Macintosh Tech Support/Game FAQ

[AlanH]

I don't think there's an option to set up mime types in Safari.

.asp is a M$-specific file type (Active Server Pages), but I've never had trouble accessing .asp pages with Safari, so I think it has to be a server-side issue.

Internet Exploder is usually the best option to try when dealing with brain-dead corporate servers whose admins think the world revolves around an obsolete browser on a dodgy computer platform.

 

[ejday]

...Internet Exploder is usually the best option to try when dealing with brain-dead corporate servers whose admins think the world revolves around an obsolete browser on a dodgy computer platform.

Whew! Spoken like a true Mac addict!
(or somebody really, really annoyed with windows... notice how they often dovetail...)

 

[k-a-bob]

I've seen people using something that tells them how close to a domination victory they are - what is it - and is there a Mac version?
I've looked through this whole thread, but never saw anything mentioned.

TIA!

 

[AlanH]

The only utility I know of that will run without a PC or PC emulator is the JMapstat program linked in my signature. It's a cross-platform Java application, updated to handle GOTM modded saves, and runs fine in OS X. It will tell you how many tiles from domination you are, but doesn't tell you about population, which also has to be 2/3 of world population.

Note that JMapstat should not be used in a competition game until you have exposed all of the land masses, as it gives full tile counts for the map, which is spoiler info until you've done the exploration/map trades yourself.

 

[k-a-bob]

Thanks AlanH! I'll check this out when I get home.

 

[Jard]

Having a bit of a crash to desktop problem. This is civ 1.29b2 with DyP ver 1.01r. When I end my turn the game crashes. I have tried a complete re-install to no avail. Here is a crash log:

Date/Time: 2005-03-17 16:05:22 -0600
OS Version: 10.3.8 (Build 7U16)
Report Version: 2

Command: Civilization III
Path: /Applications/Games/Civilization III/Civilization III
Version: ??? (???)
PID: 975
Thread: 0

Exception: EXC_BAD_ACCESS (0x0001)
Codes: KERN_INVALID_ADDRESS (0x0001) at 0x06a1ffe0

Thread 0 Crashed:
0 Civilization III 0x00507fcc AI_obsoleteDefenders__6CityAIFi + 0x10c
1 Civilization III 0x00508590 0x405000 + 0x103590
2 Civilization III 0x005122c8 AI_baseReset__6CityAIFb + 0x1d8
3 Civilization III 0x004fbc08 baseFacProduction__4CityFv + 0x518
4 Civilization III 0x004fc0dc baseProduction__4CityFv + 0x25c
5 Civilization III 0x00502d00 baseUpkeep__4CityFv + 0x2d0
6 Civilization III 0x005df554 faction_upkeep__6LeaderFv + 0xcb4
7 Civilization III 0x00561988 gameUpkeep__Fv + 0x108
8 Civilization III 0x00561c6c control_game__Fb + 0x25c
9 Civilization III 0x00535148 run__13Civilization3Fiib + 0x48
10 Civilization III 0x005f25fc WinMain + 0x26c
11 Civilization III 0x0041f048 main + 0x4c8

Attached is a save game file. If you end the current turn the next thing that should happen is the game should crash. If any one has an idea for a work around it would be appreciated. If you can get to the next turn and upload a save game so I could keep going that would be good too.

Thanks and happy st. Patrick's day

 

[ejday]

...If you end the current turn the next thing that should happen is the game should crash. If any one has an idea for a work around it would be appreciated. If you can get to the next turn and upload a save game so I could keep going that would be good too.

Thanks and happy st. Patrick's day

Hm... d/l'd it and played it through the next turn and it was fine (sorry, completely missed the part about saving and uploading). My guess, though, is that something is corrupted in your files but who knows what it could be...
I didn't see any new technologies and I don't remember anything being created but units, so it doesn't seem like it would be a civpedia issue...
I've run into similar problems where there is an odd setting at an odd time and it just chokes. You might consider playing with a few in-game parameters and naming the .savs to reflect the experiment. Try little things, like changing the budget ratios. It has been a while since I had that similar issue, and IIRC, it was some weird work-around like tweaking the budget that kept the game from crashing. The next round, everything was fine. What ever code ghosts were in there, they went away...

Good luck.
EJ

 

[AlanH]

Hi Jard, welcome

I used to see that sort of "obsoleteDefenders" crash log entry a lot in standard or GOTM-modded Civ3, but it seems to have gone away completely now. My changes since then have been more memory, a faster CPU, and numerous re-installations of the software for various reasons.

I don't play DyP, so I can't comment specifically for that mod, but EJ's result indicates it's a difference in your set-up. I recommend you re-install from scratch and see if it goes away. If not, how much memory does your Mac have?

 

[Jard]

I figured it out!

I tried a couple of different things, being in anarchy got me to the next turn but as soon as I got my gov back in order it crashed on the next turn. I tried playing around with the sliders and what not that did not help. What turned out to be the issue was having autosave on. Turing that off allowed me to play on.

AlanH, I only have 256 megs of ram. Which causes me great shame on a daily basis . I suppose this could be the ultimate root of the problem, or it could be some random other bit of whatever.

Anyway, thanks for the input everyone!

 

[ejday]

I figured it out!
...Anyway, thanks for the input everyone!

Glad we could help... and welcome to the forums!

BTW - that memory is a killer. Check out prices on RAM (they may be cheaper than you expect). You'll find it's worth it. With a little breathing room, everything seems to speed up a little.

EJ

 

[Jard]

It appears that I spoke to soon.

The games still crashes when I rush buy something, it also crashes when a wonder finishes. Which is pretty much a deal breaker in DyP. With so many different causes I am beginning to think it is a hardware issue, specifically ram. Seeing as how it works for others and breaks for me even on a clean install and right after a reboot. It is a crying shame considering how memory is handled(at least theoretically) in os X.

As to why I don't have more a price of $0 is about all I can afford, ya unemployment sucks

 

[frunobulax]

The games still crashes... it is a crying shame

I tried your save on my eMac (1GHz, 512RAM, OS10.3.4, DYP 1.01R) and it worked fine, though quite a hang between moves since it's a big map...

 

[ejday]

...It is a crying shame considering how memory is handled(at least theoretically) in os X.

Actually, with protected memory and preemptive multitasking, memory wrangling isn't too bad. However, the system itself is huge – and then if you pile on a few background apps plus a huge map, it's like trying cram 8 pounds of [stuff] into a 5 pound bag. Just ain't gonna happen.

...'Course, that's one of the legitimate and consistent complaints about Apple: they're stingy on the RAM (though RAM manufacturers have no complaints, I'm sure).

Time to get that job...

EJ

 

[k-a-bob]

Screenshot question:
I got the pic I wanted, but it made it a PDF file. how can I change it to jpg?
I don't remember it making pdf's back in 9...

 

[AlanH]

PDF is the nearest thing to native image language there is in OS X. PICT used to be the equivalent in OS 9, but couldn't do half the things that PDF offers.

If you double click the PDF it should open in Preview. If you go to Preview's File menu you should find Export. That should open a dialog box where you can choose JPEG as the exported image format. All this is in Panther. I don't recall whether older versions could do it.

For info, I have Photoshop Elements, which is not expensive. I use Control-Command-Shift-3 or -4 to put a screen image on the clipboard, not in a file to clutter up the desktop. Then I use Photoshop's 'File/New from clipboard' menu option to open it in an editable image window. I can crop it and annotate it with Photoshop's editing tools, and then use 'File/Save for web' to create a jpeg file the size and resolution required to upload here.

 

[k-a-bob]

PDF is the nearest thing to native image language there is in OS X. PICT used to be the equivalent in OS 9, but couldn't do half the things that PDF offers.

If you double click the PDF it should open in Preview. If you go to Preview's File menu you should find Export. That should open a dialog box where you can choose JPEG as the exported image format. All this is in Panther. I don't recall whether older versions could do it.

Thanks. I thought I did all that - maybe I didn't do export or something (save as, maybe). I do have Panther - so I must have just gone the wrong way.

Thanks

 

[Sophie 378]

Can anyone recommend whether I buy GOTY or the vanilla version Civ3? They're both knocking around on Ebay, and I'm wondering if GOTY has any worthwhile extras. I'm trying to choose ...

 

[AlanH]

Dunno. I have vanilla and have never noticed I was missing anything They all have to be upgraded anyway, as MacSoft don't deliver 1.29b2. Do you have a list of the differences between that and GOTY?

 

[Sophie 378]

Dunno, that's why I was asking! Perfectly possible all you get is a different box and some irritating features by paying more . The original version can be the best... I shall see.

 

[AlanH]

There will be absolutely no difference in the actual game software. You might get version 1.21g instead of 1.16f, but neither is the latest. You can upgrade any version you buy to the latest version using the updater in my signature. You may get the scenario editor on the GOTY disk, but that's "normally" available as a free download anyway. If you can't find it at InsideMacGames I can email you a copy or a link. Someone said you get a printed manual and a keyboard shortcut list with GOTY. Well I got the manual with my standard version, and there are lots of Civ Reference guides out there that give you the keyboard shortcuts. Buying on fleabay, there's no real assurance that you'll get all the extras that were in the original box, of course.