100% cpu in Geneforge 1

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AuthorTopic: 100% cpu in Geneforge 1
Apprentice
Member # 8264
Profile #0
I've been seriously considering playing this series, but Geneforge 1 demands so much cpu I can't enjoy it. I've played both G1 and Geneforge 2, using the installers from Manifesto, so I've been able to observe that G2 does not have this same problem. I know I could play G2, but I'm so fascinated by the prospect of exploring the rest of the island. Is there a fix or work-around for this problem?

What happens, in more detail, is that the game plays sluggishly most of the time, except for certain areas indoors with creatures or people present, when the game becomes so incredibly sluggish that I might wait a minute or longer for the program to respond to a mouse-click. Outdoors areas would run tolerably - I could enjoy them though it wasn't quite smooth. I persevered several hours through the first village and the dungeon to its northwest, before I accepted that it just wasn't working. Though the problem appears linked to G1's older engine, I figure it must also be related to a characteristic of my system as well. Nobody could enjoy or complete this game if this bug were common.

From dxdiag, my system information:
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: VIA Technologies, Inc.
System Model: KT600-8237
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Sempron(tm) 2800+, MMX, 3DNow, ~2.0GHz
Memory: 1024MB RAM
Page File: 493MB used, 1200MB available
Windows Dir: H:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)

I'll point out again that I installed the game with Manifesto Games' installer. Maybe its time-restriction code interferes with the game engine in an unexpected way? I'd probably purchase the game if I knew I play it without undue frustration.
Posts: 3 | Registered: Thursday, March 8 2007 08:00
...b10010b...
Member # 869
Profile Homepage #1
SW games do tend to intentionally hog the CPU. Usually they work okay as long as you close all unnecessary background processes before you play them.

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The Empire Always Loses: This Time For Sure!
Posts: 9973 | Registered: Saturday, March 30 2002 08:00
Apprentice
Member # 8264
Profile #2
quote:
Originally written by Cryptozoology:

SW games do tend to intentionally hog the CPU. Usually they work okay as long as you close all unnecessary background processes before you play them.
I noticed that the game process would take all the available cpu, 90-97%, even on the main menu, but if that was all I could tolerate it. I'm not exaggerating when I say the game would sometimes take a minute to respond to mouse-clicks. Hogging the cpu is one thing - a pointless, lazy thing - but taking large multiples of a second to react to mouse events is quite another. I only persisted as long as I did for the excellent imaginative content.
Posts: 3 | Registered: Thursday, March 8 2007 08:00
Lifecrafter
Member # 7331
Profile Homepage #3
I remeber saying this recently, but I will state again:

Use the equivalent of Activity Monitor (which is Mac only) for PC. This is my only little tidbit of knowledge, because i don't know PC that well.

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Posts: 794 | Registered: Thursday, July 27 2006 07:00
Apprentice
Member # 8264
Profile #4
I've been using Process Explorer for detailed process info. I was able to get detailed information on my Geneforge process including graphs of its file access activity while exploring indoors areas. So I've been able to observe that when Geneforge thrashed its hardest, it was constantly reading files. Apparently rereading files.

This has to be a bug. Please, the game becomes nigh unplayable.
Posts: 3 | Registered: Thursday, March 8 2007 08:00
...b10010b...
Member # 869
Profile Homepage #5
All I can really tell you is to email Jeff Vogel at spidweb@spiderwebsoftware.com with the information you have and hope for a helpful response.

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The Empire Always Loses: This Time For Sure!
Posts: 9973 | Registered: Saturday, March 30 2002 08:00