Just Wondering... (A patch question)

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Author Topic:   Just Wondering... (A patch question)

Imran Siddiqui posted 03-20-99 05:28 PM ET
There are many versions of the enhancements for SMAC. There is a US version, a UK version, a French version, ands a German version. Now, what is is the difference between the UK and US versions? I don't see why they would be any different.
Also what patch do our friends from Australia and New Zealand use? Just curious.
Imran Siddiqui
Corwin posted 03-20-99 06:56 PM ET
If I remember right, the difference between the versions is very small. It' mostly due to different retailers and their requirement for some copy-protections that the versions are different.
Shining1 posted 03-20-99 09:01 PM ET
Imran: I've been downloading the US patches, and that runs 'perfectly'. So we're using the U.S version, and not the U.K one. Which is a relief.
Scarab posted 03-25-99 10:55 AM ET
I agree with Imrans ironic comment.
Why is it that patches for the UK-version almost always are later then those for US. It�s the same language right? Why does it even have to be one UK and one US version of the game? Myself being in a country with
UK-versions find this extremly annoying since I always have to wait for patches. This is not something uniqe to SMAC but concerns most games but that makes it just so more irritating. If the diff really is that small the UK and US patch could be released at the same time.
RobKid posted 03-25-99 11:56 AM ET
IIRC, I read on sites for other games (I think it may have been Baldur's Gate) that UK/Europe versions are required to have extra copyright protection (not sure exactly what). This delays the patches slightly as they modify the US patch or alter the UK version with the updates and then create a new patch. Essentially, they have to maintain multiple versions of their software, which always makes maintenance harder.
Zoetrope posted 03-26-99 04:16 AM ET
Why don't Firaxis, EA, and all developers and distributors say thus: ``If <whoever you dogs in the manger are> want our game, then you have to accept the US version, or face the wrath of your customers.''
It's not as though SMAC is unsuitable for children and has to stand in the Film and Literature Classification queue for weeks.
Fact is, most games _don't_ have a `European' version or an `Asia-Pacific' label.
Moreover, unlike what's _possible_ in Europe, there is no `Asia-Pacific' retail games treaty encompassing Asia and Oceania, so the labelling is silly.
It has to be some deal within or between the distributors. I assure you all emphatically that Australian retailers don't care in the least what version they sell, as long as it moves off the shelves. Likewise, to the best of my knowledge the Australian government has no regulations requiring a non-US label on imports; the attitude is quite the contrary: we're busy putting US labels on most of our public utilities.
tOFfGI posted 03-26-99 06:49 AM ET
Fact is, most of them do. Look on the front, and you will see a european rating system with four tics or crosses instead of the american one. It's due to an EU directive forcing european games to carry copy protection.
Mortis posted 03-26-99 06:59 AM ET
The US patches work fine on an Asia-Pacific version.
MoSe posted 03-26-99 11:10 AM ET
In Italy, US version released Feb 23.
No copy protection (guess, didn't try).
US patches work.
EU directive infringment?
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Author	Topic: Just Wondering... (A patch question)
Imran Siddiqui	posted 03-20-99 05:28 PM ET There are many versions of the enhancements for SMAC. There is a US version, a UK version, a French version, ands a German version. Now, what is is the difference between the UK and US versions? I don't see why they would be any different. Also what patch do our friends from Australia and New Zealand use? Just curious. Imran Siddiqui
Corwin	posted 03-20-99 06:56 PM ET If I remember right, the difference between the versions is very small. It' mostly due to different retailers and their requirement for some copy-protections that the versions are different.
Shining1	posted 03-20-99 09:01 PM ET Imran: I've been downloading the US patches, and that runs 'perfectly'. So we're using the U.S version, and not the U.K one. Which is a relief.
Scarab	posted 03-25-99 10:55 AM ET I agree with Imrans ironic comment. Why is it that patches for the UK-version almost always are later then those for US. It�s the same language right? Why does it even have to be one UK and one US version of the game? Myself being in a country with UK-versions find this extremly annoying since I always have to wait for patches. This is not something uniqe to SMAC but concerns most games but that makes it just so more irritating. If the diff really is that small the UK and US patch could be released at the same time.
RobKid	posted 03-25-99 11:56 AM ET IIRC, I read on sites for other games (I think it may have been Baldur's Gate) that UK/Europe versions are required to have extra copyright protection (not sure exactly what). This delays the patches slightly as they modify the US patch or alter the UK version with the updates and then create a new patch. Essentially, they have to maintain multiple versions of their software, which always makes maintenance harder.
Zoetrope	posted 03-26-99 04:16 AM ET Why don't Firaxis, EA, and all developers and distributors say thus: ``If <whoever you dogs in the manger are> want our game, then you have to accept the US version, or face the wrath of your customers.'' It's not as though SMAC is unsuitable for children and has to stand in the Film and Literature Classification queue for weeks. Fact is, most games _don't_ have a `European' version or an `Asia-Pacific' label. Moreover, unlike what's _possible_ in Europe, there is no `Asia-Pacific' retail games treaty encompassing Asia and Oceania, so the labelling is silly. It has to be some deal within or between the distributors. I assure you all emphatically that Australian retailers don't care in the least what version they sell, as long as it moves off the shelves. Likewise, to the best of my knowledge the Australian government has no regulations requiring a non-US label on imports; the attitude is quite the contrary: we're busy putting US labels on most of our public utilities.
tOFfGI	posted 03-26-99 06:49 AM ET Fact is, most of them do. Look on the front, and you will see a european rating system with four tics or crosses instead of the american one. It's due to an EU directive forcing european games to carry copy protection.
Mortis	posted 03-26-99 06:59 AM ET The US patches work fine on an Asia-Pacific version.
MoSe	posted 03-26-99 11:10 AM ET In Italy, US version released Feb 23. No copy protection (guess, didn't try). US patches work. EU directive infringment?