Scotty

$ilk, Where to start... I read your current life story with a number of mixed emotions. Primarily I am proud of the commitment you have to God and your children. I am saddened by the loss of your marriage. I worry about all the people involved. I am uplifted by your strength. I am refreshed by my own faith that all things work out for the good. I am joyful of the community support. I am encouraged to come out of my lurking hole (which is very deep indeed) to post a reply to a complete stranger. You bare your soul, not only the committed members of this forum, but to all passers-by as well. You will someday reflect on this and have a good, nervous chuckle. As most married couples will admit, we all have gone through a stage of what you are troubled with now. Although most don't end in the same dreary state, there is always something to be happy about at the end of the day. Maintain your strength. Hold fast to the Lords path. Be true to yourself and your family. The beginnings of my marriage were very similar to yours. I know how it goes, but thanks to God it didn't end. I give your children and both of their parents my prayers freely. One thought that has helped some... keep a journal. Keep it absolutely private. Be completely honest. Every day, write a new page and re-read one page from 7 to 14 days ago. Reflect on what you just wrote from the past and learn. So often emotions get in the way of true memory and important lessons are forgotten. And most of all don't dwell on the negatives that were written in the past, but look at what you just wrote and try to see the positives since then, this is the toughest thing to do! Don't rip open old wounds. Finally, I for one thank YOU! You have shown the strength of dozens of men, yet your life is just starting. Give my regards to your parents for the upbringing you received. It reminds me that there are different size bumps in life, and to take each one carefully, so not to break something. Scott

Ok, SNG. Pick Elite Marine. Change primary gun to ZS10. Give guy a name. Accept. Use DJP to go to Ins. Base somewhere. Fire awhile at baddies. Go to weapons station and get more ammo first. ...Game hangs. Not freezes, but I get a repeating sound effect of the weapons getting new ammo. I can move my mouse left and right but not get away from the weapon station and I never get the menu up again. I have to ALT-Esc to get to desktop and kill the game from there. I've done this twice with the exact same results. Everything else seems to be OK so far. Great game. System specs. WinME PII 450 Radeon 32 DDR - 7075 driver. Sony 52x CD 228MB RAM DX 8.1 SB 128 Sound - edit, forgot some system specs. Thanks, Scotty [ 11-26-2001: Message edited by: Scotty ]

A husband and wife were watching the news on television: The devastation of the World Trade Center; the videos of different countries around the world crying with Americans over past weeks; reporters updating and attempting to analyze political tradgedy; President Bush making speeches. The wife turns to the husband and says, "I'm so thankful that Bush is our President. He is doing such a wonderful job. It's unbelievable the way he has stepped up and handled this situation. I'm so grateful he's our Commander and Chief." The husband turns to the wife and says, "Shut up, Tipper!!" Scotty

Yep, I got the same crap on the same card as above. I did at least get it to run, but the graphics REALLY blow. I did resort to the previous drivers, wme_radeon_4_13_7075.exe and they mostly work. (Still some graphic ickies and such, but the game runs.) I was REALLY upset before that the drivers sucked, but now I am just mad. Unfortunately, those who upgrade graphic drivers THEN get the game will blame the game. SC - I was wondering, not being a PC programmer, why some games work with one set of graphics drivers and another will not? Is it more coding style or preferance, or is it deeper than that. I don't need a long explanation, but kindly ask for a high level one. Thanks, Scotty.

THIS is the Game Your Mother Warned You About! Luc & SC ÔÇô I like MECS too, but I think it is too narrow. ... an example or two: - MECTES ÔÇô Multi Environment Combat, Trading and Exploration Simulation MEMS ÔÇô Multi Environment Military Simulation I think that MEMS sums it up a little better, as there is more to the military than just shooting everything in sight, just like the game. - I am not trying to steal LucÔÇÖs original idea, so MECTES and MEMS should go to him, not me. I will take the assist though. Scotty

Yes, if both pilots and all terrorists have guns, there is a good chance that you are going to be FUBAR. But that would be because the pilots would probably be dead. However, it is less likely that the bad guys can get through security with a gun. Yes, I know it's possible. But it would take some serious kahoonas (eh?) to even attempt it. It is not worth dying for if you can't even get on the plane. That's why the last guys took common items with them. Go ahead and shoot up the cockpit, though. As long as one of the pilots is still functional, and he's worth a darn, the plane should land successfully. You have redundant systems for EVERYTHING in the cockpit. You would have to hit everything at least twice and most of the time four or more times. Plus, they are all in different areas. -- Pilot and Co-pilot each have the same stuff and each of their stuff is running on redundant systems. (Pulled out the technical glossary for that ) Plus, the air traffic tower personel are trained to verbally guide a dis-abled plane down. And Luc - thanks for bringing that up. I was going to, but forgot. The Hawaiian Air jet tends to actually support me. That plane lost an incredible amount of structural support, yet continued to not only fly, but land. I am really shocked that it didn't buckle on the ground. Yes, a couple people died, and that is unfortunate, but the plane held together and saved the rest of the passengers. So, a small bullet hole wouldn't do diddly. (Another tech term) Lesson here, wear your seatbelt the whole time. And BTW, I am not so keen on there being any guns on the plane. Just spend the extra twenty grand and put in a steel door at the next 'C' or 'D' check. The current doors really are just a very lightweight fiberglass panel. An alternative would be to put the cockpit on a completely separate air system and allow the release of a sleeping agent in the passenger compartment if things go bad. This would really be easy to do. And in fact, if I did fly, I would look forward to sleeping the whole way. One really stupid idea I have heard being floated around would be to put an automatic override from the ground in place to fly the plane by remote control. How long until the bad guys figured out how to tap into that system and they fly EVERY SINGLE PLANE IN THE SKY to a target. That's one helluva bad idea. No thank you. Quick lesson for those who keep asking themselves. A 'D' check on an airplane is when it is completely stripped and checked. The interior is ripped out completely, all access panels are removed. Skin is removed. Flight systems and controls are gone. Everything. And, as the dumb a**es I used to work for found out, you don't do it all at once, otherwise it's a b**** to put back together and have 1,000,000 rivet holes line up perfectly. But after all the stuff from one area is gone, you look the plane over with a magnifying glass and look for rust, cracks, dents, bending, holes, warps and just about anything else that shouldn't be wrong, and fix it. That takes months to do on a 747, and costs a ton of money. A 'C' check is about the same but not quite so extensive. An 'A' check is a visual lookover inside and out for obvious defects. A 'B' check involves removing all access panels and doing a complete visual and/or non-destructive testing on all major, easily accessable systems, sometimes more, sometimes less. I tend to agree with Soback as well. The security on the ground should be better. There really is very little NEED for carry on luggage. Some medications and reading materials for adults, baby needs and stuff for your kids to keep occupied, but nothing else. However, I am waiting for the first report of a diabetic not being able to take on their insulin shot with them, then getting really sick because the airplane is delayed five hours and he/she needed a shot. Scotty Edit - Geepers, I get long winded. [ 09-30-2001: Message edited by: Scotty ]

quote:Originally posted by Soback: Actually airplanes leak air through the pressure release valve and that leak is controlled. So a bullet hole would be an uncontrolled leak and stress fractures around the bullet hole can grow and make the whole airframe come appart. As a licensed A&P aircraft mechanic, you are mostly correct about the valve, but a hole the size of your finger in the aluminum skin of a big commercial aircraft would not be much of a problem at all. First, the size of the hole compared to the size of the aircraft would not cause 'explosive' decompression. Decompression yes, but it would be really slow and more than likely the automatic pressure valve would just close some more so the pressure would still be even inside, but with a high pitched whistle out the skin. You would have to move about nine people from the area. One of the many pressure valves on a 747 is about a 14" butterfly valve near the rear of the plane. Second, we are talking about aluminum alloy which is very soft. It won't crack (much) and cause the airframe to collapse, or a bigger hole to form, except from the pressure 'pushing' the aluminum out around the hole. Imagine a small zit with a hole in the middle on the outside of the plane. Third, if the bullet were to strike a window instead, and if the bullet were to go through it (1" to 2" plexiglass) I don't think it would shatter and cause problems. I confess to not know much about firearms strength to plexiglass. However I can almost guarantee that a bullet will not go through the cockpit glass. Ever see the bird cannon to test that stuff? Awesome. Fourth, I'm sorry to say that duct tape would not work to plug the hole that way. You see there are two or more layers of skin, one on the inside which is less airtight than the one on the outside. So unless you want to crawl on the outside of the plane to plug the hole, you will still lose pressure from the other myriad of holes on the inside layer of skin. My suggestion would be a sock stuffed as deep as possible through the first layer to try to get to the outer layer. Fifth, if you had any ideas how many rivets are missing on an airplane, or how many holes are in the fuselage (mind you they are not very big), or how much rust is on the frame, you would never fly again. I will add that all of those defects are usually well within the tolerance of any major commercial jet, but to see the total number of repairs during a 'C' or 'D' check is pretty scary. No, I don't fly. Yes, however tragic the past events, the skies are a lot safer now just from the reduction of planes in the air at one time, or more specifically, the fewer planes at and around an airport at one time. Not to mention that now the airlines have an abundance of planes and can rotate them in and out of service for repairs and tests more often. If they do or not has yet to be seen. Scotty.

First, let me say that if you do it, I'll buy it. But let me tell you what I wouldn't like about it. The SC is notorious for the issue of invalidating all saved games every time a patch is installed. And yes, there will be patches, as this is beta code. And, as this is a game that you need to move up the ranks on, that will be annoying. And will probably dissuade me from updating every time there is a patch. As for the dual CD problem, I would actually require a trade of the beta CD for the boxed CD, but that is kinda hard for mail order folks, but a serial number/time stamp with it is just wrong. I would be buying the beta at store cost, if I decided not to run down to EB to trade up to the latest copy for a while (maybe so I wouldn't have to start over again), I don't want my game to just quit working 'cause it got too old. Plus, what if a bus hits the SC while buying donuts? We would all be sitting with expired games. So yeah, go ahead and offer it. Those in the official beta testing group won't get it, those that are waiting for a 100% bug free version will wait, quite a while I suppose, those who are unsure will wait for the feedback, the rest of us will buy it. And there are quite a few of the rest of us. I will end by saying that there must REALLY be a good reason SC is thinking about doing this. Maybe he is really stumped with some issues, maybe he is getting burnt out and needs a few weeks off, maybe both. Maybe the missus needs some huggy time. Maybe he needs some sleep. Maybe he just feels bad that it is not finished yet, so this is a compromise to us, not his values. Maybe he wants to wake up with a smile tomorrow, instead of the self-imposed deadline staring him in the face. ...Maybe I'm all wrong. But whatever the reason, I'll give you a break. I’ll buy. I for one don’t fear you running out on us. Besides, your unfinished product is still far better than most other’s finished work. Best Regards, Scotty

Ok, here goes. Here is what I didn't like. Everything else is OK. 1. While in first person mode, it appears that when crouching or going prone, my view actually raises. 2. Can't jump while running. 3. Jumping is nothing more than a hop. And what's it good for if can't be used while running. (yes, read VCF, still don't like it) 4. Speed limit of fighters in atmosphere. 999 mph (Using US values for ease) is ok, but when going down, gravity should allow you to exceed this. I put my fighter in a 90 degree climb, went and ate lunch, came back. Fighter is a little over 5,000,000 feet. Which is around 900 miles high. Not in space yet? OK, time to go back down. Will only go down at 999mph. OK, lets play. Shut off engine. NOW I'm going down. Highest speed is around 34,000 mph. Turn engine back on at 1,000 feet. All is well. But still would like to leave engine on and go faster in dives. 5. Doing a 360 deg yaw in fighter, only lose ~50% of speed w/o AB. Only ~30% with AB. Plus, it only takes about 4 seconds to do a circle. Might be ok in space, but not on a planet. 6. When hyperdrive activates, it takes roughly the same amount of time to go 935,312 miles or 2,001,694 miles. 124 seconds. 7. Need a way to cancel out of the instant mission screen. Hitting esc exits out of the game completely. 8. Turning in FP mode. I guess this will be changed when mouse look is activated, so it's just a little annoying right now. Takes only 56 taps of the turn key to do a comlete circle. That's a little over 6 degrees per tap. Kinda hard to line things up. 9. While walking in FP, and viewing through F9, my guy occasionally starts walking under the ground. Hitting F1 it seems everything is ok, F9 and he's underground again. This is only mainly in cities. It kinda seems like he is walking down a ramp, then a little later, walks up a ramp again. 10. I dig the moonwalk while backing up, but style points won't win a war. (And where's the one white glove?) 11. Flying a fighter in atmosphere. If going forward and hit retro key, you must actually point the nose up past 10 degrees to start going backwards. If going backwards, must point the nose down past -10 degrees to start going forwards. Yeah, seems kinda long, but of the other things I tried, I like. A few things out of hundreds aint bad. Scotty [ 06-23-2001: Message edited by: Scotty ]

quote:Called "random error message syndrome". Appears for no reason, exactly once, never seen again, and of course noone else you talk to have ever experienced it. That's what I chalked it up to as well. quote:You did try to start it twice in the beginning, didn't you? Sorry, don't quite follow. What is 'it'? If you mean run the install, yes. In fact many, many twices (Lots). quote:In your case the reason could have been exhausted swap space though. Thought that at first, but re-booted my computer, so no, couldn't have been. Scotty. BTW, I am really blowing my lurking status lately.

Here's what I did. Renamed old d/l, just took off HC at end of name. Re-d/l new copy from FilePlanet. When finished, went to download folder and ACCIDENTALY double clicked on the old version, expected the same error box, but the darn thing started to run. Canceled that one, just to be sure and double clicked on the new one, it worked too. Canceled the new one, had to double click the old one again, and the danged thing started up again like nothing was ever wrong. So I let it run and installation seemed fine. Beats me what was going on. Hadn't changed anything since the last failed attempt. Ah well, time to now go and play. Thanks for your time, Scotty.

Thanks, but already started there. First took forever to actually get in (they seem very busy tonight), and when I did, I was only getting around 20kps. But over at FilePlanet, I got around 90kps. All in all, I am saving time by waiting. Go figure. BTW, I appreciate your interest in my prob, and you can be sure I will let you know how it turns out after the re-d/l. I was sure hoping someone else was having the same thing. Sure could've used some moral support. Thanks, Scotty

Yes, did install and play E1 demo. It has been completely off my computer for at least a few weeks. But, I don't see that as being an issue in my case. Immediately I get the error msg. I don't get a splash screen, nothing. Just a nice box with an empty button. Do you know exactly where the temp file it is looking for is located? If it's not one of the standard temps... no, that wouldn't even matter, it should create one if it needs it, shouldn't it? Beats me. Still in que. Twenty minutes left, before twenty minute d/l. lol. Thanks, Scotty

Sorry, never meant to blame it as BCM's fault. I knew that. Just thought maybe you had some crystal ball you could look into, or had some prior experience of the problem. I did the following. Cleared out c:temp and c:windowstemp, just for the heck of it. Restarted my computer... it had been on for a few hours, so...maybe? Checked free space, again, still at 4.5GB free. Tried to install again, same result. Ah well, in the que for another d/l, but I am completely stumped by this one and I really don't see a new d/l as solving this, as the file size is perfect and... well, who knows, it might work. Thanks anyways, Scotty

I sure hope you put up this topic as a troubleshooting spot. I am getting this error message from installShield for the BCME2 Demo. "Error writing to the temporary location" Which has one button underneath that is blank. No "OK" or "YES" or "NO". Just a blank button. I can't fathom what this is for. And I wouldn't know where to look anyway. HELP!!!! Meet all minimum specs by a mile, have DX8 installed, Swap file set to 600MB, Hard drive has 4.5GB left, d/l file is exactly 127,321,679 bytes. Any more info let me know. Edit - Oh yeah, WINME. Thanks Scotty [ 06-22-2001: Message edited by: Scotty ]