Should i buy it ?
 

I'm a great fan of SH3, i play with GWX3 gold. My problem is the game is very buggy for me. I often lose my progression because of a saved games ctd. Its very bad.

I'm thinking of triyng SH4, does it have the same ctd problem with saved games ?

Also, i read that i should buy SH4 and the add on SH4 uboat to have a good game ? is it right ?

Finally is there a problem if i buy it on steam ? cause i will probably add some mods .

Get the disk and study what mods to add to make it enjoyable. There are some save issues but I do not think it was like sh3 in that respect.

Silent Hunter 4 isn't without its bugs and CTD's but the modding community here has helped fix most if not all of the issues. I've dealt with some CTD's in the past and did lose some progress but now that I downloaded some mods it's much better. In my opinion the game is much better with the U-Boat missions as well. I own both SH4 and the U-Boat missions on steam and I have a few mods installed, so far everything works great for me.

If you decided to buy both I suggest using this mod by Webster:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/down...o=file&id=1196
It fixes many of the games issues and greatly reduced my CTDs

If you use Windows 7 x64 I also suggest you use this guide:
http://www.subsowespac.org/the-patro...ry-boost.shtml
It will allow the game to access all 4gbs of memory which will also greatly reduce CTDs [Thanks to bifutake for finding this guide]

Since I used the mod and the 4gb guide my game is much more stable, in fact I haven't experienced a CTD since I started using them. Hope that answers all of your questions.

As long as you obey a couple of simple rules I think your CTD will stay away.

01)_ NEVER OVER WRIGHT ANY PREVIOUS SAVES
02)_ DO NOT SAVE WHILE IN CONTACT WITH ANY UNIT
03)_ DO NOT SAVE CLOSE TO LAND (45Nm SHOULD DO)
04)_ DO NOT SAVE SUBMERGED
05)_ DO NOT INSTALL MOD'S WHILE AT SEA UNLESS IT'S STATED IN THE MOD'S README FILE.
06)_ DO NOT ALT-TAB OUT AND IN THE GAME WITHOUT THE PROPER TOOL
07)_ DO NOT DRINK WHILE AT SEA
08)_ DO NOT FRATERNIZE WITH THE CREW
09)_ DO NOT TAKE SHORE LEAVE WHILE AT SEA
10)_ KEEP YOUR HAND ON THE MOUSE AND KEYBOARD AT ALL TIMES

I use steam without any problems

Best to buy Gold edition on disk.Don't install the game in the "x-86" directory. I use a separate "games" directory. The mods don't work in the "x-86" directory. Then read up on the mods and decide what you want to try.

I am running duel installs of Gold on my x86 system. One that is TMO, RSRDC & OTC. The other is RFB & RSRDC. They are both very stable & while I dont have the hundreds (if not thousands) of hours on them that some have I have yet to have a CTD.

I don't abide by any of the mumbo jumbo listed above with any I'll effects yet but just to be safe before I installed SH I danced naked by the light of a full moon, sacrificed a chicken & then prostrated myself before the SH gods.

YMMV

I've saved games in all sorts of situations and haven't had a CTD.

"I danced naked by the light of a full moon, sacrificed a chicken & then prostrated myself before the SH gods. "

Uh-oh, you didn't mention pouring a shot of rum into your left ear before the dance to prevent the torpedo curse?! :dead:

Seriously, I have Half Life 2 which I bought when it first came out, and my problems with STEAM come and go - but mostly come. STEAM is fine when you have high speed cable broadband, stinks on ice when you have DSL or any kind of slower connection. The main problem is the mood strikes me "hmmm, I haven't played Half Life 2 for a while, think I'll do that tonight." STEAM says LOL no you won't, I refuse to launch the game until you "update" STEAM so I can spam you with all our latest game sales. Wait an hour for that, then get "this game is not ready to run in offline mode". Okay, go online, "unable to contact STEAM server". Now they say the game isn't installed and I have to download the entire thing again.

STEAM sucks, get the disk.

I can't fraternize with the crew? Gee ... just when Ensign Kesey and I were getting so acquainted ... in the showers. :har:

What is the proper tool for alt-tabbing in SHIV?

Vapor lock key. Don't leave port without it.

I haven't had any problems running SH4 offline or online via Steam. But I also have Google Fiber, so updates aren't onerous

Thx all, then the hard question, is the game great ? Dont know why i ask that one, if it wasnt great, there wouldnt be anybody on this forum :hmmm:

SH4, like SH3 is not without flaws. But, a decade after their release, the two still represent the current standard of WW2 submarine simulations in both the Atlantic and Pacific. Games from before like SH1 or Aces of the Deep, while considered classic are now dated and difficult to play on current systems. While the subsims that have come after have basically gotten more diluted and have gone in the wrong direction, play-wise.

So, yeah great. Compared to what is available. If you are a fan of US fleet boats., SH4 is really the only choice although playable U-Boats in the same sim are nice.