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Difference between revisions of "The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth"

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
(3 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
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−
{{stub}}
 
 
{{Infobox game
 
{{Infobox game
 
|title        = The Battle for Middle-earth
 
|title        = The Battle for Middle-earth
Line 79: Line 78:
  
 
==Video==
 
==Video==
−
{{Image|TLotR BfMe.png|Display, Audio and Controls settings.}}
+
{{Image|TLotR BfMe.png|General settings menu}}
 +
{{Image|LotRBFME1 advanced graphics settings.png|Custom graphics settings menu}}
 
{{Video
 
{{Video
 
|wsgf link                  = https://www.wsgf.org/dr/lord-rings-battle-middle-earth
 
|wsgf link                  = https://www.wsgf.org/dr/lord-rings-battle-middle-earth
Line 110: Line 110:
 
|120 fps                    = false
 
|120 fps                    = false
 
|120 fps notes              =  
 
|120 fps notes              =  
−
|hdr                        = unknown
+
|hdr                        = false
 
|hdr notes                  =  
 
|hdr notes                  =  
−
|color blind                = unknown
+
|color blind                = false
 
|color blind notes          =  
 
|color blind notes          =  
 
}}
 
}}
Line 136: Line 136:
 
|key remap                = true
 
|key remap                = true
 
|key remap notes          =  
 
|key remap notes          =  
−
|acceleration option      = unknown
+
|acceleration option      = false
 
|acceleration option notes =  
 
|acceleration option notes =  
 
|mouse sensitivity        = true
 
|mouse sensitivity        = true
Line 142: Line 142:
 
|mouse menu                = true
 
|mouse menu                = true
 
|mouse menu notes          =  
 
|mouse menu notes          =  
−
|invert mouse y-axis      = unknown
+
|invert mouse y-axis      = false
 
|invert mouse y-axis notes =  
 
|invert mouse y-axis notes =  
 
|touchscreen              = unknown
 
|touchscreen              = unknown
Line 204: Line 204:
 
|subtitles                = true
 
|subtitles                = true
 
|subtitles notes          =  
 
|subtitles notes          =  
−
|closed captions          = unknown
+
|closed captions          = false
 
|closed captions notes    =  
 
|closed captions notes    =  
−
|mute on focus lost      = unknown
+
|mute on focus lost      = always on
 
|mute on focus lost notes =  
 
|mute on focus lost notes =  
 
|eax support              = true
 
|eax support              = true
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  |interface = true
 
  |interface = true
 
  |audio    = true
 
  |audio    = true
−
  |subtitles = unknown
+
  |subtitles = true
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{L10n/switch
 
{{L10n/switch
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  |interface = true
 
  |interface = true
 
  |audio    = unknown
 
  |audio    = unknown
−
  |subtitles = unknown
+
  |subtitles = true
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{L10n/switch
 
{{L10n/switch
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  |interface = true
 
  |interface = true
 
  |audio    = unknown
 
  |audio    = unknown
−
  |subtitles = unknown
+
  |subtitles = true
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{L10n/switch
 
{{L10n/switch
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  |interface = true
 
  |interface = true
 
  |audio    = unknown
 
  |audio    = unknown
−
  |subtitles = unknown
+
  |subtitles = true
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{L10n/switch
 
{{L10n/switch
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  |interface = true
 
  |interface = true
 
  |audio    = true
 
  |audio    = true
−
  |subtitles = unknown
+
  |subtitles = true
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{L10n/switch
 
{{L10n/switch
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  |interface = true
 
  |interface = true
 
  |audio    = true
 
  |audio    = true
−
  |subtitles = unknown
+
  |subtitles = true
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{L10n/switch
 
{{L10n/switch
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  |interface = true
 
  |interface = true
 
  |audio    = true
 
  |audio    = true
−
  |subtitles = unknown
+
  |subtitles = true
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{L10n/switch
 
{{L10n/switch
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  |interface = true
 
  |interface = true
 
  |audio    = unknown
 
  |audio    = unknown
−
  |subtitles = unknown
+
  |subtitles = true
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{L10n/switch
 
{{L10n/switch
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  |interface = true
 
  |interface = true
 
  |audio    = unknown
 
  |audio    = unknown
−
  |subtitles = unknown
+
  |subtitles = true
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{L10n/switch
 
{{L10n/switch
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  |interface = true
 
  |interface = true
 
  |audio    = unknown
 
  |audio    = unknown
−
  |subtitles = unknown
+
  |subtitles = true
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{L10n/switch
 
{{L10n/switch
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  |interface = true
 
  |interface = true
 
  |audio    = unknown
 
  |audio    = unknown
−
  |subtitles = unknown
+
  |subtitles = true
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{L10n/switch
 
{{L10n/switch
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  |interface = true
 
  |interface = true
 
  |audio    = unknown
 
  |audio    = unknown
−
  |subtitles = unknown
+
  |subtitles = true
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{L10n/switch
 
{{L10n/switch
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  |interface = true
 
  |interface = true
 
  |audio    = unknown
 
  |audio    = unknown
−
  |subtitles = unknown
+
  |subtitles = true
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{L10n/switch
 
{{L10n/switch
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  |interface = true
 
  |interface = true
 
  |audio    = unknown
 
  |audio    = unknown
−
  |subtitles = unknown
+
  |subtitles = true
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
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==Network==
 
==Network==
 
{{Network/Multiplayer
 
{{Network/Multiplayer
−
|local play          =  
+
|local play          = false
 
|local play players  =  
 
|local play players  =  
 
|local play modes    =  
 
|local play modes    =  
 
|local play notes    =  
 
|local play notes    =  
 
|lan play            = true
 
|lan play            = true
−
|lan play players    =  
+
|lan play players    = 8
−
|lan play modes      =  
+
|lan play modes      = Versus
 
|lan play notes      =  
 
|lan play notes      =  
−
|online play          = unknown
+
|online play          = true
−
|online play players  =  
+
|online play players  = 8
−
|online play modes    =  
+
|online play modes    = Versus
−
|online play notes    = GameSpy online server browser has been shut down.
+
|online play notes    = GameSpy online server browser has been shut down in 2011.
 
|asynchronous        =  
 
|asynchronous        =  
 
|asynchronous notes  =  
 
|asynchronous notes  =  
 
}}{{Network/Connections
 
}}{{Network/Connections
−
|matchmaking        =  
+
|matchmaking        = true
 
|matchmaking notes  =  
 
|matchmaking notes  =  
−
|p2p                =  
+
|p2p                = true
 
|p2p notes          =  
 
|p2p notes          =  
−
|dedicated          =  
+
|dedicated          = false
 
|dedicated notes    =  
 
|dedicated notes    =  
−
|self-hosting      =  
+
|self-hosting      = true
 
|self-hosting notes =  
 
|self-hosting notes =  
−
|direct ip          =  
+
|direct ip          = false
 
|direct ip notes    =  
 
|direct ip notes    =  
 
}}{{Network/Ports
 
}}{{Network/Ports
 
|tcp  =  
 
|tcp  =  
−
|udp  =  
+
|udp  = 16000
 
|upnp =  
 
|upnp =  
 
}}
 
}}
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{{--}} This error has no proper workaround and is a symptom of the game engine's limitations (restricted RAM indexing)
 
{{--}} This error has no proper workaround and is a symptom of the game engine's limitations (restricted RAM indexing)
 
{{ii}} Lower graphical settings, and avoid memory-heavy mods.}}
 
{{ii}} Lower graphical settings, and avoid memory-heavy mods.}}
−
{{ii}} Any mod that uses high-resolution textures (such as the Edain mod) are highly susceptible to this crash.
+
{{ii}} Any mod that uses high-resolution textures are highly susceptible to this crash.
 
{{ii}} Some users report reinstallation fixes the issue.
 
{{ii}} Some users report reinstallation fixes the issue.
  
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===API===
 
===API===
 
{{API
 
{{API
−
|direct3d versions      = 9.0c
+
|direct3d versions      = 9.0b
 
|direct3d notes        =  
 
|direct3d notes        =  
 
|directdraw versions    =  
 
|directdraw versions    =  
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|input            =  
 
|input            =  
 
|input notes      =  
 
|input notes      =  
−
|cutscenes        =  
+
|cutscenes        = On2 VP6
 
|cutscenes notes  =  
 
|cutscenes notes  =  
 
|multiplayer      = GameSpy
 
|multiplayer      = GameSpy

Revision as of 17:44, 15 January 2022

The Battle for Middle-earth
The Battle for Middle-earth cover
Developers
EA Los Angeles
Publishers
Electronic Arts
Engines
SAGE
Release dates
Windows December 6, 2004
Reception
Metacritic 82
IGDB 84
Taxonomy
Modes Singleplayer, Multiplayer
Pacing Real-time
Perspectives Bird's-eye view
Controls Multiple select, Point and select
Genres RTS
Themes Fantasy
Series The Battle for Middle-earth
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth on HowLongToBeat
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth on IGDB
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth guide on StrategyWiki
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth on MobyGames
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth on Wikipedia
Icon overlay.png
Icon overlay.png
The Battle for Middle-earth
Subseries of Middle-earth
The Battle for Middle-earth 2004
The Battle for Middle-earth II 2006

Warnings

SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see Availability for affected versions).
GameSpy online services have been shut down (see Network for solutions).

Key points

Frame rate is capped at 30 FPS.
GameSpy online server browser deactivated on December 31, 2010 due to Electronic Arts losing the Lord of the Rings license.[1]

General information

T3A:Online - fan-hosted multiplayer server replacement
Battle for Middle-earth section on GameReplays.org

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Disc check (requires the CD/DVD in the drive to play)
CD key
 SafeDisc v4 DRM[Note 1].
Windows
SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows Vista and later (see above for affected versions).
This game is not available digitally.

Essential improvements

Official patches

Unofficial patches

  • Patch 1.05 fixes a lot of bugs and removes the disc requirement. Requires patch 1.03.
  • Patch 1.06 fixes more bugs and adds some new maps. Requires patch 1.05. Widescreen interface available here.
  • Patch 1.09 fixes bugs and imbalances, adds new visuals and comes with a patch switcher. Designed for multiplayer.

Skip intro videos

Skip intro videos[4]
  1. Go to <path-to-game>\data\movies\
  2. Delete or rename EALogo.vp6, Intel.vp6, NewLineLogo.vp6 and THX.vp6.
  • Alternatively, install the unofficial 1.05 patch.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
Windows %APPDATA%\My Battle for Middle-earth Files\

Save game data location

System Location
Windows %APPDATA%\My Battle for Middle-earth Files\

Video

General settings menu
General settings menu
Custom graphics settings menu
Custom graphics settings menu

Graphics feature State WSGF Notes
Widescreen resolution
 
 See Widescreen resolution.
Multi-monitor
 
Ultra-widescreen
 
4K Ultra HD
 
Field of view (FOV)
Windowed
Use -win parameter.
Borderless fullscreen windowed
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Anisotropic filtering (AF)
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Anti-aliasing (AA)
See the glossary page for potential workarounds.
Vertical sync (Vsync)
Can be forced using Nvidia Control Panel (Manage 3D Settings)
60 FPS and 120+ FPS
Frame rate is capped at 30-38 FPS; removing cap increases game speed.
High dynamic range display (HDR)
See the glossary page for potential alternatives.

Widescreen resolution

Instructions[5]
  1. Go to %APPDATA%\My Battle for Middle-earth Files\
  2. Open Options.ini.
  3. Find the following line and set it to the desired value.
Resolution = YourWidth YourHeight
Alternatively[6]
  • Use -xres #### -yres #### command line argument
  • Replace #### with the desired width and height respectively

Input

Keyboard and mouse State Notes
Remapping
Mouse acceleration
Mouse sensitivity
Mouse input in menus
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Controller
Controller support
Controller types

Audio

Audio feature State Notes
Separate volume controls
Surround sound
Subtitles
Closed captions
Mute on focus lost
EAX support
EAX3

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Dutch
French
German
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Norwegian
Polish
Russian
Spanish
Swedish
Thai

Network

Multiplayer types

Type Native Players Notes
Local play
LAN play
8 Versus
Online play
8 Versus
GameSpy online server browser has been shut down in 2011.

Connection types

Type Native Notes
Matchmaking
Peer-to-peer
Dedicated
Self-hosting
Direct IP

Ports

Protocol Port(s) and/or port range(s)
UDP 16000
Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support status is unknown.

Issues fixed

Out of Memory

This error has no proper workaround and is a symptom of the game engine's limitations (restricted RAM indexing)
Lower graphical settings, and avoid memory-heavy mods.}}
Any mod that uses high-resolution textures are highly susceptible to this crash.
Some users report reinstallation fixes the issue.

Exception Access Violation on startup

This is caused when the options.ini file has not been found (installation had no administration right to properly install your game and failed to create options.ini)[7]
Make missing options.ini[8]
  1. Go to %APPDATA%\My Battle for Middle-earth Files
  2. If the folder is empty, make a new text file called Options.ini.
  3. In that file, place this data:
AudioLOD = Low
HasSeenLogoMovies = yes
IdealStaticGameLOD = VeryLow
Resolution = 800 600
StaticGameLOD = VeryLow
TimesInGame = 1

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
Direct3D 9.0b
Executable 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows

Middleware

Middleware Notes
Cutscenes On2 VP6
Multiplayer GameSpy Shut down in 2011.

System requirements

Windows
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) 2000 XP
Processor (CPU) 1.3 GHz
System memory (RAM) 256 MB 512 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 3.5 GB
Video card (GPU) Nvidia GeForce2 GTS
ATI Radeon 7500
32 MB of VRAM 		Nvidia GeForce 6800
ATI Radeon X800


Notes

  1. ↑ SafeDisc retail DRM does not work on Windows 10[2] or Windows 11 and is disabled by default on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 when the KB3086255 update is installed.[3]

References