Frogboy:

"We do not garauntee that saved games will work correctly between .X revisions (i.e. 1.0 to 1.01, 1.01 to 1.02 and so forth)."

Well, could this be the reason why the scores of a game that I started on 1.0 and finished on 1.02 do not get through to the metaverse?


~SDC~

I found Stardock Central quite easy to use, and it took only a few minutes at most (long enough to spot the software tab) to find out how to update GalCiv. It doesn't strike me as particularly difficult, and I don't see any popups trying to force Windowblinds or Stellar Frontiers down my throat. For a commercial frontend, SDC is pretty low-key on the advertisements.

Admittedly, I am not inclined to complain about getting several incremental patches because it's a convenience that I have yet to see from any other developer (the closest would be the Frozen Throne beta patches, but then that's expected to have rapid updates).


~SDC~

I would say the one thing that could be done to make it more intuitive to people not familiar with the Stardock family of products would be to give the stand alone GalCiv it's own tab in the software registration dialogue in SDC. That it is under Drengin.net, and moreso part of a drop-down menu within the Drengin.net panel (i.e. hidden at first), I'm sure has thrown off more than person.

So am I one of the few people who has never had a problem with SDC *ever*? I personally rather like SDC and think it's rather useful. It's one of the better updating systems I've seen for a game.

I've also never had trouble downloading a patch after I initially figured out GalCiv was under Drengin.net...which took all of three minutes of random menu clicking to figure out.

Watch it William, you'll rile people up with the idea that it's really not that complicated

I tried it earlier in the thread and look what happened

Frogboy:

I think the incremental patches are a great idea even though I'm one of those who needs to wait for the standalones because I refuse to load SD on my work computer (can't have my c: wiped out, you know!). I also love knowing that by the time I get the standalone, it has been in the wild for a while (but don't make us wait too long!:) ).

Well, what I mean here is that --if I understand correctly-- this type of incremental updating is quite a new thing for gaming software. I'm sure you will refine the process by not having files deleted (I think you already fixed that?), having updates much more easy to find, etc.

Keep up the good work!

Well, not wanting to start a flame war, but while I have no real problems using SDC (except too much frequent auto-updates and some connection problems ...), I fail to see why it is so needed to make incremental patches. A host of simplest solutions for incremental patches exist since ages, from brutish RTPatch to quite easy and transparent systems - such as those used for MMORPGs or Neverwinter.

As for bandwidth SDC may save some server-side, but from my side I only get at most 20-25 kb/sec on ADSL, where I usually have 60-65 thanks to DAP...

Posted by pdifolco:
"I fail to see why it is so needed to make incremental patches."

Frogboy can correct me if I'm wrong, but I would daresay it has to do with the fact that they use this patching system for *all* of their products (between my Object Desktop and Drengin.net subscriptions I know I could have about 2 dozen or more different Stardock apps and widgets installed if I were so inclined). As such, they've got the how to package files and distribute them with SDC down to a science by now.

Further, it definitely helps with security issues - by making sure that patches and enhanced versions of their products are *only* available to valid, registered customers initially, it gives an incentive to get with their program as well as giving a genuine reason not to pirate their software.

"#29 by Citizen William Hogg - 4/24/2003 7:56:13 AM

So am I one of the few people who has never had a problem with SDC *ever*? I personally rather like SDC and think it's rather useful. It's one of the better updating systems I've seen for a game."

I concur. I did have a little problem at first, but with a little experimentation and some kindly replies to my question on the forum I figured out about the CD key needing to be entered in the Drengin tab field, no big deal. I like the SDC option for updating.

Oh, and to some posters... remember the golden rule. If you wish to be treated with respect, then show that respect to others.

William,

I also had no problem at all with SDC. I think it's great.

A "stand-alone" version of SDC specifically for GalCiv is what I think folks like Desert Fox and uh.. the other guy expected, say reachable from an 'update' button on the CD autoplay menu.

Nothing too complicated about SDC however. I'll also be picking up Object Desktop soon, so the "SDC is being used to push a bunch of products that I don't want" theory is a good one. Worked on me.

I have yet to have had a problem updating my software from Stardock. Quite honestly, it is one of the easiest updating systems I have seen for keeping your game up to date.

~SDC~

Yeah, I loaded a 1.02 game with 1.03 and the morale of every planet in the galaxy dropped massively. Is there a way to uninstall the patch - I'd like to finish the 1.02 game I'm playing.

William,

I haven't had any trouble with Stardock either. At this point, I suspect I'm some kind of UI mutant, because the GalCiv UI, the MoO3 UI, and Stardock work perfectly fine for me.

~SDC~

"Where do they push other products"

On the Software Page, under the Drengin.net tab, there are 3 other shareware games listed for download in addition to patches for Galciv. I do not have Drengin.net and I do not want those games. That is where they are pushing other products. There is an option to hide products on this screen but you are specifically told that you cannot hide shareware products you have not downloaded. So again that is where other products are being pushed.

I don't mind so much since I have learned to ignore them and assume that 'free' advertising helps defray the cost of this service, but they are there.

~SDC~

The only 'problem' with SDC that I have encountered is that there is no rollback. When I updated to .049, GC no longer would run without crashing my computer(looks like a pointing device problem). Had no way to get back to .042 which was running perfectly and lost 5 days until I accidently stumbled into the 'zone of working software' last night.

If you want to try out the 1.03 patch, but want the option to go back to a previous version, why not archive your existing version before you patch?

Software menubar button, Drengin.net tab, right-click on Galactic Civ, hover above Archive, sub-menu Selected App (or Selected App & Extras (which is all the multi-media and such (if you have downloaded it))), and away you go. The full archive with everything downloaded is around 450M, just GalCiv itself is around 80M.

When you decide that 1.03 patch is not for you, click the Software menubar button, Drengin.net tab, right-click on Galactic Civ, hover above Archive, sub-menu Restore Existing, and select the previous archived version to restore. (I've not restored over an existing newer version, but have used Restore to install GalCiv from a backup when rebuilding the computer OS.)

I have been using the Archive feature to keep incremental versions around, and burning them to CD periodically. The backup files are simple ZIP archives, stored in Program Files\Stardock\SDCentral\BACKUP, and are named as Galactic Civ_version_date. For example: Galactic Civilizations_1.02.049_04.24.2003.zip (I do wish there was an underscore between Galactic and Civilizations).

Use the archive feature -- it's your friend.

~SDC~

Hmm... so them offering you demos (not shareware) for their other commercial games is *pushing* products? Interesting world view you have there.

Pushing products is if everytime I launched SDC I got a popup informing me I can upgrade to such and such a package for only $$$. Allowing me to download demo versions of their products through SDC is both a service and smart marketing.

The day a company isn't trying to make money is the day that company goes out of business. I love how everybody becomes an idealistic socialist when they see something "intruding" on their happy parade even though outside of competitive capitalism we'd never even see something like Stardock emerge.

You guys make me feel alot smarter, thanks Keep up the good work Frogboy!

Yet another customer quite happy with SDC. Out of curiosity (someone had claimed that SDC was slow and nasty to use, and I said it was quick and simple once you got it to work), I timed the 1.02.049 upgrade. From the time I clicked the start button to launch SDC to the time I clicked it again to launch GalCiv, 65 seconds. I've never seen stand-alone patches that quick to find, grab, and install.

Code Monkey, not all of us Vegas residents feel that physical violence is a proper debating technique, so don't judge us too harshly

My feelings on SDC are well-documented, but I've learned to live with it Strangelove-style.

BTW, Brad, neither Refresh (F5) nor Tools | Refresh Application Data ever cause an update to show up for me. To date, I've always had to log out of SDC and log back in. Ctrl-P might do the trick, but it's undocumented, and is also a little disturbing; when you do Ctrl-P, it -looks- like it's wiped all the data for that product, and perhaps the product itself. It's not apparent that twiddling your focus around a bit will give you an "update" button again to restore version info. You guys might want to fix that, since I'm sure it's a source of confusion for some--both Refresh and Refresh Application Data should show any new release available, and if Ctrl-P is going to be a standard part of the product, it should present the "update" button immediately after use without having to toggle focus.

~SDC~

Had no problems with SDC. I just followed their easy to read FAQ on how to install it for Gal Civ and I was up and running in 5 minutes. If you can't follow the FAQ with handy dandy screen shots...well...then I feel sorry for you.

I had no problems getting the updates from SDC. I love the idea of giving us updates before the traditional releases - a REAL service to your customers and in my view puts GalCiv in the number 1 spot!.

Thanks, The Welshman

I had a few SDC issues intially. Now, it works fine for me.

As far as improving SDC for the clueless... I'd think some form of link or button on the Software tab, out beside the product(s) that would cause the interface to pop up and be set to enter in CD/Subscription numbers would be very helpful to the new customer trying to find that thing. But that would only be currently applicable to GalCiv? Or do the other Star Dock products have their own entries when they are installed?

I was one of the "It wiped my C:\" folks - so to say I was unimpressed would be an understatement!
However - I took the plunge again after that - and it's been pain-free since then. Very easy to get incremental updates. I admit it's not the most intuitive thing to setup initally (mainly due to lack of instructions) - but once it's up and running it's very good.
Under Tools/Settings/General - I have the first 5 options ticked. And under Connections my server is always set to US - Atlanta.
I do think setup instructions should be sent out with the registration email when you first buy it though. That would save a lot of new users some headaches.

Might as well chime in and say.. it has worked perfectly for me, each and every time I have used it. If it works perfectly for one person, but not another, it is your system that is funky.. not Stardock. Basic troubleshooting.

As far as the updates go, this is by far the most excellent support for updates I have ever had in gaming, and I've gamed extensively since 1985. Goes to show.. you can't please everyone.

And in fact, updating a game once a month is FREQUENT. Many updates for games happen once or twice the first couple months.. and then one every half year, if you are lucky.

For what it's worth, I appreciate all the patches Brad! You and the team keep up the great work.. thanx!

fleabitfox