SH purchase advice

[drmeaty]

Hello everyone. I played alot of SH3 back in the day and really enjoyed it. However, when I built a new computer with Vista, I didn't want to deal with the Starforce DRM on my new system so I never reinstalled SH3. Recently I got the itch to play again and saw that you can get SW3 from Steam and Direct2Drive. Do these versions include the Starforce DRM? If not, does anyone have any experience with Direct2Drive? I already have Steam installed and am familiar with that service. I also see that SH4 is also available. How well would SH4 run on a 6600 intel,8800GTS,4G ram system? Sorry for the long post, but any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Rifleman75]

I recently bought SHIII and SHIV + Uboats off of steam. Got all of them for $30. I don't beleive SHIII from Steam has starforce, but I'm not positive.

If you get SHIV off of steam, make sure you let SHIV download completely, before you let the U-boat expansion download at all. If they download at the same time, it really messes things up.

I'm running the exact same system you are. I have SHIV turned to max on everything, and it looks great and is nice and smooth. I don't know the FPS, but it runs nice.

I personally recomend the RFB and RSRD mods, I am enjoying them very much. I never did play the stock version of SHIV though.

[JoeCorrado]

SH2, SH3, and SH4 ALL for less than $20.00?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=Silent+Hunter&x=0&y=0

Any of these games will run well on your system.

[Monica Lewinsky]

Hello everyone. I played alot of SH3 back in the day and really enjoyed it. However, when I built a new computer with Vista, I didn't want to deal with the Starforce DRM on my new system so I never reinstalled SH3.

Tell you what bubba ... I have Vista and a long time ago in a galaxy far away [insert Star Wars music here] - in other words ... about a year ago - I installed SH3 on Vista. When you install SH3 for the first time it STOPS and says:

"Hey, bubba, the Starforce driver is NOT compatible with Vista. Click this link to get the Vista version" - no worries mate once you click the link in the install process!

The evil past issues don't come with it [Starforce] to your new Vista rig. Apply all the patches after that to SH3 to get to 1.4b version [I forget the EXACT number and letter]. Then, if you are smart, start SH3 and make sure it works AFTER a reboot. Then, retire it [vanilla SH3] by installing the latest GWX 3.0 mod for SH3 ... I think it is called GWX 3.0 Gold not sure of the EXACT name and version.

Once you have that [GWX 3.0 mod] , it makes vanilla SH3 look like something out of the Stone Age.

Regarding the SH4:
I'd be buying the online 1.5 version [known as the U-Boat Missions] and get the "non-Steam" version. There is no solid logic behind that. I realize you are new here, but there was a group of people about 9 months ago to a year ago that had big issues installing mods if their SH4 was Steam purchased - I could be totally wrong about this - so don't rip me a new one - I simply can not remember the EXACT problems/issues - so ELIMINATE the potential problem area by buying a DVD version or a on-line version of 1.5 of SH4 is my advice.

Once you get all the above, or some of the above installed, it should keep you ENJOYING for hundreds of hours [maybe a thousand or two?] putting them dirty rats on the bottom of the sea where they belong.

Oops, forgive my rudeness, drmeaty, ... welcome to SubSim and light up a cigar! :)

[Threesixtyci]

I just posted this on the SH3 forum, but the combo pack that Amazon.com has doesn't have Starforce, either... and it's goes for about 10 bucks and is prepatched with the 1.4 patch. I assume 1.4b, because GWX3.0 installs fine with it.

http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Hunter-2-3-DJC/dp/B0017HIH6O/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1236709938&sr=8-2

I have a follow up question about SH4, though.... Is there any real difference between the normal version and gold? I ask becasue Amazon.com shows gold going for about 33 bucks, while the normal version is going for about 12 bucks.

http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Hunter-Wolves-Pacific-Gold-Pc/dp/B001BBS8B0/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1236721978&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Hunter-Wolves-Pacific-Pc/dp/B000MR5FBU/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1236721978&sr=8-2

[Sailor Steve]

I just posted this on the SH3 forum, but the combo pack that Amazon.com has doesn't have Starforce, either... and it's goes for about 10 bucks and is prepatched with the 1.4 patch. I assume 1.4b, because GWX3.0 installs fine with it.
It is definitely 1.4b, as 1.4 was a test version and went through two minor upgrades before release.

I have a follow up question about SH4, though.... Is there any real difference between the normal version and gold? I ask becasue Amazon.com shows gold going for about 33 bucks, while the normal version is going for about 12 bucks.
Gold has the 1.5 U-Boat Missions add-on added in. It's the complete package.

[Threesixtyci]

Is it a patch, like with X3 Reunion 2.0, Bala Gi Missions, or like Witcher's Enhanced Edition?

'cause if it is.... wouldn't the cheaper one be the way to go? Or does that orginal Wolves of the Pacific, come with some form of Starforce protection that the Gold version doesn't have?

[BULL]

I am playing SH4 now and having a blast but I think I would also like to play SH3. Wondering if anyone has seen SH3 in a brick and mortar store lately. I prefer not to buy online if possible.... anyone seen in for sale in a box lately?

Thanks,
Scott

[Akula4745]

Bull,
I snagged a copy of SH3 on Ebay for $7... you might want to check there.

Akula4745