Prerelease 3.173 (Bugfixes, Children Of Neinzul Beta Opens!)

[x4000]

The latest beta is available via the Updates window in version 3.060 or greater of the game.  Just open the game and you can quickly download the prerelease through the updates tab.  If you don't yet have 3.060 or greater, you can download 3.060 here.  This prerelease version is compatible with any vendor's version of the game -- Steam, Impulse, whatever.

Note:  If you have bug reports related to this release, please log them in the bug reports subforum with one bug per topic.  It makes things infinitely easier for us.  Thanks!

Looking for a Patch That Can Be Manually-Installed?
Because of the time involved in creating multiple versions of each patch, we only create manually-installable patches for official versions of the game, not each beta prerelease.  But you can easily create your own manually-installable beta patch!  Please note that current betas can only be successfully applied to version 3.060 of the game or later (if you later wish to revert to the official version for any reason, you can download the full raw files from the above link to do so).

To create your own manual beta patch, simply download these two files:
1. Current Beta Director Xml File.
2. Current Beta Zip File.

If you try to open that zip file, it will say it's corrupt -- that's okay, it's not really a zip file.  Finally, create a new zip file on your computer, and put both the director and the fake-zip-file inside it.  Call your outer zip file something that starts with Beta and ends with an extension of .zip.  Beta.zip will work just fine, or you can name it after the specific version number if you want to hang onto it.  And that's it!  Now you have your very own manually-installable package of the AI War beta version of your choice, which you can install by simply selecting via your Updates window in the game.  Please note that "Beta" in the filename is case-sensitive.

What's new since 3.172:
(Cumulative release notes since 3.120 are here http://arcengames.com/mediawiki/index.php?title=AI_War_-_Current_Beta)

-------------------

    *  All of the fabricators now use only 5000 energy instead of 10000.

    * Fixed bug where units approaching an enemy strong forcefield from the left would pass through and wind up on the right side (and sometimes stop in the middle). The forcefield still stopped their shots, but it was disconcerting.

    * The game now randomly selects from all the possible title music tracks (from the base game and any installed expansions) when deciding which title music track to use.

    * The first beta of the Children of Neinzul micro-expansion is included in this version.
          o The following expansion-only features are included:
                + Starship Class: Neinzul Enclave Starships Mark I-IV.
                + Bonus Ship Type: Neinzul Youngling Commandos Mark I-V.
                + Bonus Ship Type: Neinzul Youngling Tigers Mark I-V.
                + Map Type: X
                + Map Type: Concentric Circles
                + AI Plot: Hybrid Hives
          o If you just want the beta update and do not wish to have the expansion features turned on, simply go into the Expansions tab of the Settings screen and disable the expansion. The game will run in demo mode until you've either disabled the new expansion or until you've purchased it, so you can easily demo these new features at no charge if you'd like to do so.

    * Fixed a bug where a CPA could quietly not happen at a specific AI tech level and difficulty level.

[x4000]

And if you want to read more about the new micro-expansion, or if you want to buy it, you can do so here: http://www.arcengames.com/aiwar_childrenofneinzul.php

[Vinraith]

...and preordered. 

This looks great, and congrats on hunting down and killing that annoying CPA bug. If I'm going to survive something devastating, I want to do it on my terms! 

[x4000]

Many thanks for your support!  We snuck this preorder phase out on folks, so nobody knew it was coming -- you're officially the first to have ordered it!

[Vinraith]

Cool! 

So with regards to 3.173, what's the word on save game compatibility? If we've got one in progress should we avoid updating?

[x4000]

Savegames are always forward compatible, so no worries. However, older savegames won't be converted to the expansion by default. If you want to enable the expansion features in an older savegame, you can enter "cmd:enable expansion 2" minus the quotes in the chat box. But that's totally your option, you can just leave older saves as they were, which is always the default.

[Rustayne]

Quick question on installing.  I have downloaded and installed 3.173, but it still says that the new expansion isn't installed.  The link I got when i purchased it says just update and it will work.  Maybe I missed something simple (Very likely cause that is me. , so can you explain how to install it?

Edit:
I have tried to uninstall it and reinstall and still no go.  The check box for the children of neinzul is grayed out, with a check in it, and says not installed.  When i went back to 3.1.2.0, the expansion didn't show up at all, and when i updated it was the same way again.  Not sure if i'm missing something, or if I need to do something special.  I did try doing a manual update with the files linked and it didn't fix it either.  Just said it was up to date, and on the reinstall it updated to 3.173.

So yea.  I'll check back tomorrow and see if there is a solution to this.

[LintMan]

I purchased AI War and Zenith Remnant through Steam.  Do I have to buy Children of Neinzul through Steam to get it to show up on the DLC list in Steam, or can I preorder it through your web site?

Thanks!

@Vinraith - are you the same Vinraith that's on Rock Paper Shotgun?

[Otagan]

Just wanted to note that I'm having the same issue as Rustayne.

[Vinraith]

I purchased AI War and Zenith Remnant through Steam.  Do I have to buy Children of Neinzul through Steam to get it to show up on the DLC list in Steam, or can I preorder it through your web site?

Thanks!

@Vinraith - are you the same Vinraith that's on Rock Paper Shotgun?

If you buy it through the website you'll get a code that will work with the Steam version. Conversely, the codes for your Steam version will work with a copy directly downloaded from Arcen (or on Impulse, for that matter). It's total freedom, basically.

And yes, yes I am.

[LintMan]

Cool!  Thanks for the info, Vinraith. 


I just put in my preorder, downloaded the update and am having the same problem as Rustayne and Otagan: the expansion says not installed.

[Vinraith]

Yeah, it doesn't show for me either, and for example the new map types aren't available if I try to start a game under 3.173. I'm sure it'll get straightened out in short order.

[dumpsterKEEPER]

I'll also point out that the error message when you click on the expansion in the settings screen says "You cannot unlock and expansion until it has been installed."

[RedrumJackle]

Sadly that seems to be the same case for me. Though I have no worries that our AI War staff will get to the issue and resolve it quickly ^_^;

I'm excited to try out the beta, in fact I am just about bought out on the low price. You really cannot defeat that for an expansion price. XD

Only issue holding me back is that I would like to test it out. ^_^

[AlexV]

To make the Children of Neinzul expansion work, go to "C:\Program Files (x86)\Arcen Games, LLC\AI War\Expansions\2\2" (obviously if you've installed it somewhere else, adjust to taste. Move all the files in that second "2" folder one level up into the first "2" folder. You should end up with "...Expansions\2\Version.txt" etc. instead of "...Expansions\2\2\Version.txt".