[WIP] SH4 Launch Program-Feature Requests/Wish List/Suggestions [Archive]

Donner

02-10-08, 08:55 PM

This thread will be dedicated to ideas for skwasjer's upcoming SH4 Commander (working title for now) launch program.

Please post your wish list of requested features/suggestions here. This first post will be updated *nearly* daily with current suggestions. Please, Please, Please re-read this first post for these updates. I would like to *try* to keep repeat feature requests to a minimum.

As per skwasjer's post stating that he was picking up the development of this mod, SH4 Commander will be in the "second chair" until he completes S3D. Therefore, there is no indication of when this mod will be ready.

skwasjer will be trying to setup a program with basic functionality first.

If you would like to help with this mod (researching, number crunching, etc), PM either skwasjer or myself.

Feature Requests:

Listing of time, date, location, class and the name of the ships you have sunk.
Computation of how many torpedoes were fired and hits/misses
"scuttlebut" were you would learn the latest news and gossip from other skippers.
Crew members are transferred after a while, just like in RL
Crew management
Multiple installs and rollbacks
Implementation of "skin packs" for different periods of the war
Set Commander's name
Choose name and number of submarine
Individual records for each crewman and showing who shot what down.
Ability to add/remove medals & Badge (Dolphins)
To Promote/Demote any Crewman
Integrated GIEP mod
Gramophone randomization
Integration of radio management mod
As per your 'scuttlebut' suggestion I'm thinking of taking parts of the program online, iow. post patrol logs and reports to a server, so they can be browsed online, or in the program by others. You'd only get access to logs that are in the same time period of your career and/or home port...
Inclusion of battleflags mod, so that flags get rendered dynamicly onto your active skin. I have DDS/TGA filters and can render files programmatically without problem. If anyone has other ideas based on graphics manipulation, please go ahead and suggest.
Basic options: time compression, game options, graphics options, disable movies, use or not use gu.exe (or schedule it), etc...
Use recon photo's or screenshots for loading screens
More to come....

399nkov

02-11-08, 05:08 AM

Howdy Donner; this mod sounds interesting.

Taking a pic to confirm a sinking and given some credit for a damaged ship, if thats possible. Just my thoughts.

ReallyDedPoet

02-11-08, 08:33 AM

I am just glad this is being worked on, it is appreciated :yep::up:
If I can think of any suggestions I will post back, I like what I see on the
present list :roll:

RDP

Torps

02-11-08, 10:22 AM

Yah this is a great idea, keep up the good work.

skwasjer

02-11-08, 12:35 PM

Thanks Donner, for picking this up. I will take the next week or so to sleep over the basic program and interface. Most ideas come to me while I sleep, then the next morning I go 'eureka'!

Some ideas/features I've thought of myself (some ideas require collaboration with and/or permission of the original mod authors):

Integrated GIEP mod
Gramophone randomization
Integration of radio management mod
As per your 'scuttlebut' suggestion I'm thinking of taking parts of the program online, iow. post patrol logs and reports to a server, so they can be browsed online, or in the program by others. You'd only get access to logs that are in the same time period of your career and/or home port...
Inclusion of battleflags mod, so that flags get rendered dynamicly onto your active skin. I have DDS/TGA filters and can render files programmatically without problem. If anyone has other ideas based on graphics manipulation, please go ahead and suggest.
Multiple game profiles each with their own specific settings (you've already got this partially covered with 'Multiple installs')
Basic options: time compression, game options, graphics options, disable movies, use or not use gu.exe (or schedule it), etc...
Use recon photo's or screenshots for loading screensI'll without a doubt come up with more myself, but I rather see suggestions from the would-be users ;)

Digital_Trucker

02-11-08, 01:08 PM

Whoa, you are one ambitious fella, swas (but we knew that already from S3D:yep: ). If you do consider the integration of the GIEP and RadioStationManager functions, you not only have permission, but I'll toss ya the source code for both (in Visual Basic, so it may not be too helpful:hmm: ).

One other thing I would like to see is the "seasonalization" (dang, I made up another word) of the thermal layer as is accomplished by the Thermalizer (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=110559&highlight=thermalizer) by Castorp345.

Donner

02-11-08, 01:23 PM

I really like the patrol report feature. That would be awesome. :rock:

It would be very realistic since skippers read through the patrol reports of other boats learn the latest info on shipping routes, aircraft activity, ASW defenses, weather, etc. :know:

skwasjer

02-11-08, 01:41 PM

DT, that's great, but you can attempt to make it compatible yourself :) The plan is to make a plugin-enabled interface. This won't be directly the first version, but at at some point you can download some sort of SDK that lets you code a plugin. All you have to do is implement a few base classes and you're all set. Then you just drop your assembly into a specific plugin folder and voila. You can use VB.Net fine with it (you just reference the plugin-assembly). I'll make sure to set up some sample code by then.

Obviously, if there are problems I can help in making it work, or give suggestions to improve it. I don't code VB myself anymore, but I've done so for many years in the past ;)

I really like the patrol report feature. That would be awesome. :rock:

It would be very realistic since skippers read through the patrol reports of other boats learn the latest info on shipping routes, aircraft activity, ASW defenses, weather, etc. :know:
Exactly :) Could also give the feeling you're hunting in a pack... The only worry is that with hundreds if not thousands of users (*cough*) you'd have way to much subs/skippers, so we have to think of a way to limit this to stay realistic. Don't know, maybe filtering by date as I suggested is enough, can't say now. Also, duplicate boat numbers/names are an issue.

Digital_Trucker

02-11-08, 02:01 PM

The plug-in approach sounds great. Never attempted anything along those lines before, but there's a first time for everything:arrgh!:

caspofungin

02-11-08, 07:32 PM

as well as selection of boat at campaign starts, could we have refit options -- e.g. deckgun placement, conning tower alterations -- and select home port/squadron?

tomoose

02-12-08, 04:39 PM

I'm glad someone is looking at an SH4 capability again, thanks very much in advance for your time on this.

I don't know what "integrated GIEP" refers to but I like the sound of it, LOL! ;)

I'm not going to get greedy,;) for my part I'd like to see the same basic features as found in SH3 Commander that made it so popular. Anything else is gravy.:up:

Zero Niner

02-12-08, 07:59 PM

So long as it's similar to SH3 Commander, I'll be happy. Thanks.

Nuc

02-13-08, 03:13 AM

Would it be possible to change your assigned objective and home base for return at the start of a campaign patrol?

JScones

02-13-08, 04:42 AM

@Donner/skwasjer: My only request when Potoroo took up the challenge was that the name "SH4 Commander" would not be used at all, mainly to avoid confusion or assumption of connection with SH3 Commander - I get enough PMs and emails now on the subject. ;) I would appreciate it if you would carry forward that agreement.

@Everyone: Whilst I appreciate the references to SH3 Commander, I recommend that you don't merely ask for it to be similar to SH3 Commander, you ask for it to be better than SH3 Commander. Remember, SH3 Commander is three years old, written well before the community pushed SH3 to the levels that is has now (f'instance back then there was no such thing as multiple installs). It started as a humble Kaleun history generator and date-based file copier, growing in scope as demand increased, but still tied back to March 2005 fundamentals.

This new product has three years of history to learn from and improve upon. F'instance, improved file version control and management would be a given (as I stated in the other SH4 Skipper thread, if I had my time again - I wish forward sight was as 20/20 as hindsight - I'd build in a proper mini-document management system). So this should remove the rollback dramas that exist with SH3 Commander (although R2.8 will address this somewhat). So if you refer to SH3 Commander, use it as a base for suggesting where things could be done better, or at the least, differently.

Just remember though that SH4 incorporates a number of the features that SH3 Commander has, meaning that they are not needed externally to SH4.

Anyway, good luck with the project guys. :up:

Donner

02-13-08, 10:53 AM

skwasjer

02-13-08, 11:30 AM

I agree. Not only does the name add to the confusion, I don't want to live up to the legacy of a different program that so many people like(d). This only adds weight to my shoulders to reach people's expectations. Plus I don't want to mimick SH3Commander's UI for the same reason, and it may also limit my ability to put new ideas in.

Starting from scratch has it's advantages, but it's also my biggest disadvantage with SH3Cmdr in people's minds :smug:

As far as name suggestions, they are welcome. One of the old suggestions I did like: SH4HQ (or Head Quarters), or maybe without H4 joining them together, SHQ (similar to S3D). Any suggestion should not be related to the Pacific, nor US force, because with the upcoming addon, or future mods, such name would not fit (which is why I don't like most of previous suggestions).

Sailor Steve

02-13-08, 11:36 AM

SH4HQ...:hmm:

You could just shorten it to 4Q.:rotfl:

Nuc

02-13-08, 04:41 PM

Not to limit ideas, but is there a boundry on what "SH4HQ" should and should not look at? Is it just looking at game/carreer/mission launch parameters or are any game play, graphical and/or historical modeling changes/mods fair game?

skwasjer

02-13-08, 04:59 PM

What it should not do is things that you can do with a normal mod icw. JSGME, and is sortof a static change to the install (unless they are really simple changes).

Things that are more dynamic and would require you to change mods too often during a regular carreer are candidate. And of course, things that are related to personal profile/preference. The aim is more realism and immersion (by personal preference!!).

Ulx

02-13-08, 05:32 PM

Seeing the torpedo impacts in the log, even if they're near misses. And if seeing ships with status "Damaged" show up in the log. And having them confirmed, or denied in port afterwards. A few hits on a modern battleship might cripple it. But if it makes it back to port, it's not a kill.
IRL most crews weren't very sure if a ship went down or not.

skwasjer

02-13-08, 08:29 PM

I spent some time into an early UI, and plomped in some private (existing code) for plugin management and voila. Vista's glassy look really fits well here :) It won't look as pretty on XP though. This shot should give you an idea of where I want to go.

On the left multiple sections to select from (treeview style), with on the right, the details to specify. In the top right you can pick your active profile to use (the combobox), and at the bottom a log window that will spew out details of what is done when the game is started/quitted (what you see there now is just some silly useless text but it's for the idea).

Please note that it's basically a mock-up and isn't really working yet. Any suggestions are welcome. :up:

I'll try to start on a transactional management system that will track changes made to the game files in a couple of weeks. This will be the bulk of the work and may take quite some time. After that, it's time to actually start implementing 'real' features.

Here's the pic:

http://sh4.skwas.net/sh4hq/sh4hq.jpg

JScones

02-14-08, 01:47 AM

I am assisting skwasjer compile and maintain a list of ideas/suggestions for the upcoming mod. From my understanding (and also mentioned in a previous thread) skwasjer intends to name this program something other than "SH4 Commander." This is only a working title for now as stated in a the first post of this thread. My sincerest apologies for any misdirected PMs to you about this project. Thread title has been changed to *hopefully* avoid further confusion.

No worries on a name change. It will happen. From what skwasjer posted earlier, he doesn't like the previous name suggestions. So, he is also wanting suggestions for a suitable name for this mod/program.

Thanks for all your contributions to SH3, JScones! JSGME is sheer brilliance as is SH3 Commander. :up:
I agree. Not only does the name add to the confusion, I don't want to live up to the legacy of a different program that so many people like(d). This only adds weight to my shoulders to reach people's expectations. Plus I don't want to mimick SH3Commander's UI for the same reason, and it may also limit my ability to put new ideas in.

Starting from scratch has it's advantages, but it's also my biggest disadvantage with SH3Cmdr in people's minds :smug:

As far as name suggestions, they are welcome. One of the old suggestions I did like: SH4HQ (or Head Quarters), or maybe without H4 joining them together, SHQ (similar to S3D). Any suggestion should not be related to the Pacific, nor US force, because with the upcoming addon, or future mods, such name would not fit (which is why I don't like most of previous suggestions).
Thanks guys, much appreciated. :up:

Captain von Keldunk

02-14-08, 02:42 AM

Hello
is there away to make single mission to work like carreer mode. that is
after ending one single mission you can have upgrades etc carry over to next
mission like in carreer mode.I think that a chain of single missions are more
interesting to play than generic carreer mode. :D

Captain von Keldunk

02-14-08, 05:12 AM

Hello again:D
How sh4/sh3 launcher can help with chain of missions.
You play mission one and at some point get a radio message to end mission and also a CODE.
You exit game and go back to launcher, and enter CODE.
this CODE will launch your next mission and also maybe install a mod that has
upgrades ,sensor ranges, guns, torpedoes, ammo, crew, etc that are needed in
mission. This next mission is not maybe next one in chain but a jump in chain,
depending on what you did in previous mission.

My suggestion for sh4/sh3 launcher is: one CODE can launch a single mission/patroll
and also istall a MOD that is part of that mission/patrol.

Maybe like this: Code-xab x= remove mod x, a=install mod a. b= run single mission b.
:D :D

Captain von Keldunk

02-14-08, 09:52 AM

Hello
Maybe in CODE XAB : "run mission b" is not possible, and you can only start
game from launcher. But "run mission b" can be put in a mod this way,
CODE: XA= X=remove mod x, A=load mod a. In mod a is also mission b.
After loadin mod a, launcher will start game and player goes to "single mission"
or "war patroll"and starts mission/patroll b, and mission/patroll chain/series continues.:up:
What do you think is it possible to do??:hmm:

DavyJonesFootlocker

02-14-08, 11:33 AM

Don't know if anyone mentioned it but what about having customized photos for captain's picture or maybe a bunch of them to choose from?

Digital_Trucker

02-14-08, 12:24 PM

Don't know if anyone mentioned it but what about having customized photos for captain's picture or maybe a bunch of them to choose from?

Yep, in the first post, skwas mention GIEP (Girl In Every Port) integration. Until SH4HQ is done check out Fred8615's desk photo mods (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=124851) If that's not enough of a selection I'm sure Fred will be adding thousands more any day now:rotfl:

Schultzy

02-16-08, 12:26 PM

[quote=DavyJonesFootlocker]GIEP (Girl In Every Port)

:lol: AHA! That's what GIEP means... thanks mate, that was driving me mad, i was feeling even mora acronymically challenged than usual!

Best of luck with SH4 (To be named) i think you're going to be making a lot of SH4 skippers very happy when you release it! :up:

Nuc

02-17-08, 07:40 AM

Based on the work Ducimus is doing (see Ubi thread: http://forums.ubi.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6421019045/m/3081056336/p/1 )

It looks like there could be launch settings for the 3D crew positions.

Sailor Steve

02-17-08, 08:07 AM

A couple of random name ideas:

SubOps

Pacific Ops

Silent Hunter Integrated Tracker :rotfl:

Digital_Trucker

02-17-08, 10:52 AM

Schultzy

02-17-08, 07:44 PM

How about the Silent Hunter 4 Companion: Start Up Application or ComStartUpApp. :lol: Maybe not. ;)

LukeFF

02-17-08, 09:01 PM

My one request: have up to 1/3rd of the crew transfer off the boat between patrols.

skwasjer

02-24-08, 05:52 PM

I am just querying now (I don't need immediate help with this)

Are there any of you that have experience with localizing software into your native tongue? With experience, I really mean some form of previous experience with localization in general and/or software. Text will be stored in XML files, so some experience with that is a must as well (though it should prove fairly easy if you don't, trust me).

It would be nice if some dedicated people are willing to translate the software while keeping standardized terms (as much as possible) in mind. Translations must obviously be clear and exact. Better no translation than a crappy one.

Be advised it could be alot of work, because you have to work your way through each release to update what has changed, added or removed!

I will write in English by default and translate to Dutch myself.

Paajtor

03-02-08, 03:16 PM

Can we still post requests here?
I have one for the 1.5 Uboat-addon, that just got released:

The German crew still has American voices...and simply copying German voices from SH3 (with or without GWX2.0), doesn't work for 100%.
link (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=131792)

I would like to request such a future for this program...so, being able to set the voice-language, prior to game-launch.

GerritJ9

03-02-08, 04:23 PM

Paajtor, you can activate a German speechpack before game launch with JSGME, so I don't think THIS particular feature is really necessary. It works perfectly on SH4 v1.5 with the GWX 2.0 speechpack- any faults in speech lie in the speechpack itself and have already been partially ironed out. The remaining faults will be rectified as time goes by.

tater

03-02-08, 05:30 PM

Seems like this sort of app might be able to take a patrol report and use it to alter the campaign...

Paajtor

03-02-08, 07:55 PM

Paajtor, you can activate a German speechpack before game launch with JSGME, so I don't think THIS particular feature is really necessary. Sure, that is possible. :)

But I prefer to install mods, and leave them alone after that.
A tool like this SH4Launch, can tell the game which voices to load...so you can have several speechpacks installed (in folders that SH4L creates), and just use SH4L to activate one - with 1 click, instead of moving files around.

...at least, I hope this is possible.:oops:

ustahl

03-03-08, 05:51 AM

And it would probably work much faster.:yep:
The speech file sets are quite large (my "special compilation" German SH3 speech set is 182 MB), so enabling and/or disabling speech sets with JSGME take a little while each time.:roll:

skwasjer

03-03-08, 07:58 AM

Thanks for the suggestions so far. Keep them coming.

In about a week or 3 I will actively start work on this.

Thunder

03-04-08, 02:29 PM

Hi, i have absolutly no experience in modding or the systems you are planning to implement, but if the program is running behind the scenes "watching" if you will , is it possible to swop textures in game?
This would allow on long patrols the crew textures to evolve (Beards growing) as well as the subs appearance (weathering and slime).

This ,i assume, could do the "changover" when we go to one of the static views in game like the navigation map,and when we go up top or into the control room the crew have aged a bit.

Well it's a thought, but i have no idea as to it's feasability.Textures i can make,programming i can break.The project sounds brilliant tho, good luck.

Rockin Robbins

04-04-08, 06:22 AM

This is really stupid. You can flame me if you want, I can take it.

How about "missed ahead" or "missed astern" on the misses? And I'll take pepperoni and green peppers on that. No anchovies, please! <ducks>

panthercules

04-04-08, 09:35 PM

What I'd really like to see is some sort of patrol log function that would allow you in essence to browse to the saved game of your choice (presumably the one you're going to load and play in the upcoming session, or the one you just finished (if you fire it up again after you exit the game)), enter whatever personal log entries you want about the patrol/game session you last finished, and then format them properly and save them down into the proper saved game file format so that they will be visible on your Captain's log in game during your next session (see this thread for details: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?p=518378#post518378 )

It's possible but pretty klugey to do this manually, and something elegant that could automate this to a degree would really help - if it could also then read these custom entries back into the personnel file/patrol records for your whole career like SH3 Cmdr did for the basic sinkings entries, that would be really awesome.

Been hoping for this one to get done since day 1 (wouldn't consider playing SH3 without SH3Cmdr, and have really missed having something similar/better for SH4) - really looking forward to whatever you come up with :up:

THE_MASK

04-05-08, 04:44 AM

What i would like is some sort of program that shows your tonnage results and ships you have sunk and the specified realism and what mods you use and gives the tonnage results at the end of your career to a web site . Something like the results for BF2 on WWW.BF2s.com (http://www.BF2s.com) . Just gives you some other players results to play against . StatSH4u , MySH4u , 3ditorSH4u , 3ditSH4u

skwasjer

04-05-08, 05:22 AM

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Sober, I like that idea. It fit's in line with one of my own suggestion (putting patrol logs online). It could even be linked to an automatic signature with stats for use on boards, although my biggest problem will become the cost of maintaining a site like that (maybe require a small donation for it).

misfitdreamer

04-06-08, 08:01 PM

any progress on this so far? haven't been following this thread closely enough

tomoose

06-16-08, 02:41 PM

Dopey question but what 'code' or language was SH3 Commander written in? I have limited (and ancient) programming experience and would like to help out in this if I could.:-?

Lt commander lare

06-16-08, 04:07 PM

hi i think this would be a great program for everyone to enjoy and i think an abandon ship option should be included if you can make to the surface because in the movies at least the crew abandoned ship with some deaths occuring in the process

lt commander lare

FIREWALL

06-16-08, 04:12 PM

A couple of random name ideas:

SubOps

Pacific Ops

Silent Hunter Integrated Tracker :rotfl:

And if it "runs on" too much, Silent Hunter Integrated Tracker System:arrgh!:

How appropriate, my avatar just change to "Pooped from posting":rotfl: :rotfl:

Silet Hunter INTEGRATED Tracking System This is Priceless:rotfl:

Seriously I hope you guys can come up with something
like the Great SHC but unique to SH4.

i KNOW YOU WILL. :up:

skwasjer

06-16-08, 05:15 PM

I have been tied up with RL lately, and only have had some time to provide some modders some help. And there's still some open S3D issues to work on. I hope to take a stab at this after the holidays.

And, I think SH3Cmdr is coded in Delphi. But I will use the .NET platform though.

JoeCorrado

06-19-08, 09:26 AM

Anticipation is killing me.

buddha95

07-01-08, 11:59 PM

how bout the ability to write in the log book

Zero Niner

07-17-08, 07:29 PM

I was redirected to this thread by Digital Trucker after I posted in his thread (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=139504) on the crew assignment mod he is making. I posted a few suggestions on what I'd like to see, and he said it would be more appropriate to post here instead.

So at the risk of repeating suggestions already made, here's my simple wish list, so far as crew management is concerned.

1. An easy (or relatively easy) way of assigning crew to the various compartments according to their skills and specialisations. Right now it's a rather tedious affair. Perhaps a spreadsheet-like listing showing the crew's name, rank, skills & specialisations, and a GUI that allows players to drag the crew icons around?
2. Keeping the crew complement to a "realistic" level.
3. I like the idea of forced rotation. It happened in the war as personnel were posted to new construction to oversee the construction, outfitting and trials, leading to eventual deployment.

Thanks for listening. :)

aanker

07-23-08, 07:34 PM

If this "SH4 Launch Program-Feature Requests/Wish List/Suggestions" is still being considered:

What about an "Abandon Ship" type option that could be used on a 'Saved Game' with possible outcomes of being rescued and RTB with a new command, captured POW, or KIA rather than the only option we have right now which is a KIA.

For example about a year ago Tater described an 'outside app' concept to be used in case you had engine damage or whatever and were unable to RTB.

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=597381&postcount=17

------

I also like the log book extractor idea someone had.

Happy Hunting!

Art

PS: A variety of American crew names?
(I just saw this):
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?p=907733#post907733