Quick Start Problem

[BeachBum]

When either saving or loading a quick start game, if I open another window to do something the game hangs up and becomes "Non-Responsive".

I have Windows XP and OOTP 8 Version 8.0.0.13.

[Nutlaw]

Only during the saving or loading process? You are likely running into a RAM limitation. How much RAM do you have on your computer?

[BeachBum]

I think it is 2 meg.

[Nutlaw]

Well, your issues are only limited to opening something else while saving or loading? If so, I would suggest that you wait for the process to complete first, then.

[BeachBum]

It takes a good 15 minutes to complete a load or save. If the quickstart feature cannot work reasonably well, I suggest it be abandoned.

This last response is completely unsatisfactory and insulting.

[Nutlaw]

Originally Posted by BeachBum

It takes a good 15 minutes to complete a load or save. If the quickstart feature cannot work reasonably well, I suggest it be abandoned.

This last response is completely unsatisfactory and insulting.

Sir, I apologize if you feel insulted as that was entirely not my intent. It was not at all clear to me that it was taking 15 minutes for you to load or save your game. It is typically a 15 second process at worst. With this information, it is now clear that you have a significantly more severe problem.

The Quickstart games can work quite well, though admittedly they do encompass a large game universe that may be taxing for some computers. How long does it take you to save and load, say, a one league fictional universe?

Could you please verify how much RAM your computer has for certain? Along with that, could you provide us with your operating system, processor speed, and available hard drive space? That should go a long way toward diagnosing your problem.

[BeachBum]

I only play historical games so have not tried a fictional world. It takes seconds to load or save a fictional game. A back up takes slightly longer but here again it is seconds.

Specs on my computer are
Ram - 2048 MB
Processor - Intel(R) Pentium (R) 4 CPU 3.12 GHz
Operating System - Windows XP Professional
(all Microsoft updates installed)
Operating System Version - 5.1.2600
Processor Speed - 3.12GHz
Available Hard Drive Space - 74.1 GB

[Nutlaw]

So you are playing a historical quickstart? Where did you get these files? It sounds as if the league in question is either damaged or extremely large.

For the league that takes 15 minutes to save and load, how many teams and leagues are in this universe? How many years of history have you built up? What level of stat detail are you keeping for each league? Do you have scouting on? Are you saving box scores and game logs for each of your leagues? Are you using FaceGen at all? Are you keeping fielding stats, L/R splits, and postseason stats for more than your major leagues?

[BeachBum]

Yes, I am playing a historical quickstart league.

I "made" these files. I created a new historical league as of 1901, simmed until the end of the 1946 season, edited the ballparks, then saved as a quickstart game.

I have a done a similar situation and the save and load times are the same in that league as well. It does load and save but just takes a very long time. The size of the league that I created is 58.9 MB. The size of "majors.quick" which came with the game is 67.8 MB so it doesn't sound to me that this is exceptionally large.

I have 16 major league teams plus a AAA and AA team for each. This means a total of 48 teams.

I started simming in 1901 and ended after the 1946 season so I have 46 years of history.

The stat level is set to "normal detail".

The scouting system is off.

Yes, I am saving box scores and game logs.

I am not using Facegen. I am using the mod that has the actual historical pictures.

I am not keeping fielding stats nor L/R splits.

I have actually opted to NOT have post season in the minor leagues.

[Nutlaw]

Originally Posted by BeachBum

I have a done a similar situation and the save and load times are the same in that league as well.

That one was also a Quickstart?

When simming between, say 1935-1946 pre-Quickstart in your original league, was it taking a very long time to save the game at the end of the year?

[BeachBum]

I do not know what you mean by "that one". If you mean the original beginning, it was not a quickstart. It was a new, historical game that I created.

While I wasn't especially watching during the sim period, I don't recall noticing any lengthy time take for the regular save. I have the game set to auto save monthly so I think I would have noticed if the save took an extra long time.

[BeachBum]

I have played with the whole quickstart thing and here is more information for you.

I tried loading the majors.quick which came with the game and it loaded in a matter of seconds.

I tried creating a historical game and immediately saved as a quickstart. It saved in a matter of seconds.

I then tried a quicksave of a game that I have played/simmed from 1901 to 1962 and this is where it became interesting. The total save time was 25 minutes. The following is a listing of the times it took to save major areas.

message_***.txt files 1 minute there were 1000+ of these
game_box_****.html 6 minutes there were 4300+ of these
first_name.jpg 5 minutes player portrait files for all
players from beginning of
time
log_****.txt 6 minutes there were 4300+ of these
player_****_history.txt 3 minutes
****_team_**.txt 3 minutes

This folder is 475 MB where the majors.quick folder is 67.8 MB

After looking at this, it appears to me that to do a quickstart after simming or playing is not the way to go. It is much faster to and easier to make a backup, rename it so you know what it is, then restore this if you want to start at a specific time.

[Nutlaw]

Originally Posted by BeachBum

I have played with the whole quickstart thing and here is more information for you.

I tried loading the majors.quick which came with the game and it loaded in a matter of seconds.

I tried creating a historical game and immediately saved as a quickstart. It saved in a matter of seconds.

I then tried a quicksave of a game that I have played/simmed from 1901 to 1962 and this is where it became interesting. The total save time was 25 minutes. The following is a listing of the times it took to save major areas.

message_***.txt files 1 minute there were 1000+ of these
game_box_****.html 6 minutes there were 4300+ of these
first_name.jpg 5 minutes player portrait files for all
players from beginning of
time
log_****.txt 6 minutes there were 4300+ of these
player_****_history.txt 3 minutes
****_team_**.txt 3 minutes

This folder is 475 MB where the majors.quick folder is 67.8 MB

After looking at this, it appears to me that to do a quickstart after simming or playing is not the way to go. It is much faster to and easier to make a backup, rename it so you know what it is, then restore this if you want to start at a specific time.

That is an excellent analysis and very useful information to have at hand.

I agree with you regarding the Quickstarts. Copying league folders does make a heck of a lot more sense. If you do a Quickstart, lugging all of those box scores and game logs, in particular, seems to be a no-no.

I think that you have everything figured out here, but is there anything further that I can help you with in this area?

[BeachBum]

I guess this about wraps it up.

It just seems that in the future, the saving/creating of a quickstart should strip all this stuff out and just save the basics. That seems to me to be the purpose of a quickstart. Perhaps future versions of the game will include this. Otherwise this feature seems pretty useless.

[Nutlaw]

Originally Posted by BeachBum

I guess this about wraps it up.

It just seems that in the future, the saving/creating of a quickstart should strip all this stuff out and just save the basics. That seems to me to be the purpose of a quickstart. Perhaps future versions of the game will include this. Otherwise this feature seems pretty useless.

Perhaps so. I know that I'm not a fan of it.

[Nutlaw]

I linked to this thread for the beta testers. Maybe they can figure something out in regard to how to improve it.