So, a lot of people have had problems with the new Steam update, and have lost compatibility with mods, had problems with crashing, incorrect text and other text issues and other bugs that sometimes can make the game unplayable for some. NOTE: This game has some issues with Windows visual effects. That does not fix this.
Here is a zip with files you can merge into your directory made from the instructions below. It won't replace any files, it will only add new files. Launch Civ3_NoRaze.exe to play. https://www.dropbox.com/s/p969ocvp5hs4be0/Civ3PreSteamUpdate.zip?dl=0 Alternatively, you can follow these instructions.
Here is a zip with files you can merge into your directory made from the instructions below. It won't replace any files, it will only add new files. Launch Civ3_NoRaze.exe to play. https://www.dropbox.com/s/p969ocvp5hs4be0/Civ3PreSteamUpdate.zip?dl=0 Alternatively, you can follow these instructions.
- You will need this file. It's the latest patch.
http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=14557
- Put it in your [InstallationPath]/Conquests directory, or the same directory as Civ3Conquests. Don't replace Civ3Conquests.exe.
- Optional step. If you don't do this step, text will be messed up in the Steam version until you undo the changes in the following steps. This will make it easier to have both versions. Open NoRaze.exe in a hex editor and find the first occurance of "labels.txt". Replace it with "label2.txt"
- Copy: [InstallationPath]/Text/labels.txt to [InstallationPath]/Text/label2.txt - Keep the original.
- Copy: [InstallationPath]/civ3PTW/Text/labels.txt to [InstallationPath]/[civ3PTW]/Text/label2.txt - Keep the original.
- Copy: [InstallationPath]/Conquests/Text/labels.txt to [InstallationPath]/Conquests/Text/label2.txt - Keep the original.
- Open [InstallationPath]/Conquests/Text/labels.txt (or use the file label2.txt if you did the optional step) Find line 86 (just below "PING" and above "Host name". the line says "Unknown". Erase that.
- Open [InstallationPath]/civ3PTW/Text/labels.txt (or use the file label2.txt if you did the optional step). Find line 86 (just below "PING" and above "Host name". The line says "Unknown". Erase that.
- Make sure that [InstallationPath]/Conquests/conquests.ini is to your liking. The update reverted any changes you may have made. I added KeepRes=1 and PlayIntro=0 to the bottom of mine.
- Launch Civ III through NoRaze.exe to play the pre-updated version. Go play some Civ!
- [InstallationPath]/Conquests/Civ3Conquests.exe
- Added Steamworks support to replace dead GameSpy servers
- Removed Direct IP support
- Added Steam overlay support
- Other changes that cause new problems/glitches/incompatibilities?
- [InstallationPath]/Conquests/Text/labels.txt
- "GameSpy" changed to "Steam" reference on line 10
- Added a line between "PING" and "Host" (line 86) that just says "Unknown".
Erasing the line will fix the text incompatibility with mods, BUT it completely breaks the text in the normal game. Lose-lose, unless you can get the old executable, which works fine if you erase the line 86 that says "Unknown". The text is broken in the old executable if the line is still there.
- [InstallationPath]/civ3PTW/Text/labels.txt
- Ditto to the changes to above
Also, the gamespy icon was removed from - [InstallationPath]/Conquests/gamespy.ico
- [InstallationPath]/civ3PT3/gamespy.ico
The ini file was also updated, ruining some people's configuration: - [InstallationPath]/Conquests/conquests.ini
These files were added for the Steam overlay to work: - [InstallationPath]/Conquests/Civ3Restarter.exe
- [InstallationPath]/Conquests/steam_api.dll
- [InstallationPath]/Conquests/steam_appid.txt