Posts: 884
Threads: 41
Joined: Feb 2009
I would say if you have 4.09m as your base game then you should be downloading
HSFX-V4.0 and HSFX-V 4.1.
The 4.09b1m is a beta.
The 'm' simply stands for 'merged', and is an outdated throwback to the days when there were separate patches for the standalone Pacific Fighters and the merged Forgotten Battles+AEP+Pacific Fighters. The 'm' is still being used for the patches, even though there has been no Pacific Fighters patch since 4.04. Some people erroneously think the 'm' stands for 'Mods', but it does not.
As Skyomish mentioned, the 'b' in 4.09b1m, stands for Beta. The latest official patch is simply named 4.09m.
What you have now, based on your description, is Unified Installer v1.1, which is based on 4.09b1m game version.
U.I. 1.1.1 is a patch for it...but you don't need it if you are downloading U.I. v.1.2. The U.I. 1.2 you are downloading can go overtop of what you have now, but it should be over a clean U.I. 1.1, i.e. with no additional mods added. It will work, if you have added mods, but you could have some problems.
That said, U.I. v1.2 is now outdated, less than 2 months after its release, as it is still based on 4.09b1m, and there is now a 4.09m Official Patch, and two new Mod Pack based on 4.09m, the UltraPack v1.8, and HSFX that skyomish mentioned. The latest AAA based mod pack is now incorporated into the HSFX Mod Pack.
You should cut your losses, stop downloading 1.2, and start on the HSFX 4.0 and 4.1 patch. You'll need to start with a fresh install of the game, patch to 4.08m official, then patch to 4.09m official before installing the HSFX pack.
8FS_Bulau, thanks so much for explaining this. Was a long time user of UI1.1, was gone for a couple months, came back and now I have been completely confused with this UI1.2/UP1.8/HSFX4 business. Now it makes a lot more sense where all these came from. Tried the UP1.8 and UI1.2, I guess HSFX is what I ultimately should get. Although I guess in the end, it's all based on preference.
The ol' crystal ball is still somewhat murky...it seems the more they talk about "unified", and "compatible", the more divergent things get.
UP 1.8 and HSFX 4.1 are, at their core, very similar. They are both based on the latest 4.09m Official Patch (having abandoned completely 4.08 and 4.09b1m), and they both use the SFX file system, which loads way faster than the Unified Installers.
But HSFX does not care about being compatible with anyone else, and they are upfront about that. HSFX pack was developed for Scorched Earth Online Wars (SEOW), which is based on Coop missions, where one players hosts with their game install, although they may use dogfight missions with the ZUTI DSmod...I'm open to correction on that.
They are also not inclined towards custom mod intallations, and in fact, the HSFX installer will DELETE your Mods folder. (Yes, you are warned about this before it happens) You can add a Mods folder afterwards, and add Mods, but you are essentially on your own in that endeavor.
UltraPack 1.8 is more amenable to custom modding, as it retains the Mods folder (although it is disable by default) In addition, the latest patch for UP 1.8 will have a switch so you can be "compatible" with HSFX 4.1, and UP 1.8. So that may be the better route to go.
As you stated, it depends on your personal preference, AND on the servers you intend to fly on. There are several very popular online servers that just recently made the switch to U.I. v1.2...so if you want to fly on those, you will need to have a 1.2 install.
Thanks for the information, but which one would you recommend to download for offline single player gaming? UP 1.8 or HSFX? I have no desire to fly online.
Thank you again
Raider
Thanks. I`ll check it out.
Raider
8FS_Bulau,
Done as you suggested - started from scratch with a clean install patched up to 4.09, but before I d/load and install UP.1.8 I know there was a skinspack for 4.09 as well. Question; would it be OK if i installed that before I start adding mods or would it cause problems? Does the skinpack need adding or are the skins in question in UP 1.8 anyway?
I`d just like to know before I proceed.
Cheers
Raider.
Skins are optional and can be added any time. Go ahead and add the skin pack now that you have 4.09m patch installed.
Hello again, and as I`m writing this on Christmas Day, I`d like to wish everybody, wherever they are in the world, best wishes for Xmas and the New Year.
Now back to business - I am still playing the install mentioned earlier in this thread (IL2 1946 , patched, and with UP 1.8) and up to now have not encountered any serious problems. However I`d be grateful if anyone could clarify the following for me; as I`ve been out of the flightsim loop for a while!
1/ I have noticed in the main directory two folders mentioning the magic words `MODS` and `JSGME-MODS`.
I am familiar with the latter regarding the Submarine game SH3, but as far as IL2 is concerned, what are the essential differences and applications between the two?
I have read that the MODS folder is off by default, and that by simply getting rid of the subtraction symbol in front of the word switches it on (!?). I have already done this, but what exactly does this MODS folder allow me to do in relation to the JSGME-MODS folder, and how do I use it? At the moment there is just one folder called STD inside this current MODS folder , and inside that there are another three - `com`, `gui`, and `i18n`.
2/ As I`ve browsed the forum I`ve seen the term `buttons` mentioned quite a lot, and also that this plane or that plane has got its own `slot` (?) What are we talking about here?
3/ There are also 2 other folders in the main directory - DGen and NGen. Have these got anything to do with Lowengrins Dynamic Campaign Generator?
If not, could I go ahead and add the latter in my current install?
Thanks
Raider
Whoops! Don`t know where that cool smiley came from...it should read UP 1.8 !!!
Sorry.
Hallo to all this is my first post here!
I have played IL2 a few years ago, now I have taken it newl and updated to 4.09m and eveything is perfectly working with many new and nice planes, then I "discovered" your site with many new mods and planes, nice but terribly confusing with slot, buttons , UI, UP, HSFX, AAA mod. and so on.....can somebody, please, explain exactly what to do for installing the new planes?
I play normaly as single player and sometimes on the LAN with my son what can be the best solution? What I get with AAA mod pack? What about its compatibility with UI, UP, HSFX?
Thanks
Merry Chritmas and Happy New Year
