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Editor: Neal Stevens
November 27,1999
Thanks for the tips on getting Aces of the Deep to run on a Win 98 system. I used the "End It" program on your website...the one that shuts down non-essential Windows programs, freeing up enough memory to run set-up.
Now I'm up and going (have been for a week). My only gripe is that the program seems to crash periodically now that I have a type XXI U-boat. Never had a problem from 1939-43 when using the type VII or the IX, but now I do with the better boat. Frustrating.
Oh well, I guess this will tide me over until Silent Hunter II comes out in 4/2000 (or thereabouts). Funny thing about AOD....I had forgotten how much fun it was. Setting it up was worth the trouble!
Mark Tera
Galveston, TX
Nov 11, 1999
Sorry, I don't have any tips etc. I am hoping that you may know of a Sub Sim available for the Palm OS. I used to Play Sub Battle on my Mac Plus (back in 1989). It seems that that game should work just fine on a palm pilot. Do you know if this game or any other is available for the Palm Pilot?
Thanks in advance, Glen Bolen
Sorry, Glen. Haven't come across anything heavier than Chess for my P/P.
Oct 22, 1999
Subject: 688(i) Date: Fri, 22 Oct 1999 23:12:44 EDT Okay, First of all. This site rules. It's really quite impressive, educational and simply entertaining. It has motivated me to become much more dedicated to 688(i) than I thought I would be. Please add my name to the pettition list.
Frankly, I'm half ready to stand outside Sonalysts with a picket sign, shouting things. Which means either there's something very wrong with me or I just love this Sim. (Maybe a bit of both).
Anyway... great site. Thanks!
N eo
October 17, 1999
Hello all,
Just curious if there are any two player games... one controlling the submarine or submarines, and another controlling ASW forces trying to find and kill the subs. As a retired Navy ASW specialist, I'd like to see a game from the point of view of the surface and air guys... are there any realistic ones out there??
Rodeo
Wolfpack and Red Storm Rising are the only ones I know of. 688(I) and Seawolf will allow two-player games but your only platform choice are subs.
Oct 5, 1999
Hye,
my name is Flávio, from Brazil!! Sorry for my bad english.
Well, I founded your Site at the Combat Simulation's Site, at LINKS!! And I liked very, very much, because I was looking for this kind of Site for months, expecially to downloaded the 688 i Hunter Killer missions!!
I'd like to know how can I foud the RED STORM RISING's Site,because I wanted to buy it and, heve you ever heard the game called AKULA RED HUNTER, from "Crusaders Studios"; their Site was "crusaderstudios.com" but they don't exist anymore, do you know their new Home Page??
Please answer me!!
Thanks a lot!!
Flávio G.
Crusader Studios sank a few months after announcing Akula. Their other sim, Greyhounds of the Sea, was even advertised in magazines, so it may have been in development. Alas!
October 4, 1999
Neal,
I'm writing to you from Ireland. Congratulations on a great site!!..very helpful and informative. Fleet Command is an excellent game, but I agree with your criticism regarding the lack of independent response of the ships when being attacked by SSMS; especially in campaign 4!!...Has anybody managed to achieve the 75% rating yet??!!
I've put on the new patch for Fleet Command. It certainly makes the response to hostiles more realistic. I'm still having a problem with campaign #4. I don't think it's possible to get 75% in this campaign!!!...the Russian ships seem to able to take more damage than the U.S. fleet. I think I'll turn the whole fleet 180deg and steam the hell out of the danger zone as fast as possible!!!
Also, on another topic, LET'S HAVE A GRAPHIC UPGRADE AND EXPANSION DISK FOR 688(I)!!
I'm looking forward to SH2 as well!!.
Keep up the good work Neal!!,
Cathal
October 3, 1999
Hi Neal
I just wanted to drop you a few lines, and let you know what a great job your doing with this website, the Radio Room and all the others things put together make a truly great combination. It was through a post that I put on the Radio Room that helped me finally to get Silent Hunter to play on my computer. Since high school I have been fascinated with the American Submarines in the Pacific during WW II. So when I found a game that actually simulated those conditions I was delighted. I was somewhat put out when it wouldn't play on my computer. It was through your website and SilentHunter.com that I picked up enough clues to piece the puzzle together that finally helped Silent Hunter work on my computer. I'm glad I got it working because this game is a hoot to play. So, I just wanted to say thanks, and keep up the good work.
Regards,
Jeff Johnson
Hey, thanks, Jeff. The fraternity of naval and subsim players isn't as large as Quake, Tomb Raider, and Age of Empires (great game!) groups, so we gotta stick together. I am glad SSR was helpful in getting Silent Hunter underway. That's our Prime Directive: doing what we can to enable players to get the most out of their subsim experience and to strengthen the genre. Good hunting, pal!
August 24, 1999
Please add me to the petition as I was extremely disappointed that Sonalysts ended up with an eye-candy version of Harpoon rather than the much slated [by many retailers I spoke to] "688(I) Under the Ice" that they were supposed to produce. I was hoping this would have far more accurate systems akin "Fast Attack's" BSY-1 emulation. Thanks for a great site, I've been looking for a Fast Attack anti-crash patch for ages.
Scott Grammer.
August 22, 1999
Yes, add my name to the petition list. I've purchased two of the Janes 688i sub sims and neither would load in my computer. One CD was just "dead" and the other , the video wouldnt load. These Janes games are selling in the Bargain section of my local Staples store for $12.99. Am I going to buy another? Hell No!
I'll wait for Silent Steel 2.
Robert Schuller
It's getting very fashionable for sim developers to abandon their creations shortly after birth. Rumor has it SSI will no longer fund additional patches for Fighting Steel.
July 27, 1999
Neal,
Love your site. Just acquired Silent Hunter in shovelware with Panzer General (PG is interesting but SH is the real reason I bought it.) I've been reading through all the read me's of the upgraded features. If you know and have time to repsond (If not I'll understand).....I've started playing the campaign patrols and I see these contacts that come up. Very helpful. (I had a great opportunity at a BB group when I had to pause and step away. Came back and the PC had hung. Drat.) Where does the information from the contacts come from? I confess I haven't read the manual word-for-word but I did a search (It's a PDF) on "contact" and came up empty. Can't all be coast watchers as the groups are far out to sea.
Any ideas?
Best.
Bill
Thanks! The info Silent Hunter simulates is from coast watchers, yes, and but much of it is simulated broken Japanese coded transmissions. The Japs were so punctual and logistical minded, they would transmit their location and travel schedule to HQ and the Americans would be there waiting for them.
July 14, 1999
TO: Editor of SUBSIM Review
RE: "Tom Clancy's SSN"
'SSN' is nothing short of an insult to serious naval gamers and to those of us who have had a lifelong ambition to one day command vessels such as these. The manual and Clancy's personal video introduction states that "'SSN' will depict underwater operations in a visual sense, now we know there are no windows on submarines but as a commanding officer you need to form a mental picture, we'll do that for you".
This is an understatement.
The large display giving you a lovely panoramic view of your boat (even though unless the boat is shallow you should actually be seeing nothing but black) is a joke. The missions are canned, it's just a matter of taking a couple of notes and you can be through on the second go. The SONAR display is pathetic. The depth control system is a total cock-up, as a commanding officer, you SPECIFY the depth, others take care of maintaining it. Not so in 'SSN', controlling the movement of the 'Cheyenne' is like driving a motor vehicle (actually the whole system of control and display in 'SSN' is just crap). And to top it off the "English" accent of the actor playing news reporter David Kendall is one-hundred percent ludicrous (actually I'm still not sure if those news movies are supposed to be a joke or not).
I am happy to say that my old copy of the Mega-Drive version of '688 Attack Sub' is a very good game by comparison (and I'd go as far as to say it's quite sublime compared with much newer 'SSN'), and that I own that and not 'SSN' which is on loan from a friend.
One has to ask who is responsible for this game of farcical proportions. Of course having Tom Clancy written all over it is I suppose a clear indication of it's lack of quality.
J. Prowd
Wow, an Anti-Tom. And I thought I was the only person who wasn't in love with Mr. Clancy's amateurish writing style. Bravo!
June 29, 1999
I enjoyed your review of FS. I sounds like it might be a modern version of a game I enjoyed very much: TF1942. However, I have a question, the answer to which will have a huge bearing on my purchase decision.
While I understand the designers' decision not to include carrier warfare, I must know: are scout aircraft included on BB/BC/CA vessels that were historically capable of carrying them? If not, does this affect gameplay significantly, (i.e.- do the scenarios include scouting and manuever phases in order to get into a favorable attack/defense position, or do they all just start out with you in visual range of the enemy)?
Thanx
The game is set up for immediate engagements. While this may not be purely realistic, it doesn't detract from the gameplay. Fighting Steel assumes a big ship engagement is about to occur and it ensures you will enjoy it.
June 28, 1999
Neal -
I'm with you 100% on your review of Fighting Steel. I'm one of those people you mentioned that has chafed my elbows on the carpet measuring distances between model warships more times than I can remember, and this is the game I've been waiting for.
I have a pretty good feeling about the crashes being fixed and I'm looking ahead to the expansion issue. It seems to me they could take this two ways: 1). Add aircraft, subs, and land. 2). Branch off into eras where aircraft and subs were not a factor. Although I would like to see both options pursued, I'm a hopeless gun aficionado and I would love to see this engine used to make a predreadnaught game featuring the Spanish-American War and Russo-Japanese War. Do you think there would be any support for such a game, or should I go back to painting miniatures?
Mike Spencer
I would love to see Fighting Steel followed up with a sequel that addresses subs, planes, and terra firma, but I won't deny that I'm not optimistic. There have been rumblings that the design group has had problems delivering on time and SSI may cut their losses.
May 19, 1999
Hello,
You are right about the Editorial, but Who buys the game first? Sure the 800 experts naval sim wargamers. We were waiting that the publication set, don't an ARCADE fashion game. I think that I expend my money in a bluff. I fell totally cheated and I want a PATCH.
I am writing to Jane's, Sonalysts, Electronic Arts and many of you that could put that info on the net. These people don't be honest with the market in general. Sure they reach their goals with the game, but meanwhile the 800 naval sim "experts" feel cheated.
PS: Maybe a big and deep patch could regain our trust and forget the more cost-saving way to buy games: "try and if like it, buy". This means piracy?
Saludos
I understand how you feel but piracy will eventually result in the termination of any sub/naval sims being made, even buggy ones.
April 12, 1999
In response to an order for Silent Hunter CE that was taking a few weeks to fill; I advised Mark to hold tight and it would come through.
Neal,
Thanks for the advice. My SHCE came on Saturday. I'm quite pleased and can't wait to get to all the new areas.
Mark
Glad to hear it. Looks like the stocks of Silent Hunter are running low and I haven't heard of any plans to press new copies. It may soon become a collector's copy.
April 12, 1999
Is there a good sub sim for the Playstation? I just purchased it and am trying to find one.. You seem very well informed. Any info? thank you much
Marco Flavio Marinucci
Sorry, I know nothing about Playstations. Try a post on the Radio Room board, maybe some other player can help you.
April 12, 1999
Neal,
Great job as always with your page! I especially enjoy your Radio Room and chk it out daily. I'm dropping you this note to request that you change the link for our fleet, The Marauders. Our new link is:
www.marauders.net
Thanks,
Fadm Tones
CNO - The Marauders
Roger that, Chief. Link updated.
March 13, 1999
Hi!
Your SUBSIM-Page is really cool! Thanx a lot for this page! I really like SUBSIM-Games and I have a question.
I'm looking for the very old game SUB BATTLE from Epyx. Lots of years ago I played this game on my XT with CGA-Graphics... I really loved this game and I would like to see it again. Epyx doesn't exists anylonger, so where can I get this game from? I hope you can help me. Thanx a lot!
Sincerely,
Matthias
e-bay is the place for vintage sims.
March 12, 1999
Neal
I would like to say you have an excellent web page for letting people know about how it really was in the Silent Service. I visit your site regularly, and I 'm very interested in the SIM section.
I play a number of SIMs and obviously the best SIMs are usually very realistic. I have played Aces of the Deep, Silent Service I & II, and Jane's 688. To this day however; I still find myself wanting to play Wolfpack. By todays standards it is dated. In fact I haven't seen a true Windows 95/98 version, just a ripoff CD claiming it runs in Windows, but in fact it is still a DOS version. Don't get me wrong the only reason I'm aggravated with it is I WANT TO PLAY IT, and it doesn't do well in Windows. Wolfpack, for those of you unfamiliar with it, did something unusual by allowing you to play the submariner and to jump into the surface vessels and run them as well. This allowed you to take turns with another person at the mouse to control your surface ships or subs. The graphics even today don't seem bad, and with a little work could be excellent. It had one of the easiest control interfaces I have ever seen. I hope to see this game reworked since to me it had great replayability and it was easy to just jump in and play it with out alot of preparation. Have "happy days" in sub simming. Clark "The Rook" Luster
March 7, 1999
Sample of the e-mail blitz:
Gentlemen, I would like to cast my vote along with the others that you reconsider your decision to abandon the long awaited (and promised) campaign disk for 688(I) Hunter/Killer. This seems to be a disturbing trend in this industry of late. I can name several recent games that developers have lavished promises of support and enhancement, only to dash the hopes of gamers by suddenly deciding not to do so. Now EA/Sonalysts have thrown their name into the hat. The submarine sim market (more notably the modern sub sim) has to wait years between titles. There are precious few games in this genre that people like me can enjoy. Which is why it's even more disturbing to see a game like 688(I) which is exactly the kind of sim we have been waiting for, with so much potential for long term play, be ignored especially after promises of support and enhancement were made from the day it was released. I understand that you need to move forward with new products, but don't you think that each time you suddenly drop a promised expansion for one game that it makes it a little harder for people like me to want to shell out more money for future games only to be treated with the same broken promises? Is it really too much to ask for this campaign disk? You did state on many occasions that it was in the works, what happened? Is it just not profitable at all to do expansion disks anymore? I would gladly pay for a campaign disk for 688(I), as I'm sure others are as well. Please think about it.
Thanks for listening,
David L. Webster
February 13, 1999
Dear Sirs:
I am a loyal Macuser who is jealous over the fact that Silent Hunter (my favorite game, though played at the homes of others) is not in a Mac format. Are there any other subsims of similar quality that are for Macs? Wolfpack is too easy.
Very truly yours,
Liam
Check out the links page for Deadly Games. They have two Mac U-boat sims.
January 30, 1999
Hi,
Just dropped by for the first time. I saw your website listed in the Jan/Feb99 Issue of Computer Entertainment Debrief. I have recently become a submarine and subsim enthusiast (having cut my teeth in the real and several virtual air forces. My compliments on an attractive and useful site. I wish I had found it sooner as it would have saved me a lot of surfing and searching. My primary subsim interest is Jane's 688I and Silent Hunter.
I am also an avid reader. May I suggest adding a page to your site listing books on submarines currently in print. I have quite a few but am always looking for new ones.
Keep up the good work.
Mark P. Gutis
Take a look at the CYBERSUB FLOTILLA page of the Deep Domain; I have an extensive bibliography towards the end.
January 28, 1999
Hello I'm Spanish and I would give you congratulations for your site. It's very good. I was searching a long time ago about Wolfpack game and I find you! (thanks to a link of Aces of the Deep page). I have a questions about this game. What is in the Wolfpack game the "Pillenwerser"? I don't know what is that. I'm too a fanatic about submarines games, since I got the Wolfpack game. Later I got Aces of the Deep and Silent Hunter.
Thanks -- Paco Torres. (Frank Tower)
Pillenwaffer is a small device the German Navy created to help subs confuse the enemies sonar. It is released from the U-boat and the salt water starts a chemical reaction that produces millions of noisy bubbles. This "clouds" the destroyers sonar. It worked to some extent, but the slow U-boats usually couldn't get very far away to be happy about it.
January 1, 1999
Hi, you have an excellent site.
I am currently a LT on a 726 class boomer, about to go on my last patrol before getting out of the Navy. Once I am out I should have enough free time to actually play some of the sims I've been collecting. Believe me when I tell you getting good at these sims would have made me a better sub driver than all of the training I've gotten from the Navy. Right now I have Epyx Sub Battle Simulator, The Hunt for Red October, the original 688, SSN-21 Seawolf, Fast Attack and of course 688i. My question is actually on the original 688 from EA. I have the original disk, but I seem to have lost the manual for it. In order to start the game you must enter a 3 letter code based on a excerpt from the manual. Even though it would only cost about $3 to buy another copy, I know I'll never be able to find the game in the stores again. Any ideas on how I can get a hold of the text of the manual or otherwise defeat this interlock? Also, any hints of a boomer simulation coming out in the future? I know three knots to nowhere isn't the most exciting scenario, but if the missiles ever started to fly it could be interesting.
Jon R.
Kings Bay, GA
Hi Jon, I believe I have a copy of the manual for the original 688, but it's buried deep in storage. I won't be able to get at it until May. Until then, try a post on the Radio Room forum and see if someone else has a copy they would share.
A boomer sim? Exciting or not, it would be welcome here at SSR.
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