Update 01/03:  Harpoon 4 is now in the beta stage and progressing quickly, says a source at Ubi-soft. The game will feature realistic ship modeling and the full world map.

 

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Update 12/02:  Some fellows in Canada are cooking up a new subsim; this one features an Ohio class SSBN nuclear missile sub. So far all they have is a website and an idea but look for big things to come.

BOOMER BY

FROZEN LUNG

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Update 12/02:  It happened! A whiz named "Ice" in Houston has cooked up a bonafide SHII Scenario Editor. Check it out

KORALLE 1.0 SH2/DC

SCENARIO EDITOR
 

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Update 11/02:  Sea Dogs II preview at PC Games
 

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Update 11/02:  New items on a couple new subsims plus the Silent Hunter II multiplayer patch

Red Octopus SC Campaign

Steel Tide: New Subsim

Successful PM Beta!

 

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Update 9/27:  PRESS RELEASE

TESSERACTION GAMES LAUNCHES ENIGMA:RISING TIDE on GIGEX

Game studio’s first game now available at Gigex

EUGENE, OR (September 27, 2002) - Tesseraction Games, Inc. announced today its limited edition offline version of ENIGMA: RISING TIDE, the upcoming massively-multiplayer cinematic naval combat game, is now available for purchase from Gigex, an internet-based product distributor. The game’s price of $20 will include, upon registration, a free 30-day subscription to the multiplayer version of the game. Locations and links can be found on the ENIGMA: RISING TIDE home page - www.warfleet.net

The offline version of ENIGMA: RISING TIDE provides players with thirty missions and two campaigns, along with a wealth of submarines, corvettes, and destroyers in which to set sail on the game’s breathtaking virtual ocean. Features include Voice Command and Control, an intuitive, easy-to-learn interface, an original musical score by Tim Clarke, and realistic ocean effects that create a totally new tactical dimension never before seen in computer gaming. According to Tesseraction Games, players will find the offline version excellent training for the massively multiplayer online game currently under development. "Players will find a real tactical challenge in ENIGMA’s offline missions," said Tesseraction Games President Kelly Asay. "We’ve always said we’re shooting for the chess players in the gaming community, and this game provides that kind of thinking man’s gameplay in abundance."

"If you want to be competitive when the massively multiplayer version is released, you’ll want the offline version," saidAsay. "At the same time, the more casual gamer gets to sample the thrill of naval combat offline before deciding whether to dive into the much larger online persistent world." Tesseraction Games continues development on its flagship project, the massively-multiplayer online version of ENIGMA:

 

Tesseraction Games releases ENIGMA: RISING TIDE Soundtrack

Computer game’s cinematic musical score now available

EUGENE, OR (September 27, 2002) - Tesseraction Games, Inc. announced today that the soundtrack for ENIGMA: RISING TIDE has been nominated for a Grammy. The Enigma: Rising Tide Soundtrack lands in select retail outlets on Friday, September 27th and will be available from the Internet and local record outlets soon after.  The soundtrack, composed and arranged by Tim Clarke of Score! Studios in Eugene, provides signature music for the  game, as well as tracks devoted to evoking the look and feel of the game’s three factions. Themes include the  magisterial German Empire, the heroic League of Free Nations, and the bold United States, as well as mood pieces for  combat, suspense, victory, and defeat.  "It’s an incredible piece of work," said Tesseraction Games Lead Designer Alex Jimenez, who worked closely with  Clarke on the music’s development. "There are moments where the music swells and you feel you heart just leap into  your throat. All the great movie scores grab you that way."  "It’s a great honor to be nominated for a Grammy," said Tesseraction President Kelly Asay. "Tim is a very talented  composer, and we’re proud to have the good fortune to work with him. He’s really added immeasurably to the game."  Mr. Clarke was excited to do this type of work, according to Asay. "He’s a natural talent for the kind of cinematic score  we were looking for. Discussions are currently underway for the production of symphonic length, fully orchestral compositions based on the faction themes, expanding substantially on what’s in the game."

 

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Update 9/02:  PRESS RELEASE

Tesseraction Games to release offline version of ENIGMA: RISING TIDE

Cinematic naval combat game expands to offer an off-line experience.

EUGENE, OR (September 12, 2002) - Tesseraction Games, Inc. announced today it will release a limited edition offline version of ENIGMA: RISING TIDE, its upcoming massively-multiplayer cinematic naval combat game. The release is scheduled for the end of September 2002. ENIGMA: RISING TIDE will be available for purchase over the Internet and will include, upon registration, a free 30-day subscription to the multiplayer game. In addition, a playable demo of the off-line version of ENIGMA: RISING TIDE will be made widely available.

"We’ve received a large number of requests over the last few months for an offline version of ENIGMA," said Tesseraction Games President Kelly Asay. "Given the strength of that demand, this release makes perfect sense for Tesseraction Games. Our AI runs military strategy like a pro, and an offline version of ENIGMA: RISING TIDE lets us offer the community a taste of what we have in the works for the larger multiplayer game." "The offline version makes for a fun, suspenseful experience," he said. "Plus you’re going to need the training if you want to be competitive when the online version arrives." According to Asay, ENIGMA customers will get Training Missions, Quick Patrols, and two replayable campaigns, one as a surface ship commander, one as a submarine commander. In addition, the offline version includes Voice Command and Control, an intuitive, easy-to-learn interface, and a realtime ocean from Arete’ Entertainment that adds a totally new dimension to tactics.

Tesseraction Games continues development on its flagship product, the massively-multiplayer online version of ENIGMA: RISING TIDE, which has been re-targeted for a Holiday release. ENIGMA: RISING TIDE is an exciting, massively-multiplayer game featuring fast-paced ship-to-ship battles with very high player densities. The multiplayer game software will be available free-of-charge, and following an initial free trial period, players will register and pay a monthly subscription fee. In addition to tracking its persistent storyline, Tesseraction Games plans to release upgrades and expansions every three months for the life of the game, also at no charge to subscribers. More information on the game can be found at www.warfleet.net.

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Update 9/02:  Press release on Enigma!

Tesseraction's Enigma: Rising Tide FEATURED at THE INTEL Developer Forum

Cinematic 3D Naval Combat Game to Preview with the Latest Intel® Desktop Boards

INTEL DEVELOPER FORUM, SAN JOSE, Calif., September 9, 2002 - Tesseraction Games, Inc. announced today that it will distribute a demo of its upcoming 3D naval combat game, Enigma: Rising Tide at the Intel Developer Forum from September 9-12 in San Jose, CA.

"We’re very pleased to be working with a company of Intel’s caliber and global reputation," said Tesseraction President Kelly Asay. "It’s a great opportunity for us to show off our game, and the sound technology lets us implement some very interesting features for Enigma: Rising Tide."

Enigma: Rising Tide is an exciting, massively multiplayer game featuring fast-paced ship-to-ship battles with very high player densities. Enigma utilizes high quality programs from Intrinsic Graphics, Arete Entertainment and Cybernet Systems. The game software will be available free-of-charge, including an initial free trial period, followed by a monthly subscription fee. Tesseraction Games will provide ongoing tracking of its persistent storyline, as well as game upgrades and expansions.

Enigma players will be able to enjoy fully integrated voice communication and voice-activated command and control of their ships. In order to enjoy the expanded voice functionality within the game, players need technologies such as the SoundMAX Cadenza Digital Audio System from Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI), and the complimentary SoundMAX Superbeam Microphone from Andrea Technologies with proprietary noise cancellation technology. The SoundMAX system is now available on most Intel® desktop boards.

"This technology adds a new dimension to our vision of cinematic naval combat," said Asay. "By allowing players to issue verbal commands directly to the game, it takes the immersion factor to a totally new level."

Enigma: Rising Tide will unfold a detailed backstory in which three Great Power "Empires" wage war against each other using submarines, destroyers, destroyer escorts, corvettes, tankers, merchantmen, and aircraft. The game is designed to be action-filled and easy-to-learn while providing depth of strategy and cinematic cat-and-mouse suspense. Eventually, player actions and decisions will steer the direction of the alternate history story and the evolution of the online war.

The Intel Developer Forum (IDF), Fall 2002 is the premier event for hardware and software developers seeking important technology insight and a competitive advantage. Highlights include keynote speeches providing vision and technology direction from Intel top executives; nearly 200 hours of lectures, sessions and labs; and a technology showcase featuring new technologies, developments and initiatives from leading companies and industry groups. IDF conferences in 2002 are themed, "Advancing the Digital Universe." Visit www.intel.com/idf/us for more on IDF Fall 2002 conferences.

 

About Intrinsic Graphics®

Intrinsic Graphics provides developers and artists a powerful, more efficient way to create games, and to do it across multiple systems. The company’s flagship product, Intrinsic Alchemy®, is a high-performance software platform for delivering real-time 3D applications on next-generation game consoles, personal computers, advanced TV set-top boxes and future generation handheld devices. Backed by some of the world's leading gaming and graphics companies including Sony Computer Entertainment, Intrinsic Graphics is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with offices in Europe and Japan. For more information, visit the Intrinsic Graphics web site at www.intrinsic.com.

About Arete Entertainment, Inc.

Arete Entertainment, Inc, established in 1996, specializes in providing 3D computer graphics software for photo-realistic simulation and rendering of natural environments and pyrotechnic FX to the entertainment/visual FX industry. AEI's simulation and rendering products are available across a broad range of graphics platforms including Maya, Softimage 3D|Extreme, Lightwave, 3D Studio Max, Electric Image and After Effects. AEI's software products have won numerous industry awards and have been used to generate digital imagery for many feature films such as "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone", "Cast Away", "Titanic", and "Pearl Harbor". For more information please visit http://www.areteis.com

About Cybernet Systems

Cybernet Systems Corp. is a profitable, rapidly growing technology-based company focused on developing products that combine software and Internet intelligence with human-machine interaction. Cybernet has successfully leveraged its wealth of intellectual property to bring force feedback technology to market in the form of game controllers and joysticks, introduced a line of Linux-based Internet appliance software, and launched a PC game enhancement software product. The company continues to innovate in the areas of Internet medical systems, large-scale distributed network training, gaming and gesture control interface technology. Additional information on Cybernet Systems is available on the web at www.cybernet.com.

About Tesseraction Games, Inc.

Tesseraction Games is a recent entry to the high-tech computer game industry, focused on creating innovative interactive entertainment software for the global online gaming market. The company employs a 15-person team with over sixty years’ experience in video game and software development. The team includes veterans of "AAA" titles such as Tribes 2, Super Street Fighter 2, X-Men, Trophy Bass Fishing, Dungeons & Dragons, and Darkstalkers. The company is based in Eugene, Oregon. For more information, please visit www.tesseractiongames.com.

 

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Update 8/02:  Americans, get in front of your TVs Saturday, September 21st at 8:00 pm and then again at 12:00 midnight, the History Channel will be premiering "A Century of Silent Service"  - produced by folks at Sonalysts!

A Century of Silent Service hosted by President Jimmy Carter, a former submariner, is a story about submarines told by the men who served aboard them. The program traces the history of the submarine force from the gasoline fueled Holland to the nuclear powered submarines of the 21st century. Submarine admirals, officers, and enlisted men describe their experiences, from the sinking of the Squalus and WWII patrols to the cruise missile attacks on Kosovo. They tell a remarkable story of courage and sacrifice - the story of "A Century of Silent Service.

 

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Update 8/02:  Assorted naval sim news coming at ya!

• SUBSIM Enigma Preview - We play it and we can live to crow!

• Mille-Sabords Enigma Preview - French

• Enigma: Rising Tide Preview at Homeladfed. Looks pretty good, especially for a beta
• Sea Dogs II  has launched their website and forums.
• New Enigma Screens at Action Vault
• Midway - Naval Battles  -  another interesting MP game on the horizon.

 

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Update 7/02:  Enigma: Rising Tide, the upcoming online naval game from Tesseraction Games is nearing beta status. Kelly Asay, President of Tesseraction Games, Inc. sent us some new screenshots of the action. Check the Enigma Status Page for more. And keep an eye on the Subsim Enigma Radio Room forum for some big news!

 

 

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Update 6/02: Gamespy features some pretty good articles about the big two upcoming naval sims, Sea Dogs II and Enigma: Rising Tide.

Sea Dogs II - Gamespy

ENIGMA - Gamespy

 

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Update 6/02:  Mike Hense supplies us with updates in the world of independently developed subsim projects.

 

Type VII-C Project http://w1.510.telia.com/~u51008935/VIIC/The_VIIc_project.html
From: "Leif Andersson"

A couple of weeks ago I worked intensively at the sim struggling with the TDC. The main problem being that I'm still not quite sure of what is was capable of. And after rewriting the algorithm three times without exactly knowing what to aim for it started to feel like a hopeless situation. So I decided to take a couple of weeks break from the computer and do something else for a change. Also the summer has finally arrived which means less time at the computer and more time spent on kayaking and polishing my Triumph Spitfire 
 

 

Linux SSN
From: Rick McDaniel

Here's the latest on linuxssn port: - I've been working on the radar for the past two weeks. Instead of the static screen, it now plots the radar blips at the correct bearing and range. The range scale works like a charm. I do have to figure out how to do the radar sweep effect. I' ll attach a screenshot. - My next goal is the ESM. - Michael is working on TMA. - When the TMA is done, we will start on Fire Control and the weapons. We would like to shoot something. - We picked up another developer, so now we are three.

 
A very realistic looking control room station panel from Linux SSN.

 

 

Nuclear Sub Force: Cold War Patrol http://home.att.net/~subbase1/
From: Mike 'Red Ocktober' Hense

Well, I've spent the last 2 months going back and forth trying to find the perfect development environment for cross platform development of the sim (Win/PC and Macintosh), and learning the ins and outs of 3D Graphics Systems and APIs. I've licensed the Torque Engine from Garage Games, but due to the lengthy learning curve, I may wind up using a mix of C and BlitzBasic3D for the Windows version, and a mix of C and RealBasic on the Macintosh in order to get the first release out on or close to schedule. The Torque Engine, once it is mastered, is planned to be used in subsequent versions of the sim. I also am looking at a pre release based on a WWII Fleet Sub as a precursor to the Nuclear Sub version of the sim... a lil simpler test of some fundamentals that I need to establish.

Just some testing in the Torque Engine (sub in view provided courtesy 'Ramius') just to see if it will do a sub sim.

Ok... so there you have it... The guys are still hard at work!! The Best Sub Sims Ever are coming!!!

--Mike
 

Read more Indie Subsim News here.

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Update 5/02:  May 22-23; From the LA Convention Center -- In the way of naval sims, pickings are slimmer than ever.

Sea Dogs II -- Bethesda invited Subsim into a private screening of Sea Dogs 2 running a demo on a large screen monitor. Producer Joel Breton asked me if I had played Sid Meiers' Pirates. "Well, we want to take Pirates and make it look a whole lot better." And look better, it does. SD2 packs all the visual brilliance of a big budget Hollywood film. The ship models improve on the original's well-rendered sailing ships by adding more texture to the sails, richer grain in the wood areas, and more detail to the cannons and rigging.

Read more E3 2002 News here.

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Update 5/02:  Tesseraction Games announces successful Alpha multiplayer for "Enigma: Rising Tide"

With Alpha milestone complete, preparations for Beta signup underway Eugene, OR (May 14, 2002)
Tesseraction Games announced today it has reached its Alpha multiplayer milestone for ENIGMA: RISING TIDE, the alternate history, World War II-era, cinematic naval combat game to be released this summer. "It’s incredibly gratifying to be sinking each other," said Tesseraction Games President Kelly Asay. "Even in its early stages, this game is addicting."

The Alpha successfully permitted over twenty ships to engage each other on the open ocean, and included the use of deck guns, torpedoes, and depth charges. When the game is released, thousands of players will be able to wage war in the open seas. ENIGMA: RISING TIDE is designed to provide exciting, massively-multiplayer, ship-to-ship battles with very high player densities. The game software will be available free-of-charge, and following an initial free trial period, players will register and pay a monthly subscription fee. In addition to tracking its persistent storyline, Tesseraction Games plans to release upgrades and expansions every three months for the life of the game, also at no charge to subscribers. Beta signup will begin shortly after E3.

ENIGMA: RISING TIDE will unfold a detailed backstory in which three Great Power "Empires" wage war against each other using submarines, destroyers, destroyer escorts, corvettes, tankers, merchantmen, and aircraft. The game is designed to be action-filled and easy-to-learn while providing depth of strategy and cinematic cat-and-mouse suspense.  Eventually, player actions and decisions will steer the direction of the alternate history story and the evolution of the online war.

Intrinsic Graphics web site at www.intrinsic.com.

 

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Update 4/02:  Subsim's sister website, the Wolfpack League/Eagle League (part of the Sub Club) concludes its first month of trial multiplayer battles. The tonnage leaders and overall highest rated skippers now have something to brag about. Another round of STAT games (games recorded in the database) will begin May 3. 

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Update 4/02:   Italian website inizioPartita inteviews our very own Frank "Torpex" Kulick. Read it here (in Italian!).

 

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Update 4/02:   Reviews are coming in for Destroyer  Command and it looks like rough seas ahead. Still no news on the release of the SH2 MP patch.

SimHQ DC Review

WarSim.net DC Review

ADREN VAULT DC REVIEW

SL Central DC REVIEW

GAMEZONE  DC REVIEW

GAMESPOT  DC REVIEW

W-A-W DC REVIEW

 

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Update 3/02:   Tesseraction Games sent Subsim Review a short note with some info and a couple pieces of art from their upcoming naval game Enigma: Rising Tide.  Sounds pretty interesting! Remember, some of the guys were former Dynamix developers (as in Aces of the Deep).

Tesseraction Games announces flagship game “Enigma: Rising Tide”: Cutting edge graphics, audio, and networking will power company’s first game. ENIGMA: RISING TIDE is an alternate history, World War II-era, cinematic naval combat game that will support fast-paced, massively-multiplayer, ship-to-ship battles in a huge persistent world embroiled in an ongoing virtual war. Players will pay a monthly subscription fee to play the game. Tesseraction Games will give the game software away for free, and plans to release upgrades and expansions every three months for the life of the game at no charge to subscribers.

ENIGMA: RISING TIDE will feature a robust backstory in which three Great Power “Empires” wage war against each other using a vast arsenal of submarines, surface ships, and aircraft. The game is designed to be intuitive and easy-to-learn while mixing exciting action with depth of strategy. Ultimately, the development of the war and the storyline itself will shift into the hands of ENIGMA: RISING TIDE players.

The development team for ENIGMA: RISING TIDE recently completed a successful Alpha test, putting the game on track to be released later this year. Tesseraction Games has established strategic technology partnerships with Intrinsic Graphics, Arete Entertainment, Analog Devices, and Cybernet Systems to give ENIGMA: RISING TIDE a strong foundation for its robust game engine. “We are very pleased with the results,” says Kelly Asay, President of Tesseraction Games. “These technologies let us focus on building great gameplay and an incredible virtual environment.”

 

Tesseraction Games

 

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Update 3/02:    Destroyer  Command and Silent Hunter II v1.1 patches are out! These patches will make interop multiplayer available between the two sims--the virtual Battle of the Atlantic. Features include:

1. MULTIPLAYER SUPPORT
   
   The primary purpose of this patch is to introduce multiplayer support to Silent Hunter II. This includes the following features:

   • Added support for multiplayer with other SH2 users.
   • Added support for multiplayer with DC users.
   • Added support for the ubi.com matchmaking service.
   • Clients that lose connection will now automatically attempt to reconnect to the server. Note that if the server has to recreate the unit for a reconnected client, it may pause the game momentarily.

   
    

2. FIXES

   • Fixed problem with interface file corruption on some Windows 2000 and XP systems.
   • Fixed intermittent crash in damage control station on Windows 2000 and XP systems
   • Fixed problem involving the "spawning" of surface ships in scenarios. This fixes a crash in the "Fortress Europe" mission.
   • Moved storage of interface textures from system memory to video memory. This fixes an occasional game slowdown or crash on certain combinations of Windows 95/98/ME systems and Nvidia video cards.
   • Fixed a crash that occurred when many simultaneous sound effects were played on certain Win98/ME systems with Soundblaster Live! or Audigy soundcards.
   • Fixed intermittent crash caused when aircraft targeted while the AI is manning the deck gun. Additionally, the deck gun will now no longer fire at aircraft when "Man the deck gun" is selected.
   • Fixed a bug in the Vehicle Viewer that caused a crash on exit on some systems.

   
    

3. ENHANCEMENTS AND CHANGES

   • AI ships will now undertake strenuous efforts to avoid running aground.
   • AI ships will attempt to avoid collisions with each other. If they collide, they will work to extricate themselves.
   • AI ships are better about returning to their normal waypoints after engaging in a fight.
   • Sonar contacts are now more difficult for enemy ships to re-acquire after they lose initial contact.
   • Enemy depth charge attacks are now somewhat less accurate.
   • Enemy aircraft will now initiate attacks against submarines spotted at periscope depth.
   • AI task forces and convoys will now detach the closest (instead of the next group in order) ASW subgroup to chase subs.
   • If a pursuing ASW subgroup is destroyed, another ASW subgroup will be detached.
   • The water's surface is now displayed with both animated "chop" and an additional subsurface layer.
   • The depth gauge's gradations have been recalibrated and the artwork refined.
   • The Red/Green halves of TDC dials denoting port and starboard were reversed (they are now correct).
   • Spelling of "Tiefenmesser" corrected on sliding navigation panel.

 

Click here to download the SH2 and DC v 1.1 Patchs

 

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Update 3/02:   Carl C. Norman, Exec Producer of both Destroyer  Command and Silent Hunter II announced that Subsim.com will assemble a SWAT team of testers to help get the Interop patch out. Testing began around the clock in the first week of March. The MP performance has been improved and many key features refined. Patch is expected to be released the weekend of March 15.  Carl post the following bulletin in the Subsim Radio Room forums:

 

We are aware that there are some problems with the AI routines and multiplayer functions in Destroyer Command and Silent Hunter II. We are currently working on a patch to address the more serious issues.

We also know that many of you are frustrated because the patch required enabling multiplayer sessions between Silent Hunter II and Destroyer Command has not been released yet. We had planned on the patch being ready by the time Destroyer Command was to arrive on the retail shelves, but unfortunately we discovered some problems that have required further testing and development work. We want very much to release this patch, but we are trying to ensure that it is as stable as possible before making it available.

We're not happy with the AI and multiplayer problems that exist in either games and I am not going into a list of excuses or detailed explanations of the many challenges we have faced getting these games finished. You are not interested in our tales of woe, so suffice it to say that we are working to fix problems and will do our best.

To facilitate a more detailed and responsive testing effort we have asked Neal Stevens to assist us by putting together a team of experienced external testers to work directly with Ultimation and SSI to find, fix, and destroy the major problems that exist in the products. This team will begin working with us immediately. Please understand that we are concentrating on fixing the major problems and not smaller bugs at this time. Future patches to address the less critical areas will be seriously considered but no promise at this time.

Both of these products have had difficult times in development and we have worked, and continue to work, very hard on them. We apologize for the problems but we are doing our best to make good. We care about our products and we care about the community that buys these products. We ask that you be patient and continue to post constructive reports of problems. We are not interested in getting into flame wars or debates. We have always stood by our products and will continue to do so.

As with any software project, we can't give you and exact timeframe on when these patches will be available. I can say that they will be out as soon as we possibly can complete them. Thank you for you patience and your constructive feedback.

Sincerely,

Carl C. Norman
Executive Producer
SSI
Ubi Soft Entertainment
 

Click here for the Official Patch News - March 13, 2002 Update.

 

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