This issue has been corrected in v3.50 patch A.
Most likely your firewall has popped up a window, but you can't see it because it's undernearth the game. Some firewalls are configured to prompt even on local anonymous connections, even if there's really no reason (local anonymous connections can't be used to send or receive data to other computers). The game is frozen because it is waiting for your response in that window. Return to your desktop by either:
- Pressing Alt-Tab
- Pressing the Windows key (it's the key with the windows logo on it, normally next to the space bar). In some keyboards it also has the word "start" written on it.
When you are back in your desktop, go to the firewall window and allow network access to the game. Then, resume the game.
If you can't return to your desktop for some reason, you'll need to reboot your PC and run the game again. Before starting a new game, from the main menu go to "Options" and then "Graphics", and un-check "Full Screen". This will make the game temporarily run in a window on your desktop so you can see what's going on. Any firewall windows will typically only pop up once, so once everything is working again you can switch the game back to full screen.
This issue has been corrected in v3.50 patch A.
You need to configure your firewall so that it allows local network connections. By default, some firewalls are configured to block even "local anonymous" connections (which is what the game uses), even if there's really no reason (local anonymous connections can't be used to send or receive data to other computers).
First of all, temporarily disable your firewall and run the game to make sure that it is indeed the cause of the problem. Then, turn your firewall back on, go through its configuration options, and allow the game the required network access.
This issue has been corrected in v3.51.
This is a DirectX bug which only affects Windows Vista operating systems that have User Access Control (UAC) enabled. If you are affected, you can work around the freeze simply by launching the game again after it freezes (press Alt-F4 to close the frozen window). Provided that the game starts in windowed mode and not fullscreen, the Network Wizard can be completed successfully. You can then re-select fullscreen mode through Options -> Graphics.
The "fly with a wingman" game type has higher system requirements than the rest of the game types. When two players play simultaneously, your computer has to handle almost twice as much information, and performance may suffer.
Performance is limited by the type and speed of your processor, and a faster processor will yield better results (in contrast to single-player games, where performance is mostly dictated by your graphics card). Make sure you have at least a 1.5GHz processor for "fly with a wingman" games.
The Chicken Invaders license allows you to install the game on as many computers as you own. You can also play LAN multiplayer games between those computers using a single license. However, only one of your computers using your license (that is, with your particular authorization code) can participate in Internet multiplayer games at any given time. If you wish to play over the internet, then you will need a separate license for each participating computer.
At the game's main menu, select the 3rd button from the top ("Options"). From the set of wide buttons you see, select the last one (not the short "help" button at the bottom of the screen). A window should pop up (it says "Please restart the game and select your new language"). Click on "OK" to close the window, then at the bottom-left "< Back" button, and again at the bottom-left "X Quit" button. Now restart the game and select the correct language.
Clupea Harengus = herring. Clupea Harengus (Red) = red herring. Does this ring a bell? Perhaps using your favourite search engine to search for "red herring" will help clear things up!
Your DirectX version is out of date (you need at least version 7.0). Download the latest version from Microsoft's web site here.
Again, your DirectX version is out of date (you need at least version 7.0). Download the latest version from Microsoft's web site here.
This message says that your computer can't switch to full-screen to play the game. There is no legitimate reason for this (unless you have another full-screen application running in the background). It is more likely a bug in certain video drivers (in conjunction with DirectX 7.0). Reboot and run the game immediately, before anything else.
If you continue to get this error, try updating your graphics card driver (check your manufacturer's web site) and/or DirectX version (here). Also, before running the game, shut down any instant messengers, and generally any program that may pop up a window. Check the system tray area (at the bottom right of your screen, next to the clock) and terminate any unnecessary programs.
The game should feel very fast and very smooth when you're playing. If it feels slow or "choppy", or it slows down when there's a lot of action on the screen, then there's room for improvement. The good news is the game offers extensive customization options that you can tweak to get the best out the game on your particular computer.
This guide will help you optimize your graphics performance. First of all, if you've changed anything, set all the menu options to their default values.
So, how do you find out if the game is running slowly in the first place? The engine automatically compensates for most variations in performance, meaning that normally you won't be able to tell whether the game is running "really fast" or simply "adequately fast", unless your system is really slow and you can just plainly see that the game is slow and jerky.
Start off with going to options/graphics/advanced and turning "show fps" on. This shows your current frames-per-second (fps) at the top-right of the screen. The higher your fps is, the faster and smoother the gameplay.
Now play through a game, and keep an eye on your fps. You shouldn't have any problems if this constantly stays above 50. If you are getting less than 35 fps, perform the following steps in sequence. At the end of each step, play a game and check your fps. If you are getting sufficiently high values, then you're done. If it's still too low, try the next step.
Step 1: Go to options/graphics/advanced and set the video mode to 640x480.
Step 2: Go to options/graphics and set "detail" to "low".
Step 3: Go to options/graphics/advanced and turn "bilinear filter" off.
Step 4: Go to options/sound and set "quality" to "low", and also turn "in-game music" off.
That's it! If the game is still running too slowly, you'll just have to buy a better computer :).
- 3.51
- Patch A: Christmas edition now has red GUI.
Corrected DirectX freeze during network test in Windows Vista with UAC enabled.
Career data is now backed up at the time of upload. - 3.50
- Patch B: Corrected minor localization issues.
Patch B: Engine support for Asian script languages.
Patch A: Corrected network usage (DNS) during local games.
Multilingual version (French, Italian, Spanish added).
Careers and high scores are upgradeable from v3.41.
Browse URLs on exit now works in Win9x.
Settings are now saved in common app data folder.
Clients that have connected once no longer try to reconnect automatically after they get disconnected.
Fixed startRecording() assertion error in Double Games.
Game recording is now disabled.
Localhost connections are now emulated.
Changed classname index identifiers.
Enhanced log format.
Resource loading is now done incrementally (Loader class).
Game now loads faster (up to 35%). - 3.41
- Minor update.
Added German language.
Fixed repeated bonus exploit.
Xmas and non-Xmas versions can now play multiplayer games together.
Installer files are now digitally signed by InterAction studios. - 3.40
- Major update.
Added "fly with a wingman" (double) game type.
Joystick initialization errors are now non-fatal.
Full version up-sell can now be skipped (demo only).
Career data is no longer updated in cheated games.
Superstar now also unlocks veteran unlockables.
Music volume is now set properly during initial loading stage.
Each network player adds only 50% to the enemy strength (was 75%).
Added game settings page (i.e., difficulty) to LAN games.
Added advanced options to Internet games.
Fixed jerky mouse movement due to creeping floating point inaccuracy.
Various menu system enhancements.
Emergency quit combination is now Ctrl-Alt-X.
Weapon name now appears instead of weapon switch bonus. - 3.30a
- Corrected duplicate text during intro scroller (demo only).
- 3.30
- Major update.
Medals are now awarded only if you haven't cheated.
Mission-wide medals are now not given if you die and restart partway through.
Corrected "In-game menu" text hint.
3 tries before SetCooperativeLevel() fails.
Fixed stale Superstar Hero difficulty when turning relevant unlockable off.
"Points indicator" unlockable can now be unlocked.
"Clupea Harengus" unlockable now only unlocked in Superstar Hero.
Friends and internet multiplayer now have difficulty option.
Default network search range is now long.
Firewall windows now better forced to pop up during network test phase.
Network wizard can now be continued even if network test fails.
Added Netword wizard to options menu.
Fixed 90% of cases where game would crash on Alt-Tab.
Prepared source for multilanguage edition.
Alleviated prematurely disappearing EffectSplat syndrome.
Uses BASS 2.3.0.1. - 3.20
- Minor update.
Unlockables are not given in cheated games.
Duplicate instances of the game are now correctly detected.
Named "Chicken Harmonics" wave.
Corrected issue with extra network port being bound but not used.
Now treating some network errors as warnings.
Changed game icon.
Background camera motion is now smoother.
Added 'finish' button on report error screen.
Tweaked 'meteor shower' cutscene visuals.
Lightning shearing effect has been alleviated.
Removed unneeded 'EGG' log entry. - 3.10
- First public release.
Fixed left-edge eggships disappearing before their time.
Weapon power level doesn't now revert when quitting/restoring (same as lives).
Sensitivity now affects mouse too.
Prologue is easier.
Annihilation medal is now given for a different reason.
Fire now skips map and cuscenes individually. - 3.00
- Initial release.