How much has Silent Hunter REALLY cost you

[swdw]

Just thinking. Not counting the game itself, how much money would you think you've spent because of the game on things like books, research materials, DVD's, hardware upgrades and other misc stuff.

[Torplexed]

Well...I already owned the vast majority of my sub books and DVDs before the SH series came along. I only upgrade my computer about every 4 years anyway. This game is far cheaper than some other typical leisure activities venues like attending a movie, going out for dinner or your average ball game nowadays. Plus, there are other game titles I've decided not to purchase due to interest in this one.

Compared to some forms of entertainment, this game is a money-saving bargain.

[Dantenoc]

It's hard to say.... about $200 for a video card (to be able to play it) and now I'm ready to spend about $250 for a replacement one (to be able to keep playing it).

about $70 for an extra Gig of RAM

heck, those were upgrades I made on a new computer that I bought just to be able to play SHIV (I could play SHIII on the old one, but not SHIV)

So now were in excess of a thousand dollars... then theres a couple of movies (like the original uncut version of Das Boot)

But, on the other hand, it was all an investment that has been usefull for other games and programs as well, so that brings the cost down a lot.

More to the point: I'd be willing to pay $99.99 easily for the game if it was bug free, more robust and with a decent book of a manual. I'd even be willing to pay $199.99 for a collectors edition that included some extras like laminated charts and maps, a cool cronometer, and other gadgets of the day like a nomograph or slide rule... maybe even a captain's cap?. It's a niche product that will NEVER appeal to the casual masses, but they could still market it effectively if they really tried, by making it an elite product.

[CCIP]

You know, it's gotten really confusing to be honest

I own two computers on both of which I periodically play SHIII/IV, but they're multipurpose little beasts. Video editing for example is another big reason I keep buying techy stuff. Go figure if my latest computer purchases had been more for video editing or subsimming, or work for that matter! Tricky math there.

But I've certainly catered both my recent computer purchases, both of about $1000, to be able to run my favorite subsims specifically (and edit video. and store my music collection. and be able to take with me to classrooms to put up powerpoints for my students. and and.)

[LukeFF]

I've purchased about 200 dollars in reference books for modding, plus various hardware upgrades that were more for my other games, but nonetheless also give SH4 a little boost.

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Well, I think that working so much on SH3 thrashed my last PC to death. It died January '07 IIRC... (Nearly immediately after the release of GWX version 1.01.)

...so I had the current one built for about $2700.

I think that I'm on my 5th or 6th keyboard now. (I don't pound the keyboard... I should just quit buying the cheap ones I guess.)

3-4 mouses, mousi, meese, mice, or whatever you call them.

Loads of reference books/material.

Two copies of SH3.

One copy of SH4.

I've no desire to add all that up.

...and that's just the monetary bit.

The rest I file under, "What was I THINKING!"

[joegrundman]

And let's not go into the cost to your sanity and social life

[Seeadler]

I bought my last PC(a QuadCore system) because to work also at home on the welding-robot-simulation my team an I developing as part of an EU project.

Silent Hunter III and IV were both gifts, I much prefer to play online multiplayer (action)games or MMORPG. For LOTR Online for example, I paid €230 (Lifetime Account) after I participated on the beta test because the game full convinced me already in the beta phase.

Other new games I interested in, will be rent first for some days. Most DVD/Video rental store here offered also games to rent, a good thing to test these games by myself, because I don't trust todays publishers marketing concept or reviews.

[AVGWarhawk]

With the start of SH3 and going into SH4, books and upgrades...probably about $1500.00......and growing

[Rockin Robbins]

Rescued me from playing Runescape a pointless grind of a MMORPG. I spent $1000 to build a machine for SH3 but would have been due for an upgrade anyway. I'll say $300 total cost for graphics cards and SH 3, 4 & SH4UBM. I already had all my books, but I can see future purchases coming.

But Silent Hunter rescued me from Runescape, which replaced $50k worth of therapy, hypnosis, drugs, torture or whatever else might have been necessary to do the same. I made a profit!

[Major Johnson]

Just the cost of the game and the add-on really. My computer was already beefy enough to play it. Now if you want to talk about playing time hours, then we're talking money! Although recently I've been spending more time perusing the forum picking up tips than I have actually playing the game. So you can also factor in research time!! :p

[rrmelend]

I used to have to play the game on my wifes computer and I got about 3-4 fps. My plan was to build a new computer in a year or two, then I saw an ad in the Best Buy circular and picked up a new Gateway Gaming computer for $1300 after taxes. Now I play with everything maxed out and get unbelievable fps and I get to enjoy it all on a 22" widescreen monitor. Overall I think I came out better for it. Now, if I could only play it for more than an hour or two a week. I like spending time with my wife and 1 year old daughter too much though.

[Doolittle81]

About nine months ago, I invested in a brand new Computer RIG which was long overdue. I went cutting edge at considerable expense.

Yes, after firing up the Rig, SH4 was my first purchase and game installation, and remains the Number One Game/Simulation with which I am involved on a daily basis. Since the New Computer purchase was mandatory/essential for me anyway, I can't attribute the cost to SH4 directly.

I'm very happy with my RIG, and do not regret its cost one bit. I've not yet had to upgrade any component for any reason, and certainly not for SH4 alone, though I expect to double the RAM to 4Gb soon...but NOT because of SH4.

Thus, SH4 has only cost me the SH4 DVD purchase price, probably about $39 USD...plus $9.95 for the SH4 1.5 Add-on. Ohh, also I bought six DVD's of the Silent Service TV show episodes for an additional $80.

On a related point, at the risk of my being slammed for this opinion, I have to say that the folks who routinely complain (on any forum for any Game/simulation) about a moderate charge (say $10 or so) for a fairly 'meaty' Add-on always amaze me. A single decent Steak Dinner or evening of Sushi, with a glass or two of wine or Sake and you've blown Five times that much for a mere two hours of enjoyment. A better comparison: Go to a movie, alone, and 'enjoy' a medium popcorn and medium soft drink and you'll be out $20...for the privilege of watching a 90 minute Hollywood movie which is 8 times out of 10 going to be absolutely Cr&p.

imho

[Doolittle81]

Originally Posted by Seeadler

......Other new games I interested in, will be rent first for some days. Most DVD/Video rental store here offered also games to rent......

Whaaaa??? You can rent PC games??!!! Take home and install, try them out?? Theoretically you would then Buy the product? Are these some sort of versions with a "Play for three days, then your installation goes Belly-Up???"

Otherwise, it seems to me that would lead to a lot of piracy...

[Seeadler]

Originally Posted by Doolittle81

You can rent PC games??!!! Take home and install, try them out??

The same way as you can rent a DVD movie over the weekend, the rental stores offer PC games and console games, if you don't have the hardware you can rent it too. There is also an option here in Germany to rent games online, they will be delivered by postal mail and you send them back after the rental period.

Theoretically you would then Buy the product? Are these some sort of versions with a "Play for three days, then your installation goes Belly-Up???"

no that are the same versions as you can buy in normal stores, you get the DVD, manual, keycode etc.

here is a pic of the SH4 rental version: