Cannot start new game – UTF-8 byte sequences Error

[StockMast3r]

Hi all,

since I am still waiting for a reply in the official steam support forums (for 4 days now!), I wanted to try it here. I find it rather sad that I had to register in yet another forum to (hopefully) get any support from the devs, a simple ticketing system for support would be much easier and professional.

Anyway, here is my steam forum post with the problem.

————————————–
Bug – new game launch

I recently installed a vanilla version on a new PC. No changes have been made, the game is completely vanilla.

Now, when I try to start a new game, the game crashes after I clicked start. I get the following error message:
”
File: res/models/model/station/road/cargo_medium_new.mdl
This file contains malformed UTF-8 byte sequences. Thats probalby because it was saved with a different encoding. Please convert it to UTF-8 using your favorite text editor.
”
Since this is a fresh, clean install from Steam, I have no idea where the problem lies. Seems the install is faulty.
Please fix Train Fever team.

Thanks

PS: I realise this is a known issue, but the fix stated in the previous post (i.e. patched) is not true, game was only downloaded a couple of days ago, the fix supposedly occured on the 27th of March.

• This topic was modified 9 years ago by StockMast3r.
• This topic was modified 9 years ago by StockMast3r.

[Lowell]

There is no (cargo_medium_new) in the base game files…you must have a mod still in the files.

Delete the game…start over. Then have steam verify the files after re-install.

The “new-way” to install mods is to simply place the mods file-folder inside the new Mods folder. Don’t use any game managers as they have been known to install mod files back into the game’s res files…best to keep the main game clean, that way you can enable/disable mods directly from inside the game’s “advanced” menu settings. Mods should have a single file folder with their mods name on it. Several of the older mods may not have a single file folder for their files as they are thinking the player would install them right back into the main game files.

As the game is updated, many of the mods may have “issues” that need updated, like the UTF-8, simple change the mod builder just needs to fix his text. If mods cause a CTD (crash-to-desktop) simply write down the file name (as you have done) on the white error popup from the game…then go and remove that mod or turn it off in the advanced menu in the game. Go back to the forum and send a message to the mod creator as they may be doing other stuff and not aware. The creator will make said updates and then you can turn it back on after the fix.

Somehow you did not remove all the old files. Have Steam uninstall the game and re-install it, then after it is done…right click on the games name in your steam game menu, select Properties…then Local Files (it is like the third tab) then inside that menu the fourth tab down is Verify Integrity of Game Cache, click that.

When finished the game will run. Remember not to, install mods into your game’s “res” folder…use the new mods folder the guys worked so hard to create for us. 😀

EDIT:: Oh forgot I meant to mention if there is a mod you wish to use and the files are not in a single file folder with that mods name on it, then make a folder for it inside your mods folder in the game, then drag the mods files into your named folder. I like to name them some thing I can remember them by as they may not have a picture show-up in the games Advanced menu. All these mods especially the older ones need scrubbed and made for drag and drop install making sure they have the in-game pictures for the game’s advanced menu.

Hope this helps, hurry-up and get it re-installed and get back into the game!! 😀

• This reply was modified 9 years ago by Lowell.
• This reply was modified 9 years ago by Lowell.

[StockMast3r]

Hi Lowell,

 

thanks for the extensive reply! Totally forgot that this was a mod. Should have realised it.

Strange thing is, I did exactly what you advised when it did not work the first time. Deleted all files via steam, then re-installed and verified. Did not find any issues. Very strange.

 

Anyway, now that I know it must be a mod-related issue, I can manually look and see whats up there, maybe TrainFever saved some files in dokuments or something and when I copied them over from my old PC, they were automatically added and the new install now thinks they are part of the game.

 

Thanks again!

 

PS: Yet another sign that the devs should be looking at workshop integration. Wouldn’t have these issues then…

• This reply was modified 9 years ago by StockMast3r.

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