CaptainHaplo
04-18-07, 07:38 PM
I am pleased SH4 continues to get support - and so I am going to go forward with the thought that it will continue. To that end - I am going to give a view of the good in 1.02 - and thoughts on what 1.03 needs.... This is put here so that we can discuss what we as consumers want. Your thoughts are needed....
Patch1.02 - in my view - its a few bug fixes - and a lot of work for eye candy. Thats not a bad thing - but its obvious alot more work went into the graphix side of this patch than fixing the existing gameplay issues. Before everyone starts screaming - lets face fact - pretty pictures sell - so its not suprising that the first MAJOR patch (remembering 1.1 was released the same day the game was available) concentrated on that aspect. Making SH4 prettier makes more people want to buy it. And the job done was done well - as proven by the many posters raving about how they are stunned at SH4's graphical beauty. Its not perfect - some are seeing minor glitches (the white outline underwater - heck I didnt notice it until I looked for it - but I am not as detail oriented as some). And the patch DID fix some gameplay issues - like the infamous A key crash and the high speed torp issue.
All in all - for what the main goal appears to have been in 1.02 - improving visuals - overall one would have to say that goal was reached reasonably well. Since it was, perhaps 1.03's focus will be on gameplay. I hope so - and to that end I put forth an overview of the more glaring issue that the community at large seems to be posting on.
1 - Savegame corruption - or How to properly save. (If it has to be done from the surface, in map screen, standing on our head or whatever - just tell us - or fix it where it always works. Either one.)
2 - Damage Control - again - this may be a lack of understanding how it works - but it seems to be awful quirky - sometimes things are repaired uberfast - othertimes things wont repair at all. If its us not knowing - just give us the needed info please - or fix it if its wonky.
3 - Radar - If we want to head south from Tokyo Bay - is there a reason some atmospheric anomoly makes our radar only work from headings 271 to 89 - and not when our bow has any southern tilt to it? Facing north with the engines in reverse is a bit quirky. I mean - I know the SD and SJ radars were ah....eccentric at times..... Please - fix this....
4 - Message log bug. Having loads of contacts in the log isnt really useful when they are 2 weeks old - better to allow each skipper to clean out the log as they want, or every so often, or best yet both. Otherwise, we are stuck using the workaround mod (Thanks to its builder!). Heck, given the love the community has for this game - I would bet the modder would love to have you include it in the next patch if there is no easy other fix.
5 - Dateline bug - Doesnt really bug me personally - but alot of folks are struggling here. Help em out?
6 - Chronometer - its in the manual but doesnt work. Again - not a personal issue (as I do it the hard way, or get in close so I dont miss) - but a large group wants it.
7 - Crew injury/damage - submerged my AA gunner gets hurt? Or on a reload crew lose health depending on the situation. Hurts to lose men you depend on when ash cans are falling just because you loaded a game.
Edit - 8 - The AI - both merchant and warship. Still doesnt act reasonable... warshops ignore you - merchies stop or mill around waiting on you to shoot em.
This isnt a comprehensive list - and while some have been screaming about this or that not included in the 1.02 - lets remember that incremental fixes are best - much better than fast and wrong - or the worst - none at all.
If you have more to add - just put em here. Give your thoughts on the job the devs did with 1.02 - but please keep it in perspective of what the intent was (or at least seemed to be). Ranting doesnt get anything done. And let the community - and I expect at some point - the devs - know what you would like to see in the next patch. And please - keep it semi-serious :D
Good Hunting to All
Captain Haplo
Patch1.02 - in my view - its a few bug fixes - and a lot of work for eye candy. Thats not a bad thing - but its obvious alot more work went into the graphix side of this patch than fixing the existing gameplay issues. Before everyone starts screaming - lets face fact - pretty pictures sell - so its not suprising that the first MAJOR patch (remembering 1.1 was released the same day the game was available) concentrated on that aspect. Making SH4 prettier makes more people want to buy it. And the job done was done well - as proven by the many posters raving about how they are stunned at SH4's graphical beauty. Its not perfect - some are seeing minor glitches (the white outline underwater - heck I didnt notice it until I looked for it - but I am not as detail oriented as some). And the patch DID fix some gameplay issues - like the infamous A key crash and the high speed torp issue.
All in all - for what the main goal appears to have been in 1.02 - improving visuals - overall one would have to say that goal was reached reasonably well. Since it was, perhaps 1.03's focus will be on gameplay. I hope so - and to that end I put forth an overview of the more glaring issue that the community at large seems to be posting on.
1 - Savegame corruption - or How to properly save. (If it has to be done from the surface, in map screen, standing on our head or whatever - just tell us - or fix it where it always works. Either one.)
2 - Damage Control - again - this may be a lack of understanding how it works - but it seems to be awful quirky - sometimes things are repaired uberfast - othertimes things wont repair at all. If its us not knowing - just give us the needed info please - or fix it if its wonky.
3 - Radar - If we want to head south from Tokyo Bay - is there a reason some atmospheric anomoly makes our radar only work from headings 271 to 89 - and not when our bow has any southern tilt to it? Facing north with the engines in reverse is a bit quirky. I mean - I know the SD and SJ radars were ah....eccentric at times..... Please - fix this....
4 - Message log bug. Having loads of contacts in the log isnt really useful when they are 2 weeks old - better to allow each skipper to clean out the log as they want, or every so often, or best yet both. Otherwise, we are stuck using the workaround mod (Thanks to its builder!). Heck, given the love the community has for this game - I would bet the modder would love to have you include it in the next patch if there is no easy other fix.
5 - Dateline bug - Doesnt really bug me personally - but alot of folks are struggling here. Help em out?
6 - Chronometer - its in the manual but doesnt work. Again - not a personal issue (as I do it the hard way, or get in close so I dont miss) - but a large group wants it.
7 - Crew injury/damage - submerged my AA gunner gets hurt? Or on a reload crew lose health depending on the situation. Hurts to lose men you depend on when ash cans are falling just because you loaded a game.
Edit - 8 - The AI - both merchant and warship. Still doesnt act reasonable... warshops ignore you - merchies stop or mill around waiting on you to shoot em.
This isnt a comprehensive list - and while some have been screaming about this or that not included in the 1.02 - lets remember that incremental fixes are best - much better than fast and wrong - or the worst - none at all.
If you have more to add - just put em here. Give your thoughts on the job the devs did with 1.02 - but please keep it in perspective of what the intent was (or at least seemed to be). Ranting doesnt get anything done. And let the community - and I expect at some point - the devs - know what you would like to see in the next patch. And please - keep it semi-serious :D
Good Hunting to All
Captain Haplo