Another C3C Mac problem

[TDub]

On the advisors screen, I get a VERY funky colored font. It is PURPLE and it is also highly pixelated (not a smooth looking font).

Any suggestions?

(I am running on a 1.33 Mhz iBook, 10.4.4)

Also, my C3C is version 1.22... can I assume this is the most up to date version since it was just released, or do I need to update to 1.29b? I had thought 1.29b was for the standard C3.

 

[Macintosh]

On the advisors screen, I get a VERY funky colored font. It is PURPLE and it is also highly pixelated (not a smooth looking font).

Any suggestions?

(I am running on a 1.33 Mhz iBook, 10.4.4)

Also, my C3C is version 1.22... can I assume this is the most up to date version since it was just released, or do I need to update to 1.29b? I had thought 1.29b was for the standard C3.

I cannot tell you something about the font issue. Maybe Alan.
The other question: You cannot use the vanilla 1.29beta2 with C3C, so, your thought is pretty right!

 

[dojoboy]

Yep, that funky pink font was present in vanilla Civ3 as well. As to the cause? ???

Yep, 1.22f is the last update for the PC version of C3C.

 

[AlanH]

There are separate version number sequences for the three variants of Civ3. The latest versions we have seen for each are:

Vanilla: 1.29b2
PtW: 1.27f
Conquests: 1.22 (not 1.22f, as far as I know)

I imagine Brad ported these versions, since none of them have been updated for well over a year and he's only been at it for a few months.

[EDIT] You also don't need any mods to play GOTM with PtW or COTM with Conquests, so please don't try to install the GOTM mod into Complete. And JMapStat is not compatible with PtW or C3C saves

The pink font is a clash between the font smoothing/anti-aliasing in the Firaxis software and that used by Quartz in Mac OS X. Fonts are smoothed at the edges by making some pixels transparent, letting the background merge into the character shape a little. Firaxis uses magenta to indicate transparency, but OS X/Quartz doesn't know about this and just displays the magenta as-is. You can see this effect if you choose to disable Quartz in the startup dialog in vanilla. The characters then look thin, but black. I don't know if Complete has the ability to disable Quartz because my copy hasn't shown up yet :rant:

 

[Beamup]

Hold down Command when starting the Complete app, you'll get the option to disable anti-aliased Quartz text. The windowed option is also there.

BUT, you can't really do windowed mode if your display is limited to 1024x768 max (say, this iBook here...). 1024x768 is the lowest available resolution, so the "window" ends up taking the entire screen - the title bar seems to be under the menu bar, and the Dock overlaps it. Even with the Dock hidden, you can't see the entire window (the top is cut off).

 

[ancestral]

Hold down Command when starting the Complete app, you'll get the option to disable anti-aliased Quartz text. The windowed option is also there.

I think it might actually be the Option key as opposed to the Command key.

BUT, you can't really do windowed mode if your display is limited to 1024x768 max (say, this iBook here...). 1024x768 is the lowest available resolution, so the "window" ends up taking the entire screen - the title bar seems to be under the menu bar, and the Dock overlaps it. Even with the Dock hidden, you can't see the entire window (the top is cut off).

Can't remember who came up with it, but there was a decent hack which allows you to specify a custom resolution. However… 1024x768 I think is the lowest resolution you can use, so yeah, that does bite.

 

[Beamup]

I think it might actually be the Option key as opposed to the Command key.

It was Option for the MacSoft version. In the Aspyr version, it is definitively Command.

Can't remember who came up with it, but there was a decent hack which allows you to specify a custom resolution. However… 1024x768 I think is the lowest resolution you can use, so yeah, that does bite.

Especially since you can't pop out of it unless you're running in windowed mode. So if I want to take screenshots/write turn reports, I have to keep quitting and restarting. Major pain in the neck.

 

[AlanH]

What do you lose in window mode at 1024 x 868? If it's just the top band under the menu bar, is that a big deal?

I thought it was Option AND Command to bring up the display prefs at launch.

 

[Beamup]

You lose the entire top strip of the screen. The "in the beginning" dialog is half gone, the tops of all the advisor screens aren't there - it just isn't properly playable. Which is expected when trying to window a 1024x768 app on a 1024x768 screen, but is annoying combined with the lack of Command-H in fullscreen mode.

And, as I said, the prefs are brought up by Command. Just Command. I am 100% certain of this, since I've done it more than a dozen times already today.

 

[TDub]

Well thanks to everyone for the tips.

Beamup is right. Command key takes you to the options menu when starting up the program.

I turned off Quartz aliasing and the purple/magenta font has gone away. The rest of the fonts on the advisors and other screens, though, are rather thin and not as easy to read. However, I think it's an acceptable trade-off, as the magenta was irritating.

Finally, this game is taking up too much of my time... but that was expected.

 

[AlanH]

Hmm! Sounds bad.

I know why I thought it was command and option - I always launch vanilla from a dock icon, and if you just use command it does nothing. You have to use option as well to persuade it to launch..

 

[Beamup]

I know why I thought it was command and option - I always launch vanilla from a dock icon, and if you just use command it does nothing. You have to use option as well to persuade it to launch..

I think it is option for vanilla. But that one I don't use, so I'm not sure. Anyway, what I do is click the icon in the Dock and then press Command. Works fine.