Hi everybody,
when using version 0.21 I have a problem with the memory. Funnily enough, I never encountered this while playing the original DM levels, but only when playing Sophia's "Reactor".
The bug manifests by accumulating physical memory space (rising from 30-35K at the start to up to 90K), making gameplay delayed and also fattening up the gamefiles from around 35K up to 70K - I cannot load those files again after I quit.
Has anyone encountered that or is there a solution or some workaround?
I am using Win2000 (SP 1), 350 MHz & 256 MB RAM.
Regards PitD
Memory Bug
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PicturesInTheDark
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George Gilbert
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Re: Memory Bug
This is actually several points - I hope the following addresses them all!
1) To save memory and improve performance, the game only loads up graphics as and when they're needed. Until then, they are stored as compressed bitmaps. When a graphic is needed (say you encounter a new monster). then it is uncompressed - as the game goes along then it will grab more and more memory; but it won't do this forever, once all the graphics are loaded, then it won't grab any more. If you save the game and re-load then the memory usage goes right back down again until you explore some more.
As most dungeons tend to be played over several sessions, this means a game can use lots and lots of graphics, but only take up a small amount of memory (as only a subset of them will ever be used in one session).
2) A similar sort of thing applies to the save games, but for most dungeons they actually get smaller as you go along. This is because as items and triggers get used they are deleted.
3) I'm surprised about the games not reloading in V0.21 though (I know they don't in V0.22, but that's fixed in V0.23). Can you please send me a save game file that doesn't reload and I'll have a look at it.
1) To save memory and improve performance, the game only loads up graphics as and when they're needed. Until then, they are stored as compressed bitmaps. When a graphic is needed (say you encounter a new monster). then it is uncompressed - as the game goes along then it will grab more and more memory; but it won't do this forever, once all the graphics are loaded, then it won't grab any more. If you save the game and re-load then the memory usage goes right back down again until you explore some more.
As most dungeons tend to be played over several sessions, this means a game can use lots and lots of graphics, but only take up a small amount of memory (as only a subset of them will ever be used in one session).
2) A similar sort of thing applies to the save games, but for most dungeons they actually get smaller as you go along. This is because as items and triggers get used they are deleted.
3) I'm surprised about the games not reloading in V0.21 though (I know they don't in V0.22, but that's fixed in V0.23). Can you please send me a save game file that doesn't reload and I'll have a look at it.
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PicturesInTheDark
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George Gilbert
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Re: Memory Bug
Yes thankyou - real life is getting in the way for a couple of weeks, then I'll be able to sit down and try to work out what's going on!
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PicturesInTheDark
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George Gilbert
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