[1/9] Regarding UP1.5 updates, I was recently trying many things, but most of them failed stability tests. TBMs missiles were supposed to cost resources, but it can't be done due to a bug which was fixed in: https://ee2.eu/patch/changes/#157034 but can only be applied to buildings.
IPv6 is currently not working on our main server, because provider has changed something and it doesn't work even when I correctly configured it. IPv6 is used for some internal connections (lobby auto-translator, etc.) All things fallbacked correctly to IPv4 so it's all good.
Bombarding of COLM - Empire Earth II Multiplayer Gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VknFopjsygs
Good evening everyone. Please do not worry about the lack of updates from me. The activity is going to be back to normal after the Summer. I'm currently in the mode of "tracking" issues and analyzing crash reports. I also do a lot of undocumented improvements with the server, etc
Dresden 1945 - Empire Earth II Multiplayer Gameplay: https://youtu.be/N4wRa9BvKlM
Minor Update 158023 for Unofficial Patch 1.5 has been released! This update has a new feature available: "Advanced Cache Preloading". It also fixes compatibility with the newest Gog files update. Changes: https://ee2.eu/patch/changes/#158023
UP1.5 Advanced Cache Preloading feature is ready. I'm now considering if it should be enabled by default for people with >= 8GB RAM, or disabled by default for all users. After all, like all new features, this one might also bring some problems that I wasn't able to detect :(
WARNING: Players who installed Empire Earth 2 using GOG GALAXY might lose Unofficial Patch 1.5 executables after the newest update from Gog. It will also result in screen res problems and crash on skirmish start. To fix it, please install UP1.5 again from: https://ee2.eu/patch
Short update on the current UP1.5 work: I want to reduce the "mini freezes" (caused by the new audio being played for the first time) by using some advanced pre-loading functions in UP1.5_GameHelper.dll to load them to cache on game start. It requires some "thinking", and tests.
The last tweet about the UP1.5 and EE2.eu servers being discontinued was a 1st April joke. It was still nice to read messages from shocked players. I didn't know it matters so much for certain users :)
Unofficial Patch 1.5 and all EE2.eu services (including Multiplayer) have been discontinued. It was a hard decision to make, but it's for the greater good. The patch will be automatically uninstalled on the first game launch after 14th of April 2022. Sorry :/
Today is the 10th birthday of EE2News Twitter account :)
As I promised, the Russian and Belarusian players who don't support their country's regime can now remove the sanctions by filing a declaration on: https://ee2.eu/sanctions
More details: https://forum.ee2.eu/viewtopic.php?p=27128#p27128
EE2.eu declares war to Russian propaganda. Players who write anti-Ukrainian messages on our chats (forums, Discord, Multiplayer) will be awarded with bans. Please take this warning seriously. Example of Russian propaganda content: https://forum.ee2.eu/viewtopic.php?p=27137#p27137
The sanctions on Russian Federation have been resumed and now also include Belarus. I guess it doesn't need any further explanation.
The sanctions on Russia have been removed for now. It's because my mom was not happy when I told her about it. The full statement can be read at: https://forum.ee2.eu/viewtopic.php?p=27128#p27128
If the conflict escalates, it's still possible that the sanctions will be activated again, forever.
EE2.eu has issued sanctions on Russian Federation due to attack on Ukraine in February 2022. More details: https://forum.ee2.eu/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=5571
If Russian Federation attacks Ukraine (under any pretext), EE2.eu will join the sanctions issued by other countries, and our services will be unavailable in Russia (and possibly Belarus who supports these actions). There is no acceptation for military terrorism.
Minor Update 158022 for Unofficial Patch 1.5 has been released! Changes: https://ee2.eu/patch/changes/#158022
The work on UP1.5 is not done. There will be a new update in February which is partially ready. Unfortunately either Covid (or the vaccine while I was already infected) has attacked my neurology system, so I was sleeping for a few weeks, almost not staying awake.
Happy New Year 2022!
The New Year's Eve audio theme has been enabled for Unofficial Patch 1.5 users.
This year, Empire Earth II with Unofficial Patch 1.5 (1.5.8.021) will give you the best Christmas atmosphere. An updated Christmas Expansion will be activated on 19th of December, 15:00 CET.
Minor Update 158021 for Unofficial Patch 1.5 has been released! Changes: https://ee2.eu/patch/changes/#158021
Multiplayer Fair/Random Teams Generator has been updated! Read more: https://forum.ee2.eu/viewtopic.php?p=26983#p26983
GLOBAL WARNING: Game Freezes after ALT+TAB. The problem has been investigated. The fix is already available in UP1.5, but needs to be manually enabled. Please read: https://forum.ee2.eu/viewtopic.php?p=26885#p26885
Minor Update 158019 for Unofficial Patch 1.5 has been released! Changes: https://ee2.eu/patch/changes/#158019
I created a new charity software for people with disabilities: "Mouse ClickLock For Games". It's available on GitHub: https://github.com/HerMajestyDrMona/MouseClickLockForGames
It works in a similar way as ClickLock on Windows, but also supports old games where the normal ClickLock fails to work.
Check out Dr.MonaLisa's new program: "Windows 11 Drag & Drop to the Taskbar (Partial Fix)" on GitHub: https://github.com/HerMajestyDrMona/Windows11DragAndDropToTaskbarPartialFix
[2/2] The positive side of this change is that future minor updates will be installing much faster than used to, because it won't check all updated files since ver. 1.5.4 (including over 1000 updated models / textures during all these years). I believe it's for the greater good.
[1/2] Due to the recent problems with texture files getting blocked by Windows Defender in the Minor Update installer - I have decided to make a "fresh start". It means that until ver. 158018 the full UP1.5 installer will be downloaded by the Minor Updater.
The stupid Windows Defender is now detecting some of the updated winter textures as a Trojan in the Minor Updater... I'm fixing it by re-saving texture files and re-releasing minor update files. It's time consuming, but whatever...
Minor Update 158018 for Unofficial Patch 1.5 has been released! Changes: https://ee2.eu/patch/changes/#158018
Poll Results: Do you like the new ambient sounds in UP1.5? https://ee2.eu/blog/019-poll-results-do-you-like-the-new-ambient-sounds.php
Unofficial Patch 1.5 development was not paused. Loew is working on Winter textures for UP1.5 buildings, and I'm being annoying requesting edits in them. There will be a lot of files to update. Besides that I have some Launcher / GameHelper fixes ready. So let's be patient :)
A Nice Continents Game - Empire Earth II Multiplayer Gameplay: https://youtu.be/OBxgazjTRNs
How sad. Some ignorant called "QWEEDDYZ" just wrote that Unofficial Patch 1.5 " is adware", "malicious" and other negative things. You can read the discussion here: https://www.gog.com/forum/empire_earth_series/empire_earth_2_windows_881_fix_and_empire_earth_ii_unofficial_patch_14/post48 And what is your opinion about it? A feedback would be very appreciated in that Gog topic.
DirectX 9 redist are installing with every update of UP1.5, because I'm following the official docs: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/dxtecharts/directx-setup-for-game-developers#installation-of-directx-by-the-games-installer "installation process should install the DirectX redistributable components during every single installation without allowing users to opt-out of it..."
A Hotfix Minor Update 158017 for Unofficial Patch 1.5 has been released! Changes: https://ee2.eu/patch/changes/#158017