patch 1.8.1

from Stardock Forums
There is a patch 1.8.1 for the Russian release of Space Rangers 2:
https://www.elementalgames.com/forum/msg.php?lang=rus&forum=rangers2&theme=2763&page=auto
Actually it works on English versions of the game as well, but it enables SF protection so it can't be used with the stardock version.

When is this patch going to be available through stardock?
3,078 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
I'm pretty sure this isn't a patch formally developed by the game's original design team (Elemental Games filed for bankruptcy a while back)--it's an ad hoc programming effort from a few former devs who worked on the game and some passionate fans.

Because of this, I doubt Stardock has any kind of contractual access to the code or the use of the code. I could be wrong. Let's wait for a StarDock employee to chime in...
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
It would be a shame to miss out on this patch because it adds so many new features and fixes. The only reason it's not compatible with the stardock release of the game is StarForce.

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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
So what happens if you apply this patch to the 1.3 English non-Stardock version? What are the new features and fixes you get? Is it worth it or do you witness a lot of Russian text in the game?
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
So what happens if you apply this patch to the 1.3 English non-Stardock version? What are the new features and fixes you get? Is it worth it or do you witness a lot of Russian text in the game?


I tried to install the Russian patch over the UK version (published by Excalibur) and the game refused to launch, probably because UK and Russian discs are nothing alike. Just the fact that they both use StarForce doesn't make them compatible, the encryption key on the disc would have to match as well. I'm pretty sure people with Cinemaware's version won't fare any better. I'm also pretty sure that the patch will screw up a lot of the text in the game.

I would really, REALLY like to see an universal 1.8.1 English patch which could be applied on all English versions. That would mean that StarForce has to go, but since Elemental Games has gone belly-up and the game is soon about 1,5 years old, I doubt that unprotecting it will hinder its sales at this stage. A solid patch, however, could boost them.

I myself ran into error message "Warning: Nothing to Output Bframe decoder lag" after I upgraded my computer, which makes the intro movie unviewable (one of the things that has been fixed ages ago in the Russian patch, or so I've heard). Has anybody figured out some kind of a workaround? I think it has something to do with ATi's Catalyst drivers since I had no problems with nVidia.

Anyway, the game itself works and I can always 'enjoy' the intro's brilliant voice acting coupled with incredibly smooth lipsync on my laptop so it's not that much of a problem, really. But still, it would be nicer if the intro still worked.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
I've asked Cinemaware about this update previously and they have no plans to release it in North America.
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
If the Russian patches are "fan-made", why not ask them to make an English version ?