Hawk wrote:I think the GOG version also comes patched to 1.05, and I believe the 1.04 patch was installed correctly in that version.
![thumbs_up !*th_up*!](./images/smilies/ok.gif)
Confirmed, it's 1.05. I have a copy of the GOG version. It has the Vista fix pre-configured so it should run straight out of the box even on most modern machines. An added bonus is that it installs outside of the "Program Files" directory by default (C:\GOG Games\Railroad Tycoon 3).
Only word of warning with the GOG version is be warned about unchecking the "Disable Hardware T&L" switch. This disables the Vista Fix (a configuration file that checks the "Disable Hardware T&L" switch without running the game) and next time you go to start the game it may not run. If it runs you don't need the Vista Fix. If it won't run, you need to use the configuration file from the Vista Fix download. Your machine's graphics card (Nvidia seems worst) in operating systems after XP (Vista and up) seems to determine whether it's needed or not.
Blurry textures, widescreen and the alternative to the Vista fix, do improve play experience in the majority of cases IMO. But these things are optional. There are different options for these.
Links to what I use (Installation: place files in game folder):
Blurry textures -
POST -
a fixed 1.05 exe - displays sharp textures, ready to be patched to 1.06 if desired
Widescreen -
Instructions-
Hex nooblet - for display ratios over 4:3, although some may prefer the GUI completely un-stretched
Alternative to the Vista fix -
POST -
Direct3D emulation - water reflections and detailed price map, may reduce performance.
corcov32 wrote:. . . (multiple installs 1.06 or 1.05) I would be very thankful for some tips about the best setup for one who just wants to play the game in its best version.
"Best version" is a matter of opinion. The reason for multiple installs is that a map is best played in the version for which it was designed. 1.05 is the last proper version by PopTop, while 1.06 is a fan-made effort. 1.06 adds new stuff to the game, but some of that new stuff tweaks the gameplay established with 1.05. 1.06 maps are set so that 1.05 cannot see them in the "Load Scenario" menu. There are far more maps for 1.05, but IMO some of the best ones (made by savvy fan-creators, Oilcan/EPH/arop/etc.) are made for 1.06.
Aside from having a 1.05 and a 1.06, the other reason that multiple installs are nice is that RT3 isn't really super friendly to customization. If you install some new engines, buildings or rollingstock, the simplest and easiest way to undo those changes is often a fresh install. Any saved games and maps that require custom assets (another name for any new engines, etc.) will not run or load unless you have all those things installed. So if you mod your game up, you may want to have a dedicated install for that.
Multiple installs are actually pretty easy to make. Just copy the entire 1.05 game folder. It's about 1.4GB out-of-the-box. If space is tight, the folders "Movies" (150MB) and "Music" (100MB) in the Data folder can be deleted. The default maps (~500MB) can also be shaved bringing space occupied down to about 650MB. There is no need for those things in 1.06 for example.
Please note that RT3 doesn't have a compression for saved games. They are actually larger than the map file itself!
![yikes !*00*!](./images/smilies/yikes.gif)
They will likely end up taking most of the space in your install. No need to copy those around. I have a 1.05 install which swelled to over 18GB thanks to heaps of saved games.
Patching to 1.06 is pretty easy, just click-through then the important part: specify the right file path. I copied the setup file "setup06.exe" (25MB) into my 1.06 installs. This way it is easy to find should I need to make a fresh install of 1.06.
So that's info, but not an answer to your question. I would recommend 1.05 while getting familiar with the game because you can play the campaign as intended. Once you get confident, you should probably try 1.06 and/or mod the game with extra installs. Good to hear from people just discovering the game. There's lots of detailed game info here. Enjoy.
Edit: fixed attachment URL.