Can't read Any Text
by Steve Wertz · in Marble Blast · 02/26/2004 (12:02 pm) · 6 replies
I'm using the Marble Blast Gold as supplied with RealNetworks RealArcade; Windows ME, 320meg ram, ATI Rage XL 2X video card, and Direct X9.0b, and 700mhx P3.
I can't read any of the text in the help/options screens, or after I press "Play" unless I use the OpenGL drivers.
While this will get me through the Help/Credits screen, playing the game with the OGL drivers isn't an option. I can't read anything after pressing "Play". The only text I can read with the Direct3D drivers are the 4 opening menu selections (Play, Options, Help/Credits, Exit).
The letters appear to be Bolded so thickly that the letters just appaear as randomly shaped blocks.
-sw (haven't rolled an inch)
I can't read any of the text in the help/options screens, or after I press "Play" unless I use the OpenGL drivers.
While this will get me through the Help/Credits screen, playing the game with the OGL drivers isn't an option. I can't read anything after pressing "Play". The only text I can read with the Direct3D drivers are the 4 opening menu selections (Play, Options, Help/Credits, Exit).
The letters appear to be Bolded so thickly that the letters just appaear as randomly shaped blocks.
-sw (haven't rolled an inch)
#2
The latest drivers are installed. Every other 3D game works (and looks) just fine.
All the text except for the 4 menu selctions is illegible. Game tips, high score lists, and whatever that is that appears above the ball sometimes. I can read the signs (Caution!/Danger!) on the terrain, and the score/time, and most of the writing on the buttons (excluding the Option -> Redefine Keys screen), but that's it.
I should add that I tried it using DX8.1, but upgraded to 9.0b and that didn't help.
-sw
02/26/2004 (3:10 pm)
OGL is not an option because the game moves *really* slow, like when you don't have a 3D card. The mouse only moves every 2 seconds for example, and the mouse/keyboard commands take 2 seconds to be recognized.The latest drivers are installed. Every other 3D game works (and looks) just fine.
All the text except for the 4 menu selctions is illegible. Game tips, high score lists, and whatever that is that appears above the ball sometimes. I can read the signs (Caution!/Danger!) on the terrain, and the score/time, and most of the writing on the buttons (excluding the Option -> Redefine Keys screen), but that's it.
I should add that I tried it using DX8.1, but upgraded to 9.0b and that didn't help.
-sw
#3
The problem is probably some sort of oddity with the card's implementation of OpenGL/Direct3D. Do other OpenGL applications run OK for you? Are you sure that the application is using your driver's OpenGL DLL and not the reference one that Microsoft gives you (which will always run at about 2 seconds/frame)?
Anyway, you're luck that MB is a pretty text-light game. It should be 100% playable with no text at all...
02/26/2004 (7:01 pm)
You might want to consider going out and paying the $50 or less to get a newer generation graphics card. Even a GeForce 2 should have dramatically better results. It's never a good thing when your graphics card manufacturer discontinues support for your card. ;)The problem is probably some sort of oddity with the card's implementation of OpenGL/Direct3D. Do other OpenGL applications run OK for you? Are you sure that the application is using your driver's OpenGL DLL and not the reference one that Microsoft gives you (which will always run at about 2 seconds/frame)?
Anyway, you're luck that MB is a pretty text-light game. It should be 100% playable with no text at all...
#4
>OpenGL DLL and not the reference one that Microsoft gives
>you (which will always run at about 2 seconds/frame)?
How do you tell which library it's using? I see a opengl2d3d.dll in the Marbleblast directory...
opengl32.dll in the \windows\system directory looks to be Copyright Microsoft and dated 6/8/2000, the timestamp of the WinME distribution.
I don't havre any problems with any other 3d games, and another video card isn't in the budget right now (not just for Marble Blast at least).
-sw
02/26/2004 (8:50 pm)
>Are you sure that the application is using your driver's>OpenGL DLL and not the reference one that Microsoft gives
>you (which will always run at about 2 seconds/frame)?
How do you tell which library it's using? I see a opengl2d3d.dll in the Marbleblast directory...
opengl32.dll in the \windows\system directory looks to be Copyright Microsoft and dated 6/8/2000, the timestamp of the WinME distribution.
I don't havre any problems with any other 3d games, and another video card isn't in the budget right now (not just for Marble Blast at least).
-sw
#5
02/26/2004 (9:15 pm)
These other 3d games, are they running on OpenGL or Direct3D? Should be an option in the configuration screen.
#6
>Direct3D? Should be an option in the configuration
>screen.
Most don't have options to switch. I can't say I have a lot of them, though. Most (all) of them require DirectX, though.
Mostly they are from RealArcade - Gutterball3D, Aces of the Sky, HamsterBall, etc.. They all work fine.
-sw
02/26/2004 (9:50 pm)
>These other 3d games, are they running on OpenGL or>Direct3D? Should be an option in the configuration
>screen.
Most don't have options to switch. I can't say I have a lot of them, though. Most (all) of them require DirectX, though.
Mostly they are from RealArcade - Gutterball3D, Aces of the Sky, HamsterBall, etc.. They all work fine.
-sw
Torque Owner Alex Swanson
Also, make sure you have the latest card drivers from ATI: Win98 Rage Pro XL Drivers. Please note that the last version of DirectX officially supported by this card is 8.1. Support for this card by ATI has been discontinued, but the drivers should still work with OGL.
Does the text garbling occur in the in-game tips, or just in the menu system?
I would also recommend making sure that shadows are disabled in preferences, as that feature may cause reduced frame-rate, especially on older cards.