pbem games not showing

[Ale is Yum!]

I get the file from my partner, download it into the pbem games folder, all fine, but it's not showing up when I open the game. It's there in windows file explorer, in the saved games and in the incoming email folder, but doesn't show up in either from in-game. Anybody know What's going on?
When I try to use automated PBEM, it wants me to register/sign in to something, but I don't know what. Obviously, I don't know my password, since I don't know what I'm signing in to, but there's no 'forgot p/word' button. Also, I can't really read anything in the menus since the display is illegible. I have high-en gear, easily capable of running the game, and I've been playing CM games since forever. This is the first time on Steam, though.
If anyone has any ideas of how to fix this, I'll be grateful.

[A Canadian Cat]

Originally posted by Ale is Yum!:

...It's there in windows file explorer, in the saved games and in the incoming email folder, but doesn't show up in either from in-game. Anybody know What's going on?

This is usually caused by a version miss match. Your opponent likely has a newer version of the game than you. Mind you you are on steam so it should be the latest one. Check with your opponent what version appears on the game's main screen for both of you.

Another thing that can happen is trying to play a turn from one of the other CM games - I am embarrassed to say I have done that before :-)

Originally posted by Ale is Yum!:

When I try to use automated PBEM, it wants me to register/sign in to something, but I don't know what. ...

You need a Matrix account to play via the PBEM++ system. That is the account you need.

[Ale is Yum!]

Thanks! I'll check this all out. Much appreciated.

[Ale is Yum!]

I'm signed in on Matrix games, and tried using my username and p-word to sign in to the autmated pbem, but it won't accept my username, because it has an underscore, and you can only use letters and numbers, so my Matrix account won't let me sign in.