New solution to startup crash (creating preferences.script.txt file)

[monchopx]

After trying many solutions that I read all over the net I got my game to run. This surely will not apply to everyone that is having this issue, but it may help someone so here it goes:

First do this http://forums.totalwar.com/showthread.php/78124-Fixed-the-problem-of-the-Stuck-at-the-Sega-logo.(well-explained)?s=f889973cd609e4b1f8204c1cd1aab192

Then check if you have any file in the folder User\AppData\Roaming\The Creative Assembly\Rome2\scripts
You should have a file called preferences.script.txt
If you don't, you need one. I downloaded mine from this forum http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?450482-Updated-preferences-script-txt-request
Or you could create the file and name it preferences.script.txt
and then paste the following inside. This configuration sets everything to minimum but you can change that ingame.





write_preferences_at_exit true; # write_preferences_at_exit <bool>, Write preferences at exit #
app_multirun false; # app_multirun <bool>, Allow multiple instances of the application #
x_res 1024; # x_res <int32>, Fixed window width #
y_res 768; # y_res <int32>, Fixed window height #
x_pos 0; # x_pos <int32>, Window position #
y_pos 0; # y_pos <int32>, Window position #
vfs_log_level 0; # vfs_log_level <int32>, 0 - off, 1 - mod-user, 2 - dev #
unit_test false; # unit_test <bool>, unit test (for daily build) #
campaign_unit_multiplier 0.75; # campaign_unit_multiplier <float>, Set default unit multiplier for campaign #
naval_fleet_multiplier 0.75; # naval_fleet_multiplier <float>, Set default fleet size for battles #
gfx_first_run false; # gfx_first_run <bool>, First time application run #
gfx_dx11_checked true; # gfx_dx11_checked <bool>, Have we checked that user wants dx11? #
gfx_video_memory 0; # gfx_video_memory <int>, Override available video memory (bytes) #
gfx_fullscreen true; # gfx_fullscreen <bool>, Run the application in fullscreen or not #
gfx_vsync false; # gfx_vsync <bool>, vertical synchronization #
gfx_hdr false; # gfx_hdr <bool>, Use high dynamic range rendering pipeline #
gfx_shadermodel 0; # gfx_shadermodel <int>, Set shader model, 0-SM3LQ, 1-SM3, 2-SM4, 3=SM4.1, 4=SM5 #
gfx_aa 0; # gfx_aa <int>, Set antialiasing, 0-no, 1 = MLAA, 2 = MSAA_2X, 3 = MSAA_4X, 4 = MSAA_8X #
gfx_texture_filtering 0; # gfx_texture_filtering <int>, Set texture filtering, 0-trilinear, 4- anisotropic 16x #
gfx_texture_quality 0; # gfx_texture_quality <int>, Set the quality of textures. 0 - lowest, 3 - ultra #
gfx_ssao false; # gfx_ssao <bool>, Enable Screen Space Ambient Occlusion buffer #
gfx_enable_directx11 false; # gfx_enable_directx11 <bool>, Enable DirectX 11 rendering #
gfx_distortion false; # gfx_distortion <bool>, Enable Distortion Effect buffer #
gfx_depth_of_field 0; # gfx_depth_of_field <int>, Set depth of field quality 0 - off, 2 - high #
gfx_hardware_shadows false; # gfx_hardware_shadows <bool>, Enable hardware shadows #
gfx_tesselation false; # gfx_tesselation <bool>, Enable tesselation #
gfx_sky_quality 0; # gfx_sky_quality <int>, Set the quality of sky. 0 - lowest, 3 - ultra #
gfx_unit_quality 0; # gfx_unit_quality <int>, Set the quality of units. 0 - lowest, 3 - ultra #
gfx_ship_quality 2; # gfx_ship_quality <int>, Set the quality of ships. 0 - lowest, 3 - ultra #
gfx_building_quality 0; # gfx_building_quality <int>, Set the quality of buildings. 0 - lowest, 3 - ultra #
gfx_water_quality 0; # gfx_water_quality <int>, Set the quality of water. 0 - lowest, 3 - ultra #
gfx_unit_scale 2; # gfx_unit_scale <int>, Set unit scale. 0 - lowest, 3 - ultra #
gfx_shadow_quality 0; # gfx_shadow_quality <int>, Set unit scale. 0 - off, 4 - ultra #
gfx_tree_quality 0; # gfx_tree_quality <int>, Set unit scale. 0 - off, 4 - ultra #
gfx_grass_quality 1; # gfx_grass_quality <int>, Set unit scale. 0 - off, 4 - ultra #
gfx_terrain_quality 0; # gfx_terrain_quality <int>, Set unit scale. 0 - low, 1 - high #
gfx_gamma_setting 2; # gfx_gamma_setting <float>, Set gamma correction #
gfx_brightness_setting 1.2; # gfx_brightness_setting <float>, Set brightness #
gfx_screenshot_folder ./screenshots; # gfx_screenshot_folder <folder>, Folder to where save screenshots relative to Empire directory #
gfx_gpu "NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460"; # gfx_gpu <path>, The GPU description #
gfx_effects_quality 0; # gfx_effects_quality <int>, Set effects quality. 0 - lowest, 3 - ultra #
gfx_vignette false; # gfx_vignette <true|false>, Enable vignette #
gfx_picture_in_picture false; # gfx_picture_in_picture <true|false>, Enable picture_in_picture #
camera_move_speed 100; # camera_move_speed <float>, Set camera movement speed #
camera_turn_speed 5; # camera_turn_speed <float>, Set camera turn speed #
default_camera_type 0; # default_battle_camera <card32>, default battle camera: 0-totalwar 1-rts 2-debug #
enable_sound true; # enable_sound <bool>, enables all audio content (default = true). If disabled none of the database or sound pack files are loaded. #
fix_res true; # fix_res <bool>, Forbid window resizing #
fix_window_pos true; # fix_window_pos <bool>, Forbid window repositioning #
mouse_wheel_sensitivity 50; # mouse_wheel_sensitivity <card32>, mouse wheel sensitivity: <0-100> default value = 50 #
invert_cam_x_axis false; # invert_camera_x_axis <bool>, invert camera tilting up/down #
invert_cam_y_axis false; # invert_camera_y_axis <bool>, invert camera panning left/right #
minimised_ui false; # minimised_ui <true|false>, show minimised ui #
ui_order_button_mode 0; # ui_order_button_mode <0|1|2>, Only applicable with minimised ui. 0 = always, 1 = slide on, 2 = never #
show_selection_markers true; # show_selection_markers <true|false>, Show the selection markers under the units #
show_path_markers true; # show_path_markers <true|false>, Show paths in naval battles #
show_target_zones true; # show_target_zones <true|false>, Show firing arcs etc #
ui_order_button_mode 0; # ui_order_button_mode <0|1|2>, Only applicable with minimised ui. 0 = always, 1 = slide on, 2 = never #
ui_card_mode 0; # ui_card_mode <0|1|2>, Only applicable with minimised ui. 0 = always, 1 = slide on, 2 = never #
ui_radar_mode 0; # ui_radar_mode <0|1|2>, Only applicable with minimised ui. 0 = always, 1 = slide on, 2 = never #
ui_land_unit_ids 0; # ui_land_unit_ids <0|1|2>, 0 = always, 1 = on mouse over, 2 = never #
ui_naval_unit_ids 0; # ui_naval_unit_ids <0|1|2>, 0 = always, 1 = on mouse over, 2 = never #
ui_mouse_scroll true; # ui_mouse_scroll <true|false>, Allow/disallow scrolling of the map by putting the cursor at the edge of the screen #
battle_time_limit 60; # battle_time_limit <int>, Sets the time (in minutes) for each battle. -1 for unlimited #
battle_difficulty 0; # battle_difficulty <int>, Sets the handicap for battles. Positive gives advantage. -2 is vhard, -1 is hard, 0 normal, 1 easy #
autoresolve_difficulty 0; # autoresolve_difficulty <int>, Sets the handicap for battles that are autoresolved. Positive gives advantage. -2 is vhard, -1 is hard, 0 normal, 1 easy #
campaign_difficulty 0; # campaign_difficulty <int>, Sets the handicap for campaigns. Positive gives advantage. -2 is vhard, -1 is hard, 0 normal, 1 easy #
battle_advice_level 2; # battle_advice_level <int>, Sets advice level in the battle game #
campaign_advice_level 2; # campaign_advice_level <int>, Sets advice level in the campaign game #
info_panel_mode 1; # info_panel_mode <int>, Sets info panel options. 0 - only in campaign, 1 - campaign and battle cards, 2 - campaign and battle cards and battle units #
advisor_mode 2; # advisor_mode <int>, Sets Advisor options. 0 - text only, 1 - audio only, 2 - text and audio both #
campaign_time_limit -1; # campaign_time_limit <int>, Sets the time (in minutes) for each round of the campaign. -1 for unlimited #
show_cpu_moves true; # show_cpu_moves <true|false>, Show/hide the movement of the ai pieces on the campaign map #
automanage_regions false; # automanage_regions <true|false>, Let the AI manage taxes etc in players regions #
limitless_ammo true; # show_cpu_moves <true|false>, Enable/disable Infinite ammo on battlefields #
occupiable_building_markers true; # show_occupiable_building_markers <true|false>, Enable/disable occupiable building markers on battlefields #
allow_drop_in_battles true; # allow_drop_in_battles <bool>, Allow invititations to other peoples campaign battles when playing a single player campaign #
friend_only_drop_in_battles true; # friend_only_drop_in_battles <bool>, invite only friends to your campaign drop in battles when playing a single player campaign #
multithreaded_model_enabled true; # multithreaded_model_enabled <true|false>, Run the battle model on a separate thread #
battle_camera_shake_enabled true; # battle_camera_shake_enabled <true|false>, Enable battle camera shake effects #
subtitles true; # subtitles <true|false>, Display subtitles during movies #
sound_master_volume 100; # sound_master_volume <int>, master sound volume 0-100 #
sound_music_volume 75; # sound_music_volume <int>, music sound volume 0-100 #
sound_speech_volume 100; # sound_speech_volume <int>, speech sound volume 0-100 #
sound_sfx_volume 100; # sound_sfx_volume <int>, sfx sound volume 0-100 #
sound_master_enabled true; # sound_master_enabled <true|false>, master sound enabled #
sound_music_enabled true; # sound_music_enabled <true|false>, music sound enabled #
sound_speech_enabled true; # sound_speech_enabled <true|false>, speech sound enabled #
sound_sfx_enabled true; # sound_sfx_enabled <true|false>, sfx sound volume enabled #
sound_provider 0; # sound_provider <int>, sound provider index (0-?) #
sound_channels 256; # sound_channels <int>, Number of sound channels. Fewer channels means fewer sounds but faster performance. #
voice_chat_enable true; # voice_chat_enable <bool>, Enables VOIP functionality in Steam. (default = true) #
voice_chat_microphone_gain 100; # voice_chat_microphone_gain <int>, voice_chat_microphone_gain (0-100). #
voice_chat_microphone_gain_boost true; # voice_chat_microphone_gain_boost <bool>, Boost microphone gain. #
voice_chat_volume 100; # voice_chat_volume <int>, Voice chat volume (0-100). #
voice_chat_quality 2; # voice_chat_quality <int>, Voice chat quality (0-2, 0 = low, 1 = medium, 2 = high). #
voice_chat_transmit_only_when_key_pressed true; # voice_chat_transmit_only_when_key_pressed <bool>, voice_chat_transmit_only_when_key_pressed (otherwise always trasnmitting). #
bink_use_thread true; # bink_use_thread <bool>, tells bink to use asynchronous update, increased performance on some systems, decreased on others. (default = true) #
number_of_threads 0; # number_of_threads <int>, Set the number of threads <= 0 - automatic, >0 = explicit number #
campaign_camera_edge_scroll_delay 0.5; # campaign_camera_edge_scroll_delay <float>, Set the number of seconds of delay between the mouse cursor entering the edge-scroll zone on the campaign map the camera starting movement. #





I hope you find this useful.

[Migz - DH]

This actually shouldn't be necessary, because TW: Rome 2 will create a fresh preferences script file by itself just by running the game if there isn't one there.

As is mentioned in the "A possible fix to the game crashes" thread stickied above, one of the solutions to problems with the game is deleting the folder that script file is in and running the game to create a new file with default settings in it. So, there shouldn't be a need to create one yourself manually.

[monchopx]

Many of us followed those steps and still the file was not created, it may well be becouse the game never actually could run in order to create it. The game crashed on startup so no preference script was created, so the problem remained. It was necesary for me and I bet it will be for other people.

[Migz - DH]

That sounds like something you should discuss with CA, because creating a preferences script file is one of the basic steps during the first time run process. (I suspect there's a nonstandard setting on your system interferring with the setup.)

If you and they can find the source of the problem, they can add that to their troubleshooting FAQ.

[Gunny T]

Thank you, this worked for me. I was having issues when i tried opening up a custom match. It would load and just crash. After reading up on it, i realized i had no script file in that folder. I simply created the text document and pasted the information you provided. Ran it up and it works just fine. Once again thank you!!!!

[Welsh Dragon]

Please make a post about this on the official support forums http://forums.totalwar.com/forumdisplay.php/144-Total-War-ROME-II-Support-Forum

If the problem is with preferences.txt that's a pretty important piece of information and this is the best way to let CA know. Thanks.

All the Best,

Welsh Dragon.