PBEM problem

[funbot]

Me and my friend are trying to set up play-by-email game, but oddly when save file is loaded, full map is revealled and map editor is on. We been trying to with and without all the patches (XP/2000 compatibility patch, unofficial patch) but we always keep ending to same situation. Anyone else having similar problem and any idea to solve this? I tried google all around the interwebs, but seems this problem seems rather unique (and damn irritating ><).

--edit

My friend is using XP and i use vista

 

[Petek]

This bug (or one similar to yours) is mentioned in item #16 of a very old bug list on CGN:

Sometimes a password-protected hot-seat/pbem save file will open in the Scenario Editor after you enter your password enabling the player to edit the game with the scenario editor. It is not clear exactly what causes this behaviour.

You may want to start a new game and hope that the bug doesn't occur again. If a new game still has the bug, please post again.

 

[funbot]

we tried again, without any passwords, and same bug occurs >:/

 

[Petek]

Hmm -- That's odd. Please post a save file from the non-password protected game and I'll take a look. Have any other PBEM-players run into this situation?

 

[funbot]

Heres the latest save file that my friend sended from his xp laptop. Second turn, my turn would be now but, yeh.. Aint working for me.

 

[bdanv]

yep. i can confirm the save is bugged. is this a random MP game generated by the computer, or a scenario built by one of you?

 

[funbot]

its fully randomly generated random map. And the version of that game is 4.0 without any other patches on.

 

[funbot]

and strange as it is, this same thing occurs when either of us starts the game and makes the save file. So seems both of us are making bugged save files.

 

[bdanv]

i had the same problem last year. you should try to generate the game from another computer. this is the only solution i know for the issue. also, make sure you have the same level of patching on both computers.

 

[funbot]

when i get back home, i will send savefile that is hosted by me instead of my friend.

--edit

There is a small chance that my friend hasnt realised to uninstall the xp/2000 compatibility patch (he can be bit clueles in this kind of stuff), but we've been trying always keep our versions same. My friend will visit my home with his laptop tonite, so i can check if this is the case. And btw thanks guys for all the fast replies so far, keeps giving me hope that we can get this through eventually X).

 

[bdanv]

and strange as it is, this same thing occurs when either of us starts the game and makes the save file. So seems both of us are making bugged save files.

in this case, i can try to generate the game for you to see if that helps. i will need your preferences for that, of course..

 

[funbot]

Map is fully random, small size.

Factions are morgans and miriam.

And following custom rules are being ticked:

All victory conditions are enabled

Flexible starting locations

tech stagnation enable

supply pods only at landing site

world map not visible

rest of the rules are unticked.

 

[bdanv]

difficulty level?

 

[funbot]

difficulty level?

Ah, transcend, ofc

And our game doesnt include the expainsion btw

 

[bdanv]

the save is attached. no passwords. the game was generated with SMAC v4.0

 

[funbot]

Thanks , will give it a test run when i get home.

 

[Petek]

In funbot's original save file, the scenario editor can be toggled off/on -- shouldn't be possible in a MP game. If the bug-fixing project ever resumes, perhaps this can be fixed with the help of the save file.

@bdanv -- Thanks for your help!

 

[funbot]

its starting to seem that its just a mix up with game versions and corrupted save files. Main reason i couldnt figure out the solution was that i didnt ever realise that in alpha just loading save file can corrupt the file totally with wrong version.

But, this sitation so far:

I tried to load with given clean save file with regular 4.0 version game: Same problem occurs.

Then i patch game with xp/2000 compatiblity patch and load given savefile which is still in my save folder: Same problem occurs.

But then i delete given savefile, load it again from here to my folder and rename it just to be sure. Load the second time loaded clean save file again: Tadaa, it works .

Feeling frisky so i decided to test this also with unofficial patch: Tadaa, it works again

So yeh, seems at some point we got all the versions mixed up after all, bit embarressing rly to fall something like that . My friend is coming over at evening with his laptop so i can make sure that hes using right patches, and hopefully get it all fixed in the end.

And if im correct here and all will start to run smoothly, i have to say sry to you all for wasting your time for something so basic and simple mistake like this, but im still going to thank you guys big time. Without the given savefile i dont think i ever couldnt figure out what was going on (no matter how insignificant and small error it was X)

 

[funbot]

yup, friends laptop is now checked with clean save and all is running smooth. Thanks again for help, you guys saved our day(s)

 

[bdanv]

@funbot: always glad to help a fellow SMACer!
are you and your friend interested in joining the Alpha Centauri Ladder?