Hi all,

I've never played Skyrim before and there seems to be a fair amount of issues with it on the Xbox! However, I'm going to ignore that and carry on anyway, so I will be getting it within the next couple of weeks

What I really need to know is what patches do I need before playing Skyrim for the first time (as in do I have to download just one, or do i need to download a few in order of patch versions etc)? I can gain access to Xbox Live to download the required patches, but will be playing offline from Disc.

I'd appreciate any advice,

Thanks

CK

If it's anything like the PS3, the most recent patch contains all prior patches, so once you're prompted to download 1.9, that's all you need.

Edit: Oh, and welcome to the forums. Here there be http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r105/Enoil/DarkFishyStick.jpg.

Thanks REL_Dovahkin - for the advice, the welcome and most of all the fishy sticks

By the way I've read that Skyrim Legendary edition has the 1.9 patch already installed. Does anyone know if it's the same with Skyrim Classic too (both 2013). I presume it does.

One last question (for now!). Is it actually worth installing patch 1.9, or does it cause more issues than it fixes?

Thanks

If you are connected to the internet you will have no choice but to install the update/patch. If memory serves me right you are not able to play a game while being connected to the internet without installing the update/patch. In regards to your other question I am not sure if it does come with the most recent title update pre-installed, I doubt it. Generally it is to your benefit to install title updates, though they can cause issues, it has been known to happen. If it does simply remove the title update, clear your cache, and re-install the title update.

The LE does come with 1.9 so you can install the LE without any online capabilities and you will receive the most current update. If you choose to install even one addon from the addon disc you will not have a choice on 1.9, you will get it.

The only way you can avoid 1.9 is to not install any of the addons and never connect to the internet on your Xbox. You would have to play Skyrim as it was before the first patch and/or addon. There is no reason to do this though because 1.9 has its issues but so does the entire game in general, regardless.

WARNIG; If you do not have any online capabilities with your Xbox then you can never clear the system cache after installing the addon pack because for some reason when you first install the LE addon pack, 1.9 gets stored in your system content cache (just like a smaller patch does) instead of where it usually goes in your Xbox memory (due to its size, 26mb) and therefore gets cleared when you clear the system cache, after which you will be prompted to reinstall it (if you are online). After you reinstall it you will have the typical 26mb title update file in your memory and because of it's size and placement it will never be cleared by clearing the cache again.

You cannot play Skyrim with any addons if you don't have 1.9 installed.

I say this because you have "offline" as a hash tag. If you have the LE you can play the most recent updated version of Skyrim with all the addons without ever being online, just never clear the system cache like I just said.

Now, if this is your situation and you feel you have to clear the game cache because you are having issues or whatever then do this; hold down LB, RB and X during startup (from the moment you launch Skyrim all the way up until you see "START" hold those buttons down the entire time) this will clear your Skyrim game cache only, it will not delete 1.9 like clearing the system cache through the Xbox setting panel will because clearing the Skyrim Game cache only will not clear the system content cache which is where 1.9 is placed for whatever reason after you first install the LE.

In case you don't know. Clearing the system cache through the Xbox setting panel will clear all of both game cache and content cache on your system (as well as any updates that are 6mb or smaller) while clearing game cache during startup will only clear the cache for that specific game.

Thanks Odariz.. I've been checking out forums for Skyrim for the last couple of days now, and all I'm seeing is lots of p*ssed off gamers. I think I'll spend my money on something else! Shouldn't have to go to the point of clearing the cache and tidying up dropped weapons, etc, etc, etc. Shame, as Skyrim 'looked' like a good RPG.

It is unfortunate but picking up weapons, shields or other items that drop off of NPC's you kill is not that hard at all, it certainly isn't a chore really and clearing the game cache or system cache is about 1-2 seconds of pure easy.

You shouldn't let it discourage you because Skyrim is very worth it. I know I would not put up with it if it was any other game, though.

Hmmm, I've slept on it and decided I'll give it a go. I'm thinking I'll start with the original edition though (as you have mentioned in a previous post, both editions have their quirks!!). At least that way, if I like it (and I probably will), I have the choice of installing the 1.9 patch (or 'update' as MS like to call them for the Xbox) at a later date. I never play Xbox Live anyway. Although I do have access to the internet via my Xbox. There are couple of things I would like to know, if you are able to help please?

1. Ignoring the original 2011 editions 'quirks', is it possible to reach Lvl 81, or are there some real game breakers in there, which make this impossible? Although that situation can't exist can it? Not being able to finish a game due to bugs!! Never come across it before.

2. Do you (in your opinion) believe that's it from a patch/support point of view, now Legendary had been released, bearing in mind all Three DLC's have been included in the package? I.e are Bethesda going to try and fix 1.9 (as it has obviously caused some issues), or do you think that's it now, they will move on to other things?

On a positive note it was developed for the PC, so us 'console' gamers shouldn't grumble about it too much I suppose, it's not like it costs ￡45 for the original edition either!

I'm not too fussed about the whole exceeding Lvl 81 thing, I just want to know if you can get to 81 first!!

Thanks for your replies so far. I really appreciate your help/advice. I don't mean to whinge, you know what it's like, having high expectations for a game, then playing it and thinking sh*t, what was all the hype about dude!!

Cheers,

CK

These are just my thoughts on the questions asked above.

1)

If you get the 2011 edition (not the legendary edition) you can still bypass the level 81 cap, however, you will need to install the 1.9 update from Xbox Live, since it is what adds this feature to the leveling system.

You may be able to finish the game without the patch, but it is highly likely that you will run into game-breaking glitches at some point. For example, a severe glitch which was fixed with one of the patches along the way, known to many as the "Nirnroot glow stack bug," eventually can render your game unplayable due to the glows from the nirnroot plant not clearing up when a cell (game area) resets, which bloats your save game file. Prior to the patch that fixed this bug (which was 1.6), every one of my games eventually became unplayable due to the game freezing every time I entered a given area. This was very common in areas which were related to the main quest, civil war quests, side quests, etc..

Skyrim is unique in that it is unlike most other games due to the massive amount of content in the game (plus the DLCs). That being said, this very well could become the first game you play that you can't finish due to a major bug or multiple bugs.

2)

As for Bethesda fixing issues caused by the latest patch (1.9) like lip-synching, messed up facial animations and so on; nobody knows for certain whether there will be another official patch (which would be 1.10). Most people tend to think that Bethesda is done supporting Skyrim, even though there has been no "official announcement" to confirm one way or the other.

This is just my opinion, but if you really want to enjoy Skyrim, I would highly recommend installing the latest patch despite the bugs it adds. I think that having a "mostly playable" game is much better than spending multiple hours playing the game only to find out later that you can't finish the game due to major bugs that are fixed with the patch. Also, one other thing: be sure and make a lot of saves, because you will encounter quest related and other types of bugs in the game (even if the 1.9 patch is installed). You can back the old saves up to a USB or other external storage, in case you need to revert to a previous save later on.

Ok, so the 1.9 patch is required to go past Lvl 81 (shame about the courier though). Would clearing the cache/turning off autosave help here (for the original edition, not with the 1.9 patch added)? I tend to only keep 3 or 4 game saves for each game on my Xbox anyway. No idea why, just a habit I've got into, maybe an OCD thing or something! Hmm, never really thought of it before... Anyway, whatever...

...I suppose what I should really be asking is does patch 1.9 actually work, or does it cause more issues than is resolves?! if it helps to allow the game to be finished (from a main quest point of view then cool).

I REALLY want to play Skyrim, but can't see the point if the main quest cannot be completed.

One other thing, if the 1.9 patch is large (which I am led to believe it is, 20+ MB) and stays in the Xbox cache (even though the cache is cleared), I'm thinking it should still clear some of the cached data. A bit like clearing the temp files on a PC, the main game data will still be there, but additional data should be deleted. I think then it would just be a case of waiting for a few minutes on start up, to allow the game to load fully. This, in theory, should then help the game run smoother maybe? At the end of the day as long as there are work arounds then I'm up for getting it.

What if I was to install the original edition, played up to level 14 for example, THEN installed 1.9? Would I still need to create a new character/game? I suppose I would, as I'd imagine the patch needs to be 'active' from the beginning of the game.

Dude, this sh*t is frustrating!! Skyrim is going to drive me up the wall! I could end up with some real anger issues here!!!

P.S.

Do you think Bethesda intentionally put the link to the MentalHealth.gov site below, or is it a legal requirement?!!

It's ok Djinn De'xarnell has already answered my Q re the game cache issue etc (should have re-read my post!). So it looks like LE is the best option, overall.

Wish me luck and if it doesn't work I'll be starting up a fishy sticks business with REL_Dovahkin instead! Or visiting the link at the bottom of the page, or possibly both...

Btw. Does anyone know if I install the LE edition & 1.9 patch only, play the game, then install the DLC's, will this have an impact on the game? Would it make the game more stable by not installing the DLC's?

Thanks

Well, apparently, I may be a bit confused on exactly what clearing system cache vs. clearing game cache does. It drives me crazy because Xbox does not have any official sources that explain it.

Lets just say that clearing system cache clears system content cache, like updates that are 6mb or less (or updates that are just placed in odd places like we find with 1.9 on the LE), and temporary game files and data files.

While clearing game cache clears the game cache for a particular game only.

I just do both functions from time to time anyways.

I was correct on everything I said about the LE though, Craig.

If you want to have a complete, updated version of Skyrim with all addons but you don't want to have your Xbox online and/or install it piece meal off of Xbox live then install the LE version (game disc and addon disc)((you don't have to install the game off of the game disc, you can just play it off the disc if you want)) and never clear the system cache, clear game cache only.

If you do feel the need to clear system cache you will lose 1.9 and have to go online to reinstall, once you reinstall 1.9 off of Xbox live it will never be deleted by clearing system cache again because now you will see it is in your memory as a 26mb title patch file.