Well .... huh

[Matthew_T_Sherman]

I used to consider myself a rather savvy user of mods and such but now I've either lost what it took in my advancing years or just plain got myself the wrong pc/os combo to do the job (or maybe both). I like to consider myself a rather patient soul who will doggedly dig and research threads to find the answer to my plight long before I'll start asking redundant questions that have been redundantly answered on the forum. I used to be a paid member here on a different account that I apparently have forgotten how to access but I'm glad to see more than one familiar name and several of the dedicated modders from then still around.

Sheesh, I'm rambling ....

So, years down the road and life's circumstances finally take me down some better paths - new wife, new job, new life ... and a new pc. Ran across SH4 - inexpensively. I was quite excited to see an official Pac version finally out. I remembered all the modding being done for it. And it's not a bad game but being one of the `ol immersion types there were some details I would have liked addressed. I don't blame Ubisoft - it's a bit of a jump from U-Boats to Pacific subs, and it doesn't take mush to lose the immersion factor when someone not as familiar with the phraseology, equipment and history of that region and era gives it even their best.

That's where dedicated modders come in.

Alas, I'm not one. I just happen to appreciate them.

But .... I've sifted through about 10% of 4 years worth of threads (specifically dealing with supermods like RFB and such - which makes my mouth water) so far .... and I may have even inflated the '10%' part but whew!

Hell, I should have just cut to the chase - not one mod has worked yet.

Maxoptics
OTC
RFB (3 versions)
SCAF
RSRD

(And more)

When I say 'not worked' - it crashes on load. No glitches, no elements missing, no 'If I'd done it (or coulda done it) stuff. I can't even taste them - only download them (the latest versions and patches) use the Jones mod application (I'd say it works fine but I'm not sure if it has anything to do with the crashes) - reboot my system to make sure the registry adjusts - then try the game and the load bar hits the 80% load level and bam.

I searched for Windows 7 compatibility issues but it seems that plenty of others use Win7 without the issue I describe. The stock game appears to work fine (with occasional odd-glitch like the patrol I was on where suddenly the boat wouldn't move though the engines ran fine - checked status and all my crew was suddenly - for no explicable reason - dead and my propeller shaft was snapped. Noisy coffin on the surface with no bad guys near.

Now don't get me wrong. I haven't reached the conclusion that it's not me, it's the software or hardware. I know better. This is definitely user related - but the user can't seem to figure out the differences between his hardware and non-game software that may be causing the problem. Currently I'm running the stock game with the single huge update the updater that came with the game uploaded.

New Dell pc dual processor - windows 7 -

Hi again, guys.

[Armistead]

Doe's the stock game load and play OK? I also see different mods, how did you load them, did you try loading RFB first by itself? I'm not sure there is a version of OTC for RFB yet, unless he finally released it.

Most mods like RSRD that work with supermods have a version made for that mod, so make sure whatever mods you use with your supermod are the correct version.

So, let us know if the stock game works, if so, try RFB by itself alone. If you tried that, report back.

I use XP, but seems many with win7 load the game to a different dir., sure someone will respond to that.

[White Owl]

Have you made sh4.exe large address aware yet? Most of these mods involve adding larger graphics files that eat up a lot of memory. My game wouldn't run modded until I made it large address aware.

Did some googling, found a link: clicky (http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=112556)

[Matthew_T_Sherman]

Doe's the stock game load and play OK? I also see different mods, how did you load them, did you try loading RFB first by itself? I'm not sure there is a version of OTC for RFB yet, unless he finally released it.

Most mods like RSRD that work with supermods have a version made for that mod, so make sure whatever mods you use with your supermod are the correct version.

So, let us know if the stock game works, if so, try RFB by itself alone. If you tried that, report back.

I use XP, but seems many with win7 load the game to a different dir., sure someone will respond to that.

Stock game seems to work fine with an unrepeatable occasional glitch here and there. I'm using the JSGME to install (and uninstall) the mods (I learned long ago that if there's a 'mod installer/uninstaller' it's a god thing to us such).

[Matthew_T_Sherman]

Have you made sh4.exe large address aware yet? Most of these mods involve adding larger graphics files that eat up a lot of memory. My game wouldn't run modded until I made it large address aware.

Did some googling, found a link: clicky (http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=112556)

Didn't even know about this. Thanks! Checking it out now. Erg - just read where it would take 3 gig of ram. Not sure I have that much. I'll check. Still. Thanks!

[magic452]

For win 7 do these things first.
Put the game in a separate game folder, DO NOT use programs files folder.

Make sure you run the game as adminstrator.

Use sh4.exe not sh4.gu, Sh4.exe is found in the main installl directory, make a short cut of that.

With the stock game running OK but no mods run, the above will help.
Put the mods in one at a time and run them to be sure they are working before adding any more. You are using JSGME so they should go in with no problem but make sure the mod is compadible with all the others. Read the readme's to be sure. Go easy on the mods untill you get the game running smoothly.

The game will run with two gigs but three is better.

Good luck and good hunting
Magic

[WernherVonTrapp]

Disable UAC (User Account Control) in Windows 7. It's rather fickle and will indiscrminiately interfere with the installment of some programs and apps. Sometimes it causes problems, other times it doesn't.

[Matthew_T_Sherman]

For win 7 do these things first.
Put the game in a separate game folder, DO NOT use programs files folder.

Make sure you run the game as adminstrator.

Use sh4.exe not sh4.gu, Sh4.exe is found in the main installl directory, make a short cut of that.

With the stock game running OK but no mods run, the above will help.
Put the mods in one at a time and run them to be sure they are working before adding any more. You are using JSGME so they should go in with no problem but make sure the mod is compadible with all the others. Read the readme's to be sure. Go easy on the mods untill you get the game running smoothly.

The game will run with two gigs but three is better.

Good luck and good hunting
Magic

Thank you. I'm enjoying the stock game but the mods certainly look as if they'd make it a much better experience. :DL

[Matthew_T_Sherman]

Disable UAC (User Account Control) in Windows 7. It's rather fickle and will indiscrminiately interfere with the installment of some programs and apps. Sometimes it causes problems, other times it doesn't.

I'll try that, as well. :DL

[Mescator]

I could be blind, but i don't see if you mentioned version's.

Most of the mods are made for 1.5 which you'll need the Uboat expansions to play. The normal game is only patched up to 1.4, so make sure you check!

[Sailor Steve]

I've either lost what it took in my advancing years or just plain got myself the wrong pc/os combo to do the job (or maybe both).
There's one good thing about getting old: I now have an excuse for all the things I couldn't do in the first place. :O:

[Matthew_T_Sherman]

I could be blind, but i don't see if you mentioned version's.

Most of the mods are made for 1.5 which you'll need the Uboat expansions to play. The normal game is only patched up to 1.4, so make sure you check!

Drat! That may be it, as well. So, I'll hafta buy a U-Boat expansion to really enjoy the Pacific mods? Erg.

Edit - wait - just noticed a RFB for 1.4. Let me give that a go.

Update - nope - no joy. But I still kinda suspect the administrator setting thing. Damnedest thing I've ever seen. By default there is but one login account, but still I opened up properties and security and told the machine that administrator owns the folder and that administrator has all permissions (and even restarted to make sure). I even moved the entire folder to the desktop to make sure it's not under 'programs.' But it's damned obstinate. The changes won't stick. Every time I open properties back up it indicates everything is 'read only' again and every time I adjust it to give full ownership and access just to see it bounce back after reboot. I've never seen a program so dead set against my having permissions before.

[Matthew_T_Sherman]

There's one good thing about getting old: I now have an excuse for all the things I couldn't do in the first place. :O:

Hiya, Steve! You're one of the many names I remember. I used to go by Arlo (or maybe ArluGu3) here back when. Wasn't in the community that long but was addicted off the bat. Seems that addiction has come back in full.

[Sailor Steve]

OH HECK YEAH! I remember Arlo! Welcome back! :D :sunny:

[Matthew_T_Sherman]

A *LOT* of wonderful modding has been done. SH4 is my happy place. Perhaps not getting mods to work will inspire me to try my hand at it properly (or get the 1.5 UBoat addition just to make my Pac more immersive) and not just ask for more and more from the modders* (though I must admit, this community has always appeared to appreciate it's modders something fierce - must be the maturity level [at all ages, not just the 45+ crowd]).

So far the new wife is somewhat understanding. I don't plan on going away but if I drop off the radar from time to time it's shore duty/wife maintenance.

*Was it Mozart that died from exhaustion trying to please a rival who played like he was a patron?

[Matthew_T_Sherman]

It works! Itworksitworksitworks! (Snoopy dance) Thank you one and all for the various suggestions. Turns out Mescator (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/member.php?u=264256) hit upon the crucial item (being downloading the gold edition - being the 1.5 version) but I did faithfully apply all other suggestions and no telling what other walls I might have smacked my forehead against without all of you.

Ok .... whew .... now I get to see and appreciate and experience what the rest of you do - and there's a LOT to appreciate. Seems RFB 2.0 has most all of what I wanted (and then some). I like hearing and seeing more historically accurate details - from the insignia to command responses. Haven't had a chance to give all the new immersion elements a try in combat - either campaign or mission - just yet. I anticipate that'll be a hoot (and a challenge). I was quite surprised to see my pov go from static to the ability to walk the boat. Not bad once you get the knack of it and not sink below decks or hover above - and you know what areas to stick to.

All the new buttons to try! Noticed the crew positions and count changed up. Good thing I only made and printed up 4 sheets of crew roster forms to keep track of who I thought deserved a promotion or medal and such.

Now, I do kinda miss the graphics of the standard game - the water seems a bit too blue and the ships don't appear to have the smooth graphics they once had - but if that's a tradeoff for more immersive play it's not a bad one.

So now that I can 'play too' I'll be one of the geeks posting patrol logs and stories from my timetraveling in a submarine in the Pacific during WWII on the matrix.

:D

(I love this stuff. New wife starting to have doubts. Gonna hafta take her out more.)

[White Owl]

So glad it works for you!

I'm a newbie very slowly learning the ins and outs of this game, and I love RFB so far. (Although I did pile a huge stack of other mods on top of it.) I'm up to Dec. 31, 1941 as I type this. First patrol I sank a 4000 ton merchant and was nearly killed by an airplane. Lesson learned: 150 ft is not deep enough to be safe from airplanes when the water is calm and visibility excellent. Second patrol I sank a 7000 ton merchant, then the very next night hit a small convoy and bagged a 10,000 ton tanker. Happy New Years! :rock:

RFB is great. Getting those merchants was a whole lot more difficult than in the stock game, so I appreciate them a whole lot more.