STeam-based launch failures -- patch needed?

[Michael Hopcroft]

I am trying to play PON again, or at the very least try the tutorials again, in preparation to trying some of the DLC releases. I bought my copy through Steam.

However, I have run into the problem that the game won't open properly. It starts loading the engine, playing the music, and showing the Paradox logo. Then nothing happens.

I just read that there was a recent patch. I don't know how to patch a Steam-purchased game. I'm wondering, though, whether the patch addresses this issue.

That said there are a couple of the DLC scenarios that I very much want to try, and they aren't expensive to add. So I want to make this work. What can I do?

[yellow ribbon]

hum, quoting MJL

[color="Red"] "First, copy it out of the steam directory to something like c:\games

Then go to the tech support forum and download and install the O patch."[/color]

to get "patch Oscar" you need to be registered at Paradox, other older patches could be found here (but you would rather wait for the official 1.02 patch, what shall be public/or shall be used by steam anyway)

[Michael Hopcroft]

hum, quoting MJL

[color="Red"] "First, copy it out of the steam directory to something like c:\games

Then go to the tech support forum and download and install the O patch."[/color]

to get "patch Oscar" you need to be registered at Paradox, other older patches could be found here (but you would rather wait for the official 1.02 patch, what shall be public/or shall be used by steam anyway)

Yes I did see that when I went to the Paradox forum and saw a question very similar to mine. MY thought was that IIRC Windows needs a program to be where it was installed in order to run it properly, and that moving a program installation will render the program non-usable. Am I mistaken in that belief?

[Generalisimo]

Am I mistaken in that belief?

At least for PON, yes, you are.

It is highly recommended to do that, because if you don't do it, Steam will revert back some beta patch files to the normal vanilla files... and so, the game will be completelly unstable.

[lodilefty]

Yes I did see that when I went to the Paradox forum and saw a question very similar to mine. MY thought was that IIRC Windows needs a program to be where it was installed in order to run it properly, and that moving a program installation will render the program non-usable. Am I mistaken in that belief?

To be clear: the AGE games do not rely on the pogram location being exactly where Windows records it to be...

You can make a copy and put it nearly anywhere and it runs OK. AFAIK, true for all the AGE-engine games

The only thing to watch for is that when you run the patch, to be very careful where it goes (use "browse" button in the patch installer to set your new location), as Windows won't know for sure....

[Cohnman5]

Occasionally, the game will hang upon starting. Just press the escape key a couple of times and the game will go to the menu screen. If the game then says you want to quit just say no and play. Viva La France!

[freeboy]

do all vesions of thegame sold by ageod etc use the steam sevice, in most apps I find it invisable, unfortunately herewithpride it seems problematic and i probably would repurchase if a non steam ersion is available???

[ohms_law]

Steam is definitely more trouble than it's worth.

AGEod sells all of their games on the website here. That's the way that they're intended to be sold anyway, so that's how I purchase their games (the money goes straight to AGEod that way [or, at least, that's what I imagine occurs]).

The other option is to purchase through GamersGate, which is Paradox's distribution system. Either way is certainly better than Steam. I've never quite understood the reason that Steam is so damn popular. If I wanted to let the world know what games I'm playing and when, and allow publishers to ultimately control when I can play their games (since Steam is the ultimate form of DRM), then I expect not to have to pay hardly anything... which certainly isn't the case with Steam. It's just weird, to me. Anyway, that's enough of my ranting.

[freeboy]

so, just to be clear, you bught the game and it does not need steam activation?
I have some oer the counter gams that require steam.. thanks
looks like I may have to repurchse... its very frustrting havingevery other start fail
thanks

[Rafiki]

AGEOD games bought at the AGEOD webshop do not require Steam in any way.

[sagji]

I don't know that the Steam bought version needs Steam - other than for install. Other version's don't.

If you are having problems with the Steam version of the game, then copy it from the Steam folders to another place.
The register on the Paradox forum and download and install the latest beta patch on the copy.
Now run the copy not the Steam version.

[ERISS]

The best is to buy here:
http://shopus.ageod.com/fiche.html?REF=737139
That's not the cheapper, but the most dollars should go to devs, and there is no DRM (Gamersgate is one: you must log to Gg to install a game, I tried)

You then must log on Paradox forum and enter game key to keep the last beta patch (what about officially released ones? DRM again?):
http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?632-Pride-of-Nations-Tech-Support

[yellow ribbon]

I ponder if i am the only one in the forum, who actually owns a DISC of the game

i dont like Paradox neither, but to be correct:

NORMALLY YOU DONT NEED TO REGISTER for official patches...

and thats exactly what is coming up:

the SECOND official patch, 1.02

they already announced it has to be approved yet and then its delivered to "steam" customers as official 1.02

[Hohenlohe]

I ponder if i am the only one in the forum, who actually owns a DISC of the game

i dont like Paradox neither, but to be correct:

NORMALLY YOU DONT NEED TO REGISTER for official patches...

and thats exactly what is coming up:

the SECOND official patch, 1.02

they already announced it has to be approved yet and then its delivered to "steam" customers as official 1.02

I own a disc too, you are not alone dear yellow ribbon but i got it too at GG...

heartly greetings

Hohenlohe

[Cohnman5]

Problem solved with patch 1.02 from Steam. Still slow to load and turn processing still somewhat slow, but what a great game! Viva La France!