BUG: Rho Trireme III surface objects flicker

I'm encountering the problem on Delta Trireme B II

These are the only two so far

Same thing again on Eta Llovern IV...  I think they're all Green worlds doing it?

And Gamma Llovern I, which is a Hydrocarbon world.  The textures also seem to be flickering on and off.

Starting up the game again for the first time in over a year to play through the whole Earth Rising content, I went to Eorthus and saw the problem described above. In addition to the flickering I saw shadows of critters but no critters, and the crashed Scryve ship looked like a shadow with no ship.

Edit: I exited the game, did a verify files in Steam, and got one file reacquired. Loaded the same post-main game save I had before, flew to Eorthus Prime and landed. Paying more attention this time, I noticed that as my lander got closer to the planet I was able to see trees and other surface features up until the point I landed, at which time they disappeared as if they'd sunk into the surface.

Edit 2: I was running on a fairly recent video driver, but I installed the latest GeForce 442.59 driver dated 3/10/2020. Got the same problem.

Can you both please post your specs and what API/settings you were using?

Edit: Sorry for the long post, I tried to use spoiler tags but they seem not to have worked.

Here are mine:

INISettings::DetermineVRAM dedicatedVideoMemory 3029MB dedicatedSystemMemory 0MB sharedSystemMemory 16294MB vendorID 10de deviceID 1618
 --- Settings ---
Game Window: 1920 x 1200
Scale UI to 1080: 1
Borderless: 0
Fullscreen: 1
MSAA Samples: 2
Detail: 1
Shadow Detail: 2
vSync: 1
Framerate Limit: 144
BG Framerate Limit: 30
Async Compute: 0
Master Sound Volume: 0

And my DxDiag output:

       Operating System: Windows 10 Home 64-bit (10.0, Build 18362) (18362.19h1_release.190318-1202)
                 Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
      System Manufacturer: Notebook                       
             System Model: P65_P67RGRERA
                     BIOS: 1.05.14 (type: UEFI)
                Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6700HQ CPU @ 2.60GHz (8 CPUs), ~2.6GHz
                   Memory: 32768MB RAM
      Available OS Memory: 32588MB RAM
                Page File: 7260MB used, 30192MB available
              Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
          DirectX Version: DirectX 12
      DX Setup Parameters: Not found
         User DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
       System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
          DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
                 Miracast: Available, with HDCP
Microsoft Graphics Hybrid: Supported
 DirectX Database Version: 1.1.3
           DxDiag Version: 10.00.18362.0387 64bit Unicode

           Card name: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M
        Manufacturer: NVIDIA
           Chip type: GeForce GTX 970M
            DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
         Device Type: Full Device
          Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_1618&SUBSYS_67831558&REV_A1
       Device Status: 0180200A [DN_DRIVER_LOADED|DN_STARTED|DN_DISABLEABLE|DN_NT_ENUMERATOR|DN_NT_DRIVER]
 Device Problem Code: No Problem
 Driver Problem Code: Unknown
      Display Memory: 19324 MB
    Dedicated Memory: 3029 MB
       Shared Memory: 16294 MB
        Current Mode: 1920 x 1200 (32 bit) (59Hz)
         HDR Support: Not Supported
    Display Topology: External
 Display Color Space: DXGI_COLOR_SPACE_RGB_FULL_G22_NONE_P709
     Color Primaries: Red(0.639648,0.330078), Green(0.299805,0.599609), Blue(0.150391,0.059570), White Point(0.312500,0.329102)
   Display Luminance: Min Luminance = 0.500000, Max Luminance = 270.000000, MaxFullFrameLuminance = 270.000000
        Monitor Name: SyncMaster 2443BW/2443BWX,SyncMaster Magic CX2443BW/CX2443BWX(Digital)
       Monitor Model: SyncMaster
          Monitor Id: SAM043F
         Native Mode: 1920 x 1200(p) (59.950Hz)
         Output Type: HDMI
Monitor Capabilities: HDR Not Supported
Display Pixel Format: DISPLAYCONFIG_PIXELFORMAT_32BPP
      Advanced Color: Not Supported
         Driver Name: C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nvcvi.inf_amd64_c5b5375ad86687e9\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nvcvi.inf_amd64_c5b5375ad86687e9\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nvcvi.inf_amd64_c5b5375ad86687e9\nvldumdx.dll,C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\nvcvi.inf_amd64_c5b5375ad86687e9\nvldumdx.dll
 Driver File Version: 26.21.0014.4259 (English)
      Driver Version: 26.21.14.4259
         DDI Version: 12
      Feature Levels: 12_1,12_0,11_1,11_0,10_1,10_0,9_3,9_2,9_1
        Driver Model: WDDM 2.6
 Graphics Preemption: DMA
  Compute Preemption: DMA
            Miracast: Not Supported by Graphics driver
      Detachable GPU: No
 Hybrid Graphics GPU: Discrete
      Power P-states: Not Supported
      Virtualization: Paravirtualization
          Block List: No Blocks
  Catalog Attributes: Universal:False Declarative:False
   Driver Attributes: Final Retail
    Driver Date/Size: 3/3/2020 5:00:00 PM, 964200 bytes
         WHQL Logo'd: Yes
     WHQL Date Stamp: Unknown
   Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-5558-11CF-4B66-8D471BC2D735}
           Vendor ID: 0x10DE
           Device ID: 0x1618
           SubSys ID: 0x67831558
         Revision ID: 0x00A1
  Driver Strong Name: oem78.inf:0f066de3b11b12b6:Section028:26.21.14.4259:pci\ven_10de&dev_1618&subsys_67831558
      Rank Of Driver: 00D10001
         Video Accel:
         DXVA2 Modes: DXVA2_ModeMPEG2_VLD  DXVA2_ModeVC1_D2010  DXVA2_ModeVC1_VLD  DXVA2_ModeH264_VLD_Stereo_Progressive_NoFGT  DXVA2_ModeH264_VLD_Stereo_NoFGT  DXVA2_ModeH264_VLD_NoFGT  DXVA2_ModeHEVC_VLD_Main  DXVA2_ModeMPEG4pt2_VLD_Simple  DXVA2_ModeMPEG4pt2_VLD_AdvSimple_NoGMC 
   Deinterlace Caps: {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                     {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
                     {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
                     {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                     {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
                     {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
                     {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                     {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
                     {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
                     {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                     {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
                     {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
                     {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC1,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC1,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC1,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC1,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC2,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC2,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC2,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC2,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC3,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC3,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC3,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC3,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC4,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC4,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC4,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC4,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(S340,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(S340,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(S340,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(S340,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(S342,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {F9F19DA5-3B09-4B2F-9D89-C64753E3EAAB}: Format(In/Out)=(S342,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(S342,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(S342,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
        D3D9 Overlay: Supported
             DXVA-HD: Supported
        DDraw Status: Enabled
          D3D Status: Enabled
          AGP Status: Enabled
       MPO MaxPlanes: 1
            MPO Caps: Not Supported
         MPO Stretch: Not Supported
     MPO Media Hints: Not Supported
         MPO Formats: Not Supported
    PanelFitter Caps: Not Supported
 PanelFitter Stretch: Not Supported

Let me know if there's anything more you need.

In case it makes any difference I see this in SC:O's RunLog.txt:

Star Control RunLog.txt
Build description: v1.42 (CL74707) - FinalRelease - CookAssets=Off - NetworkAPI=Steam - DX11  - OptimizeNitrousLibsForDebug=OFF
User: John
INISettings::DetermineVRAM dedicatedVideoMemory 3029MB dedicatedSystemMemory 0MB sharedSystemMemory 16294MB vendorID 10de deviceID 1618
 --- Settings ---
Game Window: 1920 x 1200
Scale UI to 1080: 1
Borderless: 0
Fullscreen: 1
MSAA Samples: 2
Detail: 1
Shadow Detail: 2
vSync: 1
Framerate Limit: 144
BG Framerate Limit: 30
Async Compute: 0
Master Sound Volume: 0
 ----------------
Aftermath initialized!
Downloading subscribed items
2 subscribed items found
Getting subscribed item install info
Getting subscribed item install info - Success
Getting subscribed item install info
Getting subscribed item install info - Success
Error: NPC Line "EP4_GlooshCartographer_58" does not have a valid translation
Scene Mode: Entering MOVIE
Game Loop Mode: Entering LOADING
Scene Mode: Entering MOVIE
Scene Mode: Exiting MOVIE
Scene Mode: Entering MAIN_MENU
Game Loop Mode: Entering MENUS
The save file "21 July, 2090 - Postgame, Galactic Zoo" needs to have the following mod(s) / DLC enabled to function correctly:
Error: NPC Line "EP4_GlooshCartographer_58" does not have a valid translation
Scene Mode: Exiting MAIN_MENU
Scene Mode: Entering LOADING_POPUP
Game Loop Mode: Entering LOADING
Assert Fail: fileBuffer.m_uiSize < fileBuffer.m_uiCapacity File D:\StarControl_BM\Main\Libs\MVC\Common\MVC_Library.cpp Line 2925
(16 duplicates)
Scene Mode: Exiting LOADING_POPUP
Scene Mode: Entering SPACE
Game Loop Mode: Entering SPACE
Assert Fail: len > 0.f File D:\StarControl_BM\Main\Libs\Core\Common\Core_VectorTypes.h Line 314
Scene Mode: Exiting SPACE
Preparing to enter dialog scene JeffDialogScene
Scene Mode: Entering LOADING_POPUP
Game Loop Mode: Entering LOADING
Scene Mode: Exiting LOADING_POPUP
Preparing to enter dialog scene JeffDialogScene
Scene Mode: Entering DIALOG
Game Loop Mode: Entering DIALOG
Animation Error: Animation 3658111048 not found
Scene Mode: Exiting DIALOG
Scene Mode: Entering MARKETPLACE
Game Loop Mode: Entering MENUS
Scene Mode: Exiting MARKETPLACE
Preparing to enter dialog scene JeffDialogScene
Scene Mode: Entering SPACE
Game Loop Mode: Entering SPACE
Scene Mode: Exiting SPACE
Scene Mode: Entering VIGNETTE_ENTER_EXIT_SYSTEM
Assert Fail: fileBuffer.m_uiSize < fileBuffer.m_uiCapacity File D:\StarControl_BM\Main\Libs\MVC\Common\MVC_Library.cpp Line 2925
Scene Mode: Exiting VIGNETTE_ENTER_EXIT_SYSTEM
Scene Mode: Entering SPACE
Scene Mode: Exiting SPACE
Scene Mode: Entering PLANET_SCAN
Game Loop Mode: Entering PLANET
Info: GenerateStampInstances Rand Seed 90000926
Scene Mode: Exiting PLANET_SCAN
Scene Mode: Entering PLANET_REENTRY
Scene Mode: Exiting PLANET_REENTRY
Scene Mode: Entering PLANET_SURFACE
Scene Mode: Exiting PLANET_SURFACE
Scene Mode: Entering PLANET_SCAN
Scene Mode: Exiting PLANET_SCAN
Scene Mode: Entering SPACE
Game Loop Mode: Entering SPACE
Scene Mode: Exiting SPACE
Scene Mode: Entering MAIN_MENU
Game Loop Mode: Entering MENUS

@Publius do you have a save game where this is happening for you? If so please upload it here (dropbox or gdrive is fine).

I hope this Dropbox link works: https://www.dropbox.com/s/v9hgylltiudjiqr/FlickeringPlanetBug.7z?dl=0

What I did to recreate this problem from this save was:

1. Talk to the star base right next to me to learn about something it "smelled" on Eorthus.

2. Use the star base to travel to the starbase just north of the Eorthus system.

3. Travel to Eorthus.

4. Land on the planet.

Hi, sorry for the slow reply.

Originally I was on Meh display settings (and the problem was much worse), but I noticed it still happened when I changed to Great.

I was on a GTX 1050 but upgraded to an RTX 2060 6GB a couple of days ago and the problem still occurs at both 1920x1080 and 2560x1440.  I'm running an i5-8400 with 16gb RAM.  Windows 10 x64.

Thanks guys.

@davidpartay can you also include a save game?

Just went back to Rho Trireme III and saved in that location.  The problem isn't nearly as bad as it was on Meh settings and I think one or two of the other affected planets were worse.  Mostly what I'm seeing now is textures flickering and shadows occasionally disappearing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yI1OCydIWAxXTt9bgnCzuzHA7ui4Zvj4/view?usp=sharing

Thanks for the save file david.