'StarCraft 2' Damaging Your PC?

StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty is a massively awaited game, 12 years in the making. It is no surprise that, when gamers across the world went to launch the game, some people ran into issues. In some cases, the flaw has caused some computers to fail on a hardware level, causing irreversible damage to some components within PCs.

Overheating is the name of the game

Blizzard's new game has been optimized to run on almost any PC made within the last five years. The game looks good, but it does not appear to be a killer of high-end components. However, there is a simple mistake causing some frustration among consumers.

The menus in StarCraft 2 were made with no upper limits in the frame rate. This means that a video card is free to output as many frames as it can to try to make a better picture -- exactly what it is designed to do. But a menu is simple to animate, and the video card begins working excessively for a simple image to the gamer. When a graphics processor works, it outputs heat. It is easy to observe a computer working to clear the heat: One typically hears fans speed up when the computer is being taxed. If your PC has inadequate cooling, the system might damage itself attempting to render the menu as quickly as it can.

Blizzard confirms the flaw

According to Koku Gamer, Blizzard has recognized the flaw in the game. The blame has been put on computers being poorly maintained, and components having an insulating layer of dust. However, Blizzard conveniently began directing users to a software solution.

Solution

Step 1: Open My Computer

Step 2: Navigate to "Documents\StarCraft II Beta\variables.txt" "Documents\StarCraft II\variables.txt"

Step 3: Open the file with a text editor

Step 4: Add the lines
"frameratecapglue=30
frameratecap=60"

Step 5: Save the file

Here is the exact Blizzard Customer support ticket:

"The installer allows multiple copies of the game to be installed

Unlike previous Blizzard installers, this one will always let you install another copy of the game. It does not check for previous installations so be careful of how many folders you end up making.

Compatibility Modes will not work properly (Cont.)

Attempting to run StarCraft 2 on a compatibility mode (Windows XP SP3 from Windows 7, for example) will make it crash. Please run the game normally.

Certain screens make your hardware work pretty hard

Screens that are light on detail may make your system overheat if cooling is overall insufficient. This is because the game has nothing to do so it is primarily just working on drawing the screen very quickly. A temporary workaround is to go to your Documents\StarCraft II Beta\variables.txt file and add these lines:

frameratecapglue=30

frameratecap=60

You may replace these numbers if you want to.

User report - Security program flagging the beta downloader as a trojan

We had some reports where a security program might flag the beta downloader as a trojan. It is a false positive.

Black Screens

There have been multiple reports of black screen issues being related to the use of a Quick Cam webcam.

In some cases exiting out of the software has resolved the issue but others have reported a need to uninstall the software for the camera in order to resolve the problem.

There are also reports where some security programs like Comodo firewall can cause the game to start and stay on a black screen."

Enjoy the game

It is sad that a game that has been 12 years in the making, beta tested by many, and produced by a company such as Blizzard, could release a program with such a simple flaw. That said, please take some time and dust out your PC. It is an act that takes minutes, but can extend the life of your PC and aid the survival of your personal data. A guide by PC Authority can help you if you are unsure how to dust your computer. Happy gaming!

Sources

Gillooly, John. "How to Dust Away Starcraft 2 Overheating Issues - Phone News - PC Authority." PC Authority - Tech Reviews, Advice, News, Downloads and Forums. 2 Aug. 2010. Web. 09 Aug. 2010. http://www.pcauthority.com.au/News/223306,how-to-dust-away-starcraft-2-overheating-issues.aspx.

J, Admir. "Blizzard Confirms StarCraft II Overheating Bug | Koku Gamer." Koku Gamer - Your Gaming Hub. 29 July 2010. Web. 08 Aug. 2010. http://kokugamer.com/2010/07/29/blizzard-confirms-starcraft-ii-overheating-bug/.