
Reply #1 from PolMach Forums Top

We need to know a little bit about your computer.  The endorsement bug, which is our bug, is something we're working on but it seems to only happen on Windows 98 boxes which is odd.

But we really need to know more on your computer to get started in helping.

Reply #2 from PolMach Forums Top
Hello Frogboy,
Yes, I am running windows 98! I know I should be running xp, but that's another story. I have a t-bird athlon 1 gig cpu with 500megs of ram. Using a soundblaster 16 sound card. I've got two hdrives with 20 and 40 gigs. Running political machine on alternate drive. I have a ti4200 video card with 64 megs. I have around 20 games installed and none of them gives me any trouble.
I really appreciate your excellent support! Please help, I love the game. It would be nice to finish a game before the real political season is over.
Object Desktop - Get all of our enhancement utilities in one suite
Reply #3 from PolMach Forums Top
What version of DirectX do you have? Also, what do you mean by tent-like graphics? Can you send me a screenshot at

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If you can get a screenshot of the endorsements window, too, that may be useful.

Reply #4 from PolMach Forums Top
The latest one, I think that's 9.0c!?
Well the tent-like graphics were, it seemed to me, a repetetive upside-down v on one of the screens after I clicked on something or other. I can't repeat it. None of the errors seems repeatable. I've also gotten a general protection fault telling me that the program must be close. Once, when playing a quick game, I got into a situation where whenever I clicked on get an endorsememt, I got an immediate drop-to desktop. I reloaded the game at least 6 times and always got the dtd whenever I tried to get an endorsement. In campaign mode however, I have no problem with that. Also, when I try to play the game in a window, I still get full screen. Sometimes I can play for a long time and nothing goes wrong sometimes right away. I always get throught the intro and game startup however. Your game seems to be rather creative in establishing new failures whenever I play.
What do you think? I can't install xp because my system hangs in the middle and corrupts my 98 installation. I think it's the audio card, at least that's the suggestion from microsoft - so I don't want to mess with it.
Thanks
Reply #5 from PolMach Forums Top
9.0c is the latest version of DirectX. We are working on fixing the endorsements bug.

If you're only running in 1024x768, it would still look fullscreen but the initialization would be slightly different.

Do you often get graphical errors? I'd appreciate any screenshots that you can take, and we could take a look at your dxdiag report also.

To run dxdiag, go to Start->Run and enter dxdiag. Let it check to see if your drivers are digitally signed. When it's done, run the Direct3D tests and then click Save all information.
Reply #6 from PolMach Forums Top
Ok, here's something new. While playing the campaign game I once again received a drop to desktop but this time I got a general protection fault. Here it is and below that here is the dxdiag report.

POLMACHINE caused an invalid page fault in
module POLMACHINE.EXE at 0167:0050b00e.
Registers:
EAX=00000000 CS=0167 EIP=0050b00e EFLGS=00010246
EBX=0000000a SS=016f ESP=00b6fa10 EBP=00b6fa74
ECX=041e1e8c DS=016f ESI=01887f50 FS=403f
EDX=041d5453 ES=016f EDI=041d000c GS=2a8f
Bytes at CS:EIP:
8b 10 6a 01 8b c8 ff 52 18 8b 55 f0 83 c2 64 8d
Stack dump:
01888ca0 00000000 00000000 00b6fa4c 0787b300 0076acb0 80040000 0076af00 00000000 0000000f 0422c798 0787da00 000001c3 00000000 01c301e7 00000000


------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 9/8/2004, 17:00:04
Machine name: Bigpez
Operating System: Windows 98 (4.10, Build 2222) A
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: n/a
System Model: n/a
BIOS: n/a
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) Processor, MMX, 3DNow, ~1.0GHz
Memory: 510MB RAM
Page File: 108MB used, 1428MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 4.09.0000.0904 32bit

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: The file nvdisp.drv is not digitally signed, which means that it has not been tested by Microsoft's Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL). Current drivers tested for a WHQL logo are only available on Windows ME, Windows 2000, and Windows XP. New Windows 98 drivers are no longer tested for WHQL logos. DirectDraw test results: All tests were successful. Direct3D 7 test results: All tests were successful. Direct3D 8 test results: All tests were successful. Direct3D 9 test results: All tests were successful.
Sound Tab 1: The file sbpci.sys is not digitally signed, which means that it has not been tested by Microsoft's Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL). You may be able to get a WHQL logo'd driver from the hardware manufacturer.
Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
Sound Tab 3: No problems found.
Sound Tab 4: No problems found.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4200
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type:
DAC type:
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0253&SUBSYS_013210DE&REV_A3\000800
Display Memory: 63.5 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (16 bit)(85Hz)
Monitor: SyncMaster 763MB/713MB,MagicSyncMaster CD173D(P)
Monitor Max Res: 1280,1024
Driver Name: nvdisp.drv
Driver Version: 4.14.0010.4523 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 7/28/2003 15:19:00, 107616 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: No
WHQL Date Stamp: None
VDD: *vdd
Mini VDD: nvmini.vxd
Mini VDD Date: , 0 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4113-11CF-C562-382102C2C935}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x0253
SubSys ID: 0x013210DE
Revision ID: 0x00A3
Revision ID: 0x00A3
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_B ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D
Deinterlace Caps: {212DC722-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC722-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{212DC722-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{212DC723-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_MedianFiltering
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: All tests were successful.
D3D7 Test Result: All tests were successful.
D3D8 Test Result: All tests were successful.
D3D9 Test Result: All tests were successful.

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: SB PCI
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1274&DEV_5880&SUBSYS_20001274&REV_02\BUS_00&DEV_0C&FUNC_00
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: sbpci.sys
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.5017 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: No
Date and Size: 10/22/2002 15:45:42, 668160 bytes
Other Files: sbpci.sys
Driver Provider: Creative Technology Ltd.
HW Accel Level: Basic
Cap Flags: 0xF5F
Min/Max Sample Rate: 8000, 96000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run

Description: Game Compatible Device (emulated)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: MODEMWAVE\INTEL(R)_536EP_V.92_MODEM\PCI&VEN_8086&DEV_1040&SUBSYS_10008086&REV_00&BUS_00&DEV_0B&FUNC_00
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 89
Type: Emulated
Driver Name:
Driver Version:
Driver Attributes:
WHQL Logo'd:
Date and Size:
Other Files: serwave.vxd
Driver Provider: Intel
HW Accel Level: Emulation Only
Cap Flags: 0x0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run

Description: Voice Modem Wave #00 Line (emulated)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: MODEMWAVE\INTEL(R)_536EP_V.92_MODEM\PCI&VEN_8086&DEV_1040&SUBSYS_10008086&REV_00&BUS_00&DEV_0B&FUNC_00
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 81
Type: Emulated
Driver Name:
Driver Version:
Driver Attributes:
WHQL Logo'd:
Date and Size:
Other Files: serwave.vxd
Driver Provider: Intel
HW Accel Level: Emulation Only
Cap Flags: 0x0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run

Description: Voice Modem Wave #00 Handset (emulated)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: MODEMWAVE\INTEL(R)_536EP_V.92_MODEM\PCI&VEN_8086&DEV_1040&SUBSYS_10008086&REV_00&BUS_00&DEV_0B&FUNC_00
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 83
Type: Emulated
Driver Name:
Driver Version:
Driver Attributes:
WHQL Logo'd:
Date and Size:
Other Files: serwave.vxd
Driver Provider: Intel
HW Accel Level: Emulation Only
Cap Flags: 0x0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run

---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
Description: SB PCI
Default Sound Capture: Yes
Default Voice Capture: Yes
Driver Name: sbpci.sys
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.5017 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Date and Size: 10/22/2002 15:45:42, 668160 bytes
Cap Flags: 0x40
Format Flags: 0xFFF

Description: Game Compatible Device (emulated)
Default Sound Capture: No
Default Voice Capture: No
Driver Name:
Driver Version:
Driver Attributes:
Date and Size:
Cap Flags: 0x0
Format Flags: 0x0

Description: Voice Modem Wave #00 Line (emulated)
Default Sound Capture: No
Default Voice Capture: No
Driver Name:
Driver Version:
Driver Attributes:
Date and Size:
Cap Flags: 0x20
Format Flags: 0x0

Description: Voice Modem Wave #00 Handset (emulated)
Default Sound Capture: No
Default Voice Capture: No
Driver Name:
Driver Version:
Driver Attributes:
Date and Size:
Cap Flags: 0x20
Format Flags: 0x0

-----------
DirectMusic
-----------
DLS Path: C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\gm.dls
DLS Version: 1.00.0016.0002
Acceleration: n/a
Ports: Microsoft Synthesizer, Software (Not Kernel Mode), Output, DLS, Internal, Default Port
SB PCI, Software (Kernel Mode), Output, DLS, Internal
MIDI Mapper, Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
SB PCI Synthesizer, Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth, Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
SB PCI External MIDI, Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, External
SB PCI External MIDI, Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Input, No DLS, External
Registry: OK
Test Result: Not run

-------------------
DirectInput Devices
-------------------
Device Name: Mouse
Attached: 1
Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
FF Driver: n/a

Device Name: Keyboard
Attached: 1
Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
FF Driver: n/a

Device Name: Microsoft SideWinder game pad
Attached: 1
Controller ID: 0x0
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
FF Driver: n/a

Device Name: USB Mouse
Attached: 1
Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: 0x046D, 0xC00C
FF Driver: n/a

Poll w/ Interrupt: Yes
Registry: OK

-----------
USB Devices
-----------

----------------
Gameport Devices
----------------

------------
PS/2 Devices
------------

----------------------------
DirectPlay Service Providers
----------------------------
DirectPlay8 IPX Service Provider - Registry: OK, File: dpnet.dll (4.09.0000.0900)
DirectPlay8 TCP/IP Service Provider - Registry: OK, File: dpnet.dll (4.09.0000.0900)
DirectPlay8 Modem Service Provider - Registry: OK, File: dpnet.dll (4.09.0000.0900)
DirectPlay8 Serial Service Provider - Registry: OK, File: dpnet.dll (4.09.0000.0900)
Serial Connection For DirectPlay - Registry: OK, File: dpmodemx.dll (4.09.0000.0900)
Modem Connection For DirectPlay - Registry: OK, File: dpmodemx.dll (4.09.0000.0900)
Internet TCP/IP Connection For DirectPlay - Registry: OK, File: dpwsockx.dll (4.09.0000.0904)
IPX Connection For DirectPlay - Registry: OK, File: dpwsockx.dll (4.09.0000.0904)

DirectPlay Voice Wizard Tests: Full Duplex: Not run, Half Duplex: Not run, Mic: Not run
DirectPlay Test Result: Not run
Registry: OK

-------------------
DirectPlay Adapters
-------------------
DirectPlay8 TCP/IP Service Provider: PPP Adapter. -
DirectPlay8 Modem Service Provider: Intel(R) 536EP V.92 Modem
DirectPlay8 Serial Service Provider: COM2
DirectPlay8 Serial Service Provider: COM4

-----------------------
DirectPlay Voice Codecs
-----------------------
Voxware VR12 1.4kbit/s
Voxware SC06 6.4kbit/s
Voxware SC03 3.2kbit/s
MS-PCM 64 kbit/s
MS-ADPCM 32.8 kbit/s
Microsoft GSM 6.10 13 kbit/s
TrueSpeech(TM) 8.6 kbit/s

-------------------------
DirectPlay Lobbyable Apps
-------------------------
Age of Wonders II (DX8) - Registry: OK, ExeFile: AoW2.exe (1.00.0000.2795) LauncherFile: AoW2.exe (1.00.0000.2795)
Flight Simulator (DX8) - Registry: OK, ExeFile: FS9.Exe (9.00.0000.30612) LauncherFile: (
Reply #7 from PolMach Forums Top
We've found the endorsements crash so we'll try to get that fix up soon.
Reply #9 from PolMach Forums Top
See the beta update thread.
Reply #10 from PolMach Forums Top
I think I have had the endorsement crash twice now both times in campaign mode. The first campaign against Rice goes fine. Then about halfway into the Arnold campaign the message comes up saying that he was endorsed by the Chamber of Business or something like that. I didn’t remember seeing that organization as a possible endorsement so I click on the endorsements button and it crashes. Believe me there was no listing for Chamber of Business cuz if there had been I would have gone after it.

The thing that really sucks is that when you reload the game all of the previous campaigns are lost. Also lost are any created candidates. It is then impossible to create a new candidate because when you click on the state icon the pull down is blank. In other words there are no states listed just a white rectangle. So unless you want all of your candidates to come from Alaska you are SOL and have to remove the game & reinstall. I have had to do this twice so far.

I hope the zip file listed above fixes this cuz it really sucks any enjoyment I was having of this game.
Reply #11 from PolMach Forums Top
Sorry to be a bonehead about it Frogboy, but how do I find the beta update thread? I've looked around for a while with no luck. Is there a way to search a thread on this system?
Reply #12 from PolMach Forums Top
Mushmouth and bigpez: our latest test exe is linked to in this thread:

Link Latest Internal Stardock Update

MushMouth, can you please e-mail me your .candidate files from your data directory? It sounds like the parser is having trouble reading them. I'll see if there's anything unusual with them, and if I have to beat the parser with a stick. The state problem may also be caused by errors reading in the state files. What operating system and version of DirectX are you using? I can send you the state files saved in another format that has helped other people with map problems.

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