Updating the German version results in crashes.

from GalCiv2 Forums
Today I received the German version CE of GalCiv2. After installing and briefly running it (ran just fine), I went to the Stardock site, registered my copy, downloaded the Stardock Central and then downloaded the latest patch that was displayed. After its successful installation, the start menu of the game was now in English (wouldn't be a problem), but after clicking "play game", the software now crashes right after the intro (the German intro didn't have any music or speech, my updated version now does). It just says that a bug was encountered and that the application must be closed.

So, what am I to do? The manual refers to the GalCiv2.com site. There is no official German site and thus no patch that is dedicated to the German version of the game. My guess is that every buyer of the German version will do exactly the same as I did (it was just released today, on the 23rd).

I know, I should simply have bought the English version and save myself any such trouble, but well, hindsight ... I'm now sitting here on a CE that I apparently have to uninstall, reinstall, and play in the previous, allgededly slightly buggy version. Not to mention that I am on ISDN (little better than dial-up) and spent the afternoon downloading (and paying for for it) nearly 80 MB for nothing.

Any pointers?

Thanks.
17,964 views 15 replies
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I've ordered the German version too. What should i do when it arrives? Download and install the latest patch or wait for a (possible?) German patch?
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Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well, since R.iese and I have the identical problem, I think that the update may always corrupt the German version. I'll uninstall the game and just reinstall it from the CDs until a solution is found. A possible alternative may be to download the complete game (US version) via Stardock Central with the serial key(s) that come(s) with the German version (the CE came with two codes). I don't know if that will work, though (but it probably will). Then again, since I'm on ISDN it's not really an option for me to download hundreds of megabytes. I mean, there -is- a reason why I bought a boxed version.

I posted about this on the forum of Paradox Games, the German distributor of the game, but I don't know if they will be able to help (and what time frame we're looking at). Here's the link: Link

On a happier note, the German manual has been nicely translated and is looking very good.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
On a happier note, the German manual has been nicely translated and is looking very good.


(a little bit off topic)
How about the localisation of the game? Are the voices good? Are there translation issues or spelling mistake?
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
How about the localisation of the game? Are the voices good? Are there translation issues or spelling mistake?


I didn't really play it much yet. When the game arrived, I installed it, ran it, looked at the tutorials, made sure the game runs, and then went to download the patch (with was a bit involved...). What I noticed was that the German intro had no sound and no speech (after the update, the intro does have sound and English voices - but it crashes after that point). The tutorials in the pre-patch German version had English voices and German "undertitles", so, I guess that voices weren't localized at all. The text itself is well-written, as is the manual. The manual is definitely better translated than localized handbooks usually are, so that's a plus.

I think the German localization was a bit rushed. There is unfortunately no option to toggle the language in the game. English voices and German text is a bit unfortunate and confusing, so it would be nice if we had the option to switch to the English version. Making the game truly multilingual would also fix update troubles. (Brad, I suggested this to you several months ago in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.strategic .)
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
A possible alternative may be to download the complete game (US version) via Stardock Central with the serial key(s) that come(s) with the German version (the CE came with two codes). I don't know if that will work, though (but it probably will).

It should work.

BTW, updating german version willl give you a mixed english/german version, depening of the files that have been updated.

Have you tried to download the patch on www.galciv2.com site? There could be a problem with SDC due to file timestamps: SDC will surely think that some files shouldn't be updated since they are newer that what is registred for the US version while they correspond to an older version.
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Aaah, please fix the german version patch error quickly. I just bought the game today and I hate it when I know there is a patch for a game and I havn't got the patch. Makes me feel like I am missing something.
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Have you tried to download the patch on www.galciv2.com site? There could be a problem with SDC due to file timestamps: SDC will surely think that some files shouldn't be updated since they are newer that what is registred for the US version while they correspond to an older version.


At the risk of sounding dense, but where can I find the standalone update? I see "Update your retail boxed version of Galactic Civilizations II to v1.0X." in the Downloads section, but the "download" button next to the text points to https://www.galciv2.com/collectorsedition/ where the bonus materials can be downloaded (haven't tried those with my German CE yet, by the way). Is the button linked incorrectly, or am I just missing something possibly very obvious?

Thanks!
Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well, the bonus pack was a 1.0D patch

You should try download and install it. If it works, you may try to update to the latest version with SDC.
Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Actually,. it's just the description that says that it is the 1.0D update. The name of the file that is downloaded indicates that it is 1.0X, however. Well, I'm downloading it right now, then I'll install GalCiv2 fresh from the discs, and see if the manually downloaded patch works.
Reply #12 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Follow-up: No, that doesn't work either. The updated game still crashes right after the intro (now already after the Paradox intro (when I updated the movie through SDC, it crashed after the GalCiv2 intro). So, I guess all buyers of the German version, including the CE, are stuck with 1.0, unable to update. It is a little unexpected ...

Perhaps Stardock or Paradox will come up with a fix in the next few days. Alternatively I'd also take the US version, but downloading it really would be a costly option for me.
Reply #13 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
once again; I've ordered the german version of galciv 2 via amazon and after i've read threads like this one, maybe i will send it back when it arrives - i'm not sure yet.
Reply #14 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well, if you don'r mind playing with the US version and have a highspeed connection (unlike me), you can just use the serial code that you'll get with the German retail version and then download GalCiv2 from the official site. If nothing else that would be a temporary solution until Stardock/Paradox come up with a fix for the patch trouble (and it won't be more expensive than if you had bought a license online). The game itself seems to be very good, and I don't regret purchasing it -- what I do regret is that I ordered the German version. (Little off-topic, I also bought Oblivion yesterday, and the localisation is also messed up. Somehow this wasn't a good week.)
Reply #15 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
BTW, have you looked at the thread about WIN2K and Europe?