Re: Civilization IV

On Sat, 31 Dec 2005 13:07:03 -0500, Bill Stock wrote:

>
> "Mark Edwards" <Mark-Edwards@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:20hdr1pgqfb2fv9kivv38nkko71743upfl@xxxxxxxxxx
>>
>> After many years of not really playing computer games (I own a few,
>> but no longer play them), I went and bought a copy of Civilization IV.
>> Of course, it requires a better video card than I had, but I wanted to
>> see if it would run on my computer.
>
> Same here, I just found them too time consuming. But I wanted to try the new
> Quake IV.
>
>> Well, it loaded and ran, and the graphics displayed lacked a LOT of
>> detail. The tutorial movie was so badly rendered that the image of the
>> narrator showed only an outline of his head, and his teeth and gums
>> (YIKES! Zombie narrator!). So I went to Best Buy and picked up a cheap
>> video card - it meets the requirements, but isn't one of those $300
>> mega wonders they sell now (that probably won't work on my slightly
>> older machine).
>
> I just upgraded my box with a new MB, CPU and $300 wonder.
>
>> I had to disable the video driver of the current video card, resulting
>> in REALLY large icons, and in my carefully arranged icon locations
>> being disrupted.
>
> I was hoping to get away with doing an XP repair when installing the new MB,
> but it did not quite work. I should have all my software installed again in
> a few months.
>
>> I installed the new card (while Little Feet and Dulce guarded my tools
>> and the side cover from the 'puter), installed the driver, rebooted
>> the computer and spent some time putting my desktop back in order. Oh
>> yeah, and closing the computer back up. Then I restarted the game.
>
> I had to lock the parts away during surgery to keep the inquiring minds out.
>
>> Cool! It worked! The narrator is fully fleshed, but he still looks
>> like a zombie (grin), since his mouth doesn't move, and his eyes stare
>> straight ahead the whole time. Game detail is now awesome.
>
> Sadly, I discovered that Quake IV came free (by mail) with my new $300
> wonder after I bought the card. So much for my holiday play time.
>
>> I check out the official game web site, and find that they JUST
>> released a major patch, with lots of improvements, and a few fixes.
>> They must have known that I had JUST bought the game. I download and
>> install the patch, find a couple of improvements that will make more
>> efficient use of the video card, by making a change or two in the game
>> configuration file.
>>
>> Now I'm thinking, "I wonder if there are any new drivers for the video
>> card?"
>
> LOL, I've upgraded the BIOS, video drivers, MB drivers twice (MB
> manufacturer vs. chipset maker) and the sound drivers three times (MB
> manufacturer, chipset maker and codec writer).
>
>> So I check the current version of the driver, go to the graphics card
>> web site, and voila, they JUST put out a new driver for my card. They
>> must have known that I had JUST bought this card. So I download it.
>>
>> Again, I have to remove the old driver, which disrupts my carefully
>> rearranged desktop again, and install the new driver.
>>
>> Reset desktop resolution, rearrange icons, restart computer so desktop
>> settings are saved.
>>
>> I Restart the game, and the graphics appear to be slightly more
>> detailed. Zombie narrator looks neither better nor worse.
>>
>> I discover there is no alt.games.civ4 newsgroup (yet - Civ4 has only
>> been out for a couple of months), although there are groups for civ2
>> and civ3. I'll probably check out the civ3 group once or twice...
>>
>> Anyway, I now have the game and graphics card all hotted up. It looks
>> like a fun game of global domination (BWAHAHAHAHAAA!). The thing I
>> like is that it is turn based, instead of real-time, so I can take as
>> long as I need on a turn without the game-played characters beating
>> the snot out of me because I take too long (grin).
>
> Written by a cat no doubt.
>
>> PLUS, in addition to the expected single-player and online modes,
>> there is a "play by email" mode that I'll have to try out!
>>
>> Fun, fun fun!
>>
>>
>> Hugs and Purrs,
>> Mark

Foolish question: Why is a laugh written "BWAHAHAHAHAAAA"? I don't
understand the "BWA" part. I always thought a laugh was "HaHa" or "HoHO"
or "HeHE". As I said, a foolish question. MLB

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: slow graphics
    ... Updating video card drivers can solve most gaming issues. ... Check for known issues with your video card at the game's web site. ... Please look over the ATI articles about their latest driver on the download page. ... If Windows prompts you to install the adapter, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.games)
  • Re: Silent Hill 3 - freezes at the very beginning
    ... The game isn't removing all configuration information when you uninstall it; ... The Video driver you're using isn't supported by the game. ... Updating video card drivers can solve most gaming issues. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.games)
  • Re: Fable - The lost chapters (pc) problem
    ... Hence, i updated the driver ... | However, on my next startup of the game, there's no more mention of drivers, ... firewalls and antivirus programs when downloading or installing updates; ... Check for known issues with your video card at the game's web site. ...
    (microsoft.public.games)
  • Re: Civilization IV
    ... > Of course, it requires a better video card than I had, but I wanted to ... > I had to disable the video driver of the current video card, ... Game detail is now awesome. ...
    (rec.pets.cats.anecdotes)
  • Re: Some 2D games stutter.
    ... Update DirectX and your Chipset, Sound, &Video Drivers: ... For all Video / DirectX / Game and Hardware Issues, ... >> Try updating your driver and if the ... >> Updating video card drivers can solve most gaming issues. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.games)