Unofficial Bloodlines Patch 4.5 released!

Shawk wrote:
> Justisaur wrote:
>> On Jan 11, 10:13 am, Shawk <sh....RemoveThis@clara.co.uk.3guesses> wrote:
>>> willbill wrote:
>>>> JLC wrote:
>>>>> Actually I just bought the game through Steam a couple of weeks ago
>>>>> when they had all their games on sale. I've been interested in this
>>>>> game since it came out, and I've also followed all the patches
>>>> me too
>>>> there've been so many, that i'm
>>>> sure glad i didn't download any
>>>> of the earlier patches.
>>>>> that have been made for this game. I picked it up for $10 along with
>>>>> the two Shadowgrounds games which I paid $12 as a package.
>>>> i just bought Bloodlines, but paid $20
>>>> (Amazon makes it pretty easy)
>>>> what's the address for Steam?
>>>> (i triedwww.steam.combut that
>>>> doesn't look like it)
>>> It'shttp://www.steampowered.com/v/index.php
>>>
>>> Bear in mind Steam is a delivery service. Your games work through it
>>> and won't work without it. Like Windows Live but better. Folk seem to
>>> love it or hate it. I'm in the 'love it' camp
>>>
>>> Have a look. Some games are at a great price but others can be had
>>> cheaper retail. Lots of developers selling through it though so plenty
>>> of choice
>>
>> Yeah, I just bought Darkstar One at Target for $8, but it was $20 on
>> Steam.
>
>
> Always will be best to shop around.
>
>
>> I'm getting a bit irritated with it, since it acts like spyware,
>> poping up adds all the time, and I've only had it for a couple weeks.
>
>
> It'll pop-up 'news' on start up only. There are no 'pop-ups' at any
> other time.
>
> When I boot Steam up I might get one or two ads for games just released
> or on discount and sometimes its news about patches. Sometimes there
> will be no news and therefore no pop-up. I don't notice it TBH unless
> its news that interests me (such as Valve just buying Turtle Rock).
>
> Admittedly the last couple of weeks have been busy for Valve with
> GOTY's, buying other devs and the release of Rockstar's catalogue so
> there has been a little more news than normal (still only on start up)
> but how is this like Spyware?


Ooops... meant to also say...

Go into Steam settings and untick 'Notify me about additions or changes
to my games, new releases and upcoming releases' under Interface
 >> Stay informed about: Unofficial Bloodlines Patch 4.5 released! 

Thus spake Shawk <shawk RemoveThis @clara.co.uk.3guesses>, Fri, 11 Jan 2008 18:13:00
+0000, Anno Domini:

>Bear in mind Steam is a delivery service. Your games work through it
>and won't work without it. Like Windows Live but better. Folk seem to
>love it or hate it. I'm in the 'love it' camp

Can one not just archive most installed/unencrypted games & then later just
unzip/unrar back from the archive backup & run offline at that
patch/version? I've only ever had HL2 as a Steam game, though I got the box
& CDs so never had to backup the d/l.

--
Nostromo
 >> Stay informed about: Unofficial Bloodlines Patch 4.5 released! 

Nostromo wrote:
> Thus spake Shawk <shawk.TakeThisOut@clara.co.uk.3guesses>, Fri, 11 Jan 2008 18:13:00
> +0000, Anno Domini:
>
>> Bear in mind Steam is a delivery service. Your games work through it
>> and won't work without it. Like Windows Live but better. Folk seem to
>> love it or hate it. I'm in the 'love it' camp
>
> Can one not just archive most installed/unencrypted games & then later just
> unzip/unrar back from the archive backup & run offline at that
> patch/version? I've only ever had HL2 as a Steam game, though I got the box
> & CDs so never had to backup the d/l.


You can certainly make backups but I don't know about it working offline
straight from re-install - never uninstall anything here...

There was once an issue with being offline (it would want to go online
and if you didn't let it, it got stroppy) but that was apparently fixed
in a patch a year or so ago

BTW - never backed up a download either. if I swap out the HD or
reinstall XP I just re-download everything from Steam.
 >> Stay informed about: Unofficial Bloodlines Patch 4.5 released! 

This message is not archived
 >> Stay informed about: Unofficial Bloodlines Patch 4.5 released! 

Thus spake Shawk <shawk.RemoveThis@clara.co.uk.3guesses>, Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:00:23
+0000, Anno Domini:

>Nostromo wrote:
>> Thus spake Shawk <shawk.RemoveThis@clara.co.uk.3guesses>, Fri, 11 Jan 2008 18:13:00
>> +0000, Anno Domini:
>>
>>> Bear in mind Steam is a delivery service. Your games work through it
>>> and won't work without it. Like Windows Live but better. Folk seem to
>>> love it or hate it. I'm in the 'love it' camp
>>
>> Can one not just archive most installed/unencrypted games & then later just
>> unzip/unrar back from the archive backup & run offline at that
>> patch/version? I've only ever had HL2 as a Steam game, though I got the box
>> & CDs so never had to backup the d/l.
>
>
>You can certainly make backups but I don't know about it working offline
>straight from re-install - never uninstall anything here...
>
>There was once an issue with being offline (it would want to go online
>and if you didn't let it, it got stroppy) but that was apparently fixed
>in a patch a year or so ago
>
>BTW - never backed up a download either. if I swap out the HD or
>reinstall XP I just re-download everything from Steam.

That's ok if you have b/width to burn, but some of us with 512Kb adsl
(albeit totally unlimited), that could be a lengthy proposition. I really
would like to know if Valve have fixed Steam to allow easy backups &
reinstalls, so you can just take off straight after a system rebuild, reload
the game, patch as usual & off you go.

--
Nostromo
 >> Stay informed about: Unofficial Bloodlines Patch 4.5 released! 

Nostromo wrote:
> Thus spake Shawk <shawk.TakeThisOut@clara.co.uk.3guesses>, Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:00:23
> +0000, Anno Domini:
>
>> Nostromo wrote:
>>> Thus spake Shawk <shawk.TakeThisOut@clara.co.uk.3guesses>, Fri, 11 Jan 2008 18:13:00
>>> +0000, Anno Domini:
>>>
>>>> Bear in mind Steam is a delivery service. Your games work through it
>>>> and won't work without it. Like Windows Live but better. Folk seem to
>>>> love it or hate it. I'm in the 'love it' camp
>>> Can one not just archive most installed/unencrypted games & then later just
>>> unzip/unrar back from the archive backup & run offline at that
>>> patch/version? I've only ever had HL2 as a Steam game, though I got the box
>>> & CDs so never had to backup the d/l.
>>
>> You can certainly make backups but I don't know about it working offline
>> straight from re-install - never uninstall anything here...
>>
>> There was once an issue with being offline (it would want to go online
>> and if you didn't let it, it got stroppy) but that was apparently fixed
>> in a patch a year or so ago
>>
>> BTW - never backed up a download either. if I swap out the HD or
>> reinstall XP I just re-download everything from Steam.
>
> That's ok if you have b/width to burn, but some of us with 512Kb adsl
> (albeit totally unlimited), that could be a lengthy proposition. I really
> would like to know if Valve have fixed Steam to allow easy backups &
> reinstalls, so you can just take off straight after a system rebuild, reload
> the game, patch as usual & off you go.


Yeah, up to 8MB here, (I get around 6). However it's always been the
case (maybe not widely known) that if you just copy the Valve folder to
another drive or DVD you can just copy it back after your rebuild,
delete the clientregistry.blob file, boot up and sign in. A new
clientregistry.blob file is made and you're good to go. You retain all
your patches, mods etc this way.

Additionally if you right-click on individual games then you get the
option to backup the game files or go to 'File' 'Backup games' to back
up the lot. There are several ways of doing it.
 >> Stay informed about: Unofficial Bloodlines Patch 4.5 released! 

Werner Spahl wrote:

> Hi everyone, the unofficial patch 4.5 is out and available as usual as
> an exclusive for the first few days from The Patches Scrolls ((The
> Patches Scrolls) Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines Downloads)! This
> time I also did a simple installer version, but the patch is still
> downloadable as a ZIP archive. Any feedback here or via email will be
> answered .


1st, you've mentioned that your 2 archives
(either one, they're both large) now
permit doing a "2 step" upgrade

2nd, i use dialup, and see that the ZIP archive
is enough bigger that it'll take an extra 2 hours

....so some questions:

1. once i've installed the 3 CDs that
the game is on, do i next

a) do the official 1.2 patch and then

b) do your unofficial 2 step update,
on top of the 1.2 patch?

2. does the zip make it easier to
do (or understand) your 2 step
update as two separate steps?

i mean, my impression is that your basic
update is the 1st thing done (on top of
the 1.2 patch?), and then one has the
option of going all the way with the
rest of your current 4.5 patch?

correct?

bill
 >> Stay informed about: Unofficial Bloodlines Patch 4.5 released! 

"willbill" <trek.TakeThisOut@worldwide.net> wrote in message
news:fmc0200a6@enews5.newsguy.com...
> Werner Spahl wrote:
>
>> Hi everyone, the unofficial patch 4.5 is out and available as usual as an
>> exclusive for the first few days from The Patches Scrolls ((The Patches
>> Scrolls) Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines Downloads)! This time I
>> also did a simple installer version, but the patch is still downloadable
>> as a ZIP archive. Any feedback here or via email will be answered .
>
>
> 1st, you've mentioned that your 2 archives
> (either one, they're both large) now
> permit doing a "2 step" upgrade
>
> 2nd, i use dialup, and see that the ZIP archive
> is enough bigger that it'll take an extra 2 hours
>
> ...so some questions:
>
> 1. once i've installed the 3 CDs that
> the game is on, do i next
>
> a) do the official 1.2 patch and then
>
> b) do your unofficial 2 step update,
> on top of the 1.2 patch?
>
> 2. does the zip make it easier to
> do (or understand) your 2 step
> update as two separate steps?
>
> i mean, my impression is that your basic
> update is the 1st thing done (on top of
> the 1.2 patch?), and then one has the
> option of going all the way with the
> rest of your current 4.5 patch?
>
> correct?
>
> bill

I'd go with the new 4.5 update with installer. Finally an .exe file where
all you have to do is run it like any other patch. For some reason the patch
zip files take forever to un-zip. When you go to DL the file make sure it
says .exe not zip. I thought I was getting the installer version and I also
though it was inside the zip file. It took my 3GHz Core 2 over 2 hours each
to unzip the 4.4 and 4.5 zip files! Then after all that I realized I'd got
the wrong file. The 4.5 exe installs fast and it sure beats waiting for the
zip to up zip! Keep up the good work! JLC
 >> Stay informed about: Unofficial Bloodlines Patch 4.5 released! 

On Sat, 12 Jan 2008 19:32:23 -0800, "JLC" <jc@nospam> wrote:

>
>"willbill" <trek.TakeThisOut@worldwide.net> wrote in message
>news:fmc0200a6@enews5.newsguy.com...
>> Werner Spahl wrote:
>>
>>> Hi everyone, the unofficial patch 4.5 is out and available as usual as an
>>> exclusive for the first few days from The Patches Scrolls ((The Patches
>>> Scrolls) Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines Downloads)! This time I
>>> also did a simple installer version, but the patch is still downloadable
>>> as a ZIP archive. Any feedback here or via email will be answered .
>>
>>
>> 1st, you've mentioned that your 2 archives
>> (either one, they're both large) now
>> permit doing a "2 step" upgrade
>>
>> 2nd, i use dialup, and see that the ZIP archive
>> is enough bigger that it'll take an extra 2 hours
>>
>> ...so some questions:
>>
>> 1. once i've installed the 3 CDs that
>> the game is on, do i next
>>
>> a) do the official 1.2 patch and then
>>
>> b) do your unofficial 2 step update,
>> on top of the 1.2 patch?
>>
>> 2. does the zip make it easier to
>> do (or understand) your 2 step
>> update as two separate steps?
>>
>> i mean, my impression is that your basic
>> update is the 1st thing done (on top of
>> the 1.2 patch?), and then one has the
>> option of going all the way with the
>> rest of your current 4.5 patch?
>>
>> correct?
>>
>> bill
>
>I'd go with the new 4.5 update with installer. Finally an .exe file where
>all you have to do is run it like any other patch. For some reason the patch
>zip files take forever to un-zip. When you go to DL the file make sure it
>says .exe not zip. I thought I was getting the installer version and I also
>though it was inside the zip file. It took my 3GHz Core 2 over 2 hours each
>to unzip the 4.4 and 4.5 zip files!

huh !!

Are you using Winzip ?

If so, there might be something wrong with your system... Yes, the
archive has over 6000 files, but most of them are pretty small. Maybe
you have a badly-behaving virus-killer looking at the files as they
unzip?

John Lewis

>Then after all that I realized I'd got
>the wrong file. The 4.5 exe installs fast and it sure beats waiting for the
>zip to up zip! Keep up the good work! JLC
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Unofficial Bloodlines Patch 4.5 released! 

JLC wrote:

> "willbill" <trek.TakeThisOut@worldwide.net> wrote


>> 2. does the zip make it easier to
>> do (or understand) your 2 step
>> update as two separate steps?
>>
>> i mean, my impression is that your basic
>> update is the 1st thing done (on top of
>> the 1.2 patch?), and then one has the
>> option of going all the way with the
>> rest of your current 4.5 patch?
>>
>> correct?


> I'd go with the new 4.5 update with installer. Finally an .exe file where
> all you have to do is run it like any other patch. For some reason the patch
> zip files take forever to un-zip. When you go to DL the file make sure it
> says .exe not zip. I thought I was getting the installer version and I also
> though it was inside the zip file. It took my 3GHz Core 2 over 2 hours each
> to unzip the 4.4 and 4.5 zip files! Then after all that I realized I'd got
> the wrong file. The 4.5 exe installs fast and it sure beats waiting for the
> zip to up zip! Keep up the good work! JLC


ah, my bad! i see at www.patches-scrolls.de/vampire_bloodlines.php
that the two 4.5 archives are *titled* 1.2 to 4.5 with/without installer!

so ok, i need the 13MB offical 1.2 patch

anyhow, 4.5 zip = 219MB, 4.5 exe = 157 MB

61 MB difference, which with dialup will take
roughly an extra 4-to-5 hours to download!

i also see that the 3.5 zip is "only" 185MB

one of the walkthruoughs that i got at www.gamefaqs.com
mentioned that they'd played thru with the unofficial
2.3 patch, presumably done by Werner

i didn't try to find that patch (to check the size),
but for those interested in playing thru Bloodlines
at least *twice*, maybe that's the sweet spot?

d/l the 2.3 zip, and then load the game, do the
official 1.2 patch, and then only do the basic
part of the 2.3 zip and play away.

then uninstall, d/l the 4.5 exe (or later), and then
load the game again, do the official 1.2 patch again,
and then do the full exe update.

bill
 >> Stay informed about: Unofficial Bloodlines Patch 4.5 released! 

willbill wrote:

> one of the walkthruoughs that i got at www.gamefaqs.com
> mentioned that they'd played thru with the unofficial
> 2.3 patch, presumably done by Werner
>
> i didn't try to find that patch (to check the size),
> but for those interested in playing thru Bloodlines
> at least *twice*, maybe that's the sweet spot?
>
> d/l the 2.3 zip, and then load the game, do the
> official 1.2 patch, and then only do the basic
> part of the 2.3 zip and play away.
>
> then uninstall, d/l the 4.5 exe (or later), and then
> load the game again, do the official 1.2 patch again,
> and then do the full exe update.


hmmm...

i see that
www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/vtmb/downloads.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=file...ag=file
shows:
ver 1.9 = 30.7MB
2.1a = 50.7MB
2.2 = 64.9MB
2.6 = 86.8MB

i could deal with 2.6's size, provided
that it does a 2 step update (i.e.
1st basic and then the remainder)

perhaps Werner could comment?

bill (no further comments of mine (below))


anyhow, from Werner's 2.6 readme:
<"Vampire: the Masquerade - Bloodlines unofficial retail patch v2.6

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines unofficial patch 2.6
---------------------------------------------------------

This is an unofficial patch for Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines by Troika
Games. It is built upon Dan Upright's great unofficial oma patches and works for
english retail and Direct2Drive versions only!

To install it extract this archive into your game folder keeping the directory
structure intact and backup any files being overwritten if you want to remove it
later. A complete reinstall is another option.

This patch attempts to fix many bugs and improve other things but no guarantees
are made, since not everything could be tested. It can be installed easily on
top of the official 1.2 patch from Troika Games.

The more basic changes are listed at the top of the version history, then bug
fixes and more. It is recommended to start a new game after patching to avoid
odd behaviour, like e.g. humans becoming vampires.

Because of the restoration of the histories the patch comes with the original
config.cfg, so change all the options to your liking again. If you get problems
with the histories in the tutorial just skip it!

v2.6
----
Added missing xp for plague quest and fixed Hannah quest state bug.
Made Tseng not offer blood as he doesn't even know about vampires.
Venus will now give you a constant $250 payment when you visit her.

Removed another double Malkavian line and clarified two quest logs.
Fixed a bug that reset Yukie's quest if you spoke with Ming again.">
 >> Stay informed about: Unofficial Bloodlines Patch 4.5 released! 

Thus spake Shawk <shawk.DeleteThis@clara.co.uk.3guesses>, Sat, 12 Jan 2008 11:09:07
+0000, Anno Domini:

>Yeah, up to 8MB here, (I get around 6). However it's always been the
>case (maybe not widely known) that if you just copy the Valve folder to
>another drive or DVD you can just copy it back after your rebuild,
>delete the clientregistry.blob file, boot up and sign in. A new
>clientregistry.blob file is made and you're good to go. You retain all
>your patches, mods etc this way.
>
>Additionally if you right-click on individual games then you get the
>option to backup the game files or go to 'File' 'Backup games' to back
>up the lot. There are several ways of doing it.

Cool - tx for that. DVD-Rs are much cheaper than disk space or b/width & I
wanted to offload my HL2 & Ep1 installs to recover some disk space on my C:
drive, but didn't want to go through the entire painful reinstall of 5 or 6
CDs + online decryption + patching - arggghhh!!! I'll fully patch
everything up to date, then if I do reinstall in a year or two it hopefully
won't be such a long process to get things up to date. So much for install
media being your 'backup copy' lol. Most mmos are just as painful unless as
a low b/width sub you can find ways to back the installed files up.

--
Nostromo
 >> Stay informed about: Unofficial Bloodlines Patch 4.5 released! 

On Sun, 13 Jan 2008 11:30:17 +1100, Nostromo <nospam.RemoveThis@forme.org> wrote:


>
>Cool - tx for that. DVD-Rs are much cheaper than disk space or b/width & I
>wanted to offload my HL2 & Ep1 installs to recover some disk space on my C:
>drive, but didn't want to go through the entire painful reinstall of 5 or 6
>CDs + online decryption + patching - arggghhh!!! I'll fully patch
>everything up to date, then if I do reinstall in a year or two it hopefully
>won't be such a long process to get things up to date. So much for install
>media being your 'backup copy' lol. Most mmos are just as painful unless as
>a low b/width sub you can find ways to back the installed files up.
>
>--
>Nostromo


Er, just curious. Why do you install games on your C: drive?

John Lewis
 >> Stay informed about: Unofficial Bloodlines Patch 4.5 released!