Differences Between GOG and scient or kyrub Versions of SMAC/X?

[Kirov]

Has anyone installed the entire game from scratch (using the updated installer on GOG)?

I just did precisely that, then applied 2.0 patch, then noticed that terranx.exe doesn't work (I didn't copy it before), then applied the scient's patch. I'm quite it works fine this time. Just to make sure - the 2k/XP update is optional, right? Only for those two OS or does it change anything else?

[Petek]

The Win2k/XP compatibility update should be applied to all systems, regardless of OS, because of the following undocumented changes (all for SMAC):

1. Fixes bug in which building maintenance wasn't calculated correctly at the higher difficulty levels.
2. Fixes bug in which certain factions (Hive and Morgan) couldn't pop-boom via a golden age.
3. Fixes problem with DirectDraw=0 not working (for SMAC).

The update also removed the requirement to have the SMAC CD in the drive, but that's now moot. GOG did apply the Win2k/XP update (as evidenced by their version of SMAC reporting v5.0). The problem is that the SMAC 2.0 patch was released before the Win2k/XP update. Scient stated that the SMAX 2.0 patch overwrites some of the files from the Win2k/XP update, so you have to reapply the update to make sure that all files are current, even if you only play SMAX. Hope this makes sense.

ETA: Does your copy of cyborg.txt contain the following line:

TECH, Physic, TECH, InfNet, IMPUNITY, Cybernetic, SOCIAL, ++RESEARCH, SOCIAL, ++EFFIC, SOCIAL, -GROWTH, TECHSTEAL, 0

? The TECHSTEAL option gives Aki the ability to steal techs when capturing bases and isn't present in the other versions of GOG's SMACX.

[Kirov]

OK, to stay on the safe side I uninstalled everything and did exactly as you said - GOG, 2.0, XP update, finally scient's. If it changes anything - I modified .ini with directdraw=0 and disabled the movie. I modified jackal with ; in proper lines to get rid of the welcome screen.

Everything works fine, cyborg.txt is fine, as well as drone.txt... But I noticed when starting a game that my bases have 7, not 10 free minerals. What gives?

Also, I can alt+tab, and I found your other topics when you give relevant advice and nothing works. The windows key, ctrl+alt+tab, the movie disable option... do I just have to live with it?

EDIT: Windows 7

[Kirov]

But I noticed when starting a game that my bases have 7, not 10 free minerals. What gives?

To reply to myself - the option "look first" off seems to work like that, I didn't know!

[Kirov]

I PMed kyrub at 'poly to ask him to continue his work and join us here for feedback and testers.

[Yitzi]

Although if he does show up, we'll need to coordinate the modding so that all the fixes of each can be included in all the other people's mods.

[Lord Avalon]

Hey, kyrub responded over at Apolyton (link).  Hopefully he'll check out this thread per PM(s).

[Petek]

I just posted detailed instructions on CFC about how to properly update GOG's most recent version of SMACX. I omitted instructions about the unofficial patches, however.

@Kirov -- Not sure what you're describing in yesterday's post concerning Ctrl-Alt-Tab and such. If Alt-Tab works, then you don't need Crtl-Alt-Tab or the Windows key to switch out of the program. Also, does disabling the movie work or not?

[Kirov]

@Kirov -- Not sure what you're describing in yesterday's post concerning Ctrl-Alt-Tab and such. If Alt-Tab works, then you don't need Crtl-Alt-Tab or the Windows key to switch out of the program. Also, does disabling the movie work or not?

I'm sorry, fast typing - of course I meant that I can't alt-tab. Disabling the movie doesn't work, Ctrl+Alt+tab and Windows key don't either. I noticed you helped many people in many threads with that  , but sometimes it just fails to work and that's it. How does your GOG behave?

[Petek]

Will have to look at this more closely. I'm not getting the same result as from before.

[Petek]

I found that having several installations of GOG-SMACX causes odd behavior. I'm back to just one installation and almost everything seems back to normal now (except that I no longer get the "Welcome to Alpha Centauri" opening message, even though jackal.txt is unaltered.)

Switching to other running programs from within the game: Alt-Tab doesn't work (was disabled deliberately). Ctrl-Alt-Tab (in Windows 7) should bring up a list of running programs and allow you to switch. Also, Ctrl-Alt-Delete should bring up a menu that allows you to open Task Manager (which then allows you to switch). These keyboard shortcuts weren't working for me when I had multiple versions installed. Finally, switching to one of the unofficial patches should bring back Alt-Tab.

Opening movie: Changing DisableOpeningMovie from 0 to 1 disables it for me. Not working for you (Kirov)?

Searching the registry for "GOG" returns lots of hits. GOG made lots of changes, and it's possible that some of these changes explain the problems caused by having multiple installations.

[Kirov]

Hm, sorry with the disable issue. It does work, but I mistakenly thought it's somehow related to the alt-tab problem. Mestupid. 

Anyhow, I copied the GOG folder to another one. I wanted to apply scient's patch in the first one and kyrub's patch in the other. Does it count as multiple installations? The second copy is a bit unstable. Neither patch solved alt-tab.

Also Ctrl-alt-tab still doesn't work, although my copy seems to change its mind every now and then. Once I did manage to switch by frantically clicking tab and both ctrls and alts in various configuration, but now I can't replicate this result. Weird.

Hm, fine, it seems I'll just have to live with this, it's just annoying when you want to quickly check something with an MP savegame opened.

[Flygon]

So I tried to use the GoG version of SMACX I purchased yesterday, alongside scient's patch.

I felt justified in trying to dig up an old copy I 'obtained' at some point years ago, for ease of use instead. Way too many issues trying to do stuff with GoG copy.

[Yitzi]

About the alt-tab thing...I noticed the same problem with the non-GOG installation if you use that line about DirectDraw to try to fix the color issue.

[Petek]

Hm, sorry with the disable issue. It does work, but I mistakenly thought it's somehow related to the alt-tab problem. Mestupid. 

Anyhow, I copied the GOG folder to another one. I wanted to apply scient's patch in the first one and kyrub's patch in the other. Does it count as multiple installations? The second copy is a bit unstable. Neither patch solved alt-tab.

Also Ctrl-alt-tab still doesn't work, although my copy seems to change its mind every now and then. Once I did manage to switch by frantically clicking tab and both ctrls and alts in various configuration, but now I can't replicate this result. Weird.

Hm, fine, it seems I'll just have to live with this, it's just annoying when you want to quickly check something with an MP savegame opened.

It sounds like you're running into the same issues I had with multiple copies of the GOG version installed. Most (but not all) of these problems went away when I uninstalled/deleted everything and went back to a single installation. GOG makes numerous changes to the registry and it seems that not all of those changes are reverted upon uninstalling.