Below will look identical with exception to the download URL and the fixed item listing.. Tractors were fixed to have varyine mass weights that were missing in the previous release of this patch.. as such.. I added #9 to the listing of fixes below, though it is not added to the actual readme file. Tractor mass was a slight oversight in the previous release. The only file effected is the HullItems.gf. Sorry everyone.
Both the game patch and the server kit have been updated. Thanks.
Also, in this release and the previous release version of this patch, many of you noticed a black doss window and may have saw "file not found" messages... what this is is a SFC 3 Cache Cleaner designed to remove the *.x files and the *.cache files from your game for STOCK models and installed games Scripts only. This will allow your game to regognize the updated scripts (*.cache files in your Assets\Scripts folder). The *.x files determine the quality of rendering of ship models and their glow effects in the game.. however, the glow effects provided on the game disk was created under a Geforce FX 5600 graphics card and may not be the best possible rendering of the *.x files on your system... the SFC 3 game engine will automatically recreate the *.x files upon mission load for the models in play and it will be recreated in accordance with the capabilities of your graphics card. the *.cache files will be recreated upon load of Campaign mode and / or skirmish mode that will incorporate all current mission scripts in your SFC 3 Scripts folder. These things were done in order to ease the problems with games running on different systems. It allows the game to recreate the files in accordance of what your system can handle.
If you do see a black box and it stated "file not found" all this means is that the game has not created the files as of yet.. usually this is seen just after a fresh install of SFC 3 that has not been launched as the game has not yet created the *.cache files. This is normal operation and will not effect the playability of your game if the files were not found.
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To the SFC 3 Community,
Kenneth Yeast and Ann Cox of Taldren (or formerly of Taldren depending on the current situation) have given permission for the release of the last testers build for SFC 3. This is Taldren's parting gift to the SFC 3 community. I hope that all of you will enjoy the last fixes made by David Ferrell under sanction of Taldren. This build does not fix all remaining issues; however it does fix a major cheat and a few other items like the Scan Mission.
Here is the message from Kenneth Yeast concerning the release of the SFC 3 Beta v534 when I asked him yesterday:
----- Original Message -----
From: Kenneth Yeast
To: 'Pestalence'
Sent: Sunday, July 12, 2004 4:25 AM
Subject: RE: Concerning SFC3
Yes, go right ahead. Thanks for your patience.
Here is the Install Instructions:
1) Uninstall Starfleet Command III using Add / Remove Programs file in your Windows Control Panel.
2) Delete the SFC3 game folder off of your system.
3) Reinstall Starfleet Command III from the game CD, do not install Direct X 8.1 and do not install Gamespy Arcade from the Game CD, just the Starfleet Command III game itself. Commonly the install folder is C:\Program Files\Activision\SFC3.
4) Check for the latest version of your video card drivers from the manufacturer of your video card. For Geforce cards, check the NVidia web site, for Radeon cards, check the ATI web site. Never get video drivers from a place that is not the manufacturer of your video card. If you own a laptop, please check with the manufacturer of your laptop for updated drivers.
5) Make sure your version of Windows is up to date. Go to Microsoft?s windows update and get all available updates for your Windows Operating System.
6) As a recommendation, Download and reinstall Direct X 9.0b, if you do not have Direct X 9.0b, it is strongly recommended that you update to Direct X 9.0b or you will cause others to crash in Gamespy Arcade or Dynaverse 3 servers. Direct X 9.0b is not compatible with previous versions of Direct X under direct play and people using Direct X version older than 9.0b will cause players who have upgraded ( 90% of players) to have severe in game lag, locked loading screens, or Crash to Desktop issues. This is stated in the Microsoft Direct X FAQ. Installing an older version of Direct X on top of Direct X 9.0b will cause Direct X 9.0b to corrupt.
7) Disable any Anti-Virus that you may be running on your system while installing the patch. After patching, you may re-enable your Anti-Virus.
8) Download and install ONLY the v534 patch installer below; this is a stand alone installer and does not need any other Starfleet Command III downloads. This file is to be used on a clean, unaltered, unpatched version of Starfleet Command III.
US/UK:
Nightsoft :
http://www.nightsoft.net/effhq/files/SFC3_Patch_1.01_Beta_2_Build_v534_a.exe (30.31MB)
SFCx :
http://www.sfcx.org/downloads/mirrors/Pestalence/SFC3_Patch_1.01_Beta_2_Build_v534_a.exe (30.31MB)
9) Near the end of the install Process, a file will open stating the v531 Readme information; this file will be located in your SFC3 game folder after patching. It contains all the trouble shooting tips for Starfleet Command III. The file name is SFC3 Readme v534.rtf.
For those wishing to run servers:
SFC 3 v534 Server kit:
Nightsoft :
http://www.nightsoft.net/effhq/files/SFC3_Beta_Server_Kit_Build_v534_a.exe (11.3MB)
SFCx :
http://www.sfcx.org/downloads/mirrors/Pestalence/SFC3_Beta_Server_Kit_Build_v534_a.exe (11.3MB)
Release notes:
8 May 2004
SFC 3 Patch version 1.01 Beta 2 Build 534
1) Random and single player missions not being allowed properly (if set) in Hexes with bases and planets or enemies - fixed.
2) After a ship decloaks, it will be auto-targeted but you cannot fire upon it - fixed (no longer auto-targets).
3) If you use the 's' key to accelerate out of a reverse you still maneuver at a reduced rate - fixed.
4) Scan mission not working in nebula hexes - fixed.
5) AI attempting High Energy Turns too often - fixed.
6) DefaultLoadout may now be CRC checked when logging on to Dynaverse by placing in validated client files.
7) The amount of damage taken by officers may be attenuated by changing OfficerDamageMod in HullItems.gf, default value is 0.
8) Borg no longer has Anti-Matter Mines available in weapon selection by default per game manual. Anti-Matter mines can be added back to the Borg race in the WeaponItems.gf file.
9) Tractor mass was incorrect across the board for all races - fixed per v464 (out of box version) mass weights.
Note: Previous saved games will not work with this build. All single player campaigns will need to be deleted and restarted after installing this build.
Added Features:
The amount of damage taken by officers may be attenuated by changing OfficerDamageMod in HullItems.gf, default value is 0.
[Officers]
OfficerDamageMod=0
SFC3 can be made to play with out the CD in the computer. Add the following line in the sfc.ini file under the [UI] heading.
[UI]
MakeItSo=1
Topic: SFC 3 v534 Patch Revised ... Tractor Mass Fixed !!!! (Read 6929 times)