Opening strategies

[bongo]

Rasputin, I just recently learned the connection between IE and quitting civ. If I had one or more IE windows open, PTW or c3c would take forever to quit(more like 5 minutes but you get my point). No IE, and it quits in a matter of seconds(10-15).

My system is even weaker, p3@450, 256MB RAM(with 2-3 bit errors.. ) and 40GB HD.

[notyoueither]

That is really interesting. I see a similar freeze. Never a lock up though. After a minute, the system works fine. It is just IE that is effected. I can switch around other apps without issue.

[vondrack]

Same here, just that the "freeze" is shorter - like 15-20 seconds. Prolly because of a bit faster system (P4 @ 1.7Ghz).

One interesting thing to note - I did not have this problem playing the C3C beta test games (C3C betas were quitting in an eyeblink for me). And I was testing on an ancient PII @ 450Mhz system. Haven't tried a C3C game with the release copy yet, though.

nye - does the release C3C behave the same way as release PtW (i.e. long period of semi-freeze after quitting the game)? If it does, it might point to the copy protection system being the culprit... as that one was different in the betas...

[DrSpike]

I am surprised at the amount of problems. Those with IE you can fix by using a better browser of course.

Other than that, my old machine (1.2Ghz, 512MB RAM) ran PTW fine, with minor slowdowns in the modern era if things got busy.

[Dry]

I have 'only' an Athlon (iirc) 660MHz and 384MB ram. W98.
The game is not really fast, but turns are certainly < 1minute, until at least modern era
I have real problems only when I give a try at Deity+ level.
Otherwise, Monarch or Emperor, on huge pangea or continents, 12 players is OK. 16 is a real problem in the industrial age. I try not to play 16 anymore.

The problems I've noticed when quitting was that I could not re-start a game too quickly. It seems there is some cleaning during 2-5 seconds after quitting. At least, my disk is busy.
Sometimes, when I start another game too quickly after quitting something seems corrupted, the game does not start. Usually, waiting a little or starting another directX game (moo2) solve the problem, but I remember that once, I even had to switch off/on my PC to be able to play again.
DirectX stuff? Problems switching the screen size/resolution between game and desktop? I think it takes some time, but is it the reason why my disk is busy? I don't know. I'm not expert enough.

[vmxa1]

Before I replaced my motherboard and memory, I had encountered some freezes with PTW. I also changed hard drives, so I do not know which was the cause. I also felt it was the memory.

It some times crashed as well and IE did at times. It was a real pain. I have not had any since, but I am using C3C now.

[alva]

nye - does the release C3C behave the same way as release PtW (i.e. long period of semi-freeze after quitting the game)? If it does, it might point to the copy protection system being the culprit... as that one was different in the betas...

I had it with every version of Civ, and hmm, being creative never helped
(It seemed to be better with some patches, although that is highly subjective)
I think I even experienced it with no IE window being open.
I asked about this at the private GS forum and DeepO said this could be some programmer trick, to make it look as if it shutsdown really fast (immediately jumping back to the desktop) while in fact it isn't.
(Well it is shutting down of course, but not as fast as they want to make it look )

XP 2000
756MB DDR

[DrSpike]

Mine shuts down immediately.

[alva]

the computer just freezes when changing exiting on and starting th eother.

On the other hand I have run (I think) PTW and the CM4 demo simultanious with no problem at all, while at the same time brouwsing both games main forums.

Edit : corrected tags

[Theseus]

What do people like the most as an alternative to IE?

[alva]

Firefox

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by vondrack
nye - does the release C3C behave the same way as release PtW (i.e. long period of semi-freeze after quitting the game)? If it does, it might point to the copy protection system being the culprit... as that one was different in the betas...

Yes, I think so. As for betas, I may not have noticed since I would not have been rushing to forums after playing betas.

[DrSpike]

Theseus, I use Opera. Many swear by Mozilla. I'd choose between those two personally.

[Theseus]

Which one has the multiple tab view?

[DrSpike]

Opera does for sure, and possibly Mozilla does as well.