Steam version of SHIV and modding issues

Rifleman75 · 03-07-09, 12:11 AM

Hello everybody,

I used to play SHII and SHIII back in the day, and here recently wanted to again. First I tried to install my original copy of SHIII and found out the copy I have won't work on Vista64 for anything.

I ended up buying SHIII and SHIV + U-boats off of Steam. I have modded other games from Steam with no problem. Hearts of Iron II to be exact. So I figured it wouldn't be a problem.
Once SHIV and it's expansion downloaded I was about ready to bang my head into the wall trying to get it to run. Had to re-download and finally got it to run, then installed RFB and RSRD. Everything looked good, started a campaign and sank 50,000 tons with my sugar boat on 100%, and loved every minute of it. I go back to play today after restarting my computer/steam for the first time since install and modding, and Steam decides it needs to "update" SHIV.
I paused the update while it was still on 0%, but it wouldn't let me launch the game. I found a way to trick it and launch it anyway, but the RFB loading screen would CTD, the damage had already been done.
I even had steam set on "do not automatically update"

If there's no way around this I will probably just break down and buy a hard copy, and will probably never buy another game off of Steam.

Rockin Robbins · 03-07-09, 07:59 AM

Well that sounds like about the idea I get from the few people who have installed the Steam version. It's a shame. Steam should be a good idea.

Rifleman75 · 03-07-09, 02:33 PM

Well after letting Steam "fix" it, then adding the mods again, it seems to be okay now. I've rebooted and it's not trying to screw with anything. Hopefully this lasts.

I wish the mods would let it start without Steam.
When I bought Hearts of Iron II off of Steam it wouldn't start without Steam until I added the mods, and I can launch it by itself.

Oh well, it appears to at least be working now.

Now I'm off to go sink the Jap navy in my obsolete pig boat using broken torpedoes!

Wish me luck!

AVGWarhawk · 03-07-09, 07:32 PM

Do yourself a favor and headache saver, create a root folder for SH4. Do not let Steam load it to the X86 program files. For some reason, mods in the X86 program folders will create errors.

Rifleman75 · 03-08-09, 08:14 PM

What kinds of problems does it cause if it's in the x86 folder?

At first it was running fine, but now I'm on my third patrol and in late '42 early '43 and the game CTD all the time. Usually when trying to go to external view, or using the periscope, or trying to dock.

It didn't crash at all before.

I wanted to install it on my other hard drive, but I haven't figured out how to do that with a Steam game without uninstalling all of them and then starting over fresh on the other drive.

AVGWarhawk · 03-08-09, 08:20 PM

If you attempt to mod the game when it is loaded in the X86 program files errors occur. Did you put in mods and the CTD started? I recommend making a root folder outside of the X86 files.

Rifleman75 · 03-08-09, 11:15 PM

I never even played the stock game, I installed mods right away. It didn't CTD at all for a while.

It did it some today, then I ended the patrol and got a new boat and it quit doing it. I think it only did it on my third patrol. Kinda weird if that was the case.

A Very Super Market · 03-08-09, 11:30 PM

I don't see how steam could have anything to do with this, since I play SH3 on steam and have modded it hell and back.

03-07-09, 12:11 AM	#1
Rifleman75 Swabbie Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 8 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Steam version of SHIV and modding issues Hello everybody, I used to play SHII and SHIII back in the day, and here recently wanted to again. First I tried to install my original copy of SHIII and found out the copy I have won't work on Vista64 for anything. I ended up buying SHIII and SHIV + U-boats off of Steam. I have modded other games from Steam with no problem. Hearts of Iron II to be exact. So I figured it wouldn't be a problem. Once SHIV and it's expansion downloaded I was about ready to bang my head into the wall trying to get it to run. Had to re-download and finally got it to run, then installed RFB and RSRD. Everything looked good, started a campaign and sank 50,000 tons with my sugar boat on 100%, and loved every minute of it. I go back to play today after restarting my computer/steam for the first time since install and modding, and Steam decides it needs to "update" SHIV. I paused the update while it was still on 0%, but it wouldn't let me launch the game. I found a way to trick it and launch it anyway, but the RFB loading screen would CTD, the damage had already been done. I even had steam set on "do not automatically update" If there's no way around this I will probably just break down and buy a hard copy, and will probably never buy another game off of Steam. Last edited by Rifleman75; 03-07-09 at 12:31 AM.

03-07-09, 07:59 AM	#2
Rockin Robbins Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: DeLand, FL Posts: 8,900 Downloads: 135 Uploads: 52	Well that sounds like about the idea I get from the few people who have installed the Steam version. It's a shame. Steam should be a good idea. __________________ Sub Skipper's Bag of Tricks, Slightly Subnuclear Mk 14 & Cutie, Slightly Subnuclear Deck Gun, EZPlot 2.0, TMOPlot, TMOKeys, SH4CMS

03-07-09, 07:32 PM	#4
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,253 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Do yourself a favor and headache saver, create a root folder for SH4. Do not let Steam load it to the X86 program files. For some reason, mods in the X86 program folders will create errors. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

03-08-09, 08:20 PM	#6
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,253 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	If you attempt to mod the game when it is loaded in the X86 program files errors occur. Did you put in mods and the CTD started? I recommend making a root folder outside of the X86 files. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

03-08-09, 11:30 PM	#8
A Very Super Market The Old Man Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Deep in the Wild Canadian suburbs. Posts: 1,468 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I don't see how steam could have anything to do with this, since I play SH3 on steam and have modded it hell and back. __________________ The entire German garrison of Vanviken, right here in your thread!

03-07-09, 02:33 PM	#3
Rifleman75 Swabbie Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 8 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Well after letting Steam "fix" it, then adding the mods again, it seems to be okay now. I've rebooted and it's not trying to screw with anything. Hopefully this lasts. I wish the mods would let it start without Steam. When I bought Hearts of Iron II off of Steam it wouldn't start without Steam until I added the mods, and I can launch it by itself. Oh well, it appears to at least be working now. Now I'm off to go sink the Jap navy in my obsolete pig boat using broken torpedoes! Wish me luck!

03-08-09, 08:14 PM	#5
Rifleman75 Swabbie Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 8 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	What kinds of problems does it cause if it's in the x86 folder? At first it was running fine, but now I'm on my third patrol and in late '42 early '43 and the game CTD all the time. Usually when trying to go to external view, or using the periscope, or trying to dock. It didn't crash at all before. I wanted to install it on my other hard drive, but I haven't figured out how to do that with a Steam game without uninstalling all of them and then starting over fresh on the other drive.

03-08-09, 11:15 PM	#7
Rifleman75 Swabbie Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 8 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I never even played the stock game, I installed mods right away. It didn't CTD at all for a while. It did it some today, then I ended the patrol and got a new boat and it quit doing it. I think it only did it on my third patrol. Kinda weird if that was the case.