Puppeteer
Emperor
Congratulations, you have taken the first step to finding the solution to your problem: You're reading a document titled "Read Me"!
Take a few deep breaths, and pour yourself a refreshing beverage. I know, I know, you're excited about this GOTM and have been itching to play it since you heard about it but are having catastrophic problems and are desperate for some help. But to fix it you need to chill a bit.
The answers to your questions can be found using this post, but do not ask questions about any GOTM issues in this thread. It's not that type of help thread.
Assumptions: I am assuming that you can start and play your own Civ3 games with no problems. If this is not true, stop here and check your manual for support options. I also assume that you were clever enough to download the zipped game save, unzipped it and managed to attempt to open it in the game, otherwise you wouldn't know you had a problem. I further assume that you're playing a legally purchased version of the game and have the original game CD in your drive as you try to play, and you haven't tried to modify the game executables to run without the CD or do any other crazy things.
You're here because you're having problems, so let's troubleshoot.
Troubleshooting Step 1: Make a list. No, seriously, write this down right now with the answer next to it, because you will use it very soon and send this info to the GOTM staff if you can't fix it yourself:
Troubleshooting Step 3: Now that you're calm and have your list (you better have done it), read the GOTM announcement again--carefully, and be sure you read the parts that are specific to your expansion pack and patch level and ignore notes that are specific to other packs and patch levels. If there are paragraphs in red, they are red for a reason: read them extra carefully. Example: for GOTM 25 I see at the top the different expansion packs and patch levels this GOTM was designed for, so I check my list to make sure my pack and patch level match what it says. At the bottom I notice that there are different add-on files for different versions of the game, so I'll check my list to make sure I download and install the correct ones. It also tells me that if I haven't recently played a GOTM that I'll need to install the "Total Install" for GOTM 21, then the add-on for GOTM 24, and then the add-on for GOTM 25. But how do I get those? Ah, I see, there are links to the other GOTMs on the left-hand side near the top of the page. So in this case I need to follow this troubleshooting step 3 times starting with GOTM21 if I didn't play a successful GOTM recently.
Troubleshooting Step 4: Verify that you downloaded the correct add-on files for your expansion pack and patch level.
Troubleshooting Step 5: When installing the add-on packs, make sure you install them in the correct order as mentioned on the GOTM page.
Troubleshooting Step 6 (PC/Windows versions): When installing the add-on packs, read everything carefully. Don't just click "next", "yes" and "finish" like you always do when installing something. Read each page. In particular, when it asks you to choose the install directory, make sure you pick the right one, and in the next window verify the folder location again. Example: In my recent GOTM add-on install it told me to install in the folder that contains "civilization3.exe", but it didn't have the correct folder chosen in the window, so I had to correct it. (I had my game installed in a nonstandard place, so that's my fault.)
Troubleshooting Step 6b (PC/Windows versions): This is still part of Step 6, but it's important enough to merit its own paragraph. Near the end of the install there is a window with a bunch of stuff to read. Read it. This usually has some extra instructions and links to the save game files so you can actually play the game. If you're installing the add-on files before the save game has been released you'll need to copy the link locations so you can downlod them when they become available.
Troubleshooting Step 6m (Mac versions): Unfortunately I don't have a Mac, but I expect there is a file named "readme" in the add-on files. Read it and follow its instructions, and pay close attention to which directories/folders files are placed because there are some similar names.
Troubleshooting Step 7: Make sure you download the correct game save for your expansion pack, patch level and chosen skill level (Conquest, Open or Predator). Example: Recent game saves have been named with "v129" (for vanilla Civ3 v1.29f) or "PTW" to differentiate versions. If you chose the right add-on game files, then the links given during the setup process should give you the right files.
Troubleshooting Step 8: When you open the game save zip file, in addition to the game save there will be a "readme" or "readme.txt" inside. Open it and read it. It will have any last-second procedures for you to do necessary to play the game. Example: In my current GOTM for my game and patch version, there were 3 files I had to take from the zip and place in different folders to correct some game problems.
Following the above steps should solve just about every problem you can have with GOTM.
Avoiding Bad Help: It is tempting to follow the advice of another player who posted simliar problems and possible solutions, but following the advice of someone who had problems is not necessarily the right course of action, especially if they haven't fixed their problem yet! But even if they fixed their problem, there are too many potential differences between your setup and theirs to follow their advice.
More Tips: There are, of course, occasional problems with the GOTM files themselves. For example, GOTM 25 so far needed 2 additional files in the game save zip, and then after they were released it was discovered that certain versions of the game save zips needed a third file altered. The downloadable game save zips were altered so that re-downloading and re-reading the readme.txt would help you fix your problem, so you could re-download the game save to check if there have been any changes. You can also check the GOTM forum--which this thread is in--for any messages from GOTM officials (Cracker in particular) either in new threads or the GOTM pre-game discussion, but ignore the posts of non-GOTM officials (like mine
) and pay close attention to what the officials say. Note that these types of problems are fixed very quickly by the GOTM staff, and unless you downloaded the game save within an hour or a few hours of it first becoming available you're highly unlikely to have these types of problems.
Getting Good Help: If all of the above fails to get you playing, and you really did everything like I said, you might actually have a game issue that needs attention. Recently--and correct me if I'm wrong--the course of action for GOTM help is to PM Cracker. This means send a private message to the user Cracker. To do this, find one of Cracker's posts (just look in this forum...he's not hard to find) and click the button labeled "pm" at the top of one of his posts. It will be just like posting one of these messages, but it will be private to him. Give him all the information you wrote down in Troubleshooting Step 1 and tell him what you double-checked and verified and specifically explain what the problem is. Example:
Summary: Your primary sources of important GOTM information are:
Take a few deep breaths, and pour yourself a refreshing beverage. I know, I know, you're excited about this GOTM and have been itching to play it since you heard about it but are having catastrophic problems and are desperate for some help. But to fix it you need to chill a bit.
The answers to your questions can be found using this post, but do not ask questions about any GOTM issues in this thread. It's not that type of help thread.
Assumptions: I am assuming that you can start and play your own Civ3 games with no problems. If this is not true, stop here and check your manual for support options. I also assume that you were clever enough to download the zipped game save, unzipped it and managed to attempt to open it in the game, otherwise you wouldn't know you had a problem. I further assume that you're playing a legally purchased version of the game and have the original game CD in your drive as you try to play, and you haven't tried to modify the game executables to run without the CD or do any other crazy things.
You're here because you're having problems, so let's troubleshoot.
Troubleshooting Step 1: Make a list. No, seriously, write this down right now with the answer next to it, because you will use it very soon and send this info to the GOTM staff if you can't fix it yourself:
- Computer type: If you don't have an Apple Macintosh then you have a PC
- What, if any, expansion packs do you have? There are three possibilities: Civ3 w/no expansion pack (frequently called "vanilla Civ3"), Play The World ("PTW") and Conquests ("C3C"). Your main menu in the game will have the title prominently displayed
- What patch level are you playing? This is the little number (and maybe a letter) in the lower-left hand corner of your game's main menu. For most people at the time I'm writing this it will be 1.29f, 1.27f, 1.27 or 1.21.
- If you're not using the USA version, write what country's version of the game you are playing
Troubleshooting Step 3: Now that you're calm and have your list (you better have done it), read the GOTM announcement again--carefully, and be sure you read the parts that are specific to your expansion pack and patch level and ignore notes that are specific to other packs and patch levels. If there are paragraphs in red, they are red for a reason: read them extra carefully. Example: for GOTM 25 I see at the top the different expansion packs and patch levels this GOTM was designed for, so I check my list to make sure my pack and patch level match what it says. At the bottom I notice that there are different add-on files for different versions of the game, so I'll check my list to make sure I download and install the correct ones. It also tells me that if I haven't recently played a GOTM that I'll need to install the "Total Install" for GOTM 21, then the add-on for GOTM 24, and then the add-on for GOTM 25. But how do I get those? Ah, I see, there are links to the other GOTMs on the left-hand side near the top of the page. So in this case I need to follow this troubleshooting step 3 times starting with GOTM21 if I didn't play a successful GOTM recently.
Troubleshooting Step 4: Verify that you downloaded the correct add-on files for your expansion pack and patch level.
Troubleshooting Step 5: When installing the add-on packs, make sure you install them in the correct order as mentioned on the GOTM page.
Troubleshooting Step 6 (PC/Windows versions): When installing the add-on packs, read everything carefully. Don't just click "next", "yes" and "finish" like you always do when installing something. Read each page. In particular, when it asks you to choose the install directory, make sure you pick the right one, and in the next window verify the folder location again. Example: In my recent GOTM add-on install it told me to install in the folder that contains "civilization3.exe", but it didn't have the correct folder chosen in the window, so I had to correct it. (I had my game installed in a nonstandard place, so that's my fault.)
Troubleshooting Step 6b (PC/Windows versions): This is still part of Step 6, but it's important enough to merit its own paragraph. Near the end of the install there is a window with a bunch of stuff to read. Read it. This usually has some extra instructions and links to the save game files so you can actually play the game. If you're installing the add-on files before the save game has been released you'll need to copy the link locations so you can downlod them when they become available.
Troubleshooting Step 6m (Mac versions): Unfortunately I don't have a Mac, but I expect there is a file named "readme" in the add-on files. Read it and follow its instructions, and pay close attention to which directories/folders files are placed because there are some similar names.
Troubleshooting Step 7: Make sure you download the correct game save for your expansion pack, patch level and chosen skill level (Conquest, Open or Predator). Example: Recent game saves have been named with "v129" (for vanilla Civ3 v1.29f) or "PTW" to differentiate versions. If you chose the right add-on game files, then the links given during the setup process should give you the right files.
Troubleshooting Step 8: When you open the game save zip file, in addition to the game save there will be a "readme" or "readme.txt" inside. Open it and read it. It will have any last-second procedures for you to do necessary to play the game. Example: In my current GOTM for my game and patch version, there were 3 files I had to take from the zip and place in different folders to correct some game problems.
Following the above steps should solve just about every problem you can have with GOTM.
Avoiding Bad Help: It is tempting to follow the advice of another player who posted simliar problems and possible solutions, but following the advice of someone who had problems is not necessarily the right course of action, especially if they haven't fixed their problem yet! But even if they fixed their problem, there are too many potential differences between your setup and theirs to follow their advice.
More Tips: There are, of course, occasional problems with the GOTM files themselves. For example, GOTM 25 so far needed 2 additional files in the game save zip, and then after they were released it was discovered that certain versions of the game save zips needed a third file altered. The downloadable game save zips were altered so that re-downloading and re-reading the readme.txt would help you fix your problem, so you could re-download the game save to check if there have been any changes. You can also check the GOTM forum--which this thread is in--for any messages from GOTM officials (Cracker in particular) either in new threads or the GOTM pre-game discussion, but ignore the posts of non-GOTM officials (like mine
) and pay close attention to what the officials say. Note that these types of problems are fixed very quickly by the GOTM staff, and unless you downloaded the game save within an hour or a few hours of it first becoming available you're highly unlikely to have these types of problems.Getting Good Help: If all of the above fails to get you playing, and you really did everything like I said, you might actually have a game issue that needs attention. Recently--and correct me if I'm wrong--the course of action for GOTM help is to PM Cracker. This means send a private message to the user Cracker. To do this, find one of Cracker's posts (just look in this forum...he's not hard to find) and click the button labeled "pm" at the top of one of his posts. It will be just like posting one of these messages, but it will be private to him. Give him all the information you wrote down in Troubleshooting Step 1 and tell him what you double-checked and verified and specifically explain what the problem is. Example:
In the above fictional-but-realistic (some players had this problem, but it's been fixed) PM I have highlighted what's useful to Cracker (I did this for your benefit...you don't need to highlight anything in your PM to him). I alternated red and blue highlighting to show items that he needs to specifically locate the problem (most are from your Step 1 list), and the green helps him know what you've tried and whether or not you know what you're talking about. It may be important for him to know if it crashes before you can play, or when you look at a particular screen (Civilopedia, F6 Tech Tree) or when you try to build a particular unit (Awordsman). To read responses to your PM, click the "user cp" button at the top of this--or any forum--page. But don't check every five minutes; have some patience.
Summary: Your primary sources of important GOTM information are:
- GOTM Announcement Page
- Setup screens and/or ReadMe in the add-on files
- readme.txt in the game save zip
- Pre-game discussion thread (ignore non-GOTM-staffer advice)
- New trouble threads posted by GOTM staff
