Shadow Bug with 1.3
by Josh Moore · in Torque Game Engine · 09/21/2004 (7:27 pm) · 27 replies
Illumina is undergoing big changes. The biggest is the switch to 1.3 rather than our pre-1.2 mess of a source. Torque 1.3 is great, except one huge bug. The player shadows(and the other shadows I'm sure) flicker big black rectangles on the terrain and interiors. I'm sure it has something todo with my video card or the shadow setting, but I have no idea really. Anyone mind sheding some light on this bug. I know other people are getting the same bug.
Screenshot:
BTW: THis bug isn't just with 1.3, I noticed it in Head as of a fortnight ago.
Edit: I'm using a Radeon 9200 on 600 800 32 resolution.
Screenshot:
BTW: THis bug isn't just with 1.3, I noticed it in Head as of a fortnight ago.
Edit: I'm using a Radeon 9200 on 600 800 32 resolution.
#2
09/21/2004 (7:59 pm)
No problems here. My video card is a GeForce FX 5900.
#3
Man, I've been trying to get that screenshot but could never catch the right frame. I'm getting the same problem using 1.3. I noticed the same bug in the lightning pack demo but none in the original TGE demo. I suspect that it has something to do with the foot puffs since the flashing pentagon disappears after the dust puffs are gone. I searching the player.cs in server directory for any reference to an image that I might be missing but the footpuff datablock contains no reference to a texture file. Using ATI 9200 128mb.
Nathan.
09/21/2004 (8:02 pm)
Hi,Man, I've been trying to get that screenshot but could never catch the right frame. I'm getting the same problem using 1.3. I noticed the same bug in the lightning pack demo but none in the original TGE demo. I suspect that it has something to do with the foot puffs since the flashing pentagon disappears after the dust puffs are gone. I searching the player.cs in server directory for any reference to an image that I might be missing but the footpuff datablock contains no reference to a texture file. Using ATI 9200 128mb.
Nathan.
#4
09/21/2004 (8:58 pm)
It appears to be an ATI driver bug. We've been experiencing it at the office. Have you tried on different versions of their drivers?
#5
09/21/2004 (9:22 pm)
I'm using the latest Cataylist drivers so I can run the TSE demo. If its just a video card/driver issue, I can keep working on development without any worries. Its weird because I don't have this problem with my old codebase.
#6
Figured it'd work itself out eventually.
09/21/2004 (10:17 pm)
BTW, I've always had problems with character shadows in Torque flickering and distorting and what have you. I'm using ATI RADEON 7500 with Driver 6.14.10.6444.Figured it'd work itself out eventually.
#7
Radeon 7000 Series (Work computer)
TGE 1.3 no modifications with starter.fps
09/23/2004 (8:06 am)
I have the same results:Radeon 7000 Series (Work computer)
TGE 1.3 no modifications with starter.fps
#8
Basically, it IS an Ati driver issue, although the problem has been seen with some built-in Intel video chipsets.
I reverted to older drivers and everything works fine now.
For 'obsolete' ATI drivers, visit
http://www.ati.com/support/products/radeonwinxppreviousdrivers.html
I would like to thank [GG]Sado on the irc channel for helping me figure it out.
-Simon Love
09/23/2004 (8:16 am)
I had the same problem, and could not find any info about it.Basically, it IS an Ati driver issue, although the problem has been seen with some built-in Intel video chipsets.
I reverted to older drivers and everything works fine now.
For 'obsolete' ATI drivers, visit
http://www.ati.com/support/products/radeonwinxppreviousdrivers.html
I would like to thank [GG]Sado on the irc channel for helping me figure it out.
-Simon Love
#9
Radeon 7000 Series (Work computer)
TGE 1.3 no modifications with starter.fps
09/23/2004 (8:42 am)
I have the same results:Radeon 7000 Series (Work computer)
TGE 1.3 no modifications with starter.fps
#10
I had no probs since I bought the Torque License about 2 years ago.
Actually, it is not a driver issue for all Radeon Series. If have used several different versions of the ATI Drivers.
I'm currently using Catalyst 6.14.10.6467
09/23/2004 (12:45 pm)
No problems here, on a Radeon9700Pro and a Radeon8500.I had no probs since I bought the Torque License about 2 years ago.
Actually, it is not a driver issue for all Radeon Series. If have used several different versions of the ATI Drivers.
I'm currently using Catalyst 6.14.10.6467
#11
I can confirm the problem in 1.3: http://home.comcast.net/~robertbrower/screenshot_001-00002.JPG
Something has changed between 1.2 and 1.3 that is causing this as I am using the same hardware and it does not happen in 1.2. I am using a Radion 9200 series adaptor.
Some additional and possibly useful information: http://home.comcast.net/~robertbrower/DxDiag.txt
Robert
09/23/2004 (1:35 pm)
I do not have this problem in 1.2.I can confirm the problem in 1.3: http://home.comcast.net/~robertbrower/screenshot_001-00002.JPG
Something has changed between 1.2 and 1.3 that is causing this as I am using the same hardware and it does not happen in 1.2. I am using a Radion 9200 series adaptor.
Some additional and possibly useful information: http://home.comcast.net/~robertbrower/DxDiag.txt
Robert
#12
09/23/2004 (8:17 pm)
I think it only happens on Radeon 9200 card and under. What has been changed with the shadows since 1.2 that could be causing this?
#13
To the people with this problem: What kind of CPU do you have?
09/27/2004 (5:53 am)
I have a Radeon 9800 and i had a 8500 and I have never seen this problem. but i haven't tried 1.3.1 yet so.To the people with this problem: What kind of CPU do you have?
#14
If I run the tutorial.base or starter.racing mod instead of starter.fps mod, the problem dissapears, no more shadow flickering, everything is running smoothly.
Hope this sparks something in your minds :)
-Indie or Bust-
10/14/2004 (6:11 pm)
I just noticed something strange, maybe it might help you guys track down the problem.If I run the tutorial.base or starter.racing mod instead of starter.fps mod, the problem dissapears, no more shadow flickering, everything is running smoothly.
Hope this sparks something in your minds :)
-Indie or Bust-
#15
10/14/2004 (7:43 pm)
I though it had todo with footprints over lapping the shadow, but after a few quick tests, I've found the problem. Its the footpuff emitters that cause the flashing. Try removing them from your player DB. I'm not sure why the footpuffs make the shadows flash.
#17
01/11/2005 (8:32 am)
Sounds like Josh has a good lead. 
#18
maybe this will point towards the actual fault somewhere...
anyone else experiencing the same?
--Mike
01/17/2005 (8:53 am)
Hey Josh... i'm running a 9200 on one of my machines here and i seem to only get this anomoly when running in OpenGL mode... if i switch over to D3D, no shadow flashing... maybe this will point towards the actual fault somewhere...
anyone else experiencing the same?
--Mike
#19
www.guru3d.com is a good place to find different drivers for ATI cards.
B--
03/14/2005 (10:14 pm)
@Robert: I had the same problems running Ati9000. Fixed it with driver updates. It was not easy, and was not fixed by simply dloading the latest drivers as I am running a dell laptop I8200 with radeon9000 64meg. I ended up pulling some dlls from the DNA driver project and got it to work. It had to do with the openGL dll drivers that get put in your windows system32 folder.www.guru3d.com is a good place to find different drivers for ATI cards.
B--
#20
Thank you! I had been through so many version that I was beginning to lose hope. Can you tell me what version your driver is? Do you still have the files you downloaded from DNA?
Thanks,
Robert
03/15/2005 (1:02 am)
Brandon,Thank you! I had been through so many version that I was beginning to lose hope. Can you tell me what version your driver is? Do you still have the files you downloaded from DNA?
Thanks,
Robert
Torque Owner Patrick Larum
I've got the same problem with the flickering shadows from the player. I'm using TGE 1.2.2 patched with the Synapse Lighting Pack, although it looks like it is happening in my unmodified 1.2.2 as well. Maybe its a video card issue? I have an ATI 9000 on the machine I am currently using.
Patrick