http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/list/3.page JForum - http://www.jforum.net
When starting the game and going into the cell stage I get a flashing screen (yellow, red, green, purple, etc). If I Ctrl + Alt + Del and select the task manager I can then go back into the game and play the cell stage all the way through. This only works after the opening movie of the cell stage. After the cell stage it happens again. This time I can not get back into the game. The screen continues to flash. I can hear my creature and hear all the sounds correctly so I know the game is still running in the background. It must be a graphical issue but I am unsure how to fix it.

[b]Here are my specs:[/b]
Windows Vista 64-bit Ultimate SP1
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 (3.0 GHz)
4GB RAM
BFG 8800GTS 512 MB Video Card
MoBo does not have onboard video
Onboard Sound (Realtek)

[b]Here is what I have done:[/b]
Wiped out and cleaned old drivers
Installed most up to date video drivers
Installed beta video drivers
Installed video drivers that came with the card
Installed up to date audio drivers
Uninstalled game and reinstalled
Run as administrator and Disable UAC
Run in Compatibility Mode (XP SP2)
Disable Antivirus / Firewall
Updated DirectX to the August update
Ran in windowed mode

Other games can run fine (Crysis, COD4, Bioshock, World of Warcraft, Team Fortress 2, and even the spore creature creator which has been uninstalled). Certain sections of the game run fine. I can create creatures, buildings, etc in the create area. I just cant play the actual game.

Any thoughts on what I should do? Thank You!]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/306.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/306.page GMT http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/311.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/311.page GMT
Good call. I will try that when I get home this afternoon after work. ]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/316.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/316.page GMT http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/326.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/326.page GMT
It does not work in Windowed mode. Instead the flashing goes away and it is just a black screen. I can still hear noise in the background and the cursor is still the spore in-game cursor as well. No different than my previous problem (except the flashing screen is black)


[quote=xlapin]I read somewhere on the old forum that the game isn't dual core friendly, and if you have that you need to specify windows that it should only use one core, otherwise bad stuff like that happens.[/quote]

The specifications state that it is core duo compatible. that would be absolutely ridiculous if the game had issue with dual core processors. Thats basically what everyone is running.]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/611.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/611.page GMT
HUM! That's good to know... Is that a tested thing or just a "I think that..." Anyone corroborated whoever claimed that?]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/614.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/614.page GMT
HUM! That's good to know... Is that a tested thing or just a "I think that..." Anyone corroborated whoever claimed that?[/quote]

I disabled one core for the Spore process and it did nothing to remedy the issue. I am sure that this solution is an assumption. I have never heard of this rumor before.

Any other thoughts. Frustrated that I can't play the game! ARRRRGGGGGggg!]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/658.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/658.page GMT http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/664.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/664.page GMT
Thanks for your help anyways!

Here is a link to my dxdiag text file for anyone with more knowledge.

[url=http://www.robertbuckleyjr.com/images/DxDiag.txt]DxDiag.txt[/url]

Thanks in advance for the help!]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/685.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/685.page GMT
Anyone have any solutions? I can use all the creature editors. I just cant play the game. The game is going in the background but the screen is black... ]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/1432.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/1432.page GMT
Any suggestions? My system is all up to date and meets the requirements by a large margin. Thank you!]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/2366.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/2366.page GMT
Thanks!]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/2731.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/2731.page GMT ]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/2735.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/2735.page GMT
https://easpore.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/easpore.cfg/php/enduser/ask_submit.php except it comes up as a 500 Error - Internal Server Error.

Is this still a problem on my end?]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/3760.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/3760.page GMT
Here it is a Core 2 Duo at 2GHz, 2GB Ram, Win XP Pro with an ATI 1650 XT with 512 MB

I have exactly the same graphical glitches and tried the same solutions as you did, including deinstalling the Catalyst without and with a cleaner tool and reinstalling the newest version ( C8.8 ) and installed DX 9 in the latest version from august 2008. I did not try the Omegadrivers though, as I have problems with those in other games and general performance.

[b]Nothing[/b] helps. I found some mentions of the same problem in german and international game-forums. Most of the hints suggested the same as we already tried, but never to any avail.

This is definitely a bug.

But knowing EA nothing will happen to help us (with luck until the first patch comes out in weeks, but maybe not even then).]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/4392.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/4392.page GMT
Here it is a Core 2 Duo at 2GHz, 2GB Ram, Win XP Pro with an ATI 1650 XT with 512 MB

I have exactly the same graphical glitches and tried the same solutions as you did, including deinstalling the Catalyst without and with a cleaner tool and reinstalling the newest version ( C8.8 ) and installed DX 9 in the latest version from august 2008. I did not try the Omegadrivers though, as I have problems with those in other games and general performance.

Nothing helps. I found some mentions of the same problem in german and international game-forums. Most of the hints suggested the same as we already tried, but never to any avail.

This is definitely a bug.

But knowing EA nothing will happen to help us (with luck until the first patch comes out in weeks, but maybe not even then).[/quote]

Glad to hear I am not the only one, unfortunately I still think we are in the minority, which won't help in getting the problem fixed or even looked at. I wish I could submit a ticket so someone can look at my DxDiag file but I keep getting an internal server error. Maybe you would have better results.

I wish you luck in solving the problem. I don't know what else to do (I have done everything I can think of) and have pretty much given up. Maybe a patch will fix the issue, but I am pretty doubtful. If you find out please make a trip back to this thread and let us know the solution!]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/4599.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/4599.page GMT
I do not believe this is a driver or graphics card related issue since you have a graphics adapter with an Nvidia chipset and mine is AMD/ATI. Those kinds of problems are usually (but not always I have to admit) bound to one brand.

Probably some other process is interfering with Spore, but to try that and find out which one could be the culprit (if any) is a tedious trial and error.

I'll keep you posted.]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/4923.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/4923.page GMT
I do not believe this is a driver or graphics card related issue since you have a graphics adapter with an Nvidia chipset and mine is AMD/ATI. Those kinds of problems are usually (but not always I have to admit) bound to one brand.

Probably some other process is interfering with Spore, but to try that and find out which one could be the culprit (if any) is a tedious trial and error.

I'll keep you posted.[/quote]

I have tried disabling all non critical background tasks (which is pretty much everything except explorer.exe) so it is not something that is interfering in the background (at least in my case). I have also forced vertical syncing (via the Nvidia CP) as well to no avail.

I don't like to call myself a "genius" when it comes to computers, but I do believe I have tried everything under the sun save for hardware upgrades, which would be absolutely asinine. My system is fine the way it is and shouldn't need to be updated for this game.

You results may differ though so I wouldn't rule out trying to start narrowing down background processes and tasks to see if it solves your problem.]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/4948.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/4948.page GMT

As I work in techsupport for hard and software (besides other things) I clain some expertise with problems such as this. To me it seems we have tried nearly all sensible solutions to this problem.

Another one to add:

On another system (also Core 2 Duo but with an ATI 1600 instead of 1650) in this household the game runs without this error. (but here we have another glitch: the floors of villages and cities are higly reflective and do not look as they should, but that is a minor nuisance compared to our problem that renders the game unplayable).

The main difference between the two boxes is the mainboard. I cannot check the one in the other computer atm, but mine is an Asrock 775Dual-VSTA. The other one is definitely not Asrock.

What's your mobo? Maybe this has something to do with this error...
]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/5003.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/5003.page GMT
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Overview.aspx?ProductID=2743

Our configurations are miles apart but we seem to be having the same issue. There must be something that is similar between us.]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/5013.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/5013.page GMT
But maybe we should try uninstalling and reinstalling the game? Because I recall the first time I started, I was able to complete the cell stage and move onto land.
Random information; the time it worked I chose herbivore, but all these other time I've chosen carnivore on easy mode. ( Heh, I haven't had the game long. ) What are the options you guys are choosing?

Edit: It could be an issue from lack of space. Try Disk Defrag/Disk Cleanup?]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/5732.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/5732.page GMT
But maybe we should try uninstalling and reinstalling the game? Because I recall the first time I started, I was able to complete the cell stage and move onto land.
Random information; the time it worked I chose herbivore, but all these other time I've chosen carnivore on easy mode. ( Heh, I haven't had the game long. ) What are the options you guys are choosing?

Edit: It could be an issue from lack of space. Try Disk Defrag/Disk Cleanup?[/quote]

I have uninstalled and reinstalled 3 times. Each time has given me the same result. I also have PLENTY of space on my hard drive (+300GB free space) and vista schedules a defrag weekly on my PC.

I tried your suggestion about going with an Herbivore. No luck o my end. You mileage may vary.]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/5811.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/5811.page GMT http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/6065.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/6065.page GMT
http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/list/0/1000.page#6456]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/6460.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/6460.page GMT
[b]Edit:[/b] Well congrats, but did not work for me.

I'm skimming through the settings of the SDK a bit, maybe i'll find something... Sigh.]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/7979.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/7979.page GMT http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/8139.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/8139.page GMT
[b]Edit:[/b] Well congrats, but did not work for me.

I'm skimming through the settings of the SDK a bit, maybe i'll find something... Sigh.[/quote]

I updated the thread to include the regedit value that was causing the crash.

http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/list/1000.page
]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/8150.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/8150.page GMT ]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/8184.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/8184.page GMT

Seems to be some kind of weird graphic incompatibility that was solved by either installing the SDK (I would guess on maybe something to do with Managed DirectX) or changing the DX-SDK-setting mentioned in the other thread.

So for the Nvidia card it solved the problem, but not for my AMD/ATI.]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/8397.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/8397.page GMT
[b]Edit:[/b] Well congrats, but did not work for me.

I'm skimming through the settings of the SDK a bit, maybe i'll find something... Sigh.[/quote]

The SDK was already installed prior to installation of Spore.]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/8582.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/8582.page GMT
Windows Vista 64-bit Ultimate SP1[/quote]
Try disabling Vista's Aero interface, and closing any other app that might be accessing the 3D card. Windows Sidebar for one, anything that MIGHT be 3D. One very stupid app I learned uses the 3D card is AIM 5.1 - if you happen to be using that, completely close it out (check for it in Processes in the Task Manager and knock it out).

Once you've got absolutely nothing accessing the 3D features of the card, start up Spore and see if the situation improves. Just a hunch - I had a problem like this years ago on XP and it was because of 2 applications fighting over the 3D card.]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/41643.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/41643.page GMT
If you got XP on another computer, use that one. If not, sorry. ]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/41652.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/41652.page GMT
]]> http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/41656.page http://forum.spore.com/jforum/posts/preList/115/41656.page GMT