BUG(?): Squad Command does not work as intended

[WiNiZ]

In chapter 1 the red triangle works on the guy up on the billboard.

But after that it cease to work, at the start of chapter 2(The Dune) when the game asks me to mark one of the two patroling enemies smoking infront of my squad I can´t highlight anyone of them with the red triangle.

What I have tested so far:

- I hold down squad command button and aim the red triangle at the enemy for 3 seconds(and then release) but nothing happens(no highlighting), I even aimed for 30 seconds and nothing happens.

- Sometimes the enemy I aim at flash red for a ½ of a second, but it´s way to fast to be able to react and it only happens when I been fiddeling around with the aim for minutes and usually when I aim a little beside the enemy.

- My drivers are up to date.

- I run the game on win7 64bit.

- I reinstalled the game. Same thing happens.

- I have tried and verify my Spec Ops files in Steam and it find nothing wrong.

- I have remapped squad command button to different keys but it still does not work.

- I have found some more threads about this problem here on Steam but no real solutions.

My questions is:

1. Anyone else had this problem and got a solution?

2. How important is squad command in the campaign? Will it come to a point when I need to use the squad command to progress further in the game? Or can I play through the whole game without the commands?

Suggestions are welcome! :)

[EbonHawk]

I just finished my 4th playthru of The Line and never encountered that particular problem, except where the game didn't intend for me to be able to use squad commands. Such as during sandstorms (it's intentionally disabled to make things more difficult in those areas). But if the game is telling you to do it then it should be in a working area. I had trouble at first because I wasn't holding the squad command key down long enough, but it only takes maybe a second for it to highlight your target in red, and then you can select it.

Weird... Do your teammates (Adams & Lugo) light up in white when you're pressing the squad command key? The game always highlights them so you can tell where they are. If not, then something may be "broken" with your game, but if you've reinstalled and verified game cache files, then I don't know how to fix it.

The only other things I can think of:
What kind of fps are you getting? If they're extremely low, specific functions like this could stop working. Well under 30fps might be a sign this is happening.

Can't remember what kind of VSync this game had. Try turning it off (or on) to see if that helps. Some PC setups suffer from "input lag" and onscreen functions like the squad command can be missed sometimes.

See if you need to do a Windows update. Even try forcing a DirectX update (find out which version SpecOps uses; maybe find the install file in the game's directory and use that one; sometimes specific DX files are included with certain games), see if you need .NET Framework updates or VisualBasic, or C++ Redistributables for SpecOps and update via Windows' Update function.

That's all I can think of at the moment...

[EbonHawk]

Oh, and the game will be much more difficult if you can't use the Squad Command. I don't remember a specific place that it's required to have it, but I do have a vague recollection of some areas where it's either necessary or it will prevent major frustration on your part. Sorry I can't remember any Squad Command details atm.

[WiNiZ]

Originally posted by EbonHawk:

I just finished my 4th playthru of The Line and never encountered that particular problem, except where the game didn't intend for me to be able to use squad commands. Such as during sandstorms (it's intentionally disabled to make things more difficult in those areas). But if the game is telling you to do it then it should be in a working area. I had trouble at first because I wasn't holding the squad command key down long enough, but it only takes maybe a second for it to highlight your target in red, and then you can select it.

Weird... Do your teammates (Adams & Lugo) light up in white when you're pressing the squad command key? The game always highlights them so you can tell where they are. If not, then something may be "broken" with your game, but if you've reinstalled and verified game cache files, then I don't know how to fix it.

The only other things I can think of:
What kind of fps are you getting? If they're extremely low, specific functions like this could stop working. Well under 30fps might be a sign this is happening.

Can't remember what kind of VSync this game had. Try turning it off (or on) to see if that helps. Some PC setups suffer from "input lag" and onscreen functions like the squad command can be missed sometimes.

See if you need to do a Windows update. Even try forcing a DirectX update (find out which version SpecOps uses; maybe find the install file in the game's directory and use that one; sometimes specific DX files are included with certain games), see if you need .NET Framework updates or VisualBasic, or C++ Redistributables for SpecOps and update via Windows' Update function.

That's all I can think of at the moment...

Thank you EbonHawk for your well written lengthy reply, I really appreciate it. It gave me a lot to check out. And the fps is probably the answer. It never goes above 20 and tend to dip down towards 11.

I find this weird because right now I beta test Arma 3 on High settings and have ~40 fps and I play a heavy modded Skyrim at 40-50 fps.

But non the less, this problem with Spec Ops are clearly on my computers side and I will investigate further and try to solve the problem.

My squad light up when I use squad command and arrows point towards my squad mates. Flashbang command works without problems, my squad flashes rooms when promted to do so.

As I find the storyline really compelling(and disturbing) I will probably play through the rest of the game anyway, but like you said it probably will mean some inconvenience for me.
It´s probably worth it.

Thank you for your time EbonHawk. Happy gaming, mate! :)


// My gaming laptop specs (MSI GT683DXR-649NE):
• Processor - Intel®Core™ i7-2670QM
• RAM - 8GB DDR3
• HDD - 1 TB (2x 500GB in Raid 0) (7200 rpm)
• GPU - Nvidia Fermi GTX570M, 1.5GB GDDR5
• OS - Windows 7 Home Professional (64 bit) \\

[WiNiZ]

Hmm... this is weird. The squad command suddenly started to work after chapter 9. Still got low fps(15-20). The game feel very responsive and fluid, only small stuttering once or twice a chapter(often before or after cutscene). I´m playing on high settings.

The only complaint so far is the cover system, it feels a little bit odd. The soldier sometimes attach to wrong cover and some times let go of cover and just stand up during a firefight. I really like the setting and story, nice enviroment with all the sand. Surreal.

[WiNiZ]

Just finsihed the game. It worked quite good without the squad commands.

[EbonHawk]

Good, glad you got to complete it. I found it difficult not using the squad commands is why I thought you might need them too. I just kept forgetting to use them, since I usually tend toward taking on all enemies in squad-based games like this anyway. I found it helpful to send my squadmates out as decoys in several battle scenarios. But that's just me.

[swenor]

Originally posted by WiNiZ:

// My gaming laptop specs (MSI GT683DXR-649NE):
• Processor - Intel®Core™ i7-2670QM
• RAM - 8GB DDR3
• HDD - 1 TB (2x 500GB in Raid 0) (7200 rpm)
• GPU - Nvidia Fermi GTX570M, 1.5GB GDDR5
• OS - Windows 7 Home Professional (64 bit) \\

This lappy is WAY beefier than my desktop which runs game pretty well (40 frames at least med/high in 1680x1050). IMO you should be getting AT LEAST 30 frames with all set to high at your resolution (I presume it's 1920x1080 as the lappy has good hardware).
This must be some software issue for sure. Turn off as many applications as possible.

[Sandstorm]

I had the same problem in my laptop. Low your resolution (1366x768) works fine to me =)

[Sandstorm]

Squad Comand it´s A LOT IMPORTANT if you play on suiccide or FUBAR.

[swenor]

Originally posted by Sandstorm:

I had the same problem in my laptop. Low your resolution (1366x768) works fine to me =)

Originally posted by Sandstorm:

Squad Comand it´s A LOT IMPORTANT if you play on suiccide or FUBAR.

1) Use EDIT button. It's here for a reason.
2) It's Suicide - not suiccide
3) Squad Command is just abonus. I did all the work on FUBAR by myself.
4) Lowering resolution is a ♥♥♥♥ idea.