Questions

[Michael T]

First, I have just reinstalled the game and have installed 1.08. Is that correct or should I have installed all previous patches sequentially then installed 1.08? That is if someone installs the game do they just need to upgrade with 1.08?

Second, I am trying to convince my buddies to give this game another go (one or two are very reluctant after several games got wrecked due to bugs). Is the game at a stage now where it can be played to conclusion without requiring some guru to debug it mid game?

We would be playing PBEM with 5 or 6 Humans and 1 or 2 AI countries.

Thanks

[Dancing Bear]

To answer your first question, you have to go from the install disk to 1.06.03 to 1.08.04. Unfortunately, 1.06.03 is no longer available for download, and way too big to email. Hopefully you have a copy.

For the second question. In my opinion, this version of the game is the one we wished we had back when it was first realeased. All the game stopping bugs that plagued the first releases are gone, and the game is vastly improved in terms of features from those primitive early days. It is very unlikely that your game will need to be bailed out by Marshall.

However, convincing your friend of this might be hard. I'd suggest waiting a another month, just so you can be reassured that no bugs are appearing before getting back into a game. Hopefully by then, it won't be necessay to upgrade through a couple of versions to get to 1.08.04 (this won't impress). In the interim, try a practice run of 3 months of game time with a couple of peolpe to get used to playing again (remember Spain can not be an AI, in this version).

And, when you get started for real, find a 6th or 7th human player from the players wanted page. Don't play with an AI, its' not ready for that yet.

[Michael T]

Thanks DB. I can't beleive Matrix are using this piggy back approach with the patches. Thats going to catch a lot of people out. I only asked becasue I had some vague recollection of this process. Why then does my re-installed game with only the 1.08 patch installed say version 1.08 then? It should warn people that they need to install 1.06 or whatever. I am not sure whether to leave it to 1.09 or whatever or try to convince my sceptical buddies. As for gaining random players from the web to fill seats, no thanks. After the dropouts, weirdo's, ill mannered types and dare I say cheaters our group are pretty much a by invitaion only affair. Maybe I can convince my wife to play Turkey. Thanks for the advice.

[Dancing Bear]

Well Krak, if your 1.08 is working fine as a stand alone, then maybe I have it wrong, as I patched from 1.07.02 (maybe Marshall can comment here).

I think the wait for 1.09 might be a while. I'm pretty sure the game is ready now to play with, but was just suggesting that waiting a little while will help convince your sceptical friends.

It is much harder to cheat in this version, at least without everyone else knowing. Everyone gets a warning when someone tries replay thier turn. And anyone who has been playing this game for a while is unlikely to fit into one of the categories you list, but it is your choice.

If your wife is going to play Turkey, I suggest you don't play Russia. And if your wife is playing, be prepared if she kicks your ass.

[Michael T]

Hehe she has some Ukrainian and Turkish ancestors....so who knows
 
I like the anti cheating improvements. Perhaps since the early days of the release most of the random undesirables have gone elsewhere. We'll see.
 
My game definately says 1.0804 with just the latest patch installed on a fresh install. So clarification by those who know best would be of help.

[MarshallEllis]

Hey guys:

I can summarize ...

We changed the file / dir strucutures in 1.06.03 so the install script moved some things around BUT the script only did this in 1.06.03 so patching something before 1.06.03 with a version after 1.06.03 could produce some odd results. We are talking with Matrix to see if there is a way we can figure this out...

[Michael T]

thanks Marshall

[IronWarrior]

In the same boat here, bought EiA when it first released and would like to get back into it again. Let us know if this gets resolved.

Edit: Err nevermind, just noticed that there is indeed a link for the old patch. [:)]