Alpha Centauri 2

Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri & Alien Crossfire => Modding => Bug/Patch Discussion => Topic started by: Lefty Scaevola on October 02, 2013, 04:48:32 PM

Title: Unofficial Patch Installation instructions?
Post by: Lefty Scaevola on October 02, 2013, 04:48:32 PM

Is the current  Yitzi Patch all in one, replacing the the Scient Patch?  Or is it additive and used on top of the Scient patch?  The differences in the file sizes also add confusion, but I suspect that might just be using a different archiving program.  And is the Fixed SMAX 2.0 sound files patch something used in addition or it is included? Is it installed a different way from the Scient patch (which was just replacing an .exe file) We could use a sticky F A Q in this sub forum on how to use the unofficial patches.

Title: Re: Unofficial Patch Installation instructions?
Post by: Buster's Uncle on October 02, 2013, 04:52:14 PM

That's a good idea; thanks.  Yitzi or someone write something up, and I'll sticky.

Yitzi built his patch on kyrub's, and kyrub built his on scient's, so all the improvements should be additive.

Title: Re: Unofficial Patch Installation instructions?
Post by: gwillybj on October 02, 2013, 09:14:06 PM

"Installing" the sound files patch (is that the one that enables the five silent items?) is simply a matter of copying the fixed files into the "fx" folder and clicking Yes if the choice pops up whether to overwrite or replace - since the originals either don't work right or are in the wrong format.

Title: Re: Unofficial Patch Installation instructions?
Post by: Yitzi on October 03, 2013, 04:56:18 PM

Quote from: Lefty Scaevola on October 02, 2013, 04:48:32 PM

Is the current  Yitzi Patch all in one, replacing the the Scient Patch?  Or is it additive and used on top of the Scient patch?

It replaces and includes Scient's.

Quote

The differences in the file sizes also add confusion, but I suspect that might just be using a different archiving program.

That, plus the fact that mine replaces some other files as well rather than just the executable.  Failure to replace all the files will more likely than not result in a crash.  (Minor updates, those marked 2.3b or the like, sometimes include just the executable, as they're just there to fix bugs until the next version comes out, but the main updates include all files required to update from Kyrub's or earlier.)

Quote

And is the Fixed SMAX 2.0 sound files patch something used in addition or it is included?

It is not included.

Quote

Is it installed a different way from the Scient patch (which was just replacing an .exe file)

Only slightly: You have to replace all files in the patch (except the patch readme, which is optional and not used by the program), not just the executable.

Title: Re: Unofficial Patch Installation instructions?
Post by: Lefty Scaevola on October 04, 2013, 10:19:13 PM

das ist gut

Title: Re: Unofficial Patch Installation instructions?
Post by: ariete on October 06, 2013, 02:21:42 PM

i've istalled smacx patched 2.0 and no cd exe which replace terran.exe
if i want play with your patch Yitzi :
i must remove original patch 2.0 files?
it's possible replace .exe for no cd utility??

fixed SMAX 2.0 sound files are missile sounds patched posted on this forum some time ago??

Title: Re: Unofficial Patch Installation instructions?
Post by: Lefty Scaevola on October 06, 2013, 03:59:47 PM

You do not have to uninstall the official patches. the unofficial will simple overwrite the files it changes and the folders that it replaces (best practice would be to back up folders before you replace them).

Title: Re: Unofficial Patch Installation instructions?
Post by: Yitzi on October 06, 2013, 04:08:20 PM

Quote from: ariete on October 06, 2013, 02:21:42 PM

i've istalled smacx patched 2.0 and no cd exe which replace terran.exe
if i want play with your patch Yitzi :
i must remove original patch 2.0 files?
it's possible replace .exe for no cd utility??

You shouldn't have to remove anything; once you've installed all the official patches you should be fine just replacing with my .exe.  I haven't had any complaints from people who bought on GOG (and therefore have no CD), so that shouldn't be a problem either.

Quote

fixed SMAX 2.0 sound files are missile sounds patched posted on this forum some time ago??

They were posted, and are in the downloads section.  They are not part of my patch, but are compatible.

Title: Re: Unofficial Patch Installation instructions?
Post by: ariete on October 06, 2013, 05:31:47 PM

thank you yitzi, my next game will be played with your patch (now i've a cool game in progress with my new custom facs and i think i cannot substitute exe, right??).
what level of difficult you suggest me who usually play as thinker (... not stinker). i read is more challenging way to play.

ya i know that sounds bug fixed. fortunately someone has thought to do that too

Title: Re: Unofficial Patch Installation instructions?
Post by: Yitzi on October 06, 2013, 07:18:40 PM

Quote from: ariete on October 06, 2013, 05:31:47 PM

thank you yitzi, my next game will be played with your patch (now i've a cool game in progress with my new custom facs and i think i cannot substitute exe, right??).
what level of difficult you suggest me who usually play as thinker (... not stinker). i read is more challenging way to play.

It is by default not more challenging*, but it allows you to change the settings to make it much more challenging on higher difficulties (or possibly less, depending on what you change and what you change it to and what sorts of things give you trouble).  So play as thinker, and if you want a more interesting game you can change the new variables and see what works for you.

*Well, except that bug fixes may make it slightly more challenging, and the current version has the "what you see is what you get" option enabled by default by mistake, which usually makes it easier but could make it more challenging.  (You can turn that option off, though, and you should since the current version is bugged in games with AI players.)

Title: Re: Unofficial Patch Installation instructions?
Post by: Green1 on October 06, 2013, 07:26:57 PM

Yitzi's also contains Kyrub's SMAX patch PLUS which improves the AI terraforming.

I think it is very noticeable over Scient's or GOG/ Firaxis aftermarket patches. So, that may make it "harder" if you are used to AIs that hardly terraform.

It is just too bad the AI never learned boreholes and good use of crawlers.

Title: Re: Unofficial Patch Installation instructions?
Post by: ariete on October 07, 2013, 01:02:54 PM

it's to try.

i've seen version has arrived to 2.3e just 4 days ago, i read it require last version of alphatxt. i must download other, over to 2.3e exe??

Title: Re: Unofficial Patch Installation instructions?
Post by: Yitzi on October 07, 2013, 02:52:30 PM

Quote from: ariete on October 07, 2013, 01:02:54 PM

it's to try.

i've seen version has arrived to 2.3e just 4 days ago, i read it require last version of alphatxt. i must download other, over to 2.3e exe??

Yes; the latest version of alphax.txt is available from 2.3d.

Title: Re: Unofficial Patch Installation instructions?
Post by: ariete on October 07, 2013, 06:35:29 PM

thank you Yitzi  :D

Title: Re: Unofficial Patch Installation instructions?
Post by: ariete on October 08, 2013, 06:42:14 PM

i've in progress, as i just said previously, an interesting engaging game, but i'm as curious to try last Yitzi patch. i'm thinking to make a copy of my smacx istallation on the same hard drive to use this last with Yitzi patch. it's possible for you or it would create some undesirable results and instability during game? (i use windows xp yet)

Title: Re: Unofficial Patch Installation instructions?
Post by: Yitzi on October 09, 2013, 12:58:48 AM

Quote from: ariete on October 08, 2013, 06:42:14 PM

i've in progress, as i just said previously, an interesting engaging game, but i'm as curious to try last Yitzi patch. i'm thinking to make a copy of my smacx istallation on the same hard drive to use this last with Yitzi patch. it's possible for you or it would create some undesirable results and instability during game? (i use windows xp yet)

In the same hard drive shouldn't be a problem, but if it's in the same folder you'll need to switch your alphax.txt back and forth every time you switch which one you're using.

Title: Re: Unofficial Patch Installation instructions?
Post by: ariete on October 09, 2013, 12:17:35 PM

how can be in the same folder  ??? no it isn't the idea i had in mind.

now i've the game istalled in GIOCHI/SMACX, i think to copy that root under new folder GIOCHI/SMACX-Yitzi
so i'll have 2 smacx, one is the istallation and one is a copy of the istallation patched with your work, in main root GIOCHI but in different sub-folders.

Title: Re: Unofficial Patch Installation instructions?
Post by: Yitzi on October 09, 2013, 02:37:39 PM

Quote from: ariete on October 09, 2013, 12:17:35 PM

how can be in the same folder  ??? no it isn't the idea i had in mind.

now i've the game istalled in GIOCHI/SMACX, i think to copy that root under new folder GIOCHI/SMACX-Yitzi
so i'll have 2 smacx, one is the istallation and one is a copy of the istallation patched with your work, in main root GIOCHI but in different sub-folders.

Yeah, that should work fine.

Title: Re: Unofficial Patch Installation instructions?
Post by: ariete on November 30, 2013, 09:36:15 AM

Quote from: Yitzi on October 06, 2013, 04:08:20 PM

Quote from: ariete on October 06, 2013, 02:21:42 PM

i've istalled smacx patched 2.0 and no cd exe which replace terran.exe
if i want play with your patch Yitzi :
i must remove original patch 2.0 files?
it's possible replace .exe for no cd utility??

You shouldn't have to remove anything; once you've installed all the official patches you should be fine just replacing with my .exe.  I haven't had any complaints from people who bought on GOG (and therefore have no CD), so that shouldn't be a problem either.

hi Ytzi, i've downloaded your 2.4 patch.
i've overwrite the 2 txts alphax and helpx, add the other 2 txts and overwrite terran.exe, inside of your last release 2.4. It's added just one start option about orbit of planet, then inside the game in help section under voice info about version it's displays this :

(http://alphacentauri2.info/MGalleryItem.php?id=655)

(i've not yet add my custom factions or edited alphax.txt) it's normal? same background at start, same options (just the orbit new), no report about new version (i've saw geo publish a picture where there's write -Yitzi patch-) ... i think it miss something ...

Title: Re: Unofficial Patch Installation instructions?
Post by: Yitzi on November 30, 2013, 11:36:49 PM

That looks like a graphics problem, so I'm not sure what's going on.  When you say "inside the game in help section under voice info about version", I'm not sure quite what that means; after you start the game, what options did you pick in order to make that happen?  (i.e. if it's help on a particular feature, what feature did you look for help about?)

Title: Re: Unofficial Patch Installation instructions?
Post by: ariete on December 01, 2013, 01:42:04 PM

no Yitzi, don't look the graphic of the picture but the mean.

there are 5 files in patch 2.4, which i've overwrited/added to my 2.0 smacx version.

i go to create the planet for a custom game and i've looked just one option added to the others, and it's about the orbit of planet.

i've not played yet a game, i've just looked but i don't found a place where it's write - Ytzi Patch - (also in pull-down menu - help - about version, as in picture posted, the result is version release 2.0 date 20 dec 99)
how i know to have your patch correctly istalled?

Title: Re: Unofficial Patch Installation instructions?
Post by: Yitzi on December 01, 2013, 02:55:48 PM

Ah, it must have been a graphics problem on my end, that I couldn't see it properly.  I can see it now.

Yeah, I haven't updated the version number (thanks for finding it for me, now I can probably track it down and maybe adjust it for the next patch version); as it stands, you know it was installed correctly if you replaced all the files.

Title: Re: Unofficial Patch Installation instructions?
Post by: gwillybj on December 01, 2013, 03:36:46 PM

I've tried to follow this series of patches, but I've lost my way. Is there a comprehensive list of all the changes? I haven't applied any unofficial patches yet.

Title: Re: Unofficial Patch Installation instructions?
Post by: Yitzi on December 01, 2013, 04:56:23 PM

This (http://alphacentauri2.info/wiki/Yitzi%27s_patch) has most, if not all, of the ones from my patch.

Title: Re: Unofficial Patch Installation instructions?
Post by: BlueTemplar on December 19, 2013, 06:04:57 PM

From what I've seen on the forums :
Scient's patch was the first to fix some bugs for SMACX :
http://www.civgaming.net/forums/showthread.php?t=7511 (http://www.civgaming.net/forums/showthread.php?t=7511)

Kyrub was second : he released an AI patch for SMAC (which doesn't have the bugfixes of Scient's patch?)
http://apolyton.net/showthread.php/195007-SMAC-444-(AI-experiment)?p=6187422&viewfull=1#post6187422 (http://apolyton.net/showthread.php/195007-SMAC-444-(AI-experiment)?p=6187422&viewfull=1#post6187422)

and another AI patch with a lot less features for SMACX (which HAS Scient's bugfixes), and is currently working on a big AI patch for SMACX :
http://apolyton.net/showthread.php/197946-SMAX-unofficial-patch-PLUS (http://apolyton.net/showthread.php/197946-SMAX-unofficial-patch-PLUS)

Then Yitzi built on top of Kyrub's SMACX patch to fix some more bugs and add modding options :
http://alphacentauri2.info/wiki/Yitzi's_patch (http://alphacentauri2.info/wiki/Yitzi's_patch)
http://alphacentauri2.info/wiki/New_alphax_variables_in_Yitzi's_patch (http://alphacentauri2.info/wiki/New_alphax_variables_in_Yitzi's_patch)
(These notes don't seem to be completely up to date, as Yitzi released new patches quite often lately, look at the main page - you'll need both the latest subversion .exe and latest version alphax.txt)

Title: Re: Unofficial Patch Installation instructions?
Post by: Yitzi on December 19, 2013, 11:47:46 PM

Quote from: Yitzi on December 01, 2013, 02:55:48 PM

Ah, it must have been a graphics problem on my end, that I couldn't see it properly.  I can see it now.

Yeah, I haven't updated the version number (thanks for finding it for me, now I can probably track it down and maybe adjust it for the next patch version); as it stands, you know it was installed correctly if you replaced all the files.

Speaking of which, I've found that and changed it, so in version 2.5 it will correctly state the version number.

And the notes on my patch actually are fairly up-to-date; the sub-versions are just fixing bugs that were accidentally introduced and so don't get documentation; the new features should all be listed in the notes, but it's possible that a few of the bugs I fixed weren't mentioned in the notes.