New to CivIII on Mac

[Spyder109]

Hi there, have just moved to an iMac at home and have purchased CivIII being the one thing I couldn't bear to lose in the conversion from Windows.

Haven't played much, but the one thing I have noticed that is missing is the "automatic" commands to make workers do things like clean up pollution. Also the commands that enable you to move multiple units (of the same type or all).

These seem to be the only differences. I've been through the preferences section and can't see where I can turn these on. Am I missing something??

Also, no "explore" command.

Cheers.

 

[AlanH]

Hi, welcome to the Forum, and welcome to the Mac

Have you checked the manual that comes with the game? The full PDF one installed in your Civ3 folder, not the Quickstart guide. It has a long appendix listing all the keyboard shortcuts. A few of them are known not to work, or may have incorrect key designations, but most are correct.

It's a while since I played it now, so I can't recall whether the ones you mention have problems, though I'm pretty sure that J and Shift-J work for stack moves. Have you installed the latest patch? Some stuff may have been fixed in that.

If a command is not working, try another combination of the Command, Control and Shift keys. Note that the Command key is used for a lot of the shortcuts where Control is used in Windows. Also, make sure you have enabled right click on your mouse in System Preferences.

 

[Blue Monkey]

Maybe the first question is about making the buttons show for advanced worker actions?

 

[Spyder109]

Yes Blue Monkey, the question should really have been about making the buttons visible.

AlanH, will try downloading the patch tonight and also trying the keyboard shortcuts to see if the actions are there (just hidden).

Mouse is setup for 2-button. Everything else seems to work the same as the PC version.

 

[AlanH]

Ah! Well, if you click the left hand, triangular icone top left in the game screen and select Preferences, there's an option to Show Advanced Unit Action Buttons. This displays additional button options, and the buttons display their keyboard shortcuts if you hover over them.

Sorry, it didn't occur to me that this was the issue, as all this is the same in the Windows version as far as I know.

 

[Spyder109]

Ah! Well, if you click the left hand, triangular icone top left in the game screen and select Preferences, there's an option to Show Advanced Unit Action Buttons. This displays additional button options, and the buttons display their keyboard shortcuts if you hover over them.

Sorry, it didn't occur to me that this was the issue, as all this is the same in the Windows version as far as I know.

Ahhhh. Have looked through the list and don't recall seeing that one, but will check again tonight.

Cheers.

 

[Spyder109]

Have checked and I don't have the "show advanced unit actions" as an option

Also, downloaded the patch, but can't install it. It wants to know go in the folder that I dragged the original install to, but I just loaded the DVD and it went from there. This issue may be related to my Mac newness.

 

[AlanH]

Sounds as if you haven't installed Civ3. I'm surprised it will play straight off the DVD, though. You have to follow the installation instructions in the Quick Start ManuaL that came with the DVD:

• Insert the DVD
• Double click the DVD icon that appears on the desktop
• Drag the CivIII Complete folder from the DVD to the location where you want it to live. I put it in /Applications/
• To start the game, double click the CivIII icon in the folder you have copied.

 

[Spyder109]

S/W is definitely installed. Am running it from the Executable file off the HDD.

All a bit weird.

 

[AlanH]

So where is the executable on your HDD? And exactly what queston is the patch installer asking you?

 

[Spyder109]

Here, hopefully are 2 screengrabs showing where I'm up to.

 

[AlanH]

Thanks. That explains all.

Your installation is the old original MacSoft port of Civ3 vanilla. It never occurred to me that you would have that one, as it has been out of print for two or three years now.

That version didn't have a lot of the facilities that you get with later versions of Civ3. Also, if it's straight off the CD (not a DVD in those days!) then it's probably version 1.14, and *very* buggy. I don't think it even runs on an Intel-based Mac in OS X 10.5. It sounds as if your Mac and Civ3 are both ex-eBay?

Your options are:

1. Upgrade the version you have to version 1.29b2 - the last beta that was released. That is file compatible with the 1.29f Windows version, it's less buggy, and it does contain a few more keyboard shortcuts for stack moves etc. The updater link is in my signature.

2. Get Aspyr's Civ3 Complete. That includes the Play the World and Conquests expansions, it includes all the features of the Windows version - except the editor - and it can play in a window. It is an all-round better game, and it's also compatible with current Macs and OS X versions.

 

[Blue Monkey]

2. Get Aspyr's Civ3 Complete. That includes the Play the World and Conquests expansions, it includes all the features of the Windows version - except the editor - and it can play in a window. It is an all-round better game, and it's also compatible with current Macs and OS X versions.

That option will also let you play many, many more of the mods and scenarios that have been created by us civfanatics.

 

[Spyder109]

Thanks. That explains all.

Your installation is the old original MacSoft port of Civ3 vanilla. It never occurred to me that you would have that one, as it has been out of print for two or three years now.

That version didn't have a lot of the facilities that you get with later versions of Civ3. Also, if it's straight off the CD (not a DVD in those days!) then it's probably version 1.14, and *very* buggy. I don't think it even runs on an Intel-based Mac in OS X 10.5. It sounds as if your Mac and Civ3 are both ex-eBay?

Your options are:

1. Upgrade the version you have to version 1.29b2 - the last beta that was released. That is file compatible with the 1.29f Windows version, it's less buggy, and it does contain a few more keyboard shortcuts for stack moves etc. The updater link is in my signature.

2. Get Aspyr's Civ3 Complete. That includes the Play the World and Conquests expansions, it includes all the features of the Windows version - except the editor - and it can play in a window. It is an all-round better game, and it's also compatible with current Macs and OS X versions.

CivIII is ex-eBay, was shipped in a PC CD case. Apparently incorrectly packaged. Mac is genuine factory/retail, current spec 2.66GHz, 20" model (2mths old). I'm in New Zealand, so wouldn't trust buying something like a computer from eBay exUSA.

Interestingly version showed as 1.21. Anyway, loaded up the 1.29b2 update (which worked fine). Game played well, although without any noticeable improvements, then crashed! Haven't got far enough through to try the keyboard shortcuts for automatic pollution control, but will try to give that a go tonight.

Is Civ3 Complete available anywhere as a download?

Cheers for all your help.

 

[AlanH]

Hmm. Not sure about the crash - that may just be v1.29b2 on a new Mac, which I have no experience with. In fact, I thought it was not compatible ...

Civ3 Complete is only available as a DVD as far as I know. It requires the DVD to be in the drive when you launch it.

Of course, the third option is to skip Civ3 Complete and go straight to Civ4

 

[Spyder109]

Hmm. Not sure about the crash - that may just be v1.29b2 on a new Mac, which I have no experience with. In fact, I thought it was not compatible ...

Civ3 Complete is only available as a DVD as far as I know. It requires the DVD to be in the drive when you launch it.

Of course, the third option is to skip Civ3 Complete and go straight to Civ4

Will try v1.29b2 again tonight. If it crashes again, will uninstall everything (assuming I can work out how to do this in Macland) and then just reinstall what I had.

Have Civ4 on my (PC) laptop, but enjoy Civ3 more. Maybe I just need to spend more time on it?

 

[AlanH]

To uninstall, right click the Civ3 folder in /Applications/ and send it to the trash; or just drag it to the Trash icon at the right hand end of your Dock. If you want to keep any of your saved games you need to move the Saves folder out first. You should also delete its preferences file:

/Users/<your_name>/Library/Preferences/CivIII Preferences

I still prefer Civ3, actually, though I don't play either of them much these days. I've never played a full Civ4 game

 

[wallyskier]

AlanH
Never played a full civ4? And I thought I was the only one! Granted, I can't drive something that graphics intensive on a macmini 1.5, or a powerbook G4 1.25, but what, in your humble opinion, do you see that's markedly better or worse between the two? I can't justify a new computer when this one does all I need it to do otherwise. (and besides I need new skis more than I need a new computer)

Welcome to the Mac, Spyder109

 

[Spyder109]

Yep, the Mac is pretty cool. CivIII is going allright. About once a session I get a crash, usually happens fairly early on, so just try to remember to save manually frequently, maybe change a worker action or something and then it will run fine all evening - weird