This is a known issue under Windows 8.1.
Your patch is correctly installed, it's normal that version number and patch number don't correspond.

Developer quotes:
"Basically Microsoft have made some significant changes in 8.1 that affect the way timers work, and that's affected our game very badly. It's taken us a while to track down as the game never technically crashes, we're getting close to a solution, once we've created that we'll test and release a patch."

"Thanks for your patience, it looks like we've tracked down the issue, we're testing a fix in house on an 8.1 machine now, I'm not sure we'll have had enough QA to release tonight (UK time). So watch out on Monday for a patch which I hope will get all the 8.1 people running."

"8.1 FIX IS LIVE!"

Unfortunately, the GOG version hasn't been updated yet. So there's nothing you can do for now, but using the unpatched version on Windows 8.1. Anyway, you can always ask the support to speed things up, because the developers have already sent the new version to GOG, at least they say so.

Must be a problem my end - still freezes when I start a game. Plays fine with the unpatched version. I'll close the post and investigate my end.

Cheers

I have the same thing. Unpatched plays fine, but I get a black screen if I try and play the patched version. On win8.1 here so I was expecting it to be the other way round.

Perhaps its not just me then!!. I'm on 8.1 64bit. Sounds like the same problem, Either it crashes during the opening video file ( video carries on, but audio loops) Or when I start a game the opening fly-by the station goes all wonky and if I press escape I see my ship but its frozen - the game hasn't crashed though as I can get to the menu screen still by pressing esc again.


Perhaps I should "un" solve this problem!!!!

This is really unfortunate, as the "Universal update (patch 6)" here on GOG is supposed to solve this issue :-/

Have you tried running it in Compatibility Mode for Windows 8, 7 or even Vista?
http://techingiteasy.wordpress.com/2013/07/08/using-compatibility-mode-in-windows-8-1/

EDIT: I'm not sure if "un-solving" works, but please feel free to do so to attract more readers.

I've got similar problems, slight flickering, white screen after a few minutes and ship AI or missions don't kick in properly sometimes leaving enemies static and the game not moving on. I messaged support 3 days ago and even left a new thread but no one seems to bother with this game at the moment. I really don't want to ask for my money back but this is ridiculous.

Same problem here, also using Windows 8.1

Black screen and Audio loops, seems like the patch is not working correctly

Maybe it's just a coincident that you use Windows 8.1. The game apparently has issues with nVidia GTX 5xx series cards or their drivers. Sometimes older drivers seem to work, but the best try would be turning down the clock of the card (especially with those versions that are overclocked by factory). Don't know if your graphics card control panel allows adjusting the core clock, but with the MSI Afterburner software you can not only overclock but also underclock several modern cards (http://event.msi.com/vga/afterburner/download.htm). Underclocking doesn't harm your hardware, you only loose some performance (and save energy and reduce temperature), but be careful with overclocking and raising core voltage. It was reported that a little higher core voltage might solve issues with the game, but as I said be careful and keep an eye on your cards temperature!

I'm still having problems with this as well. Installing the patch does not change the version number in the lower left corner of the game, still incorrectly indicating 19410, or else it's not being installer properly.

I'm rockin' Windows 8.1 with two EVGA GeForce GTX 770 FTW cards in SLI. I've tried disabling SLI too, and of course, made sure everything is up to date.

Within 10 minutes, I'm getting white screens and audio in the background.

My best guess is that this GOG-specific patch just isn't installing correctly.

Thoughts?

Have problem that seems related. Patched to the latest version, have both DLCs installed and running Windows 8.1. I start the main campaign, see two space ships coming out of some kind of station, woman talking about flight assessment test, fade to black, and then nothing. Tried reinstalling it a couple of times, and nothing seems to work. Any ideas?

same problem. this problem is unsolved... GOG please help here. the game is currently unplayalbe

Yup. I have the same problem. Just bought the game yesterday and I did install the patch. Does not work. Does not work on my windows 8.1 64 bits system. Please rush a fix as I cant play. Paid a game for nothing so far.

Hi Folks - just to let you know. I have had SSZ on my comp since my original post and never got it to work properly.

But I tried it today for the first time in ages and it seems to work okay. I admit I only tried the very beginning but that usually doesn't work.

What I did recently is to run the windows updates - there were a few in the optional settings that had some "fixes" for games issues so perhaps it has helped??



Run you windows updates and tick the optional ones and see if that works for you as well


Cheers