Patch 1.09 released!

[Dragonlord]

Just for a change, since only people with problems are posting:

Patch DLed perfectly in-game, took only a few minutes, no error messages while installing.
I haven't noted much of a difference to pre-patch, though, but the game was running for me pre-patch, too.
Dunno about the wonder movies yet, though - they were my only problem pre-patch, sometimes crashing to desktop.. haven't had a chance to build one yet.

 

[Jack Roo]

Hello All
I'm a long time reader of the site here but never posted -
I'm only giving a quick 2c on civ 4 and the patch in particular. Civ 4 wouldn't run, the failed to initalize render message was as far as I got, but thanks to the patch, it now says failed to render and has added "*latest* graphics drivers" to the advice on the error. Terrific.
I am as mad as hell. I can handle a game not working, disappointed sure, but this smacks of ass covering. I have a new computer and since I am no tech wiz also have 24 hr online support. They advise that my system more than meets minimum requirements and under no circumstances should I go through the alleged "fix" listed a www.2kgames.com .
So it's back to the shop and thank god I did not buy this online or I'd be truly stuffed.
Cheers to all the civ 4 fans who have this working and I hope they get this right eventually for the rest of us.
Jack

 

[Asterothe]

A few minutes ago, second time, I got clasical windows
error message and crashed to desktop. And the screen
resolution goes down to 4 bit ( 16 colors) 800x 600. Before
the patch I didn't experience this at all.

 

[Roberth1]

I guess I was one of the lucky ones having no problem with the game from the start, but had the European DVD.
Computer is Pentium 3, 2.8 with 1GB of memory and an ATI 9800 pro card.

Downloaded the patch via the game update and it installed without problems.

Only faults I had had with original was some wonder movies (not all) played choppily and game got slow towards the end, but I also found that in Civ3 the game got slow towards the end particularly on big maps.

Have not seen much difference yet with patch will need to see how current game progresses.

 

[ChuckLe]

I also recieved a crc error from the patch I downloaded from civfanatics.

I deleted it and re-downloaded from FileFront and had no problems with the installation.

The patch that was available on the CFC site was corrupted.

The file from 3D Downloads, Filefront and Apolyton seems OK.

For anyone that wants to check, the various CRC/Hashes for the 1.09 patch file are:

MD5: 49a982ee75b9460ebdc538fde9ba4e96
CRC32: 17993445 (as used by WinZip or WinRAR)
ed2k: 49db367d961954c90375377f6597176e

The patch made NO difference whatsoever to game performance here. Saved games still take ages to load (over 3 minutes), and stability and memory / resource management performance is still absolutely appalling. Large maps still freeze and crash and are completely unplayable.

I've uninstalled the game now anyway as this is beyond a joke. This is no longer a game but a technical nightmare.

Seems to me that a 1.3 Gb patch is the only way to get this game working properly. i.e. rebuild it from the ground up with a graphics engine that works properly with graphics cards designed for the year 2005, not for 2500.

PS. The file available from CFC at the date of this post has been updated and has the same hash as above.

 

[Pratputajao]

This patch made things 15-25% slower in the game i am playing. I Had to uninstall the game completely and reinstall the game to get the game running at a playable level ( though still slow).

The only thing I have found to speed the game up is to install the latest Nvidia driver. However this is a mixed blessing as now KOTOR ruins like sh*t

Again the only reason people are complaining is that this is such a good game and we arent getting the game we should I guess I should be happy it runs at all? ....oh well, hopefully in 6 months it will be *fixed*.

 

[Mazruk]

European DVD version of game - ran fine pre-patch.

Downloaded patch in game no probs - install got the 1706 error (no valid source) which I think is due to european dvd version. Clicked past error, installed fine.

No problems in game since, performance seems very slightly better most of the time (noticeably better in world view). Loading saves is quicker.

For those noticing that the year changes, this isnt a bug (IMO) but due to the tweaking of late game durations. Part of the tweak is probably changing the date per turn so your saves are still the same turn, just the date calculated from that turn is now different.

Happy so far

 

[Aussie_Lurker]

Pratputajao, something which may interest you:

Turns out that-for some bizarre reason-Civ4.exe gets shifted way down the priority list after the patch, which is one of the possible reasons you are seeing a slowdown AFTER the patch.
My suggestion, thanks to Master-Mike at Apolyton, is as follows:

1. In your main civilization folder, create a new text file.

2. In that text file type the following: cmd /c start /High Civilization4.exe

3. Save this file as Civilization4.bat

4. Restart your computer, then start the game up.

Hopefully, if your situation is anything like mine, then you should regain all of your lost speed. In fact, I have to say that with a combo of the patch AND this batch file, my games are running faster and less laggy than EVER!!!
Hope this helps you !

Yours,
Aussie_Lurker.

 

[arioch99]

I installed the patch 1.09 through the advanced menu of the game with my connection dial-up. All work fine for the downloading and the installation of the patch.

I have a light improvement in the load time and of performance in the game. But in the graphic menu, I have three options that indicates "FRENCH" instead of the good description of the option near the checkbox. It's the last two option at right and the last option at left in the graphic options of the game (Someone else have this problem). I realize that I don't try the english to know if the bug exist too with this language, I will try it tonight after work. The begining video is also more choppy than before.

I play in French you will have understood it. I use the Canadian version Multi-Langage.

My specifications AMD Athlon 1800 +
256MO RAM
Windows XP
MSI Geforce 3 TI 200.

The game run smoothly with little slowdown on standard map at the middle and late game on my system despite that I have just the minimum requirement. No bug at all except one CTD before the patch 2 weeks ago. Since the patch no CTD. Another bug that was fixed for me it's the others tab in Advanced Option, In this tab I didn't have any options. And now I have the timer and other thing.

 

[dawn]

Downloaded the patch through the Update option on the main menu on Wednesday. Ran into the error about not being able to locate any files, but simply clicked okay and it installed fine.

Small improvements in performance, but I lost the icons for the tile resources. Went out and updated my Nvidia drivers (new ones from 11/22/05). Much better performance (given my machine listed below). All icons are now there.

Note that I run with the movies turned off - too much for my machine to handle.

HP/Compaq
Intel P4 1.8Ghz
768Mb RAM
Nvidia FX5200 128MB

 

[HounddogLGS]

What types of maps are you all playing? I do OK on standard maps, but I tried the 1000AD scenario (huge map, lots of civs) and performance becomes unbearable as you make contact with other civs and reveal more of the map. My machine is easily above recommended specs.

 

[Agraza]

A few minutes ago, second time, I got clasical windows
error message and crashed to desktop. And the screen
resolution goes down to 4 bit ( 16 colors) 800x 600. Before
the patch I didn't experience this at all.

the same has happened to me 5 times now. Trying to load that game and play further, it happens again shortly after.

I guess I'm waiting for patch 2 now. The game is still somewhat playable, and much more stable on small maps.

 

[HounddogLGS]

A few minutes ago, second time, I got clasical windows
error message and crashed to desktop. And the screen
resolution goes down to 4 bit ( 16 colors) 800x 600. Before
the patch I didn't experience this at all.

I had it do this to me a few times pre-patch. Had to restart to get my video right.

 

[dawn]

What types of maps are you all playing? I do OK on standard maps, but I tried the 1000AD scenario (huge map, lots of civs) and performance becomes unbearable as you make contact with other civs and reveal more of the map. My machine is easily above recommended specs.

I am playing on standard. Waiting on my new machine before I try really large size maps. Got to know my limitations and no reason to get disappointed. Not the fault of the game - it's my machine having the issues.

 

[Gargoyle]

I posted this in the Bug Reports but thought it may be more appropiate here.

Some sound files are missing since the patch. I got a "sounds\hanging gardens file missing" during my last game. In the Bug Reports, another poster responded that other sound files are missing as well.

 

[nyonix]

Gizz 21 pages.... could this be a simptom of a bad patch?

No problems installing patch.

i havent noticed any changes(for the better), movies r still choopy, playing a standart map the game starts to lag a lot when it reaches the 1900s. Dont know if this problem is new,cuz since the begginning i saw so many ppl complainning bout performances i never played a standart or bigger.

Oh well, guess i´m going back to small maps.






P4 2.66
512 DDR400
nvidia 5200FX

 

[Player0]

Patch made absolutely no improvements to performance or stability.

Problems I experienced prior to the patch:
Laggy game play, long load times, slow-to-display (slow is an understatement, we're talking 2-5 minutes) diplomacy dialogue screens, crashes to desktop, complete system crashes.

Problems I have experienced post patch:
Laggy game play, long load times, slow-to-display diplomacy dialogue screens, crashes to desktop. I haven't yet had a full system crash, but given time I'm sure I'll get one.

Computer Specs:
2.16ghz Athlon XP Proccessor w/ 400mhz FSB
1.00GB of RAM
ATI Radeon 9600SE Graphics Card with 128MB of VRAM

I've yet to notice any changes from the patch and I'm definetly unimpressed with this kind of service. Can I get my 50 dollars back please? I'll be happy to download the game if this is what I'm going to get for my money.

 

[MagnumPI]

I have downloaded the patch from Http but having difficulties to install it!

finally it's say patching was ok!

Then came the horror, freeze during the cinematic at startup!

No problem prior to v1.9 pacth with the opening movie or the wonder movies!

Bravo Firaxis&Take2!!!!

You have a legal version or a cracked one, because the cracked version will have different files then the legal one and when the patch searches for the proper files it will find they don't exist.

 

[blue3c]

Pratputajao, something which may interest you:

Turns out that-for some bizarre reason-Civ4.exe gets shifted way down the priority list after the patch, which is one of the possible reasons you are seeing a slowdown AFTER the patch.
My suggestion, thanks to Master-Mike at Apolyton, is as follows:

1. In your main civilization folder, create a new text file.

2. In that text file type the following: cmd /c start /High Civilization4.exe

3. Save this file as Civilization4.bat

4. Restart your computer, then start the game up.

Hopefully, if your situation is anything like mine, then you should regain all of your lost speed. In fact, I have to say that with a combo of the patch AND this batch file, my games are running faster and less laggy than EVER!!!
Hope this helps you !

Yours,
Aussie_Lurker.

OMG so now we are back to high and low mem space. Wait. When did Dos go away. Is it still there just waiting to pounce. Whats next am I going to have to configure my autoexec.bat file for this game. Messing with my config.sys. Aaaaarrrghhhhhh. backwards in time.

 

[Mrdie]

Aaaaarrrghhhhhh. backwards in time.

In the beginning, the earth was without fo- okay too far back.