Take2Games says patch is coming!

[ElConejo]

Originally posted by gregules
Originally Posted by Firaxis
We have managed to collate a whole load of info about a whole host of problems like the ones you have been experiencing, we aim to get the best patch out possible, I would expect the patch to be hopefully available before the end of the month.

Well at least they are hopeful!

[Brad Mayer]

Originally posted by Brutus66
I could be wrong, but it seems to me that most of the howling is coming from laptop owners, and usually because their vid cards aren't up to the challenge.

I guess it takes all kinds to make a world, but I honestly never understood the obsession with mobile computing. Laptops don't make a practical gaming platform, and if you try to make one into a hotrod it gets expensive. They are also known for limited upgradability, so chances are that in five years from manufacture that hotrod isn't going to handle new gaming software requirements very well.

Personally, give me a tower that I can upgrade with off-the-shelf components, a big old 21" trinitron monitor (you can keep your trendy LCD screens), and plenty of room for scalability.
Leave the laptops to do what they do best: business applications.

"-1 You made an arrogant comment"

OK, last straw - Puullleezz - stop it with the "I'm alright Jack" waste of bandwith.

The instability problems amply described everywhere have nothing to do with hardware, and therefore have nothing to do with laptops vs towers.

It's the software, *&%$#@

[animaster]

I am one of the lucky ones that havent found a single bug so far. The game is running well and the computer still kicks my ass so the AI gives me competition for my money.

Still a patch would be great for those poor souls running on ATI cards, and to make MP a viable option.

[Brutus66]

Originally posted by Brad Mayer


"-1 You made an arrogant comment"

OK, last straw - Puullleezz - stop it with the "I'm alright Jack" waste of bandwith.

The instability problems amply described everywhere have nothing to do with hardware, and therefore have nothing to do with laptops vs towers.

It's the software, *&%$#@

What is arrogant about saying laptops are impractical gaming platforms?
I have a laptop too, but if I'm not out there trying to conquer the Mongolians between the salad and the soup while dining out with the wife, well excuse me all to pieces then.

[Fuzzyhead]

Well, if laptops are that impractical, why then can I merrily conquer the Roman empire while sitting at Starbucks without getting any graphics or performance issue while everyone else is whinging about them?


*whistles*

[marvinkosh]

Laptops are great for mobile gaming. Before my old one had a problem with its charger a few years back and got shelved, I used to use it to play UFO

As far as stability goes, Civ IV is rather typical of today's games - oh, it works all right, but the occasional hiccup (of varying severity) here and there, be it is noticed on everyone's machine or not, points to a software problem.

While I haven't worked on anything with the scope of Civ IV, I have seen the development process up close, and I can tell you that no matter how finished the product seems when you have finished with the actual content, ironing out all the bugs and getting it to run on any random machine is a challenge that would test a saint's patience.

On top of the amount of time it takes to address the issues, you have the patch going through the usual testing so as it doesn't blow up some unfortunate sod's PC when it is used. So really, perhaps we should be hoping it comes out a little later and has some beef to it, as opposed to coming out now and being about as useful as a pound of raw beef

[George Geczy]

As far as stability goes, Civ IV is rather typical of today's games - oh, it works all right, but the occasional hiccup (of varying severity) here and there, be it is noticed on everyone's machine or not, points to a software problem.

Quite simply, making Civ4 more stable would have involved a delay of at least 6 months - especially if they went the route of a more open beta, which adds significant time to the development cycle (but catches a lot of bugs and in particular compatibility issues). Strangely enough, a lot of players would prefer to play early (and get patched) instead of waiting (though, personally, I don't agree with this approach).

The publisher (Take2 / 2KGames in the case of Civ4) also plays a big role in this decision, and for some reason most publishers prefer to rush a title out, take the money early to make their shareholder's happy, and suffer the consequences.

The strange thing is that there are few consequences - players are generally accepting of this tactic, and though people complain about insufficient testing, it rarely shows up in the sales figures of the big titles...

-- George.

[Brutus66]

Originally posted by Fuzzyhead
Well, if laptops are that impractical, why then can I merrily conquer the Roman empire while sitting at Starbucks without getting any graphics or performance issue while everyone else is whinging about them?


*whistles*

Oh, drink your vente latte and hush.

[JakeCourtney]

Well, it's friday and I still do not see any patch. The reason it's taking so long is because they all went on vaction before coming back in to work on a patch.

[Brad Mayer]

Originally posted by Brutus66


What is arrogant about saying laptops are impractical gaming platforms?
I have a laptop too, but if I'm not out there trying to conquer the Mongolians between the salad and the soup while dining out with the wife, well excuse me all to pieces then.

Laptop is absolutely essential for work, not salad. Not going to go out and buy a game platform when I already have a year old laptop that meets all the Civ 4 req. Civ is the only game I ever play (except for Rise of Nations, while waiting for Civ4). Don't have time for the rest.

But this whole laptop discussion is absurd in connection with Civ4's performance problems. (First point of arrogance). Those that have not experienced severe problems (game routinely crashing to desktop about every 5 turns or right around when a new tech is discovered in the Renaissance Era), exhibiting the same crash sequence every time (Game hesitates, then game components vanish leaving bare terrain visible, a minute goes by, and either the components snap back, or the game proceeds to crash), clearly have no incentive to read the many, many similiar crash reports posted here and on civfanatics (second point of arrogance).

Laptops is a total red herring. Rise of Nations doesn't have problems, why? Because it is by now a finished, stable, gold product. That's all that is at issue here, the rest is BS.

At the same time - unlike the useless "I'm Alright Jack" types - there have also been posters who have the sense (and personal decency) to recognize that, yes indeedy, a 1.0 release may have stability issues in general even if they don't manifest themselves in their little platform world.

Oh, well, was hoping someone would catch the joke:
"-1 You made an arrogant comment"

Ive played the game that far, at least. When an AI civ rejects a demand for tribute, you are dinged -1 in diplomacy with that civ (they seem to remember it for a long time, too), with the comment:

"-1 You made an arrogant demand"

[nhall70]

The reason Rise of Nations runs on a laptop is because it is primarily a 2D application. It does not make use of current 3D technology the way Civ4 does.

Now you can debate all day long whether or not 3D was a good choice for Civ4 and opinions will vary.

But I don't think it's fair to compare the performance of a current game to the performance of a game that came out years ago using technology from years ago. If the technology from years ago is good enough for you, then play games from years ago.

I myself like the rapid pace of technology advancement in games. It's one of the main reasons I keep playing. When the technology stops innovating, then I'll stop buying. The developers know this...that's why they do it.

Cheers.

[Brutus66]

Maybe he needs to upgrade his video card... oh that's right; it's a laptop; can't do that

Seriously though, if your system is really up to game specs, then you may have a valid argument regarding the game's stability, but you will never convince me that a laptop is a practical choice for gaming. They are lower powered, extremely limited as to upgradability, you're somewhat limited as to add-ons, and for the sake of portability you pay probably double the cost of a desktop.

[ElConejo]

Originally posted by Brutus66
Maybe he needs to upgrade his video card... oh that's right; it's a laptop; can't do that

Seriously though, if your system is really up to game specs, then you may have a valid argument regarding the game's stability, but you will never convince me that a laptop is a practical choice for gaming. They are lower powered, extremely limited as to upgradability, you're somewhat limited as to add-ons, and for the sake of portability you pay probably double the cost of a desktop.

But... but I love my laptop... it has come with me so far... to friends houses.. to lan parties... to and from both my chaotic parent's homes... all the way to college... I guess I could always get one to replace her tho...

[ElConejo]

Originally posted by JakeCourtney
Well, it's friday and I still do not see any patch. The reason it's taking so long is because they all went on vaction before coming back in to work on a patch.

Lets hope they are coming back!

[Brad Mayer]

Well, this has come down to nothing but semantics. Of course a laptop is not _optimal_ - I'd never argue with that, but it certainly has been _practical_ in my experience (say, Rise of Nations and other relatively resource hungry programs) - except for THIS game. And that is my point - it is a mistake to generalize from the standpoint of optimality.

BTW, I am not anxious for an immediate patch, given that this looks like a performance issue. These are not easy to fix. Given the nature of the issue, I am quite willing to wait for a patch that fixes it in one fell swoop. I'm willing to wait months...

Originally posted by Brutus66
Maybe he needs to upgrade his video card... oh that's right; it's a laptop; can't do that

Seriously though, if your system is really up to game specs, then you may have a valid argument regarding the game's stability, but you will never convince me that a laptop is a practical choice for gaming. They are lower powered, extremely limited as to upgradability, you're somewhat limited as to add-ons, and for the sake of portability you pay probably double the cost of a desktop.