Lead Developer, Stardock Entertainment
Published on March 20, 2008 By CariElf In GalCiv Journals

I know that you guys have been waiting for this update for awhile, and I apologize, but we've had a nasty bug going through the office and as soon as someone recovers enough to come back to work, the next person gets it.  I'm still recovering from it, actually, but since it's a viral infection only time will get rid of it.

If you can't see the beta, try switching to US-1 as that's the server that gets the updates first, then it synchs to US-2.  You may also need to Refresh your XML Files (tools->options->internet). 

As vague as "Various AI changes" is, the majority of the changes are actually to the AI in this beta.  However, rather than delaying the beta to allow Brad write a comprehensive list of the changes, we're putting up with the vagueness.  

+ NEW: Now including the Scenario Editor

+ NEW: Now including the Campaign Editor

Note: We've had a report that the new editors require mfc71.dll.  We've fixed the problem here but we can't put up another update because the person who does that has already gone home for the 4 day weekend (we get both Friday and Monday off).  If you Google the file, you can download it for free.  Sorry about the inconvenience.

+ NEW: Added InfoIcon for new ship design notification

+ FIXED: Some incorrect thumbnails for updated ship components

+ FIXED: Bug where trade route was cancelled after the freighter was destroyed too few times, fix also fixes the freighter command.

+ FIXED: Bug with research all cheat key that gave you bonuses for techs you already researched

+ FIXED: Added code to make sure that the Dread Lords never make peace

+ FIXED: Bug where if you had more than 1000 Ascension points, you wouldn't win

+ FIXED: Crash due to null Civ pointer in alien message dialog

+ FIXED: Added check for null crystal pointer in ai drengin function

+ FIXED: Bug where galaxy not clearing ascension crystals from game to game

+ FIXED: Bug where sector mapper was not clearing ascension crystals from game to game

+ TWEAK: Various AI changes


Comments (Page 3)
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on Mar 21, 2008
Worked fine for me once I switched to US-1. Are you hitting ok after switching? I noticed if you flick the server and then do anything else, it'll default back to US-2.
on Mar 21, 2008
*Update: Nevermind, sorry, found it in the campaign editor.


With the three editors so far the logical progression would be to create a map in its editor, use the map in a scenario, and link scenarios together into a campaign. But no matter how much I look I cannot find the spot to choose which map you would like to use in the scenario editor. I would think it should be under the Universe tab but I do not see it. Am I blind or is it missing in this release?

I am using Vista and the scenario window won't resize in the case it is cut off.
on Mar 21, 2008
Yes, I made up that word. Scrunching.


It's a perfectly cromulent word.
on Mar 21, 2008
How does compare TA to DA in content? Honestly, DA does improve the game very much, but i am not sure, i would spend 30$ for it, if i owned DL only. I own the Gold edition and it was a investion i do not regret. As it sounds so far, TA adds far more to the game than DA and you got my mouth watery already.
Does TA have its own serial-code or is it just online-activation in your existing SD-Account?

P.S.: Stardock, i appreciate your work, but why is it so hard to get your games in foreign countries? Here in germany i can get a budget version of DL but as i read the first version was localized very poorly; DA is coming some time in the future i heard and we dont need to speak of TA...
I therefore decided to buy the US Original.
I really would like to have a cool TA Box in my room as well, but as you said - no retail, just a cd in a case. That makes additional 20$ for s/h to me plus toll fees. Therefore it may be a better decision to buy the download version than paying nearly as much for shipping as for the game, just because your game is "for special audiences only" Too bad, i like the feeling of "owning" something, and that feeling is not as strong when you dont have something to touch and see.
on Mar 21, 2008
Yes, I made up that word. Scrunching.


You didn't make up the "word," but you might have been the first to try applying it to the coding context. See this sorta dictionary.
on Mar 21, 2008
As for the movies you can set the intro/outro cutscenes in the
Scenario editor, but they have to be compressed with the free bink
tools you can download at www.radgametools.com


Which reminds me of something; Would there be an 'easy way' for SD Coders like you to provide or implement the following type of option for any (or all by choice) in-game movies processing?...

1) Converting every static reference image from png to fully compatible bnk animations could simply mean huge megabytes worth for every Happy/Neutral/Angry/Small trading splashers in my XW-movies_mod. I wished i could have the option to reset (or edit, alter, redefine) the calling lines of the modded raceconfig.xmls and simply tag the items with the png straight in as is. Not afraid of DOING the stuff here and properly adhere to GC conditions with super-quick binks, ya know... just trying to indirectly accelerate such process since slapping a single image has to require a LOT less heap than having to continually and repetitively access the 'projector routines'.

2) Similarly, the news Robots can actually be replaced simply by pulling them off the movies_dir (which i did, in fact). Again, an in-game setup option for fast pngs alternative versions in that case would be somehow useful IMHO.

- Zyxpsilon.

on Mar 21, 2008
Ok, I'm not sure what happened. It seems that I have the latest update, but I don't know when I got it. During my many attempts at downloading it, I opened up the game to check what version it was, and it said it was beta 5, the version number appears to be the same now as it was then. But now it shows that its beta 6, and I have new editors to use.

It could of snuck in when I downloaded Sins ver 1.03. I did open up SD Central at the right time before I when to chat to ask if there was an update. The strange thing is, this update doesn't show the date it was update (it still shows it was updated last month). Like I said, I don't know what happened, but I appear to have a working version of beta 6.

How does compare TA to DA in content? Honestly, DA does improve the game very much, but i am not sure, i would spend 30$ for it, if i owned DL only. I own the Gold edition and it was a investion i do not regret. As it sounds so far, TA adds far more to the game than DA and you got my mouth watery already.


Well if you liked DA, you would probally like TA. The biggest focus has been on the unique tech trees. Many of the tech trees do look, and feel like stuff was renamed, and reorganized. However, some of the other tree have been changed enough that many people have complained that you can't play these races, something that I'm not surprised about.

In DA, you could probally expect to start out with the ability to build factories, labs, morale buildings, farms, and economy buildings. In TA, some of the tech trees don't start out with these buildings, you have to research them, and some don't get them at all. The Thalans, being an extreme case, can only build their starports, and super buildings at the start of the game. They also don't even get farms, because they can't research them. Because of the lack structures at the begining, the Thalans can't fill their planet up with structures until they do some research. Because of this, the Thalan AI often gets absurd influence because the techs needed to build influence structures are very cheap when compared to whats needed to get factories and labs. This is why you probally heard about the pink blob of doom on the forums, the Thalans can't build anything else near the begining.

As for structures, some have been by their equals depending on what tech tree you are using. The Drengin use slave pits, which are cheap, but have an influence penalty. The Yor collectives are better in every way save construction time, when compared to the default factories. The Thalan factories start as powerful as an industrial sector, but is much more expensive to maintain. They get cheaper with each improved version, eventually becoming a renamed industrial sector (as of the previous betas, this could of changed in the new beta).
on Mar 21, 2008
Here's an idea for the scinario editor. How about at the select races screen how about an arrow tha when clicked a popup menu will appear with of races to choose from meaning that you can have more than one of a certain race. P.S can you make it so that the editors don't requiere mfc71.dll please?
I hope you guys at will post a reply telling me what you think.
on Mar 21, 2008
I have MFC 56 so will the editors still work, plus can you guys at Stardock make MFC 71 come with TA?
on Mar 21, 2008
Where do I put this downloaded file to make it work?! I need to play GALCIV2!
on Mar 22, 2008
Well if you liked DA, you would probally like TA. The biggest focus has been on the unique tech trees. Many of the tech trees do look, and feel like stuff was renamed, and reorganized. However, some of the other tree have been changed enough that many people have complained that you can't play these races, something that I'm not surprised about.In DA, you could probally expect to start out with the ability to build factories, labs, morale buildings, farms, and economy buildings. In TA, some of the tech trees don't start out with these buildings, you have to research them, and some don't get them at all. The Thalans, being an extreme case, can only build their starports, and super buildings at the start of the game. They also don't even get farms, because they can't research them. Because of the lack structures at the begining, the Thalans can't fill their planet up with structures until they do some research. Because of this, the Thalan AI often gets absurd influence because the techs needed to build influence structures are very cheap when compared to whats needed to get factories and labs. This is why you probally heard about the pink blob of doom on the forums, the Thalans can't build anything else near the begining.As for structures, some have been by their equals depending on what tech tree you are using. The Drengin use slave pits, which are cheap, but have an influence penalty. The Yor collectives are better in every way save construction time, when compared to the default factories. The Thalan factories start as powerful as an industrial sector, but is much more expensive to maintain. They get cheaper with each improved version, eventually becoming a renamed industrial sector (as of the previous betas, this could of changed in the new beta).


Sounds very nice - if the races will be balanced well in the final release. Maybe i`ll wait and see what the people think about it.
on Mar 22, 2008
Thanks for the INFO Cari I hope you and Team start to feel better Soon !!!Thanks Drengin for the MFC71.DLL Link too !! Now off to get Beta 6   Nasty


Cari FYI I had to D/L Mfc71.DLL msvcr71.DLL and Msvcp71.DLL to get Campaign Editor and Scenario Editor to work not sure why I needed all three   Nasty!!Edit add d3dx9_27.DLL too !!! for map editor


Why do we have to download MFC71 i mean, that's just stupid i mean come on can't you guys at Stardock just make the editors not require MFC71 because i have MFC 56 (i think, i'l check later). Oh yeah and another about the scinario editor, needing to download Bink is just stupid and i had an idea for that the custom race issue and i'm not modding because i want to play my campaign in a normal game not a freaking mod!!!  The idea's down here V
Here's an idea for the scinario editor. How about at the select races screen how about an arrow tha when clicked a popup menu will appear with of races to choose from meaning that you can have more than one of a certain race. P.S can you make it so that the editors don't requiere mfc71.dll please?I hope you guys at will post a reply telling me what you think.


Sorry to be mean but i had a plan to make a Star Wars themed campaign using the editors. The editors are the whole reason that i wanted to get TA and i'm not going to download all sorts of stuff from the internet just to get one scinario finished!!!
Sorry...
on Mar 22, 2008
Help.. For some reason I'm not seeing the beta 6 update. I've tried both US1 and 2. I've also deleted TotA and reinstalled but it is still showing the 2-29 package. How do I check to see if I have the newest beta? And if I don't, any suggestions I can try out.
on Mar 22, 2008
Also, GalCiv3 will benefit greatly from the technology we're developing for our fantasy strategy game.

A lot of very nice information in that sentence. So, we've got a couple more great sounding games coming down the line. As much as I've been playing these Stardock games, you guys are quickly becoming my #1 source.
on Mar 24, 2008
OMG...Seth...take a chill pill. Maybe the blue one.

First off, they said they are aware of the MFC71.dll issue but cannot put up an update that includes it until Tuesday. So have a little patience. Second, don't complain about Bink, if that's what they are using, that's what they are using. Third, you claim downloading anything from the internet is 'impossible' yet somehow you managed to download beta 6. Interesting dichotomy.
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