I've decided to combine as much information about the recently released Steel Beasts Pro PE Upgrade, version 2.460, into this one thread and link it from SimHQ's front page. (instead of the announcement article we had earlier, that some readers were claiming was a poorly done "preview" article, which it was not, and had uninformative and altered images.)


Steel Beast Pro PE was released back a few years ago, it has been patched and updated a number of times since, till they released a open "beta" for this new version/upgrade. We played and ran the beta since release.


Now, Spring of 2009, eSim Games has released a upgrade to Steel Beasts Pro PE. This upgrade is v2.460, and contains a ton of fixes and updates along with a number of new features, and new vehicles.


This v.2.460 is a pay for add-on/upgrade, and it can only be purchased from the eSim Games online store for home delivery. (you can not download the upgrade). The current cost for the full game (if you have never bought an earlier version with the included hardware dongle) is $125.00 US Dollars. (shipping is currently FREE, as of 4/12/09).


If you have either the original game/sim with the required hardware dongle, or playing the beta with the required hardware dongle, then all you need to do is buy the upgrade disk which is currently $30.00. or you can buy it with an updated manual for $40.00.


All you need for this upgrade is the hardware dongle, (and it needs to be licensed of course). This new upgrade is a completely new install. It is not a patch to earlier versions or the beta version. You do not have to, because it creates it's own install folder, but it is recommended you uninstall earlier versions or the beta of the game/sim. But you can leave the dongle in and installed, or not.


Simply put:

1. If you already bought the game/sim before and have the licensed dongle then all you need is the new upgrade disk. Then you install the new upgrade disk program just like a new game, it is not a patch, it does not require earlier installs.

2. If you have never owned SB Pro PE and the included hardware dongle, then it is a new purchase.




Links:

official site for info and purchase:
http://www.esimgames.com/

Official fan site, tons of info here:
http://www.steelbeasts.com/

pdf release notes, tons of info about what is in this upgrade here:
http://www.esimgames.com/downloads/SBProPE_2-460_Release_Notes.pdf


Any questions about the upgrade, whats in it, how to get it, clarifying installs etc etc, please ask here.

This thread is NOT for your opinion of the game, upgrade, DRM mode, dongle objections, complaints about the product or how you think it's all BS!

It is only for people wanting more information about getting and installing the upgrade.

Thank you.

I would recommend backing up the slideshow as this is one of a few items dropped for space reasons from the latest install.

SSnake wrote:

Sure the upgrade comes with a number of new missions including 2 sets of missions from the SteelBeasts.com contest a while back... but if your just getting into SB Pro PE and want more... below is my mission pack that I backed up a long while ago.

These are NOT missions made by me, just what I've collected from mission makers that posted over at SteelBeasts.com. My collection from my "My Scenarios" folder.

http://www.gettacticaldammit.com/Files/SB%20Pro%20PE%20Scenerios%20070107.zip

Unzip and place the mission contents into your "My Documents/eSim Games/SB/ My Scenarios folder" (or something like that.)

So does that mean if ive already bought this sim i have to pay $40 for the new upgrade what does the manual contain or is it the white one that comes with the original game.

I also have the extra dongle purchased some time ago, does that need to be upgraded for any extra cost

Yes. I want to remind you that in the past three years there have been half a dozen patches and one upgrade for free, and that since release of the original in Spring 2006 the developer said that from one day on they would need to sell any further upgrades. That day has arrived now.



The manual has been redone to cover the new additonal stuff and functions, AFAIK.



You need one active, valid dongle for the upgrade package. Whether that is your first or second, is irrelevant. Only if you have no valid dongle, you would need to buy the full version. One dongle per running copy, it is impossible to run two active copies with one dongle, since the dongle must remain attached to the machine running SBP.

The manual is very similar, just corrects a few errors, gives correct information where changes have been made and adds the new functions. Not highly detailed per vehicle, but that is what the tutorials are for.

The dongle is the physical Codemeter USB drive. The license is a piece of information contained on the dongle. You can run up to eight instances of SB ProPE over a network if you have eight licences, setting the Codemeter device to be a license server from the host machine. Each license only entitles you to run a single instance of SB, although any of the connected machines could be the one running it.

The additional licenses are inexpensive. All details are at the seller's site - eSim.com.

Thanks... Silly me I forgot that bit

There are a few missing textures from the new winter (no leaves) TIS scheme.

Go here for the hotfix.

http://www.steelbeasts.com/sbforums/showthread.php?t=13017