[Solved] Steam Demo Crash on tutorial Start

[Hachima]

After choosing to start the scenario it throws the following exception.  This is the steam demo and update in game doesn't work. I have also verified the steam install files.  I am using win7 64.


1/13/2010 7:14:01 PM (2.0)
-----------------------------------Application_ThreadException-----------------------------------SlimDX.Direct3D9.Direct3D9Exception: D3DERR_INVALIDCALL: Invalid call (-2005530516)
   at SlimDX.Result.Throw[T](Object dataKey, Object dataValue)
   at SlimDX.Result.Record[T](Int32 hr, Boolean failed, Object dataKey, Object dataValue)
   at SlimDX.Direct3D9.Texture.FromFile(Device device, String fileName)
   at AIWar.GameImage.LoadTexture(Boolean IsFirstLoad) in C:\vcprojs\AIWar\Framework\GameImage.cs:line 42
   at AIWar.GameImage.LoadTexture(Boolean IsFirstLoad) in C:\vcprojs\AIWar\Framework\GameImage.cs:line 49
   at AIWar.GameImage.GetTextureD3D() in C:\vcprojs\AIWar\Framework\GameImage.cs:line 59
   at AIWar.Direct3DRenderer.DrawImage(GameImage Img, Int32 X, Int32 Y, Boolean UseViewportOffset, Color DiffuseColor, FInt Rotation, Boolean ForceDraw) in C:\vcprojs\AIWar\Framework\Direct3DRenderer.cs:line 64
   at AIWar.ForegroundObject.Render(Direct3DRenderer R, Int32 RenderPhase, Boolean DrawSimple) in C:\vcprojs\AIWar\Framework\ForegroundObject.cs:line 8472
   at AIWar.ForegroundObject.Render(Direct3DRenderer R, Int32 RenderPhase) in C:\vcprojs\AIWar\Framework\ForegroundObject.cs:line 8190
   at AIWar.GameForm.DrawDirect3D() in C:\vcprojs\AIWar\GameFormParts\GamePanel.cs:line 2603
   at AIWar.GameForm.RunNextCycle(Boolean DoRendering, Boolean DoScrollingAndInput) in C:\vcprojs\AIWar\GameFormParts\GameLoop.cs:line 1428
   at AIWar.GameForm.gameLoop() in C:\vcprojs\AIWar\GameFormParts\GameLoop.cs:line 244
   at AIWar.GameForm.GameForm_Load(Object sender, EventArgs e) in C:\vcprojs\AIWar\GameFormParts\Startup.cs:line 261
   at System.Windows.Forms.Form.OnLoad(EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Form.OnCreateControl()
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.CreateControl(Boolean fIgnoreVisible)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.CreateControl()
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmShowWindow(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ScrollableControl.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ContainerControl.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Form.WmShowWindow(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Form.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

[Hachima]

The 3.0 trial works fine so far.  I think Steam just needs to be updated to send people the 3.0 trial instead of 2.0?

[x4000]

Hi there,

Sorry for the trouble.  It appears that the Steam demo was corrupted by the release of 3.0; our deepest apologies for that.  I have just sent Valve an email to let them know, but they are out of the office for the evening.  Hopefully that will be fixed up asap tomorrow morning.

If you want a workaround, you can download this: http://www.arcengames.com/share/AIWar3000.zip and unpack that into your C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ai war fleet command (or equivalent) folder.  That should resolve the problem, as I suspect that the issue is that all of the assets were updated for the demo except for the executable.

Alternatively, you can also get the non-Steam demo from the Arcen website:  http://www.arcengames.com/aiwar_buy.php

Please do note that the actual official version of the game on Steam works just fine at the moment, it's just the demo executable that apparently was mangled today; the demo should be fully functional again by tomorrow.  Again, our apologies for this again!  I had not even known that giving updates for the official version could affect the expansion, but now I know.  On the flip side, Valve did not know that leaving the executable outdated for the demo, but updating everything else, would cause a problem there.  We'll know for next time we do a patch with them, and will be able to avoid it!

[x4000]

I have confirmation from another player that the zip file solves it -- Valve will be in the office in just a couple of hours, too, so hopefully that will get the permanent solution in there.

[borrows123]

You are awesome man...
Thank you for sharing this with us....