Showing posts with label starcraft 2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label starcraft 2. Show all posts

Starcraft 2 - Heart of the Swarm: How to pause cinematics

Now this is a nice little feature I haven't seen in many games!

Spacebar won't work, just left-click during movies to pause it.

It's such a shame that the damn DVD installer didn't actually install the game from the DVD... worthless coaster.

GrandmasBoy
Blizzard salutes to customers.

ATI Radeon: Screen blanks out but computer continues to operate

I've noticed this happen a few times on Windows XP, even after I bought a bigger power supply of 600W (which has stopped my random reboots!), but my computer was still suffering from the random black screens.

Normally associated with playing Starcraft 2, but it also happens with other games or when performing other tasks such as messing with stuff on Photoshop (with 3D acceleration enabled).

Being a ridiculously vague topic to search for online, theres alot of solutions.

Symptoms

The screen blanks out, as if the video card decided to go on strike and stop sending out data to the monitor.

The music continues to play and the computer continues to run like usual, still responding to mouse and keyboard commands also.

Fixes

Of course, you've probably tried the usual things already.

  • Update your graphic drivers
  • Reboot your computer (and hope that this freak accident never happens again but it does)
  • Update the software which causes the problem

If you haven't tried those yet, give it a shot.

Shutdown

If you can find yourself a way to shut down and you're willing to lose some data, go for it. I normally (on Windows XP with classic menu) press on the keyboard in the following order:

  • Windows button
  • U
  • U

Then wait for the computer to shut stuff down.

If it stops for a while and there is no harddrive activity, press E. This is to close the "End Task" dialog that halts the shutdown process.

I've never tried to hibernate, so you might want to give that a shot. Let me know how it works out.

Remote Desktop

If you're lucky enough to have a spare computer with network access, then simply remote desktop into the machine. When you log out, it'll give the video card a kick-start.

Starcraft II: Access North America battle.net servers from South-East Asia

First off, let me say that Blizzard's region locking is fucking gay. I have a few mates in the states and not being able to play the SAME GAME against them sucks.

Since patch 1.1 of Starcraft 2, Blizzard was "kind enough" to allow Aussie (and Asian) SC2 players to play against the fat North Americans.

To enable it, you must first log into http://www.battle.net with your SEA account. Under "Your Game Accounts", click on "StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty [SCII-1] North America (NA)" to add the game to your profile.

Now start up the game.

Before you log in, click on the region button on the left side of the screen. Select a region and then log in as per usual.

image

Let's all hope this sort of region locking gayness won't ruin the experience of Diablo III!

*edit 31/10/2010*

If you can't see it, you're probably using the "Remember me" option. Click on the little arrow next to your account name to clear it and the "Region" button will appear.

Happy Halloween! =)

image

Starcraft 2: Fix overheating bug

Its been reported that the out of game menus in Starcraft II will make your graphics card work harder than it should.

For reasons unknown, the menu screens (such as when you're signing in and selecting between single or multiplayer) are not frame limited.

This will make your graphics card feel like a fat kid in a candy store, feeling it can eat everything but ultimately becoming so obese.

Solution

Until it is fixed, I don't want to experience how much damage first hand a melting video card can do to my computer (or wallet).

  • Make sure SC2 isn't running
  • Open up "My Documents" (or "Documents" in Windows Vista/Win7)
  • Go into the "Starcraft II" folder
  • Open up "Variables.txt"
  • Add the following lines at the end

frameratecapglue=30

frameratecap=60

  • Save

Now it should apply the framerate limits the next time you run it.

[ Source ]

If you're having problems ALT+Tabbing, see here.

Starcraft 2: Delay when ALT+Tabbing back into the game

I've noticed a few times when I go back into the Starcraft II, it freezes for a good 10 seconds or so even if I'm in game or in menu. For a few people, its worse.

Not sure why, but it seems to mainly affect ATI cards. It doesn't seem to matter how high your details levels are either.

Solution

By default, the SC2 uses the "Fullscreen" mode in the graphics setting. Change this to "Windowed (Fullscreen)" and it'll ALT+Tab like a charm!

image

[ Source ]

While you're out of the game, Blizzard has confirmed a bug that causes the videocard to overheat. See here to prevent your video card from self destructing.

Peerblock: Unblock Steam and Blizzard domains

By default, PeerBlock will block Blizzard and Steam servers.

This will kill off your access to Starcraft II, World of Warcraft and Left 4 Dead! Not acceptable!

To prevent that, add then to the whitelist.

Repeat the process for the Steam list: http://list.iblocklist.com/?list=steam

Starcraft 2: Association Required Fix

I installed SC2 earlier today before I had to go out. I come home at 1am in the morning to fire it up and it spends 15 minutes downloading and patching some stupid shit 3x over.

When its finally ready, the play button glows and taunts me to start.

image 
"This Battle.net account does not include an associated copy of Starcraft II. Please log into Battle.net account management and add the game to your account."

Now comes 2am and I'm finally about to cry. WHAT THE FUCK?

Problem

Apparently Blizzard doesn't like it when you use a distributed release from torrents.

Well I'm fucking sorry Activision! The DVD is slow to install from and your digital distribution server is even slower because of the God-forsaken primitive internet we have in Australia.

All I wanted was to pre-download the game and play it when I get the chance... Now I have to go through the damn installation again :(

Solution

  • Uninstall (but keep your saves).
  • Install from the DVD or the digital distribution from your account and region (SEA, US, etc)
  • Now it should work.
 
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