Notifications
Clear all

Problems with Precursors


Keller
(@keller)
Crewman Registered
Joined: 13 years ago
Posts: 2
Topic starter  

Recently I bought The Precursors using the digital download service yuplay.ru and have been trying to get it into a reasonably playable state using the various patches and Wesp5's translation. I'm going to share some of my experiences in case it helps other people in the same situation since I haven't found these issues mentioned in any other forums. Also, I hope other people can help solve some of my problems, or at least reassure me that I'm not the only one having trouble!

Patches:

There are two versions of the Russian 1.1 DVD patch that I could find.

1) precursors_1.1_DVD_version.exe, 21,993,344 bytes, md5: 4CB8935473D2E12DF9E553DA42626030

From the Patch Scroll's website ( http://www.patches-scrolls.de/precursors.php ). This installer works.

2) precursors_1-1_DVD_version.exe, 23,959,666 bytes, md5: 3E951478EA09B383DAD3C38277A3D97E

From The Russobit-M website ( http://russobit-m.ru/download/patches/p ... ersion.exe). This file is digitally signed by Russobit-M. Installer doesn't work but instead flags up an error, probably in Cyrillic if I had that font installed. Does anyone know what the error is saying?

However, the download version from yuplay already seems to have the 1.1 patch so this isn't necessary.

Official ATI flicker fix:

precursors_ati_fix.exe, 308,624 bytes md5: 68BFD8C0DED808FB058D6EEF869D04EA

From The Russobit-M website ( http://russobit-m.ru/download/patches/p ... ti_fix.exe). This file is digitally signed by Russobit-M. Installer doesn't work but flags up an error, probably in Cyrillic if I had that font installed. This is the same error message as the precursors_1-1_DVD_version.exe installer so I'd definitely like to know what it says. Fortunately there are a few other methods the fix the flicker.

Intro videos:

If, like me, you don't like unskippable intro videos then find the file GAME.INI, probably located in C:\Users\Public\Documents\Precursors\INI. Change the lines:

VIDEO0=Video\publisher.ogg;MUST

VIDEO1=Video\deepshadows.ogg;MUST;CROP

VIDEO2=Video\loading.ogg;MUST;LETTERBOX;DRAWPROGRESS

VIDEO3=Video\loading2.ogg;LETTERBOX;DRAWPROGRESS

to:

VIDEO0=Video\loading2.ogg;LETTERBOX;DRAWPROGRESS

This will stop the other three videos from playing.

Menu lag:

When the program has started and is menu screen after a short time I found the mouse becomes increasingly laggy and hard to control. This seems to be a side-effect of the replacement menu0_1.ogg file in Wesp5's Unofficial Translation. I am using version 1.2, downloaded from the the Patch Scrolls. If I use the original Russian file, which is animated, then there is no problem. My guess is that the lag is a side-effect of the replacing an animated file, which is on continuous loop, with a static one. I hope Wesp5 might be able to comment about this.

Map crash:

When playing the game if I press 'm' to go to the map, if I press 'm' again then the game crashes! Other HUD related keys such as 'l', 'o' and 'p' can also cause crashes. It seems the only safe way to exit the HUD is to use the escape key. Needless to say, this makes playing the game very difficult, so I haven't tested this outside the training area. This problem occurs for me even with a freshly install, so I am surprised no one else seems to have mentioned it. Has anyone else experienced this or know any solutions?

NoCD patch:

The Russian 1.0 noCD patch seems, in my very limited experience, to work fine with this version. The advantage is that the game starts much more quickly with the noCD patch. What is starforce doing that takes so long?


Quote
Pinback
(@pinback)
99 Star General Site Moderator
Joined: 7 years ago
Posts: 9085
 

Hello Keller

The DVD patch might only work with the DVD version of the game and not the digital one.

Iam going to star playing the game again after I finish playing the Tomorrow War but IIRC I don’t remember having any problems with the map.


ReplyQuote
SGDominator
(@sgdominator)
Petty Officer Registered
Joined: 13 years ago
Posts: 19
 

Bought the Gamersgate Digital Download version and applied the modifications in this thread about sound http://www.spacesimcentral.com/the-precursors-f42/sound-issues-t1596.html#p13228 , particularly the excellent instructions by Corwyn on page 2, and have had no problems. Where I did have problems was with Wesp5's Unofficial English Patch v1.2. It seemed to lie with the replacement of the Video directory which houses these four files:

1. Deepshadow.ogg

2. Loading2.ogg

3. Menu0_1.ogg

4. Video_1s.ogg

What I noticed was that if I replaced in particular Menu0_1.ogg, my mouse was flaky in the menu screen. So I decided not to install the video directory part of the patch, but only use precursors.ico, resource.qrc. The game has been working like a charm. I also applied the videooptions.ini changes DISABLE_ROTATION_MOTION_BLUR=1 and maybe Weather effects=1.

All I have to say is WOW, what a game! Like what I had been reading before buying the game there is so much depth in this game it is incredible. I have played through so many quests without even beginning to start the main quest and have accumulated about 7000-8000 credits. The graphics are awesome. The freedom is awesome. The game is awesome. Playing this is like the equivalent of playing MorrowWind in space as far as freedom is concerned. I have not even got onto my own ship yet, which as I have been reading, you are allowed to walk around in and explore. This is what the gaming industry should strive for as far as immersiveness is concerned. It was thus far, well worth the price I payed for it.


ReplyQuote