Checking the two versions I found that the exes are identical, the CDFs are identical, the game-play is identical and most of the dlls are identical.
If you have one of these versions then buying the other one is a waste of money

Understood about only one version needed. Will the "patch" for the Steam version work properly on the GOG version? Is there a separate "Patch" for the GOG version? I assume that a "Patch" made specifically for each version would work best on the specific version of the Game for which the "Patch" was intended.

Thanks so much for going to the trouble of doing this; The more people playing the game, the more likely it is that some will find there way here and take advantage of other versions.

The patch for the Gog version is better in my opinion. It includes the possibility of using the GoG 1.28 exe which was originally released in error.

I will try it with the steam installation

Jel

I patched the steam version with the GoG patch and it ran well using the GoG 1.28 exe.

I'm thinking of getting the GoG version of EAW. Couple of questions if I may.

What version does GoG EAW come in - 1.2?
And what is the patch for GoG mentioned above?

The GoG version is 1.2 made to run on modern PCs with no 7217 error. The game code has not been modified so it has the same CDFs. There are bugs in some careers which result in a CTD when a video is due to be played.
The patch is an OAW installation which I compiled. It adds several theatres to the game plus some terrains and skies.
It also adds the GoG 1.28 exe which was released inadvertently before the code-group complained that GoG were releasing their work and not 1.2.
Some of us bought that version to test it, and that is how we realised it was 1.28 and not 1.2.

Thanks for that info Jelly, appreciate it. So it actually comes standard as v1.28?

And where might I find the OAW patch?

Thanks.

Check this thread:

Original post

Again, thanks Jelly.

How do I tell which version of EAW I have downloaded from GOG? I down loaded the game in late August/ early September.

You have their EAW1.2 version. Their first release was only available for a few days in February 2021 until they were made aware that they had released their modification of the Code Group 1.28 exe.

Ooopsa

Great, so I assume that I don’t need to patch it before I try to upgrade it? Since I am getting ready to move for a few months to Southern CA where I will download EAW from GOG again. I think I would like to upgrade or patch the game to its “latest” version (1.6?). The difference in download speed is amazing. But can I download the zip files, ( I am assuming that is what I am doing) and back them up on a remote hard drive, then install the game and take the zip ped files on the remote to Idaho and transfer them to my computer in Idahowhen I return?

Latest versions are either 1.6 or EAWPro. See the two major sub forms at the top.

For several years the installations of 1.40, 1.50 and 1.60 have been stand-alone folders and not patches. There are no upgrades. A user could have the GoG version, and the 1.60 version on their HDD.
The 1.60 simple version is a very small stand-alone file that allows you to see how well 1.60 runs on your PC. If it works well you can then download the full version with all the additional theatres and planes.

OK, am back in the States. I downloaded the file 160basic2022. Not sure what to do next. Where do I put it? How do I install it? sorry, to require spoon feeding, but am a bit lost here.

It is a standalone full EAW game. Drop it wherever you want the install folder to be and run it.

Ok, so I create an EAW16 folder, move the files there and is there an execute file that installs the game?

Game installed with no issues. Seems to be running just fine, however you can tell that this is a simplified version. Does the "full" version look a lot better? Also noted that some of the controls changed, like starting the engines.

From a post elsewhere:

=======================================================

The download is only 212 megabytes and you can get it here:
UAW160 equivalent of the 1.2 version download

Run the downloaded "UAW160_Simple.exe" self installer wherever you want to install the folder

It will create a stand-alone "160Simple" folder, but you may need to replace the "eaw.ini" file with yours. Mine suits a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro J/S
The installed folder is only 462 megabytes but it is a full working installation.!



Make a shortcut to the "eaw.exe" and put it on your desktop. Double click on the shortcut and the game will launch.

=======================================================

The full version has additional theatres and planes and a file manager programs.
To fly a single mission you use one of the file manager programs to select the "eaw.exe" that you want to use, the theatre and the plane-set.

This is my working folder:



Running the "DSP20thJuly2022.exe":


I have selected the default European theatre and plane-set.
The planeset is one that uses the old 150 weapons so I need to load them by clicking the yellow button



Now they are loaded and I can click the launch button:

It is best to choose a single mission and set it up before flying. Many of the theatres do not have associated careers.

I chose an intercept in a Mustang:










Jel

Mr Jelly, I am confused. What is the difference between the “basic” and “simple” versions of the game? I was under the impression that the “basic” was a test version to see if it would run on my computer. Is the “simple” version the full blown version? I did buy a Logitech flight stick to simplify matters. Quite honestly while the basic did run, the graphics were really poor, but then I didn’t attempt to change them.

The simple version is a cut-down version of the previous basic one.
In order to make an installation that was as small as possible. I deleted files from the basic version that were never going to be used.
I was responding to a request from my colleagues to make an equivalent of the GoG 1.2 release, but with features of the UAW160 in it such as multi-skins and seasonal terrain sets.

The basic set loaded pretty quickly, (over night) and installed with no issues. I assume that I should not delete it and download the simple version?
How do I access the multi skins and seasonal terrain sets? the menus appear to be pretty much the same as the 1.2 version from GOG.

They are built in. When you are in the air put on wing-leveller (shift-A I think on a US keyboard- mine is French).
Then hit F9 to view the different planes and you will see the different markings.


you can see the "9K CD" and the "9K JR" and other different markings in this screenie

The season is determined by the mission date, and the appropriate terrain is loaded.

Thank you MrJelly. Does the “large” version add a lot more in terms of single player campaigns and graphics?

The simple version has one theatre, one planeset, 30 skin and flight model folders and two versions of the "eaw.exe"
The full version has more versions of the "eaw.exe", a heap of theatres, planes and plane-sets with file managers to allow the users to make selections for offline and online games.

Running the "DSP20thJuly2022.exe":


I have selected the default European theatre and plane-set and the 2nd December 2021 New Map exe.

Thanks, I will be asking for specifics when I get to a pace with decent internet. Does the 1.6 large set ( I hope I said that right) also have additional campaigns?

You might want to transfer your questions to the 1.6 sub forum from here on.

Roger.

What do you mean my "campaigns"?

For example the default EAW 1.2 has a tile-set and a target set for the European Theatre of Operations (ETO). This is a "theatre".
When 1.2 was released it came with carmpaign files. This allowed the player to choose a career in the ETO. This is often referred to as a "campaign"

Modders have made several additional theatres, such as Malta, Spanish Air War, South Pacific Air War, Midway, the Balkans, etc.
In some cases they included campaign files so that the user could fly careers. However, not all theatres have associated careers.
So I am asking if you mean "theatre" or "career" when you use the word "campaign" in your question.

This question came up in another thread, maybe the one that was deleted, so I'll answer it again.

SPAW is the only add-on campaign with historically accurate dates, squadrons, targets and other bits and pieces representing a different theater of operation.

You can fly two campaigns rather than three in the default EAW theater, 1942 (Guadalcanal) and 1943-44 (South Pacific).

It took the combined effort of four members of the splinter group "ModSquad", in cooperation with the Coders Group, a year to produce.

In addition, with the introduction of the 1.6 Aircraft Inventory planesets, you can fly planes in the theater from 1939 to 1947, thus introducing plenty of "what-if" scenarios if you are so inclined.

When I say campaign I am thinking of a set of missions within a theater. When I think of career I think of an additive process that tallies kills, promotions and medals across campaigns. In my question, I was referring to campaigns.

You are referring to theatres.
In my last screenie you can see 25 theatres available for selection on the left hand side with a scroll bar, and there are more if I scroll down.

I don't want to go down the rabbit hole of semantics but words matter.

A theater refers to a geographical area of conflict.

Campaigns and careers refer to the same thing. A player starts a set of missions within a certain time period, usually at a low rank and works their way up the ladder while tallying points for both air and ground victories. Then, based on the player's abilities, his side gains victory or defeat.

For example, in SPAW, you are immersed in the South Pacific THEATER and you can then select to play a CAMPAIGN as either a Japanese or American pilot in one of two time periods.

Of course you also play in single mission mode where you set up the parameters for that one mission.

The term "campaign" is the confusion here. It's best to call it "Pilot Career", as the game does. Pilot careers are played out in various geographical locations referred to as "theaters". Because of much hard work by many, EAW has a large number of theaters, and with them are also more pilot careers.