Create-an-Arenas stopped working

[El Guapo]

Hi there,

pretty much as the subject says. I hadn't used any Create-an-Arenas for ages (so there are far too many mods already installed to be able to roll stuff back) but now I find that whenever I try to load a match the game hangs on the matchup loading screen. The "loading circle" keeps spinning, but the progress bar doesn't move past about halfway.
Weirdly I can open them in the actual Arena Editor function, just cannot use them in a match.


Anyone else experienced this? I'm hoping someone out there will know what can be fixed to make them work again - I suspect it is linked to all the arenas mods I manually installed.

Thanks

[BlackBen83]

2 hours ago, El Guapo said:

Hi there,

pretty much as the subject says. I hadn't used any Create-an-Arenas for ages (so there are far too many mods already installed to be able to roll stuff back) but now I find that whenever I try to load a match the game hangs on the matchup loading screen. The "loading circle" keeps spinning, but the progress bar doesn't move past about halfway.
Weirdly I can open them in the actual Arena Editor function, just cannot use them in a match.

Anyone else experienced this? I'm hoping someone out there will know what can be fixed to make them work again - I suspect it is linked to all the arenas mods I manually installed.

Thanks

As I learned by @BlindedByTheGrace, so the "matchup screen" has a problem with a .cav you selected in your custom show? this could be due to a corrupted "cav" file in the game, intro or transition.

I had the same problem when I tried to mod some modded arenas. For my created arenas I don't have this problem. What are the videos you use?

EDIT : or perhaps re-install a clean Create a show folder updated?

 

Edited November 17, 2021 by BlackBen83

[El Guapo]

Thanks for replying - I've just experimented with both CAV transitions and 'regular' ones and it still hangs on the matchup screen (about halfway through loading)

Admittedly I have replaced all of the vanilla transition videos, but like I said it also happens with any CAV ones too.

Might this be something in the misc_01.pac settings for all the "Smackdown LIVE" entries?

[BlackBen83]

21 minutes ago, El Guapo said:

Thanks for replying - I've just experimented with both CAV transitions and 'regular' ones and it still hangs on the matchup screen (about halfway through loading)

Admittedly I have replaced all of the vanilla transition videos, but like I said it also happens with any CAV ones too.

Might this be something in the misc_01.pac settings for all the "Smackdown LIVE" entries?

I'm not sure about misc01, especially when it comes to Smackdown multilines, maybe check the numbers of transitions or entries, it seems to me that the basic is 24. That's why I was thinking of re-copying and pasting a clean "Create A Show" folder? to test.

[El Guapo]

Thanks for the advice - I'll download those vanilla files from the thread over on the "Tools and Resources" thread and see if that makes a difference.

I have way to many mods installed to even consider starting over, so if this doesn't work I just won't be using custom arenas I guess

 

[BlackBen83]

9 minutes ago, El Guapo said:

Thanks for the advice - I'll download those vanilla files from the thread over on the "Tools and Resources" thread and see if that makes a difference.

I have way to many mods installed to even consider starting over, so if this doesn't work I just won't be using custom arenas I guess

This is the best solution if you work with mods. I have three backups, one of which is the original, one that I upload after each installation (arenas, GFX or other mods) and I check that all files are clean and not corrupted. Finally a third save which is the save of the second one.

That way, whenever there's a problem, you know where it comes from. I always do a test after the new mod is installed now. It makes it easier for you to go back. And you know more easily where the problem can come from.

Edited November 17, 2021 by BlackBen83

[El Guapo]

Just now, BlackBen83 said:

This is the best solution if you work with mods. I have three backups, one of which is the original, one that I upload after each installation (arenas or other mods) and I check that all files are clean and not corrupted. Finally a third save which is the save of the second one.

That way, whenever there's a problem, you know where it comes from. I always do a test after the new mod is installed now. It makes it easier for you to go back. And you know more easily where the problem can come from.

Yes, all good advice. I too backup my save every time I make any changes (and usually have the last 10 saves just in case)

In this case I juts didn't believe that any change I made would affect custom arenas, so never thought to test them!

[BlackBen83]

4 minutes ago, El Guapo said:

Yes, all good advice. I too backup my save every time I make any changes (and usually have the last 10 saves just in case)

In this case I juts didn't believe that any change I made would affect custom arenas, so never thought to test them!

You can save your "corrupted" misc01 (if it's corrupted, not sure) in a folder, and replace it with a clean one to test. If you have the 2k15/2k18 arena's port, there is already one in there.

Edited November 17, 2021 by BlackBen83

[El Guapo]

Ok, so I tried switching the misc file out and that didn't make a difference.

In another note of wierdness, I tried a CAE in Universe mode and it loads ok but there is no crowd, just empty seats....

[BlindedByTheGrace]

7 hours ago, El Guapo said:

Hi there,

pretty much as the subject says. I hadn't used any Create-an-Arenas for ages (so there are far too many mods already installed to be able to roll stuff back) but now I find that whenever I try to load a match the game hangs on the matchup loading screen. The "loading circle" keeps spinning, but the progress bar doesn't move past about halfway.
Weirdly I can open them in the actual Arena Editor function, just cannot use them in a match.


Anyone else experienced this? I'm hoping someone out there will know what can be fixed to make them work again - I suspect it is linked to all the arenas mods I manually installed.

Thanks

Hi,

Did you create a show with these arenas? The arena will not load in exhibition, but the show created with the arena.

Did you delete any of the smackdown placeholder slots in the misc01_start.pac arena data file?

[BlackBen83]

...................

Edited November 18, 2021 by BlackBen83

[El Guapo]

5 hours ago, BlindedByTheGrace said:

Hi,

Did you create a show with these arenas? The arena will not load in exhibition, but the show created with the arena.

I'm not sure if I'm understanding this correctly - is the created arena duplicated in the "show" or just referenced?

Is it worth deleting all the created shows and rebuilding?

I'm wondering if this has anything in common with the issue in universe mode where it crashes on show load if I replaced any asset files (intro videos, match cards, etc) but using the same assets in a 'brand new' universe works just fine.

Almost like Universe mode had saved specific details about the assets used in each show which it then can't reconcile if the assets are replaced. A new Universe saves the new asset details so works fine