1.5x non-SDC release

It's actually been stated that DA updates are going to only come through SDC, at least until the "final" ones. If you can install SDC on your work computer you could get it through the archive function.

Thanks Vinraith I'll give it a try.

Sorry, but wouldn't the game have to be installed also on that computer for archive to work?

Oh, yes, yes it would. Sorry, I've never actually done this I've just read the explanation of how to. What you want to do is download and install the game, then archive it and burn that along with a copy of SDC onto a disc. Then you can install SDC on your system at home and use it to install the archived game. Since the version you downloaded will be the newest build of the game, that'll get the job done.

Honestly I think the whole thing's excessively roundabout and they should just give you the option to download and archive the patch but what are you going to do?

Hope that helps, if not I'm sure someone more knowledgable will be along.

Well, it's pretty obvious they are using this whole thing as part of their copy protection/DRM scheme. If they can control who gets the patch, they can keep piracy down quite a bit. I know you have to activate it, but I would guess that pirates figured a way around that. (Since they usually do).

No standalone patch...What a huge letdown. I just don't get it! What made Stardock choose not to release them anymore? I purchased the game, Pre-ordered DA back in July, I have a valid licence and I am therefore entitled to upgrades and patches...Having to install the game on another machine to be able to archive the whole game directory is just too lame. So since my main computer is offline, and that I have no hi speed connection, I can't update the game anymore.

Actually no, you don't need to install. You can download direct to an archive if you like (right click on any software in SDC you don't have installed and choose Archive->Download and Archive). Granted you still have to download the whole thing (can't do an inremental update unless it's installed), but you don't actually need to install, and if you're on broadband, 250-300MB for a patch probably isn't that big a deal.

OK, I'm wrong, and I've probably stirred the shit in the process. Sorry about that.

Well sounds like a pain, but doable, however, let's throw another wrench in the cog. I purchased retail, and not the downloadable version. I'm starting to have flashbacks of Valve and their infamous STEAM headache.

And no, I really don't want to have to, nor should I, bring in my game and install it from the disc. This is my work computer (government), and while downloading a brief patch is acceptable, installing an entire game along with SDC then having to download an update, archive it, burn it, then take it home just to patch the expansion is absurd and unacceptable.

Thanks.

You don't need the disc at all, actually, just your serial number(s). What kryo's saying is that you can install SDC and then download/archive the game in one fell swoop, no game installation required. Then you take that archive file and stick it on a disc and take it home.

It's a pain, yes, but still nowhere close to being as intrusive as STEAM.

Real pity...
This is no beter then Starforce, just different...

That's completely ridiculous. I don't like SD's system, frankly, but comparing it to Starforce is just absurd. STEAM is the better comparison, and SDC isn't nearly as intrusive or broken as even that.

And once SDC is installed and set up with your account, it's no more effort getting later updates than with a standalone download. Just open SDC again, download a new archive, and tote it to the other computer.

Well, one must not forget that a non SDC 1.5X patch for DA should also include a non SDC 1.5X patch for GC2...

 

Let me ask you this, and thanks for your help Vinraith and Kryo, but is the patch worth the trouble even, based on what I've heard about defense being too powerful, trading techs now too tough, save crashes, etc.?

Should I just wait for the next one?

I have to admit, I can get away with a minimal patch download over my work computer's broadband, but downloading a 200+ app in its entirety may alert the bandwidth police at city hall, less I wait till late when the tech dept is gone home for the night...hmm...   

One more thing, when you say download and burn the archive are you meaning the whole game along with the patch to disc, which I then must reinstall the whole game overtop my current installation just to get the update? Or are you saying that after downloading the entire app along with the patch I can just burn the update to disc, and install it solely, once at home?

Thanks.

While the biggest issue for many is the metaverse cheat flagging, that's up to you. Hopefully there will be another patch soon to fix that at least, so waiting for that (and anything else it may fix) may be prudent if the PQ issue in 1.5 doesn't annoy you too much.



There's not really any material difference--just double-click on the archive on your home machine and SDC will handle the update. Note that you will need to make a trip back to a net-connected machine to activate once you've patched.