Curse

EternalTempest · Jan 18, 2006, 04:32 AM // 04:32

I've read enough posts about lag issue and Direct Song to know that some people have a problem and it's not just a few people.

I remember reading a post about how they contacted Direct Song and it was due to Windows XP is the only supported OS. He indicated the lag was due to the DRM - Digital Rights Management and older versions of Windows Media Player / Windows. http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...d.php?t=103437

So far this seems to be holding true, anyone that has been having issues with Direct Song and lag / delay loading maps, please post what version of Windows you are running and what version of Windows Media player.

Theory if holds true:

Windows XP + Windows Media Player 10 = Everything works correct
Windows XP + Windows Media Player 9 = ?
Windows 98, 98SE, Me, 2000 + Windows Media Player 9 = Lag

Supporting Posts on this subject
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...d.php?t=108342

Dwiggit · Jan 18, 2006, 03:43 PM // 15:43

I contacted GW Support on this problem.
Here's the email thread....

ME
For a while now, when I enter Grenth's Footprint and Sorrow's Furnace, the game will stall for 10-15 seconds. It will continue operating normally for a while, then stall occasionally while I remain in these areas.
This problem doesn't happen in any other areas.

Any ideas on how to fix this?

GW SUPPORT
Let's try to disable all of the background programs from loading when you boot up your computer to see if it helps. 3rd party programs will compete for system resources and may cause conflicts if they are running at the same time the game is running.

To do this go to Start>Run>type msconfig and click OK. Click on Selective Startup, uncheck Load Startup Items, then go to the Services tab. Click Hide All Microsoft Services then uncheck all the ones you see. Click OK and restart. This will help ensure that no other applications are interfering with the game and may help resolve the issue.
Now try running the game again.

If you don't see any difference, you can put all of your settings back by launching MSCONFIG again. This time check the option 'Normal Startup' under the 'general' tab. Click 'Ok', and your system will boot back with the normal services and start up items.

ME
Your suggestions didn't have any effect. (The game plays fine in all other areas.)
I did some searching on forums and found some people claiming that the DirectSong mini-pak was causing the problem. I tested the theory by moving the DirectSong directory to another location. When I returned to Grenth's Footprint, no stall! My initial analysis shows that the DirectSong mini-pak is causing issues. I only entered briefly, but the stall that ALWAYS happens at the start did not occur. I'll play more later and let you know if it happens more.

Keep me updated if you find that this is truly the problem.
By the way, here are my computer specs, if that helps.
2.8 GHz Intel P4 (#SL6PF, 533MHz bus, 512K cache)
ASUS P4T533-C motherboard.
768MB of RAMBUS PC-1066 RAM.
Sapphire Radeon 9600 Pro - Atlantis
Running Win2K Pro

GW SUPPORT
We have seen DirectSong cause this same problem for other customers as well. I am rather certain that you have found the true cause. If you would like DirectSong reinstalled and continue to have problems, you will need to contact them for assistance because unfortunately we do not have the documentation for, or support DirectSong.

That last statement kinda bugs me. Why promote it if you don't support it? They should support it at least to it's effects on Guild Wars.

For now, it looks like removing DirectSong fixes the problem. (I just moved the directory to break the link.)

Maybe a real solution in an upcoming patch?

Almost forgot, I'm running Media Player 9.

I hope this helps a few people.
Dwig

UrikoBB3 · Jan 18, 2006, 11:30 PM // 23:30

I've just used the registry editor, and deleted the Direct Song from it, as it says in the Technical FAQ. Tried entering D'Alessio mission 3 times, worked fine all 3 times. I'll update this if it bugs up again.

Edit: Actually, just heard a lot of people with the standard GW install (nothing else) were still experiencing this problem (map lagging/failing to load).

Also, I use Windows XP/Windows Media Player 10, and I had the problem earlier. Removing Direct Song appears to be the only way Ive found to fix it (until it decided to freeze again :P)

EternalTempest · Jan 24, 2006, 11:54 PM // 23:54

Possible Fix Here: http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...d.php?t=112375

Zeal · Jan 25, 2006, 06:59 AM // 06:59

Have anyone tried to make a backup mp3 of DS songs and play mp3 in game not wma? (where i live this is 100% legal.)

EternalTempest · Jan 25, 2006, 07:32 AM // 07:32

The OST Direct Song pack gives your right to create a audio cd which you can then import. But SF and BP1 do not have any burn rights.

Give it a try, rename an mp3 to the same file name and change the extension to wma and find a spot in game which calls on that file. As far as I know, no one has broken the gw.dat file for "swaping" of music files.

Zeal · Jan 25, 2006, 08:15 AM // 08:15

In DS folder ther's a file that contains strings of the wma files and some numbers and commands that says when to play those files. I could try just to rename 1 wma file to some DS file and see what happens or change the file that contains information how to play DS files. If that works DS files are replaced with my own music ^^ then i could listen what ever i want in sorrows furnace =P

nz17 · Jan 28, 2006, 09:15 PM // 21:15

Replacement files must be WMA and have "content protection" (digital restrictions management if you ask me) in order to work. Trust me, as I have removed the DRM from the original DirectSong files to test things, and indeed DS will not play the file unless they have DRM. However the files can contain any content you want, so swapping in your favorite punk tracks will play just fine as long as you use WMP to insert DRM into them.

EternalTempest · Jan 30, 2006, 10:46 PM // 22:46

It seems during the PvP update they tweaked some things, that and someone in this threed : http://forums.gwonline.net/showthread.php?t=383850

I did notice this myself. I heard the intro music (new one). Turned DS back on and when it was on, kept playing the orginal DS intro music. Latter the next day, With DS sound turned on, it was playing the new music not the DS one.

Quote:

xerofighter - some time ago i emailed directsong cause same music played over and over again they said this was the music engine, and that it would be changed soon apparently the engine has been fixed, each outpost-area now has an unique codename directsong uses those codes (guildwars.ds file) so it knows were to play which music but because the directsong playlist file isnt updated yet and still contains the old codenames, which doesn't exists anymore in the game, it will not play any music some codenames haven't changed yet, in those places directsong will still play just run a directsong downloader once in a while, my guess is that an updated directsong will come soon

I re-downloaded the direct sound pack and it skiped the wma files but did change the scrript file and the dll used to run / plug in to GW.

I didnt look as the .ds file to see the orginal list to the new one to see if it changed.