Things you like or don't like about SH4

[Gizzmoe]

Here you can praise SH4 or post about things that you miss in SH4. Please read the Subsim memo before you post here. Constructive criticism is helpful, wild rants are not! ;)



SUBSIM Memo
Ahoy fellow Subsim skippers!
A quick reminder: as we did when SH2 and SH3 were released, I would like to request your cooperation in keeping Subsim a positive and productive discussion forum for Silent Hunter 4. I know the dev team have worked really long and hard to make a great US Pacific sub simulation. Just like every computer game made since Duke Nukem wore short pants, there will likely be some glitches and bugs. All games get patches, none of this is news to long time gamers. Let's list anything we see amiss in the Bug Thread. Silent Hunter is the only show in town and Subsim is here for the long run. Feel free to criticise and complain but please, do so with some respect, and courtesy. Even though this is the Internet, we should try to be professional.

Good hunting!
Neal
Subsim

[Red Devil]

I did read somewhere in here that it my responsibility to place competent crewmen in the correct, or best, locations. This, if its true is crap! I have a Jap destroyer bearing down on me, crash diving and have to take time out to tell Joe to replace Fred on the dive planes because we are not diving fast enough!!! Yeah Right! Or the radar/asdic man is blind or deaf on one side!!!

If the worst case scenario is realised, my patience will soon evaporate and it will end up on the shelf!

[AJ!]

I dont like the fact i dont have the game yet ;)

[OneTinSoldier]

I dont like the fact i dont have the game yet ;)
When opening this thread I thought I would post the same thing you did AJ, while at the same time thinking... I'll bet someone has already posted that. Sure enough, you beat me to it! :lol:

[donut]

Depth in meters,on USN Sub:down:

[Gizzmoe]

Depth in meters,on USN Sub:down:

That´s a bug which will be fixed soon.

[ACSoft]

That's is not a bug.

It is a game who is about to be published in an unfinished state, as usually.

ACS

[hyperion2206]

That's is not a bug.

It is a game who is about to be published in an unfinished state, as usually.

ACS

As usual people start whining before they even have the game.:nope:

[Drebbel]

I did read somewhere in here that it my responsibility to place competent crewmen in the correct, or best, locations. This, if its true is crap!

Thats why you can set up ritating crews :D

[OneTinSoldier]

I think you guys are JUMPING to conclusions about that...

From the Dev Team Answer thread on the Ubi forum...

Q: Taifu_Noodle: What units of measurement will SH4 use?
A: Silent Hunter 3 used the same measurements system as the Kriegsmarine - based on the metric system. For Wolves of the Pacific, we will of course use the imperial system since this is the historical solution. However, we are considering to have the game switch to metric as an option.

I would say it looks like the 'option' made it in. Of course I could be wrong and maybe they decided to just 'go ahead and release the game with meters as the only option'.

Yeah.. I'm sure that's what they did. :roll:


EDIT - nvdrifter, I was the one who posted this in the 'other thread'. You stole my quote, and posted in here at the same time as I was! Two no-no's!! :rotfl:

[ACSoft]

That's is not a bug.

It is a game who is about to be published in an unfinished state, as usually.

ACS

As usual people start whining before they even have the game.:nope:


Sorry, you are wrong in my case. I was beta-tester of this game and I can't say more, because of the non disclosure agreement I signed.

ACS

[hyperion2206]

That's is not a bug.

It is a game who is about to be published in an unfinished state, as usually.

ACS
As usual people start whining before they even have the game.:nope:

Sorry, you are wrong in my case. I was beta-tester of this game and I can't say more, because of the non disclosure agreement I signed.

ACS

Then you must be the first tester to say that this game isn't finished. Untill now everybody who had tested this game seemed to be quite happy with it.

[nvdrifter]

I think you guys are JUMPING to conclusions about that...

From the Dev Team Answer thread on the Ubi forum...

Q: Taifu_Noodle: What units of measurement will SH4 use?
A: Silent Hunter 3 used the same measurements system as the Kriegsmarine - based on the metric system. For Wolves of the Pacific, we will of course use the imperial system since this is the historical solution. However, we are considering to have the game switch to metric as an option.

I would say it looks like the 'option' made it in. Of course I could be wrong and maybe they decided to just 'go ahead and release the game with meters as the only option'.

Yeah.. I'm sure that's what they did. :roll:


EDIT - nvdrifter, I was the one who posted this in the 'other thread'. You stole my quote, and posted in here at the same time as I was! Two no-no's!! :rotfl:
After reading your post above I went ahead and deleted my previous post with your quotes. I wasn't trying to take credit for your quote. :)

[OneTinSoldier]

After reading your post above I went ahead and deleted my previous post with your quotes. I wasn't trying to take credit for your quote. :)

Oh, you didn't have to do that. I was just kidding you with my EDIT at the end there. You know, poking your ribs a little all in fun man. :lol: But thanks anyway.

But anyway, now a few more folks are saying it IS a bug! :doh: They may know something I don't, but still I can't believe it! :dead:

Cheers

[ACSoft]

That's is not a bug.

It is a game who is about to be published in an unfinished state, as usually.

ACS
As usual people start whining before they even have the game.:nope:

Sorry, you are wrong in my case. I was beta-tester of this game and I can't say more, because of the non disclosure agreement I signed.

ACS

Then you must be the first tester to say that this game isn't finished. Untill now everybody who had tested this game seemed to be quite happy with it.

That's is probably just your assumption, because I bet that other beta testers don't have told you anything about their feelings, good or bad, because if they do it, they violate the non disclosure agreement they signed.

Now, if I say this is not a bug but an unfinished game, it it just the truth and does not mean that I like or not the game. A bug is something like a crash to desktop or a feature which does not work as it is supposed to. A feature which is still in the state of SHIII (metric) when it was supposed to be in Imperial units, is an unfinished part.

... and no, I won't tell you what I really think about SH4.

ACS

[nvdrifter]

After reading your post above I went ahead and deleted my previous post with your quotes. I wasn't trying to take credit for your quote. :)

Oh, you didn't have to do that. I was just kidding you with my EDIT at the end there. You know, poking your ribs a little all in fun man. :lol: But thanks anyway.

But anyway, now a few more folks are saying it IS a bug! :doh: They may know something I don't, but still I can't believe it! :dead:

Cheers
I'm guessing that it's not a bug, but that the dev team just didn't have time to add imperial measurements before the game was released. They were probably under pressure to release asap. I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot more posts about bugs or features that were left out. Just wait until the official release on Wednesday. This board will really light up. :o

[OneTinSoldier]

nvdrifter,

So what you're saying is it's due to the game being released as 'unfinished', and blatantly so, as ACSoft is saying above.

[Ark]

The lack of FSAA.

I don't have to own SHIV to be irritated about that.

[Nightmare]

The lack of FSAA.

I don't have to own SHIV to be irritated about that.
So is it official that our fears are correct on the lack of FSAA?

[Ark]

The lack of FSAA.

I don't have to own SHIV to be irritated about that.
So is it official that our fears are correct on the lack of FSAA?

Yep, if recent reports from those who just purchased are any indication and indeed accurate.

:(

[Drebbel]

I really like that SH4 comes is so many different editions. Some just with the basics and others with many goodies in the box. Even a collectors edition.

Well Done UBI :sunny:

Of course I got my hands on one of the Tin Box Collector Editions of SH4 :rock:

[shell]

The lack of FSAA.

I don't have to own SHIV to be irritated about that.
So is it official that our fears are correct on the lack of FSAA?

The discussion about the AA is here:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=107773&page=3

[hyperion2206]

The lack of FSAA.

I don't have to own SHIV to be irritated about that. So is it official that our fears are correct on the lack of FSAA?
The discussion about the AA is here:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=107773&page=3

Actually it wasn't a discussion about AA until you guys started complaining. It WAS a topic where you should post when you've bought the game.:p

[Ark]

The lack of FSAA.

I don't have to own SHIV to be irritated about that. So is it official that our fears are correct on the lack of FSAA?
The discussion about the AA is here:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=107773&page=3

Actually it wasn't a discussion about AA until you guys started complaining. It WAS a topic where you should post when you've bought the game.:p

Which is why I deleted the majority of my posts in that thread. ;)

[hyperion2206]

The lack of FSAA.

I don't have to own SHIV to be irritated about that. So is it official that our fears are correct on the lack of FSAA?
The discussion about the AA is here:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=107773&page=3
Actually it wasn't a discussion about AA until you guys started complaining. It WAS a topic where you should post when you've bought the game.:p
Which is why I deleted the majority of my posts in that thread. ;)

Doesn't matter anymore, cause this thread has just been closed.;)

[malkuth74]

So if no AA then you have to manualy shut it off in drivers if forced or it will mess it up? If so then I will be running at max res if thats the case. Usually Max Res and AA don't mix well.

AMD 64 3500+
7600 GT Nvidia
2 Gig Ram

[newsoft]

Ok, I've been lurking for many moons now and I just have to get some things off my chest. First though, I'm really looking forward to SHIV and I expect to take delivery of my pre-ordered copy on friday. I hope to relive those wonderful days of -96 all over again.

However..., my nr 1 pet peeve is not the lack of AA, not even the flag size. (probably fixed in the first mod) No, for me it is the transparency of the water! It just doesn't sit right with me. I thought SHIII had it perfected. This just feels like eye candy for it's own sake. I mean, how often, on photos, can you actually see 6-10 feet below the water line? (not pics of yachts anchored at some mediterrrenean atoll, mind you ;) ) I sure hope there's a setting for this.

There.. feels much better now. :|\\ Now, give me my Perch or Tambor boat.. :arrgh!:

[Ark]

Ok, I've been lurking for many moons now and I just have to get some things off my chest. First though, I'm really looking forward to SHIV and I expect to take delivery of my pre-ordered copy on friday. I hope to relive those wonderful days of -96 all over again.

However..., my nr 1 pet peeve is not the lack of AA, not even the flag size. (probably fixed in the first mod) No, for me it is the transparency of the water! It just doesn't sit right with me. I thought SHIII had it perfected. This just feels like eye candy for it's own sake. I mean, how often, on photos, can you actually see 6-10 feet below the water line? (not pics of yachts anchored at some mediterrrenean atoll, mind you ;) ) I sure hope there's a setting for this.

There.. feels much better now. :|\\ Now, give me my Perch or Tambor boat.. :arrgh!:


In some areas of the Pacific, you can see quite a ways below the waterline.

What you see is actually quite realistic. If you turned it off, you would essentially be making the game less realistic. ;)

[Lawndart]

I agree Newsoft, the reflective properties of day time and the angle we view the water... It's a little gamey. I'm sure its cool looking but if it can be disabled that would be cool.

I thought I was the only one who thought this

[newsoft]

Although, in the game's defence, I'll have to say that things look a little better now that user-posted screenshots starts to surface in the screen/vid thread. I think Ubi maybe overemphazised that "gamey" aspect in their shots. Also, nice to see that people seems to be playing without that "Hollywood-filter". :up:

[gronbek]

I could be wrong, but I prefer the atmosphere in SH3.
In SH4 you really do not get the feeling that you are the captain.
Lack of captains quarters. Icons of stations instead of the crew. If i remember correctly
I could interact with the crew in SH3 by clicking on them, they would turn around. I could take the crews position also. In SH4 it none of those 2 are possible. At least not as far as I know.
Feels little bit more arcadish.
BR Anders

[Ark]

There are actually quite a few areas of the Pacific Ocean with very clear water. I wish I still had my pics on my computer.

So, yes, you can see 6-10ft below the surface in many cases. :)

There was no transparency to the water whatsoever in SH3. Generally, the Atlantic isn't going to be as clear as the Pacific (obviously), but not being able to see below the surface at all? That's just wrong. lol

[heartc]

I could be wrong, but I prefer the atmosphere in SH3.
In SH4 you really do not get the feeling that you are the captain.
Lack of captains quarters. Icons of stations instead of the crew. If i remember correctly
I could interact with the crew in SH3 by clicking on them, they would turn around. I could take the crews position also. In SH4 it none of those 2 are possible. At least not as far as I know.
Feels little bit more arcadish.
BR Anders
More arcadish because you can't click on people making them turn around robotically and look at you with that eerie stare?
Also, having those station icons instead of cloned faces down at the control bar is way more sim-like than SHIII's solution. I didn't like that at all. Good thing NYGM mod came around.

So, yes, you can see 6-10ft below the surface in many cases.
True. In fact, I've read many times that in calm water conditions subs in the PTO could be sometimes seen even down at periscope depth from the air. This was also simulated in SHI - when sea state was "calm", you were occasionally attacked from planes circling overhead while at PD, even with the scope down. Was always a huge gamble to move into a CV group in nice weather conditions. :D

People should get their facts straightened out before complaining me thinks. ;)

[Sailor Steve]

Leaving Subic Bay in a destroyer we could see the bottom, literally. Rocks and plants and dolphins swimming under the ship. I don't know exactly how deep it was, but it was a lot more than 10 feet. Even carriers used that same passage; so yes, in some areas the water is amazingly clear.

[newsoft]

Yes. I understand that objects can be quite visible under the surface, especially from the air. As I said, shots from the finished product look a lot better than the early build. Let me show a couple of examples of screenies showing what in my opinion is a tad overdone.

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/8066/screenbv1.jpg

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/6338/scr2je1.jpg

[AirborneTD]

Wow, those look great!! I don't have a problem at all with those (except for the 2nd one where the boat is running on the surface with the bow planes rigged out.)

[nhall70]

Although, in the game's defence, I'll have to say that things look a little better now that user-posted screenshots starts to surface in the screen/vid thread. I think Ubi maybe overemphazised that "gamey" aspect in their shots. Also, nice to see that people seems to be playing without that "Hollywood-filter". :up:

You know, the ironic thing is that this "Hollywood-filter" is most likely the reason SH4 won't support FSAA! And many people (myself included) would turn it off immediately.

Typically, a simulation is trying to re-create a sense of reality...people's eyes don't behave the way a camera does. Jaggiesoft would have you believe that in the 1940's, people saw things in black and white.

This whole "hollywood cinematic experience" thing that Jaggiesoft's marketing dept has been flogging around the Internet is...never mind.

[Tigrone]

I was just there and noticed that their animated banner headline was of a column of Battleships and Crusiers under air attack, not of a sub. Most of the officially posted images are of surface and air action, not of subs. Also, the word simulation seems to have been banished. I think they are pretending this is a first person shooter, which makes me wonder how much they gave up to get it to look that way.

[lord bame]

what i have notice so far.
- no weather/wind speed report
- pretty gfx-laggy when in port
- no audio (like, sir we are taking damage) warning , or via combat text.
- lesser interaction with crew then sh3, more arcade feeling :stare: when i think about it, it feels like you are alone on a submarine with human sized puppets.
- no watch office to assist you on deck.

[Aimbot]

Although, in the game's defence, I'll have to say that things look a little better now that user-posted screenshots starts to surface in the screen/vid thread. I think Ubi maybe overemphazised that "gamey" aspect in their shots. Also, nice to see that people seems to be playing without that "Hollywood-filter". :up:
You know, the ironic thing is that this "Hollywood-filter" is most likely the reason SH4 won't support FSAA! And many people (myself included) would turn it off immediately.

Typically, a simulation is trying to re-create a sense of reality...people's eyes don't behave the way a camera does. Jaggiesoft would have you believe that in the 1940's, people saw things in black and white.

This whole "hollywood cinematic experience" thing that Jaggiesoft's marketing dept has been flogging around the Internet is...never mind.
They don't have FSAA because Nvidia cards don't support HDR and FSAA at the same time. Presumably they were sponsored by Nvidia. You don't have to like it, but in big budget gaming publishers need all the money they can get.

[Ark]

Although, in the game's defence, I'll have to say that things look a little better now that user-posted screenshots starts to surface in the screen/vid thread. I think Ubi maybe overemphazised that "gamey" aspect in their shots. Also, nice to see that people seems to be playing without that "Hollywood-filter". :up:
You know, the ironic thing is that this "Hollywood-filter" is most likely the reason SH4 won't support FSAA! And many people (myself included) would turn it off immediately.

Typically, a simulation is trying to re-create a sense of reality...people's eyes don't behave the way a camera does. Jaggiesoft would have you believe that in the 1940's, people saw things in black and white.

This whole "hollywood cinematic experience" thing that Jaggiesoft's marketing dept has been flogging around the Internet is...never mind.
They don't have FSAA because Nvidia cards don't support HDR and FSAA at the same time. Presumably they were sponsored by Nvidia. You don't have to like it, but in big budget gaming publishers need all the money they can get.


That's incorrect.

It doesn't work with ATI cards either. It's an engine limitation, not a videocard one. Also, the new Nvidia cards are supposed to support both at the same time (8800 series).


You need to go read the FSAA thread. Lot of good information in there. :)

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=106112

[AG124]

I love the merchant selection which has been announced for the game.:up: Actually, I think it is more complete than any merchant selection from any previous subsim.:huh: I am also impressed by the Japanese BB selection (4/5 BBs and both Ise versions), and the selection of CAs, CLs, and DDs is pretty good, considering time restraints.

However, the selection of Japanese CVs appears to be very poor, according to one preliminary report.:nope: It looks like only the Hiryu, the Shokaku class, the Taiho, the Chitose class, and the Taiyo class CVE will be included (and the Chitose class may only be the seaplane carrier version).:nope: I am hoping this report is wrong/incomplete, or at least that new ships can be added to the game - I will have a look myself when I get my own copy later this week.:cool:

[nhall70]

Although, in the game's defence, I'll have to say that things look a little better now that user-posted screenshots starts to surface in the screen/vid thread. I think Ubi maybe overemphazised that "gamey" aspect in their shots. Also, nice to see that people seems to be playing without that "Hollywood-filter". :up:
You know, the ironic thing is that this "Hollywood-filter" is most likely the reason SH4 won't support FSAA! And many people (myself included) would turn it off immediately.

Typically, a simulation is trying to re-create a sense of reality...people's eyes don't behave the way a camera does. Jaggiesoft would have you believe that in the 1940's, people saw things in black and white.

This whole "hollywood cinematic experience" thing that Jaggiesoft's marketing dept has been flogging around the Internet is...never mind.
They don't have FSAA because Nvidia cards don't support HDR and FSAA at the same time. Presumably they were sponsored by Nvidia. You don't have to like it, but in big budget gaming publishers need all the money they can get.


That's incorrect.

It doesn't work with ATI cards either. It's an engine limitation, not a videocard one. Also, the new Nvidia cards are supposed to support both at the same time (8800 series).


You need to go read the FSAA thread. Lot of good information in there. :)

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=106112

Yes, Ark is correct. More specifically, certain kinds of post-processing techniques require that the framebuffer be handled in a certain way and this causes anti-aliasing to not work. This is a heavily watered down explanation but it basically boils down to a design decision that was made by some genius who was involved in the engine design used in many of Ubisoft's games including GRAW, R6: Vegas, and now SH4.

Make no mistake about it...this was a simple choice that Ubisoft has made very thoughfully and deliberately.

[Arrowhead2k1]

what i have notice so far.
- no weather/wind speed report
- pretty gfx-laggy when in port
- no audio (like, sir we are taking damage) warning , or via combat text.
- lesser interaction with crew then sh3, more arcade feeling :stare: when i think about it, it feels like you are alone on a submarine with human sized puppets.
- no watch office to assist you on deck.

I'm not liking this... :mad:

[IRONxMortlock]

what i have notice so far.
- no weather/wind speed report
- pretty gfx-laggy when in port
- no audio (like, sir we are taking damage) warning , or via combat text.
- lesser interaction with crew then sh3, more arcade feeling :stare: when i think about it, it feels like you are alone on a submarine with human sized puppets.
- no watch office to assist you on deck.
I'm not liking this... :mad:

Yep, that doesn't sound good at all.:cry:
________
thai girl Webcam (http://www.girlcamfriend.com/webcam/asian-girls/)

[Onkel Neal]

what i have notice so far.
- no weather/wind speed report
- pretty gfx-laggy when in port
- no audio (like, sir we are taking damage) warning , or via combat text.
- lesser interaction with crew then sh3, more arcade feeling :stare: when i think about it, it feels like you are alone on a submarine with human sized puppets.
- no watch office to assist you on deck.

Nothing you like? Does that work with the girls, too? ;)

[IRONxMortlock]

what i have notice so far.
- no weather/wind speed report
- pretty gfx-laggy when in port
- no audio (like, sir we are taking damage) warning , or via combat text.
- lesser interaction with crew then sh3, more arcade feeling :stare: when i think about it, it feels like you are alone on a submarine with human sized puppets.
- no watch office to assist you on deck.
Nothing you like? Does that work with the girls, too? ;)

Lol!:lol: You know what they say, "treat em' rough, get your muff".:p
________
California Dispensaries (http://california.dispensaries.org/)

[JG11Bear]

* I like the fact that it is the Pacific ( being Australian and all... )

* I like being the U.S.N. ( nice to be the good guys for a change! )

* Love the graphics

* I don't like not owning a copy yet! ;)

* I don't like the idea of going to work on the 22nd!!!! ( release date over here!! )

Bear

[9th_cow]

what i have notice so far.
- no weather/wind speed report
- pretty gfx-laggy when in port
- no audio (like, sir we are taking damage) warning , or via combat text.
- lesser interaction with crew then sh3, more arcade feeling :stare: when i think about it, it feels like you are alone on a submarine with human sized puppets.
- no watch office to assist you on deck.
Nothing you like? Does that work with the girls, too? ;)
Lol!:lol: You know what they say, "treat em' rough, get your muff".:p


ok weather i havent hear any reports about either, but then the only time it really changed i was on accelerated time.

i dont get the lagg in port.

the audio issue is a problem, especially when submerged, you think your doing ok and next thing you know "game over" damnit...was i hit by a depth charge or what ?

the lack of interaction with crew is an improvement it think. they pretty much man theyre stations of theyre own accord. i dont have to man handle them into the correct places when making attacks

im not sure what you mean about the watch ? theyre on deck too and they look out for ships. wich is all they ever did isnt it ?

more of an issue for me is this, no warning that your going below crush depth. and it seems that if you so much as enter your max depth even emergency blow wont get you back up again..

[Kapitan_Phillips]

That screenshot up there :huh:


Maaaaann, roll on the end of this week :dead:


(I love getting games on a Friday :P)

[Fat Bhoy Tim]

I could be wrong, but I prefer the atmosphere in SH3.
In SH4 you really do not get the feeling that you are the captain.
Lack of captains quarters. Icons of stations instead of the crew. If i remember correctly
I could interact with the crew in SH3 by clicking on them, they would turn around. I could take the crews position also. In SH4 it none of those 2 are possible. At least not as far as I know.
Feels little bit more arcadish.
BR Anders
More arcadish because you can't click on people making them turn around robotically and look at you with that eerie stare?
Also, having those station icons instead of cloned faces down at the control bar is way more sim-like than SHIII's solution. I didn't like that at all. Good thing NYGM mod came around.

So, yes, you can see 6-10ft below the surface in many cases.
True. In fact, I've read many times that in calm water conditions subs in the PTO could be sometimes seen even down at periscope depth from the air. This was also simulated in SHI - when sea state was "calm", you were occasionally attacked from planes circling overhead while at PD, even with the scope down. Was always a huge gamble to move into a CV group in nice weather conditions. :D

People should get their facts straightened out before complaining me thinks. ;)
What this gentelman said on both counts, especially the first. I thought the ability to click on crewman who utterly redundant, and did nothing but amuse people that clearly don't have enough going on outside their gaming.

Last I checked this was a series of submarine simulators, not The Sims: U-Boat Edition

[Fat Bhoy Tim]

Although, in the game's defence, I'll have to say that things look a little better now that user-posted screenshots starts to surface in the screen/vid thread. I think Ubi maybe overemphazised that "gamey" aspect in their shots. Also, nice to see that people seems to be playing without that "Hollywood-filter". :up:
You know, the ironic thing is that this "Hollywood-filter" is most likely the reason SH4 won't support FSAA! And many people (myself included) would turn it off immediately.

Typically, a simulation is trying to re-create a sense of reality...people's eyes don't behave the way a camera does. Jaggiesoft would have you believe that in the 1940's, people saw things in black and white.

This whole "hollywood cinematic experience" thing that Jaggiesoft's marketing dept has been flogging around the Internet is...never mind. They don't have FSAA because Nvidia cards don't support HDR and FSAA at the same time. Presumably they were sponsored by Nvidia. You don't have to like it, but in big budget gaming publishers need all the money they can get.

That's incorrect.

It doesn't work with ATI cards either. It's an engine limitation, not a videocard one. Also, the new Nvidia cards are supposed to support both at the same time (8800 series).


You need to go read the FSAA thread. Lot of good information in there. :)

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=106112

And 8800 series cards are hardly a common benchmark, and people with that spec and above is fairly small. I can see why they'd not cater for it.

[danlisa]

I'm curious to know what the 'Death' sequence is like. So anyone with the game, would you kindly kill yourself.:D

This was one of the most annoying aspects of SH3.

What are your thoughts.

[Drebbel]

This was one of the most annoying aspects of SH3.

I think that means they simulated it perfectly. Figures that death would be annoying :D

[danlisa]

This was one of the most annoying aspects of SH3.
I think that means they simulated it perfectly. Figures that death would be annoying :D

:rotfl::rotfl:
You know what I mean.:D

[scalelokt]

I'm one of the lucky ones that has a friend who works in a video game place at the mall, and was able to bring home a copy early. I only got to play for about a half hour at his place, but so far here are my likes and dislikes:

Pros:
1. Beautiful graphics! Usually this doesnt mean a lot to me, but guys.... WOW. Thats all I can say. It looks better than the screen shots in my opinion. Not only that but it runs very smoothly. His comp is a nice computer but not a great one. And he had graphics options almost all the way up and it plays as smoothly as SH3 does, but looks way better. Torpedo damage looks awesome, fire and smoke effects look great, but my favorite thing is the water. Being able to see your sub from the surface at periscope depth looks so sweet, I love it.
2. The sea battles are intense. Fighter squadrons everywhere, pilots ejecting left and right, ships everywhere firing back and forth, etc. It is really intense.
3. Missions are way better. Dropping off a spy on the beaches of Japan, patroling an area with a background story as to why you are going there (not just a random patrol grid), etc. A really nice touch.
4. The american subs are really cool, I like them more than I thought I would. Very different than the U-boats, but that's a good thing because it shows the devs did their research and made the American subs feel really different.
5. I didnt see any obvious bugs, and my friend tells me after hours of play he has not had one crash or bug, so hopefully it will stay that way :)
6. Sound effects are sweet, especially the change of the watch sound which I thought was a nice touch.
7. The feel of the game is pretty much like GWX for the most part, which is a very good thing. I was afraid they would make this game a bit too "arcade" and not "sim" enough, but I was wrong, it is a hard core simulation through and through if you play on that difficulty.00.

Cons
1. I think firing a torpedo manually isnt quite as easy as it is in GWX. The biggest difference being that in the map there are only the most basic tools, and the ruler doesnt give a very accurate measurement of distance. You pretty much have to use statometer (or whatever its called) to get a good distance calculation.
2. No option for weapon officer assitance. From what I can tell you either have full auto targeting or you have full manual targeting without WO assistance. Kind of a shame, I used to like manual targeting with WO assistance, but I'll get used to it.
3. The targeting map does not show a torpedo path line like SH3 does, which will take getting used to for me because I would use that line to make a "best guess" torpedo shot in emergencies, now its much more of a guessing game (which is more realistic I guess)
4. From what I can tell, you cant enter the bearing into the torpedo computer manually, it is automatically taken from the periscope when you are locked on the target. Not that big of a deal, but I usually enter everything manually so it will take a bit of getting used to.
5. This is a big one (but keep in mind I only played for like a half hour so I may have just missed it). I couldnt figure out any way to fire a salvo of 2 or more torpedos. It looked like you had to fire one at a time. I hope I just missed it somewhere
6. Personally I think the interface left a bit to be desired, just the way the icons are set up I thought it took a bit longer to get to where you want to go than it did in SH3, which had a streamlined interface that was really easy to navigate.
7. Lastly I think the enemy AI is a bit too easy, even on 100% realism it seemed like I was getting away after attacking convoy's sooooo easy. I even got pinged once at pretty close range at periscope depth and they just kept on going, passed me at about 200 meters. Definitly nothing like GWX.

It have about the same number of pros and cons listed here, but dont take that the wrong way, I loved what I saw of this game, and I cant wait to get my own copy. The cons I listed are mostly cosmetic and none of them are a deal breaker, plus I'm sure our wonderful modding community will clear them up in no time :up:
So in closing, all of you anxiously awaiting the game feel free to be excited, I dont think you will be disappointed at all :)

[Payoff]

scalelokt
6. Sound effects are sweet, especially the change of the watch sound which I thought was a nice touch.


Thanks. Could you expand on this a bit. Do you hear an order being given for rotation or just folks shuffling about and so forth?

[Ark]

Although, in the game's defence, I'll have to say that things look a little better now that user-posted screenshots starts to surface in the screen/vid thread. I think Ubi maybe overemphazised that "gamey" aspect in their shots. Also, nice to see that people seems to be playing without that "Hollywood-filter". :up:
You know, the ironic thing is that this "Hollywood-filter" is most likely the reason SH4 won't support FSAA! And many people (myself included) would turn it off immediately.

Typically, a simulation is trying to re-create a sense of reality...people's eyes don't behave the way a camera does. Jaggiesoft would have you believe that in the 1940's, people saw things in black and white.

This whole "hollywood cinematic experience" thing that Jaggiesoft's marketing dept has been flogging around the Internet is...never mind. They don't have FSAA because Nvidia cards don't support HDR and FSAA at the same time. Presumably they were sponsored by Nvidia. You don't have to like it, but in big budget gaming publishers need all the money they can get.

That's incorrect.

It doesn't work with ATI cards either. It's an engine limitation, not a videocard one. Also, the new Nvidia cards are supposed to support both at the same time (8800 series).


You need to go read the FSAA thread. Lot of good information in there. :)

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=106112

And 8800 series cards are hardly a common benchmark, and people with that spec and above is fairly small. I can see why they'd not cater for it.


Nobody said the 8800 was a common benchmark.

The fact the 8800 series is able to do both at the same time is merely an attribute of that series of card. I don't think anybody is calling the 8800 series "common". Adding in FSAA is hardly "catering" to anybody since it is a standardized feature this day in age. ;)

Besides, it's not like FSAA will work with the 8800 series and SHIV anyways, so it's a moot issue. lol

Let's just wait for the game to actually be released and see how everything goes. There seems to some real good reports of the graphics despite the lack of FSAA (it's tough to be able to judge for yourself from a screenshot). As much as I love FSAA, I am still really excited about the product. :)

[Guido]

I expect that even if the 8800 cards cant force the AA currently, you will get an option to enjoy both FSAA and HDR with the DX10 patch thats sure to follow.:yep:

really some people do get there knickers in a twist dont they.

[Ryan]

I expect that even if the 8800 cards cant force the AA currently, you will get an option to enjoy both FSAA and HDR with the DX10 patch thats sure to follow.:yep:

really some people do get there knickers in a twist dont they.

You better run Vista too than as WinXP won't support DX10..

Ryan

[AirborneTD]

Thats for the info Scalelokt. Nice to hear and really looking forward to this sim.

[nhall70]

I expect that even if the 8800 cards cant force the AA currently, you will get an option to enjoy both FSAA and HDR with the DX10 patch thats sure to follow.:yep:

really some people do get there knickers in a twist dont they.

A DX10 patch is hardly "sure to follow". They have said they "might" do that...they have not said they will.

Even if they do, it's not at all clear what impact this might have on the issue of FSAA. The same people who designed their current engine would probably be involved in the DX10 "patch". As much as Ubisoft would love for you to believe this is a hardware limitation, that simply isn't true. Many games support both FSAA and HDR at the same time. In technical terms, it's post-processing the image that's causing this problem, not necessarily HDR.

I think it's fair to say that "our knickers are in a twist". Imagine if you'd been eagerly waiting this last year for SH4 to come out and just yesterday...two days before release, Ubisoft announced that SH4 was cancelled! That is effectively what just happened for many of us. :cry:

[Barkhorn1x]

5. This is a big one (but keep in mind I only played for like a half hour so I may have just missed it). I couldnt figure out any way to fire a salvo of 2 or more torpedos. It looked like you had to fire one at a time. I hope I just missed it somewhere


Dev. answer in another thread:


Well,

German submarines had "fan-shot" controls and this was replicated in sh3. You selected a group of tubes (from the historically accurate options), the spread of the salvo, and you pressed "fire".

US submarines didn't have this feature, and neithre does sh4. Instead, you select an individual tube and apply a so called "spread" to the already established gyro-angle. So you can fire tube 1 straight to Middle of Target, tube 2 with a spread of 2 degrees to the left, tube 3 with 2 degrees to the right. voila salvo control.


http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=107890

[Ryan]

I personally have doubts about a DX10 patch following up, for the following reasons:

- DX10 is, and will be, only supported by Vista
- You need a Graphics card capable of running DX10, like the 8800 series
- to install a card like the 8800 series you need a PCI-E board
- you better have a beefy proccesor like the most recent duo core series, or a card like the 8800 is pretty much useless..


So the question is: how many people will get advantage by such DX10 patch? Only the ones with up to date computers.

Go have a look at how many people on this board still run SH3, and going to run SH4, on systems that are a few years old. If you look at flightsim forums, and the discussions going on there about how long it's going to take to get a DX10 patch out for FSX (latest MS sim), it's quite obvious that there's some serious programming needed for such patch.. an estimated date for such FSX DX10 patch is by the end of this year..

I seriously doubt that the devs of SH4 will going to put so many resources in developing a DX10 patch, if so few actually have the hardware and software (Vista and DX10 capable card) to run it. But ey, who knows, right??

As for SH4 not supporting AA in 2007.. IMO it's just as silly as releasing a sim in 2005 that only supports 1024-768. Having said that though, I was still surprised at how SH3 looked at this resolution.. and that's a huge understatement! So who knows, maybe I'll be surprised again with SH4, even IF it doesn't support AA.


I think people should take a deep breath, just wait and see.. and only then after they have seen how it looks on their screens in full motion, state their opinion on how it looks. I can't of course tell others what to do.. but those Romanian devs have surprised me (and many with me) in the past with their fantastic SH3. I can't imagine it being any less with SH4-- with or without AA!

Can hardly wait to release date and get my order! :cool:

Ryan

[Fat Bhoy Tim]

Out of interest, what's the situation with Vista and SLI currently? I hear yes it's coming, I hear no - and lots of shades of grey.

[Guido]

DX10 may yet be utilised on XP machines, for those who havent read anything about this I suggest you read up.

As for the hardware limitations and FSAA + HDR - I dont want to get into the techno complexities of why they both dont work together on older graphics cards.

Suffice to say, VISTA and modern graphics cards drive the market, some of you guyz that hope every latest game will run just fine and dandy on your 486's DO NOT DRIVE the industry........... expect a DX10- patch for sure...why ????

Because its the future ;)

[Onkel Neal]

the audio issue is a problem, especially when submerged, you think your doing ok and next thing you know "game over" damnit...was i hit by a depth charge or what ?

more of an issue for me is this, no warning that your going below crush depth. and it seems that if you so much as enter your max depth even emergency blow wont get you back up again..

:yep: I agree, I've played this game almost a week, and several key crew reports are sorely needed. There are flashing light effects and water leaks to let you know all hell is breaking loose but I think it would be a significant improvement to have a crewmember shouting "We're taking on damage" and "We're sinking!"

Neal

[flintlock]

you better have a beefy proccesor like the most recent duo core series, or a card like the 8800 is pretty much useless.. Powerful processor notwithstanding, running a low resolution like 1280x1024 is waste on a 8800GTX. You really need to be running a good sized widescreen at it's native resolution with AA/AF to really start taxing the GPU, and start tansferring the load off the CPU.

So the question is: how many people will get advantage by such DX10 patch? Only the ones with up to date computers. I suspect you may be right about an SH4 DX10 patch ever seeing the light of day. Keep in mind that Ubisoft is trying to attract the casual gamer with SH4. There is a decent market of people who have powerful compters but aren't hardcore gamers. They may pick up a game here and there, but it's not the primary use for their systems. Personally I'd love to see a DX10 SH4 come to fruition, but I won't be holding my breath. Still, you never know.

[nhall70]

Out of interest, what's the situation with Vista and SLI currently? I hear yes it's coming, I hear no - and lots of shades of grey.

The current Vista drivers don't support SLI (as well as quite a few other things like forcing vsync) but I'm sure that NVIDIA will eventually get all this straightened out. SLI is not going to die with Vista. Personally, I don't mind waiting all that much...I just like to know that they're at least working on it and they have publicly stated that SLI support will be included in a future release.

Running two 8800GTX's in SLI is currently pretty pointless anyway. I don't have a single game that can make an 8800GTX sweat...even with everything cranked all the way up (including FSAA :D ) at 1920x1200.

[Cigol]

The cynic in me suspects that any DX10 improvements will be shoe-horned in to a new product. There was just too much new content to justify giving it away type situation.

[kaluin Otto Werner]

there are always problems people just deal with it,im from europe sow i have no cluw what your depth mesuerments are,so i look it up sow i know for the next mission that 150 feet aint 150 meter;) :cool:

[scalelokt]

@Payoff: It is like this whistling sound, I've heard it in movies before but I'm not sure how to describe. Its like a computer whistle that comes over the intercom to get everyone's attention, and then a voice says relieve the watch.

So I got to play it more this morning, here are some new things I noticed.

1. I said in an earlier post that the escort AI seemed pretty easy, I still think its the case. However one thing is a lot harder, and that is setting up yourself for a torpedo attack. The reason is because it seems like every unit I run into makes drastic course changes almost constantly, unless you spot a contact close to you that is on a perfect angle for a 90 degree shot, you can be pretty sure you will have to hunt it for a while and play cat and mouse because they keep changing course! Unlike GWX where most targets take a straight line for miles and miles (other than convoys of course)

2. I seem to have found a bug, when you enter your firing solution there is a button you can push that allows the targeting computer to continue to track the target over time. Seems like about half the time I hit that button it erases all the data I just entered and comes up with values that are way off, like 9800 distance when I entered 700, etc.

3. Ok this is a biggie. So far my friend and I have seen almost no weather changes. All we have seen is fog, higher waves, and either cloudy or clear skies. So far not a drop of rain, lightning or thunder. I'm hoping we have just been experiencing weeks of beautiful days in a row, but I'm a bit suspicious. I certainly hope they didnt decide to not have storms in the game or other weather effects.

Those are my biggest concerns right now. On the bright side the game is showing mad potential in about every other area, and its a lot of fun. If you all have any questions about the game let me know and I'll see if I can answer.

[Wave Skipper]

Complaints about aiming. Sounds ok to me. I know a lot of US skippers actually did not do any of the calculations and many did not even look through the scope! They had underlings to do all that. And often some of the best skippers main function in battle was saying: "Well, fire on the SOBs!"

My only concern is the early war torpedo failures which ought to be 70% for mag attacks. I note in the SH4 vid that they show one torpedo headed for the ship. Late in the war that was done. But early in the war most attacks used 3 torpedoes per ship since the fish (I can actually now use FISH instead of the eels since these are not U-boats) were not reliable.

But everything else I am hearing sounds like mods can fix it.

[tedhealy]

The reason is because it seems like every unit I run into makes drastic course changes almost constantly, unless you spot a contact close to you that is on a perfect angle for a 90 degree shot, you can be pretty sure you will have to hunt it for a while and play cat and mouse because they keep changing course! Unlike GWX where most targets take a straight line for miles and miles (other than convoys of course)


:rock::rock::rock::rock: for zigs
and
:rock::rock::rock::rock: for zags

[Cigol]

Thunder, storms, rain.. they are all in the game. Not seen lightning myself but I imagine it's there in some form (audio if nothing else).

[jeff lackey]

I've been in some heavy rainstorms, you'll eventually see that.

[scalelokt]

sweet:rock:

[Payoff]

Thanks scalelokt. Any thoughts on the new dynamic radio messages? Exactly how do you tune different frequencies (as the devs have stated) without a radio room?

[castorp345]

Exactly how do you tune different frequencies (as the devs have stated) without a radio room?

there's a popup (and repositionable) image/dialog for the radio controls...
so far as i can tell though there's only one radio station available...

[rls669]

Someone please answer the most important question: can we machine-gun lifeboats or not?

[MVolante]

In my version the event camera was not working. Has anyone else experienced this problem?

[ashbery76]

I miss talking to the U-boat crew,they are just static and lifeless in SH4 now,it takes away from immersion:shifty: .The UI was much better in SH3 in my view.

The graphics and dynamic campaign are much improved in SH4,so is the crew management but the game is buggy.

[scalelokt]

I hadnt noticed the radio transmissions being any different that SH3. You hit "M" and have the option to read messages, send a status report, send a contact report. This is the first I've heard of changing radio frequencies and all that, I'll have to give it a shot.

As far as machinegunning lifeboats, I havent tried that but I will lol. One thing weird about the lifeboats though, is that all the ones I have seen so far have no one in them, just empty rafts floating around. A bug maybe? Not sure. Downed pilots appear in the water, but enemy life rafts are all empty so far.

I havent experienced any problems with the event camera not working, however I have noticed that the framerate drops way down on the system I was on when the event camera comes on. Which was kind of surprising, so we ended up turning it off.

As far as performance goes, there are a lot of graphics options in the game. The biggest system hog as far as I can tell is the option to make the water clear so you can see a few feet underneath it. My friend and I experienced a big difference in performance with that option on and off. When the game lags though it doesnt manifest in "choppy graphics". Its more like the mouse is slow to respond and everything just seems to have a delay to it. It got old fast so we turned the "clear water" off. Game looks really good with and without it, so it isnt a big deal. The bottom line though is that with all the graphics options off this game should run pretty smoothly on any computer that can play GWX as far as I can tell. If you want all the bells and whistles and for the game to still run smoothly you are going to need a pretty high end machine. The good news though is the game looks beautiful even with all the graphics options turned off, so those of you with average machines should be able to enjoy the game just fine.

[castorp345]

I miss talking to the U-boat crew,they are just static and lifeless in SH4 now,it takes away from immersion:shifty:

in the control room if you click on the sonar operator and then click the interface button for sonar contacts then the operator will turn and talk to you... :)

[Snakeeyes]

The lack of FSAA.

I don't have to own SHIV to be irritated about that.

SOMEONE WANT TO TELL ME WHY THEY DID THIS?!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sorry, but for me (a person who can't run applications at resolutions allowing me to see the great wall of china from space) not having FSAA KILLED GRAW for me. I had to shelve it because the graphics were absolutely disgusting. I figured the "step-ladder wire" pictures were because the game was beta but now I see its because Ubisoft lost their minds... again.

Ok... maybe it sounds harsh (sorry Neal) but I'm really disappointed about this. I figure there is a 50/50 chance I'm just going to return it if its ANYTHING like what I got from GRAW. Graphics too sh#tty? Raise the resolution! Oh yeah... if you raise the resolution you get the framerate of a PINTO! If this is the case it's going back in the box and back to Ubisoft. I'm GLAD I didn't shell out for upgrades now.

[Yak]

One thing I like is the news feature in the radio messages (shame you don't actually get an audio notification for incoming RT but anyway...)

They must've done some research.

I never even knew luxembourg was liberated by the allies! :p

[jimmie]

Maybe it's only me but I think SH3's water (seen from the bridge) looks more natural. Yes, SH4's water has detailed "ripples" (whaddatheycallit) and animation but there's no white caps so water never breaks anywhere. It looks great on distance and it especially looks good in screenshots but on near sight it looks unnatural...to me.. :-? Hope this can be tweaked..

[THE_MASK]

I have a question . Are the watch crew affected by heavy seas ?

[Dantenoc]

Trying to keep a positive mind bout SHIV.

However, graphics look a little weird to me on the screen shots that I've seen so far. They look... more like paintings than fotographs, if you know what I mean. Don't get me wrong, they look great, very well done and all that... they just don't look real to me... more like I'm seeing an animated feature instead of a regular movie.

Any thoughts on this?

[mookiemookie]

... and no, I won't tell you what I really think about SH4.


Then why are you even posting? Your attitude up until now seems to be pretty nose in the air without adding anything of substance. You're a beta tester. Bully for you. :roll: All I've see in is just vague criticisms about the game not being finished.

As for something I don't like about the game, the fact that they use meters is pretty wacky. This undoubtedly needs to be changed to feet.

[Onkel Neal]

I miss talking to the U-boat crew,they are just static and lifeless in SH4 now,it takes away from immersion:shifty:

in the control room if you click on the sonar operator and then click the interface button for sonar contacts then the operator will turn and talk to you... :)

So will the XO :yep:

[Onkel Neal]

One thing I like is the news feature in the radio messages (shame you don't actually get an audio notification for incoming RT but anyway...)


Yes, you do get audio notification for radio messages, Yak. I think you have to be at 1x though.

[Onkel Neal]

The lack of FSAA.

I don't have to own SHIV to be irritated about that.

SOMEONE WANT TO TELL ME WHY THEY DID THIS?!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sorry, but for me (a person who can't run applications at resolutions allowing me to see the great wall of china from space) not having FSAA KILLED GRAW for me. I had to shelve it because the graphics were absolutely disgusting. I figured the "step-ladder wire" pictures were because the game was beta but now I see its because Ubisoft lost their minds... again.

Ok... maybe it sounds harsh (sorry Neal) but I'm really disappointed about this. I figure there is a 50/50 chance I'm just going to return it if its ANYTHING like what I got from GRAW. Graphics too sh#tty? Raise the resolution! Oh yeah... if you raise the resolution you get the framerate of a PINTO! If this is the case it's going back in the box and back to Ubisoft. I'm GLAD I didn't shell out for upgrades now.

No need to apologize to me, mate. If you decide to return it, that's your perogative. Of course, the SH4 discussions will be a little flat without you ;)

Neal

[hyperion2206]

... and no, I won't tell you what I really think about SH4.


Then why are you even posting? Your attitude up until now seems to be pretty nose in the air without adding anything of substance. Just vague criticisms about the game not being finished.

The game will be released in 2 or 3 days over here in Europe, so he can tell us what he really thinks of SH4 pretty soon.:lol:

[Onkel Neal]

Exactly how do you tune different frequencies (as the devs have stated) without a radio room?

there's a popup (and repositionable) image/dialog for the radio controls...
so far as i can tell though there's only one radio station available...

Click the little arrows on the radio. One is for play, there is another that looks like a FF arrow, it scans frequencies.

[JamesT73J]

I think claiming the lack of FSAA is equivalent to the game not being released at all is hilarious.

The screenies do have that 'painting' affect, but I thought SH3 also had a very artistic feel, which I really liked. I'm looking forward to the mod community getting their teeth into it.

James

[castorp345]

Click the little arrows on the radio. One is for play, there is another that looks like a FF arrow, it scans frequencies.

that's true, but in both directions it scans without finding anything other than 'washington'...

and indeed, in the \Data\Sound\Radio folder the only radio station present seems to be the Washington folder...

i suppose the community is expected here to come up with further radio stations...

:-?

[Sheppard]

My overall summary from a few minutes playing SH4:

THE GOOD:
They've improved time compression, I was able to crank it up to something like 4000x away from a base in the Phillipines and watch the time spool away smoothly. Looks like logn pacific patrols won't be torture.

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/3893/sh4oniqf6.jpg
An idea taken from the modders!

Hitting ESC near a base brings up this menu:
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/7102/docksm9.jpg

Graphics are cool
http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/5470/sboatnightof7.jpg

http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/2756/sh4graphicsmt1.jpg
Many more options than simply 1024x768, including some widescreen formats (I think)

THE BAD:

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/1114/sh4desktd0.jpg
The Career screen is 3d. Yes. 3d. You can click and drag your view around, which causes you to miss selectable areas due to the initial default view angle. And it used up valuable time that could have been used for something else, and really adds no immersion.

The User interface is much less intuitive and clunkier than SH3's.

While there are some nice things from mods for SH3 that have been incorporated like enlargeable dials, e.g. you put the mouse over a dial and it enlarges, etc, too much of the user interface is clunky and takes up more room compared to the SH3 incarnation:

http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/6162/sh3uita1.jpg
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/8113/sh4uiog4.jpg

Too much was changed around from SH3 for no good reason other than "change is good!"

Why was it necessary to move the report list from the bottom of the screen, where it's grouped with all the other controls and dials to it's own window, which constantly gets in the way and is distracting, no more simply scanning the bottom of the screen? Yes, I know the report window is now draggable around but it's a pain to drag it around so you can see certain things on specific screens.

Also, you can no longer click on people in the 3D view, and tell them what to do via the menu which appears when you hit them like in SH3.

It also appears that you can no longer tell the Weapons officer equivalent to come up with a solution on the target (something which I think happened due to the shift from "crewmen" to "Stations" as a design decision).

No longer does a single button bring up the fuel status, air status, CO2 status, etc; but now you have to click buttons on the bottom of the screen to bring up that status, and it's displayed as a simple filled bar, no more immersive graphics of dials.

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/276/reportyo0.jpg
(Blown up 200% to make it easier to see)

More Damning, is that AFAIK, the TDC is confusingly all over the place AFAIK, there's no immersive single "go to" screen for the TDC like there was in SH1.

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/4091/sh4tdcsa3.jpg
SH4 TDC (best you got)

http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/5140/tdcub0.gif
SH1 TDC single screen

The Radar isn't much better

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/9736/sh4radarmd4.jpg
SH4 Radar. Yes, I'm sure WW2 radars displayed the range scale on the CRT screen itself. There are no labels on the switches, so you have to sort of guess how many clicks on the switch to get the range you want.


http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/1619/sh1radarfv6.gif
SH1 Radar. Quite a bit more useable, no?

[Sheppard]

(continued since 12 image limit, grrr)

http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/4751/sh4cascadeeg4.jpg
Particle Sprays will enamanate from the limber holes in your boats; I guess this is to simulate cascading water off your hull. But it just looks bad.

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/5044/ussearchplanebc0.jpg
Why, I didn't know that the US used Lancasters as long range bombers and search planes in WW2!

Also, I didn't know that the US used metric to measure distances and depths in WW2!

http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/1296/flickerdialsdg6.jpg
The flickering light problem is also present in this. Guess they didn't fix it.

[BOF]

I think the interior sounds are bad, and the water sprays comming from the submarines don't look good at all.

Explosions and effects I think is good.

BOF

[Fat Bhoy Tim]

So basically we can all agree it's another game which is barely more than half finished in both the literal and figurative sense. Wonderful.

[Spaxspore]

bow shots dont seem to work at all, 2 in the bow of a japanese destoryer... not visable damage, no flooding, nothing... happened to me multiple times on bow shots so far, have not killed anything or damaged anything by hitin the bow

[Hans Schultz]

So basically we can all agree it's another game which is barely more than half finished in both the literal and figurative sense. Wonderful.
its becoming the norm with PC games anymore.

[Spaxspore]

yep only company it hasnt been in my experiance in star docks games. Man they know how to make a finished product with a limited budget and devs. And they read forums and use customer input to add new features to thier games. (IE GAL CIV2) i know am a fan boy of them , but i cant help it.

[Fat Bhoy Tim]

So basically we can all agree it's another game which is barely more than half finished in both the literal and figurative sense. Wonderful. its becoming the norm with PC games anymore.

In fact the only games I've bought in the last few years that didn't need major patching were the Dawn of War games, and Company of Heroes - both by Relic. And Full Spectrum Warrior (the original, not the rubbish sequel).

Two developed by Relic, and all 3 published by THQ. There's a lesson in there I think :hmm:

[Fat Bhoy Tim]

yep only company it hasnt been in my experiance in star docks games. Man they know how to make a finished product with a limited budget and devs. And they read forums and use customer input to add new features to thier games. (IE GAL CIV2) i know am a fan boy of them , but i cant help it.

Used to be like that with Sports Interactive, who made the old Championship Manager and the current Football Manager games. But the last 5 years they've started to nosedive further and further.

[Onkel Neal]

http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/1619/sh1radarfv6.gif
SH1 Radar. Quite a bit more useable, no?

I agree with you there. There are areas in a sim where 2D stations are more appropriate and effective, sonar and radar screens are one of them.

But I like the SH4 TDC much better than SH1 through SH3, everything is right at hand, I've been able to score about 74% hits in SH4 using manual TDC and I've only had it a week. :yep: Give it a few days, maybe you will see what I mean.

[Spaxspore]

http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/1619/sh1radarfv6.gif
SH1 Radar. Quite a bit more useable, no?
I agree with you there. There are areas in a sim where 2D stations are more appropriate and effective, sonar and radar screens are one of them.

But I like the SH4 TDC much better than SH1 through SH3, everything is right at hand, I've been able to score about 74% hits in SH4 using manual TDC and I've only had it a week. :yep: Give it a few days, maybe you will see what I mean.

Good ol' dos box:up:

[Tigrone]

1. I don't like the Poem. Milton? Give me a break! It's not even good Milton. I mean with everything that's in Paradise Lost, they come up with this?
2. It is not appropriate to the time or place.
3. I don't like the voice reciting it either.
4. It's got to go.

I found the extended poem to be really annoying and totally out of place. I put it in the same catagory of the game, as having it implemented in metric and of a marketing department without a clue.

I'm being shocked repeatedly here, not by bugs or clitches or some incomplete portions (which are just normal introduction teething problems), but by the ignorance being shown and by the complete disregard for the American market. The game seems to be very Eurocentric, which I find distracting from its enjoyment.

All the graphics, screens and videos, I've seen look wonderful. I've read the explanations, but I do not understand the FSAA panic at all. I am just an old dinosaur though, and I'm not sure if I even understand stereo. I just want a fun game without too many irritants to enterfere with the fun of playing it. It is important to me, though, that it is at least real enough to allow me to suspend belief a bit and accept the simulation on its own terms. Metrics, Lancasters, and Milton badly read by an English actor make that a little difficult. But, I am going to try.

[mookiemookie]

1. I don't like the Poem. Milton? Give me a break! It's not even good Milton. I mean with everything that's in Paradise Lost, they come up with this?
2. It is not appropriate to the time or place.
3. I don't like the voice reciting it either.
4. It's got to go.

I found the extended poem to be really annoying and totally out of place. I put it in the same catagory of the game, as having it implemented in metric and of a marketing department without a clue.


From watching the trailer on the Ubisoft site, I know what you mean. I found the whole intro kind of odd and out of place. The SH3 intro really set the mood with a convoy attack and it cut off at the right moment when the torpedoes were fired. This time around, its hard to tell what's going on with the unnecessary fast forward effects and whatnot....I see an attack on a battleship and then the submarine gets depth charged and sunk afterwards. Yeah, way to encourage me to "go out and get 'em!" :roll: :dead:

Ah well, this is just nitpicking. How much do you really sit and watch the intro movie. I'm with you, though. The Lancasters and metric measurements bother me a lot more than the lack of AA.

[joea]

bow shots dont seem to work at all, 2 in the bow of a japanese destoryer... not visable damage, no flooding, nothing... happened to me multiple times on bow shots so far, have not killed anything or damaged anything by hitin the bow

Errrr dud torpedoes?

[Tigrone]

Hi MookieMookie,
Yes, true, but I was so excited, and now I have to dodge the very first thing out of the box, the Introduction. If the first thing one encounters is irritating and depressing, it makes it harder not to question the rest. These are not bugs or errors, they are designed; they are things the developers put in, someone thought they were a good idea.

[Spaxspore]

bow shots dont seem to work at all, 2 in the bow of a japanese destoryer... not visable damage, no flooding, nothing... happened to me multiple times on bow shots so far, have not killed anything or damaged anything by hitin the bow
Errrr dud torpedoes?

No both dentatonated, watched them hit via external mode

[LukeFF]

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/5044/ussearchplanebc0.jpg
Why, I didn't know that the US used Lancasters as long range bombers and search planes in WW2!

:o

WTH?

[Greyghost]

Not only wrong aircraft. They have the wrong paint scheme and the star on the fuselage is upside down :-?

[dean_acheson]

I am not a fan of the old orange star when you are submerged.

[CCIP]

I am not a fan of the old orange star when you are submerged.

You mean the marker on the surface?

Just press Ctrl+NumPadDelete :know:

[Hans Schultz]

I am not a fan of the old orange star when you are submerged.

You mean the marker on the surface?

Just press Ctrl+NumPadDelete :know:

:rock: THANK YOU!

[dean_acheson]

thanks CCIP!

I like most everything.

I don't like the sound thing with only being able to play the grammapone and radio with the music turned on. I think it is nice to be able to listen to music and then flip it off fast after a contact.

I really do love the graphics, the rays of moonlight on a partly cloudy night.

I really love the intro.

Have had one CTD. Placed the game on admin., hope that helps (i have vista)

I am figuring out the damage control stuff.

I don't understand the patrol thing. Clearer instructions would be nice.

The manual and the game seem a bit different. I am not sure how to 'target' as told in the manual when playing with the total tdc.

Some of these things I will figure out I'm sure.

The plants underwater are a bit big.

The flags seem a bit big.

[Spaxspore]

Quick Question!

How the hell do u do a photo recon mission!!!??

[dean_acheson]

The bloody enter button fires a torpedo......

This is a real problem, when you are playing in the bloody dark.

[IRONxMortlock]

Trying to keep a positive mind bout SHIV.

However, graphics look a little weird to me on the screen shots that I've seen so far. They look... more like paintings than fotographs, if you know what I mean. Don't get me wrong, they look great, very well done and all that... they just don't look real to me... more like I'm seeing an animated feature instead of a regular movie.

Any thoughts on this?

You know mate, that's exactly my feeling on the new "look" too. It's kind of cartoonish isn't it?
________
Latifa_Sexy cam (http://camslivesexy.com/cam/Latifa_Sexy)

[Ark]

Graphics things I don't like:

No FSAA
V-Sync doesn't work for me (prob. a driver issue, though I didn't notice it in other games)
Post-Processig Filters make dark objects "black".
Environmental Effects are wrong (sunlight doesn't hit objects correctly).
Shadows appear and disappear depending on how close you are zoomed in.
Cables look like a jagged whitish color when you are at periscope depth looking down.
Character models have scary eyes.


I've only been playing for a short time though, so I'll need more time to find other issues.

[Ark]

Trying to keep a positive mind bout SHIV.

However, graphics look a little weird to me on the screen shots that I've seen so far. They look... more like paintings than fotographs, if you know what I mean. Don't get me wrong, they look great, very well done and all that... they just don't look real to me... more like I'm seeing an animated feature instead of a regular movie.

Any thoughts on this?

You know mate, that's exactly my feeling on the new "look" too. It's kind of cartoonish isn't it?

With the Post-Processing filters on, the dark objects look black. The filter just doesn't look right. But, turning the filter off makes everything look wierd too. Darned if you do, darned if you don't. lol

[Tigrone]

I asked over at the official SH4 site about the Lanc and some of the other errors I'd noticed. This the moderators reply:

RedTerex (http://javascript<b></b>:void(0))
Ubi Moderator.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v463/RedTerex/kapitanterex.jpgTue March 20 2007 22:07 Tue March 20 2007 22:07

Or it may be a case of young game developers who have a poor knowledge of WWII!

[Fat Bhoy Tim]

The bloody enter button fires a torpedo......

This is a real problem, when you are playing in the bloody dark.
They still have that annoying hangover from SHIII, christ that was one of the things people bitched about the most.

I hate to say it, but with everyone creaming themselves over the graphics and going on about how much it will rule - I get some perverse pleasure in the fact it looks to be a worse game than SH3.

Unless they manage to put out some MAJOR patches in the next few months, I very much doubt I'll be buying another title because these are not just lapses in judgement and missing features, but downright amateurish mistakes.

[robbo180265]

The bloody enter button fires a torpedo......

This is a real problem, when you are playing in the bloody dark.
They still have that annoying hangover from SHIII, christ that was one of the things people bitched about the most.

I hate to say it, but with everyone creaming themselves over the graphics and going on about how much it will rule - I get some perverse pleasure in the fact it looks to be a worse game than SH3.

Unless they manage to put out some MAJOR patches in the next few months, I very much doubt I'll be buying another title because these are not just lapses in judgement and missing features, but downright amateurish mistakes.

I have to agree. From what I'm reading here it looks like another half finished game and I wont be rushing out to buy it. SHIII rocks, but not because of Ubisoft - because of all the hard work done by the modders.

No doubt Ubisoft are waiting for the modders to bail them out of this one too:down:

[Fat Bhoy Tim]

I have to agree. From what I'm reading here it looks like another half finished game and I wont be rushing out to buy it. SHIII rocks, but not because of Ubisoft - because of all the hard work done by the modders.

No doubt Ubisoft are waiting for the modders to bail them out of this one too:down:

Spot on. Till I downloaded the first GWX build I was distinctly underwhelmed with the game, and rarely played it.

In all honesty, Ubi is returning from whence it came. For years Ubi was known as a publisher that churned out utter garbage, regardless of genre or developer. Then about 7 years ago it started to turn, bought up a lot of good licenses (not to mention Red Storm) and was putting out decent software there for a while. Then the last 2/3 years it's fallen back down again, and those licences are all starting to turn rubbish, just like all their previous stuff.

[Shigawire]

I'm playing on "Realistic" - highest difficulty.

+ I love the much more alive campaign map and missions! very important.
+ I love the shift-based crew management, about time! Much better, less micromanagement.
+ Graphics. More colorful terrain, better water.
+ More special abilities for crewmembers.

- Speed-dial in TDC doesn't work! I run the stopwatch and nothing happens, I have to manually guess the speed of the craft! I think the best is to have a combination of assisted and manual TDC. After all, it's not a one-man submarine, you have people working under you to do much of the analysis.
- Due to the abovementioned TDC problem, as well as a "Verdammte Sturm", I was forced to use my deck-gun to destroy a convoy (this was on my first patrol). To my delight... and dismay... I could actually man the deck-gun in this storm! And I was even more shocked to see that the deck-gun was so efficient. Without using a single torpedo, I sank 29`000 tons of shipping in this one convoy. The escorts eventually came, but were quite useless even as I was on the surface. They were firing starshells like mad, but couldn't see me due to the enormous waves. When I returned to Pearl Harbor, I saw I am now #1 on the Sub Ace list with 29`000 tons... :dead:
- Sounds. I have a SB Xi-Fi Fatal1ty, so it's not my HW - but I get sometimes chirping in the sound. And when a seagull passes over, the sound loops a lot at the first milisec, sounding like a siren. Also, the voices were too low at default volume compared to the music, so I had to lower the music and sound-effects to even be able to hear the voices.
- Event Viewer doesn't seem to work even at easy.
- I miss the ability to see how far I can travel at current speed, at current fuel reserves. This was in SH3, but has been removed from SH4. :-?
- I miss the ability to manually rotate the hydrophone.
- I miss more interactivity with watchmen crew.
- I miss "Repair" ability for my crewmembers.
- The radar interface is useless, was much better in SH1 - as has been demonstrated here. It can very well be 3D, but it must be functional! Look to flightsims like "LOMAC 1.2 Black Shark" to see how this can be done.
- As has been mentioned by others, some aspect of crewmanagement could be made less micro-managed - as you have sub-officers who would do that job for you usually. Putting people in positions they excel at should be the "default" behaviour, not a directed behaviour.
- I miss the graphical interaction of walking around in the sub, meeting my crewmen face to face. Robot or not, it affects atmosphere greatly. More menus and icons don't make it a simulator, it makes it into a cold technocrat's dream. I'm not a technocrat, I must at least have the illusion of working with humans in the game. :doh:
- I don't really care about this one but I will add it: Didn't like the intro. It was artsy fartsy in its own way, thus in a different context could be cool. But totally out of place I felt. :ping:


Btw, I did see a lightning-storm in my long patrol. So they exist, both graphically and audiowise.

[joea]

- I miss the ability to manually rotate the hydrophone.
- I miss more interactivity with watchmen crew.
- The radar interface is useless, was much better in SH1 - as has been demonstrated here. It can very well be 3D, but it must be functional! Look to flightsims like "LOMAC 1.2 Black Shark" to see how this can be done.


You can, using the keyboard

http://www.subsim.com/sh4/sh4_66.htm

[castorp345]

Didn't like the intro. It was artsy fartsy in its own way, thus in a different context could be cool. But totally out of place I felt.

yeah, that pretentious drivel was one of the first things i removed ('borrowed the empty intro.wmv and logo.wmv from my modded sh3 install)...

[Woody34]

I received my copy of the game yesterday. So i got up really early this morning to have a go at it.

What a bummer so far.
After numerous attempts to start a career I have found the following bugs thatreally annoy me.
- Japanese home islands
Ships seem to want to run on land. They collide head back and do the same thing over again.
I came from PH and used 1/4 of fuel. I run fast in shallow water and I used 3/4 of fuel on 100KM.

- Between Midway and Japan
Numerous radar sightings of ships by my SA radar.
After a while they are reported sunk????

- North of Luzon
I've been patrolling the assigned area for 5 days but still incomplete.
Ran into a taskforce. Reported it. Sank a Kongo Class BS with 3 torps. Is that all it needs?
With the BS sunk and myself down at 70 meter or feet(unclear what it is). Did anybody say manual http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/16x16_smiley-wink.gif Well suddunly I'm dead???
No destroyers near me, no depthcharges, nothing just died instantly. No damage either.
Before i met the taskforce i met numerous aircraft. In SH3 I would run deep. In SH4 I shoot them. They fall out of the
sky like the old nintendo duckhunt game.

- Eastern part of Luzon. Mission. Drop 24 tons of rubbish.
So I do except that the game crashes when I order the stuff to be shipped to land.

- Sinking merchants with torpedoes
I shot one torp, it hit and left a hole about 1/5th the size of the ship. I figured this one must sink, yet it didn't.
Second torp hit, no hole at all? The fact that it didn't sink didn't bother me the fact that has such a huge hole and didn't sink does not seem very realistic.

- South of Luzon
I'm doing nothing just watching the map going by, then within a second I go from loaded with fuel to no more fuel??


Other stuff
- Torpedo reloadtime would be nice to know.
- Is relaoding the deck gun in 5 seconds realistic?
- fps goes from 40 to 120 every second on external view.
- diving to 165 feet or meters kills you. Not at 165 but from there there is no way up again, it just falls down to it's crushing depth.
- I would like to see indicators of safe diving depths on the various submarine models.
- Some technical details on the subs would be welcomed too.
- the 2nd. day after PH got bombed I see a load of aircraft carriers, completely intact and spotless harbour and all the BS there still float, like nothing ever happened.
- Using the spread manually did not work properly. I just leave it MOT. By the time the first torp hits the ship changes course and the others just slam home in front or behind MOT. http://forums.ubi.com/images/smilies/mockface.gif
- Last but not least i expected a bit more of the graphics. I use all the eye candy but somehow i feel like being in a comic book.

Before anybody starts telling me that i shouldn't be negative or seek help from a shrink. I'm not negative. I just really looked forward to this game. Pre-ordered it. And then it turns out to be one huge bug. Bummer.
For the time being I'll stick to SH3 dodging depth charges at 240 meters for 3 hours. Let's hope Ubi clears a lot of the bugs in the coming weeks.

One last thing. A huge thumbs up for the GWX boys on their work in SH3.

[HannesGM]

As I stated somewhere else, I'd love to play on the Japanese side... US is nice and good, but I'd love the challenge of playing the Japanese, especially later in the war.

Maybe, just maybe, there's gonna be a mod that takes this up... though I doubt it :/

[Shigawire]

Ditto all that Woody34 said. What is GWX btw?

Plus, I'd like more technical info on the submarine types, as well as the torpedo types, just like SH3. Having to look in the manual should be unnecessary.

[ref]

No doubt Ubisoft are waiting for the modders to bail them out of this one too:down:

In my case please find a comfortable seat for waiting...
Unless UBI releases some white papers on the data files format,(I'm not even asking for an SDK) after spending about a year working with GW on sh3 trying to figure out every bit of data (and still trying), I'm a bit reluctant to restart the hole process again.
Just so everyone can see what support we have so far, I've contacted some members of the dev team, after waiting a month or so for a response ("no problem ask what you want") I sent a mail with my doubts... still waiting the response after 5 months (I don't blame the dev team, after all they are just employees taking care of their jobs) so as I told before if the modding comunity has a clear and real support from Ubi I may continue working on SH4, otherwhise I'll keep playing (in fact start playing :p ) SH3+GWX.

Ref

[Enigma]

Can anyone tell me what the death sequence is like? I always hated in SH3 how the game just stops and it says: "Your dead". I always thought it would be bettter when you die for the game to cut to an outside view, and show the boat going down, blowing up, whatever.....

[ACSoft]

... and no, I won't tell you what I really think about SH4.


Then why are you even posting?..

To defend myself, when somebody put me in the category of peoples complaining before even having played with the game. Moreover, it wasn't a critic. I have only precised that gauges in Imperial and the rest in metric was not a bug, but something obviously unfinished.

Your attitude up until now seems to be pretty nose in the air without adding anything of substance. You're a beta tester. Bully for you. :roll: All I've see in is just vague criticisms about the game not being finished.

And again, I am not allowed to say anything subtancial and personnal about the game. Almost not before the game is published everywhere, which is still not the case apparently.

ACS

[Woody34]

Can anyone tell me what the death sequence is like? I always hated in SH3 how the game just stops and it says: "Your dead". I always thought it would be bettter when you die for the game to cut to an outside view, and show the boat going down, blowing up, whatever.....

Even more boring than sh3.

[codmander]

lol what a piece of junk :-? thanks for nothing ubi :-? 50$ is better spent elsewhere NO DOUBT see sh4 when it hits 10$ witch should be in about a week:o sad man i fell sorry for people they got ripped off on this sim :-? :-? :-? :-?

[Gammel]

Can anyone tell me what the death sequence is like? I always hated in SH3 how the game just stops and it says: "Your dead". I always thought it would be bettter when you die for the game to cut to an outside view, and show the boat going down, blowing up, whatever.....
Even more boring than sh3. Did you noticed the upcoming patch 1.1 changelog? ;)
Added a "death camera"

[Sheppard]

DIslike the torpedo loading status:

as it is, "53/100" is not very helpful

"4:00" is much more helpful.

I hate the new draggable around "status line bar". It seems like I'm always having to drag it around each time I go to a new station, to get it out of that station's buttons etc.

Go back to SH3's "everything you need at bottom" UI

[mrmertz]

...instead of Imperial measurments is that the dev team at Ubi was too busy across the road consoling the Starforce team.

Jeff aka mrmertz

[joea]

...instead of Imperial measurments is that the dev team at Ubi was too busy across the road consoling the Starforce team.

Jeff aka mrmertz

Harhar :roll:

[tater]

7. Lastly I think the enemy AI is a bit too easy, even on 100% realism it seemed like I was getting away after attacking convoy's sooooo easy. I even got pinged once at pretty close range at periscope depth and they just kept on going, passed me at about 200 meters. Definitly nothing like GWX.

I'm waiting on my copy, but according to fedex it's on a truck for delivery today, woot!

Anyway, regarding the AI, it'll be interesting to see, but IJN ASW doctrine was virtually nonexistant early in the war, and what developed during the course of the war was marginal. If the ASW capability of the IJN is not grossly lower than USN/RN capability, even early in the Battle of the Atlantic, something is wrong. So perhaps they intentionally (or unintentionally) got it right.

[peewee]

just watched neils video attack sequence.....mostly it looked ok, but I'm suprised (and disappointed) that they used the same voices as in SHIII. Would it really have been that difficult to get new AMERICAN voices for the various order acknowledegments instead of germans speaking english?...........after a years wait, I can see this being a big disappointment......

[Psyon]

7. Lastly I think the enemy AI is a bit too easy, even on 100% realism it seemed like I was getting away after attacking convoy's sooooo easy. I even got pinged once at pretty close range at periscope depth and they just kept on going, passed me at about 200 meters. Definitly nothing like GWX.

I'm waiting on my copy, but according to fedex it's on a truck for delivery today, woot!

Anyway, regarding the AI, it'll be interesting to see, but IJN ASW doctrine was virtually nonexistant early in the war, and what developed during the course of the war was marginal. If the ASW capability of the IJN is not grossly lower than USN/RN capability, even early in the Battle of the Atlantic, something is wrong. So perhaps they intentionally (or unintentionally) got it right.

Didnt most, if not all of Japans captians were brought up with the ship VS ship mentality and never had any experience against hostile sub activity, China surely didnt have a sub force back then did they? it must have took awhile before they started wising up. i am sure in late 43', early 44' there will be DE/DD's barreling down on people left and right;) whether sound tactics will be used, i cannot say:|\\

[Dizoak]

all i have to say is this: when i found SH3 i thought "oh awesome! a graphically superior game akin to Aces of the Deep!" but it wasnt, then i found GWX and it was like "AWESOME! this fine community of modders love this game so much they made it 100x's better!"

i can wait for SH4 to be modded to all he*l and gone and for it to be the fantastic game it will be one day. you guys (and girls) work wonders on games and your passion for the game and subject matter is CLEARLY evident and will soon start showing itself in the waters of the pacific. im downloading SH4 right now, and if it turns out it isnt all that great right now, thats fine. i can wait for mods, especially since GWX kicks so much a$$.

[Snakeeyes]

Okay. Got it. Installed it. played around for about 30 minutes before having to get back to work.

What I like:

The weather and sun effects kick SHIII's ass
Nice intro but hate the poem
Water wash effect on the "lens" is great! How far we have come!
Airplane effects are nice
fast loading times compared to SHIII
39 FPS inside the boat
The lack of AA is not as bad as I thought with the deck gun and inside the boat.
Underwater plantlife is nice.


What I don't like:
AA is a bad problem. I was able to tweak it using glare and so forth but when I have it balanced out for maximum quality it looks really bad still. UGGLY. While not as bad as it looked in some earlier videos... man. Why did they pick this engine! Large objects like battleships and carriers look DAMN NICE but smaller craft like your boat... nasty. Who drew the free flood holes on the sides of the boats? Looks really bad.

Lacks of labels on internal controls is just... lame.

MAN! The sound is fracked up!!!!!! Anyone else get really weird static-like sounds in the anti-aircraft tutorial.

Could not sink a TUB with the deck gun in the anti-air tutorial so maybe I can't??? More play-time.

What is up with crewmembers with square heads?! They can't round these guys down? No... I'm not talking about flat-tops I mean bald crewmen. Not much of an imrpovement from my officers in SHIII. BUT I'm still playing so not casting judgment on all character models by a long shot.


Weird initial loading. I started playing after initial start-up and WOW the framerates on the bridge was an astounding 5! Whoah! I thought. This is going back! But I restarted and I get framerates of 28 with most settings on full.

Ocean looks... well... ok with full post-effects but they slow my framerates down so I'll have to go without until maybe I can get some more RAM. WOW do post-effects bring out the jaggies inside the boat. I turned them on and I swear the line from Bill Murray from Scrooge came out of my mouth out loud "Boy! Does THAT suck!"

More to come.

[rascal101]

Overall and despite the more obvious or glaring, ( should I say blurring) problems I agree with Dizoak 100%

all i have to say is this: when i found SH3 i thought "oh awesome! a graphically superior game akin to Aces of the Deep!" but it wasnt, then i found GWX and it was like "AWESOME! this fine community of modders love this game so much they made it 100x's better!"

i can wait for SH4 to be modded to all he*l and gone and for it to be the fantastic game it will be one day. you guys (and girls) work wonders on games and your passion for the game and subject matter is CLEARLY evident and will soon start showing itself in the waters of the pacific. im downloading SH4 right now, and if it turns out it isnt all that great right now, thats fine. i can wait for mods, especially since GWX kicks so much a$$.

[donut]

The bloody enter button fires a torpedo......

This is a real problem, when you are playing in the bloody dark.

Dean Bud, use Setkeys to have enter=TC=0, fire torps w/fire button:lol: I DO:sunny:I think,you will like the change.

[StandingCow]

Playing now.. this is going to take some getting used to.. :)

Right away I don't like the entire damage thing nor sounds, but I think they fixed damage with this 1.11 patch or whatever.. I was diving to test out how deep I could go... didn't hear any creeking or damage reports so I kept diving, check out my damage control and half of my stuff is red and my crew is all pissed off.. never woulda known otherwise.

All the graphical issues people were talking about I have not yet seen... everything looks good and the "jaggies" are not that bad at LCD res for me.

[mookiemookie]

I'm sure this will be a rehash of what's already been posted, but I'd like to add my voice to the chorus.

1. The Installation process was a breeze.

2. The intro movie: what. the. hell.?!?!? It's so bizarre...the fast forward special effects were out of place. Milton's poem "On Time" was just a bizarre choice for a submarine simulation game. Plus I don't like the fact the submarine making the attack on the battleship gets creamed by depth charges. You're supposed to be inspired by the intro, not discouraged!

3. The museum has listings for survivors and liferafts, but no actual ships are shown if you select them to look at. Either take out the listings or add in the models. I'll let this go for now. Let's check out the other models. (As someone else already mentioned) Hmm....is that a...um...Lancaster Bomber? With US markings? Didn't we...um...never have any of those in any theatre of the war?! And weren't the Aussies the only ones to have Tribal class destroyers in the PTO, and not he Brits? Some work needs to be done by modders here.

3. The menus seem a bit unfinished. The fact that there's a dropdown box on the submarine school menu for a choice of boat is misleading. You have no choice! When you're selecting a quick mission, it makes sense as you can choose your boat type. This needs to be cleaned up.

4. The scenery is beautiful. There's harbor traffic! There's gorgeous textures! The ocean looks like the ocean! Whee! Boats are dingy and "used looking" as you would imagine wartime oceangoing vessels would be. It's gorgeous. The clouds move too fast, though. But that's a small nitpick.

5. The first training mission is kind of pointless. I'm a SH3 vet so I know how to issue navagational orders for my sub, but I was playing through it for completeness sake. The goal is to "Sail to the indicated spot." Um...yeah, and? At least in SH3 this training mission made you dive and change speeds.

6. Why were all of the hotkeys changed for no good reason? My attack scope used to be F3. Now it's F4. My nav map used to be F5, and now it's F3. My bridge used to be F4, now it's F5. For those of you following along at home, let me clarify: those are the SAME THREE STATIONS and the SAME THREE FUNCTION keys, except mixed up in a ZANY WACKY NEW ORDER. WHY, DAMMIT, WHY!? I suppose I could remap them, but it just is absolutely senseless to change the defaults when there's no need to change them.

7. There is such a maddening mix of imperial and metric that I am absolutely lost. The recognition manual lists ship drafts in meters. Now is my gauge (which, mind you, should be a straight up model of a USN submarine gauge) in feet (as it should be) or meters? If the draft on that Mogami Cruiser is 5.5 meters as listed in the recognition manual, do I set the TDC for my magnetic torpedoes for 6.5? Or is the dial on the TDC in feet? Where's my metric to imperial calculator?

8. Alright fine, we'll worry about depth later. Let's get the rest of this stuff plugged in. Ship ID...check, Mogami Heavy Cruiser. Range...pull out the stadimeter....line up that waterline and masthead.....CRASH. I have quickly learned that the US Navy stadimeter must have been a secret Japanese sabotage instrument, as I can't use it without crashing everything. For now, I decide to use auto targeting.

9. Spread? Why do I have a TDC dial for torpedo spread? US subs didn't have one button salvo launch capability. Why do I have a spread function? What does it do? The manual is as clear as mud on this.

10. Somehow I sink the ship by just saying "screw it" and using the impact pistols and setting the draft for 1. I figure 1 foot or 1 meter ain't much difference. The ship goes down. Hey look, little lifeboats! Awesome! Nice touch.

11. Uh oh....air attack! Let's slug it out and see how these AA guns work! Bang bang! Ooh, got one! Parachutes! I resist the urge to swiss cheese the poor guy's chute and let him land safely in the water. Let's go shoot some more planes down! Um...hey...why is this plane just buzzing around without attacking? Why is this other plane just buzzing around without attacking.....why is every plane just buzzing around without attacking? In SH3, you saw a plane, you got your ass underwater on the PDQ. Here, you see a plane and you think "I'm gonna win a stuffed teddy bear for my girlfriend in this cuddly, nonthreatening Zero shooting gallery!"

12. Let's head up to the bridge and take a gander at all these pretty new sights. I could use a South Pacific vacation after refighting the Battle of the Atlantic for the last two years. Oh!? What's that? "woooooWEEEEEEwoooo Relieve the watch!" Awesome! Real submarine sounds! Hello Watch Crew! Oh...my...you look a bit flat....especially when I rotate my guns around you guys.

I shut the thing down at this point, as I couldn't take anymore. There's so much potential here, but some serious polish needs to be done on this piece of work. I'll patiently wait for the patches, and hope that they release a SDK for either this or SH3. But for now, I think I'll go back to GWX.

[Hans Schultz]

excellent write up Mookie :up:

[-Pv-]

My 1st reaction playing only 1st step (navigation) in sub school was very positive. There was a lot of noise in this forum about the parascopes up full or down full. I can increment both the scopes just like SHIII to any height I want.
Does this change in Career?

The key remapping IS tough to get used to after so many hours on SHIII. Fortunately, only a few were changed.

There are many mysterious (to me) mouse clicks that take me to unexpected screens that took me a while to replicate so I could learn them. I still haven't learned them all.

Many complained about not being able to set target speed when locked on a target. I found by clicking on the keeper status button the speed updated on the display.

My ATI X1300 chugs a bit (not a powerful card anyway- but meets all the minimum specs) otherwise works pretty good with med-high settings. Turning down particles helped the most and I didn't see any significant degradation in the satisifaction of the effect. Aliasing is not bothering me. There is just so much to see and experience. The environment is VERY rich. Makes SHIII seem like games did 10 years ago compared to most modern 3D now. Just have to see it running in full animation without movie compression and reduced screen size to appreciate it.

Every ship I saw was very weathered. Nice touch.

In the training Porpoise, the attack scope is higher than the O scope which was nearly always under water at predefined para-depth, so the attack with it's closer zoom will probaby be my preferred scope close to the enemy (good idea to do that anyway.)

I liked being able to ride the bridge screen down while submerging and didn't get bumpped to the interior until passing 13 on the indicator (unlike SH3 which kicks me out as soon as I give the commnd. It was very interesting the see the water wrap around the boat from that perpective. I have a feeling I will use that view a lot when submerging. In SH3. I used to view from the deck gun a lot to get the close-to-the-water sensation.

The manual is relatively poor, and very poor in the areas of the game that are most complicated like crew and damage management. Only a few words are used for these functions when they could use several pages. A few minutes playing with the crew management I got hopelessly lost. Nothing did what I expected just trying intuition. I suspect we'll all be teaching each other the ropes soon.

There seems to be some inconsistancy on the exterior view zoom. Surfaced I could not get as close as I wanted to anything, esp my sub, but when submerged, I can get the zoom a lot closer.

Some have mentioned the voices being subdued, and I experienced this also, but easy to solve. Turn all but the master and voice sound sliders down a bit and turn up the speakers. Same techique used in many games.

I would prefer the guy on the bridge go away altogether than to be transparent in the binoculars. Very hard for me to see details through him. Tracking targets using the bridge and binoculars will be very challenging as I could not see through the structures and supports. Will have to use scope much more than I did on the surface in SH3. One of the biggest differences in US subs is the large lookout and scope supports.

Interface and Mission Load times are a LOT shorter than SH3. That was VERY nice. So far I haven't seen anything that some learning and time won't solve for me.

I have a lot to learn and experience in my next session.

-Pv-

[Kapitan_Phillips]

I like how the dev team is dedicated. *points at the contents of 1.1*

[ACSoft]

No doubt Ubisoft are waiting for the modders to bail them out of this one too:down:

In my case please find a comfortable seat for waiting...
Unless UBI releases some white papers on the data files format,(I'm not even asking for an SDK) after spending about a year working with GW on sh3 trying to figure out every bit of data (and still trying), I'm a bit reluctant to restart the hole process again.
Just so everyone can see what support we have so far, I've contacted some members of the dev team, after waiting a month or so for a response ("no problem ask what you want") I sent a mail with my doubts... still waiting the response after 5 months (I don't blame the dev team, after all they are just employees taking care of their jobs) so as I told before if the modding comunity has a clear and real support from Ubi I may continue working on SH4, otherwhise I'll keep playing (in fact start playing :p ) SH3+GWX.

Ref

Don't worry, you wont have to restart the whole process again, SH4 is just SH3, broken by modifs made, with other subs & theatre and with a modified graphic engine + and a modified GUI. It is so true that you will find many references to SH3, even on the player level (for example the term "U-boot" into many messages).


ACS

[danlisa]

What I like about SH4.....

There is no bloody band!

:()1::()1::()1:

Happy Days :sunny:

[JocMeister]

Many complained about not being able to set target speed when locked on a target. I found by clicking on the keeper status button the speed updated on the display.



Can you please explain in detail how you did this! :)

[Fat Bhoy Tim]

Many complained about not being able to set target speed when locked on a target. I found by clicking on the keeper status button the speed updated on the display.


Can you please explain in detail how you did this! :)

"by clicking [on the] keeper status button"

[hmatthias]

What I like about SH4.....

There is no bloody band!


Yeah, Agreed. It has the feeling of "time to go do a job", which was more of the attitude of the US in WWII.

[hachiman]

I like lots of things!!! :)


I don't like not being able to open more than 1 torpedo tube at a time.
I don't not being able to hear my hydrophones at periscope depth
And i donm't like when not using manual shooting how the ship does'nt appear in the recognition manual and you still have to search for it.

[Sailor Steve]

It seems odd to me to be answering questions for a game I can't even play, but I have to anyway.
Lancaster Bomber? With US markings? Didn't we...um...never have any of those in any theatre of the war?!
Absolutely right. That is very bizarre.

5. The first training mission is kind of pointless. I'm a SH3 vet so I know how to issue navagational orders for my sub, but I was playing through it for completeness sake. The goal is to "Sail to the indicated spot." Um...yeah, and? At least in SH3 this training mission made you dive and change speeds.
But a lot of players never touched SH3, and they have to account for that.

6. Why were all of the hotkeys changed for no good reason? My attack scope used to be F3. Now it's F4. My nav map used to be F5, and now it's F3. My bridge used to be F4, now it's F5. For those of you following along at home, let me clarify: those are the SAME THREE STATIONS and the SAME THREE FUNCTION keys, except mixed up in a ZANY WACKY NEW ORDER. WHY, DAMMIT, WHY!? I suppose I could remap them, but it just is absolutely senseless to change the defaults when there's no need to change them.
I'll gladly back you up on that one. Someone else posted that, and you're right, it's just plain silly. Likewise your next two on metric and crashing. Should be fixed.

9. Spread? Why do I have a TDC dial for torpedo spread? US subs didn't have one button salvo launch capability. Why do I have a spread function? What does it do? The manual is as clear as mud on this.
This is the one I really wanted to answer. No, they didn't have a selector switch; but they did indeed fire salvoes - one at a time. And they did enter spread angles into the equation so all the torpedoes fired didn't run at exactly the same angle.

I'm sure I'll have complaints as well, but right now I'm just crying because I can't play the game at all.

[elanaiba]

9. Spread? Why do I have a TDC dial for torpedo spread? US subs didn't have one button salvo launch capability. Why do I have a spread function? What does it do? The manual is as clear as mud on this.

from the manual:

A salvo can also be a good solution when you want to make sure you score a hit on the target, regardless of its maneuvering prior to the hit. The angle covered by the spread of torpedoes should be set in order to cover all the possible routes the target may take. Take into consideration the forward motion of the target as a factor in its ability to maneuver


Another method is to keep the target bearing set for “Middle Of Target” and set the appropriate spread – which in fact adds or detracts from the resulting gyro angle – for each torpedo to be fired.


With US submarines, a salvo is organized as a succession of individually fired shots. It is a good practice to aim each torpedo at a different point on the same target – under the mast, at the funnels, or whatever you consider a weak spot.

This can be done by placing the optic’s crosshair over the desired impact point on the target and correcting the target bearing, before launching each torpedo. The Torpedo Data Computer is a simple tool that will take the current bearing input as the target; this allows for very precise shots.

[mookiemookie]

It seems odd to me to be answering questions for a game I can't even play, but I have to anyway.
Lancaster Bomber? With US markings? Didn't we...um...never have any of those in any theatre of the war?!
Absolutely right. That is very bizarre.

5. The first training mission is kind of pointless. I'm a SH3 vet so I know how to issue navagational orders for my sub, but I was playing through it for completeness sake. The goal is to "Sail to the indicated spot." Um...yeah, and? At least in SH3 this training mission made you dive and change speeds.
But a lot of players never touched SH3, and they have to account for that.


True, but the point I was trying to make was that the mission was just "Sail to the indicated spot." And not "1. Sail straight ahead. 2 Go to periscope depth and flank speed. 3. Surface the boat. etc etc etc"

Thanks for the bit of color on the spread angles. I'm still not quite sure how to use it on the TDC screen, but I'm sure someone will post a tutorial shortly.

And I'm crying with you. I couldn't play it either as the stadimeter made me crash. Will have to see what happens with the patch tonight after work.

[moosenoodles]

They have reduced the amount of underwater algy? is that how its spelt,, when your roaming camera is beneath the waves hehe,, i didnt mind it before seems a bit to little now.

[1mPHUNit0]

I love SH1 ......what is that stuff SH4 it looks like aces of the deep
but that was much more interesting
:p:p:p:up:
Maybe next patch of patch of patch

[Mad_Mark]

3 hours in and here's my take on it.
Pro's
Great underwater views
Sky greatly improved
Ships animation/graphics great.
Better choice and variety of things to do in the career.

Con's
Post processing while it improves the water all other parts of the game either look like a cartoon or are so dark you can't see any detail.
UI ( please someone mod this) I cannot get used to that dam messege update window in my way.
Sonar/Radar Screen. What's that all about?

I could go on but all in all playing SHIII+ mods SHIV has left me a bit empty.

My first death I was running silent 100 meters . Yet without any pings on me heard, no warning that depth charges are in the water. No nothing yet I was damaged beyond repair and sinking fast. Not the most immersive gaming experience I have ever had!

[dean_acheson]

Better My first death I was running silent 100 meters . Yet without any pings on me heard, no warning that depth charges are in the water. No nothing yet I was damaged beyond repair and sinking fast. Not the most immersive gaming experience I have ever had!

you probably were crushed to death, happened to me.

I had some tubes bust, the crew looked a bit piqued, started to surface.... and didn't.

Got a bit worried when i noticed the boat had a list to it, and my fuel tanks were rapidly emptying.... and the lights in the conn where flashing on and off....

[tedhealy]

Absolutely love the variety of missions. Sneaking into enemy ports to take photos is great fun.

[Aimbot]

Well, it seems the 7600 isn't supported.:-? I thought they were fairly common. Game's running smoothly on high settings but I crash more frequently than my aircraft in IL:2.

[1mPHUNit0]

I have 7600gt pc express and it works very fine with sh4.

[AJ!]

I must admit i have mixed reactions about the game.

The intro was very poor and just didnt make any sense..... the guys voice was way off :o

The graphics on the most part are quite nice. Im still getting used to the controls.... Alot different then SH3s :shifty:

One thing i do like is the amount of traffic now. I almost always meet about 2 or 3 convoys per patrol... and warships are alot more common now :up:

[Aimbot]

I have 7600gt pc express and it works very fine with sh4.

It crashed about 6 times then became stable as a rock. Wierd.

[Guido]

is it me or does the radar not work at all? or the sonar for that matter, I have no clue about the american sonar but its nothing like "dial a tune" SH3.
my crew report radar contacts I look at the green screen, nowt happening.
The knobs have rusted solid, and cant be tuned into anything.

Also the radio seems to have a defect too, cant get any stations.

One more thing before I go, Whats up with the secret number chant, my men wont stop shouting random numbers out, in all manner of pitches - a super bug. rather annoying mind.

[Radtgaeb]

I really miss the Chronometer when I'm targeting. Matching course and speed is WAY too time consuming, and usaully I just junk up my shot.

[Seminole]

After playing for about 4 hours I find what I like most is that Ubisoft got to work on the Patch as the DVDs were being manufactured apparently.

The effect being that I had the patch downloaded and I could apply it as soon as the DVD arrived.

And that in effect negated all the "gamebreaking" howls of alarm of the past couple of days.

I haven't run across any of the " major horrors" yet and the few things in the sim I could live without...I find I can also as easily live with...and hope the modders will fix these....better crew sounds as an example.

All in all exceeds expectations. :up:

[Ping Jockey]

I like it since it's really harder then SHIII. In 1939-1940 England had a small airforce so the U-boats didn't have to worry about air attacks. In SHIV you have air attacks from the get go. I've been sunk twice by Betty Bombers already.:up: :up:

[Zero Niner]

Not sure if it's been mentioned, but I like the music.

[Nightmare]

My copy of SH4 came in this afternoon and I picked it up on the way home. Have been playing around with it for the past 2 hours or so. Intial impression are very good so far. I having a hard time with the keyboard keys since I'm so used to how they are in SH3. The only thing I don't like so far is the game crashes to desktop if I ever hit "a" on my keyboard (running current patch 1.1).

As anybody else noticed under sound in the config menu they have a "realistic sound travel time?" I know there was a thread about this little over a month ago on how we'd like to see this feature. Now I see those deck gun shells hit before I hear them. :up:

[TriskettheKid]

After completing about half a dozen "sea trials" (careers in which I tested out sub response and depth capacity), I finally moved into a career.

First thing I noticed that I liked was the ability to start the patrol already out of port. For those of us, like me, with an older rig, that is a gift.

Controls are still a bit confusing, as it is harder to find the right information that I would need. It seems that, so far, SHIII did a better job of giving me the information I needed, or at least did it in a way that was not as hard to figure out.

I love the whole feel of the game. Damage models and such are really nice additions.

So far, I've noticed a lot of little things that I don't like, though.

I checked the box for dud torpedoes. After a patrol in which I fired every single torp, about half of them contact, I can tell you that I did not have one dud. And this was in 1941.

I do not like ending the career. I was quite shocked to see that when you click on "Career" from the main menu, you are asked to start a new career. There should be a continue career, or something similar to SHIII where one could choose which career they wanted to work on.

I also do not like crew management. I seem so removed....

[Hans Schultz]

one thing that is really bugging me is the weather! I leave Pearl and its raining, no big deal, 5000 miles later off the coast of Japan its sill raining. Now anyone that has been to sea before can tell you how rapidly the weather can change at sea, it might be sunny one moment and you hit a squall the next.

[raymond6751]

I got my copy yesterday. I was immediately dissappointed to have to reduce the graphics for my machine. I have a P4 with 2 G memory and an ATI 9600 vid card with 256 meg of ram.

I was also upset with the sound. The crew voices are as bad as they were in previous game. They should be loud and crisp, and I could hardly hear them even with the other sounds turned down.

There is mention in the crew management of going to battle stations with regard to crew efficiency and fatigue. I was not able to find any mention of how to actually call the crew to battle stations!

The exterior cam view is an extreme long distance view. You can zoom in slowly but never get close enough to the boat to see details.

I won't be unloading my SH3 game just yet.:down:

[AG124]

One thing I don't like - the lack of bonus materials for Canadians.:nope: The ones which we were promised repeatedly.:down:

[Radtgaeb]

I don't know why, but I sunk the cruiser in the Submarine school mission, and none of the men onboard hit the life boats, they kinda just stood on deck in a crouched position looking at each other real scared-like.....why are there no survivors? Sepoku or something?

[Iron Budokan]

Well, first off that introductory movie and poem have GOT TO GO. It's awful, pretentious garbage. :down:

[ryuzu]

I really miss the Chronometer when I'm targeting. Matching course and speed is WAY too time consuming, and usaully I just junk up my shot.

Then don't match course and speed - use one of the other methods.

I find that I use whichever method suits the situation - sometimes course/speed match is good, other times brg/rng plotting is best and still other times mathematical calculation works. Not forgetting of course, that at reasonably short range a guestimate from the bow wave with the Rec Manual is workable :arrgh!:

r.

[newsoft]

There's a lot to like with this sim. One thing though, when selecting CRASH DIVE it would be nice if the XO yelled DIVE, DIVE! or something similar. Don't know if they did but I'm so used to ALAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRMM!! :D

[Capt.LoneRanger]

Started a career, went outa port and found myself in the middle of a gigantic enemy convoy. Reported the contact and got the message to disengage, because somebody else would do the attack. :huh:

Immediately another 2 ships approached the convoy. Japanese destroyers. I took them out with my deckguns - both of them, without a scratch. I was then attacked by Bettys and other fighters. After downing 8 of them, I really feared I had started an easy campaign. It was set to hard, though. I continued the mission, a recon of the Tokyo bay. I got there without being noticed, sank 2 tanker and a freighter and left the port surfaced.:doh:


GWX-Mod for SH4, please?

[hyperion2206]

I do not like ending the career. I was quite shocked to see that when you click on "Career" from the main menu, you are asked to start a new career. There should be a continue career, or something similar to SHIII where one could choose which career they wanted to work on.

I also do not like crew management. I seem so removed....

Just to make sure I understood you correctly: You want to continue an allready existing career? If you do, then you must not click "Career" but "Load game". There you can chose to continue one of your saves (the game save automatically when entering or leaving the base it seems).

[Doolan]

I think we're forgetting something here...

Silent Hunter 4 is being bashed quite a bit here among other things because it's being compared to Silent Hunter 3. That's bad enough, since they're two different games, but the problem doesn't end there: it's being compared to Silent Hunter III with ALL the patches AND the GWX mod / expansion.

Truth is, Silent Hunter 4 in its current state blows the original Silent Hunter 3 release out of the water in most if not all aspects, and the few interface issues I've found come from the simple fact that I'm used to the way Silent Hunter 3 was handled.

I agree that the intro video is crap. That's not a huge issue really, as I rarely watch intro videos more than once.

The looks of the game have been improved, wildly, but that's not the only advantage at all. I think making a list of things we didn't like about Silent Hunter III might give some perspective:


Instant death under most circumstances
No variety in patrols, just 24-hour shifts on assigned grid over and over.
"Sorry, the war is over"
Crew babysitting and nursing, with most people resorting to time compression (effectively disabling fatigue and making the whole system useless)
A deck gun even more uber than the one in Silent Hunter 4
Zero harbor traffic
Game plunged to a slideshow whenever time compression was enabled near a port or a convoy
No historic events
No radio messages of any sort with the exception of the canned "be more aggressive" sort of lines
No crew on ships with the exception of manned guns. Ships went down with all hands, pilots always failed to bail out.So, we have a deal of bugs. Also, the game is far from complete. I can't say I like that, but it's the current trend, and UbiSoft are not the only ones to blame. People comment on it as if developers were evil slackers who enjoy releasing unfinished products and giving themselves a bad name. PC games are increasingly complex, require increasingly more high-res art, nifty effects, etc. With each generation, it takes way more time and money to develop a PC game, and a late release can mean you don't get enough to cover your expenses. All in all, this is a next-gen sub sim with an advanced engine and a lot of potential, and you should feel happy and lucky about that, specially with all the genres that simply haven't had decent releases in years (tank sims anyone?) and all the games that have been shafted after 4 or more years of development for not meeting the deadlines. Add the fact that the 1.1 patch has been released before most retailers even had Silent Hunter 4 in stock.

The current engine is better than the Silent Hunter 3 one in virtually every aspect, and yet Silent Hunter III was turned into a masterpiece by frequent, responsible patching (1.4b was pretty good actually) and an active modding community, condensed in the grand GWX release. Just imagine what modders will be able to do now with all the new open options.

Ok, now I have spent time writing a post when I could have been playing my new submarine sim of choice. Back to battle stations for me!

[Dustyboats]

Though a real "Newbie" as most of you will be aware, for me the Dev Team have done a fantastic job with SH4. I am hesitant to add my "six pennies worth" but here goes....
I've been lucky enough to get the Deluxe version. I have played it as best I can for two days.....I miss the moveable protractor for obtaining bearing,the speed and distance charts. It has been easier to sink ships with gunfire than with torpedoes. As a personal note I'd love to have Jone's dials mod (he'll know why if he reads this). I am puzzled too as to why, apart from altering depth, I cannot adjust periscope height. By no means am I dissatisfied, SH3/GWXv1.02 has taken an age and many hours of dedicated work to get to an almost "reality" simulation, perhaps our patience will be rewarded with SH4. The "Colonies" were always slow in catching up on Navy (he! He!)
Thank you SH4 Dev Team.......Dusty

[Regio Sommergibile]

After having seen that the previous title hasn't thought anything to bUBI programmers and that the only thing that kept me in front of my old SH3 copy was graphics, now with a game (not simulator) that run in 1024x768 with no AA i announce that my copy just arrived with my daddy from London has been sold to that stupid boy on 3rd floor.

[CptGrayWolf]

There's a lot to like with this sim. One thing though, when selecting CRASH DIVE it would be nice if the XO yelled DIVE, DIVE! or something similar. Don't know if they did but I'm so used to ALAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRMM!! :D

whuh? They have the Americans shouting alaaaaaarm like U-boat wannabes?? :lol: :nope:

[Sgian Dubh]

I really like the graphics. I like the new crew arrangment (so far). I like the bridge and some aspects of the periscope layout.

I am not thrilled with the map tools 'icons' and I don't have a clue what the Tool Helper is supposed to do.

I am dissappointed that once again we don't have independent control of each screw and for each engine. It would have been nice to be able to select engines from propulsion and engines for charging.

I don't like that the binocular view on the bridge is obstructed for much of the 360 degrees. It should have been left open like the TBT.

I don't like the imprecision of the needles in the guages. I click on the 2 in the knot-meter and I get one, 2 is actually closer to 3.

It is too hard to get the 'decks awash' setting correct (see above).

[fredbass]

After having seen that the previous title hasn't thought anything to bUBI programmers and that the only thing that kept me in front of my old SH3 copy was graphics, now with a game (not simulator) that run in 1024x768 with no AA i announce that my copy just arrived with my daddy from London has been sold to that stupid boy on 3rd floor.

So I guess that means that after the next patch fixes those things, you'll have to go out and buy another copy. :know:

[Regio Sommergibile]

So I guess that means that after the next patch fixes those things, you'll have to go out and buy another copy. :know:

Same thing was said by UBIsoft for GRAW, and nobody ever seen those fixes... If really the second patch will solve this unacceptable limit for year 2007, maybe that boy will receive an offer he can't refuse...

[Spaxspore]

this the annoys the hell out of me

2 things about the torp loading screen @ base that i miss that sh3 had.

1.AUTO LOAD DEFUALT LAYOUT (so you dont forget lol)

2.SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE TORP U PICK ITS RANGE ETC. NOT just
its flippin name MRK14 torp, better then MRK10, because 14 is higher number then 10.

OMG am diein here....:damn::damn:

[fredbass]

So I guess that means that after the next patch fixes those things, you'll have to go out and buy another copy. :know:

Same thing was said by UBIsoft for GRAW, and nobody ever seen those fixes... If really the second patch will solve this unacceptable limit for year 2007, maybe that boy will receive an offer he can't refuse...

It wasn't UBI who told us they would be fixed. It was the dev team. I have no doubt in their sincerity, so I'm gonna hold onto my copy. Thankyou.

[ryuzu]

I think we're forgetting something here...

Silent Hunter 4 is being bashed quite a bit here among other things because it's being compared to Silent Hunter 3. That's bad enough, since they're two different games, but the problem doesn't end there: it's being compared to Silent Hunter III with ALL the patches AND the GWX mod / expansion.


That is true. What it demonstrates then, is that "amateur" (and I use that word purely in the sense of unpaid as opposed to unskilled) modders, fiddling with the game in their spare time for two years, were able to turn out a better effort than a team of "professionals" supported by the number 2 (at a guess, perhaps even number 1) games publisher in the world.

The reason for the irritation of some is exactly because SHIII + GWX is good and yet the devs seemed to have ignored all that work and the demonstration of what the customers wanted (and it was there on a plate for them to use if they'd just asked nicely), added a few things which are nice and then spent all their time upgrading graphics which didn't need to be upgraded in the first place.

The other problem is that SH4 seems to be a step back in some areas - SH3 was hacked to support higher resolution - the devs with access to the source code haven't been able to turn out a better solution in SH4... Not to mention the loss of other features.

Despite all that, I can still enjoy SH4 because there are lots of things it gets right. With a bit of luck and a lot if modding, it can surpass SH3 + GWX, but the road is longer than it needed to be...

r.

[Regio Sommergibile]

It wasn't UBI who told us they would be fixed. It was the dev team. I have no doubt in their sincerity, so I'm gonna hold onto my copy. Thankyou.

I trust you but i don't trust them. It's not the first time UBI "lies" me. Btw i'll wait for this second patch... I really hope you're right.

Thanks for your time.:)

[Fat Bhoy Tim]

Well consider the Dev Message thread is locked, I suppose I could comment here:

Given the strength of the message, it seems the developers and publishers are taking the amount of criticism of key valid issues very seriously, in light of the potential damage it can do to sales.

It's a shame it took a **** storm of the magnitude seen here for them to contemplate possibly putting in AA now, if not later, but it's good to see a lot of the opinions are being listened.

Given that, I think everyone should pack in the whining and now get behind them. The last week or so the forum has been quite polarised, but it's safe to assume those who were hot under the collar have achieved what they hoped they would.

Err, yeah, that's about it :shifty:

[Doolan]

I'm with Fat Bhoy here.

Try to imagine for a second you're in the devs' shoes. They work hard to bring submarine simulation (not exactly the most popular gaming niche, mind you, so it's not really a goldmine) to a new standard. They are pressed to release it early because basically every month of development means money spent and zero profit. They still have the dedication to pull out the first patch (solving quite a few critical issues) before my local retailer gets my copy out of the shipment crate.


The result? A handful of fans (I'm hoping not a majority) whine that it's an unfinished product and not half as polished as the previous title was after years of debugging, patching and modding. Well, duh.

Silent Hunter III wasn't perfect either, and that's understandable. Like this one, it was a sim of epic proportions. Just think about how long it takes to model, texture, animate, code, script, record and voice-act the whole damned Atlantic, please the most demanding grognards AND make some cash at the same time. That's the route games are going, so get used to it. You've all come to expect state-of-the-art graphics and vast, expansive worlds without sacrificing gameplay, and that means more development time, which means more expense, which means less margin for profit, specially with a public as restricted as sub simmers.

Still, it was the best of the best, had the potential to become even better (as the 1.4b patch and many amazing mods proved) and was, like it or not, the only current-gen sub sim we could play.

I bought it three times, and I kinda regret I couldn't get the deluxe version here in Spain. It became my second favorite game (after Jagged Alliance 2) and I still have it installed.

Same goes for Silent Hunter 4. I know it's not perfect, and I don't really care because I knew it wouldn't be. Do I go tell the devs that I'm disappointed? No, I'm actually very, very thankful, and I will be even more if they release patches on time as they have done with 1.1. However, what kind of motivation do they have to keep up the good work if most of the posts here tell them to go to hell and add they won't be buying the game? I bought the game (and I'm buying it for two friends of mine as well, the reason why I bought three copies of SH3) because I want more games like this one to be made, and because I want the next one to be better.

You're part of the relatively few people who enjoy hardcore submarine sims. A developer takes the time to satisfy your personal need instead of doing another FPS or RTS clone, and all you can do is whine that it isn't like it was in your dreams? Give me a break.

I know early releases, bugs, etc are not "elegant" to say the least, but it doesn't take a lot of thought to realize that the devs don't do it because they are slackers who hate your guts. They do it because they have to make money out of this, and they won't make any if you don't stop crying and go buy the damned game already.

Let it be known that my mind is being blown away in my current SH4 career. Perhaps the few grumbly-mumbly people here would appreciate it more if they spent more time playing and less time pinpointing mistakes :)

[scrapser]

Whether they realize it or not, SH3 established a baseline of sorts with the community and they departed from it in some areas (like the keyboard mapping). People want new things but they don't like change. It's a weird world we live in.

As an example, there are some things I like (custom slide outs) and some things I don't (everything appears to be a slide out). I don't like the messy looking nav map with all the tools piled in the lower left corner (waste of real estate).

Eventually, the most salient issues will be addressed either through a patch or a mod.

[Fat Bhoy Tim]

Whether they realize it or not, SH3 established a baseline of sorts with the community and they departed from it in some areas (like the keyboard mapping). People want new things but they don't like change. It's a weird world we live in.

As an example, there are some things I like (custom slide outs) and some things I don't (everything appears to be a slide out). I don't like the messy looking nav map with all the tools piled in the lower left corner (waste of real estate).

Eventually, the most salient issues will be addressed either through a patch or a mod.

Excellent summation. I'm always open to new thing as long as I can appreciate the logic behind it.

Some people are complaining about the extra hud interface, whilst the SH3 one was compact. Well personally I didn't like clicking on a crewman, selecting a menu and then another submenu. I prefer a more direct approach, and since the hud is scaleable I'm not too bothered about the size. Alonf the same lines I like the new fixed gauges as I hated having to move my mouse across for the slide out gauges, just because I couldn't have my mouse anywhere else on a long cruise - or in case I was on a high TC, high speed, intercept course and wanted to check how my fuel was doing.

[mookiemookie]

Whether they realize it or not, SH3 established a baseline of sorts with the community and they departed from it in some areas (like the keyboard mapping). People want new things but they don't like change. It's a weird world we live in.

As an example, there are some things I like (custom slide outs) and some things I don't (everything appears to be a slide out). I don't like the messy looking nav map with all the tools piled in the lower left corner (waste of real estate).

Eventually, the most salient issues will be addressed either through a patch or a mod.
Excellent summation. I'm always open to new thing as long as I can appreciate the logic behind it.

Some people are complaining about the extra hud interface, whilst the SH3 one was compact. Well personally I didn't like clicking on a crewman, selecting a menu and then another submenu. I prefer a more direct approach, and since the hud is scaleable I'm not too bothered about the size. Alonf the same lines I like the new fixed gauges as I hated having to move my mouse across for the slide out gauges, just because I couldn't have my mouse anywhere else on a long cruise - or in case I was on a high TC, high speed, intercept course and wanted to check how my fuel was doing.
Count me in the "likes the clicky button interface" camp. I really like (almost) everything being a click or two away.

I didn't appreciate remapping the shortcut keys, but CCIP seems to have fixed this in his mod. Bless his heart!

[Pevs86]

Just my thoughts, got it this morning:


For:


- Lots of variation - sub choices, mission objectives, enemy shipping, enemy aircraft
- Time Compression - hurrah! runs smooth as butter even at 6000times or whatever
- Performance wise I'm impressed, I got a pretty dated rig now (6800GT, 3ghz, 2gig RAM) and it runs nicely, well enough so I can fraps it :) Granted it's not on zomgwtfUber setting but it's still veeery pretty.
- It's very pretty :P
- Almost completely bug free and extremely stable for me (running 1.1) so I'm REALLY happy about that, having read some stories on here!
- Friendly warships. I love that the USN was never beaten, unlike the KM, it makes you feel like you're part of the team, as apposed to being in the last of a dieing breed.
- Fog is now incredibly well done, I hate it, but it's REALLY believable fog, so it's allowed to stay on the Pro list, because noone likes fog :)
- AA guns that I can actually hit planes with :D

Against:

- I miss being told what I'm firing at, this is my biggest gripe of all - no little window with Ship type, speed and bearing in it... and I'm an Auto Target guy, so have to go to my map, work out where the ship I want is, go to periscope, count across the number of ships, and lock... and pray.
- No information about Torps, no Max Range. Coupled with the above, I dunno what range my Torps have, nor the range my target is... so...?
- Torpedos. I've read here that some people aren't getting any duds? Lucky you! I've had asmany as 12/14 torpedo's detonate prematurely in 1 patrol* Granted these aren't duds par-se but still.
- No watch officer on hand with ranges for deckgun.
- No "Max range at given speed" which is a real pisser concidering the distances involved.
- No markings on the depth guage to tell me how deep my sub can go.
- The interface, everything about it is time consuming and clumsy.
- I dislike the Periscope view, I think it's too confined... I know it's being picky but with all the pullout menus pulled out there's hardly any room to see.

But I like the game, I don't LOVE it, I didn't LOVE SHIII when it first came out. Infact iirc I uninstalled it almost immediatly as I wasn't in the mood.

Just a final thought on AI:

I've yet to get attacked by a DD. I intercepted a Task Force bound for the Phillipenes and sunk a heavy Cruiser, twice, but they didn't come after me.
What they DID do, was form an impenetrable wall around the troop transports, changing course, changing speed, even stopping occassionally. The DDs lit up the Torpedos with their lights so that the others were aware and could avoid them. Eventually 2 came after me, made no real attempt to sink me, but I didn't see any DC racks so I assumed they had none? At the end of the day, they saved their troops, they just didn't sink me.

* These torps were set 50% Contact, 50% Contact / Influence (I assume Magnetic?) and I'm wondering if the AI shoot at Torps in the water to detonate them - anyone aware of this? Or was it just the most unlucky patrol in my personal history.


I'm not just making a mini-vent, I'd love ANY assistance anyone can give me regarding anything I've mentioned that could be down my lack of skill, or me just missing something in general.

EDIT - I HATE the watch popping up at TC 512+ forgot that one :) but again, petty and personal.

[SubMonkey]

Okay, I'll start with the positive first:

1.) Great job Devs!!! It looks wonderful and I love that the tactical element hasn't been dumbed down.

2.) Even with the high graphics it runs decently on my machine.

3.) Wow... what a far cry from SH1.

Okay... now somethings that bugged me.

1.) Okay, this is NOT the Devs fault...it's UBI's fault. You rushed another product that is incomplete - I mean...geez.. releasing a patch before most stores in the US have even received shipment of the game? To convert Meters into Feet for a US Sub game? That is just plan unprofessional - once again using our hard earned cash and time as your Play Testers!! Grrr.

2.) I really miss the point and click (hotspot) element that was in SHIII. I can no longer click on crewman for a station? Instead, I get an unrealistic interface that I am forced to use? I can't even click to raise my periscope, or to change depth.. I have to click on an interface? Hopefully, this will and CAN be fixed in a later patch, but yet another example of taking a STEP BACKWARDS from SHIII... because of the rushed schedule.

3.) Less voices than SHIII. Again probably due to a RUSHED schedule.

4.) Overall - GREAT JOB BY THE DEVS!!!!! However, the Devs, as well as the consumers, were screwed over by UBI because the would not give the Devs the time they needed to do the best job they could do.

5.) I am hoping that the Devs will at least be given the time to create patches to make SHIV into the game that it could be - That is -- the awesome-ist WWII Sub game yet.

Great job Devs!!!! (I'm not mad at you... but at UBI for rushing you guys)

Peace.:arrgh!:

[Mechman]

Well, here's my bitch list:
1. You can't open multiple torpedo doors, keeping you from letting out a volley of torpedoes fast
2. It'd be nice to have more info about the different torpedoes, i.e. advantages and disadvantages
3. the crash when you press "a" is kind of annoying
4. The voices are too quiet compared to the music, you can't really make out what they're saying half the time.
5. The compression speeds kind of slow down near the end, and the indicator box goes blank at the highest speeds.
6. You can't see what you're doing in some of the AA guns because the view clips into the shields on the sides. Plus, I spent a load of reknown adding quad .50's to my sub, only to find out that it can't mount them and they don't show up in game.
7. The map lags way too much for a 2d map screen.
8. in silent hunter 3, the watch officer would give you a weather report when requested, that would be nice to have again, maybe have him warn of rough seas coming too.
9. The little red second hand on the watch doesn't work.
10. The speed calculator needs fixing.

That's the only complaints I have, and other than that it's an amazing game.

[hyperion2206]

I have only 3 things I don't like:

1. The manual does not specify what you have to do to complete the different mission types e.g. I still don't know how long I have to patrol an area that was marked by the star+binocular symbol.

2. The message lock takes too long to load, in fact the time needed seems to increase over time.

3. There are too many aircraft. I doubt that the Japanese had so many planes doing ASW. I mean is it realistic that you are attacked by airplanes every 2 hours although you are hundreds of miles away from any land?

[Fat Bhoy Tim]

3. There are too many aircraft. I doubt that the Japanese had so many planes doing ASW. I mean is it realistic that you are attacked by airplanes every 2 hours although you are hundreds of miles away from any land?
Radically altering your course and speed will probably help. As long as you run in a straight line they'll know your approximate base course and speed, from where you were headed and roughly at what speed at the start of each contact. I assume the AI uses this to lock you in.

Also worth mentioning a lot of the Japanese aircraft had pretty good endurance, the Betty for example has a combat radius of almost 1500 miles (albeit empty), and the Mavis was about 1450 miles.

[Marko_Ramius]

The worst thing i don't like is : The graphics .. Almost everybody says the graphic are pretty, but really, again : i never saw a so awful graphic engine ..

I mean, there is good potential in it, some good things ( 3d models, underwater view ) but for the moment, it's obvious that it is a non-finished work ..


The map-screen and the tools : :damn: Why put the tools at this place ? This is ridiculous.

These yellow icons don't talk to me .. Hard to understand well and quick what they meens.

I have not the feel of being part of the submarine. Don't know why, but it's a fact ..


In the option screen, when i click on "yes" in the dialog box : "are you sure", sometimes it will move the slider of the ground detail , just behind :-?


The first mission i lunched was the first one in the list of the single missions ( don't remember the name) just for have a quick look at the in-game : I fired one torpedo and i had a credit for the sinking of an aircraft-carreer :hmm: I escaped safely :hmm:

Same voices than in SH3, when i can hear them ( have to turn the music off)



Now the thing i like : Well, the fact that SH4 is there and alive, even if it is really bad .. I really hope the devs will work hard to complete what will maybe be a great game.

[hyperion2206]

3. There are too many aircraft. I doubt that the Japanese had so many planes doing ASW. I mean is it realistic that you are attacked by airplanes every 2 hours although you are hundreds of miles away from any land?
Radically altering your course and speed will probably help. As long as you run in a straight line they'll know your approximate base course and speed, from where you were headed and roughly at what speed at the start of each contact. I assume the AI uses this to lock you in.

Also worth mentioning a lot of the Japanese aircraft had pretty good endurance, the Betty for example has a combat radius of almost 1500 miles (albeit empty), and the Mavis was about 1450 miles.

I wouldn't mind be hunted down by those search planes, but I really doubt that Bettys were used to hunt down subs. 1 or 2 times I was even attacked by Zeros with bombs and I don't think that was their normal load out.

[Fat Bhoy Tim]

3. There are too many aircraft. I doubt that the Japanese had so many planes doing ASW. I mean is it realistic that you are attacked by airplanes every 2 hours although you are hundreds of miles away from any land?
Radically altering your course and speed will probably help. As long as you run in a straight line they'll know your approximate base course and speed, from where you were headed and roughly at what speed at the start of each contact. I assume the AI uses this to lock you in.

Also worth mentioning a lot of the Japanese aircraft had pretty good endurance, the Betty for example has a combat radius of almost 1500 miles (albeit empty), and the Mavis was about 1450 miles.
I wouldn't mind be hunted down by those search planes, but I really doubt that Bettys were used to hunt down subs. 1 or 2 times I was even attacked by Zeros with bombs and I don't think that was their normal load out.

Well there are always carriers zipping about, but I get what you're saying about the loadouts. Certainly wouldn't be considered standard.

[hyperion2206]

3. There are too many aircraft. I doubt that the Japanese had so many planes doing ASW. I mean is it realistic that you are attacked by airplanes every 2 hours although you are hundreds of miles away from any land?
Radically altering your course and speed will probably help. As long as you run in a straight line they'll know your approximate base course and speed, from where you were headed and roughly at what speed at the start of each contact. I assume the AI uses this to lock you in.

Also worth mentioning a lot of the Japanese aircraft had pretty good endurance, the Betty for example has a combat radius of almost 1500 miles (albeit empty), and the Mavis was about 1450 miles.
I wouldn't mind be hunted down by those search planes, but I really doubt that Bettys were used to hunt down subs. 1 or 2 times I was even attacked by Zeros with bombs and I don't think that was their normal load out.
Well there are always carriers zipping about, but I get what you're saying about the loadouts. Certainly wouldn't be considered standard.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't think that Japanase air based ASW was so good and dedicated. I mean I wasn't attacked by allied planes in SH3 as often as I'm attacked now. IMHO there shouldn't be so many planes searching and attacking subs.

[Godalmighty83]

as a graphics showcase the game is superb, as a game i find sh4 to be very poor.

a hopeless interface, cluttered screens.

and why does that chronmeter keep popping up.

sh3 is simply a mutch better game, it informs me with information i need to know like reload times or torpedo details.


after a few days of playing i give sh4- 5/10

[FoddaUK]

Well I've tried everything I can, and I haven't got a clue why I can't hit a damn thing in SH4. I don't even use manual plotting! I must've thrown half the 1941 Navy allowance of torps at that bloody battleship and every single one has missed, and I haven't got a clue why.

Now I like these games as fun, hence I can't be bothered with learning all that manual plotting stuff, but there's absolutely no fun in setting up a shot and seeing 8 torps miss each and every time I reload the game. And I've tried for all manner of ranges.

Battleship's doing a constant 11kts and is going in a straight line. Hell it's the first mission in the Asiatic Fleet and I'm already seriously annoyed.

As I can sink ships regularly in SH3 with GWX and I know why if I miss in SH3 I'm off back to that until someone comes up with why the hell I can't hit a thing in this! Even when the targetting triangle is bloody green I don't hit a thing... Jeeeeeeez.

No fun AT ALL.:down: :down:

[Grothesj2]

Strange. I loaded up the game a couple days ago and attempted to play even with it being a slide show. I managed to get two hits on a destroyer using the automatic targeting. It was sinking when the other 2 destroyers blew me to bits. Just wish I could have actually enjoyed it. -can hardly wait for new power supply and vid card to arrive-

[Baneslave]

It is always good idea to open torpedo tube, before shooting. It is pretty easy to miss if you don't open the tube before launch.

[heartc]

Now I like these games as fun, hence I can't be bothered with learning all that manual plotting stuff, [...]
It is easy, and fun.

Easy way: You don't have to plot anything on the map. Get close. iRL they fired from below 1500 yards. Lock target up (or don't, but then you have to be carefull that the crosshairs are indeed on the target when entering the data). Get range via stadimeter. Guess Speed (try 7 for merchants). Guess AOB ("where will they see my sub when they look from the bridge now"). Activate Position Keeper. Fire. Possibly more than one torp, and set a *very* slight spread to compensate for error.

You don't even have to ID the target via the recognition book before using the stadimeter since range is not so important if you enter speed yourself and not by the magic chronometer (which is unrealistic anyway and can indeed make manual targetting harder if the range is wrong, because the speed will then be bollocks). The position keeper might put out Bullsh*t data over time with wrong range, but it doesn't matter if you don't wait too long until you shoot. I often don't ID the target via the book and still hit.

[Kromus]

It is always good idea to open torpedo tube, before shooting. It is pretty easy to miss if you don't open the tube before launch.

Thats not the point.

OP wanted to sink battleship with mark 14 torpedoes i suppose. Problem is that steam trails are visible and BS can speed up to 35 knots (i think) very fast so even at "green triangle" you ll miss...
Point is, he has to get really close (or attack at night) and aim for bow no further than 1 km away. That is certain hit.

[Soviet_Sharpshooter]

-The interface sucks
-The stop watch popping up is annoying
-The message log at the top of the screen is annoying
-random crew deaths are annoying, even with battle stations OFF
-opening movie is kinda lame
-not enough details on whats expected of you in missions


+Great Graphics
+Runs very smoothly with 1.1 patch
+Music is awesome
+the dramatic war update movies are great



All in all, it LOOKS like a great game, but it just doesnt play like one :cry:

[codmander]

from what I read you should all ask for your money back!! this game is beyond being modded don't see how crew is gonna be interactive with modding!! :shifty: glad I didnt buy it --not on my list I feel sorry for ya'all

[rocco]

I'm actually having a blast with it :up:


Rocco

[Dowly]

So, even if the modders would change this to Uboat simulation, you still wouldnt like it because you cant interact with the crew?

Just give it some time, mate. Who knows, maybe the devs add it to some patch? :yep:

[SharpShin]

I respect your decision but I'm still having fun with the game regardless of the bugs and shortcomings which will be fixed IMO. I don't regret the purchase.

[Immacolata]

Yes me too. I feel sorry for us too, all these drive-by-posts "OMG outrage". Look, if you don't want to play the game, don't buy it. But why tell us about it all the time? It is as interesting by now as if you shared observations on your morning stool.
This is the Silent Hunter IV forum. For people that play Silent Hunter IV.

[Tranton]

How can you ask for a strike if you have never played it? My copy got here yesterday and with the 1.1 patch I have not had any major issues that could not be avoided. It's only get better and better as the developers are working on the next patch right now.

We're just hurting oursleves by doing as you suggest. Simulations are such a niche market now that if a community like this did as you said we've be sure to never see another game again.

In my opinion the game is not as bad as you think. If I were you I'd at least give it a try before condemning it to the abyss. I think you'll have fun once you try it :)

[DaMaGe007]

I clicked on a crewmember and he turned and looked at me, most dont tho, I never noticed much interaction with the crew in sh3 either.
I think there is a posibility that sh3 type interaction will come eventually...

[FoddaUK]

Yep been there, bought the tee-shirt. All tubes open well in advance, attacking after sunset so pretty dark out there, and from East and West of the task force. I've been at anywhere between 800 and 4000 distance to target. I suppose the only thing is that the BB is spotting the torps EVERY single time in the dark and avoiding the lot.

If that's the case, then what the hell am I doing out there in the first place! I'll start the campaign again and this time I'll forget about sinking ANY warships at all, just concentrate on anything that can't accelerate. Hardly RL practise

As for manual plotting, what's the point? I can't hit anything when my PC does all the trig, how the hell am I going to input plotting as well. I never bothered with it for SH3, I'm certainly not going to start having looked at the TDC in these yank boats.

Stupid thing is, the torp tutorial is TOO easy. You're so close to start that it's impossible to miss anything.

If warships can spot 100% of incoming torps, then as far as I'm concerned, the game isn't just difficult, it's stupid too.

What a waste of money so far. All it's doing is winding me up.

[FoddaUK]

LOL... But thanks all for the replies and encouragement.:D

[codmander]

intresing glad some of ya'all like it hope it can be modded and fixed if it needs be kinda discouraging from this view hearing about all the problems after waitin and all just to get it and be disapointed yes i think crew interaction is crictical
of course you cant have crew interaction if you dont have the diffrent rooms

[codmander]

HEIL!!!! welcome back :rock:

[hyperion2206]

from what I read you should all ask for your money back!! this game is beyond being modded don't see how crew is gonna be interactive with modding!! :shifty: glad I didnt buy it --not on my list I feel sorry for ya'all

I agree that this game is far away from being perfect but you can still have fun with it. Some things are really annoying but being an optimist I always tell me that this game is going to be better and better with the patches and mods.
It's probably right to wait until some of the flaws are ironed out but you should and will get this game eventually.:yep:;)

[Lio]

i dont get the fuzz about crew interaction. but ok each his own. The immersion factor for me is i get to use my calculator while playing :yep: how many games let you do that.
Im not saying the game isnt bugged, becouse tbh ive never seen a more bugged game then this, and i ofc hope the devs will patch it up. So far they seem hard at work doing it.

[jeff lackey]

I am not a fan of the old orange star when you are submerged.
You mean the marker on the surface?

Just press Ctrl+NumPadDelete :know:

Just what is that orange marker on the water supposed to be?

And on my notebook, I don't have a NumPadDelete - is there another way to get rid of it?

[Dizoak]

having played it a while until i couldn't take it anymore and went back to GWX; here are my issues with SH4 - let me state now, that this is constructive criticism, about things that i'd like to see fixed eventually, not unrealistic things that i want fixed NOW. these things DONT ruin the game for me, but i was getting so frustrated with some of them, i just needed a break.

1. the interface. the whole thing. i miss all the station shortcuts being on the left hand side, out of sight until you need them. same with the nav map, why have all that clutter on the map, when a drop down menu works so much smoother and cleaner?
2. the amazing impossibility of targeting and destroying even a single vessel. i had auto-targeting on the first time i played the game, found a convoy lightly escorted and set up for an attack. i put two torps into a freighter and line up on a DD charging me, target him and look at the range...3000 meters??? how is that possible? i checked, checked again and it was the same. This DD who is now bearing down on me, and dropping ash cans like they were gonna be illegal tomorrow, is supposedly 3000 meters away?! i think the range got down to 1800 meters as he rammed my periscope. was likewise having issues with my deck gun not being able to shoot farther than 500 meters no matter what my range was set to. it auto-target is one...should one have to even THINK about sending ranges and speed and bearing to the TDC or should it just be taken care of automatically?
3. the periscope. i shouldnt have a binary periscope (ie. ON/OFF) i should be able to have the sucker pokin just a bit out of the water.
4. the recoginition manual apparently is VERY PC (politically correct) as the German emblem has no swastika, just a red field and white circle. (ok that one was VERY nitpicky, but still)
5. again, nitpicky, but several submarine types they give are actually the same class of boat. (Tambor/Gar class are the same boat types) the patch added the "s-42" class which i've never heard of (unless its just an S-Class boat with updated technology, which if thats true, couldnt that have just been an option for upgrades to outfit your boat with? ie, taking a certain number and type of upgrades fulfills the "S-42" requirement?) along the same lines; the museum is lacking in some ship types/aircrfat types (no Akagi class carrier?no Kaga?)
6. does the radio do ANYTHING other than play that same tune endlessly? i like the idea of actually getting radio traffic, but for most of the time that i played the game, it was nothing but that same song.
amazingly i havent experienced any of the bugs that people have been reporting (bug eyes crew members, or 2d crew members) mine seem to be mainly gameplay and authenticity issues (Lancasters in the pacific in US Colors..pah)

again, im MORE than willing for patches, mods etc to fix these problems, and until then, i'll keep playing GWX.

[corvette k225]

I payed $49.95 for this game, there is just to many thing wrong with this game,some one should have done the home work on this one! I will go back and
play SHIII+GWX what a game! as for my $49.95 will that will help the Develpment team out, so we can get a SH V I hope they go back to the U-Boat game, the best type the North Atlantic side of the War.:up: :up:

[Der Graf Von Rudklide]

Its great - Thanx to the makers :up:

I know what i talk about, ive been playing Silent Hunter ever since the first came around on the old Commandore C64.

Thus minor faults and mistakes who will be fixed is SH4 the most superb U-boat simulator ever seen on a PC. It will offer 100 of hours of intense gameplay for booth the unexperinced and the experts in subwar just like SH3 did and still does. I do play SH3 GWX often and iam sure they will bring up as great work around SH4 as they have done on SH3.

Its wekkend and most people have thier SH4, i am off in the pacific 2 and it really rocks for an old navy guy like me - Thums up for SH4 its a must have for any subfan :yep:

[jeff lackey]

1. the interface. the whole thing. i miss all the station shortcuts being on the left hand side, out of sight until you need them. same with the nav map, why have all that clutter on the map, when a drop down menu works so much smoother and cleaner?


One thing: did you see that you can click that little "lock" button to the left of the stations and have them autohide in SH4? That gives you a little more real estate.

[Hartmann]

Too many bad things , i think that the game was released unfinished and it need a lot of patches , and perhaps some things can remain unfixed.

The game have a lot of potencial but the bugs have to be fixed by dev team . no by modders .
later could be impossible for modders without code or sdk tools.

[mookiemookie]

I think its funny that a lot of people compare stock SH4 to SH3 with GWX. :doh:

At least make an apples to apples comparison and line it up against vanilla SH3...or even vanilla SH3 with the first patch. I think you'll find it's not as doom and gloom as you think it is.

[Aimbot]

2. the amazing impossibility of targeting and destroying even a single vessel. i had auto-targeting on the first time i played the game, found a convoy lightly escorted and set up for an attack. i put two torps into a freighter and line up on a DD charging me, target him and look at the range...3000 meters??? how is that possible? i checked, checked again and it was the same. This DD who is now bearing down on me, and dropping ash cans like they were gonna be illegal tomorrow, is supposedly 3000 meters away?! i think the range got down to 1800 meters as he rammed my periscope. was likewise having issues with my deck gun not being able to shoot farther than 500 meters no matter what my range was set to. it auto-target is one...should one have to even THINK about sending ranges and speed and bearing to the TDC or should it just be taken care of automatically?
I think it might be measuring in feet without converting the soltion in the TDC. Try switching to metric until the next patch.

[mookiemookie]

from what I read you should all ask for your money back!! this game is beyond being modded don't see how crew is gonna be interactive with modding!! :shifty: glad I didnt buy it --not on my list I feel sorry for ya'all

When you have the game, you may do things like call for "OMG OUTRAGE! STRIKE! SH4 ATE MY CHILDREN AND POOPED ON MY RUG!"

Until then, I think you have little room to talk.

[Shakermaker]

I like the fact that there are survivors now when you sink a ship. And that you have the choice to give them a chance or blow them out of the water.

[GlobalExplorer]

First impression from me. The new engine runs like **** and only some very good patches can rescue this game for me .. while menus and videos are nice, the ingame graphics look not improved but worse compared to SHIII - no AA, horrible textures, and worst, the engine is scaling very badly with detail levels. There is always a delay when I press a key, like I am running defrag in the background and no - I am not using an illegal copy, I ordered the collectors version from amazon.uk, but I am using an external DVD drive, maybe thats the problem.

I have still high hopes for UBI Románia have almost endless credit with me, but I dont think the game is finished either. So they should bring on the patches now.

Fortunately I can wait because Stalker is getting all my attention atm ;)

[The Oncoming Storm]

Unlike most of you, I'm not overly impressed with the graphics. It's like watching a tv through a poor inside aerial, rather than a roof based one. Fuzzy is the word.

I was ready to kill someone prior to installing the patch. Now the blood lust has gone. But then so did my patrol, when the screen went black for 15 seconds before the chance to report the problem to Microsoft arrived.

I installed a deck gun on my bow end, and it was there when I left port. But by the time I came across an unescorted merchantman it had somehow moved to the stern.

The Japanese sub-hunting aircraft behave oddly. If I'm submerged at periscope depth I can see them approach, they reach my position, and then change course to head back where they've come from. Repeatedly. Initially I thought they'd seen my 'scope and were circling preparing to attack, but they just buggered off, before returning and doing the same thing a bit later.

The interface is horrible. I have no idea how to set up or run my damage control team. OK, I haven't bothered reading the manual, but I thought the SH3 model worked great. Why change it?

Best thing about this? Having the option to start the patrol at sea.

Roll on patch 2.

[RedHammer]

everybody here has already mentioned the bugs, allthough I fail to see what that has to do with the game itself. Countless bug threads have already been made. And numberous arguments have already arised. Devs have promised to fix it, for me that`s end of story.

Heres my personal opinion on the game:

Likes:
Easier TDC (when "COUGH" is fixed.)
Better damage models (I can see the guts of the ship when I blow a hole in it.)
Better graphics (Especially when "COUGH!" and "COUGH!" and "COUGH!" Is fixed.)
A new Ocean to terrorize.
Bigger ships that are more of a challenge to blow up.

Dislikes:
You can`t see other parts of the sub, quite the contrary..
Absolutely nothing in the attack map (What good does it serve other then to see your torpedoes projectory?)
No 3D interaction with crew or the boat`s instruments.
No Narwhal Class Uboats.


Graphics (IMHO, and for a naval game and when COUGH, COUGH and COUGH is fixed.) 10/10. (It already beats BS Midway, which is said to be quite good in graphics as well.)

Sounds: 6/10 (Crew voices too low, sometimes you don`t even hear your crew telling you things, could have been more shaking sounds like KLIRR KLIRR KLIRR when you are being depthcharged, as well as maybe a glass or cup or two breaking because of high waves, the subs were after all, almost like thimber when it goes for comfort, on the surface.)

Gameplay: 9/10 (When X COUGH`s have been fixed, and X COUGH have been made by the community.)


Current Total: 6/10, because of COUGH sound, and a few really frustrating "COUGHS".
Future Total: 10/10 , If this goes the way I pray it does.

S! to all

Your friend in the Pacific

RH

[Sailor Steve]

I am not a fan of the old orange star when you are submerged.
You mean the marker on the surface?

Just press Ctrl+NumPadDelete :know:

Just what is that orange marker on the water supposed to be?

And on my notebook, I don't have a NumPadDelete - is there another way to get rid of it?
You mean you've never played SH3? It's a holdover from that one. All you have to do is search the files and find the one called UMark; then delete it.

It's a marker so you know where your sub is when using external views.

from what I read you should all ask for your money back!! this game is beyond being modded don't see how crew is gonna be interactive with modding!! :shifty: glad I didnt buy it --not on my list I feel sorry for ya'all
From what you READ? Then you shouldn't be playing SH3, either, because the complaints two years ago were just as bad, if not worse. Codmander, you said some time ago that you wouldn't buy it anyway. You should quit blowing gas about something you refuse to see for yourself; you're starting to sound like a troll.

[ryuzu]

I know what i talk about, ive been playing Silent Hunter ever since the first came around on the old Commandore C64.


Um..... ok :rotfl:

r.

[jeff lackey]

I am not a fan of the old orange star when you are submerged.
You mean the marker on the surface?

Just press Ctrl+NumPadDelete :know:
Just what is that orange marker on the water supposed to be?

And on my notebook, I don't have a NumPadDelete - is there another way to get rid of it? You mean you've never played SH3? It's a holdover from that one. All you have to do is search the files and find the one called UMark; then delete it.

It's a marker so you know where your sub is when using external views.


Actually, yes I played the heck out of SH3 and mods - I'd forgotten that one of the things that I did very early in my SH3 days was rename that file. Thanks for the reminder! :up: