What's the drill with patches

[RobRoy]

Hey, heard some good things about the game and thinking of buying.

But I've also that they're patching policy is somewhat restrictive. Or maybe that was their copy protection scheme?

Can anyone give me the facts of the matter. Are patches limited and/or require registration and/or require additional purchases? Will I need to keep the original disk in the drive?

I prefer a simple purchase from an old brick and mortar store and no constraints on downloading patches and updates. Am I dreaming?

Also how is performance? I've been disappointed in how Civ IV and EU III have performed on my machine. Is GalCiv just as much a resource hog?

Thanks.

[Solver]

No no, the patching policy for this game is probably the best out there. First of all, the patches add a lot - they improve the AI, add new game features, etc. GalCiv2 really came a long way through the patches. Secondly, there are no extra purchases required, you just download the patch. And GalCiv2 doesn't even have CD protection. You just need to activate the game after buying, which is done easily by typing your CD key in, and you're done.

Performance, for me, has been stellar. If you're running a dual-core machine, there are no wait times between turns. GalCiv2, at any rate, consumes even less resources than Civ4, so can be expected to run better on the same PC.

[RobRoy]

Originally posted by Solver
You just need to activate the game after buying, which is done easily by typing your CD key in, and you're done.

Thanks, Solver

Does the CD key activication put anything funky on your PC, that you know of?

How about if I'm downloading patches to a different machine than the one my game is installed on? Is that likely to screw things up?

Or what if I move the game to a different machine, would that be problematic?

[Solver]

Stardock is very open about the whole process. They're against copy-protection and such stuff, so no, it really is a hassle-free process.

You can download the patches through Stardock Central (their download manager), but you can also download them as regular files, in which case you can easily download from a computer other than the one you have the game on.

If by moving the game you mean simply re-installing it on a different machine, I haven't had problems doing so.

You may also want to look at what the people on the official forums are saying.

[Hydro]

As Master Solver has said, Stardock is stellar in supporting their game with excellent patches.

I downloaded the GalCiv2 patches to my old gateway (~1999) PC and then transferred the patch via my home network to my working PC. It didn’t work. I e-mailed Stardock and they sent me a special file to put in my GalCiv2 directory and after that it worked fine. This is somewhat cumbersome and I did end up scrapping the idea of a gateway PC (which is redundant if you have a good firewall, spyware, and virus protection), so now my working PC has a direct connection to the internet and I don’t need the special file anymore. I had no significant problems once I was able to figure out what was required. Stardock responded within a day, as I recall.

I’ve had no problems with ‘funky’ files on my PC. The primary files that are required are the game files (of course) and the Stardock portal program, which is where you get all patches and updates.

Hydro

[RobRoy]

Originally posted by Hydro
I downloaded the GalCiv2 patches to my old gateway (~1999) PC and then transferred the patch via my home network to my working PC. It didn’t work. I e-mailed Stardock and they sent me a special file to put in my GalCiv2 directory and after that it worked fine. This is somewhat cumbersome and I did end up scrapping the idea of a gateway PC (which is redundant if you have a good firewall, spyware, and virus protection)...

I’ve had no problems with ‘funky’ files on my PC. The primary files that are required are the game files (of course) and the Stardock portal program, which is where you get all patches and updates...

Thanks, gentlemen.

Well, I purchased the game at lunch and was trying to register and what-not at galciv2.com and find the downloads. Some difficulties doing that, but probably just stupid unfamiliarity with their site. I left a message on their system, so maybe I'll get a useful response there.

But it sounds like you're saying I'll also need a special file which I should request through e:mail if my game PC is not my internet PC? Right? But you're pretty sure this wouldn't fall into the catagory of "funky" (like an executable of some sort).

What's the Stardock portal program? Is that something that installs when I load the game? Or when I download the patch? Or is it a separate install? I'm having trouble understanding what it is/why I need it.

[Solver]

The unlocking/activation file you would get is merely a binary signature file, not anything remotely executable. Besides, I'll take my hat off to a programmer capable of creating a malicious executable that is 256 bytes of size

Stardock Central is a separate application you can get from their site. It essentially can manage the whole patching process and such for you, as well as download additional content for the game.

[Hydro]

As I recall the process to get GalCiv2 patches went something like this:

• Install GalCiv2
• Install Stardock program – this program is an EXE that is used as an interface to verify the digital signature (as Solver helpfully indicated) and show what version of the files you currently have and what versions are available. This program is used by Stardock for all of their products (or at least many of them).
• Register GalCiv2
• When you get the confirmation from Stardock/GalCiv 2 then you should be able to download the patches.

The GalCiv2 web site likely has more how-tos. It did take a little poking around before I figured out how their novel system works.

Erik

[RobRoy]

Originally posted by Hydro
As I recall the process to get GalCiv2 patches went something like this:

� Install GalCiv2
� Install Stardock program � this program is an EXE that is used as an interface to verify the digital signature (as Solver helpfully indicated) and show what version of the files you currently have and what versions are available. This program is used by Stardock for all of their products (or at least many of them).
� Register GalCiv2
� When you get the confirmation from Stardock/GalCiv 2 then you should be able to download the patches.

The GalCiv2 web site likely has more how-tos. It did take a little poking around before I figured out how their novel system works.

Erik

Hmmm...I'm thinking I jumped the gun and bought too quickly. I've succeeded in registering, but no joy on patches, so far.

According to what I'm now hearing, you HAVE to have this funky Stardock download manager installed on your computer?! Or in my case two computers?! I've been e:mailing their tech support also and they also REALLY seem to be pushing this download manager.

But I REALLY resent and resist putting strange software on my computers.

Surely there is some simpler and less invasive method available? Solver, did you say you could also download them as regular files, somewhere? Could you point me in the right direction.

[Island Dog]

From this page you can download the patch, or Stardock Central, which I recommend. If you have Stardock Central you will always be sure you have the latest updates.

http://www.galciv2.com/Downloads.aspx

[Solver]

I can recall the patches being released as regular files on FileFront, for instance.

[Island Dog]

But I REALLY resent and resist putting strange software on my computers.

I wouldn't call Stardock Central "strange" software. It's a central download manager that is great for purchasing or keeping updated your games and/or software.

You can download the patch from the link I posted above.

[RobRoy]

Originally posted by Solver
I can recall the patches being released as regular files on FileFront, for instance.

I see a bunch of old stuff, but no recent patches there.

Originally posted by Island Dog
From this page you can download the patch...

That page does, indeed, have Stardock Central, but, again, no recent patches.

Originally posted by Island Dog
I wouldn't call Stardock Central "strange" software. It's a central download manager that is great for purchasing or keeping updated your games and/or software.

I call it spyware. I don't want it.

Unfortunately, Stardock's e:mail support confirms that I cannot get their patches without installing their spyware.

I've asked them to instruct me on obtaining a refund. Insisting on spyware is a far more restrictive and obnoxious form of copy protection than any key disk requirement!

[Hydro]

I'm sorry to hear that you're unhappy with GalCiv2.

Just out of curriousity, yhy do you call Stardock Central spyware? It does nothing more than any software that checks for updates, which includes Windows, anti-virus protection programs, and firewalls.

Hydro

[Solver]

No offense, RobRoy, but is this anything more than a knee jerk reaction? Have you investigated how Stardock Central works, or seen it perform strange actions?