Do I need this patch? If so why do I need it and why doesnt activision have it?

Morjrith

Go here -
http://www.tgeweb.com/ironworks/wiza...rs/index.shtml

and follow the link for the patch. There will be a file that tells you what the patch fixes.
I think it is actually best to try running the game WITHOUT the patch first and only resort to it if you find that your hardware ends up with too many bugs.

Hope that will answer your questions!

Wyv

I don't agree with Wyv: there are a number of things fixed in the patch that might get you stuck in the unpatched version, like an elevator that stops working, items that make the game crash when you equip them etc.
The price you pay is that some cheats won't work anymore, and that shopkeepers insist on finishing what they have to say before letting you do anything.
Activision doesn't have the patch because they suck: they were not prepared to let Heuristic Park support the game properly, and probably even pressurized HP to publish it before they were really ready. Finally the programmers at HP decided they would make a patch in their own time, so you will find it on their website. (As well as on several other sites like Ironworks.)
Sure hope Wizardry 8 will not be published by Activision!