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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> Tech Support >> Win8 and Disaster

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Win8 and Disaster - 1/17/2014 4:50:27 PM

princep01

Posts: 943
Joined: 8/7/2006
From: Texas
Status: offline

Is it just me or is Win 8 the son of Satan?, I'm converting over to a brand new computer with Win8 vs. my old (really old) WinXP computer and War in the Pacific AE runs REALLY slowly. The screen scroll is ok when set at 1, but when I click on a unit to set its course or mission, it takes a second for the command screen to come up. Over the course of a turn this adds up to s significant time burden.

The old clunker never had such a problem. Click....and the command screen for the unit popped right up. What is causing this much more powerful computer to process so slowly?

Any thoughts would be appreciated

Post #: 1

RE: Win8 and Disaster - 1/17/2014 5:03:10 PM

bartrat

Posts: 131
Joined: 12/24/2013
From: USA
Status: offline

What are the specs of your new computer? RAM (memory), hard drive size, video card and your current video settings?

(in reply to princep01)

Post #: 2

RE: Win8 and Disaster - 1/17/2014 5:35:00 PM

SuluSea

Posts: 2358
Joined: 11/17/2006
Status: offline

Sure it will work. It needs to be in windowed mode or the game runs too slow.

For me using this command line works well enough to play as before..

"C:\Matrix Games\War in the Pacific Admiral's Edition\War in the Pacific Admiral Edition.exe" -wd -altfont -cpu2 -multiaudio -dd_sw -px1680 -py1050

Ship graphics jump when scrolling past yellow writing which is annoying I believe witpqs gave me a fix -nofire but can't find the post.

(in reply to bartrat)

Post #: 3

RE: Win8 and Disaster - 1/17/2014 6:02:15 PM

koniu

Posts: 2763
Joined: 2/28/2011
From: Konin, Poland, European Union
Status: offline

Upgrade to 8.1. I saw positive difference between Win 8 and 8.1
Also it looks that -dd_sw is doing good thing to game performance
Also -cpu2 (number is core number of CPU) is helping with performance. Game usually run smoother on single core.

I also experienced major stability improvement with latest 13.12 WHQL AMD graphic drivers if You have AMD GPU.

_____________________________

"Only the Dead Have Seen the End of War"

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Post #: 4

RE: Win8 and Disaster - 1/17/2014 6:27:03 PM

princep01

Posts: 943
Joined: 8/7/2006
From: Texas
Status: offline

The computer has 8BG RAM, the HD is practically empty with a capacity of 1TB, the vid card is nothing great, but an INTEL HD Graphics card. Don't know the settings. All this stuff is plenty to run this program and it isn't all that graphics intensive.

Thanks Sulu, I think you have the right idea. I am not computer sophisticated enough to carry out the suggested changes, but know someone that is. I'll try that. The current situation makes playing the game intolerable. I might just play the game on my old computer and forget trying to accommodate Win8. That is if I can get the bios to load on my old one now. Geezzzzz!

As to an upgrade to 8.1...heck, I don't even know if I'll keep Win8. I is operationally so different looking I might go the other direction and retreat to WIN7.

Thanks to all for the quick comments. I think you guys have really identified the problem and it is the program vis the game design.

(in reply to koniu)

Post #: 5

RE: Win8 and Disaster - 1/17/2014 6:36:31 PM

koniu

Posts: 2763
Joined: 2/28/2011
From: Konin, Poland, European Union
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: princep01

The computer has 8BG RAM, the HD is practically empty with a capacity of 1TB, the vid card is nothing great, but an INTEL HD Graphics card. Don't know the settings. All this stuff is plenty to run this program and it isn't all that graphics intensive.

Thanks Sulu, I think you have the right idea. I am not computer sophisticated enough to carry out the suggested changes, but know someone that is. I'll try that. The current situation makes playing the game intolerable. I might just play the game on my old computer and forget trying to accommodate Win8. That is if I can get the bios to load on my old one now. Geezzzzz!

As to an upgrade to 8.1...heck, I don't even know if I'll keep Win8. I is operationally so different looking I might go the other direction and retreat to WIN7.

Thanks to all for the quick comments. I think you guys have really identified the problem and it is the program vis the game design.

Windows 8.1 can start directly to normal desktop. It was first thing i do after i upgraded. After few days and few modification to Moder UI (as use it as desk with shortcuts to programs i use in daily basis) a finding win 8.1 more user friendly than Win 7 is. I have no problems with compatibility. only really old dx8 programs like WITPAE had some graphic issues but that i manage to fix

_____________________________

"Only the Dead Have Seen the End of War"

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Post #: 6

RE: Win8 and Disaster - 1/17/2014 7:16:20 PM

witpqs

Posts: 26087
Joined: 10/4/2004
From: Argleton
Status: offline

These are the switches that I use on my Win 8 laptop. Some are personal preferences but others are performance related.

"C:\Matrix Games\WITP AE - PBM #1\Beta2\War in the Pacific Admiral Edition.exe" -altFont -archive -wd -deepColor -px1366 -py768 -fixedArt -noFire -SingleCpuOrders -cpu3

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Post #: 7

RE: Win8 and Disaster - 1/17/2014 8:57:09 PM

princep01

Posts: 943
Joined: 8/7/2006
From: Texas
Status: offline

Thanks all for the responses. This is Princep's son - getting into Command Line prompts is a little beyond his ken. Sulu, I used the switches you showed and got the error message "Unable to find PW Area." I'm not familiar with the game, so I'm not sure what it's looking for there. Any ideas?

(in reply to witpqs)

Post #: 8

RE: Win8 and Disaster - 1/17/2014 10:14:19 PM

witpqs

Posts: 26087
Joined: 10/4/2004
From: Argleton
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: princep01

Thanks all for the responses. This is Princep's son - getting into Command Line prompts is a little beyond his ken. Sulu, I used the switches you showed and got the error message "Unable to find PW Area." I'm not familiar with the game, so I'm not sure what it's looking for there. Any ideas?

It sounds like you set the switches in the wrong shortcut. There is a set of three 'PW' files, the area file being one of them. That error would not crop up all on it's own unless that file vanished for some reason. More likely, you edited the wrong shortcut - a shortcut that is pointing somewhere else.

That's just a guess, but even if wrong might help you figure it out.

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Post #: 9

RE: Win8 and Disaster - 1/17/2014 10:14:39 PM

witpqs

Posts: 26087
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From: Argleton
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BTW, you look a lot like your dad!

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Post #: 10

RE: Win8 and Disaster - 1/17/2014 10:40:41 PM

princep01

Posts: 943
Joined: 8/7/2006
From: Texas
Status: offline

Hee, hee, he is big and balder than me, but still has the same wonderful disposition and bon home. Thanks witpqs. he is over at my daughter's right now, but I'll put him back to work on damage control when he returns.

(in reply to witpqs)

Post #: 11

RE: Win8 and Disaster - 1/17/2014 11:44:45 PM

wdolson

Posts: 10398
Joined: 6/28/2006
From: Near Portland, OR
Status: offline

Your seeing the same multi-core problems many people see. I bet your XP machine was a single core processor?

There are a couple of bugs in DirectX that show up in the game. One bug happens with multi-cores and some video cards. The other only happens on Intel processors.

The forum has had several threads on this. I recall one in the last week or so.

For the record, I program Windows for a living and still use XP on my machines. I only use newer versions of Windows for testing. But then I can be kind of Luddite sometimes.

Bill

_____________________________

WitP AE - Test team lead, programmer

(in reply to princep01)

Post #: 12

RE: Win8 and Disaster - 1/18/2014 12:05:04 AM

Itdepends

Posts: 937
Joined: 12/12/2005
Status: offline

wdolson- you mean you've had some part in producing the new features in Windows 8?

Can you say Jehovah?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIaORknS1Dk

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Post #: 13

RE: Win8 and Disaster - 1/18/2014 12:20:10 AM

wdolson

Posts: 10398
Joined: 6/28/2006
From: Near Portland, OR
Status: offline

I just develop applications for Windows. I have no responsibility for any OS. At the moment I'm developing some industrial software for the integrated circuit industry.

I actually did do a stint at Microsoft, but it was back in 1998 and I was working on the Microsoft cordless phone. Microsoft has had a lot of failed products...

I was in the hardware division which is the house the mouse built. The mouse group had half the staff and most of the space. They were also fantastically profitable. There were a number of other projects like the Barney doll which had more technology in it than the space shuttle.

Win 98 was just coming out when I was there. I became a beta tester and my computer completely broke their install program. The technicians were figuring out that one for a while.

The hardware group didn't drink the Kool Aid like most of the rest of MS. There wasn't that much brand loyalty, but I overheard people from other groups talking about the ongoing Netscape court battle and they were behaving like they were personally under attack and it was completely unreasonable. (I was on Netscape's side and even had Netscape installed on my work computer. But I kept my mouth shut.)

It was a weird experience. For creature comforts, it was the second best work place I've ever been. I had an office with a door and the cafeteria was essentially several restaurants ranging from fairly good to excellent. The cafeteria also had the ambiance of a ski lodge. The corporate culture outside the hardware group was a bit odd though.

I have the best work environment now. I work at home and telecommute. The worst traffic problems I have getting to work have to do with the cat being under foot (which he loves to do).

Bill

_____________________________

WitP AE - Test team lead, programmer

(in reply to Itdepends)

Post #: 14

RE: Win8 and Disaster - 1/21/2014 2:23:40 AM

olperfessor

Posts: 98
Joined: 4/28/2003
From: New York, N.Y.
Status: offline

Can one still buy Windows 7? That is, will the boxed system-builder still at Amazon do?

I now play WitPAE on my Macbook, using bootcamp and Windows 7, but I would like to start using my desktop again.

But my desktop's Windows XP has enough problems for me to need to start from scratch (WitP plays but the system is slow, won't shut down, etc.). Not having installation disks, and having it built by a company that did not include a re-install partition, I would like to buy and install Windows 7 -- not 8.

My desktop need only be used for a few games: WitPAE, IL2 1946, and maybe some Paradox games, e.g. Pride of Nations. Windows 8 and 8.1 sound wretched, and I am not a techie able to reliably tweak command lines.

Any advice (or fugetaboutits) would be appreciated. I think my system has plenty of memory and a decent video card, certainly good enough to WitPAE, as I have played it there.

Many thanks.

(in reply to wdolson)

Post #: 15

RE: Win8 and Disaster - 1/21/2014 3:23:45 AM

wdolson

Posts: 10398
Joined: 6/28/2006
From: Near Portland, OR
Status: offline

You should still be able to get Win7. Microsoft is just ending support for XP this year.

Bill

_____________________________

WitP AE - Test team lead, programmer

(in reply to olperfessor)

Post #: 16

RE: Win8 and Disaster - 1/21/2014 12:08:07 PM

pws1225

Posts: 1166
Joined: 8/9/2010
From: Tate's Hell, Florida
Status: offline

quote:

I have the best work environment now. I work at home and telecommute. The worst traffic problems I have getting to work have to do with the cat being under foot (which he loves to do).

+1 the next best thing to being retired!

(in reply to wdolson)

Post #: 17

RE: Win8 and Disaster - 1/21/2014 4:24:26 PM

tdpyle

Posts: 76
Joined: 7/24/2004
Status: offline

I am running AE on Win 8.1 (unwindowed). Dual core Pentium processor @ 2.8 Ghz. Ho hum graphics. Setting the dd_sw switch helped a lot. Setting -cpu# and - SingleCpuOrders helped a little more. Response times are now good -- maybe a few milliseconds slower than they were with Windows 7. I previously ran AE unwindowed) on a Windows 7 machine with an AMD Athlon dual core processor @ 1.3Ghz and an Ion graphics processor. Ran well under Windows 7. Upgraded computer to Windows 8.1. AE ran slowly regardless of switch settings. My takeaway from this is that a reasonably fast processor speed for any kind of gaming in Windows 8 is important. Found this to be true for MWIF also.

(in reply to princep01)

Post #: 18

RE: Win8 and Disaster - 1/21/2014 7:53:41 PM

olperfessor

Posts: 98
Joined: 4/28/2003
From: New York, N.Y.
Status: offline

Thank you, tdpyle. I will take a chance on Windows 8 (as a Mac user who has in the past suffered through several Windows versions, I hate to send any cash Microsoft's way, but . . . Let the games continue).

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Post #: 19

RE: Win8 and Disaster - 1/22/2014 2:34:10 PM

tdpyle

Posts: 76
Joined: 7/24/2004
Status: offline

HP just announced that they are now offering Windows 7 as an option on some new consumer desktops and laptops due to the resistance of quite a few users to Windows 8.

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Post #: 20

RE: Win8 and Disaster - 1/22/2014 7:16:16 PM

CaptDave

Posts: 659
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From: Federal Way, WA
Status: offline

There are some who would say that Win 8 is actually the grandson of Satan, Satan being Windows ME and the son being Vista! As has been shown, though, 8 (or, even better, 8.1) can be made to work with AE.

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Post #: 21

RE: Win8 and Disaster - 1/22/2014 9:56:47 PM

tdpyle

Posts: 76
Joined: 7/24/2004
Status: offline

My unfortunate experiences with ME and Vista suggest Windows 8.1 is not nearly as flawed as those two. However, its clumsy attempt to drive users to the Metro interface so as to support the phone and tablets is distracting and annoying. Also, requirements for increased processing power to run programs in a timely fashion is a detriment. There are a few pluses for Windows 8. Some of the Bing based apps such as news and finance are pretty good. The inability to get useful apps vs frivolous social media apps is not favorable. I can't get a banking app for Chase from Windows. Android has it as well as Apple. One big reason why I won't be switching to Windows for my phone and tablet. Without a useful power user linked Windows system over all devices, Windows 8 is pretty much irrelevant. For serious pc gaming, Windows 8 is a step backward. None of my large library of Matrix games run as well on Windows 8 as they do on 7 or XP--even with a souped up processor.

(in reply to CaptDave)

Post #: 22

RE: Win8 and Disaster - 1/24/2014 1:58:11 AM

princep01

Posts: 943
Joined: 8/7/2006
From: Texas
Status: offline

Thanks to all for your comments and attempts to help out. Yes, I was previously using a single core processor and never had so much as a squawk while working on WitPAE turns. Scrolling, moving from unit to unit. etc, all worked well. But, with only 1GB of RAM, the old warhorse was slow to load and limited with regard to playing other, more modern games. So, my decision to buy a new super duper, dual core 8 GB RAM machine that could handle newer games. The price was a shocking slowdown in many AE functions. Scrolling slowed, having to turn off the plane and ship search zones to do anything with a ship at a base, the loss of using the Z command to bring up all air search zones, and so forth. In addition, there was the "look" of WIN8 which required another investment of time and effort.

I am no computer guy. It is just a tool to do a few financial, communicating, writing and gaming things for me. I have only a limited interest in the machines and learning how to make them go better. While I appreciate the suggestions on how to make the game function better within the WIN 8 environment, I haven't a clue how to find "switches", set them, alter files or program the simplest changes. Sorry, just a computer doofus. But, I do appreciate the responses. Fortunately, I am blessed with above average financial resources, so I can pay people to come over and set those switches and so forth when a relative or friend cannot be conjoled into doing that sort of labor. Thanks again.

Now, off to the Microsoft Store to take a group lesson on how to work WIN 8....maybe there will be interesting girls there doing the same. Misery loves company.

(in reply to tdpyle)

Post #: 23

RE: Win8 and Disaster - 1/24/2014 2:47:43 AM

1EyedJacks