Dungeon Lords review... first thoughts, possible spoilers

[Bungleau]

First off, welcome to the boards, dawnkeeper [img]graemlins/happywave.gif[/img] May your time here be happy and full of adventure.

Second, make sure you've got updated sound drivers, and not too much other stuff running (IM, file sharing tools, etc.). They can cause grief, and that's really the starting point.

After that, post back with some system information (OS, amount of memory and virtual memory, type of sound card, directX version, and so on). That may lay in some clues.

I've noticed that the sound seems to be a lot quieter than I would like. I've set my speaker to their max volume, and it barely comes out. That may be related to other things about how sound is set up on my machine, though.

[dawnkeeper]

Originally posted by Bungleau: First off, welcome to the boards, dawnkeeper [img]graemlins/happywave.gif[/img] May your time here be happy and full of adventure. Second, make sure you've got updated sound drivers, and not too much other stuff running (IM, file sharing tools, etc.). They can cause grief, and that's really the starting point. After that, post back with some system information (OS, amount of memory and virtual memory, type of sound card, directX version, and so on). That may lay in some clues. I've noticed that the sound seems to be a lot quieter than I would like. I've set my speaker to their max volume, and it barely comes out. That may be related to other things about how sound is set up on my machine, though.

Thanks for the welcome!

My Specs:

Dell 8400 Windows XP SP2
3.2 Ghz P4
3GB DDR2 SDRAM at 533 MHz 2-1GB / 2 - 512
Sound Card: Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit 7.1
Video Card: ATI Radeon X850 XT Platinum 256
DirectX 9.0c

I always shutdown background tasks. The only thing I ever have running is
Norton firewall and AntiVirus because I am on a Cable Modem and the internet is always on. Plus my husband's computer is sharing the line so it is always, always on. Do you think these could be my problem? If I turn them off wont I be leaving my computer open to attack?

I bought the newest sound card at the time. Do you think it is causing a problem?

My sound was not too quiet on the game it would just cut in so loud sometimes and was really weird.

[Bungleau]

Never trust those husbands

First things first, get the latest drivers for your sound card. That can make a really big difference.

Get your video drivers at the same time. That can make a difference, too.

Second, I'd leave the firewall and antivirus up. I'm also connected on cable, and you're correct -- always on, always fair game for attack. I also have a hardware firewall in the router that shares the connections between us.

Third, make sure you're running with fixed virtual memory. To do that, right-click on My Computer and go to Properties. Click on the Advanced Tab, and then on Settings under Performance. Click the Advanced tab again, and on the bottom, look at the Virtual Memory section. Click the Change button so you can see your memory settings and make sure they're set to Custom Size, with both the min and the max settings equal to each other.

You can use the amount recommended in the bottom for the most part; I set it to 2-3 times my actual memory, or in today's world, around 1.5 GB. I find that to be the most effective.

Windows may bark at you when you change this; it would rather manage it dynamically. I say hogwash... that's variable virtual memory, and it will always be scattered throughout the hard drive. Always set it to a fixed value.

If those things don't cut it, check back [img]smile.gif[/img]

[dawnkeeper]

Huh. Funny thing, I checked and my virtual memory is already set to custom. Dell must have done that. And there are no new drivers for my sound card or video card at this time. Weird. I will look into a few more things.

I just would not want to buy it and have it go all weird on me. I guess the important part is the demo plays, it just sounds funny. Heehee!

Thanks for all the help and great information. I will post back here with more results.

EDIT: I got the sound working now. I had for another game, turned off sound accelleration in Direct X, and sure enough my sound came back loud and clear in dungeon lords. It's new to me to hear all the cool sounds.

I like that alot of the sounds came from w&w. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Thanks!

[ 05-22-2005, 07:20 PM: Message edited by: dawnkeeper ]

[the mighty stamar]

how far are you bungleau?
Im lvl 12 and i made it to skuldoon but its possible i have to go all the way back to fargrove again.

I got the quest to find someone son but i need to talk to the barmaid and get a letter, to open the gate to the forbidden lands.

hopefully i find a moongate i dont wanna walk all the way up there again.

[Too Darkpark]

there is a moonbridge in the forbidden zone but you have to visit that moonbridge first before you can teleport to it.
unfortunately, you WILL have to walk all the way back to fargrove.

[Bungleau]

I'm just in Arindale, TMS. I've been on the road for most of the past two weeks, so I haven't been able to game. Now, however, I'm home until... Blitsnak! Friday morning, 5AM! Well, I'll get some gaming in tonight, methinks...

[the mighty stamar]

ya long walk ahead of me with lots of chances to get lost because the path goes through a large lake.

im not looking forward to it thats why ive taken a break the last few days.