Couldn't Create Palette Image

[Calib]

I got this error both when trying to play locally and when trying to make a new game.

MuleException
Couldn't create Palette Image images/races/reace0.png
(2048x64)

I don't see an "images" folder in my Mule folder. I checked both the main folder and the data folder. I just downloaded the game, clean install. Reinstalling did nothing. The image is the error box (cut and pasted from the MULE window) and my MULE folder.

My video card is up to date so I don't think it's the drivers.

[Chuckie Chuck]

To explain part of it, the image folders with files in them are inside a file called data.jar (a zip file designed for use by java.)  At this point, try updating you Java engine (download at www.java.com)

I'll have to play with this a little, see if I can find another reason.

[Chuckie Chuck]

Ok, after a bit more study of the log, seems Java is current, drivers are as current as they will get.

You are running WindowsXP.  The best guess I have is possibly, hardware limitation?

What are your system specs?  Not familiar with any current production video products from S3, but my best guess is that you are using a video card that just simply isn't capable of the type of GL calls the game needs to make to render the graphics.  That seems reaching, but if the graphics card is pushing 8 year old technology, it's possible.  Again, I need to know a little more about your system, cause with the info I have (not much) I'm just poking in the dark for reasons.

[Chuckie Chuck]

Final Research on the Video Card the game identified in the game log turned up this in the forums...

http://www.viaarena.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25411

So yeah, this is a very outdated card design, that I'm imaging, probably wasn't put into any computer period since 2006, or 2007, and only the very low end units at that point and the technology is essentially dated back to 2000.

(back then the only cards in production that can even begin to support playing Planet M.U.L.E. were top end Radeon and GeForce Cards and Radeon was the new card on the block in 2001/2002.  I have a Radeon 7200 in use on a desktop my parents still use, it's a 2001 model, and was the top card when new, will handle P.M., barely, it's choppy, drops frames, can't play a stable game on that PC on the internet, it's frustrating to play training mode.  If I had a slightly better CPU I think it could pull it off, it's in a Pentium 4 Celeron 2.4Ghz PC.  I actually have slower PCs with better video card engines that will play the game better.  Case in Point - GF's 1.4 GHz Celeron Laptop with an integrated Intel Card that was a cutting edge card for notebooks in 2006.  Makes my Radeon 7200 look like junk.)

[Calib]

Yes, my computer is about 7-8 years old (2003-2004) and wasn't expensive when I got it, so it wouldn't surprise me that things are low-end. I'm running Windows XP with 1 gig ram, AMD Athalon 3000+ 2.0 GHZ, 15 GB free space out of 75 total.

If my computer just isn't compatible I understand, I'll just have to come back once my computer is upgraded. I'm saving up for a new one right now.

[Chuckie Chuck]

Yeah, just a matter of getting something with a better video card, and anything new will definitely work, and most stuff less than 5 years old.

[leahcim99]

You probably have, however, Did you look into a new card? You may be able to pick one up cheap and you can still play MULE while saving for the new computer....

Just a thought....

WELCOME TO PM

[Chuckie Chuck]

Not verified, but I'm under the impression this is a laptop PC, usually the upgrade options for video cards on laptops, especially cheaper ones with integrated video in the mainboard chipset, are extremely limited, or non existant (and in this case, it is a integrated chipset version of the card, so if there is an option, it would shock me.)

If this is a desktop computer though, then yes, there are definitely solutions.

[Peter]

I just want to confirm that the discussion above is correct. The S3 video card used doesn't support large images. The only way to get the game to start is to get a new video card. Practically any cheap video card you can buy will be good enough to play Planet Mule.