TF2 map crashes to desktop about 15 to 20 seconds after launching it without warning

[toxxicxmodz]

I built a simple test map (koth) with lighting, spawnpoints, spawnrooms, everything and if I load the map from the TF2 client, my TF2 crashes to desktop without warning. If I run it from SRCDS, I get the message srcds.exe has stopped working. I look in the console of the server and there are no error messages. I put my compile log through Interlopers.net and here is the only error it gave me:

can't load skybox file skybox/sky_dustbowl_01 to build the default cubemap!
Description:
You have entered a skybox texture which doesn't seem to be valid. Make sure you don't specify the last three letter (_UP, _DN, etc) of any skybox texture you use. You may also need to fix your vmt files if they are broken. It may also be caused by compiling a non-HDR skybox texture.

Solution:
WIKI: Skybox


The affected object may not work/appear properly

This is my first time making a map and I really appreciate anyone who helps me out! Thank you!

 

[Lampenpam]

the skybox error appears with every TF2 skybox. It's harmless you can ignore it. Your issue is something else

 

[toxxicxmodz]

@Lampenpam Do you know what the issue is?

 

[sooshey]

It may be an unrelated issue like your custom hud, your mods, or maybe even physics objects if your map had any. Does it still crash in regular servers?

 

[toxxicxmodz]

@soosh What do you mean as in regular servers? I made a dedicated server and the server crashed when I was playing, but my gane didn't

 

[sooshey]

What do you mean as in regular servers? I made a dedicated server and the server crashed when I was playing, but my gane didn't

Regular servers meaning any other server -- valve, community, anything else. Sorry for the poor wording. Also, you just said it crashed to desktop, that means your game crashed.

 

[toxxicxmodz]

@soosh I currently only can run the map in my game or on a dedicated server. The map only crashes to deskop when I open my TF2 game and type "map test_room" and play it that way instead of using a sever.

 

[killohurtz]

First, try validating your game cache to make sure the issue is with your map and not corrupt game files. If it's the map, use Alt+P in Hammer to check for any problems, and then go through all your entity I/O to see if you have any logic errors (which may not be recognized as errors by Hammer, but can still crash at runtime).

There are several other reasons why a map would crash, but I'd only be shooting in the dark without a vmf to look at.

 

[toxxicxmodz]

@killohurtz Ok, I did as you said and my I/O's do not point to anything that doesn't exist. I pressed ALT+P and got "There is no player startpoint." I fixed this error by placing a info_player_start in the center of the map, but can players spawn on this? If they can, won't this kind of break my map? This also has seemed to have fixed the crashing issue.

UPDATE: This actually did not fix the crashing issue.

 

[theatreTECHIE]

You don't need a player start in TF2 maps, so you can just ignore that error.

 

[killohurtz]

Oh, I suppose I should have clarified that; the missing player start error can be safely ignored because TF2 uses info_player_teamspawn, not info_player_start. The latter is meant for single player Source games, so including one in your TF2 map or leaving it out won't affect anything.

Are you willing to provide the vmf so I can take a look?

 

[theatreTECHIE]

@killohurtz toxxicxmodz updated to say that it didn't fix the issue.

@toxxicxmodz the easiest thing to do is to at this point is to link us your vmf so that we can look at it. Other than that all of our guesses at what it might be are just shots in the dark.

 

[toxxicxmodz]

@killohurtz Sure, It's just a test map so it's not like it matters. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz0dyvxULThBY25EaGpia3RLZUU/view?usp=sharing

 

[theatreTECHIE]

I compiled the map, and it ran fine for me, including when I used the map [mapname] command. Out of curiosity, what are your system specs?

One thing I did notice though was that you had a large skybox-textured box around the whole map. Don't get into the habit of doing this, as it can slow performance and take up more storage space than is needed.

 

[killohurtz]

The vmf looked fine to me, so I compiled it, ran around and tested all the doors and logic, and never crashed. Are you sure you don't have corrupted game files that need to be validated, or some faulty custom hud or mod like soosh mentioned earlier? And you're compiling this map in a Hammer configured for TF2?

 

[toxxicxmodz]

@theatreTECHIE @killohurtz Yes, Hammer is configured for TF2. I plan on changing the skybox later as it was only a quick test. I will remove all custom files and try again in a second, but I did do a fresh reinstall of TF2 before adding my custom files back in. My System specs are:

Intel i5 2500K
GTX 980Ti
Dual monitors, one running 1920x1080, one running 2560x1440, TF2 is running on the 1440p one.

 

[toxxicxmodz]

@theatreTECHIE @killohurtz Does it matter that I am using nav_generate and then tf_bot_add 11 in the console? Also, I removed all custom content and I still crash. UPDATE: Not spawning any bots has seemed to fix the issue? Could it be all of the explosions, projectiles, and bullets all in one small area thats causing this?

 

[Muddy]

If you try to generate a nav mesh (or create one manually) while there are AI bots in the map, the game can crash.

 

[toxxicxmodz]

@Muddy Ok, test_room is my map name,so I went to SteamApps/common/TF2/tf/maps and deleted test_room.nav, launched TF2, loaded test_room, typed nav_generate, disconnected, quit to desktop, relaunch TF2, load test_room, add 11 bots, play for 20 seconds, crash. It appears this is not the issue.

 

[Clarity]

i have this same issue, did you solve it?