Here Patchy Patchy

[scienide09]

I've been waiting since the game came out. What's that 5 months or so now??? How long should I wait before you think its acceptable to voice my frustration with the game??? As for waiting and patience I am done with CIV, the developers ruined it for me. My patience went out about 2 months ago. But thanks for your opinion that I should just be patient that's easy to say when your game works...

The game has been patched. Twice. Perhaps you missed them? So, two patches so far, plus a third on it's way, plus the SDK, plus (most likely) an expansion pack in development.
Hey, when you finish a project up at work/school, do you just sit there at your desk, doing nothing? Probably not. Like most people, the developers at 2K and Firaxis depend on their jobs to live. This means that they have to move on to the next project, the next assignment, the next game to come along. They can't all devote their time to a patch.

Have you tried Harkonnen's patch on v1.09? Have you tweaked your basic system settings along with all the game settings?

My game works? Well, sort of. I mean, if I try to play a standard map, I have time to wash the dishes in between turns. Almost the same thing in the late-game stages on small maps. I run on lowest settings, still get CTD's all the time. I can't see all the pretty graphics. But you know, I'm patient. Which, I believe, is what I advised in the first place.

If the game is ruined for you, and you're done with Civ, why are you on a forum devoted to Civ? And writing about waiting for a patch for a game you will no longer play?

 

[Cidron]

Hmm, another expansion, ie another chance to fleece us out of 40-50 dollars while producing a product that isnt finished. That makes appx 120 per person that buys both into their pockets while only producing exasperation, frustration, and anger among us vented here aimed at Firaxis, Sid, and others. Guess what, when Expansion 2 is out, we will faithfully, like lemmings, go to the store and buy that one too. They know it, we know it, and we accept it, and they laugh all the way to the bank. Ain't capitalism grand!

 

[auldian]

Hey, when you finish a project up at work/school, do you just sit there at your desk, doing nothing? Probably not. Like most people, the developers at 2K and Firaxis depend on their jobs to live. This means that they have to move on to the next project, the next assignment, the next game to come along. They can't all devote their time to a patch.

The key point here is "finish" sir. This game was an incomplete project.
Talking about working on expansions, with half-assed software on the the store shelves, happens way too frrequently. It's an insult to all of us, including you, that is too often taken for granted.
When you pay someone to cut your lawn do they finish before going to the next door neighbors? If not, do you pay them again next weekend? Regardless of the politics and payrolls and buyouts, I paid for finished game ... a nicely mown yard.
That's not what came in a lot of peoples' Civ4 boxes. I am remaining optimistic that a mother-of-all-patches will soon be delivered. I am disappointed in Firaxis so far.
Recent post by Thamer regarding a patch

 

[Raider62]

The game has been patched. Twice. Perhaps you missed them? So, two patches so far, plus a third on it's way, plus the SDK, plus (most likely) an expansion pack in development.
Hey, when you finish a project up at work/school, do you just sit there at your desk, doing nothing? Probably not. Like most people, the developers at 2K and Firaxis depend on their jobs to live. This means that they have to move on to the next project, the next assignment, the next game to come along. They can't all devote their time to a patch.

Have you tried Harkonnen's patch on v1.09? Have you tweaked your basic system settings along with all the game settings?

My game works? Well, sort of. I mean, if I try to play a standard map, I have time to wash the dishes in between turns. Almost the same thing in the late-game stages on small maps. I run on lowest settings, still get CTD's all the time. I can't see all the pretty graphics. But you know, I'm patient. Which, I believe, is what I advised in the first place.

If the game is ruined for you, and you're done with Civ, why are you on a forum devoted to Civ? And writing about waiting for a patch for a game you will no longer play?

1) I didnt miss any patches, I have applied them all and 1.52 still randomly crashes my machine.

2) How does me finishing up something, compare with this unfinished P.O.S they sold me???

3) I agree they have moved on to getting the expansion ready to sell you. I have no doubt you will see something on it soon.

4) Go See my Freeze/Crash/Reboot Thread in this forum. I have done WAY MORE than simple tweaks.

5) Unlike my problem, sounds like your rig is your problem. Probably low on the specs would be my guess.

6) The reason I come on this forum is to make sure Fanboys like you don't go giving CIV an undeserved good name...


7) Your game "sort of" works and you defend this company??? I blame people just like you for putting up with this kind of (@%& from gaming companies as to why we are all beta-testers now...

8) Enjoy your "sort of" working Civ.... If mine "sort of" worked, I would call it junk...

 

[exhile]

I think the technology "code of laws" would be in order here. Litigation against Firaxis/2kgames is the only other option I can think to punish the developers of Civ4 for delivering an unworking and unfinished product. A large fine or class-action suit against the company will surely bring some attention to Sid. Some very bad attention that is. Who agrees with me?

 

[auldian]

Who agrees with me?

Not I.
I'll hope for a solid "final patch" for the software I own and in the future vote a little more disciminately with my coin.

 

[Dudy80]

A patch is never later nor is it ever early, it arrives precisely when it means to.

 

[StyxNCa]

Like most people, the developers at 2K and Firaxis depend on their jobs to live. This means that they have to move on to the next project, the next assignment, the next game to come along. They can't all devote their time to a patch.

I hope I find out what their next project is cuz if it's anything like this one, I know I won't be spending any money for it. Seems silly to put out another project when they can't get the last one working.

 

[scienide09]

When you say the game wasn't finished, for who do you mean? Firaxis has admitted that there are some kinks to work out, but a new patch isn't going to make serious changes to the game engine nor gameplay. In this sense, CivIV is finished. To some, it will never be finished. Hence the ever-growing series of modpacks.

Keep in mind that for every person that's having trouble running the game, there are plently out there who are enjoying it thoroughly, without any problems. Someone was kind enough to point out that my problems running it are probably due to my system -- I admit this, as my video card is below specs. But if others are able to play it just fine, doesn't that indicate that perhaps there's something wrong with your systems too, whether your rig is above specs or not?
The game is static -- once it's stamped on those discs, the code doesn't change (except with patches/mods). I'll echo tonnes of other posters by reminding you that there are thousands, if not millions, of system configurations out there. How do you expect the programmers to design a product that meets EVERY single one of them? If you want a game that runs out of the box, don't play on your PC, but rather on a console. And even those games have small updates, through expansions like Xbox live and similar.

Lawsuit? Where's your class-action against Microsoft, which is constantly releasing patches/fixes for their software, and has been sin Win95? Perhaps it's still moving through the courts -- I hope that you make your money back off of that one. Maybe they are to blame for the CTDs, BSDs, and out of memory errors.

As for the comment that I'm a Fanboy, whatever man. I've been playing Civ off-and-on since the original, for me about 12 or 13 years. If that makes me a Fanboy, so be it.
Don't talk to me about defending the company though. I am not defending the company, but rather trying to show that blaming Sid and the individual programmers won't get you too far. Why not be constructive in your criticism? There have been too many threads on this board already which bash the people involved, and what does it prove? That a bunch over over-zealous individuals can come on an anonymous forum and complain about a GAME. Woweee, way to go.

I don't deny that we ALL deserve a working product, to get what we paid for.

But in our (Western) society, you have the choice whether to buy a product. Personally, I wouldn't pay someone to mow my lawn or shovel my drive -- I can do that stuff myself. But, I don't have the knowhow to create a game of the complexity of CivIV, and so I do pay someone else to do it for me. The standard line on many forums that I've visited is that one should always wait until a number of patches have been released before buying gaming software. Did you do that? Buyer beware.

Be thankful you live in a world where you can spend freely spend $50 on a piece of entertainment, and then have the right to complain about it. But trying to place the blame on someone else? Come on...

You also have the option of not supporting Firaxis or 2K ever again, whether it be for the Civ franchise or any other products. If you really want to punish them, that's the way to do it. Don't buy the expansion. Uninstall the game, and if you can't take it back to the store, sell it online. Have you uninstalled Windows yet?

Write to Sid. Write to Firaxis and 2K. Write to the shareholders, the BBB, all of those magazines that gave CivIV a good review, and tell them, constructively, about the problems. If you want some accountability, then you actually have to seek it out. Use a pen, paper, and snailmail, so it's not as easy to ignore. Speak to the manager of the store you bought the game -- if they refuse to take it back, or to remove it from their shelves, then boycott that store/chain. Even if they laugh at you, so long as you refuse to go there, YOU will know that you're making a difference.

It's easy to come on these forums, to flame Sid and co., to say that you hate them and to threaten a lawsuit. That's not really doing anything about your particular problem. Being proactive, well that might just work. But are you willing to put in the time, to do some hard work of your own?

 

[PDXJoe]

As much as I am frustrated with my defective game, I think a lawsuit is a bad idea, they seldom are successful in situations like this. In my case, I'll likely avoid buying Firaxis/2K games in the future, or heavily research them before I buy to be sure it was released without any major problems. In a capitalistic society, your purchasing power really has sway.

Patience is a virture, but I find that the longer I wait, the more my passion for Civ leaves me. I'm starting to care less about it. Yeah, I'd like to have the patch, so I can play a stable game and perform some Civ a$$ whopping online against this friend I've been waiting to play...

In the meantime, I'll go back to my other games that actually work..and play them.

 

[Raider62]

When you say the game wasn't finished, for who do you mean?

Someone was kind enough to point out that my problems running it are probably due to my system -- I admit this, as my video card is below specs. But if others are able to play it just fine, doesn't that indicate that perhaps there's something wrong with your systems too, whether your rig is above specs or not?

I'll echo tonnes of other posters by reminding you that there are thousands, if not millions, of system configurations out there. How do you expect the programmers to design a product that meets EVERY single one of them? If you want a game that runs out of the box, don't play on your PC, but rather on a console..


As for the comment that I'm a Fanboy, whatever man. I've been playing Civ off-and-on since the original, for me about 12 or 13 years. If that makes me a Fanboy, so be it.

Don't talk to me about defending the company though. I am not defending the company, but rather trying to show that blaming Sid and the individual programmers won't get you too far.

Why not be constructive in your criticism?

The standard line on many forums that I've visited is that one should always wait until a number of patches have been released before buying gaming software. Did you do that? Buyer beware.

Be thankful you live in a world where you can spend freely spend $50 on a piece of entertainment, and then have the right to complain about it. But trying to place the blame on someone else? Come on...

You also have the option of not supporting Firaxis or 2K ever again, whether it be for the Civ franchise or any other products.

Write to Sid. Write to Firaxis and 2K. Write to the shareholders, the BBB, all of those magazines that gave CivIV a good review, and tell them, constructively, about the problems.

It's easy to come on these forums, to flame Sid and co. That's not really doing anything about your particular problem. Being proactive, well that might just work. But are you willing to put in the time, to do some hard work of your own?

Wow where to start....

My system is way above specs and there is NOTHING wrong with it. I have ZERO problems doing anything on my computer except playing CIV. As for what is wrong there is a problem with the BFG 6800's that I made THAMER AWARE of 2 MONTHS ago.

"I didn't know about problems with this particular card. Those kind of hard crashes and reboots sound like some sort of driver or hardware level problem that's happening when Civ runs. I'll try to get this card in house and test with it." -THAMER dec 28 2005

Needless to say, He never came back into the thread and posted what he found, any ideas, fixes, help, even a "its ok we are working on it for the next patch." So After no response back from thamer I went to BFG for help...

XXXX XXXXXXX,

This seems to be an issue with the 6800 GT OC that nvidia and the game
manufacturer are aware of and are working to resolve. Make sure that you are
running the latest game patches from the manufacturer's webpage. Hopefully they will resolve it soon.


Thank you,
Chris G
BFG Support

That was 6 weeks ago. As of today still nothing more from either of them...

I think you are wrong to state there are thousands and millions of gaming rig configurations. Most serious gamers like myself have rigs that are similar. NVidia Graphics Card, AMD CPU, etc... I would be more understanding if I had some crazy no name parts in my rig, but I don't.

How do you test all those combinations or at least most of them???? It's called beta-testing....Please spare me the "go play on a console" line. I have never had a problem that I couldnt resolve with PC gaming until CIV IV...

No, what makes you a Fanboy is defending a company when even by your own admission your own game "sort of works"... That is being a Fanboy. I have also played Civ since back in the day and I am dissapointed by their complete lack of communication with their Fan Base. If there were some sort of updates on progress or if Thamer would have come back into the thread I would probably be satisfied, but as it stands, it seems like they dont give a #^&)....

I "trashed" the individuals because they said they would "look into it" and then just left us hanging. No update, no word back, no we found out what is wrong, etc... That is crappy Customer service and I voiced my opinion on it.

My game doesnt work buddy, what kind of criticism you think will help them to help me??? I cant discuss gameplay or any features because I get fed up with crashes. Here's my CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM, I identified the problem between my 6800 and CIV 4, now please do your job and program a friggin fix.

Save your buyer beware crap too. I have had issues with other games but nothing that couldnt be fixed by tweaking a few things. Anything you buy that you meet recommended specs for should work out of the box. If you have to make excuses, maybe you shouldnt be making computer games.

So who do you think I should blame for my CIV problems?

Don't worry none of those will get any money for me again. I have no doubt that instead of hurrying up and finishing a quality patch to fix FUNDAMENTAL GAME problems, they split their programming staff up so they could start expansion patch work.... Again Money = more important than loyal customers.

As for doing something about my problems, as you can see from above I already made Thamer aware of the problems with the 6800 some 2 months ago. So lets see after some 100+ hours of trying to troubleshoot this POS and I don't know how many hours of reading these forums looking for an answer, you want me to do more work??? Man you have lost your mind... I bought this game to bring some fun and enjoyment into my life, it has been nothing but a giant waste of time and a hassle.

Enjoy your "sort of working" CIV...

 

[wurm657]

So...
Long "few weeks" waiting for the Patch, huh?

 

[auldian]

I'm still hopeful for a megapatch.

 

[Likes_Civing]

Yeah I am hopeful too.

I just bought a new GF 5600 ULTRA. I crash MORE now than with a crappy 420FX.

I wish the paatch would come, I crash every turn, black screen where the PC is locked.

I am stopping playing until the game is fixed. The Mrs doesn't mind, I get more done around the house

 

[exhile]

They're coming out with an expansion pack in the summer with no patch in the short-term. I don't care anymore.

 

[Tomlo]

Not to take any sides but I feel bad for thamer it seems the guy accually cares and he does everything he can. Its like being in school and taking a test that you know every answer too but you take your time and read every question over twice, then half way through you find out theres a time limit. So you hurry to try and get all the rest of the test finished but only finish 3/4 of it before the teacher (2k games) gathers all the papers and grades them.

It isnt his job to come here and help us but he feels compelled to do it and I have never seen a lead programmer for any other game do anything near as much.

And then theres 2k games, a company that I and others have emailed many times and all that anyone gets is the answering machine.

I understand why 2k games released the game early, they had to in order to pay their power bill, but I dont understand why they dont do everything possible like thamer in order to preserve their name.