Just installed 688(I)

[kevinh803]

I just discovered a copy of Jane's Naval warfare collection with Fleet Command, F-18, and 688(I). Got Fleet Command loaded and running (barely) on my windows 7 laptop, and 688 is running fantastic in XP mode. This is version 1 and I was wondering if I have to patch (realism?), or if I should leave well enough alone. Thanks for any and all help!

[Robsoie]

Right click on 688I_HK.exe and select Properties.
On the window appearing (i am not sure if it is the same in your window 7), there should be a tab named "Version"

There, ignore the "file version 1.0.0.0", Sonalyst did not updated the info there, but you should see a panel named "Other version information", in the list click on "Product Version".
If your 688 is already patched to the latest version, you should see " 1.07 ", so no need to patch as the "realism patch" is already installed on your game.

If you have an inferior version to 1.07, you can see what are the changes coming with the latest version here to decide if you want to patch or not :
http://www.sonalystscombatsims.com/g...107_README.txt

The 1.07 download patch can be found there :
http://www.sonalystscombatsims.com/g...s_content.html

The 1.07 patch is just a new version of 688I_HK.exe , so you can just backup your current one and use the 1.07 version to see if it works.
(on XP i had a need to download the updated renderware DLL listed under the 1.07 patch on Sonalyst website, but on Window 7 you may have no need or them, unless they are already installed on the version you have)

[kevinh803]

Thanks, Rob. I'm in Windows 7 and the detail tab says version 1.0, so I guess I'll patch. Hate to do it since it's running so well, but I've been making bad decisions leading to screwed up computers for many years, so I guess I'll just keep it up! My only other problem is printing that huge manual, I've wasted over two hundred pages already. Appreciate the help. I'll probably be back here after the patch...

[kevinh803]

Yep, you got it...the patch done crashed in W7. Guess I'll be hookin' up with those DLL's, and screwing things up even more. Any help finding and using them would be appreciated.

[Robsoie]

For me on my XP, along placing the renderware DLL into the 688 directory, i need to setup the compatibility tab for 688I_HK.exe to Window 98, and "Disable visual themes" ticked.
Then i have no problem.

But notice that as i said the "patch" is just a newer 688I_HK.exe, to go back to your previous version, you just have to replace the newer 688I_HK.exe by your previous one.

Now if you install the renderware DLL, back up any already present DLL they may overwrite in your 688 directory.

[kevinh803]

I got it running, though it crashed out once, and once I couldn't get the sub to change speed, though that appears to have fixed itself. Does the patch just change the .ini file, or does it have some other improvements. I don't think I made any compatibility changes to this new .exe, so I'll go back and give that a try. Any recommendations for a nice short .txt file for learning how to play this game? Once again, thanks for the help!

[Robsoie]

Yes, if you read the patch readme, 1.07 has some bugs fixed in comparison to 1.0 (towed array bug fixed in 1.02, broadband tracker not assigning correctly etc...).

There is a good 688HK FAQ here that should help you for the game mechanism and for the missions :
http://db.gamefaqs.com/computer/dosw...r_killer_a.txt

Even today 688 remains a very good subsim.

[kevinh803]

Do you have any recommendations for my next subsim? Something that'll run in 7, be easy to learn and use, but allow to get immersed and complicated if I should feel it? Thanks again.

[goldorak]

Originally Posted by kevinh803

Do you have any recommendations for my next subsim? Something that'll run in 7, be easy to learn and use, but allow to get immersed and complicated if I should feel it? Thanks again.

Sub Command and Dangerous Waters run in windows 7 (and Vista) 32 or 64 bits. You just have to install them outside the normal programs folder, otherwise UAC kicks in and makes life miserable.
I'd choose DW if only because it extends a lot the capabilities of Sub Command. Players have written tens of tutorials, strategy guides and you can find them all over the place (www.subguru.com for one, CADC for second etc...). And if you have problems, well thats what the DW section of this forum is for.

[kevinh803]

Thank you for the kind assistance, gentlemen, I will try and make the best of 688 and maybe move up to DW. Your help is most gratefully appreciated!

[Robsoie]

688 has a very good campaign, featuring nice videos and all.
It has even a "gamey" upgrade system in which you can buy with the points earned from completing missions, allowing you to work around the fact there is only 1 playable submarine, as by customising it then you could "simulate" that you are driving some other sub.

I think this makes the campaign more enjoyable than in the later Sub Command and Dangerous Waters.

Something 688 has that Sub Command and Dangerous Water do not is the possibility to actually "hear" the faint sound coming from the enemy sub while you study the waterfall in broadband, you did not have to only use the waterfall and sonar peaks to figure out a contact.

This feature was removed in a Sub Command patch, as Sonalyst toned down a very lot the sound produced by the subs, so you could not really hear them anymore yourself (as the sound of the water was then higher) you could only hear the surface vessels, torpedoes and biologic, and from what i read Sonalyst kept those the same in Dangerous Water.

[zakarpatska]

Originally Posted by Robsoie

688 has a very good campaign, featuring nice videos and all.
It has even a "gamey" upgrade system in which you can buy with the points earned from completing missions, allowing you to work around the fact there is only 1 playable submarine, as by customising it then you could "simulate" that you are driving some other sub.

I think this makes the campaign more enjoyable than in the later Sub Command and Dangerous Waters.

Something 688 has that Sub Command and Dangerous Water do not is the possibility to actually "hear" the faint sound coming from the enemy sub while you study the waterfall in broadband, you did not have to only use the waterfall and sonar peaks to figure out a contact.

This feature was removed in a Sub Command patch, as Sonalyst toned down a very lot the sound produced by the subs, so you could not really hear them anymore yourself (as the sound of the water was then higher) you could only hear the surface vessels, torpedoes and biologic, and from what i read Sonalyst kept those the same in Dangerous Water.

I recently got 688i running in a virtual WindowsXP using qemu on my Linux laptop and I have to say I was surprised how well this game has held up. Hard to believe it was originally release in 1997. The 3D view now looks pretty cheesy, but other than that it still plays quite well.

I has to laugh when I read the recommended system requirements for 688i - a 90 MHz Pentium with 16 MB of RAM and Windows95. Even trolling eBay I think you'd have trouble finding a system that limited today.

Thanks for telling us to change the comptability tab, I could not get my version 1.07 running because of not knowing that!

Easy

[goldorak]

Originally Posted by zakarpatska

I recently got 688i running in a virtual WindowsXP using qemu on my Linux laptop and I have to say I was surprised how well this game has held up. Hard to believe it was originally release in 1997. The 3D view now looks pretty cheesy, but other than that it still plays quite well.

Does the audio of the game work ? I mean sound effects and all ?

[Red Devil]

Originally Posted by Robsoie

Yes, if you read the patch readme, 1.07 has some bugs fixed in comparison to 1.0 (towed array bug fixed in 1.02, broadband tracker not assigning correctly etc...).

There is a good 688HK FAQ here that should help you for the game mechanism and for the missions :
http://db.gamefaqs.com/computer/dosw...r_killer_a.txt

Even today 688 remains a very good subsim.

interesting, that link says external link access not allowed!!