with each new patch the game gets less friendly

[shapelessform]

i'm starting to get annoyed here.. i've been waiting patiently for a long time now, and all this new patch did was keep me out of the game entirely. the game crashes when the load bar says 'painting terrain'.. every time.


please tell me that i'm missing something stupid. i just reinstalled xp, so it's possible that i'm over-looking something, but i have the latest drivers, direct x, etc.


dxdiag attached.

[Manni]

I see a few things in your dxdiag.

There seems to be some conflict with your directX-version. Find the latest version from November at Microsoft/downloadcenter.

Your setting is now: Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (70Hz)
try it in 1024 x 768 32bit(or even 16) 60Hz

Latest ATI-driver 7.12 seems to be ok.

Sounddriver from Septem 2005 looks a bit old, try to get a new one.

Empty prefetch-& Temp-folder in C/windows

Have a look in systemstart if there a too many progs running

[shapelessform]

i just found the problem, but thanks for the response!

[Khanon]

You should post what you found and how you fixed it. It could help someone in the future.

[shapelessform]

i had a bit of a brain-fart.. i was using the nocd .exe for 1.1. as a result, the game would open, but crash as a map was loading.


for now i'll just have to play with the disc inserted. :)

[Khanon]

Gotcha.

Didn't know there was a NoCD.exe... Would make things a lot easier for me with my Lan box to not have to transport the DVD for it.

[tobing]

Using cracked files to get around copy protection is illegal in most parts of the world.

[PsYChoWaTrMelon]

well if thats is what it takes to get it running out of the box due to the fact that v7 of Securom is pure crap.

not to mention thats how i can even play. mine would not recognise the disc and i spent the $50 for the game.
looks like when new patch was made it uses a diffrent version of 7 than the v7.34.0016 on the retail disc.
I'm just glad i can finally use the media i purchased instead of having to trick it.

[Manni]

well if thats is what it takes to get it running out of the box due to the fact that v7 of Securom is pure crap.
not to mention thats how i can even play. mine would not recognise the disc and i spent the $50 for the game.

Crap or no crap.....................although you paid for it it is still illegal what you are doing with it.



I'm just glad i can finally use the media i purchased instead of having to trick it.


I you had followed the securom-window which popped up you would have gotten a new caesar.exe sent by Securom after sending them your "anylysis".

All there is to do is to swap the exe`s and off you go.

http://www.securom.com/message.asp?m=analysis

[shapelessform]

Using cracked files to get around copy protection is illegal in most parts of the world.
using cracked files to get around having to insert discs is not.

[tobing]

using cracked files to get around having to insert discs is not.
It is. Seems you are somewhat misinformed about copyright laws.

[shapelessform]

can you point me to your source?

i was under the impression that you are legally allowed to make a back-up copy of original cd's/dvd's, so long as you legally own them. a back-up copy won't operate without a nocd crack.

i don't feel the need to make back-up copies of my games, but i don't like to have to unnecessarily insert discs before starting programs, so if available, i often use a cracked .exe.


requiring the disc to be inserted does not slow piracy in any way, and is certainly not required in order to play the game, so i wonder why honest people have to deal with this (admittedly minor) hassle, simply due to the dishonest behaviour of others.


even if it is illegal, i'm not concerned.. i bought the game, have a clear conscience, thus i have no reservations regarding switching-out the .exe's. if someone feels the need to get their knickers in a knot over this, they really need to get a life.

i am aware that piracy is the primary reason behind the creation of cracked .exe's, but that is no concern of mine. i do my bit to encourage people to support the devs, so what more can i do? i am merely utilizing an available tool to avoid a minor nuisance, and my actions in no way support piracy.


*edit: i'm sure even most of the devs have some cracked .exe's floating around on their personal computers at home.

[tobing]

can you point me to your source?

In which country do you live? If it happens to be germany, I can point you to sources. For the US, I'm sure someone else (like Keith or so) can do that. For other countries I can't point you to the source directly. You should google for copyright law that applies to your country, that should give you enough to read and think about.

ANY change to the executable is forbidden by copyright law. Any measure to circumvent copy protection is also forbidden by that law. That's how it is.

*edit: i'm sure even most of the devs have some cracked .exe's floating around on their personal computers at home.
And whatever any other people do does not make the same thing be legal. If your neighbor does wrong, does that make it OK to do the same wrong, too? Very questionable moral that you have here.

[AdmiralTigerclaw]

ANY change to the executable is forbidden by copyright law. Any measure to circumvent copy protection is also forbidden by that law. That's how it is.
.

Yep true. However that applies under the terms of the EULA specificly stating that you will not reverse engineer the product.

If he has a legal copy of his software, and attained the NoCD crack for free from an outside source, he didn't modify the file or make an illegal exchange. And, so long as he doesn't redistribute, he can't be touched because there is no modification going on by him, and there is no theft of intellectual property or distribution and piracy of intellectual property, and thus, no supportable case.

Its really complicated stuff and you gotta go through your legal mumbo jumbo.

I believe, that even if you ignore the legalities present in the copyright and the EULA, there's not really anything anyone can do about you hacking into the software on your own system and messing with it. Considering A: attempts to find out at random constitute (In the United States) a violation of Search and Seizure as per the constitution. B: If there is no distribution of any of this cracking work, there is no way to know he was even doing it.

So copyright and EULA enforcability tend to only apply if the information makes it public. And the people who go out and do this kind of thing (For whatever reason... ) and then distribute it, probably mask their IP and hide behind a torrent file until it's well scattered. (And far too late to trace back.)

:confused:

It's a case of you can't catch what you can't see. And the internet is the easiest place to pull that off.

What I do think is rather unintelligent however, is commenting about having the NoCD crack like that, on the Developer's own Discussion Board. There's risking some trouble, and then there's just asking to be shot in the face by someone with a twelve gauge. While the case may not be able to really do anything, they can still start one in an attempt to at least TRY and catch you off guard and cause you all sorts of legal pain and pocketbook hurting paying for that Lawyer.

I most certainly couldn't afford it, I'm trying to start a business with next to nothing for starter funds... so I need all my software to be legit. Because once you slap 'BUSINESS' onto something, the pentalties skyrocket compared to the slap on the wrist a private individual would get.

That would be a most certainly painful way to lose tons of money I don't even have.

So... NO STUPID for me. I can't aford to act stupid.

[shapelessform]

What I do think is rather unintelligent however, is commenting about having the NoCD crack like that, on the Developer's own Discussion Board.
honesty is unintelligent?

[shapelessform]

And whatever any other people do does not make the same thing be legal. If your neighbor does wrong, does that make it OK to do the same wrong, too? Very questionable moral that you have here.
you're preaching about morals to the wrong person.

if there is one thing that i'm concerned with, it is ethics, and what you somehow fail to see is that adherence to the law does not, in and of itself, make a person good or bad. it is intention that counts.

there are plenty of people who merely follow laws so they don't get into trouble, which is why we require laws in the first place. these people may follow the law, but have questionable morals.
on the flip side, would a person who defies unethical laws in a totalitarian state have questionable morals as a result? no, of course not. laws are man-made, ethics are not.

so, with the disconnect between laws and ethics established, it is my view that if i have broken the law, that is irrelevant with regards to ethics, because i have not stolen anything, nor have i otherwise caused harm to anyone or anything.


in future, don't casually question a person morals as though it's just an insignificant matter, particularly when you don't have a firm grasp on the subject yourself.

[AdmiralTigerclaw]

honesty is unintelligent?


Uh... in many cases.

Yeah.

Lying is a psychological defense mechanism.

[shapelessform]

Uh... in many cases.

Yeah.

that's the most absurd thing i've ever heard.

some people would rather take the heat than be dishonest, and i for one respect that.



there is absolutely no correlation between honesty and intelligence.

[AdmiralTigerclaw]

that's the most absurd thing i've ever heard.

some people would rather take the heat than be dishonest, and i for one respect that.



there is absolutely no correlation between honesty and intelligence.

Feeling your have a moral obligation to tell the truth all the time does not denote intelligence.

Example case. Say your name is Johnny. You're in a department store. Suddenly, some guy with a twelve gauge shotgun bursts in looking really angry. He asks for any and all people named Johnny. There are no random factors at the moment, such as people with concealed weapons.

In this situation, is it more intelligent to say "Yeah, my name is-" **KABLAM!!**

Or lie? "There are no Johnny's here. My name is Frank."

Dishonesty is an intelligent, and powerful defense mechanism. It is frowned upon because it is immoral in a society that praises honest hard work. However, dishonesty, often called, lying, tricking, decoying, misinformation, etc and so on... is a key part of conducting warfare, and generally important for survival in hostile situations not even related to WAR.

In this case, walking into the Devveloper's forum and announcing for all the world to see that you use a NoCD crack for the very thing they made, which is of questionable legal nature in itself, is like picking up a neon sign saying: "Hey! Will you ban me and file a lawsuit?"
Now, how smart is that?


I like honest people, but I cannot respect stupidity. I'm not saying YOU are stupid, you made sure to cover your rear a little. But that comment, does rank in the realm of: "Yeah, dumb move there."

I also don't say that all honesty is stupidity. But there has to be some form of survival mechanism in a person's brain that goes "Bad idea... BAD IDEA!!!!" for those situations where honesty, is not really the best policy.

I think however, in terms of mercifulness, the devs at this forum have yet to eat you alive and I know they've been through a bunch of threads already since you posted. They're probably just going to overlook it, rather than go through the hassle.

Dare you try this over on EA's forum? (Corporate entities aren't as FORGIVING as small company groups.)

But I digress...

We've got this topic derailed something fierce.

[Manni]

@shapelessform

know what? reading your "opinions & thoughts" there is only one thing for you to do:

GO INTO POLITICS! :D

seems you`ve got all the talents.....

[tobing]

I'm not going to debate about moral, ethics and law here. Law is not always right, and in some way, there is no justice. On the other hand, both moral and ethics are man-made and societal conventions (or agreements) with a century long history. Even that is not always right, so there's no ultimate ethics or moral. I don't like dogmatics.

On the other hand, think about the stupidity thing. Important stuff! And the psychology of lying and why it may be a good thing (depending on the situation of course) is also an interesting and important topic.

[shapelessform]

Feeling your have a moral obligation to tell the truth all the time does not denote intelligence.

that's exactly what i said.. there is no correlation. :)


In this situation, is it more intelligent to say "Yeah, my name is-" **KABLAM!!**

Or lie? "There are no Johnny's here. My name is Frank."
the answer given is neither intelligent, nor unintelligent. the thoughts behind the answer are the indicative factors.

you cannot judge a person to be unintelligent, or even to have had an unintelligent lapse, based purely on whether they answer a question truthfully or not.


anyway, i'm sure many people here share your views with regards to this thread, but i was asked to share my problem in order to help others with their problems, so i did. i don't think that i've done anything wrong or unusual, and the devs seem pretty cool, so i figured that they would probably understand. if they want to ban me for using a no-cd crack, that's entirely up to them.

[shapelessform]

the psychology of lying and why it may be a good thing.
it's a very slippery slope..

[shapelessform]

seems you`ve got all the talents.....
haha.. don't know that i like the sound of that!


that looks like a loaded 'all' to me. ;)

[AdmiralTigerclaw]

you cannot judge a person to be unintelligent, or even to have had an unintelligent lapse, based purely on whether they answer a question truthfully or not.


Allow me to requote a point you missed while defending yourself:


I also don't say that all honesty is stupidity. But there has to be some form of survival mechanism in a person's brain that goes "Bad idea... BAD IDEA!!!!" for those situations where honesty, is not really the best policy.

[Khanon]

There's a distinct difference between intelligence and common sense. I've noted that, generally speaking, the smarter a person is, the less common sense they tend to possess.

That's just a personal observation from my limited experience of only 40 some odd years.

[shapelessform]

There's a distinct difference between intelligence and common sense. I've noted that, generally speaking, the smarter a person is, the less common sense they tend to possess.

generally speaking, this is very true.


Allow me to requote a point you missed while defending yourself:

i'm not defending myself.. i am fully aware that i do dumb things on occasion. i'm merely debating the link between [dis]honesty and [un]intelligence.


there has to be some form of survival mechanism in a person's brain that goes "Bad idea... BAD IDEA!!!!" for those situations where honesty, is not really the best policy.
true, yet said survival mechanism doesn't necessarily have anything to do with intelligence either.


anyway, we can keep going in circles, or just agree to meet somewhere in the middle. i vote for the latter. :)

[CobraA1]

Example case. Say your name is Johnny. You're in a department store. Suddenly, some guy with a twelve gauge shotgun bursts in looking really angry. He asks for any and all people named Johnny. There are no random factors at the moment, such as people with concealed weapons.

The random factor in this case is that he hasn't indicated whether being Johnny will save your life or end it. Perhaps he will kill everybody except Johnny, in which case lying will get you killed.

Yes, there are extreme examples where lying is best. In general, however, lying is counterproductive.

And while we're at it - the only thing an EULA can do is to tell you not to make copies. They try to say lots of other things, but in the end it's all about copyright law, not the EULA.

[shapelessform]

Yes, there are extreme examples where lying is best. In general, however, lying is counterproductive.
bingo.

that's just it.. only in very extreme circumstances is lying in any way acceptable.


..of course, with the exception of the white lie. it would be extremely unintelligent to be honest if, for example, you dislike your girlfriend's new haircut.. also, if she ever asks you if she's gained weight, the answer is always NO!

[Dani McDowell]

Hi Shapelessform, your dxdiag says you have video driver version 6.14. The latest version for your card is 7.12. You can get that from ATI's website: http://game.amd.com/us-en/drivers_catalyst.aspx?p=xp/radeonx-xp

Hope this helps.

[StephenJ]

in future, don't casually question a person morals as though it's just an insignificant matter, particularly when you don't have a firm grasp on the subject yourself.

owned

[Khanon]

generally speaking, this is very true.

...and in a moment of sheer luck, I stumbled upon a rare instance of both being the same thing. ...avoiding the brunt of that conversation. ;)