Four questions

[benjiface]

I own an IMac running Tiger and my wife just bought me a Black MacBook running Leopard...

I have Civ IV and Warlords installed on my iMac...

My four questions...

1. It appears I can't have the games on both...Is this true?

2. How will the games run on my MacBook?

3. I have had problems installing the patches for the games on my iMac. They show the latest versions after I install them, but things don't appear to be updated...for instance, Qin and Kublai are still switched... Any suggestions...

4. I have had problems with all of the sudden after I talk with another leader, or change something within the game (i.e. a Civic) where all the resources and units in the game turn black or are shadowed? Anybody else experience this issue?

Any help would be greatly appreciated,

Ben

 

[AlanH]

1. I don't think anything technically prevents you from installing the game and its expansion on both Macs. Read the small print of your license to see if you are breaking your agreement with Aspyr by installing it twice. You *do* need the DVD to be inserted in the Mac when you start up either installation.

2. There are reports that the new MacBook runs the Civ4 series OK - not great, but, OK.

3. Where are you looking for the version information? Don't bother with the in-game version info. Check the Finder's Get Info for the two application files, and verify that the Build numbers are the latest - 52473 for vanilla and 25430 for Warlords. If not, then look around your hard drive using Spotlight - enter 'Civilization' or 'Warlords' as the search terms. Chances are the patch installer(s) have misplaced the updates.

4. Sounds familiar. It might go away if you can get the patches to stick properly. Then again, it might not. If so, try different graphics settings - higher or lower.

 

[benjiface]

Alan,

As usual, you have all the answers. I really appreciate it. I will try your suggestions and see how it goes. I'll report my results. Where do I want the patch installer to install the patch?

Secondly, this is a non-Civ question, but I know that you'll know the answer, how do I configure the internet onto my new MacBook? I have cable internet, no wireless router yet. I connected the cable, tried to go through the internet setup configuartion...but I couldn't do it. Tell me how!

Thanks Alan,

Ben

 

[AlanH]

If I recall correctly, the patch installer for Warlords 2.08 also patches vanilla. However, since 2.08 pre-dates vanilla 1.74 it "updates" vanilla to a later build of 1.64. I therefore recommend that you run the Warlords patch *before* you run the vanilla 1.74 patch to avoid having vanilla downgraded again.

As far as I recall the patch installers ask you where your Civ4 installation is. If so then you need to know that information. Soooo ...

Where is your Civ4 installed? Mine is in /Applications/Civilization 4/. Do NOT tell it to go into the Civ4 folder in your ~/Documents/ folder. That's just a data repository where your saves and such live.

Re. your cable internet connection, I don't have cable, so I may be way off. However, generally I would expect it to "Just Work" in the best Apple traditions. If you have messed with it you may need to reset things to defaults:

- I assume you have connected the Ethernet interface on your Mac to the cable modem?

- Go to System Preferences->Network.

- Select the Built-in Ethernet connection

- Select Configure: Using DHCP

- Click Apply

- You're done.

If this doesn't work then I need a better description of what fails. Or try contacting your cable company for support. Some of them have even heard of Macs these days

 

[benjiface]

Alan,

It's just in the Applications folder...just tell it to install in the CIV IV folder?

Okay, I will try all this when I get home. I must sound like I know nothing. I grew up with Macs. Then went away from them when my Dad divorced my Mom and took the Macs with them. Last year I bought my iMac and then just got my MacBook. So I am still learning all the new stuff Macs can do. The interface is still familiar to me...but I will try this...

Thanks for your help, you will probably hear from me again...

Ben

 

[AlanH]

just tell it to install in the CIV IV folder?

When you say "it", which updater are you working with? There are two, one for vanilla and one for Warlords. I am suggesting that you run the Warlords one first - Warlords RevB, then the vanilla version 1.74 patch.

The Warlords patch installer doesn't ask where your Warlords installation is, so just hope it gets it right. The vanilla one asks you to tell it where your Civ4 is. Select the actual Civ4 application file. In your system it's in /Applications/Civilization 4/, and it's called Civilization IV. It has a .app file extension, but that may be hidden.

 

[benjiface]

I couldn't remember, but that helps. I will try all this when I get off work tonight and let you know the results...

Thanks,

Ben

 

[benjiface]

Alan,

I don't see where to see the Build numbers in the Get Info screen...

Help!

-Ben

 

[benjiface]

Never mind, I found it.

 

[benjiface]

After the install of the 1.74 patch, it still says I have 1.61 installed. I don't get it. I have installed it twice.

 

[benjiface]

I seemed to have fixed that too. Good around long enough and I'll get it!

 

[benjiface]

Wow, Khan and Qin are even switched! This is great!

 

[AlanH]

Sounds as though you're all set? Well done

 

[benjiface]

Alan-

Do you know the latest Build number for the 2.13 Warlords update. I "installed" it, but nothing seems to have changed.

-Ben

 

[AlanH]

Nothing changed for me, either, when I first installed it. I think maybe there was some cached Get Info data. When I checked it later, it was changed:

Version 2.08 (25430)

was changed to:

Version 2.13 (63968)

This is in the OS X Get Info screen for the 'Civilization IV Warlords' application

 

[Endure]

4. I have had problems with all of the sudden after I talk with another leader, or change something within the game (i.e. a Civic) where all the resources and units in the game turn black or are shadowed? Anybody else experience this issue?

I run into this problem myself every few hours of game-play usually.

It's pretty annoying but as of yet, I haven't found a fix. I've tried re-installing and tried all the different graphic settings and it still happens. I really have no clue how to fix it so I just quit the game and load it back up when it happens

 

[dr_s]

If you zoom out far enough so that you can see the whole globe, then zoom back in, that often fixes it.

 

[Endure]

If you zoom out far enough so that you can see the whole globe, then zoom back in, that often fixes it.

I'll try that next time it happens, thanks

 

[benjiface]

If you zoom out far enough so that you can see the whole globe, then zoom back in, that often fixes it.

Alan H told me about the zoom thing too, and this has worked fixing the blackout problem every time I have tried it. I used to quit out too, but the zoom out thing works.