Tired of the 1.14f and 1.21f compatibility fiasco in Multiplayer and Succession Games? Thanks to Sir Ralph and Master Zen at Apolyton, there is a way to switch back and forth between both versions of the game. Apolyton may be down for the count (if you haven't heard already, their server is down), but they're hardly out for the count. A few users have created a temporary forum until Apolyton comes back online. The origanal article can be found here.
"Dual boot" for PTW 1.14f and 1.21f
- Thread starter Chieftess
- Start date
cracker
Gil Favor's Sidekick
This is unnecessary and confusing.
You may preserve fully functional versions of the prior patches by just slowing down a step before you rush to slam the new patch onto your computer.
Procedure
1) got to your .../Civilization III/CIV3PTW folder and make an exact copy of the entire folder.
2) rename the copy of the folder to be .../Civilization III/CIV3PTWv1_14 or a match for any other patch that emerges.
3) install the new patch and all the original files will be updated in the appropriate Civ3 or PTW folder tah tare not in the copies your created.
4) open the folder that contains the copy and rename the Civilization3X.exe file to be Civilization3Xv1_14.exe or the other correct version.
5) to avoid brain damage events you should also rename the Civ3XEdit.exe file to be Civ3XEditv1_14.exe or the other correct version.
6) to save disk space, you can clear out most the files in the copy of the /scenarios folder because these are duplicated and waste 126MB of space. You can also clear out the copy of the /extras folder if you are not using dinos or the otehr non-integrated extra unist because that will save 86 MB of wasted space. If you are still tight on disk space, you can use the pediaicons file in you preserved copy of the old version to redirect the graphics pointers and then you can eliminate another 140MB of duplicated leaderheads and units graphics.
Now you can freely load and run any version of the software that you need to run without screwing up the games for other people.
I currently have access to all 7 software versions on two different machines and have no conflicts, crashes or fiascos.
You may preserve fully functional versions of the prior patches by just slowing down a step before you rush to slam the new patch onto your computer.
Procedure
1) got to your .../Civilization III/CIV3PTW folder and make an exact copy of the entire folder.
2) rename the copy of the folder to be .../Civilization III/CIV3PTWv1_14 or a match for any other patch that emerges.
3) install the new patch and all the original files will be updated in the appropriate Civ3 or PTW folder tah tare not in the copies your created.
4) open the folder that contains the copy and rename the Civilization3X.exe file to be Civilization3Xv1_14.exe or the other correct version.
5) to avoid brain damage events you should also rename the Civ3XEdit.exe file to be Civ3XEditv1_14.exe or the other correct version.
6) to save disk space, you can clear out most the files in the copy of the /scenarios folder because these are duplicated and waste 126MB of space. You can also clear out the copy of the /extras folder if you are not using dinos or the otehr non-integrated extra unist because that will save 86 MB of wasted space. If you are still tight on disk space, you can use the pediaicons file in you preserved copy of the old version to redirect the graphics pointers and then you can eliminate another 140MB of duplicated leaderheads and units graphics.
Now you can freely load and run any version of the software that you need to run without screwing up the games for other people.
I currently have access to all 7 software versions on two different machines and have no conflicts, crashes or fiascos.
PritomD
Prince
the topic name is wrong, it says daul....it says that on the front page of civfan too, i suggest editing it 
Isak
Civ4 Scenario Designer
I may be terribly dumb, but I just use Add/Remove programs to remove the patch I don't want and then install the patch I want. Entire procedure takes 30-45 secs and nothing has crashed using this procedure for almost 6 months now
FortyJ
Deity
I think it's a great little "patch".
While Cracker's solution apparently accomplishes the same thing (I haven't tried it, but it certainly seems logical enough), it seems to need significant HD space, and my laptop shudders at even the thought of installing more than one version of these programs.
The zip fix seems to allow a user to perform a quick patch change prior to running PTW. I applaud the people who discovered this little work-around.
While Cracker's solution apparently accomplishes the same thing (I haven't tried it, but it certainly seems logical enough), it seems to need significant HD space, and my laptop shudders at even the thought of installing more than one version of these programs.
The zip fix seems to allow a user to perform a quick patch change prior to running PTW. I applaud the people who discovered this little work-around.
jpowers
Emperor
You're not terribly dumb, and the time it takes to do any of the aforementioned operations or your strategy is the same. The thing to be careful of for non-Windows cognoscenti is to not remove the entire PTW installation, just the patch part. Read carefully.Originally posted by Isak
I may be terribly dumb, but I just use Add/Remove programs to remove the patch I don't want and then install the patch I want. Entire procedure takes 30-45 secs and nothing has crashed using this procedure for almost 6 months now
edit: determiner proliferation
Isak
Civ4 Scenario Designer
True, but I think anyone able to follow any of the two other strategies should be able to pull off this one too. And in addition it requires absolutely no preparation, and if you select the correct entry in the Add/Remove menu, it really can't go wrong.
jpowers
Emperor
This is fine as long as the later patch doesn't add a new file that the earlier patch will have a problem with. It's better to uninstall any newer patch before reverting back to an older patch.
majwalrus
Chieftain
Alternatively they could release the European patches at the same time as the US patches, rather than viewing us as second class customers. I've actually stopped playing because of the crappy way we've been treated.
Lt. 'Killer' M.
Deity
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2001
- Messages
- 7,475
We are second class - after all we are not Gods own countries......
Darkness
Shadow creature
Originally posted by Lt. 'Killer' M.
We are second class - after all we are not Gods own countries......
Yes, an European PTW1.21f patch would be highly appreciated! I think it's ridiculous that Firaxis doesn't release European and US versions of the patch at the same time..... They must consider us Europeans second-class customers, or something like that....
Isak
Civ4 Scenario Designer
Let's just all pause and remember that it is the European divisions of Infogrames, not the American that have messed up in this patch incident
ProPain
King
Originally posted by Isak
Let's just all pause and remember that it is the European divisions of Infogrames, not the American that have messed up in this patch incident
Well they're both part of the same company, aren't they? So I couldn't care less where the somewhat strange decision was made to
1) release 2 different english versions
2) release them with different CD protection
As long as they support them they're entitled to their own strange, time & money wasting ways. Unfortunately they're not prepared to deliver equal support. I also hold Firaxis as responsible for this as Infogrames, when you're in a deal together you shoudn't hide behind your partner, no matter how bad their performance is. You should do your best to fix the problem for your customers.
Also I think putting another cd protection system in a patch isn't a very difficult task but we're waiting for 1.21 for about a month Apparently Firaxis and Infogrames don't care that much about european players. Face it: we're barely good enough to pay for the game and that's were it all ends.
Bít off topic so I'll end it here.
Isak
Civ4 Scenario Designer
They're different sub-divisions of the same holding company, and entitled to make their own decisions. Infogrames USA decided to change the copy protection scheme for PtW. Infogrames UK decided to stick with the one used by Civ3. Not much Infogrames USA can do about that.
I'm sure they are doing that, but they can't force Infogrames to release a patch, and I'm sure they're not allowed to distribute it themselves, even if they could get access to the copy protection scheme.
I agree with you that it shouldn't have taken so long, but I'll bet, like any other company, Infogrames are devoting most of their attention to products that have recently been released, rather than products that have been on the shelf for some time.
That's a silly statement, pardon me. I really doubt any company would reject money, regardless of where they came from. It doesn't really hold up well to the nickname 'Infogreed' that pops up in just about every conversation on this matter
Besides, as mentioned, it is not a decision made by americans, but one made by europeans, which was also my primary objection to Lt. Killer's statement. If you want to start a witch-hunt, be my guest, but please make sure you go after the ones with pointy noses and big warts.
Master Zen
Chief Economist
Just for the record, Sir Ralph had posted that info a long way ago in the Apolyton PBEM thread, I just re-posted it since we were going to set up a Succession game which ended up in two versions, 1.21 and 1.14.
Anyway, for the record, it is 100% Sir Ralph's idea, I just "spread the word", I hope it helps people play with 2 versions at the same time.
-Master Zen
Anyway, for the record, it is 100% Sir Ralph's idea, I just "spread the word", I hope it helps people play with 2 versions at the same time.
-Master Zen
ProPain
King
@Isak, You're not getting my point. For me it's not an issue how or where this problem was created. As a customer I just want it fixed. On my PTW package appear Firaxis and Infogrames logos, which means I bought it from them, so they should fix it. It's not my concern where or how. Currently that's not happening.
If they really spend more time on new products, like you say, I think that's disrespecting your old, long standing customers. It's silly to do that because you;ll drive em away. I hope that's not reason fro what's happening but Infogrames/Firaxis actions seem to support your view on this issue. If Firaxis is really doing it;s utmost to get that european patch released it's not showing. If they can't force them like you say, they sure made up a lousy contract IMO.
To summarize my point:
- For me it's not important how Infogrames/Firaxis organize themselves, just that they get their act together and fix this problem.
You have a different opinion, that's fine. But that doesn't mean mine is meant to start witchhunt so please don't imply that.
pp
If they really spend more time on new products, like you say, I think that's disrespecting your old, long standing customers. It's silly to do that because you;ll drive em away. I hope that's not reason fro what's happening but Infogrames/Firaxis actions seem to support your view on this issue. If Firaxis is really doing it;s utmost to get that european patch released it's not showing. If they can't force them like you say, they sure made up a lousy contract IMO.
To summarize my point:
- For me it's not important how Infogrames/Firaxis organize themselves, just that they get their act together and fix this problem.
You have a different opinion, that's fine. But that doesn't mean mine is meant to start witchhunt so please don't imply that.
pp
anarres
anarchist revolutionary
Since sometimes I have to switch several times an hour I have the two installed side-by-side, as cracker described.
Isak
Civ4 Scenario Designer
I got your point alright. I know you just want the problem fixed, and so do I. It's creating extra work for me too, as I have to, almost on a daily basis, explain that the latest version of DyP isn't necessarily going to work 100% with patch 1.14f. But I also understand that for that to happen someone has to sit down and fix it, and unless some charitable soul at Infogrames decides to work overtime for free, it's not going to happen until projects with higher priority have been finished.
Actually, no one is required to fix anything. What we get in the box is what we pay for. Anything provided after that is free of charge and not something we can hold any claims to, no matter how unfair it seems.
I'm sure the MoO3 crowd would find it disrespectful if Infogrames said they wouldn't be releasing patches for that game until PtW was working perfectly
I'll wager that any deal made today between a developer and a publisher is lousy from the developer's point of view. The problem is: Publishers are multi-national corporations with thousands of employees, and in many cases own several development houses themselves. They have the money, and the power to turn developers down. Developers are usually fairly small companies with no real money (relatively speaking) - usually relying on publishers to fund development of the games. That's why publishers have the final say in when a project is released. If the developers want to continue development before releasing, but the publishers don't, the developers would have to find the money to pay for the labor needed to finish up the game. Usually, they can't get that kind of money from anywhere - except from another publisher (and they would be lucky to get out of the contract with the first publisher), which then buys them a bit of time, but eventually brings them right back into the same situation.
It's a situation comparable to the record industry. Developers are the artists, and Publishers are the the record industry. Sure there are a few superstars who have full control over what they do, but that's only because they have accumulated enough money to be able to fully finance their own records.
That's important for me too - but I also know that it would require someone working overtime for free, or waiting until the project comes up on the ToDo list. I personally dislike working overtime for free, so I have all the respect in the world for Infogrames staff who are of the same opinion, and choose to wait until it's scheduled on their ToDo.
The witch hunt part was intended for the 'Europeans are 2nd class human beings' line of thinking. Which was the only thing I reacted to originally, as I couldn't stand hearing another 'We poor Europeans are getting scr**ed by the Americans' argument in a thread like this, as it is quite obvious that if anyone scr**ed up in this, it was Europeans and not Americans.
And I understand your opinion fully, btw. I'm just trying to say that i'm sure Infogrames aren't on a vendetta against us, or trying deliberately to annoy the Civ-crowd. They're just doing business-stuff, as should be expected from any business with nearly (save a few months) 20 years of experience. If they didn't do that, they wouldn't be around today.