Sorry you haven't been able to get things working yet, bigdaddy305. I just wanted to let you know that the Amazon download version (at least in the U.S.) is not the Steam version. It's the disk-based version that they sell that requires Steam. I purchased my download from Amazon, and Steam would not let me register my SSE with them, so I had to download from Amazon directly.
Since you bought both versions, make sure that both versions aren't installed, as the Amazon one installs to c:\program files (x86)\Vstep\[shipsim extremes] (or a folder name similar to what I put in brackets, I'm not on my main pc at the moment to double-check), and the steam version would install to c:\program files (x86)\steam\steamapps\common\[ship simulator] (again, the part in the brackets may be named slightly differently and I don't have the Steam version to check the final folder name.) So they could both be installed at the same time (which may or may not cause problems, I honestly have no idea.) I would try to make sure that you uninstall both versions (use 'Programs and Features' in your control panel to remove the Amazon version, and in your Steam library, right-click on your Ship Simulator Extremes listing on the left, and choose 'delete local content' to uninstall the Steam version. Once both have been uninstalled, I would reboot. I would then try reinstalling the Steam version only, and then try running the OROCHI-CEG program I linked to in a previous post before starting the game, and see if that can't get it started for you without a black screen. Also remember that the Steam version should never be patched with patches released here on Shipsim, as Steam patches their games automatically. Alternatively, with the Amazon version, you would need to manually download and install the patches from shipshim to get the game up to date. I believe the Amazon version was build 1040 v1.2.2 on my download, and I had to install the patches from
http://www.shipsim.com/downloads/updates to get my game updated.
I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you that you get things worked out, and if you still can't get things working, try contacting Swenson as sadsid recommended, and hopefully someone from Vstep can figure out your issue so you can start enjoying your game!
Best of luck!
-George
