earth map

[Onan]

I think the Earth map is larger than average for each size...I just abandonned a game on a standard map because I was having 20 minute load times before turn 100. Even starting again on small, it was taking longer than I was prepared to wait.

Is it just the size that's causing this, or is there some other issue with these maps?

 

[Onan]

Okay...I decided something must be wrong as a new game started on small was taking over 5 minutes to load.... Uninstalled and reinstalling, hopefully that will fix it. In the meantime...Steam download rate is down to 4.7 KB at times????? ugh (I have broadband).

 

[Babri]

The worst thing about earth map is that on smaller sizes, it hardly has any natural wonders. It is the one most fun maps to play for colonization but few natural wonders mean Spain cannot shine at these maps.

 

[Grievous]

never played earth map.

on large size, does it actually look like earth because ive seen some pics of it online and it looks terrible, but maybe that was small size...

 

[Drawmeus]

Think this is probably an issue with your home setup. I get 3 mb/s download rates from steam (and even that isn't very impressive) and fast load times even on large maps, with a two year old (but high-end when I bought it) gaming PC and FIOS.

Of course, if you can't do anything about your setup, this is probably not a terribly satisfying answer... but it's not steam or the game causing it.

EDIT:
And for the Earth map, the larger the size the better it looks (and plays). The smaller ones aren't very earth-like, while the huge map is at least ok (not spectacular, but ok)

 

[Babri]

never played earth map.

on large size, does it actually look like earth because ive seen some pics of it online and it looks terrible, but maybe that was small size...

They are somewhat similar to actual earth. There is one big continent like Asia & Europe, another big continent like America & a small continent like Australia. Small islands can also be found. It is a fun map though lack of Natural Wonders in smaller earth maps is a big issue.

 

[Onan]

hmn yes something is definitely going on...getting an incomplete installation error since I've reinstalled (partially--it said the servers were busy and to try again in a few minutes). Doesn't really explain why I was getting such insane load times prior to removing and reinstalling, though...here's the support page, for anyone else running into this:

Incomplete Installation (55)
This is a Steam Service failure. Please try enabling the Steam Service:

Exit Steam.
Click Start > Run (Windows Key + R)
Type the following command:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\bin\Steamservice.exe /Install

(If you have installed Steam to another path, please replace C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam with the correct path.)

This command requires administrator privileges and may take a few minutes.
Launch Steam and test the issue again.

 

[Onan]

Okay, of course when I type that line in the command box, it says

Windows cannot find 'C:\Program'

I've tried it with and without the (x86), as this doesn't seem to be in my path. Manually finding the file and launching it appears to start a process, which appears to do nothing. Trying the 'play' button for civ in Steam again after leads back to the installation error.

Perhaps a helpful admin could move this thread over to the technical issues forum, and rename it Long Load Times / Incomplete Installation Error.

In the meantime I will remove civ again and see if I can reinstall it again.

The one thing which is conspicuous is that whenever I attempt to hit 'play', my system working light goes on completely, and the 'working' sounds from the box cycle round in a continuous grind...very simliar to what it did earlier when I was getting the 20 minute plus load times with the standard earth map game, before I tried to reinstall it. Before this I had no problems!

 

[Onan]

hmn...so I'm trying to reinstall from disk...to save downloading the whole game.

this seems to send it back to Steam to download the game? Not sure.

Again, steam servers too busy, try back later...

Meanwhile, there's an update of 4,696.2 MB (!!!) downloading at a speed of about 15 KB / sec (!!!!!!!!!).

Someone help, this is ridiculous.

 

[Onan]

Thanks to DemonMaster in another thread: anyone else facing insanely long download times (at one point the estimated time remaining was over two weeks), who actually bought the game on disk, go here to see how to install from disk:

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=5357-FSQM-0382

Now, hopefully once that's all done...the load issue will be fixed too...

 

[MasterMishi]

When i host conts map in mp it generates earth 50% i can then load the turn 0 auto and then rehost in mp and it saves the earth with new game and spawn.

The earth map does vary in detail with size and is bigger than default maps of same size.

The main problem with the earth map in mp , unlike sp map is the relative lack of lux.

Nevr get south america spawn either.

 

[Onan]

still stuck with incomplete installation error #55 and no way around it....