VRAM Requirements/Problems

[obtuse-angle]

I'm new here and very new to PC gaming in general (long time console game .

I found a download for WZv.2.3.8 at another site and no particular system requirements were mentioned other than a 1+GHz and WinXP. I checked the listed original disc system specs and my laptop's 2.66GHz CPU and 32MB ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 seemed more than adequate. So I installed the downloaded game and it ran very well but with one major problem: some of the Command Panels including the main one were missing their icons. Well not missing they are there but flashing on and off intermittently. All that you see is a blank blue box with some feint translucent grey panels where they should be.

However if you hover the cursor over the appropriate area the text box for each icon does appear so once you know where to click you can bring up the sub-panels which, oddly, display perfectly. I can build, design and manufacture etc no problem. But right click on unit(s) to bring up their command options panel and again I get a blank blue box and icons which flash on but mostly off.

In the main menus too the Back button icons are missing but the button still works and there looks to be some side scrolling text that appears along the bottom of the menus occasionally - that's completely garbbled.

I wondered about resolution settings and compatibility modes and tried various combinations to no effect. Anyway I eventually found my way to this web site and the latest WZv.2.3.9 and was shocked to discover the VRAM requirements were stated as being 128MB! I guess that explains the display problems.

The question I'd like to know the answer to is why they're so high in comparison to the original game release. I checked again and the recommendation for that was a measly 4MB video card of almost any type - some difference.

Is there any solution to the problem? The game is still very playable otherwise but if there is something that can fix this display
issue I'd love to know.

[vexed]

Your issue is mainly with video drivers.
If you play at the lowest possible resolution, you still should be OK playing the game.
The game uses 2x more data (32 bit vs. 16bit (256 color) the original was), that along with some other changes required the game to use more VRAM.

[obtuse-angle]

Thanks for the reply.

The point is I can play the game at the maximum resolution allowed 1024x768 with absolutely no problem apart from this. The frame rate is fine the game runs very smoothly with no noticeable slowdown or hiccups. It really is just the very specific command panel display issue I described.

Also, as said, I've tried a variety of resolutions from 640x480 in Win'98 compatibility mode with all the options checked to the lowest settings allowed within the game too (640x480, 32 colours, shadows off etc). In all cases this peculiar display problem remains with not even a hint of improvement at any setting.

My ATI Mobility Radeon video driver is as up to date as it can be and I've had nothing similar occur with any other game. I would guess you're right that it is a particular driver incompatibility problem and therefore unresolvable.

Still I just don't get why 128MB of VRAM is recommended for this download version when 2MB (minimum), 4MB recommended, were the specs for the original game. Those specs are also in line with C&C Red Alert and Tiberium Sun both of which run fine on this laptop.

It rather defeats the point of being able to download WZ2100 as freeware but because I'd like to get this game running perfectly if possible I'm seriously thinking about getting hold of an original copy of WZ2100 just to see if the that has the same problem.

Any advice on this appreciated ie. were there any installation problems, patches required, WinXP issues with the original game?

[cybersphinx]

Still I just don't get why 128MB of VRAM is recommended for this download version when 2MB (minimum), 4MB recommended, were the specs for the original game.

Not sure who came up with that number, it might be the class of graphics cards that are generally fast enough to play the game.

I measured vram requirements some time ago, and 2.3 needs 32 MB, master-formerly-known-as-trunk 64 MB (reducing the texture size option can reduce that, master might need more now). The original game had a software renderer, so you just need enough for the framebuffer itself. We use OpenGL only, so you also need memory for the textures.

[obtuse-angle]

Thanks.

The 128MB VRAM comes direct from the System Requirements listed on the Download page here, just click on the Download tab and you'll see it. Actually it says it is the minimum requirement. Your quoted VRAM figures for this download OpenGL version still means it is likely my 32MB ATI Mobility Radeon is being overstretched and likely explain the display issues I'm experiencing.

There is some odd stuff out there about the original disc version of WZ2100's specs. On eBay (UK) which also lists some US sellers too it looks like a lot of people have copied the system requirements from the same wrong source stating that it requires 64MB VRAM.

But one helpful soul has actually included a close-up of the 'big-box' version's system requirements panel. That clearly says minimum specs: 166MHz CPU/32MB RAM/Win2000>/2MB RAM video card with 3D acceleration. This is also in line with what most of the more authorative gaming web sites list although most recommend 64MB RAM/4MB VRAM. Maybe this is where the eBay sellers got their incorrect 64MB VRAM figure from.

If someone here who has an original copy of the retail disc version can confirm the minimum system requirements I'd appreciate it.

[lav_coyote25]

If someone here who has an original copy of the retail disc version can confirm the minimum system requirements I'd appreciate it.

you asked...

Warzone 2100
README file
March 9, 1999
Version 1.0
Thank you for your purchase of Warzone 2100. This readme file contains troubleshooting and last minute gameplay information. We ask that you please read through the DirectX 6 and Graphic Card Support sections of this document. These sections have information that is essential if you wish to successfully run Warzone 2100 on your system.
Minimum Requirements:
P166 MHz Processor
Windowsâ 95 / Windows 98
32 MB RAM
2MB SVGA card
8X CD-ROM Drive
100% DirectX 6 Compliant Sound Card
DirectX 6.0 or higher (included)
75 MB of Uncompressed Hard Drive Storage
Keyboard and Mouse

Recommended Requirements
P233 MHz Processor
64 MB RAM
4 MB Direct3D or 3Dfx compatible 3D Accelerator Card
16X CD ROM

Multiplayer Game requires one of the following:
IPX or TCP/IP local area network
28.8 Kbps or faster modem
28.8 Kbps or faster internet connection
Serial connection via null modem cable

NOTE: We do not support the game on Windows NT, Laptops, compressed hard drives, or Windows emulators. Although the game might run, its performance and stability will be questionable.


Installation

Treat your computer to a tune up - follow this procedure before installation:

Scandisk your hard drive
Defragment your hard drive
Virus Check (with the latest virus definitions) your Hard Drive
Reclaim hard drive space by deleting unnecessary files (look in your windows\temp file for prime candidates)
Verify that you have at least 150MB of free hard drive space (after game install) for your swap file

Now you can install and run Warzone 2100 on a pristine hard drive. Make sure you disable your resident virus checker (check system tray) during install to avoid installation hang-ups.

To install the game, insert CD1, and click the button labeled “Install Warzone 2100” when the Autorun Menu appears. If the menu does not appear, run setup.exe, from the root directory of CD1.

[stiv]

Warzone uses OpenGL, not DirectX. If your graphics cards has problems with OpenGL, it will have problems with WZ. SiS, ATI and on-board graphics are known to be problematic, depending on the particular combination of chipset/driver. Even a cheap nVidia card will be adequate.

Usual fixes/ workarounds are:

use the manufacturer's driver, not the one that came with your operating system

update drivers

turn off eye-candy like compositing window managers and themes (compiz, Aero)

sometimes it helps to turn down hardware acceleration

[obtuse-angle]

Thanks all for the info - very helpful.

As said I'm using a laptop with a built in ATI Mobility Radeon graphics and from the blurb provided it looks like those are significant elements against the game running properly.

I've tried updating the ATI driver but if there's a more recent version than the one I'm using I haven't been able to find it (we are talking about an eight year old laptop). I've also tried running the game at its lowest settings to no avail. I'll certainly look into the hardware acceleration settings stiv mentioned but everything is still pointing to a specific driver/graphics card incompatibility issue.

Whether getting an original disc version will resolve the matter isn't clear either but I might still give it a go, if I can find somebody selling a genuine official copy that is. It is definitely against the Terms of Agreement users have to accept but on eBay (UK) there are several listings from people who appear to be selling multiple illegal(?) copies of the freeware version. There are certainly feedback complaints about this from buyers.

[cybersphinx]

https://github.com/Warzone2100/warzone2 ... README#L46 - you don't have to buy the original, though I'm not sure if we have a link to proper ISOs anywhere.

As for people selling the game, in principle they are allowed to, they just need to include the source. And they should of course properly advertise what buyers get.

[obtuse-angle]

I will probably have trouble downloading an original game ISO as I'm on dial-up. Downloading WZ2100 v.2.3.9 was an epic enough task (4+ hrs) anything much over 50MB can be areal pain unless the download allows resumes.

BTW I looked at that Terms of Use link and it does state:-

5) Permission is granted to copy and distribute unaltered copies and/or images
of the original game discs in any medium, provided that they are distributed
free of charge and retain their original copyright and trademark notices.

This means anyone selling copies of the retail game discs on ebay is doing it illegally.

Just for my information, as you seem to be saying this is the case, why aren't the downloadable versions covered by the same agreement?