Really basic newbie stuff...

[Leighthekiwi]

Hi all. I've been browsing the forums but haven't really found the basic info I'm after. Please excuse the possibly silly questions, but bear in mind I haven't played since the first SH edition and that was many years ago. Also, I've just built a gaming PC but still don't know how the darn thing works, so technical stuff will take a bit of learning for me...

Q1) I have Windows 8.1 64bit and want to buy/install SH4 (The rest of the system is fairly high-end gaming spec). The Microsoft compatibility website states that SH4,Wolves of the Pacific is NOT compatible in compatibility mode but that SH, Wolves of the Pacific: Version 4 IS compatible. What is this "Version 4" they mention?

Q2) I have heard a lot about 1.4, 1.5 etc. Are they patch versions or release versions? Is there a specific release version that I should be hunting for to buy? Or is there just one release and a host of patches/mods to get it to a particular stage?

I apologise if this post is in the wrong place too, but I just want to get on with it and finally get back to sea :-)

[depthtok33l]

About the patches/versions.

The standalone Silent Hunter 4 game is version v1.4. If you get the U-Boat Missions Expansion you get v1.5 which is the latest version of the game and more importantly most of the mods/supermods are built around it.

So you definitely would want the version 1.5 of the game.

Most people here would recommend getting the SH4 Gold Edition CD however, I've searched both Australian and NZ stores, they are all out-of-stock and quite expensive really. 99.99NZ$ at Mightyape. I'm not sure if Amazon or wherever these skippers here get their game but its way cheaper though I'm not sure if they ship overseas (outside US).

Edit: http://www.trademe.co.nz/gaming/pc-games/simulation/auction-843990590.htm Found something on TradeMe, factory sealed, it includes IL2 Sturmovik and SH4 but its only v1.4.

If you get it on Steam you'll only get version 1.3 of the game because apparently Ubisoft never game Steam the 1.4 version of the game so your only option then is to buy the U-Boat Missions Expansion too.

[Sailor Steve]

WELCOME ABOARD! :sunny:

If you can find 'SH4 Gold' you'll have 1.5, which is the full and final patched version. It will run just fine on Windows 8.1 64 bit. That's all you need to know as far as what version is which. After you have that you'll find plenty of help here concerning what to do next and how to do it.

[Leighthekiwi]

About the patches/versions.

The standalone Silent Hunter 4 game is version v1.4. If you get the U-Boat Missions Expansion you get v1.5 which is the latest version of the game and more importantly most of the mods/supermods are built around it.

So you definitely would want the version 1.5 of the game.

Most people here would recommend getting the SH4 Gold Edition CD however, I've searched both Australian and NZ stores, they are all out-of-stock and quite expensive really. 99.99NZ$ at Mightyape. I'm not sure if Amazon or wherever these skippers here get their game but its way cheaper though I'm not sure if they ship overseas (outside US).

Edit: http://www.trademe.co.nz/gaming/pc-games/simulation/auction-843990590.htm Found something on TradeMe, factory sealed, it includes IL2 Sturmovik and SH4 but its only v1.4.

Thanks mate. I saw that and have it on my watchlist but didn't buy pending advice from these forums. Glad I waited! Do you think it's worth buying V1.4 so I can get started and just waiting to find an affordable gold edition to upgrade?

BTW, nice to see and hear from a fellow Kiwi with similar interests :-)

[Leighthekiwi]

WELCOME ABOARD! :sunny:

If you can find 'SH4 Gold' you'll have 1.5, which is the full and final patched version. It will run just fine on Windows 8.1 64 bit. That's all you need to know as far as what version is which. After you have that you'll find plenty of help here concerning what to do next and how to do it.

Thank you very much Sailor Steve. I wish I could find a Gold edition for sale here in NZ then! I guess I'll have to just be patient :-)

[Leighthekiwi]

Okay, just bought SH4 Gold from Amazon for NZ$48.59, shipped to NZ, which I thought was reasonable considering the usurious price-gouging apparent in the NZ store price ($100) that DepthTok revealed above!

Now, just the agonising wait until it arrives...............

[depthtok33l]

Okay, just bought SH4 Gold from Amazon for NZ$48.59, shipped to NZ, which I thought was reasonable considering the usurious price-gouging apparent in the NZ store price ($100) that DepthTok revealed above!

Now, just the agonising wait until it arrives...............

:up:

[merc4ulfate]

You can get the gold for 8 at amazon.

SUBSIM GAME STORE (http://www.subsim.com/store.html)

[Leighthekiwi]

You can get the gold for 8 at amazon.

SUBSIM GAME STORE (http://www.subsim.com/store.html)

I wish! The cheapest that was available for shipping to NZ was US$19.99 plus about $20 shipping, which comes to almost NZ$50 .

(I wanted a disc, not a download file, after reading about some of the issues people have encountered.)

[fireftr18]

Okay, just bought SH4 Gold from Amazon for NZ$48.59, shipped to NZ, which I thought was reasonable considering the usurious price-gouging apparent in the NZ store price ($100) that DepthTok revealed above!

Now, just the agonising wait until it arrives...............

Just like the agonizing wait until the torpedo hits. :hmmm:

Welcome aboard Leighthekiwi! :salute:

Now we need you to polish the prop.

[TorpX]

...I haven't played since the first SH edition and that was many years...

Ah, the good old days. :salute:

You certainly made the right choice getting the 'Gold Edition'. :yep: