Can I play GC II in windowed mode?

Yes you can.  It's an option as a check-box under the video settings. (I believe it's called Fullscreen, unchecking it will set the game to windowed mode at whatever resolution you specify)

i tried that, it didn't work. so iw as wundering if i was missing something. will try again

tried it again, still full screen mode, i am wundering if this is for wide screen computer instead.

anyone else can play in windowed mode?

GalCiv2 does not do windowed mode like most other programs.

There is no window border, and it is not resizable. So if you are running the game at the same resolution as your desktop it will appear the same whether it is fullscreen or windowed (although on some monitors, everything may appear a little fuzzy and washed out - like mine).

You will still have to Alt-Tab to minimize it, as there are no control buttons because of the lack of a border and title bar. Or, if you are running it at less than desktop resolution, you can simply click outside of GalCiv2's window to minimize it.

Note that moose's commenst only apply if you're running at the same resolution as your desktop (which if you can't tell teh difference between windowed and fullscreen, you are). You can run it lower than that if your screen is larger than 1024x768, at which point the game *will* have a titlebar and borders.

It does not have "proper" titlebars and borders, however.
By proper, I mean they do not conform to Windows standards.

On mine, the title bar is simply a black bar across the top, which lets me move the window. But it is not the standard title bar with borders that most programs will have, which would also include maximize, minimize and close buttons in the upper right corner. And there really is no border at all. On the main title screen the image goes to the extents of the window, and there is no border visable.

It does not have "proper" titlebars and borders, however. By proper, I mean they do not conform to Windows standards.

It does for me...

Are you using the GalCiv theme?
I am, and I wonder if that makes a difference.

I usually play in full screen mode, but windowed mode works fine for me. I get a "proper" window and everything works except resize which is expected.

Here's what windowed mode looks like for me.

I play with 1680x1050 resolution on my monitor, with the game set to 1024x768 and fullscreen unchecked.



That's the Gal Civ II game on top, with a Web site open to the forums in the back

Maybe mine is weird because I am using WindowBlinds with the GalCiv2 theme. The title bars and borders do not show correctly.

And maybe they would if I updated WindowBlinds, but since it came with GalCiv2 I don't think I should be required to buy it just to get it to work right.

Everytime I go into Stardock Central it tells me there is a newer version, and when I try to update it I am told I have to buy it.

Oh well. I don't run the game windowed anyway.

Are you running WB4? Seems to me the most likely case, and would explain oddities with the skin since it was made for 5 (and also the prompt to buy).

The only thing I see is the Theme Manager, and the only program groups or entries in Add/Remove Programs say Galactic Civilizations II Desktop.

Edit:
Yes, it is WindowBlinds 4.51, I just checked in SDC for the version.

So, why does it install a version that is known to have problems with the skin it also installs?
Just a gimmick to get a sale?

Value lost.

No... I wasn't aware that the theme came with any software, just the WB theme and IconPackage. You're saying you never had WB before that?

if I play in widowed mode, will it slow down the laptop? I tried playing Civ 4 windowed and it ran reall slow on my 3.5gz pc.