This is the first problem I've ever had getting into preview.
I use ARC to launch all Cryptic games.
The Launcher works fine - when initiated with ARC or when started manually.
I've confirmed this issue is related to the SHADOWMANTLE PATCH and not ARC.
My Launcher shows all three servers: Live server, Preview server and OwlBear server.
Launching the Live server works fine as expected.
Launching Preview does nothing...
The Launcher remains for a few seconds then hides. Then nothing but desktop. This happens no matter if I launch the game from the Launcher that was opened with ARC or manually (old style double-click to open).
If I return to ARC and try to open the Launcher again, I get a notice that the game cannot be opened because it is already running. A check of system resources shows GameClient.exe is running (so is ArcBrowser - so I suspect GameClient is the actual game client that is hanging-up).
I have even tried force-verifying all files (live and preview) and uninstalling Neverwinter and reinstalling it, (via ARC) repatching both servers, still the same result. Even updating to the latest Nvidia drivers don't do it. Note that there is no crash or error reports or dialogs. There is no visual cue that anything is wrong. The game client just doesn't appear to start at all (but ARC reports that it is, in fact, already running).
There is definitely something in yesterday's Shadowmantle patch that breaks the game client. And I know it's in the patch, because the LIVE game still functions just handy-dandy. Please look into this or you'll have a horde on your hands if released this way.
Windows XP SP3 with all updates/Nvidia 9600 512MB (for any naysayers: my system is fully capable, I've downgraded to XP by
choice).
UPDATE (Experimental - in case it helps you track things down):
I copied all root files (GameClient.exe and DLL) from LIVE folder into Preview folder and manually launched GameClient.exe. The client launched, but a *very slow* loading screen (Cryptic logo) - at the end of which the client crashed. Then ran the launcher and re-patched (to update as needed - all it did was verify and mirror files) - then the same problem reappeared (no client launch - hang). Again. Absolutely, definitely, without-a-doubt the Shadowmatle patch is the cause of this issue.
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