Civilization III save files in Windows 8+
This is something I have tried to find repeatedly for years. I did found it once for Windows 7, but Windows 8 and newer changed some things that made the solution for Windows 7 not work.
The problem was that Civilization III tried to save data to the same directory in the Program Files folder where the game was installed. Windows 7 didn't allow this for security reasons, moving the files to a folder elsewhere in the system denoted by the system variable %LocalAppData%. In Windows 7 you could easily see these files merged into the Program Files folder by turning on Compatibility View in the File Explorer. This setting was removed however in Windows 8.
The solution is simple. In the File Explorer click on the folder path (it will look like a web browser path bar, mostly becuase it used to be one; File Explorer used to be a special mode of Internet Explorer that browsed files instead of webpages) and type %LocalAppData% and press enter. It will take you to this folder. The full path for the Civlization III folder is
C:\Users\*username*\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files (x86)\Firaxis Games\Civilization III Complete
The reason I wanted to find this file was to add the line KeepRes = 1 to the bottom of the .ini file so that the resolution of the screen would stay at the full resolution of my monitor when the game started instead of (what was for the time high resolution but it now paltry) 1024x768. This makes the game much more playable. Just a note, I seem to remember the game crashing is you let the intro video play, or maybe it was finish. Either way, skip as much as you can when you start the game.
I also wanted to find the save game folder so I could backup my saved games. This is also in the LocalAppData folder.
For the record, I have the Complete Edition on disc, so this may not work on other editions or if you have the Steam version.
The problem was that Civilization III tried to save data to the same directory in the Program Files folder where the game was installed. Windows 7 didn't allow this for security reasons, moving the files to a folder elsewhere in the system denoted by the system variable %LocalAppData%. In Windows 7 you could easily see these files merged into the Program Files folder by turning on Compatibility View in the File Explorer. This setting was removed however in Windows 8.
The solution is simple. In the File Explorer click on the folder path (it will look like a web browser path bar, mostly becuase it used to be one; File Explorer used to be a special mode of Internet Explorer that browsed files instead of webpages) and type %LocalAppData% and press enter. It will take you to this folder. The full path for the Civlization III folder is
C:\Users\*username*\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files (x86)\Firaxis Games\Civilization III Complete
The reason I wanted to find this file was to add the line KeepRes = 1 to the bottom of the .ini file so that the resolution of the screen would stay at the full resolution of my monitor when the game started instead of (what was for the time high resolution but it now paltry) 1024x768. This makes the game much more playable. Just a note, I seem to remember the game crashing is you let the intro video play, or maybe it was finish. Either way, skip as much as you can when you start the game.
I also wanted to find the save game folder so I could backup my saved games. This is also in the LocalAppData folder.
For the record, I have the Complete Edition on disc, so this may not work on other editions or if you have the Steam version.
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