Are the rumors true about the next SH release/expansion?

[The Avon Lady]

Take a look at this UbiSoft SH3 thread (http://forums.ubi.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/857101043/m/6851064443).

Personally, that was my hope, especially if talking about an expansion, rather than a full blow new release.

It would be nice to get a simple yes/no head nod from the developers. :yep: :nope:

[P_Funk]

If the rumour is true then I hope it's an expansion given the fact that it would be on the SH3 engine. It would be a rip off if it was full price and entitled: "Silent Hunter 4"..

[retired1212]

Exactly. One simple Yes or No can avoid 100 pages of rumors on forums :D

[Drebbel]

Fact is that the planned realease of the SHIII expansion pack is shifted from late this yeat to "underway" and that it is still at the "planning stage".

Also fact that the team is being used for an other project.

Lately UBISoft has not confirmed that there indeed will be an expansion for SHIII.

[FesterShinetop]

I think an expansion like this would be nice. Don't know if they would sell a lot of copies with SH4 like that.
But as an expansion it sounds good and using the SH3 engine it wouldn't take too much time I reckon.

[Ula Jolly]

Definitely hoping for an expansion, like Resistance to OFP. :D

[benetofski]

.... interesting!

I can conjour up images of what the crew will look like :roll:

Imagine also the following :

100 + riding on the Wintergarten all with 'Bushnell' binoculars or Nikon cameras?

Dried Sushi hanging in the Zentrale

Tokio 'Rose' playing on the Gramaphone

Paper Lanterns hanging in the Captain's quarters

Crew playing Mai-Jong

Managing fatigue on an I-401 with 144 crew!

Remembering to 'light' the 'wick' on the 'Kerosene-Oxygen' powered torps - before firing!

Learning to shout 'Bonzi' when torp hits.



ALL THIS AND 'STARFORCE TOO? :damn:

...dont think I will bother!

[retired1212]

*cough*. There is already one expansion pack. *cough*

[Nopileo]

Hehe... Just read under a link here somewhere that some Japanese subs had manned torpedoes! :o This would be interesting to simulate in SH3 where you have a crew. For each patrol you had to choose a number of kamikaze crewmembers... :dead:

[Dave Kay]

Take a look at this UbiSoft SH3 thread (http://forums.ubi.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/857101043/m/6851064443).

Personally, that was my hope, especially if talking about an expansion, rather than a full blow new release.

It would be nice to get a simple yes/no head nod from the developers. :yep: :nope:

Agreed! This would be a welcome expansion of course (if it's true) but what say to developing the much needed wolfpack capabilities within our current SHIII? Every U-boat book I've ever read has made profound reference to it and the way it affected the war.... it's like were missing half the historical immersion not to mention the fun! And I might point out--- AoD had it...

IMHO, this is the most glaring aspect of the game the devs have neglected all along and if there is to be expansion that is what I'd like to see.... anybody else? My 2 cents worth.

Cheers!

[Farside]

i certainly hope they aren't true, i dont think i would enjoy going around the pacific in a sub, (true enough i downloaded Pacific Aces) but even then i thought to myself, this sea is far too vast, i'l never find anything here. I was half right, i found junks and aircraft.

[Ula Jolly]

i certainly hope they aren't true, i dont think i would enjoy going around the pacific in a sub, (true enough i downloaded Pacific Aces) but even then i thought to myself, this sea is far too vast, i'l never find anything here. I was half right, i found junks and aircraft.
The Atlantic ocean is also quite vast. :know: Even though the seas are nearly not comparable, I don't think a lack of action will be a problem. :yep:

[martes86]

Bah, surely, this is another useless fake rumour. :nope:

[Egan]

Sorry, I just can't see this happening. The market for a game about Japanese subs is dwarfed by those who would buy it if it was about US fleet boats or U-boats.

Right Theatre. Wrong protagonists.

[Ula Jolly]

Sorry, I just can't see this happening. The market for a game about Japanese subs is dwarfed by those who would buy it if it was about US fleet boats or U-boats.

Right Theatre. Wrong protagonists.
But what about Asian customers?

[Immacolata]

Pc games are just as much of a niche market there as here. I'd probably say if we get pacific, we get GATO?

[WFGood]

Asian customers would likely not buy a sim about Japanese submarines. There is still a great deal of animosity towards Japan from World War II in Asia. (Just look at recent events in China as an example.) Many Asians believe that Japan has not seriously come to terms with what it did, nor has it apologized or made reparations for it.
(Japanese textbooks stating that the Rape of Nanking allowed the Chinese to be liberated and live freely would tend to add credence to that claim. - source Fox News)
I also happen to agree that the market elsewhere would be very small indeed.

[SteamWake]

Hehe... Just read under a link here somewhere that some Japanese subs had manned torpedoes! :o This would be interesting to simulate in SH3 where you have a crew. For each patrol you had to choose a number of kamikaze crewmembers... :dead:

Hah ! Now thats a money (renown) sink !

Id pay for an "offical" expansion as long as it isint just a collection of the communitys efforts.

[Ula Jolly]

I meant Japanese customers as well, mark you.
While we are most quite amazed at how horrible atriocities the Nazis were capable of, that doesn't stop us from driving their submarines, or attacking passenger liners ('tis a game - thank God! :D). Has any market analysis been performed on Asia in general and Japan especially, to see if such a niche would be welcome?
Mind you, the Japanese managed to kill many more civillians than their Axis allies, but we should have to leave that out.

[Kpt. Lehmann]

I have ZERO desire to pilot Japanese subs. Just throwing in my two cents. :down:

The Germans at least, didn't (usually) make a habit of beheading/bayonetting/force-marching/starving/torturing allied POW's.

I am NO NAZI sympathizer... but the German military man still has my respect.

I usually try to avoid laying eggs... but I'll leave that one where it fell.

[Kpt. Lehmann]

... But then again.... my Grandfather served alongside the 101st Japanese-American battalion at Monte Casino. That battalion was recruited from internment camps here in the US... maybe even from Texas. (hides shamed face)

.... as a little boy... my Grandfather never allowed me to refer to them as "Japs"

After reading up on the Battle History of the 36th Infantry Division (My Grandfather's unit)... I began to understand why he felt that way. Many men of the 36th owe their lives to the 101st... and I find it quite unfair to even call them "Japanese-Americans."

.... they should just be called "Americans"

NOTHING is black and white.... and I've said wayyy too much.

[Sarge McSarge]

The Germans at least, didn't (usually) make a habit of beheading/bayonetting/force-marching/starving/torturing allied POW's.
Try telling that to the 2/3 of all Russian POW's that did not live to return to Russia.

Back to the topic. If it was set in the pacific I would need some better way of traveling the vast distances from base to patrol area and back. Also I like the idea of being able to play both sides and even a few special ops missions for variety. i.e deliver/pick up shore parties, shell that railroad bridge etc.

Sarge

[August]

I want to rescue George Bush from the waters of Chi Chi Jima.

[Shadow9216]

Read "Thunder Below", the autobiography of Gene Fluckey (USS Barb). He landed saboteurs to blow up a railroad bridge, shelled an island (or two) into submission, and carried out the first sub-launched rocket attacks on Japanese soil. Great read.

It'd be a blast to carry out some of those missions!

[Kpt. Lehmann]

Sorry I got a little sideways earlier... broke my own rules.

It might be pretty cool to crew an American sub of "The Silent Service."

..... as long as they (UBISOFT DEV TEAM) fix most of the big bugs still laying about.

The save-game routines and AI traffic first and foremost.

Fix those two and I'm in.

It would be really cool to watch/ support the Island hopping campaign.

[The_Pharoah]

Try telling that to the 2/3 of all Russian POW's that did not live to return to Russia.
Sarge

lol 1 - 2/3 = 1/3 ~ 33% that made it back to the USSR. How about the 10% that made it back to Germany from gulags? :o

anyway, thats history!

As far as playability is concerned, I wouldn't mind a Pacific version. Heck, I wouldn't mind if I could actually sail around cape horn and into the Pacific ocean! has anyone tried to do that?

[scrapser]

I really hope they're not serious about a Japanese sub expansion pack. To me, that would be the dumbest move since Hasbro released "Gunship!" I mean if they want to guarantee low sales, go right ahead. This has nothing to do with the validity of the Japanese part of history being simulated, it's just not going to be a big hit in the sim community.

Aside from the sub that was sank during the Pearl Harbor attack, what other event involving a Japanese sub stands out in anyone's memory?

scrapser

[TLAM Strike]

Aside from the sub that was sank during the Pearl Harbor attack, what other event involving a Japanese sub stands out in anyone's memory? Shelling of a California oil refinery! :yep:

… yea yea I know you meant the Indianapolis… ;)

[rik007]

The only thing that stands out in the pacific that the japanese forgot to install a convoi system. The American had a happy time throughout the pacific campaign just torping lonely merchants.

[Ula Jolly]

I think it would be fun because it's:
Niche
Original, and at that
Daring.

*NOD nod* :yep:

[satmax]

I have ZERO desire to pilot Japanese subs. Just throwing in my two cents. :down:

The Germans at least, didn't (usually) make a habit of beheading/bayonetting/force-marching/starving/torturing allied POW's.

I am NO NAZI sympathizer... but the German military man still has my respect.

I usually try to avoid laying eggs... but I'll leave that one where it fell.

This is probably the most ignorant thing I've ever read. Sorry buddy, but reading this looks to me like the Holocaust was okay because it's wasn't done by the Japanese.

Let it be known that our American soldiers weren't all that heartwarming toward the prisoners they took, German OR Japanese. Not everybody is righteous during war.

But you know what, that darn war happened over 50 years ago. This is a GAME where we simulate EQUIPMENT ONLY and leave the BS politics where it belongs, in the history books.

I'd be happy to sail in a Japanese I-Boat just because it was different technology at the time. We should all be curious, those who are into the submarine culture and not refrain ourselves from playing a game simply because of rotten history. These games don't simulate atrocities so why hold a grudge?

[Gammel]

I´ve mixed emotions about a pacific theatre,
but it would be so cool to have a japanese
speaking crew. I like the sound of the language very much, of course i don´t understand just a little bit.
Anyone here played the closecombat mod "okinawa"?
You can play with the japanese forces, and they use their native language. Very nice mod.

If UBI would ever make make a pacific addon where you can play on japanese side,
i hope they use good speakers for the u-boat crew.

But that won´t happen. If they ever make it you´ll only play on american side...

Playing a Dutch sub would be intresting also (of course the crew have to speak dutch)

Did any dutch subs operate in the pacific theatre? Don´t know but i guess...

I ´d only vote for a pacific addon if you can play both sides and all nations involved. (hehe, yes UBI that means some work, but you want money for it)

[Mouseketeer]

Aside from the sub that was sank during the Pearl Harbor attack, what other event involving a Japanese sub stands out in anyone's memory? Shelling of a California oil refinery! :yep:

… yea yea I know you meant the Indianapolis… ;)

and sinking Wasp

[Shadow9216]

There were quite a few Dutch and British boats in the Pacific. Some of them even achieved notable results- a British sub sank the IJN cruiser Takao I believe.

As for Japanese submarines, they did sink a carrier or two, several destroyers, the Indianapolis...but for the most part they were wasted in Japanese attempts to bring about the "decisive fleet action" the entire navy had been geared toward. As a result, they were mismanaged, misused, and ultimately wasted- most of them ending up as supply boats.

[Gammel]

Thanks for the info, Shadow9216!
So we have:

-The Americans
-The Japanese
-The Dutch
-The British

Are there even more? Perhaps the Australians? Did they used subs?

Wow, if ubi would make such an addon, where you can take command of subs of all the above nations + modelled interior for each sub + crew speaking their native language i ´d gladfully pay full price for it.

That would not be such hard work for ubi as it sounds, they already have the gamecode. Most would be artists work (graphics, sounds).
Of course the should try to improve the gamecode and eliminate some known bugs and limitations, but most should be easy fixing.
Also they won´t have to care much about the campaignfiles, i know that is a time expensive work. A very basic Pacific campaign (without bugs, please) would be enough as a workbase for the exellent modders here. They´ve already proofed what is possible.

[cmdrk]

... But then again.... my Grandfather served alongside the 101st Japanese-American battalion at Monte Casino. That battalion was recruited from internment camps here in the US... maybe even from Texas. (hides shamed face)

.... as a little boy... my Grandfather never allowed me to refer to them as "Japs"

After reading up on the Battle History of the 36th Infantry Division (My Grandfather's unit)... I began to understand why he felt that way. Many men of the 36th owe their lives to the 101st... and I find it quite unfair to even call them "Japanese-Americans."

.... they should just be called "Americans"

NOTHING is black and white.... and I've said wayyy too much.
Have you ever seen the movie 'Go For Broke'?

[Shadow9216]

The 44th RCT- the Nisei- were one of (if not) the most highly decorated units in the US Army during WW2. Their assault on Monte Cassino is legendary, as is their rescue of a Texas National Guard unit- for which they were named "Honorary Texans". This at a time when many of their friends and family were being held in internment camps in the US.

[scrapser]

A few here have posted some other memorable events involving Japanese subs (the Indianapolis, the Wasp, and the off shore attack on the oil refinery). So there was some action in the Pacific...but...not anything comparable to the U-boats or the American sub fleet in terms of scale or importance in influencing the thrust of the the war effort. This is generally what I meant.

Sure it's a niche and my hats off to the developers if this is something they want to do. I just think it would be more appropriate as an inclusion to something more substantial...like the U.S. Silent Service with the option of piloting a Japanese, Dutch, or British sub on the side. To me, that would make an excellent Silent Hunter 4.

scrapser

[Gunfighter34]

I agree with Scrapser on this. There were really only two highly consequential submarine campaigns in the war. One was the Battle of the Atlantic and one was the US submarine campaign against Japan. The third most important group in terms of tonnage sunk was the British submarine force.

Japanese boats, while very interesting technologically and as a curiosity, didn't have a major impact on the war, probably in large part because of poor doctrine and mismanagement. The IJN's Mahanian doctrinal roots led them to conclude that I-Boats were most useful as pickets and scouts for the big surface battle groups, with the alternate mission of attacking Allied warships to weaken the enemy for the "decisive battle". Necessity brought about by the American "island hopping" campaigns then forced them to use a lot of their boats as cargo vessels to keep beleaguered garrisons alive once they became unable to supply them by conventional transport.

To me it has nothing to do with politics, it's simply a matter of pragmatism. I'd personally rather see Ubi expand on the Atlantic theme by including the remaining U-Boat types, some kind of wolfpack implementation, more merchant variety, a little bit better campaign, better save system, and maybe expand the thing into the Indian Ocean and flesh out the Med campaign a little more, perhaps even throwing in Italian boats.

But if they're going to shift to the Pacific, I think you have to build it on the US Navy and then add the rest of the Allied boats--British, Dutch, Australian, New Zealand--before throwing in the Japanese.

[Nopileo]

Since Americans throw rice at weddings, do Asians throw hamburgers?

:o

[The_Pharoah]

Aside from the sub that was sank during the Pearl Harbor attack, what other event involving a Japanese sub stands out in anyone's memory? Shelling of a California oil refinery! :yep:

… yea yea I know you meant the Indianapolis… ;)

OMG yes, the sinking of Indianapolis. :o I had a quick read of the book - talk about a buffet a'la shark!! :o Those poor buggers.

[Ula Jolly]

As I see it, the IJN gave their subs orders to conduct warfare on enemy shipping with individuals deployed here and there. At some places they would have milk-cows in terms of tankers, so Lord knows when they'd return to port.
Now, compare this with the subs of the DKM. I think such a mod would add a whole bunch of variation, and good variation at that! No longer could you return to safe haven in a matter of days. The scenery would be completely different, and to an extent, so would your mission!
If the game also implemented some way to inform you of current "Hot zones" (Guadalcanal, Bismarck with Rabaul, etc), I think it could be good.

[Mouseketeer]

Sure it's a niche and my hats off to the developers if this is something they want to do. I just think it would be more appropriate as an inclusion to something more substantial...like the U.S. Silent Service with the option of piloting a Japanese, Dutch, or British sub on the side. To me, that would make an excellent Silent Hunter 4.

scrapser

:yep: And to etend the British submarines option: how about taking a British sub on patrol form Malta, Alexandria or Gibraltar and trying to sink some merchants with supplies for Africa Korps? Or trying to sink a Vittorio Veneto battleship? Not to mention that I'll be very happy to sail with Sokół or Dzik under Polish flag from Malta :lol:

[NZ_Wanderer]

Points to this new thread :D :D :D

http://subsim.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=41535