Versions, patches and all that

[Aragond]

A question I am almost certain has been asked before, and a question I am sure is answered someone on this excellent and very fruity site, BUT...

What the heck are all these different versions?

Alright, let me explain. I have Civ2, plain version. I own Test of Time (recent acquisition is light of the below).

I allegedly own "Civ2 - 12,000 scenarios you ever wanted to play or build for yourself" (no, that ISN'T the official title, but it did have a great ww1 scenario I still want to play) but, moving around the globe means I know I still own it, but cannot find the disks -- is this available "freeware" or cheap somewhere? But IS this what everyone is calling Civ2 Gold?

So, what is MGE? Mac... Gold edition? I presume I cannot play MGE scenarios using TOT or Civ2 basic?

If there is a suitably knowledgeable dude who can lay this all out and describe the versions, feel free to devote a few minutes to this... or to point me to a page that does.

And finally... there are patches? Who? What? When? Why? Huh?

Yours with thanks,
The Aragond.
Alias
"He who has been playing for ages, but not keeping up with everything"

 

[Smash]

Civilization2-classic,with patch=2.42(unable to read events.txt)
Civ2+Fantastic Worlds Add-on-2.78(events,scenario creation tools)
Conflicts in Civilization(scenarios-2.78 or MGE needed)
MGE-Multiplayer Gold Edition-needs patch 1.3(includes FW and Conflicts in Civilization(scenarios)

Versions are not backwards compatible.Can't use MGE on FWas is(converter available).Can't use FW on Classic.A clever marketing ploy.

Cedric Greene has an upgrade for to make Classic>FW or Classic>MGE.Site is in his sig.

 

[Cedric Greene]

Almost got it right Smash. Here we go.
Civ 2 "Classic" latest official release 2.42 very few playable scenarios.
Conflicts in Civ 2.62 plays exactly the same as 2.42 except retiring/quiting a game doesn't exit the program.
Fantastic Worlds 2.7.8l Adds scenario support and creation capabilities, saves/scenarios not backwards compatible.
Multiplayer Gold Edition latest official release 5.4.0f (1.3) Contains 2.42-2.7.8l abilities and adds multiplayer capability. Increased AI hostility. Save/scenarios not backwards compatible.
Test of Time latest official release 1.1, contains MGE plus extra worlds liike Midgard and Sci-Fi. Saves/scenarios not backwards or forwards compatible.
There are programs out there to convert scenarios between the different versions.

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"I just found my way. All you stupid ****ers walk around astounded and drowning." -Tantric
Cedric's Civilization 2 Site-Home of the finally updated "Multiplayer Gold Edition" patch.

 

[Caesar19]

You pose an interesting question. Now you must seek an answer!
Hail Caesar.