Some days ago, I've released a minor update called: 153006.
This is an optional update for Empire Earth II, but important for Empire Earth II: The Art of Supremacy (expansion pack).
What means "important"? Important means that some game files (not only the launcher) have been updated, so there might be compatibility problems when trying to join multiplayer games. That's why all players who play the multiplayer mode on Empire Earth II: The Art of Supremacy should install minor update 153006.
The minor update can be downloaded here:
Code: Select all
deleted, the launcher will ask you for it
Code: Select all
deleted, the launcher will ask you for it
Changes/Fixes in minor update 153006:
- Fixed a EE2: The Art of Supremacy bug where Transport Aircraft was invisible in airport,
- Added a new configuration option "MyNicknameIs=[id]Nickname[/id]" for UnofficialVersionConfig, which sets to use selected nickname in the Multiplayer games (it will help to bypass LAN programs nickname limitations).
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Earlier I have released an optional update 153005,
Changes/Fixes in minor update 153005:
- Fixed "hanging" problems with the Configuration Utility, Maximization Helper and Custom Screen Resolution Generator,
- Fixed the "high CPU load" bug after Maximization Helper's chat was closed.
So if someone was experiencing problems described above - it should be fixed for now.
Older, important minor updates:
Changes/Fixes in minor update 153000-153003:
- Fixed Two Unhandled Exception crashes:
* Flags: 00210206h (caused by missing birds death animation, not a 1.5 bug);
* Flags: 00210246h (caused by TBM launchers).
- Restored "UFO" attack ability (disabled in minor update 153001 due to 00210206h crashes).
- Updated Launcher files, added the following features:
* Unhandled Exception crashes will be reported automatically to Dr.MonaLisa;
* It will be possible to upload playbacks with unhandled exceptions to the lab;
* The launcher is checking if EE2 is running in a compatibility mode, and if yes then warns user to not use the compatibility mode.
- Added Large Address Aware support (disabled by default, you can enable in UnofficialVersionConfig.txt).
(Large Address Aware is an executable flag that tells Windows that a program can handle more than 2GiB of memory. Use it only if you have got 4GB+ of the RAM memory. This option might improve game performance and prevent "not enough memory" crashes).
Changes/Fixes in minor update 153004:
- Added the "Maximization Helper":
* The Helper will start automatically if your OS is Windows 8 / 8.1 / 10+;
* The Helper helps you to solve maximization problems with game;
* It has a built-in Chat, so you can easly get help, when needed;
* Fixes Windows 10 build 9926+ maximization problem (please use Solution 1).
- Improved Fixes for Unhandled Excepton crashes,
- Improved the "Configuration Utility" (UnofficialVersionConfig.vbs):
* Added an option to run EE2 in Windowed Mode;
* Added an option to enable / disable Large Address Aware.
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Now some explanation why there are so many minor updates in such a short time:
I decided to myself that version 1.5.3 must be VERY stable, and every single bug should be fixed immediately (when it's possible). In version 1.5.3 I added the crash reporting system, which asks players to upload playbacks with crashes when it's needed. Thanks to that I checked many playbacks (game recordings) files, and I was able to prepare fixes for ~3 unhandled exception crashes. Another reason (of minor update 153004) was a release of the new Windows 10 preview build. Seems like EE2 has more problems on Windows 10 than I expected. The new build of Windows 10 was released shortly before 153004 update, that's why I couldn't prepare fixes earlier. It would be simply impossible. The Maximization Helper (feature added in 153004) seems to work fine, and the built-in chat system allows players to be in touch with me at any time. Thanks to the statistics system I knew that we have got some Windows 10 users already (~350 in February). It would be sad to force them to wait for another "big update", while fixes were prepared already. My opinion is: If minor updates are released quickly, then less players install "invalid" versions (not really invalid, but not the perfect one). So then all new players who download the patch will use the most stable version. It's better to fix everything "after release", than prepare some big updates every X months, because nobody likes those updates, some people are still using slow internet connections, and those updates are killing the multiplayer community. So for now: if it's needed, I'll be releasing "optional" updates of the UP1.5 Launchers that don't force players to update in order to be able to join multiplayer games. I hope I explained why we had those minor updates, and people will be not longer angry on me for that (yeah I know that for most of you it's ridiculous that some players actually hate updates which make this game better...)