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Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar 1.6 released!

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Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar 1.6 released!

Update includes new graphics engine, new features and more!

from GalCiv2 Forums

Stardock has released its first major update to Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar. The award winning strategy game has garnered universally positive reviews since its release but Stardock’s update not only addresses minor bugs and play balancing but includes a brand new graphics engine!

"Many of our game developers have been working on our next game, a fantasy strategy game and in the process have made real advances in 3D engine development," said Brad Wardell, Designer of Galactic Civilizations. "We wanted to bring some of those performance advancements into Galactic Civilizations."

As a result, players have reported seeing a 10X graphics performance improvement.

"Now players can play on gigantic maps and be zoomed out quite a ways to display hundreds or thousands of ships and still get fantastic performance," said Wardell.

While significant features are common in Stardock’s free updates for its games, a full-blown engine upgrade sets a new bar. The new version also includes dozens of new features as well based on player feedback.

Registered users can download the update via Stardock Central, the company’s unique download manager that not only allows users to update its games but can install the entire game from scratch without requiring the CD onto multiple home computers.

Galactic Civilizations II: Gold Edition is available at most retail stores in North America and includes both the original Galactic Civilizations II as well as the Dark Avatar expansion pack.

A full listing of what's changed can be found here: https://forums.galciv2.com/?aid=154562. The home page for Galactic Civilizations II is https://www.galciv2.com.

Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar v1.6
Requires: Galactic Civilizations II or Galactic Civilizations II: Gold Edition
Price: Free Update to existing customer, new users can purchase at www.galciv2.com or at their local PC game retailer
See it at: https://www.galciv2.com

Developer:
Stardock Corp. (www.stardock.com).
15090 Beck Rd.
Plymouth MI 48170

Screenshots:

58,302 views 53 replies
Reply #26 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Stardock Central is unable to find the DA 1.6 release!

-- [Installing] -----------------------------------------------------
Server: http://sdc1.stardock.com
Server Dir: public
Network Id: drengin
Name: Dark Avatar (Expansion Pack) for Galactic Civilizations II
App Id: gc2
Installed: True
Version: 1.60.089
Type: beta
Reg Key: GalCiv2
Install Dir: C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2
Exe: DarkAvatar\DALaunch.exe
Last Updated: 06/07/2007

-- [Account] --------------------------------------------------------
First Name: xxxxx
Last Name: xxxxxx
Email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Error: Attempt: 1 | Module Request Failed: The module you have requested is no longer available. (ref: 201)
Error: Attempt: 2 | Module Request Failed: The module you have requested is no longer available. (ref: 201)
Error: Attempt: 3 | Module Request Failed: The module you have requested is no longer available. (ref: 201)
Server: Using other server http://sdc2.stardock.com
Error: Attempt: 1 | Module Request Failed: The module you have requested is no longer available. (ref: 201)
Error: Attempt: 2 | Module Request Failed: The module you have requested is no longer available. (ref: 201)
Error: Attempt: 3 | Module Request Failed: The module you have requested is no longer available. (ref: 201)
Result: Installation failed (9)

Reply #27 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I am getting the same error as Mascrinthus. Is there something wrong with the download?
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Reply #28 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Mascrinthus, Terl, did you guys try turning off show prerelease and refreshing XML as noted above? I just ran the update on my laptop and it worked without any problem.
Reply #29 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
How do you download the new .xml?

Is it part of release 8 or do you get someplace else?
Reply #30 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Mascrinthus, Terl, did you guys try turning off show prerelease and refreshing XML as noted above? I just ran the update on my laptop and it worked without any problem.


I had that problem too, kryo, but only if I let it auto update from the "A new version of GC2 is out! Do you want to upgrade?" dialog that popped up in SDC.

If I stopped that and chose to upgrade each piece manually from the list of games, it worked just fine.
Reply #31 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I'm unable to get the 1.6 update. Just FYI: I refreshed XML and cleared the pre-release checkbox.

Error message:

Error: Attempt: 3 | Module Request Failed: The module you have requested is no longer available. (ref: 201)
Result: Installation failed (9)

I have tried downloading the update from the two different Stardock servers: US-1 and US-2.

I've had similar troubles before. You might revisit the update process?

Thanks.

Eric
Reply #32 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Kryo: "Mascrinthus, Terl, did you guys try turning off show prerelease and refreshing XML as noted above? I just ran the update on my laptop and it worked without any problem."

dthought: "I had that problem too, kryo, but only if I let it auto update from the "A new version of GC2 is out! Do you want to upgrade?" dialog that popped up in SDC.

If I stopped that and chose to upgrade each piece manually from the list of games, it worked just fine."

Unchecking the show prerelease and refreshing the XML(F5) made no different but dthought's solution worked!

With my NVidia GeForce FX5200 and all video options enabled, I was getting ~8 fps when zoomed in and ~12 fps zoomed out when including HARDWAREVP on DA 1.6 beta 4. With the last beta this dropped down to 1-2 fps when zoomed in! I'm happy to report with the final DA 1.6 DA, it is using MIXEDVP rather than SOFTWAREVP and I'm seeing ~15 fps when fully zoomed out and ~30 fps when fully zoomed in!
Reply #33 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Mascrinthus, Terl, did you guys try turning off show prerelease and refreshing XML as noted above? I just ran the update on my laptop and it worked without any problem.


Thanks. I tried the method above but it did not work. I just went ahead uninstalled and reinstalled and all is well with the world

Reply #34 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I'm unable to get the 1.6 update. Just FYI: I refreshed XML and cleared the pre-release checkbox.

Error message:

Error: Attempt: 3 | Module Request Failed: The module you have requested is no longer available. (ref: 201)
Result: Installation failed (9)


Try the solution I suggested above - cancel the "new version!" dialog box and upgrade each piece manually from the list.
Reply #35 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It's working! It's working! 
Reply #36 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Hey, I got a quick question: is the AI still incredibly stingy with diplomatic deals and trades (i.e. only $400 for a WHOLE PLANET or an entire tech tree's worth of stuff)) as it was in the last patch?
Reply #37 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
How EXACTLY do I get this upgrade?

I have been trying for 30 minutes now, can you give me THE EXACT LINK to the Download please?
Reply #38 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
How EXACTLY do I get this upgrade?


Open SDC, click Games at the left, then find GC2 under the Purchased Products heading on the right. Expand GC2 with the +, select DA and click the Update button that appears.

Normally you'd just get a popup automatically prompting you to update when you start SDC, but there seems to be an issue with that and 1.6. The manual route I described should work fine though.

There is no direct download link, it's available only via SDC.
Reply #39 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
SDC refuses to validate that I have the game, it confirms my e-mail and password, and when the DL is about to start it stops with the error message that the product can't be validated!!!

What the hell is going on here??!
Reply #40 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
SDC refuses to validate that I have the game, it confirms my e-mail and password, and when the DL is about to start it stops with the error message that the product can't be validated!!!


In that case please contact [email protected]. You should receive an automated response shortly after you send the mail with your ticket number; if you don't, check your spam/bulk folders.

If you can't email support or get no response at all, you can submit a ticket directly through this page. Just click next, then fill out the form and submit it (no need to log in or register there).
Reply #41 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I am at my wits end. I have no clue how to download the patch. Between the whacky registration and the downloading of stardocks surfing junk, I have never met such a longwinded round about way of trying to get an upate. Updating or patching a game should be a simple procedure - That's why most games have an update mechanism built in.
Reply #42 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Do you have Stardock Central installed? It sounds like you do, if not, go to Stardock.com and get that first.

Open SDC, click Games in the left nav bar, click the "+" sign beside Galactic Civilizations II, then click the "Update" button for any item that has one. When it's all finished, voila, you have the patch installed.
Reply #43 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Where's the download link for the 1.6 update? Reason I ask is because my SDC brings me to the home page every time I press update, is it suppost to do that?
Reply #44 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Reason I ask is because my SDC brings me to the home page every time I press update, is it suppost to do that?


Chances are you don't have the game properly registered--check that your serials for both DA and DL are registered in SDC's Tools menu->Register Products dialog.
Reply #45 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Hey Frogboy

Were the @#$@$ do you get the 1.6 free download. I've been following circular links and tryig to find it for over an hour now. Have you guys ever heard of direct links? I see that I'm not the only one who is tired of this folly. My personal opionion is that - SD you are pathetic.

ckcress
Reply #46 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Froggy

I have to ammend by previous post - Stardock is beyond pathetic. Following your instruction in the post above:

"Open SDC, click Games in the left nav bar, click the "+" sign beside Galactic Civilizations II, then click the "Update" button for any item that has one. When it's all finished, voila, you have the patch installed."

Well clicking the update button next Dark Avatar II - sent me to the purchase page! You've already stiffed me for the $10 rebate (never got it) now you want me to buy the game again!. You must think I'm some kind of fool. Only syncophantic shills like GFW (formerly CGW, which recommended you) would think you are worth anything.
Reply #47 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Stardock is NOT pathetic. Perhaps you're having trouble getting the update, however, this does not make Stardock the main culprit. I have used SDC since the first GalCiv and once I became used to it and how it worked I have never had a problem since. You seem to be new to it so I understand your initial frustration. Frustration should not lead to grand generalizations, as Stardock is trying to solve your problem with timely responses to your posts. If they were truly pathetic they would not even respond to you, like most other developers and publishers. Chill out and Stardock will try to remedy the situation. They always do!
Reply #48 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well clicking the update button next Dark Avatar II - sent me to the purchase page!


Check in SDC's Tools menu->Register Products dialog that you have both DL and DA properly registered to your account (if not, do so).
Reply #49 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
As a Recent Purchaser of GalCiv 2 Gold Edition, I was wondering where I might aquire these updates. Help is most appreciated.
Reply #50 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
As a Recent Purchaser of GalCiv 2 Gold Edition, I was wondering where I might aquire these updates. Help is most appreciated.


1) Get Stardock Central (our download manager, used to get patches or even the entire game should you not have your discs handy to install from).

2) Install it and log in with the same account you made for the forum.

3) Go to the Tools menu in SDC, and choose Register Products.

4) Pick Games on the left in the Register Products window, then find GalCiv2 in the Product pull-down menu. Enter your email address (same as forum account, again) and serial number, then click Register. If you have GC2 Gold, repeat for Dark Avatar (use the same serial).

5) Back at the main screen of SDC, pick Games on the left. You should see GalCiv2 under a Purchased Products heading on the right side. Select it and click the Update button that appears.

6) Click the + next to GalCiv2 and update Dark Avatar as well if you have it.

That should do the trick. If you encounter an error message while trying to register the serial in (4), please contact [email protected].