The Settlers & The Settlers 2 Demo Versions

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Hallfiry
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The Settlers & The Settlers 2 Demo Versions

Post by Hallfiry »

There seems to be a variety of Settlers 2 demo versions, so I thought we should list and identify them in a seperate thread.
Searching in my catalog brings up this list:
http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... dn=&descr=

The date in brackets is the actual exe date, the date without brackets is the one displayed ingame.

1996-02-27 (1996-02-29) v0.15 (German) http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... 06930&o=da
1996-03-05 (1996-03-05) v0.16 (German) http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... 27922&o=da
1996-04-18 (1996-04-26) v1.01 (English) http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... 95538&o=da
1996-04-18 (1996-04-30) v1.01 (English) http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... 96562&o=da
1996-04-18 (1996-05-06) v1.02 (English) http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... 01682&o=da
1996-05-15 (1996-??-??) v1.02 (French) http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... 2FSettlers
1998-bla-bla (bla-bla-bla) v1.02 (Polish) http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... 55562&o=da
1996-12-30 (199?-??-??) v1.51 Mission Disk (German) http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... 25234&o=da
1996-12-20 (1997-01-23) v1.51 Gold Edition (English) http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... gfx&o=&dn=
1996-12-20 (1997-01-23) v1.51 Mission Disk (English) http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... gfx&o=&dn=

I assume there are even more versions to be discovered (or at least identified). For example there are some packed versions on bluebyte's ftp (I think also a mac version) and the catalog should have packed versions, too.
Last edited by Hallfiry on March 4th, 2015, 10:46 am, edited 6 times in total.
Magazine cover disk catalog:
http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/
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MrFlibble
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Re: Settlers 2 Demo Versions

Post by MrFlibble »

A while ago I got this version of the Gold Edition English demo from C|NET Downloads. This one comes with an installer, and IIRC the game executable size (it's this one) is different from the one included with the English demo from BlueByte FTP, even though both identify themselves as v1.51.

The regular Internet English demo (called either s2net.zip or settlers2.zip) is v1.02. DEMU.org also has an earlier version, v1.01, which was apparently CD-exclusive, as it includes the intro cinematic and is about 50 MiB in size when archived.
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Re: Settlers 2 Demo Versions

Post by Hallfiry »

MrFlibble wrote:A while ago I got this version of the Gold Edition English demo from C|NET Downloads. This one comes with an installer, and IIRC the game executable size (it's this one) is different from the one included with the English demo from BlueByte FTP, even though both identify themselves as v1.51.

The regular Internet English demo (called either s2net.zip or settlers2.zip) is v1.02. DEMU.org also has an earlier version, v1.01, which was apparently CD-exclusive, as it includes the intro cinematic and is about 50 MiB in size when archived.
There are actually two versions that are called 1.01. Now things get even more confusing, because the date that is given by the exe in the options menu of the game, is earlier than the date of the demos. I will look into it in more detail tomorrow and make a table with all the versions and dates...
Magazine cover disk catalog:
http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/
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Hallfiry
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Re: Settlers 2 Demo Versions

Post by Hallfiry »

MrFlibble wrote:A while ago I got this version of the Gold Edition English demo from C|NET Downloads. This one comes with an installer, and IIRC the game executable size (it's this one)
The Cnet version is the 1.51 Gold version from the list above.
MrFlibble wrote: is different from the one included with the English demo from BlueByte FTP, even though both identify themselves as v1.51.
I can only find a german 1.51 on the bluebyte ftp mirror on archive.org (I was surprised that the bluebyte ftp itself is down). This german demo has the same exe as the german 1.51 Mssion Disk version that can be found on Fun Online 07/97.
MrFlibble wrote:The regular Internet English demo (called either s2net.zip or settlers2.zip) is v1.02.
The regular internet demo (as you call it) is a weird patch mashup-thingy. (though probably still official)
It appears as settler2.exe and s2demo.exe on Bluebyte's ftp.
MrFlibble wrote:DEMU.org also has an earlier version, v1.01, which was apparently CD-exclusive, as it includes the intro cinematic and is about 50 MiB in size when archived.
The Demu version is the same as the later 1.01 (that appeared on Gen4 and PC Gamer).
Magazine cover disk catalog:
http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/
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MrFlibble
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Re: Settlers 2 Demo Versions

Post by MrFlibble »

Hallfiry wrote:I can only find a german 1.51 on the bluebyte ftp mirror on archive.org (I was surprised that the bluebyte ftp itself is down).
This one has both English and German files. No idea why the official FTP is down.
Hallfiry wrote:The regular internet demo (as you call it) is a weird patch mashup-thingy. (though probably still official)
It appears as settler2.exe and s2demo.exe on Bluebyte's ftp.
Yeah, I remember checking it a while ago and the files were identical (IIRC). I think that the plain zip versions of the demos were available from BlueByte before they replaced them with WinZip SFX archives. UPD: Here's the English download page from 1996 which directs to zipped demo versions at BB FTP. The original filename form the v1.02 demo was settlers2.zip. Since its size matches across different sources (C|NET, GamesMania etc.), I guess the file is authentic.

BTW, have you checked the archived pages of the BlueByte website? There are some screenshots, possibly pre-release (although I guess they are long known from other sources).

While we're at it, what about the original Settlers' demo versions? The BB FTP only had a German demo, but an English version is available elsewhere (e.g. here). Both versions appear to be identical and allow two hours one hour of play on a randomly generated map, no save/load, no music and no SVGA mode.

However, I think that some time ago I found a YouTube video of a demo which had music. Not sure though.

[Edit] Here's the demo with music:
http://youtu.be/KPwWQ6Q3-FM

[Edit2] s2net.zip also turns out to be an official file name:
http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www ... /S2NET.zip

[Edit3] Apparently, there are at least two different English language demo versions of the first game:
Apr 05, 1994: http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... 02323&o=da
Apr 07, 1994: http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... 08631&o=da

The earlier one is also the same as the zipped version I linked to above.
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Hallfiry
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Re: Settlers 2 Demo Versions

Post by Hallfiry »

It will take a while to process all the information from your last post, but while you're waiting, there's seemingly also an Amiga demo of Settlers 1:
http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... 68878&o=da
Magazine cover disk catalog:
http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/
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MrFlibble
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Re: Settlers 2 Demo Versions

Post by MrFlibble »

Hallfiry wrote:It will take a while to process all the information from your last post, but while you're waiting, there's seemingly also an Amiga demo of Settlers 1:
http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... 68878&o=da
Yes, there is an Amiga demo (at least, the results of a cd.textfiles.com search suggest that). I know next to nothing about Amiga emulation though (IIRC it requires an authentic ROM image, much like Apple Mac emulation).

CuteFloor's video appears to show the DOS demo version. All DOS demo downloads I was able to find so far are of the Apr 05 version (although in some cases the executable was renamed from SEDDLERS.EXE to SETTLERS.EXE by a third party, and the BAT files which are used to launch the demo have been modified accordingly).
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Re: The Settlers & The Settlers 2 Demo Versions

Post by MrFlibble »

Here's some more info on the first game's demo versions. Apparently, there was a larger German demo, distributed in a 1,344 KiB archive called D_Sied.zip (the Wayback Machine seems to have not archived this file). This demo version is mentioned here. The demo which is available from the BB FTP is smaller, only about 723 KiB in size.

Curiously, your catalogue gives a demo of The Settlers (presumably repacked or at least renamed) which is over 1 MiB in size:
http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... ir=&o=&dn=
(if you just search for an executable of the same size it will yield some unrelated Windows shareware game)

It should be noted though that the extra size could come from including the SFX installer into the archive (thus nearly doubling the size of the distribution), as it seems to have happened here:
http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... $2FSiedler

Also, if you don't mind, I changed the topic title a bit.

[Edit] Here's something interesting about the Mac demo of The Settlers II. The description on the demo page says:
In this demo you'll get to lead your subjects through the first chapter of the Roman Campaign. This map is designed as a training mission, so it'll give you a good opportunity to become familiar with your Settlers. We've also included one of the later chapters with a game already in progress. Play this map to experience more of the unique features that makes The Settlers II so addictive, including combat. There are 3 other computer players building their own civilizations on this map, so be prepared!
By contrast, the DOS demo includes the first chapter (tutorial) of the game's campaign and a unique "bonus" mission:
In this demo you´ll find the first of 10 maps, and a special bonus-map.
(from the English download page)
Hier finden Sie die erste von 10 Missionen die voll spielbar ist sowie eine Bonuskarte, die nur in dieser Demo enthalten ist. Ein absolutes Muß für Fans und alle, die es werden wollen!
(from the German download page)

[Edit2] IIRC we discussed this briefly before, but the non-tutorial demo map in v0.16 is completely different from the English non-tutorial demo map (and presumably the later German one too). The tutorial map seems to differ only slightly between these versions (at least, the starting area does).
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Re: The Settlers & The Settlers 2 Demo Versions

Post by Litude »

FWIW, this is the French v1.02 demo.
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Hallfiry
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Re: The Settlers & The Settlers 2 Demo Versions

Post by Hallfiry »

Litude wrote:FWIW, this is the French v1.02 demo.
Thanks for pointing that out. I must have missed it when creating the list above. It's now listed there, too.
Magazine cover disk catalog:
http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/
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Re: The Settlers & The Settlers 2 Demo Versions

Post by MrFlibble »

Hmm, apparently, since all language related strings are stored in external data files, Blue Byte did not bother compiling different executables for each language release (and also did not even change the extensions from ENG to other languages).

Which probably means that by searching for different versions of ongame.eng and other files with text strings we might find more versions. I think there are rumours of some Polish demo versions as well (?).

BTW, Hallfiry, any chance you would zip/rar up and upload the versions which are normally unavailable online?
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Hallfiry
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Re: The Settlers & The Settlers 2 Demo Versions

Post by Hallfiry »

MrFlibble wrote:I think there are rumours of some Polish demo versions as well (?).
Why rumors? :P
http://i.imgur.com/OFaloYG.png
http://i.imgur.com/G1RPnWs.png
http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... 55562&o=da
MrFlibble wrote:BTW, Hallfiry, any chance you would zip/rar up and upload the versions which are normally unavailable online?
Tonight maybe.
Magazine cover disk catalog:
http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/
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MrFlibble
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Re: The Settlers & The Settlers 2 Demo Versions

Post by MrFlibble »

Hallfiry wrote:
MrFlibble wrote:I think there are rumours of some Polish demo versions as well (?).
Why rumors? :P
http://i.imgur.com/OFaloYG.png
http://i.imgur.com/G1RPnWs.png
http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... 55562&o=da
Cool ^_^

BTW, is there any information on all the languages the game was released in?
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Hallfiry
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Re: The Settlers & The Settlers 2 Demo Versions

Post by Hallfiry »

MrFlibble wrote:BTW, is there any information on all the languages the game was released in?
Can't find any :/


EDIT: Uploaded all versions up to 1.02:
http://kultcds.com/Games/index.php?page=game&game=75
Magazine cover disk catalog:
http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/
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Re: The Settlers & The Settlers 2 Demo Versions

Post by MrFlibble »

Hallfiry wrote:EDIT: Uploaded all versions up to 1.02:
http://kultcds.com/Games/index.php?page=game&game=75
Great, thanks a lot! ^_^
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