Ground Control II is a real-time tactics game set in a gritty science-fiction universe. The explosively fast game play focusing on combat tactics with full use of the 3D battlefield, with weather and other environmental effects affecting the unit's performance on the battleground. In the war torn year of 2741, Captain Jacob Angelus of the Northern Star Alliance (NSA) becomes the central figure in the fight against the warmongering Terran Empire. In an attempt to crush the NSA permanently, the Terran Empire sends in an alien race of powerful warriors - the Virons. It soon becomes apparent that the situation is bleak for the NSA and that their only hope is to embark on an Exodus to another part of the galaxy. Jacob Angelus must find a way to let his people survive.
This patch has been archived by the uploader because it is out of date and no longer supported. We recommend you browse the file list for the latest patch.
US retail v1.0.0.7 to v1.0.0.8 patch.
OCTOBER 04, 2004
=== README.TXT
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Ground Control(R) II: Operation Exodus -- Version 1.0.0.8 (Patch 2)
NEW FEATURES
- Press SPACE for last event, moves the camera to the last event of importance.
NOTE! If you want to use this in an existing profile you will need to map this
key manually in the options menu under camera settings.
- Added option to use Waveout instead of DirectSound via sound quality slider
- Added option to load a saved game from the Single Player in-game menu
- Added Dedicated Server auto-kick functionality, DS will now Restart if
players in the lobby has been idle for over 20 minutes.
- Added option to expand Chat, ChatRooms, ChatRoomPlayers, Friends, Message,
ActiveMessages guis.
- All Massgate regions have been removed now all players join the same chat
lobby.
- Shields no longer block support weapons.
BUG FIXES
- Removed an buggy user notification telling user they need to update their
GeForce Go Drivers
- Pathing / Avoidance, fixes calculation of formation points so that groups of
units aren't given invalid move targets in impassable terrain
- Random faction bug, Fixed so dropship is now the same as when selecting a
faction.
- Gamespy Arcade staging, fixes problem where GCII servers only appeared in
Gamespy Arcade when in developer (staging) mode.
- Camera drop fix, fixes problem with camera drops into ravines.
- Follow command fixed, units will no longer push units they follow.
- Units now stop at their maximum fire range when attacking.
- Engineer auto-repair fixed.
- Locked camera height, fixed camera height to not reset when jumping between
unit selections
- Fixed bug with destroyed dropship having some upgrades.
- fixed bug with not being able to see enemy dropship upgrades.
NOTE
If the game stops with a black screen after watching the intro cinematics,
please consider changing display drivers. A few users have reported problems
using nVidia ForceWare 61.xx drivers with their GeForce FX cards. New drivers
should be out shortly, but in the meantime either downgrade to older official
drivers or be bold and try newer beta drivers.
BALANCE CHANGES
(1) = Primary mode
(2) = Secondary mode
GENERAL
All units now have lower perception range
NSA
NSA SNIPER
- (2) - stealth increased.
NSA Siege Soldier
- AP Cost increased.
NSA Light APC
- (1) - Projectile damage decreased.
- (1 & 2) - Armor value front decreased.
- cost increased.
- maintenance increase.
- armor back decreased.
- Can no longer attack air.
NSA Scout Vehicle
- AP Cost increased.
- (1) - Projectile damage changed from AT -> Machinegun
- (1) - Projectile damage decreased.
NSA Heavy Terradyne
- (1) - Weapon range increased.
- (1) - Movement speed increased.
NSA Liberator Terradyne
- AP Cost reduced.
- (1) Projectile speed increased.
- (1) Projectile damage increased.
NSA Flame Tank
- (2) Projectile speed increased.
NSA Artillery
- Maintenance cost increased.
NSA Transport Copter
- Health increased from.
- (2) AMS support improved.
NSA Deployable Radar
- View range reduced.
- Perception reduced.
NSA Support Weapon Radar
- View range reduced.
- Perception reduced.
VIRON
Viron Mortar Trooper
- (2) Smoke time to live increased.
- (1 & 2) Movement speed increased.
Viron Gas Engineer
- (2) Repair amount reduced.
Viron Grenade Vehicle
- (2) Weapon range increased.
- (2) Projectile speed increased.
- (2) Torment aura decreased.
.
Viron Thumper
- (1) - Weapon range increased.
- (1) - Weapon spread decreased.
- (1) - Projectile speed increased.
- (2) - Armor cloud range decreased.
- (2) - Armor mod. decreased.
Viron Screamer
- (1) - Weapon spread radius decreased.
- (1) - Weapon damage changed from anti-p. -> machinegun.
- (1) - Damaged reduced.
- (2) - Torment cloud modifier reduced.
- (2) - Movement speed increased from.
Viron Contaminator
- (1) - Direct Damage changed to Blast damage.
- (1) - Damage reduced.
- (1) - Weapon speed increased.
- (1) - Weapon ROF increased.
- (1) - Movement speed increased.
- (2) - Movement speed increased.
Viron Surveilance Helidyne
- (2) - Perception chanced.
Viron Deployable sensor
- View range reduced.
- Perception range reduced.
JUNE 16, 2004
=== README.TXT
============================================================================================
Ground Control(R) II: Operation Exodus -- Version 1.0.0.7 (Patch 1)
NEW FEATURES
- Added automatic content (map) download when joining a multiplayer server.
- Added Record & Replay of single player and multiplayer games.
- Added support for joining games from GameSpy Arcade.
- Added new in-game Slim GUI (enabled/disabled in the Visual Options menu).
- Added Super Slim GUI (only mouse + shortcuts enabled) by pressing F10
in-game. Press F10 twice to return to normal GUI.
- Added "map bookmarks". Press CTRL-F1..F8 to record a map position and press
F1..F8 to move camera instantly to the position.
- Massgate(TM) player chat list is now sorted in alphabetical order.
- Added Massgate(TM) server list filter for Not full/Not empty.
- Added scorch marks.
- Added shorelines.
BUG FIXES
- Fixed a firewall problem where a patch file list could not be downloaded
which made all menus disappear.
- Fixed bug with MP options. You cannot enter negative numbers in Score limit,
Time limit, Starting AP and AP Gain any more.
- Fixed the progress bar so it can be hidden from script.
- Fixed bug: Unable to create a Massgate(TM) account if the font size is
minimized.
- Added a limit of max 10 number of chat rooms per player.
- Changed so the game doesn't close if cd-key authentication fails. Returns to
main menu instead.
- AI behavior improved.
- AI now uses support weapons NSA Radar and Viron Drop pods.
- AI now uses NSA Snipers properly.
- Fixed bug: Sometimes the Anti Missile System (AMS) did not stop single
missiles/grenades.
- Fixed bug: View & weapon range circles now follow the terrain.
- Several other minor issues.
BALANCE CHANGES
GENERAL
- Maintenance model changed to reflect new unit maintenance values.
- All units now have different maintenance values.
- All battlefield units have Presence 1 (i.e. they will count towards no
presence rule). Note that Deployable Structures do not count towards presence
on the battlefield.
- Changed Viron Dropship armor from Exotic to Reinforced.
- Changed NSA Dropship armor from Exotic to Reinforced.
- Increased AP cost for Dropship weapon upgrades (NSA & VIRON).
NSA
- Rocket vehicle
- Decreased Anti Missile System (AMS)
- Increased weapon range
- Heavy Terradyne
- Decreased incoming damage multiplier (secondary mode)
- Combat Engineers
- Decreased healing rate for secondary mode
- Decreased healing rate for primary mode
- Mobile Artillery
- Decreased slot size
- Decreased AP Cost
- Assault APC
- Increased AP Cost
- Decreased Health
- Decreased auto cloud spawner damage per sec
- Decreased reload time for secondary shooter
- Increased rate of fire
- Added blast damage
- Transport Helidyne
- Increased Anti Missile System (AMS) efficiency (secondary mode)
- Increased speed in primary mode
- Light Helidyne
- Reduced view range
- Sentry gun
- Reduced reload time
VIRON
- Fighter Helidyne
- Increased dropship occupation
- Decreased missile damage
- Penetrator
- Decreased weapon damage (secondary mode)
- Missile Vehicle
- Decreased Anti Missile System (AMS)
- Great Corruptor
- Decreased health
- Decreased auto cloud spawner damage per sec
- Screamer Helidyne
- Changed damage type (primary)
- Increased weapon damage (primary)
MAY 7, 2004
=== README.TXT
============================================================================================
Ground Control(R) II: Operation Exodus -- Version 1.0.0.6
This Readme file is laid out in the following order:
System Requirements
Manual Addendum
Default Hot Keys
Camera Controls
Known Issues
Network Troubleshooting
Registration
Contacting Sierra
Sierra Warranty and Legal Information
End-User License Agreement
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SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
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MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: Windows(R) 98/ME/2000/XP
* 800Mhz Intel(R) Pentium(TM) III processor or AMD(R) Athlon(TM) processor or
equivalent
* 128Mb RAM (256 Mb RAM for Windows 2000/XP)
* Nvidia(R) Geforce(TM), ATI(R) Radeon(TM), or equivalent 32MB Video Card
supporting Hardware Transform and Lighting with DirectX(R) 9.0b or higher
compatible driver
* DirectX(R) 9-compatible sound card and speakers or headphones
* Up to 1.5Gb available hard drive space
* 24X or faster CD-ROM
* Keyboard and Mouse
* 56K dial-up modem for online play, optimal multiplayer online play is
achieved using DSL, Cable or faster internet connection.
RECOMMENDED REQUIREMENTS: Windows(R) XP
* 1.5Ghz Intel(R) Pentium(TM) 4 processor or AMD(R) Athlon(TM) XP or faster
processor
* 256Mb RAM or more
* 128Mb AGP(R) video card or more recent chip set
* Broadband / LAN, DSL, Cable or faster internet connection for online play.
This game was tested using the latest video driver updates available at the
time, as follows:
* Nvidia(R) - 56.72
* ATI(R) - Catalyst 4.4
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MANUAL ADDENDUM
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* The description of the "Edit Account" option incorrectly appears in the LAN
section of the manual. The description for “Edit Account” should appear under
the Massgate section spanning pages 10-12.
* Win and Lose conditions in multiplayer games become active three minutes into
the game. I.e. a multiplayer game cannot be won or lost until after three
minutes have passed.
* The Landing Zones under your team’s control are marked with GREEN color. The
Landing Zone that you currently have selected (where your Dropship will land)
is marked with your player color.
* All units can detect enemies in close range even if no line of sight can be
traced. This represents the unit’s ability to hear enemies nearby.
* A Landing Zone that cannot be captured has a large cross over it both on the
minimap and in the battlefield view. In open multiplayer games (drop-in) the
starting Landing Zones cannot normally be captured. In closed multiplayer games
(sync-start) all Landing Zones can normally be captured.
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DEFAULT HOT KEYS
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Note that most hot keys can be reconfigured in the options menu.
Up Arrow Move camera forward
Down Arrow Move camera backward
Left Arrow Move camera left
Right Arrow Move camera right
Page up Increase Camera Altitude
Page down Decrease Camera Altitude
A Attack
M Move
C Hold down for Reverse Move
R Repair
Z Select Landing Zone
W Move camera to currently selected Landing Zone
L Load APC / Enter building
U Unload APC / Exit building
E Meld (Viron only)
F Cycle formations
H Send dropship home to base
D Send reinforcements buy order & deploy units
V Toggle dropship status (return to base / stay on battlefield)
X Switch between primary and secondary mode
I Activate Upgrade dropship screen
K Activate Reinforcements screen
B Cycle fire behavior (Free, Return, Hold)
N Displays mission objectives
S Halt. Orders the selected unit to stop moving and cease fire
R Repair
Backspace Displays the multiplayer score board
SHIFT-C Toggle between Free Camera and Classic RTS camera modes
ALT Hold down to view health and team color of all visible units
SHIFT Hold down to queue multiple orders
SHIFT Hold down to select multiple units or groups of units
TAB Switches selection focus in current selection
ESC Close active window or abandon game if no window is open
Mouse1 (Left) Select units
Mouse2 (Right) Give order depending on context (e.g. attack, move,
etc.)
Mouse3 (Middle) Press to look around freely with the camera
LEFT CTRL Create Squad modifier
Force fire
Strafe/rotate camera
Pause Pause
Print Scrn Screenshot
Numpad + Zoom in on map
Numpad - Zoom out on map
LEFT CTRL+ENTER Chat
ENTER Team Chat
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CAMERA CONTROLS
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The battlefield in Ground Control II consists of truly three-dimensional
terrain and is viewed with either the free-flying camera or a traditional
top-down camera similar to most RTS games. The traditional top-down camera can
be pitched and swiveled by pressing the middle mouse button to look around.
Moving the camera is easy. In both modes, the arrow keys will move the camera
forward, back, right and left. In RTS mode these always correspond to north,
south, east and west because the camera always points north by default.
Press SHIFT + C to toggle between the two different camera modes in the game.
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KNOWN ISSUES
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* Hosting multiplayer games with 56k modem access is not recommended.
* Using a USB modem may cause lag issues.
* Massgate: Switching the team chat and all chat buttons in options disables
team chat.
* Massgate: 56k modem users can crash to Massgate lobby if 56k modem user has
more than 32 units and orders some to move.
* Load error message after disconnecting network cable from computer.
* Error message in Windows 2000, with no Service Pack update and 128Mb RAM, in
the first 2 to 3 minutes of a game. This can cause a one time freeze, but after
re-starting the machine this message is not seen again. Service pack 4 is
recommended for playing Ground Control II: Operation Exodus.
* When installing DirectX 9.0b it states version 9.0 runtime, when it is
actually installing DirectX 9.0b.
* Visual Options Menu: Contrast settings are reversed, setting the contrast to
a lower level equals a brighter screen and setting the contrast to a higher
level equals a darker screen.
* Skirmish Mode: Setting timer to 1 minute results in automatic Mission
Accomplished.
* Credits: To exit viewing the credits, press the escape button.
* Mission 11: She Sells Sanctuary: Mission will not end if the player loses all
units except Radar and Sentry Gun.
VIDEO CARD ISSUES:
* XGI Volari V8 Ultra - You may experience slow, choppy performance on Windows
98SE/ME/2000/XP when using this video card.
* PCI Graphics Card: Windows ME: You may get an error message when trying to
launch the game. The message says “Potential problems found when starting
Ground Control II. AGP acceleration is not enabled. It is highly recommended
that you update your motherboard drivers or game performance may suffer.”
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NETWORK TROUBLESHOOTING
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If you have an internet connection (e.g. DSL, ADSL or Cable modem) and have
installed a “personal firewall” on your computer such as Black Ice, Zone Alarm,
Norton Internet Security, etc., you may experience problems joining one of the
multiple games found on the Massgate servers. Servers are currently setup in
Europe, North America and Asia.
If however you do NOT see multiple games on your chosen regional server, you
may have to allow or teach your personal firewall to open access to play Ground
Control II: Operation Exodus.
To avoid problems with joining and hosting Ground Control II multiplayer game
sessions make sure that the ports below are open for UDP/TCP two-way traffic on
your firewall. Some personal firewall applications do this setup automatically,
depending on how your firewall is configured. Please refer to your firewall
instruction manual for information on how to do this.
The following UDP ports need to be opened:
6500 to 6520
13139
29910
42000 to 42200
The following TCP ports need to be opened:
80
6667
27900
28910
29900
29920
42000 to 42020
If you want to host a game using the game application you need to open up the
above ports for outgoing and incoming traffic. If you are behind a NAT/IP
firewall you can only host a game by setting up a separate Dedicated Server
application and forwarding the required ports to it.
Please refer to Groundcontrol2.com for further information about
Dedicated Servers.
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REGISTRATION
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To register your product, cut and paste the following link into your browser:
Reg.vugames.com
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CONTACTING SIERRA
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A) Customer Service, Support, and Sales
B) Technical Support
C) Sierra Warranty and Legal Information
D) End-User License Agreement
A) CUSTOMER SERVICE, SUPPORT AND SALES
United States
U.S.A. Sales Phone: (800) 757-7707 or (310) 649-8008
Hours: Monday-Friday 8 AM to 4:45 PM PST
International Sales: (310) 649-8008
Hours: Monday-Friday 8 AM to 4:45 PM PST
Fax: (310) 258-0744
Sierra Entertainment, Inc.
6060 Center Drive
6th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Phone: (800) 757-7707 or (310) 649-8008
Fax: (310) 258-0744
Sierra.com
On-Line Sales
Internet USA: Sierra.com
B) TECHNICAL SUPPORT
North America
Sierra Entertainment offers a 24-hour automated technical support line with
recorded answers to the most frequently asked technical questions. To access
this service, call (310) 649-8033, and follow the recorded instructions to find
your specific topic and resolve the issue. If this fails to solve your problem,
you may still write or fax us with your questions, or contact us via our Web
site - Support.vugames.com
Sierra Entertainment
Technical Support
4247 South Minnewawa Avenue
Fresno, CA 93725
Main: (310) 649-8033
Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:45 PM PST
Fax: (310) 258-0755
Support.vugames.com
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SIERRA WARRANTY AND LEGAL INFORMATION
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You are entitled to use this product for your own use, but may not copy,
reproduce, translate, publicly perform, display, or reduce to any electronic
medium or machine- readable form, reproductions of the software or manual to
other parties in any way, nor sell, rent or lease the product to others without
prior written permission of Sierra. You may use one copy of the product on a
single