I haven’t found this one yet in the 44+ pages of bugs noted here so far nor in the off-site bug tracker…
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While climbing up the manhole ladder at the end of map bm_c3a1a, the next map – bm_c3a1b – will not load. The screen holds at the “Loading…” background and locks-up the computer (ctrl-alt-del is rendered inoperative), forcing me to cold reboot the system.
Starting fresh at the game’s menu screen, it also fails to load using the developer’s console (typing “map bm_c3a1b”) – the system hangs the same as described above as if I were playing the game. I can manually load the maps on either ‘side’ from the console (bm_c3a1a & bm_c3b1a), so it appears to be something with that particular map.
I’ve reinstalled the game a second time, and even downloaded the install files a second time from a different mirror site; even though the MD5 checksum for the 7z download passed, it’s still a “no go.”
There is no mdump file generated for this problem. Here is the information about the map size, but unlike others who have had similar load problems, the map seems to be about the same size as the others:
bm_c3a1b.bsp = 40.3 MB (42,261,692 bytes)
Here are my computer specs:
(Please note that I am fully prepared for the laughter, scorn and derision that will certainly result.)
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CPU: Intel Pentium 4 / 2.4 GHz (from early 2002)
RAM: 2 GB SDRAM DDR 333 PC2700 DIMM (two 1 GB chipsets)
OS: Windows XP Home Edition v2002 SP3
GPU: 128 MB DDR PNY nVidia GeForce FX 5500 (Direct X 9 compatible)
Black Mesa – Software Mode: Direct X 8.0
- Forcing Direct X 9.0 results in gameplay that’s too slow
(I know, I know: Get a computer that’s NOT from the turn of the century…)
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Aside from the unsupported Direct X 8.0/8.1 issues that others have noted elsewhere, this map loading error is the first major problem I’ve encountered so far. I’ve made it to the Teleportation Labs last night after noclipping through some of the underwater coolant areas in the Lamba Complex.
Even when models and textures are set to ‘High’ (which are their recommended settings), the gameplay is remarkably fluid most of the time for such an old machine, although I’ve intentionally set several other enhancements lower than their recommended settings so as to not “push my luck.”
Thank you for your time, and even more for your wonderful Mod – it takes me back to 1998 again…
