[3.30 & 4.0b6] launch option -skipintro causes no menu on startup

[_JD_]

If I add -skipintro to my Steam launch option, the game will start but will not show any menu entry: The music will play correctly, the background will show the ships moving around but no menu will be shown.

I can reproduce this pretty consistently on both 3.30 & 4.0 beta 6.

I tried to change the language from English to German, start the game, and then back to English, but the menu was never shown, no matter the language used.

Code: Select all

System:
  Host: c7h Kernel: 5.10.10-051010-generic x86_64 bits: 64 Desktop: N/A 
  Distro: Ubuntu 20.10 (Groovy Gorilla) 
CPU:
  Info: 8-Core model: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X bits: 64 type: MT MCP 
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA TU102 [GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Rev. A] driver: nvidia 
  v: 460.39 
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.9 driver: nvidia resolution: 3440x1440 
  OpenGL: renderer: GeForce RTX 2080 Ti/PCIe/SSE2 v: 4.6.0 NVIDIA 460.39 

[timon37]

Hi, I can't reproduce the issue.
Do you have any mods installed?
If you press down/up arrows can you hear the UI sound? (You may need to adjust music volume down first to hear it well).

[_JD_]

Do you have any mods installed?

No mod at all. Pure vanilla.

If you press down/up arrows can you hear the UI sound? (You may need to adjust music volume down first to hear it well).

Yesterday I tried with up/down but I heard no sound. I can't try again right now with no music (I'm working) but I'll try this evening. But I'm pretty sure there was no sound (I don't keep the music very loud.

Should I do some other test? Collect logs? I checked the steam binary output on a terminal but there was nothing special related to X4...

[Roeleveld]

Do you only have this issue when using the "-skipintro" option?

How did you enable this option?

Asking so I can try it on my system to see if we can get it reproduced on more than 1 system

[_JD_]

Hi, yes, only when I use the "-skipintro" option.

I simply added it to the Steam Launch options: https://support.steampowered.com/kb_art ... -JWMT-2947

[Roeleveld]

Thanks, I can't reproduce either.

What is the exact line you have configured in steam?

I only put "-skipintro"

I remember a similar issue in the past and had that solved by forcing a rebuild of the config-files:

rename the X4 folder in ~/.config/EgoSoft

Then try this again.
By renaming the folder, you won't actually loose anything.

The important files (save-games, control-maps, constructionplans, loadouts, logos, online login) are:
~/.config/EgoSoft/X4/<steamid>/save/...
~/.config/EgoSoft/X4/<steamid>/inputmap*.xml
~/.config/EgoSoft/X4/<steamid>/constructionplan/...
~/.config/EgoSoft/X4/<steamid>/constructionplans.xml
~/.config/EgoSoft/X4/<steamid>/loadout/...
~/.config/EgoSoft/X4/<steamid>/loadouts.xml
~/.config/EgoSoft/X4/<steamid>/logos
~/.config/EgoSoft/X4/<steamid>/auth.xml

I might be missing something, but I think those are the important ones to backup. At least on my system.

[_JD_]

Hey, thanks for testing. I tried with both "-skipintro" and "%command% -skipintro": same result.

I also already tried to rename the egosoft config directory but I was still able to reproduce the issue...

[Roeleveld]

Hey, thanks for testing. I tried with both "-skipintro" and "%command% -skipintro": same result.

I also already tried to rename the egosoft config directory but I was still able to reproduce the issue...

Think we'd best wait for timon37 to mention what he needs to be able to identify the issue.

Assuming you tried reinstalling the game?

[_JD_]

Assuming you tried reinstalling the game?

Ehm, nope, I haven't tried reinstalling the game and I hope is not needed: Steam allows to verify the integrity of the installation, shouldn't that be enough?

[Roeleveld]

Assuming you tried reinstalling the game?

Ehm, nope, I haven't tried reinstalling the game and I hope is not needed: Steam allows to verify the integrity of the installation, shouldn't that be enough?

"Should" be.
But if you switch between beta and non-beta, something might accidentally stay behind causing issues.

[_JD_]

I first experienced this issue on 3.30. I never joined beta 4.00 before. After experiencing the issue I tried with the beta branch.

I do not have a very fast connection so I would prefer to avoid redownloading the entire game if the Steam validation is enough.

[Alan Phipps]

It should be quick enough if you manually rename the X4.exe file and then validate the game and thereby just reload the exe file. That should cover the intro actions at least. Just pick a version and stick with it.

[_JD_]

So, I did some tests.

This is the sha256sum of my X4 binary:

Code: Select all

$ sha256sum X4 
dc9323cadb68d02aa1a6e43afd71ddfec35b46b43d79239102ac435c78ac04a0  X4

then I deleted the X4 binary and verified the integrity. The file was redownloaded:

Code: Select all

$ sha256sum X4 
dc9323cadb68d02aa1a6e43afd71ddfec35b46b43d79239102ac435c78ac04a0  X4

Same issue: no menu when using "-skipintro". Let me know if I can help doing some other test.

[Poopzone]

Had a similar problem in my 4.0 beta 5, I actually installed the nointro mod and it worked fine, if you need a bandaid until it''s resolved.