Why doesn't the XML autoupdate? Seems like the problems with SDC doing that have just come very recently...

I am having the same problem. I have deliberately put off updating until the current 'issues' with the patches are resolved. The following is copied directly from my latest debug: Debug Message: Version v1.5 last updated on: Thu Jan 11 13:39:19 2007 When I go to SDC it shows that I have the latest version installed, which is clearly not the case. I have refreshed the XML, which did nothing. It still shows me having v1.50x.072, updated on 3/14/2007. What can I do about this?

Regardless of what debug he pulled, his issue is the same as mine so if refreshing the XML isn't going to fix the issue, what will?

Try this, both of you. Be sure to follow these directions exactly, so nothing is damaged:

Go to run in the start menu, enter regedit and run it.

In regedit, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Stardock\Drengin.net\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar.

On the right side, look at the Version line. What does it say?

If it says 1.50X.072 (or anything other than 1.50.nnn), doubleclick it and try changing it to 1.50.

Exit regedit, open SDC, and see if DA will update. If it acts like it is going to update but doesn't actually download any new files, I'll see what else we can try.

Something's definitely strange then, because AFAIK that's exactly where SDC looks to see what version you have. So if it says 1.50.059 there, it should say the same in SDC.

You can try changing that value to something else--say, 1.50.058, and see if it then kicks SDC into showing the right version. If that doesn't do it for you, I'm not sure what else to do aside from contacting support.

The reg entry for DL is v1.50.098, updated 2/04/2007, which is the same as SDC. I started DL to get a fresh debug, and it says-Debug Message: Version v1.5 last updated on: Thu Jan 11 13:39:19 2007. Odd. Checked SDC again and DA still reads as v1.50.072, updated on 3/11/2007. I suspect this is a problem in SDC itself, caused either by my accepting a DL update whilst rejecting the DA update, or by simply being offered the DA update and then rejecting it. I suppose there is nothing left to do but to let support try and sort things out. Is there a way to point them to this thread, so that they can read it for themselves, (and save us both time)?

Thanks for trying. I'll fire off an e-mail to them. Ciao.

Thanks for the info, Evil. Glad to know that you finally got things somewhat sorted out. I didn't try the regedit thing; messing around in there can be very risky. Perhaps I should have put more trust in Kryo, he's almost always right. But if I did, then I wouldn't have found the root cause of our problem. The latest build of SDC is screwed up. It took me awhile to confirm this for myself, though I suspected it all along. I deleted, and reinstalled SDC, (the version in the 'downloads' section of the website) to no avail. I did notice, however, that SDC updated itself right away. I deleted it again- and this time I rejected the update. It started up, and, voila! It showed the correct version this time, (1.50.059- which was the last version before the latest 'bugstorm') as well as making the .072 update available to me. I updated, and my reg confirms that I now have the .072 version installed. This is not to say that all is well, though. SDC STILL insists that I updated on 3/14, when actually I did it early this morning. It also says that the movies, tutorials, and multimedia were updated on 3/14, which is hogwash. Those haven't changed since 2/6.
I don't know what to say about the choppy video issue you are having. I fired up DA, and the opening video seemed to play alright for me. The 1.50x3 showed up for me also, so that must be correct.
I haven't played a game since .059- the versions posted since were just too buggy; still are actually. My career leaves me very little free time, and it is just too valuable to waste. I may never play again. I play exclusively as Terran, and trading is a crucial part of my strategy. I can get myself out of seemingly impossible situations using little more than a smile and a handshake. The 1.4x build killed trading, and I put the game away. I was thrilled when 1.5 came out, it gave me my game back. Now they have nerfed it again. Hmm... seems that I am straying off topic to rant, so I'll close out now. Ciao.

Oh, I see. Makes sense. But were the movies, tutorials, and multimedia updated on the same date? SDC says they were. That was partly the cause of my confusion.

Thanks again.