HELPFUL HINTS TO AVOID CRASHES, "DEAD LOADS" AND EXCEPTION ERRORS ....
1.) If running a slower machine, reduce the graphics quality on your game so you can load faster and keep up with the others. Turn off damage maps etc.. until you get a good load rate.
2.) Turn off auto-filming of missions on the game "options" setup to reduce lag and crashes. The game records movies of the last five battles, and this can create unneeded draw on computers.
3.) Don't talk on TeamSpeak or other voice programs during countdown or the loading screen. Wait until everyone is in mission before speaking. Make sure your Teamspeak is set to a hot key and not on voice activation. Don't talk during the loading count. The codecs in TS mess with the game.
4.) Defrag your computer at least once a month, maybe more. The game "frags" files quickly.
5.) Delete your "AllScripts.cache" file before loading your game and each time you enter the Dyna. Here is the path in your computer: C:\Program Files\Activision\Sfc3\Assets\Scripts
6.) Don't run browsers or unneeded programs in the background.
7.) Make sure you turn off messenger services so you don't get pop ups.
8.) Download SpyBot Search & Destroy and run it to remove spyware that can really slow down your machine.
SpyBot S&D download
9.) Make sure you have the latest video drivers. Nvidia just updated its Ge-Force drivers 12/9 and many issues were fixed with SFC3 loads and exception errors. NVidia drivers
10.) Be willing to wait for the countdown to hit zero. Sometimes one person may not make it but you will get in at the last second.
11.) Be sure to let your teammates know if you crash to desktop during load, that way they don't wait around for nothing.
12.) Fleet in pairs, with the highest bandwidth player as the leader. To reduce the number of players having to attack the same target.
13.) Don't overload or attack at the last second. If you join an attack with less than 5 seconds, the game can't sync players, and it's a sure no load.
14.) Always attack the primary target. If a player is attacked, all other players need to attack the same ship even if there are three other enemy ships, everyone needs to attack the same ship: use team speak to help incoming players to know which ship attacked you first.
15.) When the mission is over: If it doesn't end each player warps out one at a time until the mission ends or hit ESC.
16.) Everyone EXCEPT THE HOST (usually the fleet leader) should wait a second or two in the mission debrief screen before hitting DONE. Once a player is clear they should say they are "clear" of the battle so the host can hit DONE and exit the mission to record the mission. The HOST ALWAYS EXITS LAST.
17.) Guys with 56k connections should not host if others are available and should avoid large multi-player combats.
18.) Check your version of DirectX make sure it is the most recent DX9b from
http://www.microsoft.com.
19.) DON'T alt/tab the game. The next mission is sure not to load if you do this ...
20.) Let the host with the highest bandwidth launch attacks, especially on bases and planets.
21.) Don't put more than 6 in a mission. A base of planet counts as ONE, so only five players can come -- usually four is ideal.
22.) Set your computer display settings to 16-bit resolution, not 32-bit. Dave Ferrell recommends this himself.
23.) Don't run a router or firewall if you don't have to. Stop being so paranoid, that's what virus programs are for ...
24.) Turn down damage resolutions on the game in the "options" setup.
25.) Use a cnt/alt/del to bring up your Windows Task Manager and take down unneeded non-system programs that take needed KB.
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