Brute Force Fix* ...*Not really a fix...

[Fr4mbo]

If you want to skip the details,

follow this guide: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2674418648,

then go to the bottom of this post.
-------------------------------------------

So, I spent a day or so trying to figure out what was wrong with this game and what would fix it for me.

Used all the other "fixes" other people posted. Nothing seem to work so I decided to test things slowly, see I could figure it out.

I didn't figure it out.

After a lot of testing, after making changes in the way I ran the game. Added or tweaked things in the game files/folders, used the 3rd party software (dgvoodoo), etc etc. Nothing worked.

Errors I got while testing:
Stucking loading: 30+
Closed on start: 30+
Access Violation: 30+ (more in the log file)
Other Error messages: 30+

All of these errors are the same thing just look in the log file:

Most of the time the game will get stuck loading as the log file is filled with "Access Violation" Errors.
Closing on start is when the log only records one or two errors quickly before it closes the game window.
Access Violation error messages when the dbug works properly.
Other errors like "X" or "Operation worked Successfully" when it doesn't.


I've given up trying to figure it out.

For the record what I've tried:

Default game install: Run from the steam app.
Default game install: Run from the game exe.
Default game install: Run from the game exe (as admin)
*Repeat above with one monitor on.
Skip intro "fix" on PCGamingWIKI
Downloaded older versions of DirectX.
Driver updates / rollbacks
Checked legacy components was on/downloaded.
Changing and testing all compatibility settings for exe file.
DGVooDoo (3rd party software, force resolution, graphical changes etc)
Edit "dbghelp.dll" file.
Searched through log files to identify issue.
^Tried sound and graphic setting changes
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While doing all of this the game would sometimes run. But no matter what I did it would not be consistent. So I decided to brute force it and see what the results were.

Changes I did make and kept.

LAA, enabled 4gb for the game exe.
Texture mod, you can find in one of the guides.
Enabled dgvoodoo, set to 4k, I'm on a 1440p monitor using DSR Nvidia to enable 4k.
***Set the ingame resolution to match your monitor aspect ratio for the HUD
I don't enable vsync in the dgvoodoo as I have a gsync monitor.
Reshade enabled.

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Just follow this guide for most of it: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2674418648

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My Test for the "Brute Force Fix" only:

Crashes vs Game Runs:

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Crashes: X
Game Runs: /
Game Runs,
but the window is small in corner: ?
---
*Using exe in folder (admin)
*One Monitor

(1): X X /
(2): X X /
(3): X X X X /
(4): ? X /
(5): X X X X /
(6): X X X X X X X X X /

---
*Using steam shortcut
*One Monitor

(1): X X X X X X X X /
(2): X ? X X X X X X X X X X X *Gave Up
(3): X X X X X X X /
(4): X X X /
(5): /
(6): X X X X X X /

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*Using steam shortcut
*Display resolution 1440p, dgvoodoo 4K
*Both monitors on

(1): X X X /
(2): X X X X X X X ? X X X X /
(3): X X X X X X /
(4): /
(5): /
(6): X X ? X X X X X X X X X X X *Gave up

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*Using exe in folder (admin)
*One Monitor

(1): X X X ? X /
(2): X X X X X X X X /
(3): X * Stopped testing

I think I proved my point.
Just brute force it.

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**When display is 1440p, windows are moved about when trying to run game
*Log file gets to 500-1000 KB+ before window closes

----------------------------------------

My "Brute Force Fix":

Open up a second "Desktop" (I'm using windows 11).
You can hold the "windows" button and the "Ctrl" button then click the arrow keys left or right to move from the desktops. In the second desktop open task manager, select the "user" tab and add "army" in the search bar at the top.

-

1: Run the game, if the 3Dx logo doesn't start or the game menu if you have the intro disabled, move onto step 2.
2: Move to "desktop 2" and end the game process in "task manager".
3: Move back to main desktop, run the game.
4: Repeat until game starts.

Usually only take me 5 mins or less to get the game to run.

Don't wait for the game to run or load, if the menu or logo / intro video doesn't start close the process down.
Do this quickly and repeat until the game runs.

[Fr4mbo]

This was my other testing notes. Maybe it'll help someone.

Not organised or neat, sue me.
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Both Monitors

Test Run 1:

Default Game Install, no changes:

***Run from the steam app.
***Both monitor on.

Test 1: Stuck loading, not responding. Had to close in Task manager.
Test 2: ^Test 1, Repeat.
Test 3: Closed on start. Pop-up sound? (error message?).
Test 4: ^Test 1 & 2, Repeat.
Test 5: ^Test 3, Repeat (no pop-up sound).
Test 6: Test 3 & 5, Repeat (no pop-up sound).

---
Test Run 2:

Default Game Install, no changes:

***Run from game folder
***Both monitor on.

Test 1: Stuck loading, not responding. Had to close in Task manager.
Test 2: Error message: "Access Violation, Reading from 00002710h", CallStack is all zeros, RAM problem? *Use DDU to wipe & Reinstall GPU drivers. Check RAM test results.
Test 3: ^Test 1, Repeat.
Test 4: Closed on start.
Test 5: ^Test 1 & 3, Repeat.
Test 6: ^Test 4, Repeat.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ One Monitor

Test Run 3:

Default Game Install, no changes:

***Run from the steam app.
***Repeat of Run 1 with one Monitor on only.

Test 1: Closed on start.
Test 2: ^Test 1, Repeat.
Test 3: ^Test 1 & 2, Repeat.
Test 4: ^Test 1, 2 & 3, Repeat.
Test 5: Stuck loading, not responding. Had to close in Task manager.
Test 6: ^Test 1, 2, 3 & 4, Repeat.

---
Test Run 4:

Default Game Install, no changes:

***Run from game folder
***Repeat of Run 2 with one Monitor on only.

Test 1: Closed on start.
Test 2: ^Test 1, Repeat.
Test 3: ^Test 1 & 2, Repeat.
Test 4: ^Test 1, 2 & 3, Repeat.
Test 5: Stuck loading, not responding. Had to close in Task manager.
Test 6: ^Test 5, Repeat.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------One Monitor From now on

Test Run 5:

Default Game Install, no changes:

***Run from the steam app.
***Changed to admin in exe file
***One Monitor From now on


Testing log:

Test 1: Stuck on loading. Non responding. *The game window was full or at 1440p, rather than at a smaller window size without “run as admin”? Check this.
**Running from steam resets the game “compatibility” settings.

Test 2: Stuck on loading. Non responding. (2)

Test 3: Game ran. Intro started. Steam overlay also ran.

*Running from steam resets the game “compatibility” settings.
**Had exe properties window open? Test?

Test 4: Game ran. Intro started. Steam overlay also ran. (2)
Test 5: Closed on start.

*settings.cfg created? On first game start?
*user folder and data.cfg created?

Test 6: Closed on start.

---

Extra:
*Deleted settings.cfg
*Deleted data.cfg file and user folder
*Deleted log file
**Properties window open

Test 7: “ACCESS Violation, Reading from 0*84h”.
Test 8: Stuck on loading. Non responding.
Test 9: “ACCESS Violation, Reading from 0*0h”.
Test 10: Error: “Operation completed successfully”.

---

***Reset Game Folder.

Restart above test:

Test 1: Stuck on loading. Non responding. *Game set to small window rather than full display.

Test 2: Game ran. Intro started. Steam overlay also ran.
***Game folder and files changed due to proper start:
(16:39-40)

Settings.cfg created: 16:39
User folder created: 16:39
***data.cfg created: 16:39
Amrts.log created: 16:39
No other files or folders changed.
***Games document folder?

Test 3: Closed on start.

Settings.cfg not changed: 16:48
User folder not changed: 16:48
***data.cfg not changed: 16:48
Amrts.log changed: 16:48
Looking at log file, game gets stuck in infinite “ACCESS Violations”.
Game difference, loads game details saved from first game start.
Problem loading the file?

Test 4: Stuck on loading. Not responding.
*Only log file is updated.
Both log files, crash and infinite load happen after “sound = “Sound::Init()”
*Bug in sound file?
**Audio device used cause crash?
***Change audio sound settings?

In working log file after Sound Init():
=|sound_digital :151 |16:38:58|Claim: Opened [DirectSound - MSS Mixer]
=|sound_digital_output:193 |16:38:58|Output::Claim:
=|sound_digital_output:211 |16:38:58| - Allocated 8 2D voices

*Disable bluetooth
*Set to monitor speakers

Test 5: Stuck on loading. Non responding.

*Turned off Audio Enhancements (System>Sound>Properties, Windows 11 settings)
*Turned off Spatial Audio (^same as above)
**Format: 16 bit, 48000 Hz
*Disable all enhancements (Old windows settings)
Turn off Hardware settings? (Display / GPU windows settings)

Test 6: Closed on start.
*Changed to headphones
*set to 16 bit, 44100 Hz
*Turned off enhancements

Test 7: Closed on start.
***Delete settings.cfg file

Test 8: ERROR: “ACCESS VIOLATION< WRITING to 0B84306Ch”

Test 9: ERROR: X
***Add setting.cfg back

Test 10: Closed on start.
Deleted: User folder,
Settings.cfg
Log

Test 11: Infinite Loading.
*Log file just stops at:
=|vid :1049 |17:55:39|[VID INITD3D: 1]
=|input :566 |17:55:39| - max ofs = 19
=|input :566 |17:55:39| - max ofs = 237

Test 12: Closed on start.