Onkel returns to Silent Hunter III

Onkel Neal · 11-02-22, 08:23 AM

As many of you know, I have a deep history with the SH franchise. Way back when SH3 was a dream in our minds, I was able to become associated with the game in its early alpha state. I saw the alpha at E3 in Los Angeles and met the lead programmer and director of the project, and pitched the urgency for a "dynamic campaign". This caused an 8 month delay, but I think we all agree it was worth it.

Some months later I hosted a Subsim Meet in Houston and the dev team FedEx'ed a CD-ROM of the latest beta build so I could preview it with the meeting members. Man, was that great! This was before smartphones, so I don't think any video survives but everyone was extremely excited about SH3. For me, I was glad to have other players confirm how great SH3 was compared to all the subsims before it, so it wasn't me "hyping" the game.

Ok, skip ahead, game was released, was a success, the Subsim Mod world exploded with amazing works, spurred on SH4 and SH5 (& SHO); at some point I stopped playing SH3 regularly, probably 2015 when I was a truck driver. Around 2017, I started working with the HMS Marulkin devs on what would become Wolfpack.

Sometime between 2017 and 2019 I bought SH3 on Steam for the convenience of playing without a CD. I believe I started the game but probably only played a single mission... apparently I loaded the JonesSoft Mod tool and GWX, then stepped away to focus on Wolfpack.

FastFwd to this week: I started SH3 on Steam to play some career missions to refresh my memory on the way the campaign feels in preparation for the Wolfpack campaign. I Steam started SH3 and it came up, GWX installed, but it was playing in a tiny window, so I changed the resolution and well, the game stopped running.

The Ubi logo and intro video would appear but then a mouse arrow and black screen. Oh boy, fun!

So, I did some research, found a bunch of possible solutions, and after reinstalling, checking file integrity, monkeying around with the Compatibility mode, and cfg file, got SH3 to run again in vanilla mode. I'll throw up an page of what my settings ended up so you can see what seems to have done the trick for me.

Steam Silent Hunter III setup 2022

So, I am going to play a few career missions in vanilla, then reinstall JoneSoft, and from there, I'm interested in your opinions on which mod path I should try. Over the years I have seen many, many mod paths recommended and now I am asking you, as a returning SH3 player, what wisdom you can impart, o' mighty ones.

GrenSo · 11-02-22, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Onkel Neal

So, I am going to play a few career missions in vanilla, them reinstall JoneSoft, and from there, I'm interested in your opinions on which mod path I should try.

I would recommend Fifi Enhancements for NYGM as the current one: https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/sho...d.php?t=249060

Dieselglock · 11-02-22, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrenSo

I would recommend Fifi Enhancements for NYGM as the current one: https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/sho...d.php?t=249060

I would second what GrenSo posted.

Fifi · 11-02-22, 10:21 AM

Thanks guys! … I would add to wait for next update before starting new career …
Version 2.2 is coming out soon

Kal_Maximus_U669 · 11-02-22, 11:17 AM

YES Boss the mods of Fifi remains the most successful of the moment.. go for it is a must
I agree with my classmates
@GrenSo @Dieselglock

Doolar · 11-02-22, 12:40 PM

I going to agree with my fellow Kaptians. NYGM Enhanced 2.1 is fantastic. I find it hard to imagine that it could get better, but it does. If you want to go in another direction, then try OneAlex 1.52. OneAlex hasn't been updated lately, due to real life circumstances, but additional ships have been added. I do expect OneAlex to return and NYYGM Enhanced 2.2 is on the horizon, so, between those 2, you can't lose, you can't go wrong. On another note, Toyotagt86 ain't bad either. Very stable. But my personal "go to's" right now are NYGM Enhanced and OneAlex, even though i dabble with 4 others. And now I wonder what GWX Knight's Cross, will bring to the table.

We are so lucky to have people still interested in Silent Hunter III enough, to keep improving and improving, and improving, this game. It's almost hard to choose.

FUBAR295 · 11-02-22, 12:46 PM

Onkle Neal,

You may want to consider, (you seem to prefer GWX), AlexOne's GWX mod 1.52 which is all inclusive. Just about everything you need for an up to date GWX.

Now, I am bias to NYGM and Fifi's updating of this classic with superior graphics and eye candy, while keeping the original game play that Stiebler intended, is a must.

They are my suggestions.

Good hunting,
FUBAR295

GrenSo · 11-02-22, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fifi

Thanks guys! … I would add to wait for next update before starting new career …
Version 2.2 is coming out soon

Really... starting again a new career?

Fifi · 11-02-22, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrenSo

Really... starting again a new career?

Should work in bunker … I loaded a bunker save without problem.

GrenSo · 11-03-22, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fifi

Should work in bunker … I loaded a bunker save without problem.

Good to know, and I will test it, if your release is done.

Mad Mardigan · 11-03-22, 12:25 PM

Onkel Neal..

1st off, welcome back to SH3 Kaleun status.

Call me biased, but.. am with most of the rest... Fifi's revamp of NYGM,

but.. this is not to disparage OneAlex's GWX Rework, either.. if you're more preferable to GWX.

Both of them are quite good, each.. in their own right.

Your call, when all is said & done, at the end of the day.

Which, is what's important..

Hope that helps..

as always.

M. M.

Onkel Neal · 11-03-22, 05:02 PM

Wow, nice feedback! I really appreciate that, I feel like a newbie! Well, I guess I kinda am a newbie, so your direction is gold.

So, I want to load GWX 3 and play a few missions with that, then I want to switch to fifi's NYGM as suggested and play a career.

I have Steam SH3 running fine on my programs86 directory, so I will attempt to install GWX 3 on that version.

Sadly, before I broke the SH3 on my D: drive, it was running GWX, just in a small window.

After that, definitely fifi all the way.

fitzcarraldo · 11-03-22, 05:17 PM

Onkel Neal! I returned to SH3 with NYGM FiFi version and it is a must have.

Immersion secured.

I have my old DVD SH3, working very fine on W11, with W7 compatibility.

The game is a legend.

Good hunt!

Fitzcarraldo

Weasel665 · 11-03-22, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Onkel Neal

I have Steam SH3 running fine on my programs86 directory, so I will attempt to install GWX 3 on that version.
:

Many on the forum say:
That you have SH3 installed in C:\Program files ... or C:\Program files (x86) ... which is NOT where you want to have it installed.... EVER.

Installing your SH3 here... is asking for loads of trouble, as Windows, will NOT allow for changes to be made to anything installed in those areas... EVEN if you tell it that such changes CAN be done.

Onkel Neal · 11-03-22, 09:29 PM

Yes, Todd told me the same.

You know how you hate to mess with something after you finally got it to work? I wanted to install a second copy of SH3 on my D: drive, but I could not find a way to do it. I tried moving my installation from C:program86... and it moved it, alright, it's no longer on my C: at all.

And of course, the program wouldn't run again. Gave me a chance to try out my Steam fix and it worked, now I have it running on D: not in Programs86

So, it shows the version as 1.4, that's the latest version right? Ready to install GWX 3?

11-02-22, 08:23 AM	#1
Onkel Neal Born to Run Silent Join Date: Jan 1997 Location: Cougar Trap, Texas Posts: 21,383 Downloads: 541 Uploads: 224	Onkel returns to Silent Hunter III As many of you know, I have a deep history with the SH franchise. Way back when SH3 was a dream in our minds, I was able to become associated with the game in its early alpha state. I saw the alpha at E3 in Los Angeles and met the lead programmer and director of the project, and pitched the urgency for a "dynamic campaign". This caused an 8 month delay, but I think we all agree it was worth it. Some months later I hosted a Subsim Meet in Houston and the dev team FedEx'ed a CD-ROM of the latest beta build so I could preview it with the meeting members. Man, was that great! This was before smartphones, so I don't think any video survives but everyone was extremely excited about SH3. For me, I was glad to have other players confirm how great SH3 was compared to all the subsims before it, so it wasn't me "hyping" the game. Ok, skip ahead, game was released, was a success, the Subsim Mod world exploded with amazing works, spurred on SH4 and SH5 (& SHO); at some point I stopped playing SH3 regularly, probably 2015 when I was a truck driver. Around 2017, I started working with the HMS Marulkin devs on what would become Wolfpack. Sometime between 2017 and 2019 I bought SH3 on Steam for the convenience of playing without a CD. I believe I started the game but probably only played a single mission... apparently I loaded the JonesSoft Mod tool and GWX, then stepped away to focus on Wolfpack. FastFwd to this week: I started SH3 on Steam to play some career missions to refresh my memory on the way the campaign feels in preparation for the Wolfpack campaign. I Steam started SH3 and it came up, GWX installed, but it was playing in a tiny window, so I changed the resolution and well, the game stopped running. The Ubi logo and intro video would appear but then a mouse arrow and black screen. Oh boy, fun! So, I did some research, found a bunch of possible solutions, and after reinstalling, checking file integrity, monkeying around with the Compatibility mode, and cfg file, got SH3 to run again in vanilla mode. I'll throw up an page of what my settings ended up so you can see what seems to have done the trick for me. Steam Silent Hunter III setup 2022 So, I am going to play a few career missions in vanilla, then reinstall JoneSoft, and from there, I'm interested in your opinions on which mod path I should try. Over the years I have seen many, many mod paths recommended and now I am asking you, as a returning SH3 player, what wisdom you can impart, o' mighty ones. __________________ SUBSIM - 26 Years on the Web Last edited by Onkel Neal; 12-14-22 at 04:41 PM.

11-02-22, 10:21 AM	#4
Fifi Navy Seal Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: France Posts: 6,087 Downloads: 465 Uploads: 0	Thanks guys! … I would add to wait for next update before starting new career … Version 2.2 is coming out soon __________________ https://www.mediafire.com/file/rfw2h...N_V7.8.7z/file

11-02-22, 11:17 AM	#5
Kal_Maximus_U669 Sea Lord Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: France Nord East Posts: 1,944 Downloads: 820 Uploads: 0	NYGM v2.1 YES Boss the mods of Fifi remains the most successful of the moment.. go for it is a must I agree with my classmates @GrenSo @Dieselglock

11-02-22, 12:40 PM	#6
Doolar Expert Shipsinker Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Baltimore,Md./ CA45 Posts: 914 Downloads: 360 Uploads: 0	re I going to agree with my fellow Kaptians. NYGM Enhanced 2.1 is fantastic. I find it hard to imagine that it could get better, but it does. If you want to go in another direction, then try OneAlex 1.52. OneAlex hasn't been updated lately, due to real life circumstances, but additional ships have been added. I do expect OneAlex to return and NYYGM Enhanced 2.2 is on the horizon, so, between those 2, you can't lose, you can't go wrong. On another note, Toyotagt86 ain't bad either. Very stable. But my personal "go to's" right now are NYGM Enhanced and OneAlex, even though i dabble with 4 others. And now I wonder what GWX Knight's Cross, will bring to the table. We are so lucky to have people still interested in Silent Hunter III enough, to keep improving and improving, and improving, this game. It's almost hard to choose. __________________ ONEALEX 1.53 ARB / NYGM "ENHANCED Steel Coffin Edition" v7.8 DGUI / CCom12 DGUI / WAC 5.2 DGUI / Toyotagt86 v2.3 ARB / GWX3 DGUI / GWX Knight's Cross v1

11-02-22, 12:46 PM	#7
FUBAR295 Krusty Krab Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Decks awash in the North Atlantic Posts: 1,450 Downloads: 493 Uploads: 0	Onkle Neal, You may want to consider, (you seem to prefer GWX), AlexOne's GWX mod 1.52 which is all inclusive. Just about everything you need for an up to date GWX. Now, I am bias to NYGM and Fifi's updating of this classic with superior graphics and eye candy, while keeping the original game play that Stiebler intended, is a must. They are my suggestions. Good hunting, FUBAR295 __________________ Good judgment comes from experience. Unfortunately, the experience usually comes from bad judgment.

11-03-22, 12:25 PM	#11
Mad Mardigan Admiral Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Grand Rapids, Mi. Posts: 2,327 Downloads: 491 Uploads: 0	Onkel Neal.. 1st off, welcome back to SH3 Kaleun status. Call me biased, but.. am with most of the rest... Fifi's revamp of NYGM, but.. this is not to disparage OneAlex's GWX Rework, either.. if you're more preferable to GWX. Both of them are quite good, each.. in their own right. Your call, when all is said & done, at the end of the day. Which, is what's important.. Hope that helps.. as always. M. M. __________________

11-03-22, 05:02 PM	#12
Onkel Neal Born to Run Silent Join Date: Jan 1997 Location: Cougar Trap, Texas Posts: 21,383 Downloads: 541 Uploads: 224	Wow, nice feedback! I really appreciate that, I feel like a newbie! Well, I guess I kinda am a newbie, so your direction is gold. So, I want to load GWX 3 and play a few missions with that, then I want to switch to fifi's NYGM as suggested and play a career. I have Steam SH3 running fine on my programs86 directory, so I will attempt to install GWX 3 on that version. Sadly, before I broke the SH3 on my D: drive, it was running GWX, just in a small window. After that, definitely fifi all the way. __________________ SUBSIM - 26 Years on the Web

11-03-22, 05:17 PM	#13
fitzcarraldo Argentinian Skipper Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Somewhere between Buenos Aires and the Bungo Suido Posts: 5,318 Downloads: 3345 Uploads: 0	Onkel Neal! I returned to SH3 with NYGM FiFi version and it is a must have. Immersion secured. I have my old DVD SH3, working very fine on W11, with W7 compatibility. The game is a legend. Good hunt! Fitzcarraldo __________________ *My subject is War, and the pity of War. The Poetry is in the pity - Wilfred Owen.*

11-03-22, 09:29 PM	#15
Onkel Neal Born to Run Silent Join Date: Jan 1997 Location: Cougar Trap, Texas Posts: 21,383 Downloads: 541 Uploads: 224	Yes, Todd told me the same. You know how you hate to mess with something after you finally got it to work? I wanted to install a second copy of SH3 on my D: drive, but I could not find a way to do it. I tried moving my installation from C:program86... and it moved it, alright, it's no longer on my C: at all. And of course, the program wouldn't run again. Gave me a chance to try out my Steam fix and it worked, now I have it running on D: not in Programs86 So, it shows the version as 1.4, that's the latest version right? Ready to install GWX 3? __________________ SUBSIM - 26 Years on the Web