Stardock Update kills German Installation

Reproduceable

from GalCiv2 Forums
It is very sad, because this also happend with the original GalCiv. Could we Germans at least get a free English version to download then?

Description: After the update by Stardock, the game crashes with an unhelpful message "unexpected error" when the intro video ends.

This also happens on three other installions of friends and colleagues.

BTW: Stardock says it "archives" the game - but where does it put the files?

And could you please TEST THE LANGUAGE of the game before you update?



Debug Message: Version v1.0X.1 last updated on: Mon Mar 6 13:57:14 2006

Debug Message: Could not find a TGN Serial No.

Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********

System Info

Time: 3/25/2006, 09:08:39

DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)

Machine Name: EL-DORADO

Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)

Languages: German (Regional Setting: German)

System Manufacturer: GBT___

System Model: AWRDACPI

BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG

Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.40GHz (2 CPUs)

Physical Memory: 2048MB RAM

Page File: 467MB used, 3473MB available

Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS





Display Info

Display device 1:

Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1

Card Name: RADEON X800 XT

Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.

Chip Type: RADEON X800 XT (0x5D57)

DAC Type: Internal DAC(400MHz)

Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_5D57&SUBSYS_00441043&REV_00

Display Memory: 256.0 MB

Current Display Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (75Hz)

Monitor Name: Philips 109S (109S2)

Monitor Max Resolution: 1920,1440

Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll

Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6587

Driver Date: 1/5/2006 04:46:59

DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes







Sound info

Sound device 1:

Description: SB Audigy 2 ZS Audio [A000]

Default Sound Playback: Yes

Default Voice Playback: Yes

Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0004&SUBSYS_20021102&REV_04

Manufacturer ID: 1

Product ID: 100

Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys

Provider: Creative

Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0442

Driver Date: 11/19/2003 03:13:54

Type: WDM

Other Drivers:

Acceleration Level: 3

Cap Flags: 0

Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0







Debug Message: *********END dxdiag info.*********

Debug Message: Entering WinMain

Debug Message: ******* Starting Game Shell *******

Debug Message: Going Fullscreen

Debug Message: Preparing to change display settings.

Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_4_SAMPLES

Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1280 x 1024

Debug Message: Running fullscreen.

Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): RADEON X800 XT

Debug Message: D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_DEFAULT

Debug Message: Refresh rate: 75

Debug Message: Bit Depth: 32 bit.

Debug Message: *********Checking D3DDevice Caps***********************

Debug Message: A full-color cursor is supported in hardware at high resolution modes.

Debug Message: RGB in format 6:6:6, Masks reported as ff0000:ff00:ff

Debug Message: Now Fullscreen

Debug Message: Shell initialization complete

Debug Message: ***** Initializing Game *****

Debug Message: Timer Frequency is 0 cba97380

Debug Message: Initializing sound card.

Debug Message: initailizing bink

Debug Message: Create setup screens.

Debug Message: Clear galaxy settings.

Debug Message: Clear influence.

Debug Message: Clear up laws.

Debug Message: Clear first time events.

Debug Message: Clear wonders and trade goods.

Debug Message: Clear sector mapper.

Debug Message: Set mouse.

Debug Message: Set update timer.

Debug Message: Clear data definitions.

Debug Message: No files found matching mask E:\Techno's Stuff\My Games\GalCiv2\*.StarSystems

Debug Message: No files found matching mask E:\Techno's Stuff\My Games\GalCiv2\*.raceconfig
5,516 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It is very sad, because this also happend with the original GalCiv. Could we Germans at least get a free English version to download then?


With your German version, you received a serial key. Register this serial key and use Stardock Central to download GalCiv2 (the US version). Stardock Central will list GalCiv2 as "purchased software" in the menu, so you can download it easily. Note that this will only work if you have no GalCiv2 installed (remove the German version first). The key of the German CE will also work. If you try this while the German version is installed, Stardock Central will only offer the updates (which will corrupt the German installation).

It's what I have been/am doing, too. Works fine, but it's quite the download -- almost 1 GB. I started the download yesterday (only have ISDN), and it'll finish some time later today. That'll cost me nearly 30 bucks in phone charges, but I paid for the game, and I don't want to have to play the old version (poorly and incompletely translated) or wait weeks and months for updates and patches. The game's promising, so this is worth it to me.
TouchTasks - Access tasks with ease on Windows touchscreens.
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
You DON'T need to download the whole game!
Just take a look on this: https://forums.galciv2.com/index.aspx?ForumID=162&AID=109572
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Yes, I saw it, but I don't really want to fiddle around with files. This may or may not work in the long run, or may or may not cause problems with future updates. Had I seen the post before I had downloaded half a gig already, I would probably have given it a whirl, but well, it's just ten more hours now, so who cares. At least I know that the version I'll have will be 100% compatible with all upcoming patches, and that makes it worth for me. I hate having to worry about being able to play games I enjoy, and I know that I'll enjoy GalCiv2 for the next few years. It's very incovenient right now, and I'm not really a happy camper, but I don't hold grudges, and in the larger picture it's a small thing anyway.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It WILL work, this is because of the organisation of the files. Only the language-dependend files could cause this trouble, so only these need to be changed.
You can even enter the missing entries in the German files, and this works, too (I'm running 1.0x.2 on German now).
But it's up to you, on the one side spend money for downloading and on the other side running the copy-way and trust Frogboys words who say next patch will support other languages correctly.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
double post
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Nah, it's not that I don't trust Brad -- have known him for years now, and I value and treasure him (we both frequent the same Usenet discussion group), so that's not the issue. But there's Paradox in the picture, too, and whenever two companies work on something, things get slowed down, miscommunication creeps in, and I just don't want to have to wait, worry or deal with any more trouble. But as I said, by the time I had read your post I think it was yours), I had already downloaded half of the US version. Right now I only have 231 MB left, so I'm almost there. I guess I just want to be able to play without worrying. That doesn't mean that I don't appreciate your effort or that I believe the workaround doesn't work. It's just that I want this settled (for myself) and not have to expierment.
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
BTW, What do you think about the proposal made here https://www.galciv2.com/Forums.aspx?ForumID=162&AID=109654 ?
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
TW, What do you think about the proposal made here https://www.galciv2.com/Forums.aspx?ForumID=162&AID=109654 Link ?


I've always been a huge fan of multilingual games. For one, they are much easier to update (lanaguage files separated from the actual code), better to maintain *and* also allow for world-wide, simultaneous releases of patches (nobody feels alienated or like a second rate customer), plus they give the player the chance to play the game in their preferred language regardless of where they purchased the product. The latter is a particular nice benefit for people who are learning a foreign language, too. With the advent of the DVD medium I actually hoped that multilingual games would become the rule rather than the exception, but sadly, there are still precious few games that allow you to switch the language (at least of the text). Civilization 4 was one of those, and I was pleasantly surprised at that.