Silent Hunter 5 Announced?

[Sonarman]

More news and updates can be found in
Subsim's Silent Hunter 5 forum here. (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/forumdisplay.php?f=244)
http://www.dasmirnov.net/blog/media/blogs/paulsmith/silenthunter5_2.jpg





.

Just noticed that the subsim news page (http://www.subsim.com/nucleus/index.php?blogid=4) has an update listed for SH5, is this correct...(I'd like to think so!)

"Silent Hunter 5, Ubisoft, All new code, Q1 09 Underway"

Silent Hunter 5 Announced, it's official. Details here. (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=155001)

New update added, cuz Google returns this page for SH5 searches. --Neal

.

[Rockin Robbins]

Too soon. Big mistake. If it's a quantum leap ahead nobody's equipment will run it. If it is not, it will fail to be a compelling purchase. If the first case I will begin scanning eBay for a poor victim who can't run it. If the second, I'm afraid the thing will die on the vine. I just can't imagine anything good coming out of a 1st quarter 2009 release of a new submarine simulation.

That being said, I am ALWAYS prepared to be pleasantly surprised.

[Task Force]

Cant wait for screen shots of SH5, appears they were given over a year to do this one.:D

[Task Force]

Maby it will include the atlanic and picific.:D (not good for GWX team.) I hope they can do this for SH5.

[rodan54]

"All new code" and a tentative Q1 09 release date, doesn't exactly sound like a good combination if you ask me. :hmm:

[Task Force]

All we cand do is wait and see.;) :yep:

[rodan54]

Very true.

[Task Force]

Wonder what it is gonna be about, wele find out by December/ begining of next year.;)

[rodan54]

Well first off there's the FPS cash cow of the subsim world, U-boats, but that has already been done.

The red-headed subsim stepchild (pacific theater) was just done.
And as much as I'd like to command an I-Boat or serve in the queens navy pre 1945, these would likely attract an even smaller audience than the US fleet boats.

So my moneys on either some cold war nuke boat sim, or preferably a post WWII, pre nuke boat sim, perhaps something centering around the Korea war.

Either that or some WWI U-Boat sim.


Or the devs could have really gone out on a limb and went for..........

http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/5968/20000leaguesunderseadivcp3.jpg

[wetwarev7]

Sounds plausible to me. I'm sure we all know how release dates tend to be very optimistic.

[badaboom]

:sunny: :sunny: :sunny: :sunny: :sunny: :sunny:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v27/badaboom/SH4Img2008-03-22_185557_276.jpg

[Task Force]

I would love WW2 game for the Picific and atlanic, and who knows they might even include British/Japanease subs.;) I think they also could put a WW1 campagine is. ( to make every pre 1945 Sub simmer happy.):D I dont think it will be a Cold war/ Nuke boat game there is realy not enough info to make one that is realistic cause the governments want to keep that stuff secret.;) But as I said we will see.;)

[ekempey]

Has anyone asked Neal about this? I'm sure this was a joke.

[Task Force]

I dont think so, its been alittle over a year since SH4 was released.;)

[Task Force]

Hey neal, where did you hear about this?:hmm:

[kylania]

If Silent Hunter V was Silent Hunter III with Silent Hunter IV's graphics and UI and I'd be very happy. :)

Not sure I'd be happy with a 'modern' sub sim though. I really enjoy the raw and personal feeling of the WWII boats. Where the people were the important part of the sub. Modern stuff would be.. well, too much like playing a computer game.

WWI is just too ugly for my tastes. :)

[kiwi_2005]

If SH5 becomes a modern subsimmer it will be on the top of my list to get. Im tired of the ww2 subs whether its Uboats or Gatos still the same for me. But i keep playing these games cause theirs nothing else to try out, other than dangerous waters but thats to mind boggling for my brain where i end up playing with all realism turned off. Sh5 with modern subs will be a good change for me providing they don't go all out with the realism. :roll:

[Falkirion]

Well we do need a modern subsim. I'd like it if they did a fictional what if scenario, kind of like Tom Clancy's End War. Fictional WW3 or Cold War setting will be fun

[FIREWALL]

I see it as something to look forward to.

But .... I learned my lesson on doing a Preorder. :yep:

[breadcatcher101]

I wouldn't mind seeing a game set in WW1 with the early U boats. Seeing the convoys with their coal smoke would be cool I think. The Germans had several missions to the eastern seaboard of America as they did in the following war, some of those could be included. Technology wasn't as advanced then, no radar or such, one generation from the days of sail.

Modern, I don't know. An all-out 30 minute war with nukes exchanged or a prolonged war with hits on convoys with sub-launched missiles. Fun in games but something would be missing to me.

Let's just hope it SH5 won't be about the Hundley in America's civil war! That would be a short one.

[Adriatico]

WWII Atlantic rules, both in gameply, atmosphere and campaign... It is pointless to invent "hot water"...
All it needs is engine upgrade...
:yep:

[Diopos]

All new code :hmm: I have no idea what it would be about but I think I'd buy it regardless, assuming it's set in a pre-1945 era. Well spotted Sonarman, you couldn't have a more fitting nick :D

New code ... new bugs!:yep: :damn:

[joegrundman]

but maybe a globe-shaped world (fingers crossed)

[Seminole]

"All new code" and a tentative Q1 09 release date, doesn't exactly sound like a good combination if you ask me. :hmm:


Being fluent(more or less) in cyberspeakese, I will translate:

tentative Q1 09 release = sometime in 2011,maybe *


*barring total global economic collapse




;)

[Seminole]

If Silent Hunter V was Silent Hunter III with Silent Hunter IV's graphics and UI and I'd be very happy. :)





Throw in AI...and I will concur with that....wholeheartedly....and they can keep their new code for SH VI.

[Diopos]

Well sometime in the future an "AI-intensive" era will arise, but I'm not sure the "graphics & interface" era is over yet. And as long as the "money" is on graphics & interface then ... we must wait. The only limiting factor is: will there be money in the future because at present...:nope:

[Hitman]

I just hope that in case of a german U-Boat simulation they don't leave the wolfpacks out this time. :hmm:

[TDK1044]

I hope it's a typo and it should read Q1 2010 otherwise it's a cluster**** waiting to happen. :D

[ReallyDedPoet]

I hope it's a typo and it should read Q1 2010 otherwise it's a cluster**** waiting to happen. :D

Yeah, no need to rush the thing :nope: There is still lots of life in 4 and 3
for that matter.


RDP

[TDK1044]

I pity the Moderators if it is a Q1 2009 release, RDP. :D

Personally, I'm very happy with SH4 with Trigger Maru, PE4 and Operation Monsun, but for those looking to purchase SH5 as soon as it comes out.....let's just say that the air will probably be as blue as the ocean....before K2 mods it anyway.

[ReallyDedPoet]

I pity the Moderators if it is a Q1 2009 release, RDP. :D



:lol::lol::oops::dead:


RDP

[badaboom]

I would love to see a Cold War scenerio,Cat and Mouse games with U.S. and Soviet subs along with hunter/killer groups on the surface would be a welcomed change from the much overdone Atlantic theater,bring on the tension and stress of "The Cold War":up:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v27/badaboom/SH4Img2008-03-22_092442_141.jpg

It's very encouraging for us subsimmers if the Publisher/Developers are looking towards a sequel for the series,this must mean it had some bottom line $ucce$$.:sunny:

[Seeadler]

Silent Hunter V - Heroes of the Baltic Sea:rotfl:

[Task Force]

No ships were sunk from what I understand (and im pretty sure there wernt) so we would have a fake campagine which would get boreing after a while, Veary fiew to no Info on the inside and the subs there selfs, cause they wanted to keep every thing secret as possiable. Also UBI already has the stuff left over from SH3/4 that would make it easyer on them. I dont know about you all, but a Cold War campagine would bore me, Almost everything operated by computers.:shifty:

[Rockin Robbins]

If programmers can't properly reproduce 1940's technology, which is fully understood, how could they even begin to replicate 1960's to 2000's technology, much of which is still secret.

Their choice to go with a revolutionary strategy "all new code" instead of an evolutionary and modular production shows that they have no long-term committment to excellence. That is likely very bad for developers and us.

A proper way to do this would be to announce a ten year program of continuous development with the goal of keeping a stable development team employed during the entire tenure. Taking a page from Ubuntu, an update could be released every three or six months, downloaded online. The game could be sold for a $30.00 upfront fee for the installation DVD and then a subscription of $5.00 per month for update privileges and online play. In fact, the game could have an online component that would prevent you from playing at all without a current valid subscription.

Repeating failed policies is likely to produce more failure. What we have is the best there is, but that doesn't mean that things could not be considerably better. A little enthusiasm, imagination and committment might produce wonders.

[Task Force]

To be honest with you, I think the Silent hunter series has run its full corse. I think this will be the last one, Maby a add on later. But we all know what happens to most movies. The first, second, and possiably third are good. But after that.:nope:

[SteamWake]

Their choice to go with a revolutionary strategy "all new code" instead of an evolutionary and modular production shows that they have no long-term committment to excellence.

I dont follow this logic.

The choice to stick with old code would be better?

Im pretty sure they intend to take advantage of DX10 and other 'new' technologies.

Meh its vaporware at the moment anyhow.

[Task Force]

Their choice to go with a revolutionary strategy "all new code" instead of an evolutionary and modular production shows that they have no long-term committment to excellence.

I dont follow this logic.

The choice to stick with old code would be better?

Im pretty sure they intend to take advantage of DX10 and other 'new' technologies.

Meh its vaporware at the moment anyhow.

Thats probably all there gona do is add a DX10 option, improve sea model make waves more realistic, Improve textures, and some effects. Possiably make a full Atlanic campagine/ Picific campagine. New boats that are modeled better. EX make the Fleet boats actualy have water inlet(cant remember name) holes like the two boats in the add on do. They might even add a british/ japanease campagine.;)

[badaboom]

@RR,Interesting concept,upfront money with monthly commitment =long term product support and development from co. and publisher.Hmmm interesting.

[RickC Sniper]

I can't imagine it being a modern sub sim.

If it was a modern day sub I think they'd call it something other than SH5.

[doulos05]

Their choice to go with a revolutionary strategy "all new code" instead of an evolutionary and modular production shows that they have no long-term committment to excellence.

I dont follow this logic.

The choice to stick with old code would be better?

Im pretty sure they intend to take advantage of DX10 and other 'new' technologies.

Meh its vaporware at the moment anyhow.

The logic to stick with old code is basically along the lines of "Better the devil you know...." Theoretically, they have found the most glaring bugs in this codebase (not all the bugs, mind you), therefore they can build on what they know to be a firmer foundation. Building in DX10 shouldn't be too hard, assuming the code is written modularly as RR mentioned. If it's too hard, it's a sign that the code isn't orthangonal (A fancy word to say each change has a minimum number of unintended side-effects). In that case, it's a nightmare waiting to happen and "All new codebase" may be the only way to go.

[Rockin Robbins]

@RR,Interesting concept,upfront money with monthly commitment =long term product support and development from co. and publisher.Hmmm interesting.
Hey, a PC <> a console! We're a different market that deserves to be treated differently. Especially with an excellent simulation, we are not part of the buy a game, beat it in 3 weeks, throw it aside and go buy another console cycle. A great simulation engages players for years. The trick is to produce profits from that very different gaming pattern.

The PC sector has not been profitable because it hasn't been treated correctly.

[Task Force]

And also this all new code may supprise you, It may make it easyer to mod the game and they might even release a editing thingy that allows you to change some of the hard coded stuff with it. May even make it run better, and have less bugs.

Im also hopeing they include ATO/PTO campagines, so I can have both worlds working on the same game. Maby they could make it where the water changes from the Atlanic to the Picific, so the atlanic is murky and green, and the Picific is clearer and more blue. Finaly. They need to fix the weather, For EX. In the atlanic, they have horiable storms, with huge waves. I would like it if they would make bigger waves and have there be no Sub on rails effect when going down or up a wave. In actuality the waves should make it impossiable to fire torpedos on those wavey days. Also so we dont have weather like this for entire patrols they need to fix the file that controals the weather.;) That would be the game I would by before any outher.:p

[Task Force]

@RR,Interesting concept,upfront money with monthly commitment =long term product support and development from co. and publisher.Hmmm interesting.
Hey, a PC <> a console! We're a different market that deserves to be treated differently. Especially with an excellent simulation, we are not part of the buy a game, beat it in 3 weeks, throw it aside and go buy another console cycle. A great simulation engages players for years. The trick is to produce profits from that very different gaming pattern.

The PC sector has not been profitable because it hasn't been treated correctly.
Exactly my opinion. I want a game that will take a long time for it to bore me. For example I still havent gotten board with SH3/4 and Ive had both for a year.:D

[badaboom]

@RR I concur with the majority of your statement,the only flaw in the pc market I see is[dare I say it]:arrgh!: Piracy:arrgh!: I don't believe it is as common in the console market.

[Task Force]

@RR I concur with the majority of your statement,the only flaw in the pc market I see is[dare I say it]:arrgh!: Piracy:arrgh!: I don't believe it is as common in the console market.
You never know, They realy have no way of knowing unless your system is hooked up to the internet. Stupid Pirates, they take the fun out of PC gameing cause they discuroge companys from makeing them.:-?

[kylania]

@RR,Interesting concept,upfront money with monthly commitment =long term product support and development from co. and publisher.Hmmm interesting.

This sort of thing was discussed at the Ubisoft forums a while back. It failed horribly. Essentially you'd end up paying $100+ for an unfinished game by the time it was "released".

Players are already vicious enough and demanding enough with the normal game development process, if they were enabled with their monthly payment to demand something it would be even worse. Also you simply cannot guarentee that "progress" will be made, especially not in a "worth paying for" amount each month. Just look at how people treat the free mod volunteer authors! :)

Subscription games like MMORPGs work with a pay to play since even though they are constantly updated and expanded, you can at least play the whole time.

I'd rather wait for a reasonably priced game to be finished and delivered complete rather than pay monthly for ... nothing?

[Task Force]

I agree, paying for monthly updates would be kind of like paying anouther bill.:yep: I dont think the average person has enough capital (cause we all dont use US dollars for money) to keep there house much less eletricity running and pay this too.;)

[IronPerch]

Hmm... I think that the SH5 stays in WWII era (and the U-boats...)... Books, movies, history as a hobby etc. If the release schedule is at Q1/2009 Ubi is basicly porting and polishing their models to DX10 environment etc, BUT i think that "new thing" could be totally new online-gaming mode:


- The carreer development could be depending e.g. the online-time and total tonnage -> servers running statistics about tonnage, medals etc. Play enough and you'll get "unlocks" for better subs, veapons, crew ... yes, the BF2 type of system. We have it also in this forum (Hey, this is my 30. post...wonder how many more before i get "promoted" :p).
- No need for AI if the seas are full of human controlled ships (the time compression problem is solved by spawning, and the AI takes the vessel if you finally have to sleep). Imagine that feelig after torpedoing the "top score" skipper:rock:
- Wolf Packs enabled! Maybe not by voip (i hope not), but by radio messages (delayed chat) send by the other players.... "Convoy at AN4279, happy hunting! -Ironperch-"
- and probably it's not just sub's (targets needed) but more like naval WWII simulation. I quess Silent Hunter is kind of brand for this kind of simulation so why change the name.

How about that? Anyone from UBI here?

[Rockin Robbins]

This sort of thing was discussed at the Ubisoft forums a while back. It failed horribly. Essentially you'd end up paying $100+ for an unfinished game by the time it was "released".

Subscription games like MMORPGs work with a pay to play since even though they are constantly updated and expanded, you can at least play the whole time.

I'd rather wait for a reasonably priced game to be finished and delivered complete rather than pay monthly for ... nothing?
This and the piracy issue are why my concept works while the KFM plan over at Ubi Forums was a joke worthy of your scorn. It was a Krazy plan, based on very expensive wishful thinking. I occasionally attempted to bring reason into the discussion, but KFM wasn't interested in suggestions. I politely told him I would not be participating in a glorified prerelease payment scheme that did nothing to adapt to the unique PC marketplace.

First of all, my plan gives you a game you can play, with updates on a pre-announced schedule. You're not paying for game development, you're paying for maintenance and improvement of an already working product! Now we are paying game companies to produce the next game as the only way they can continue to produce profits. Profit is not the evil spawn of Satan, but the lifeblood of society. Without it most of us die pretty quickly and not prettily either.

My way also eliminates piracy as the game calls home, and perhaps even has online components, without which the game cannot be played. Go ahead and pirate the game! If you are not an active legitimately registered user with a valid subscription, all you have is a coaster.

Come on guys! Surely you can shoot holes in the theory better than that. To recap: A low entrance price, $30.00, for a working game, an affordable subscription price, $7.50 per month, with a minimum ten year committment by the gaming company with subscriptions used to pay a stable dev team who would evolve the product with three or six month scheduled upgrades throughout (ala Ubuntu). Online cooperative and competitive play as part of the package. Piracy not a factor. Game playable throughout: nobody prepays for vaporware.

People always end up doing what they are paid for. Now we pay game companies to abandon games and publish another because that is the only way they can continue to make money. If we want them to maintain an existing procuct we are going to have to pay them to do that.

Then and only then will we get the game we need and they get the profits they need.

Load up and commence firing, guys!http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa293/RockinRobbins13/smileys/shootingsmilie.gif

[doulos05]

First of all, my plan gives you a game you can play, with updates on a pre-announced schedule. You're not paying for game development, you're paying for maintenance and improvement of an already working product! Now we are paying game companies to produce the next game as the only way they can continue to produce profits. Profit is not the evil spawn of Satan, but the lifeblood of society. Without it most of us die pretty quickly and not prettily either.

My way also eliminates piracy as the game calls home, and perhaps even has online components, without which the game cannot be played. Go ahead and pirate the game! If you are not an active legitimately registered user with a valid subscription, all you have is a coaster.

Come on guys! Surely you can shoot holes in the theory better than that. To recap: A low entrance price, $30.00, for a working game, an affordable subscription price, $7.50 per month, with a minimum ten year committment by the gaming company with subscriptions used to pay a stable dev team who would evolve the product with three or six month scheduled upgrades throughout (ala Ubuntu). Online cooperative and competitive play as part of the package. Piracy not a factor. Game playable throughout: nobody prepays for vaporware.


I would buy something like this with 2 basic stipulations (which carry over from the Ubuntu model). 1) if I don't want to pay a monthly fee, but just play the base game as it is, let me do that. Sure, the version I bought in the store isn't the latest, greatest version; but I bought it and I don't have the money or the desire right now to pay monthly. 2) if I can't pay for 5 or 6 months, when I start paying again let me jump right in as though I never stopped paying. If SHIV did that, I'd have bought it even sooner. And, although I probably wouldn't be able to pay every month, you'd better believe every month I could scrap the money together, Ubi would get it.

This is probably done easiest by making online play and updates (as well as maybe advanced tools, mods, or something else) the paid portion and basic solo play unpaid (provided you had an account). Then, like you said. Let them pirate it, if they don't have an account, they can't play. Also, that means let people install it on as many computers as they want, each account can only play one at a time (possibly allow group accounts to let gamer groups buy 5 seats at a discount or something, not sure if there'd be a market for that). Offline authentication becomes a problem (I don't want my game shut off just because of some fiber-seeking backhoe outside of Atlanta), but it's fixable.

[Rockin Robbins]

First of all, my plan gives you a game you can play, with updates on a pre-announced schedule. You're not paying for game development, you're paying for maintenance and improvement of an already working product! Now we are paying game companies to produce the next game as the only way they can continue to produce profits. Profit is not the evil spawn of Satan, but the lifeblood of society. Without it most of us die pretty quickly and not prettily either.

My way also eliminates piracy as the game calls home, and perhaps even has online components, without which the game cannot be played. Go ahead and pirate the game! If you are not an active legitimately registered user with a valid subscription, all you have is a coaster.

Come on guys! Surely you can shoot holes in the theory better than that. To recap: A low entrance price, $30.00, for a working game, an affordable subscription price, $7.50 per month, with a minimum ten year committment by the gaming company with subscriptions used to pay a stable dev team who would evolve the product with three or six month scheduled upgrades throughout (ala Ubuntu). Online cooperative and competitive play as part of the package. Piracy not a factor. Game playable throughout: nobody prepays for vaporware.

I would buy something like this with 2 basic stipulations (which carry over from the Ubuntu model). 1) if I don't want to pay a monthly fee, but just play the base game as it is, let me do that. Sure, the version I bought in the store isn't the latest, greatest version; but I bought it and I don't have the money or the desire right now to pay monthly. 2) if I can't pay for 5 or 6 months, when I start paying again let me jump right in as though I never stopped paying. If SHIV did that, I'd have bought it even sooner. And, although I probably wouldn't be able to pay every month, you'd better believe every month I could scrap the money together, Ubi would get it.

This is probably done easiest by making online play and updates (as well as maybe advanced tools, mods, or something else) the paid portion and basic solo play unpaid (provided you had an account). Then, like you said. Let them pirate it, if they don't have an account, they can't play. Also, that means let people install it on as many computers as they want, each account can only play one at a time (possibly allow group accounts to let gamer groups buy 5 seats at a discount or something, not sure if there'd be a market for that). Offline authentication becomes a problem (I don't want my game shut off just because of some fiber-seeking backhoe outside of Atlanta), but it's fixable.

Some neat ideas there. I think the free game should be very basic: just enough to tell you if the game will run on your machine and to make you want to subscribe. I like the resumption of payment with no penalty idea. That's why the free game has to be very basic. Otherwise people would make a payment every year to just catch up and be good to go. Can't have that because the object is to give the game company a dependable, uncheatable income stream. That way they can afford a stable dev team at a monthly cost you can afford.

I think that there should be a contract term that if the game company terminates at the end of the contract that they leave every current subscriber with a functioning game to play afterward. If the concept worked well that would never happen because the game company would have a cash cow on their hands and we would have a very affordable game of unimaginable quality.

[Monica Lewinsky]

Anyone think it is a fake link to steer up the pot?

[difool2]

- No need for AI if the seas are full of human controlled ships (the time compression problem is solved by spawning, and the AI takes the vessel if you finally have to sleep). Imagine that feelig after torpedoing the "top score" skipper:rock:
- Wolf Packs enabled! Maybe not by voip (i hope not), but by radio messages (delayed chat) send by the other players.... "Convoy at AN4279, happy hunting! -Ironperch-"
- and probably it's not just sub's (targets needed) but more like naval WWII simulation. I quess Silent Hunter is kind of brand for this kind of simulation so why change the name.

How about that? Anyone from UBI here?
Believe me, I've tried thinking within the box, outside the box, & putting the box on my head and dancing the can-can, all in an attempt to figure out how to make a MMO subsim viable. I eventually gave up in frustration (right before I completely lost my mind for good in the effort). The problem is the tension between the solo player style and the online playing style. Either (to make a long story short) you have a huge (reasonably sized realistic map) playing area where there is hardly any action and you are spending hours of real time (at 1x time compression) sailing around trying to locate a fight, or you are all tossed into a small arena where there's certainly no lack of a fight, but the entire historical U-boat/subhunter dynamic is completely thrown out the window. And there's Navyfield if the latter kind of thing is your bag (me, I must have a strategic context or it is simply a bunch of sound and fury signifying nothing).

Alternatives to the above (limited time compression, AI placeholder units and/or AI commanders who take over for you when you are AFK, spawned instances/battles based on a strategic map) all have problems, introduce clunkiness, and/or provide for possible exploits. I would dearly love to see a MMO sub sim, but frankly I don't know how to do it without bowdlerizing the entire solo experience in the translation. It would basically be like taking a solo golf game, and making it a MMO cricket game; the kind of gameplay we have enjoyed with SH3/4 would simply not be recognizable. And for many here, that won't sell.

Now, if someone can come up with a scheme which can convince me otherwise, I am all ears-do your worst. Please.

[Adriatico]

Do you people really think that Ubi would release a new sim in Jan09... without any announcement, screenshot, teaser... etc.
;)

[Rockin Robbins]

I sure hope not. I cannot think of a scenario that doesn't involve defeat, gnashing of teeth, desperate losses of money, derisive laughter and humiliation where Ubi is concerned if it is true.
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa293/RockinRobbins13/smileys/splat.gif

[Task Force]

Do you people really think that Ubi would release a new sim in Jan09... without any announcement, screenshot, teaser... etc.
;)
If so, I think it will be around december.;)

[Adriatico]

Yea, they woudn't miss out Christmas shopping spree...

[DS]

Hey, I love these guys in Romania and the great product they put out (:up: ), but honestly, a brand new SHV 3 months from now?

Not a *#^*%##% chance in h*ll.

As to whether to repeat the Atlantic or Pacific thing, I'm torn. I think I'm not in favour of a modern nuke sim, but I am warm to a 1945-1960 era SSK cold war sim. That period saw plenty of interesting action, when (I believe) operational planners were a bit less risk adverse than they are today. WWI doesn't really float my boat, but I leave room to be pleasantly surprised on that front.

No matter when it is set, it is more important to be done right than to be done quickly (or through flawed process). SH2 was a testament to that.

I'd be happy to stick to SH3 and SH4 until 2012 if it meant that in 2012 I got an SH5 that really blew my socks off.

[Adriatico]

I would not wait for two days for any project "after 1945"...

Self guided torps, computer confirmed hit,... what is the challenge and gameplay ?

It would be crime against SH tradition and brand... :shifty:

Kriegsmarine in new engine, it would be "classic" for another 10-15 years:up:

[denis_469]

Silent Hunter V - Heroes of the Baltic Sea:rotfl:

Why not?

I hope, that SH V would be full german and american companies plus soviet submarines.

[Kruger]

So basically some folks here fancy the idea of SH5 being a WW2 MMORPG. This kind of game is a mature one, and it could work of course. The question is whether UBI would be willing to invest huge amounts of money into it (the financial risk is somewhat big) or they could just outsource the online multiplayer part. This could also work.



Now, about it being a modern day subsim, the game could be....the Falkland war ? You could skipper both classic and modern submarines (Balaos for the Argentinian navy ?). Start at the basic real idea, and just develop on it. No need for the real history accuracy (after the WW2 it is out of the question anyay).


Sink the General Belgrano with a vintage torpedo fired form a nuclear sub ? I think most of the argentinian navy was composed of former US boats

[The General]

There is a lot of potential for Ubi to spruce up it's multiplayer game for a quick Q1 2009 release. Make it another add-on like 'U-boats'. Due to various difficulties (different versions are incompatible etc), I have never been able to try the destroyer vs sub in the existing sh4 multiplayer and that's a shame. If they just concentrate on making the destroyer vs sub aspect as good as can be, then that'd be fine with me. I think the online experience should be limited to two players for realism sake and to allow for quick link-ups on the servers/LAN.

They could use the existing engine but jazz it up a bit with DX10 effects. I think it'd be a cheap and cheerful money earner for Ubi and make way for a proper sequel a bit later on.

[Dowly]

Already? :o

[Mustang]

I'm not certain if this contributes to this discussion but this was discussed long ago HERE
(http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=120266) I personally would like to see SH evolve into a modern era sim and maybe go a bit further eg, SeaQuest like. It may be sacrilege but it would be interesting...

[Dowly]

Dont know how Ubi would fare with a modern sub game. Graphically it would most likely win, but as for gameplay and all the technical stuff, I cant imagine them doing better job than SonaLyst. I mean, doesnt SL do sonar etc. stuff for real life subs aswell? :doh:

[Sonarman]

Hey, I love these guys in Romania and the great product they put out (:up: ), but honestly, a brand new SHV 3 months from now?



Here's my guess....I did notice in a post a while back Dan stated that he had not been involved in the development of "U-Boat missions" which suggests to me he was working on something else. He was still spending quite a bit of time here and still seemed well informed on UBM which suggests that he was probably not working on HAWX. Perhaps SH5's development has infact been running in parallel to the development of U-Boat missions, giving a more realistic 2yr dev time?

Judging by the way U-Boat missions and SH4 multiplayer were heading my guess would be that we are looking at the addition of possibly the strategic & simulator level control of surface vessels or wolfpacks for the next game and I'd guess still in WW2.

[tonibamestre]

What would be really interesting for a next release,is a more accurate and detailed topographical enviroment and some more stations and corridors inside the subs to move around on,this concerning the graphics.

[GerritJ9]

Seeadler's "Heroes of the Baltic Sea" sounds realistic:D. HMS "E-9" based at Kronshtadt, hunting the Kaiser's Baltic battleships, cruisers etc........ or one of the Tsar's subs ("Akula" or "Krokodil"?). Better yet, an add-on called "Heroes of the Black Sea"........ sail in "Krab" from Sebastopol to the Bosporus and lay mines there, hopefully sinking "Goeben".......... new war, new theatres of operations........ a good WW1 sub sim would get my vote!

[Syxx_Killer]

I would have to say I hope SH5 is a nuke sub sim. If the campaign is well thought it, a "what if" scenario would work. Sonalysts were able to pull it off. I've had my fill of WWII stuff. Quite frankly another "U-Boat in the Atlantic" sim nauseates me. It's the same old thing. If they want to do U-Boats again, at least do something different like WWI. I'd love to see all those ships from that era.

[Diopos]

1. Remain in WW2 era.
2. Make all basic stations operable by player.
3. Expand scope as to include more WW2 combatants.
4. Global map based on a sherical world plus plotting tools to allow you plotting long trips on said map.
5. Reafirm and/or improve boat <-> sea interaction.
6. Proper reporting/feedback by crew
and finally
7. Hire subsim modders to do the job!:yep:

[The General]

To the Subsim Community,

The next Silent Hunter should involve modern submarine warfare simply because it will allow the possiblity of proper sub vs sub combat for the first time. Anybody who ever played Red Storm Rising will know how intense and atmospheric this can be and that was with just a handful off two-dimensional screens :yep:. No true subsim fan could not wanna see this done with with modern 3D graphics! Anybody who says that no sub ever engaged another in real life is a bit naive. Even if they didn't in the past, what's to say it won't happen in the near future? Just imagine; stalking your prey in real life topographical terrain, taking water temperature and salinity into consideration, hunting for enemy subs under the ice-pack, or breaking through said ice to launch a missile strike! Fantastic stuff!

This forum, and others like it, do have an influence on the software houses and developers. Afterall, we're their customers, it would be bad business not to pay attention. If, for example, a petition was submitted with hundreds of names on it, asking for SH5 or 6 to be a modern warfare subsim, they would pay attention.

Go watch The Hunt for Red October, Crimson Tide, Ice Station Zebra and K-19: The Widowmaker and then tell me this isn't the best idea since bread came sliced!

Look at this: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=120266&highlight=coldwar (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=120266&highlight=coldwar)

I'm sorry, but the people have spoken

[Seeadler]

Seeadler's "Heroes of the Baltic Sea" sounds realistic:D.
It was not intend kidding when I wrote this;)

[Hitman]

Anybody who ever played Red Storm Rising will know how intense and atmospheric this can be and that was with just a handful off two-dimensional screens :yep:

Yes I concur to the fact that a cold war submarine simulator in the scenario of an hypotetical war in the 80s as described in Tom Clancy's novel would be enjoyable to play.

BUT:

- It would of course be a fantasy or "what if" campaign, something not everyone likes.

- It would never be a long campaign, as essentially that kind of war would not span over many months.

- The only really interesting side to depict would be the soviet, as those would do the attacks on convoys (American subs would just escort or be hunter-killers).

- The amount of submarines on each side would never be as high as the one in WW2, therefore if russian subs get eliminated fast, the war is over.

That said, I would gladly buy it and enjoy playing :up:, yet I believe a WW2 themed simulation, again as german side, would be the most succesful proposal nowadays (Remember that Sonalysts left the game business due to the low interest i.e. low returns in modern naval warfare sims :88) )

[IronPerch]

- No need for AI if the seas are full of human controlled ships (the time compression problem is solved by spawning, and the AI takes the vessel if you finally have to sleep). Imagine that feelig after torpedoing the "top score" skipper:rock:
- Wolf Packs enabled! Maybe not by voip (i hope not), but by radio messages (delayed chat) send by the other players.... "Convoy at AN4279, happy hunting! -Ironperch-"
- and probably it's not just sub's (targets needed) but more like naval WWII simulation. I quess Silent Hunter is kind of brand for this kind of simulation so why change the name.

How about that? Anyone from UBI here?
Believe me, I've tried thinking within the box, outside the box, & putting the box on my head and dancing the can-can, all in an attempt to figure out how to make a MMO subsim viable. I eventually gave up in frustration (right before I completely lost my mind for good in the effort). The problem is the tension between the solo player style and the online playing style. Either (to make a long story short) you have a huge (reasonably sized realistic map) playing area where there is hardly any action and you are spending hours of real time (at 1x time compression) sailing around trying to locate a fight, or you are all tossed into a small arena where there's certainly no lack of a fight, but the entire historical U-boat/subhunter dynamic is completely thrown out the window. And there's Navyfield if the latter kind of thing is your bag (me, I must have a strategic context or it is simply a bunch of sound and fury signifying nothing).

Alternatives to the above (limited time compression, AI placeholder units and/or AI commanders who take over for you when you are AFK, spawned instances/battles based on a strategic map) all have problems, introduce clunkiness, and/or provide for possible exploits. I would dearly love to see a MMO sub sim, but frankly I don't know how to do it without bowdlerizing the entire solo experience in the translation. It would basically be like taking a solo golf game, and making it a MMO cricket game; the kind of gameplay we have enjoyed with SH3/4 would simply not be recognizable. And for many here, that won't sell.

Now, if someone can come up with a scheme which can convince me otherwise, I am all ears-do your worst. Please.

Well, you're right. Making a MMO sub sim that is similar to current SH gameplay is not going to work. What i was about to say is that the next step for UBI with SH development could be the multiplayer sub game, not adding the improved multiplayer option to the current release and making it naval WoW. The current SH4 multiplayer system doesn't work, so why not to improve it to something worth of money with a little extra work ("All new coding...") and add a new release label to it so it sells better than a add-on...

Personally I tend to forget what kind of simulation the vanilla SH4 is after i have played it with bunch of mods installed. So i quess it's not a problem for UBI to make "Naval BF2" or more like "Naval Total War 2" (the single player campaing and a addictive multiplayer mode -> Select the ships on your fleet...) and maybe try to focus in a different customer group. I guess there aren't so many of us that the releasing of SH5 is going to make UBI's stock to sing Hallelujah!! (if the SH5 is similar to previous versions UBI's logic is: the cow exist, why not to milk it...).

Anyway... After reading your post i started to wonder that it could be possible to create a multiplayer sub sim that has the benefits of the solo game: The game that works in single player mode when sailing toward your patrol area and watching the sunrise, listening the grammophone, having ice-cream or doing what ever you want... while the network connection runs (smoothly) in backgound... But when you arrive close to historical shipping lane (you probably know where they are) the game starts to filter server connections and when populated one that matches your configuration is found the game connects to it and "Ship Spotted!!!!....".
Blaa... Blaa...Blaa... Another thing is that is there enough players for this kind of game to be worh of investmens...

...so stop staring at that box... :lol:

[IronPerch]

... i got promoted....:rotfl:

[FIREWALL]

Good Gosh !!! Are you all a bunch of essay writers.

Keep it short and simple and most will actually READ it.

[Linavitch]

I would like SH5 to remain in WW2, both theaters if possible, but I woulud like to be promoted a level. I want to be able to see the enemy intel and send my subs out to patrol areas of my choosing, with my orders to accomplish in a truly dynamic campaign.

Of course, I still want to be able to skipper one of my subs on said mission to!

[Flamingboat]

If it's a quantum leap ahead nobody's equipment will run it.

Well, not all of us are still on our tandys. :arrgh!:

[doulos05]

I would like SH5 to remain in WW2, both theaters if possible, but I woulud like to be promoted a level. I want to be able to see the enemy intel and send my subs out to patrol areas of my choosing, with my orders to accomplish in a truly dynamic campaign.

Of course, I still want to be able to skipper one of my subs on said mission to!

I think the biggest problem Ubi has with this (or at least that the modders have with this) is that most of us sink more in our first patrol than the best skippers sank in their career (I say most because my first patrol this career was only ~6700 tons, I found an invasion force and decided to try to save Manila, I wasted too many torpedoes on that Mogami...). But, if we can deplete navy and merchant marines at the rate we usually do, the war grinds to a halt in 1942/43 because the Japs have no merchants larger than a Sampan, no DDs left to escort them, and no capital ships because we ran out of other targets in late July 1942 (because who wants to waste a torpedo on a Sampan). I'm not sure how to work around that, since realistically the only fix is to make it as hard to sink ships in the game as it was in real life. And I know I don't want to go on a patrol that last 6 weeks where the only contacts I have are Betty's and Vale's looking to spoil my fun.

[Task Force]

Also, UBI has enought issues getting the sensers for a WW2 subsim right, Then how are they goung to do this for a post 1945 simulator, and there realy isnt enought info to even know where to start.;)

[badaboom]

Comrades,Today we embark once again on our dangerous journey of a deadly game of Cat and Mouse with our worthy opponent the Americans, as your father and his father have done before you...............but this time Comrades will be different,for this time Mother Russia has the advantage!!!!!!!!!! Take her down!!!!!!!!!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v27/badaboom/SH4Img2008-10-01_154157_455.jpg

CON,SONAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cavitations!!!!!!!!!!!! Possible propeller noise of Russian Submarine...................Bearing 276............Range 2.5 mil

Sonar,Con AYE YE Jonesey stick with this Bastard,but just enough not to give us away,XO send Command a report of our situation..............ALL HANDS RIG FOR ULTRA QUIET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v27/badaboom/SH4Img2008-03-22_190757_221.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v27/badaboom/SH4Img2008-03-22_092442_141.jpg


Come on skippers.......USE SOME IMAGINATION !!!!!!!!!!! A cold War scenero could be huge!!!!!!!!!! all the sensors dont have to be ultra real....really other than true military simulators ,what pc game is full real? We can adapt,we always have.

[Seminole]

:hmm: ..Maybe it is a cold war sim..and that is why it can be released so quickly....:yep:

You load the game ...press the fire all missles button...the world is destroyed and you start a new career...:-?

I can hardly contain my excitement...

[Phaedrus]

I see the game as an all theatres second world war release.

Take the best of SH III, some of the GWX lessons, the graphics of SH IV and the latest Dx10 stuff, beef up the AI, while adding in the British Navy's submarine efforts in the Med.


I highly doubt it will be a cold war release:

"For all of you that enjoyed the photo snapping and recon of Silent Hunter 4 - enjoy the next 30 years of cat-and-mouse without the thrill of firing a single war shot"

[kylania]

Come on skippers.......USE SOME IMAGINATION !!!!!!!!!!! A cold War scenero could be huge!!!!!!!!!! all the sensors dont have to be ultra real....really other than true military simulators ,what pc game is full real? We can adapt,we always have.

Unless we go into a fictional war scenario, other than a few accidents and shadowing sonar contacts, what else is there to do other than run missile drills off their coast of their largest cities while you listen to their rock and roll music?

[Task Force]

I want WW1,WW2, and cold war sim.:D To let me play what I feel like at that time.:D

[Adriatico]

Well, keeping in mind that our Subsim is the only "source" of this trigger on the web, ...after 5 pages of discussion, Subsim "untouchables" should show some min. respect towards this community (we are not bunch of kids)...

It should be either explained or denied as mistake (joke)...

Otherwise, it leaves very bad taste among this respectfull community...

If there is info-ban from Ubi, it was stupid step from day one.

Your opinion ?

:dead:

[Sailor Steve]

My opinion? We'll know when we know. All we have here is five pages of speculation and guessing, and now insults. And there's only one Subsim "untouchable" that I'm aware of.

[Task Force]

We will see when we see, you all might enjoy it more than SH3/4.;)

[MBot]

I would absolutely love love to see SH5 go cold war. With Sonalysts having pulled out of the entertainment sector this seems to be the only way to get a new modern naval sim. Considering the developers background, I am sure that SH5 would take a slightly different approach the the subject matter, which doesn't have to be a bad thing.

Quite obviously the scenario would have to be a fictional "hot" Cold War. While it would be fictional it would still be authentic with correct OOBs and doctrines. Because saying that this scenario is unrealistic because it didn't happen is to me like to dismiss the billions spend and thousands men serving to be ready to wage that war.
A sim with a dynamic campaign and player interaction can by definition not be completely historical accurate anyway, not even when set in WWII. The Kirishima sunk at Savo Island and only there, everything else is already alternative history.

I could see three periods being possible. The 1950s with advanced WWII technology and the first generation of nuclear subs. The 1960s and early 70s with the second generation nuclear subs, like the Permit and Sturgeon class. And the late 70s and 80s with the 3rd generation of nuces. The first or second period would make most sense I guess.

Let's see what the future brings.

[skookum]

I'm still eager for a good WW1 submarine experience. Though could UBI make it immersive enough to release as a stand-alone game? Who knows.

[Seminole]

Maybe they are gonna put all those unsold Silent Hunter 2 disks in a new box and try to sell them...:shifty:

I'm still betting on my first hunch that we aren't going to see anything like a new code SHV by 1st quarter of 09.

[The General]

@BadaBoom

"Con? Sonar...CRAZY IVAN!"

[Jimbuna]

Perhaps all will be revealed at next weeks SS Meet http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/9708/piratebf4.gif (http://imageshack.us)

[Syxx_Killer]

What I wonder is, why are so many opposed to a fictional naval campaign when a lot of the modern flight sims have fictional campaigns? You don't see anyone who plays those type of games complain about that. :doh:

[badaboom]

What I wonder is, why are so many opposed to a fictional naval campaign when a lot of the modern flight sims have fictional campaigns? You don't see anyone who plays those type of games complain about that. :doh:

:sunny: :sunny: Thank You!!!:sunny: :sunny:

[Seminole]

I never complain because those that I own that have them are not stand alone games. They are tacked on to the WWII main feature. I avoid them like the plague. Yuck..nasty disgusting things...:D ..shiver.

[Dogzero1]

How about a modern subsim where you can pick your character? Fictional small scale wars and covert actions. You have to get your sub in to enemy controlled waters, deploy a seal team etc. Except this time you then click on the seal team leader and you are him in FPS mode aka Call of Duty 4. Do your covert action, plant your bombs, kill the bad guys and then get your men into the zodiac or frogsuits and get back to the sub. Become the captian again and clear your datum.

Sounds great to me.:arrgh!:

[kylania]

What I wonder is, why are so many opposed to a fictional naval campaign when a lot of the modern flight sims have fictional campaigns? You don't see anyone who plays those type of games complain about that. :doh:

That's a good question really. For me I guess it's the difference between the vehicles, plane vs sub. Anyone could get their hands on an F-16 which would justify these "fictional campaigns" I guess, but a VIIC U-boat was used by one faction in one war for example. The scale of the conflicts are also part of it. Most flight sims I've seen that do this are small scale affairs where you're attacking a small unknown country type thing. A sub sim would be best at a global scale, so the suspension of disbelief is harder to pull off. I can see being part of a campaign in a tiny little country I've never heard of, but dueling nuke subs off the South Carolina coast... not so much. :)

Maybe I'm just bitter that Harpoon IV never came out. :)

[difool2]

A post-WW2 sim would have to really get the sonar physics right (heck if there is a another WW2 sim I'd like to see the physics upgraded-just because nobody knew anything about convergence zones doesn't mean they didn't exist back then). Is the dev team for this series up to the challenge?

[SteamWake]

A post-WW2 sim would have to really get the sonar physics right (heck if there is a another WW2 sim I'd like to see the physics upgraded-just because nobody knew anything about convergence zones doesn't mean they didn't exist back then). Is the dev team for this series up to the challenge?

They should consult with the sonalyst guys.

[Arclight]

A non-historical campaign could be nice since the outcome isn't set in stone. What you do in the campaign could affect the outcome.

That said, it's the historical context that drew me to these games (SH series) in the first place. Just to bad you don't actually see too much historical events in-game unless you install some mods.

I say WWII era technology in a fictional conflict without a predetermined outcome. Could even be a repeat of the previous SH games, but with an outcome influenced by the player (although I don't see how the actions of 1 sub could influence that :hmm: ).

Why all new code? Cause the old stuff doesn't cut it anymore. They're not gonna get away with just a graphics overhaul again.

[Syxx_Killer]

I'm not talking about a fictional campaign with WWII equipment. I'm talking about one for Cold War era equipment like SSKs and SSNs. The main theme I see with posts opposing this kind of sim is that there is nothing historically to base it on. My counterpoint to that is that if the campaign is well thought out it would most certainly work. No one raises the issue with Sonalysts games or modern flight sim games. Every modern flight sim I have ever seen has a fictional campaign. Heck, NovaLogic's F-22 Lightning 3 even featured the B-61 Tactical Thermonuclear bomb! :o

[Seminole]

:hmm: ...if this isn't a gag, hoax, put-on, joke, trial baloon or whatever you want to name it...then why can't I preorder already ?....hmmmm?

[Sailor Steve]

Because you're not part of the 'in' crowd. I've placed my order.:p

[Task Force]

Because you're not part of the 'in' crowd. I've placed my order.:p

:huh: no you havent, your pullin my chain.:rotfl:

[SteamWake]

Because you're not part of the 'in' crowd. I've placed my order.:p

:huh: no you havent, your pullin my chain.:rotfl:

Has to be, Steve is still struggeling with SH4 :yep:

[Sailor Steve]

Because you're not part of the 'in' crowd. I've placed my order.:p

:huh: no you havent, your pullin my chain.:rotfl:
Only because you leave it lying around where I can see it.:p

Has to be, Steve is still struggeling with SH4 :yep:
No I'm not.




I gave up a long time ago.:rotfl:




And just because I can't play something doesn't mean I haven't ordered it.:sunny:




Now the fact that I can't even afford to buy SH4 Gold at Wal-Mart might indicate a little fable-weaving...:dead:

[Orion2012]

Not sure if this has been pointed out, but ubisoft does love to stick the "tom clancy" name on everything military related. Wouldn't be a huge shock to me if they did the same with SH, at least in regards to a fictional cold-war.

[THE_MASK]

Hi guys and gals , havnt posted for a while . How are we all . My pick for SH5 would be a WW1 subsim .

[claybirdd]

I'll take whatever they throw at me as long as it is not a ww1 sim.

My hopes are for a fully dynamic sub sim featuring up to five nation from 1939-1968. :up: Well one can hope right?

[gimpy117]

I want WW1!!!

[GlobalExplorer]

Does anyone actually know anything??

Concerning theatre, early cold war would be my favourite. I' actually like to see any kind of cold war game, but imo it's too early for another UBoat sim, WW1 would be fine but unlikely.

[elanaiba]

Does anyone actually know anything??


Yes

[sergbuto]

Does anyone actually know anything??


Yes

Good one. :lol:

[Adriatico]

elanaiba,... plina cutie poştală !?

[The General]

Now the fact that I can't even afford to buy SH4 Gold at Wal-Mart might indicate a little fable-weaving...:dead:Did you serve in the U.S. Armed forces Steve? And you can't afford a copy of SH4 or a computer to run it on? Jeez, I'll buy you a freakin' computer!

[Rockin Robbins]

Mikhayl and Dan I love it when you crash the party and spike the punch!http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa293/RockinRobbins13/smileys/giggle.gif


My spies tell me that SH5 will be written in DOS 3.3 for the Apple ][+ and will need to be run in an emulator for the PC. The funky Apple ][ color graphics in stunning six color 280x160 resolution with four lines of text underneath and the innovative use of the PC's built in speaker instead of cumbersome sound card generated sound will revolutionize gameplay and increase player immersion to unimaginable levels >9000. This wil be very, very big!

[difool2]

http://www.sctriallaw.com/Sgt_20Schultz_small.jpg

"I know noth-ing!"

[Arclight]

I'm not talking about a fictional campaign with WWII equipment. I'm talking about one for Cold War era equipment like SSKs and SSNs. The main theme I see with posts opposing this kind of sim is that there is nothing historically to base it on. My counterpoint to that is that if the campaign is well thought out it would most certainly work. No one raises the issue with Sonalysts games or modern flight sim games. Every modern flight sim I have ever seen has a fictional campaign. Heck, NovaLogic's F-22 Lightning 3 even featured the B-61 Tactical Thermonuclear bomb! :oMaybe my imagination just falls short on this one, but I don't get the appeal of the Cold War era subsim.

Sonarman picks up a contact, targeting computer develops a track, you select a track to engage and push the fire button. Weapon moves over to the predicted intercept and activates its seeker. Heck, if the target detects the launch, the weapon can still be updated with new information, changing its course enroute. Oh, and your cruise missiles just get blasted by gatling guns or high-speed missile systems.

Everything is automated. At least SH, so far, has been a challenge to play. And a throwback to WWI would mean your only option is making Dick o'Kanes (no gyros to have your torpedoes turn unto a certain track).

I don't get it. :-?

* not that I didn't enjoy Dangerous Waters, but the scale is far smaller. Just a particular sea where all the action takes place, instead of an entire ocean to roam.

[Solemfero]

Surely a modern sub game would be a big yawn?? The only real action was during the Falklands war and the sinking of the Belgrano. Do you really wanna sink stuff from a million miles away using a computer?? As boring as modern combat flight sims. Give me good old seat of the pants, wights of their eyes stuff any day.:down:

[CaptHawkeye]

Wait, people actually want to play a game about MODERN subs and naval warfare? Why? So we can spend 4 hours staring at radar screen misidentifying dingies as Akulas? :)

I played Dangerous Waters already. It's a good, well designed game, so much so that it accurately simulates the sheer BOREDOME of modern war. :( The problem with WW2 games isn't that they're set in WW2, the problem is their set in the same exact mission/theater/battle of World War 2. We've been to Stalingrad, and Normandy, and El Alamien over and over again. How about some Monte Cassino over here? Fall Gelb anyone? Where's New Guinea? Whut is Singapore?

Oh wait, none of those battles happened in Hollywood, so it would be too hard for developers to make up the look on their own without someone else's matieral to rip off. :lol:

[G.K.]

Hope SH V will stay in WWII era.

Hope the new code nad more stuff will enable at least 6 campaings - German, US, British, Japan, Italy and Soviet Union ( or one of them + escort ships ). Further graphics and AI development is I hope certain.

[FIREWALL]

I'm kinda thinking and hopeing for a Destroyer Command type Add-on to SH4 UBOATS.

Some kind of Hunter\Killer thing.


btw just finished reading HUNTER KILLER by William T. Y'Blood. Fairly good read. :yep:

[Adriatico]

G.K.,
Anything else would destroy SH Image and Brand.

"Kriegsmarine" in new engine would draw half of planet earth to WWII epic campaigns... and save PC simulation... against Boxes and Stations...

"Give back baby to it's mother..."

:know:

[kylesplanet]

I'm kinda thinking and hopeing for a Destroyer Command type Add-on to SH4 UBOATS.

Some kind of Hunter\Killer thing.


btw just finished reading HUNTER KILLER by William T. Y'Blood. Fairly good read. :yep:

Yes!!:yep: I would love a destroyer command!!:rock:

[Sailor Steve]

Now the fact that I can't even afford to buy SH4 Gold at Wal-Mart might indicate a little fable-weaving...:dead:Did you serve in the U.S. Armed forces Steve? And you can't afford a copy of SH4 or a computer to run it on? Jeez, I'll buy you a freakin' computer!
Oh, you have no idea. Yes, things are a little tight. No, I'll get everything caught up in my own time, thanks.:sunny:

Now, if you could offer me a decent job...

[Syxx_Killer]

The appeal of modern sub sims, at least for me anyway, is the thrill of the hunt. From the time you get that initial sonar contact to (hopefully) target destruction is a pretty cool feeling. I've played Jane's 688, Sub Command, and Dangerous Waters. I don't like playing with show truth turned on for those games. A lot of the action takes place on the submarine if you decide to turn auto crew off. If you get counter-detected and fired upon, the action intensifies in a hurry. There are so many different variables in modern warfare. You could be hunting in shallower water while unbeknownst to you a helo is tracking you. He may never get a good track on you or you may find a torpedo homing in on you. With WWII you only have to worry about destroyers and depth chargers. If you were smart enough you would have dived before any aircraft get to you. :lol:

[Task Force]

Hope SH V will stay in WWII era.

Hope the new code nad more stuff will enable at least 6 campaings - German, US, British, Japan, Italy and Soviet Union ( or one of them + escort ships ). Further graphics and AI development is I hope certain.


I'm kinda thinking and hopeing for a Destroyer Command type Add-on to SH4 UBOATS.

Some kind of Hunter\Killer thing.


btw just finished reading HUNTER KILLER by William T. Y'Blood. Fairly good read. :yep:


These ideas would make the best SH ever. In my opinion.:D

[The General]

Now, if you could offer me a decent job...How 'bout Vice President? Sarah Palin thinks there were dinosaurs on the planet 4000 years ago and she could get her hands on the nuclear codes :o . PLEASE AMERICA, VOTE FOR SOMEBODY DECENT THIS TIME!!

[Redwine]

New code ... new bugs!:yep: :damn:
Yes....sure ! and what ? :D It is a new challenge... ! :up:

My main worry is... wich era ?

There is a high probability, UBI want to explore Cold War era... :down::down::down:
I think so... just a personal opinion, if they move away of WW2, they will loss lot of customers. Almost me.

Of course... they will gain another customers.
I think so... another time, a personal opinion, most of the people who likes SH III and IV, will not be happy with a Cold War era sim.

SH III and IV, have lot of improvement potential... we need, batithermograph for american subsim, water trap for german subsim, themal layer modelled for german subsim.

Capability to move inside of all complete sub, better AI, 3D and cinematic scenes of all jobs onboard, it was on old subsims and flight sims, better damage model, for sub and ships.

Better airplane Ai, flight model, and attack capabilities, remember planes was the first reason of subs kills.

Better campaing and world modellation, tonnage instead of renown...

A better memory management, just look the diference between SH III and the impoved SH IV...

Just watch all the impovements done by the comunity on both sims, SH III and IV.... lot of things.... we need that.

Almost in my case.... i am not interested on a Cold War sim...

:up::up::up:

[Jimbuna]

New code ... new bugs!:yep: :damn:
Yes....sure ! and what ? :D It is a new challenge... ! :up:

My main worry is... wich era ?

There is a high probability, UBI want to explore Cold War era... :down::down::down:
I think so... just a personal opinion, if they move away of WW2, they will loss lot of customers. Almost me.

Of course... they will gain another customers.
I think so... another time, a personal opinion, most of the people who likes SH III and IV, will not be happy with a Cold War era sim.

SH III and IV, have lot of improvement potential... we need, batithermograph for american subsim, water trap for german subsim, themal layer modelled for german subsim.

Capability to move inside of all complete sub, better AI, 3D and cinematic scenes of all jobs onboard, it was on old subsims and flight sims, better damage model, for sub and ships.

Better airplane Ai, flight model, and attack capabilities, remember planes was the first reason of subs kills.

Better campaing and world modellation, tonnage instead of renown...

A better memory management, just look the diference between SH III and the impoved SH IV...

Just watch all the impovements done by the comunity on both sims, SH III and IV.... lot of things.... we need that.

Almost in my case.... i am not interested on a Cold War sim...

:up::up::up:

Put your life savings on WW2 era http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/whistle.gif

[Gunfighter]

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/ABThing/WarOver2.jpg
WWII or Cold War ? WWII for me

[GlobalExplorer]

Yes

You have just given away the existence of something that is not vapour! Let me kiss you for what you have done for me and subsimmers all over the world!!

[Task Force]

Yep, I would like WW2 cause I dont feel like crusing underwater most of the time, Where you actualy have to look for targets instead of just haveing some one looking at a radar.

[Adriatico]

Wrong lads,...will be placed in a ZOO!
Beta screens - periscope depth:

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/8835/99491699ma7.jpg

For pre-orders revert... to the nearest pub.

[Sailor Steve]

Yes

You have just given away the existence of something that is not vapour! Let me kiss you for what you have done for me and subsimmers all over the world!!
He has? His reply was to the question "Does anyone know anything?" He said he knows something; he didn't say what.
:rotfl:

[nikimcbee]

As long as it is dynamic and not static.

Maybe an Axis and allie subs would be cool. I still like my "Chahuahua's of the Baja" hunting drug subs.

...or DC2 that works with SH4 :hmm:

[Jimbuna]

Yes

You have just given away the existence of something that is not vapour! Let me kiss you for what you have done for me and subsimmers all over the world!!
He has? His reply was to the question "Does anyone know anything?" He said he knows something; he didn't say what.
:rotfl:

That response to the question had me scratching the old noggin as well :hmm:

[elanaiba]

Yes
You have just given away the existence of something that is not vapour! Let me kiss you for what you have done for me and subsimmers all over the world!! He has? His reply was to the question "Does anyone know anything?" He said he knows something; he didn't say what.
:rotfl:

Actually, I said "someone" knows something, not necessarily me! :P :P :P

[elanaiba]

Surely a modern sub game would be a big yawn?? The only real action was during the Falklands war and the sinking of the Belgrano. Do you really wanna sink stuff from a million miles away using a computer?? As boring as modern combat flight sims. Give me good old seat of the pants, wights of their eyes stuff any day.:down:

I have played enough modern combat sims ... to tell you you're wrong.

In fact, I have yet to live in IL2 the same excitement I did in Falcon 3.0, in some missions.

Likewise, Dangerous Waters/modern sub warfare is not the boring stuff people expect it to be.

[Jimbuna]

Surely a modern sub game would be a big yawn?? The only real action was during the Falklands war and the sinking of the Belgrano. Do you really wanna sink stuff from a million miles away using a computer?? As boring as modern combat flight sims. Give me good old seat of the pants, wights of their eyes stuff any day.:down:

I have played enough modern combat sims ... to tell you you're wrong.

In fact, I have yet to live in IL2 the same excitement I did in Falcon 3.0, in some missions.

Likewise, Dangerous Waters/modern sub warfare is not the boring stuff people expect it to be.

But when it comes to submarine warfare I don't think anything equals the WW2 era ;)

[Sailor Steve]

Yes
You have just given away the existence of something that is not vapour! Let me kiss you for what you have done for me and subsimmers all over the world!! He has? His reply was to the question "Does anyone know anything?" He said he knows something; he didn't say what.
:rotfl:

Actually, I said "someone" knows something, not necessarily me! :P :P :P
Excellent point! But you responded in the affirmative to the question, which means that you know for certain that somebody knows something, which means that you do know something after all, whether you know it or not.:doh:

[subcpo]

I hope its not cold war/ current era...


For me that would be like working at home...ugh

[Christopher Snow]

Interesting. My conclusion from that statement (subcpo, #146) would be that you might do this "sub-stuff" for a living--I assume your moniker is short for "Submarine, Chief Petty Officer)...(and so you might be a bit jaded when you finally work your way down to our "populist PC simulations").

Would I be right? I don't want to put words into your mouth, but...at the same time, that's the impression I get.

Apologies if I should somehow "know otherwise." Because, in fact, I really don't know. I haven't been here (SubSim.com forums) since the mainstream days of SH3 (that was the last time a ran any sort of sub sim, in fact)


CS

[odjig292]

Eight pages of speculation! I still like Sonarman's idea:

Judging by the way U-Boat missions and SH4 multiplayer were heading my guess would be that we are looking at the addition of possibly the strategic & simulator level control of surface vessels or wolfpacks for the next game and I'd guess still in WW2.

The logic says that WWII vessels that already available is the only way to do the work on time. New coding is needed to handle the more sophisticated control. This sound like a good idea to me.

[subcpo]

Interesting. My conclusion from that statement (subcpo, #146) would be that you might do this "sub-stuff" for a living--I assume your moniker is short for "Submarine, Chief Petty Officer)...(and so you might be a bit jaded when you finally work your way down to our "populist PC simulations").

Would I be right? I don't want to put words into your mouth, but...at the same time, that's the impression I get.

Apologies if I should somehow "know otherwise." Because, in fact, I really don't know. I haven't been here (SubSim.com forums) since the mainstream days of SH3 (that was the last time a ran any sort of sub sim, in fact)


CS

Your conclusion is all wrong..Halsey was stupid. :D

[Lexandro]

Your conclusion is all wrong..Halsey was stupid. :D

Lol ok there Sean, looks like your months here again ;).

But OT; Any game released in such a short time would simply be a reworking of existing material. To start from scratch all over again would probably take years of work. Sticking with the WW2 era and with all the current content of SH4 is the only sensible option open to them if the timeframe is accurate.

[Topo65]

I just hope Ubisoft will understand that "gameplay" in a simulation, are in its level of realism. :up:

[Task Force]

I hope they put wolfpacks in the next SH.:D

[Sledgehammer427]

Your conclusion is all wrong..Halsey was stupid.

Be caureful, Jack, some things in this room...don't react too well to bullets.
:rotfl:

i almost hope the next silent hunter doesnt put us in the cold war...then im out of a job!

[Onkel Neal]

Does anyone actually know anything??


Yes

Good one. :lol:

Hey wait, doesn't anyone remember that optimistic release dates, rumors, wild-ass guessing, speculation, endless arguements about dynamic campaigns, red triangles, :/\\k:and swinging sausages, pushed back release dates, and public turmoil are all part of a successful Silent Hunter release process? :ping:

.

[Christopher Snow]

Your conclusion is all wrong..Halsey was stupid. :D
Haha, ok. You'll have to explain it to me then. Meanwhile, I've just been torpedoed (twice!), and I'm taking water fast....

[Your reference to Sean Connery noted!* Excellent--right down the barrel, in fact...]

[*Kudos too to Sledgehammer427, re: "bullets" You guys do know your sub-films.... :D]

FYI, I did meet a guy a while back (through a computer "sim-racing" league), who had spent 20 years as part of a double-shift crew (?) on a missile boat, so it wasn't JUST a random guess. By my math, that means he spent a full ten years out there, on that boat, under the surface.

A Man's man, certainly.


CS

[Sailor Steve]

Hey wait, doesn't anyone remember that optimistic release dates, rumors, wild-ass guessing, speculation, endless arguements about dynamic campaigns, red triangles, :/\\k:and swinging sausages, pushed back release dates, and public turmoil are all part of a successful Silent Hunter release process? :ping:
:rotfl:

I guess that makes this the smartest thread this week, instead of the dumbest.:sunny:

[U443]

As long as it doesn't have starforce protection I'll be happy.

[Task Force]

Ill second that.:up:

[elanaiba]

Don't worry, we always come up with NEW ways to "perfection protect" our products, we don't need to use old ones.

[kiwi_2005]

As long as it doesn't have starforce protection I'll be happy.

I doubt it very much it will come with SF.:yep:

[Christopher Snow]

Automatic (random) torpedo detonation, perhaps?

You take your shot without paying...

...and your torpedo blows up prematurely...because you are a cheapskate.... :D

If this method HASN'T already been proposed, then I herby claim proprietary rights to it*!

[*blahtitty blah blah blah (wow them into submission with vast amounts of legalese--you can tell becuase their eyes have glazed over) blahtitty blah blah]


CS

[Sailor Steve]

:rotfl: :rock:

That's right. If you can't dazzle 'em with brilliance, baffle 'em with BS.

Don't worry, we always come up with NEW ways to "perfection protect" our products, we don't need to use old ones.
:rotfl: :rock: To you too. I'm so glad you guys have a sense of humor.

[Nisgeis]

I thoguth SH2 was great, because I got to blow (scripted) stuff up. I thought SH3 was great, because I got to blow stuff up and it looked better than SH2. I then moved to SH4 and thought it was great because I got to blow stuff up and it looked better than SH3.

Will I be able to blow stuff up in SH5? Even if I'm not meant to blow stuff up, if they give me orders to proceed with caution into a powderkeg situation, in which the slightest spark could cause a war... Powderkeg you say :hmm:? No shooting? OK, that's the mission for me, absolutely no blowing stuff up ;). I promise!

[The General]

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=142797

[Nisgeis]

Even if SH5 had a full compliment of fully functioning compartments, where you could go to the officer's mess, sit down and have a detailed discussion about your last attack, using your microphone, getting their AI view of the attack in perfect synthesised speech about how things could be improved, whilst playing a game of chess with the Captain. You could give them the outline of what you want to try next time and they'd respond to and remember what you said. People would say:

1. Why is the Captain in the officer's mess all the time, he should be in the conning tower. He'd be courts martialled IRL.
2. *I* want to be the captain!
3. Why is there no food to eat, it's the officer's mess. I should be able to eat things when I'm there. Actually, there should be a menu. No, I should be setting the menu. It's very unrealistic and an immersion killer.
4. I was depth charged last night and NONE of the chess pieces fell over. They should have all fallen on the floor.

We all (constructively) criticise because we love the game.

Unless when you open the box for SH5, there is a glowing portal that takes you back in time to the 1940s, people will always want more. :).

[Furia]

I just hope the next generation of Naval Sims incorporate the Submarines versus surface forces all human manned so we can have real challenging naval combats like we had with Silent Hunter II and Destroyer Command or the ones avalaible in dangerous Waters.
Just another nice graphics sub human controlled only would be just nice but not enough.

:ping:

[Alex]

Surely a modern sub game would be a big yawn?? The only real action was during the Falklands war and the sinking of the Belgrano. Do you really wanna sink stuff from a million miles away using a computer?? As boring as modern combat flight sims. Give me good old seat of the pants, wights of their eyes stuff any day.:down:
I have played enough modern combat sims ... to tell you you're wrong.

In fact, I have yet to live in IL2 the same excitement I did in Falcon 3.0, in some missions.

Likewise, Dangerous Waters/modern sub warfare is not the boring stuff people expect it to be.
But when it comes to submarine warfare I don't think anything equals the WW2 era ;)
:yep: :yep: :sunny: :huh: :rock: ;) :D :up: !

[CptGrayWolf]

Surely a modern sub game would be a big yawn?? The only real action was during the Falklands war and the sinking of the Belgrano. Do you really wanna sink stuff from a million miles away using a computer?? As boring as modern combat flight sims. Give me good old seat of the pants, wights of their eyes stuff any day.:down:
I have played enough modern combat sims ... to tell you you're wrong.

In fact, I have yet to live in IL2 the same excitement I did in Falcon 3.0, in some missions.

Likewise, Dangerous Waters/modern sub warfare is not the boring stuff people expect it to be.
But when it comes to submarine warfare I don't think anything equals the WW2 era ;)
:yep: :yep: :sunny: :huh: :rock: ;) :D :up: !


Whuh? Being a modern day fighter pilot is not exciting? When the enemy is trying to kill you, any time period is full of tension and action. Your sonarman tells you there is a possible Akula class out there:ping:, but he now lost contact. Tell me you wouldn't be sweatin...

[jdkbph]

It's gotta be. It's the only thing that makes sense.

Doing WWII again would be overkill after SH 3 and 4. However, the "comfort zone" for this dev team is squarely in that line-of-sight era of mechanized naval warfare.

Post WWII - far enough forward that it would actually feel like something more than a WWII sub sim in a fantasy setting - introduces a whole new paradigm for technology and tactics that they would have to learn, design and build from scratch. Anything beyond precision optics, mechanical computers and tube electronics would most likely take far longer to develop than the 12 - 18 months we're talking here.

WWI, on the other hand, is just a code tweak and re-skin job for them... relatively speaking.

JD

[Razman23]

I would like to see another WWII sub/DC sim.

But instead..............

It will be a global thing.
You can play ANY and all sides.
All theaters.
Surface and sub-surface.
Unit control. (own ship)
Group control. (mulitple ships)
High command control. (play the 'general')

Multiplayer ability without having to pay a monthly fee.

[IronPerch]

There is poll in Ubi's german website (the official one) about new U-BOAT simulation features... Wonder how long that has been there?

http://silenthunter4.de.ubi.com/


"Kein Bugs" :o ... a feature? :o ...ok, but.... :o ... a joke :hmm: well.....:o

[rik007]

Wolfpacks would be great. Hope it is the atlantic again as there is unfinished business from SH3.

[CaptHawkeye]

In fact, I have yet to live in IL2 the same excitement I did in Falcon 3.0, in some missions.

So you had fun staring at a radar screen for hours waiting for a blip to show up? Then pressing the insta kill button for all of 3 seconds of excitement? :P

Likewise, Dangerous Waters/modern sub warfare is not the boring stuff people expect it to be.

It's not boring when stuff is actually happening, too bad it never is, since huge naval battles are a thing of the past, and modern warfare is 90% hiding and detection, and 10% using weapons of ultra-instant kill power. :)

[elanaiba]

In fact, I have yet to live in IL2 the same excitement I did in Falcon 3.0, in some missions.
So you had fun staring at a radar screen for hours waiting for a blip to show up? Then pressing the insta kill button for all of 3 seconds of excitement? :P


Actually, I had fun dogfighting Mig-19s in my F-16, with Sidewinders and "Guns! Guns! Guns!" going off.

I can still remember ending a two circles fight with a well placed burst of gunfire. Oh yes, I flew through a fireball and lost something in the process :)

[Zachstar]

All new code gives me hope that Ubisoft has finally decided to try their hand at post-WW2 era submarine simulation.

Dangerous waters is on life support with Mods. And does not accurately simulate 50's 60's sub tech.

We can have the whole ring around about if Cold War is a good idea or not.. However, it matters little as they have Obviously made their decision.

I just hope it is not yet another one sided WW2 simulation. for there is still PLENTY of mod room left in SH4 for that.

If they are going for WW2 again. Then in my view they need to get everything together and upgrade the hell out of it with emphasis on a new destroyer command afterwards.

[keltos01]

well, they're too late for the I-Boats :rotfl:
A korea war thing would be cool, but did they really sink anything ? it's also a small theater..

give us Nuke torpedoes !!!!!!:sunny:

keltos

[Arclight]

I really hope they don't go Cold War... Bernard would have a field day!
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj2/EZatHome/sublaunch.jpg
BERNARD!



No seriously, if they're gonna do nuclear subs, at least let it be a (fictious) hot war. Imagine searching the entire Pacific for that 1 boomer... and if you do find it you're only allowed to stalk it. :shifty:

There should still be plenty of merchants to sink, or the oceans will seem truly empty. Even now you hear such complaints from people playing RSRD. Heck, sometimes even from people running the stock campaign.

And I don't want to spend an entire campaign only taking pictures either. :down:

[Seeadler]

give me back my full playable multiplayer Tin Can destroyer or at least a FFG (if it will be a modern scenario) and I will be happy:D

[Jimbuna]

WW2 WW2 WW2 http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/thumbsup.gif

[danlisa]

SH4 is still wet behind the ears and already SH5 is being dreamed up.:o

Whatever theatre or medium is used in this latest incarnation just please make it unique! That's all I ask. I'll be honest and say that you have beaten the WWII era to death. Move on please.

[Rockin Robbins]

SH4 is still wet behind the ears and already SH5 is being dreamed up.:o

A huge endorsement for that point of view, from our standpoint. From Ubi's satandpoint, they need another infusion of cash from us and rather than meeting our unique needs as a simulation community, they've elected to treat us as pre-pubescent FPS gamers. It may make them a little money but they could do much better (and so could we) if they rethought their business model as it relates to simulations. They could produce a dependable income stream and a whole lot of happy customers if they just applied a little thought to their undertaking.

But no, they see no difference between us and players of Ratchet and Clank. http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa293/RockinRobbins13/smileys/shootingsmilie.gif

[elanaiba]

Please do not confuse various assumptions made "here and there" by the public with official plans and policy of Ubisoft.

[TDK1044]

You gotta love this thread. Over 180 posts based on nothing but speculation and wishes. Only one poster here knows what's in development...and he ain't saying anything! :D

Here's a post of mine over at the Ubi Forum posted in the hope that the game isn't released until 2010:

Silent Hunter 5

The Romanian ship MS Buggymess leaves a harbor not yet mapped in the game. Ubi and subsim forum members from Countries all over the world must leave their unmapped ports, and rush at flank speed in a variety of unfinished vessels in order to try and sink the Buggymess.

Also out there somewhere is the Carrier Krazyfrenchman. Its role is to send you information, some of which is true and some of which is to fool you, to see how many ships actually manage to filter out the false messages and get to within firing range of the Buggymess.

Once a shot is actually fired at the Romanian ship, the game crashes and demands more development time from the Publisher.

The working title of the game is 'Dan's Daring Caper'. It should be with you shortly. If it doesn't work out, look out for the board game. http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[danlisa]

But no, they see no difference between us and players of Ratchet and Clank.

Catchit & Spank rule!!! :rotfl:

A hugely realistic & IMHO true to life representation of a little known animal called a Lombax and his back riding tin bolt friend.:lol: I regularly play the Sim that is TOD/Quest for Booty.

Money greases the cogs that turns our wheels. It'll never change, such is business. Needless to say, I eagerly await any & all info regarding SH5 (or other) and hope for a radical departure from previous ventures.:up:

[elanaiba]

The working title of the game is 'Dan's Daring Caper'. It should be with you shortly. If it doesn't work out, look out for the board game. http://forums.ubi.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Haha, that was really funny :)

[difool2]

After some thought during the weekend their best bet is a multiplatform sim set in the Atlantic during WW2, with a lot of emphasis on multiplayer (tho not all) and strategic and operational emphasis. SH4 is already being modded in this direction anyway, but without the SDK there's going to be a lot of non-functionality in the various surface ship mods modders are working on. The devs can't help but notice all the excitement here whenever a new playable ship is released, and I certainly have had fun in my Schnellboot and battleships, despite some wonky features. But if they go that route no way it will be ready by early '09.

[badaboom]

I thought I read somewhere awhile back that thier was going to be "A SPECIAL PREVIEW"of a sub sim at this weeks subsim gathering in Houston?but for the life of me I can't find any info now! Does anyone else remember reading this info?

[Daddy Dragon]

Now, if you could offer me a decent job...How 'bout Vice President? Sarah Palin thinks there were dinosaurs on the planet 4000 years ago and she could get her hands on the nuclear codes :o . PLEASE AMERICA, VOTE FOR SOMEBODY DECENT THIS TIME!!

Well, some 10,000 species of "dinosaur" (i.e. birds) are still alive today, so there were probably at least a few 4,000 years ago. ;)

Regarding the topic at hand, I'd like to see an early cold war sub sim.

[Adriatico]

SH4 is still wet behind the ears and already SH5 is being dreamed up.:o

Whatever theatre or medium is used in this latest incarnation just please make it unique! That's all I ask. I'll be honest and say that you have beaten the WWII era to death. Move on please.

I beleive 100% that you are fed-up with previous events... but :

- you are veteran member of GWX dev. team
- one of the first SH3 artists
- with 4.478 posts and x00 sleepless nights
- native english speaker
- ...etc

My point is... the average SHx player's brain could not be as "saturated" as you are with Atlantic WWII structure...

I bet that 60-70% world players ...dream about Kriegsmarine in DirectX 10.xx movie visuals and gameply...

Fine example is Oleg Madox with Il2, FB, Ace exp, PF, ...etc ...and eagerly awaited Battle of Britain:SoW
( in a sport's terms: don't change the winning team )

:know:

[tomoose]

....unless you start it yourself! :roll:

[Jimbuna]

I thought I read somewhere awhile back that thier was going to be "A SPECIAL PREVIEW"of a sub sim at this weeks subsim gathering in Houston?but for the life of me I can't find any info now! Does anyone else remember reading this info?

Yes....the information is still out there embedded in the middle of a certain post (if you can find it). ;)

So we await possible confirmation of the next WWII sim from Ubi at the Meet next week.

The only question/wish I have is for it to cover both ATO and PTO theatres and allow the player to choose which side they want to play http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/pirate.gif

[Pathfinder]

I'd love to see a Silent Hunter V sim that revolved around the Royal Navy Subs of WWII - With the possibility of an alternative career in the Japanese Navy as a submariner

[greyfish]

I would really like to see a modern day sub sim with all the graphics and reality of silent hunter 4 with everthing that is going on all around the world today it would be great to have a modern sub sim.:ping:

[badaboom]

:up: Hello Greyfish!!! Good to have you aboard Skipper,and Welcome!!!!:up:

[Zachstar]

I would really like to see a modern day sub sim with all the graphics and reality of silent hunter 4 with everthing that is going on all around the world today it would be great to have a modern sub sim.:ping:

A Kilo simulation alone will be well worth the price of admission.

The kilo is designed to get big results and effects on the cheap. If you look at the model in Dangerous Waters you will note how it is so much more like Silent Hunter than a 688.


The difficult part of making a modern subsim is modeling the advanced systems for the player to interact with. If you limited it to one class then even a moderate code change can give you enough to simulate Kilo warfare.

Also there is PLENTY of ways an "Alternate Universe" could have used a Kilo.

[Zachstar]

After some thought during the weekend their best bet is a multiplatform sim set in the Atlantic during WW2, with a lot of emphasis on multiplayer (tho not all) and strategic and operational emphasis. SH4 is already being modded in this direction anyway, but without the SDK there's going to be a lot of non-functionality in the various surface ship mods modders are working on. The devs can't help but notice all the excitement here whenever a new playable ship is released, and I certainly have had fun in my Schnellboot and battleships, despite some wonky features. But if they go that route no way it will be ready by early '09.

This is a point when a company needs to start thinking about a branch.

Silent Hunter needs to remain a Subsim. The elements in SH4 are about the limit in my view.

If we are to start talking about being able to use (Ships, Subs, Planes, whatever) in a WW2 era while being realistic. We are going to need a big effort that is outside normal Silent Hunter operations.

We are rapidly moving towards this point. With PS4 and XBOX 720 or whatever within a year or so of their announcements. Gamers are expecting more than ever from their games. Being able to bring your buddies into a CoD game is not going to cut it anymore. They are going to want their buddies in the tank or the aircraft or the ship laying down the hurt on the enemy.

So I think this is a topic outside the scope of SH5 and more of a question of future gaming industry.

[Lexandro]

As a new blood to the SH franchise I dont carry any baggage about previous incarnations of the game. I only play Sh4 with Uboat pack and I must admit it is a great game, one that I thoroughly enjoy. Im not new to the genre though as I was a skipper back in the Destroyer Command days.

That said I do believe another WW2 game is entirely feesable and would still go down a treat with new and old fans alike. But imo for it to stand out againts the others in the series I would personally make it a proper world war 2 game. That is to say allow the played to be a skipper for any of the major forces in WW2 (GB/US/Rus/Ita/Ger/Jap). Thats a tall order when you think on it with the boats and different career tracks. But if limited to one single country it would HAVE to be a bloody amazing game to be popular imo. Making it divergeant with different career tracks would open a whole new aspect to gameplay.

Like what if you start as a GB skipper and get "assigned" to US or Aus commands, like an exchange officer as happened many times in the war. Same can be done on the flip side, say start as U-boat skipper and get asked to take an Italian boat in the med.

In essence what Im getting at is a much wider theatre or operations. The game engine in SH4 has practically the whole world in it. Taking this up a notch and making world wide sailing possible would be at the forefront of my thinking for SH5. Squash the bugs that keep recurring in each title (like dodgey wave effects/savegame corruption) beef up area of operations, and rework the render with a bit of high end DX9 tech and make the weather more impressive (like 60foot waves) and your looking at a potential top 10 game easily.

[Zachstar]

Whole aspect (Or world) games take SERIOUS work to do without seriously degrading the individual aspects.

You would get a bunch of boats with interiors that are not historically correct, parameters off, that kind of junk...

It would take atleast as much time as SH3 from start to finish and likely alot longer. Thus if something like that were to happen I think it would be like I mentioned above.

The more I think about it. The more it seems this game will follow the "Kill tha Soviet bad guyz" trend started by such titles as World in Conflict.

Think about it.

In the 50s the mainstay of our sub force was the Guppy conversions. So sub warfare would have been mostly the same except for more use of homing torps (And nuke torpedoes but obviously this would be alt universe so that can be tossed) and Jet/Helo ASW.

So if you ignore the soviet sub for playable units and keep it to blasting surface ships.. Well it is sort of possible in such a short timeframe.

[Adriatico]

I thought I read somewhere awhile back that thier was going to be "A SPECIAL PREVIEW"of a sub sim at this weeks subsim gathering in Houston?but for the life of me I can't find any info now! Does anyone else remember reading this info?

Yes....the information is still out there embedded in the middle of a certain post (if you can find it). ;)

So we await possible confirmation of the next WWII sim from Ubi at the Meet next week.

The only question/wish I have is for it to cover both ATO and PTO theatres and allow the player to choose which side they want to play http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/pirate.gif

Who would not like it :smug: ... but let's be realistic, it could make a work x2 or x4 if it is really brand new engine... and extend the project work for 12-24 months.

PC graphics is "flying" these days, setting new standards year by year... and serious simulation is so complex and time-consuming project that - by the time of final release it's graphic engine is almost too old... :dead:

Regarding that meeting, I would expect just some more whispering and rumors among few "insiders"...
Not convinced that Ubi would be so emotional about it...

[SteamWake]

You gotta love this thread. Over 180 posts based on nothing but speculation and wishes.

Okay threads over TDK wins :up:

[doulos05]

In essence what Im getting at is a much wider theatre or operations. The game engine in SH4 has practically the whole world in it. Taking this up a notch and making world wide sailing possible would be at the forefront of my thinking for SH5. Squash the bugs that keep recurring in each title (like dodgey wave effects/savegame corruption) beef up area of operations, and rework the render with a bit of high end DX9 tech and make the weather more impressive (like 60foot waves) and your looking at a potential top 10 game easily.

I'm all for it, but I do have to say that I've experienced some pretty high waves in SHIV. Periscope depth on a Balao class is 60 feet, and on external view, my conning tower was breaching in the troughs of the waves. So, the waves were probably only ~40 feet (since the depth is to the keel, so it's not quite 60 ft).

[Dowly]

In essence what Im getting at is a much wider theatre or operations. The game engine in SH4 has practically the whole world in it. Taking this up a notch and making world wide sailing possible would be at the forefront of my thinking for SH5. Squash the bugs that keep recurring in each title (like dodgey wave effects/savegame corruption) beef up area of operations, and rework the render with a bit of high end DX9 tech and make the weather more impressive (like 60foot waves) and your looking at a potential top 10 game easily.
I'm all for it, but I do have to say that I've experienced some pretty high waves in SHIV. Periscope depth on a Balao class is 60 feet, and on external view, my conning tower was breaching in the troughs of the waves. So, the waves were probably only ~40 feet (since the depth is to the keel, so it's not quite 60 ft).

Yeah, but I want HUGE waves! You know, the kinda monsters that used to rip merchant's rudder off etc. :yep:

[Kruger]

In this kind of horrific storms, what did the subs do ? Just dive deep, right ? What if the storm lasted for more than a couple of days ?

[stabiz]

What the ...? Nobody tells me anything!:huh:

Sh3 + wolfpacks + insanely good damage modelling and explotions(c)TM + destroyer command= SH5? Hope, hope.

[kylania]

What the ...? Nobody tells me anything!:huh:

Hey stabiz,

There's a little blurb on subsim.com that seems to indicate that Silent Hunter V might be coming out next year! In case you hadn't heard yet. :hmm:;)

[CaptainHaplo]

There is a lot of speculation - but one thing I will point out to those that freak out over the "new code" notion.

The key here is that the research for much of a WW2 subsim has been done with sh3/4 - ALOT of the models - interior and exterior are already made. Sure, to make em prettier they are tweaked - but the idea that all new code means all new drawings and art isnt true. New code almost always means "new ENGINE" - but a new engine can be built to better optimize what is already available - as well as use new things.

Personally I am encouraged - hoping that SH5 remains in WW2 (and I strongly suspect it will) - and that the engine allows for more of the true realism we have so long wanted.

Things like - control over individual ballast tanks, control over multi-engine propulsion, a more accurate damage model (both for ourselves and for enemy shipping). Realistic gunnery (one AI beef I have) and a slew of other things. We don't know the facts, but to run amok with the idea of "well its this - or that" or "OH MY GOD SH5 is going FPS!" is not sensible.

With a new engine they could be adding a slew of features -standing orders at sea, semi-dynamic campaign affects (yes - the unholy what if scenarios that would affect, but not ultimately change history), etc. Who knows? We don't, but I am not going to go off the deep end and be negative. I am thrilled SH5 is in the works.

And as a side note - if SH5 is demo'd to the subsim meet - then you can expect it to be released in a quarter or 2 - because if its good enough to show to hardcore folks like us - its more than just a runnable slide show.

[rik007]

CaptainHaplo, I fully agree. Personally an update of the Atlantic theatre would be great and profitable for Ubisoft.

SHIII has aged by now and nothing new is expected after GWX. I think the lot of us are read to buy a new atlantic subsim when available. So the time is there to do another Atlantic one with Wolfpacks etc and that can be done much easier right now as Ubi has the experience, the tools and the material ready.

I think the Altantic is the cash cow of them all. The cold war is not attractive at all. For example check the number of posts on this forum and your market research is done. 353.924 posts for ShIII+mod, 203.388 for SHIV, 31513 for the post-war Subsims. Addon I leave out as well as the ATO modding.

Check the posts on you have the wishlist. It cannot be easier for Ubi and hopefully we will see that happen!

:sunny:

[Rilder]

In this kind of horrific storms, what did the subs do ? Just dive deep, right ? What if the storm lasted for more than a couple of days ?

Perfect storm but instead of a fishing boat, a sub? :lol:

[V.C. Sniper]

I would stay on the bridge of my super awesome Balao and LAFFF hysterically as my sub slices through 40 foot waves in the perfect storm! :arrgh!:

[Orion2012]

I think the Altantic is the cash cow of them all. The cold war is not attractive at all. For example check the number of posts on this forum and your market research is done. 353.924 posts for ShIII+mod, 203.388 for SHIV, 31513 for the post-war Subsims. Addon I leave out as well as the ATO modding.


You have to take into account the fact that some users simply can't run SHV. I myself just don't like all the rain in the Atlantic. Depressing. :p

In all seriousness I'd prefer they just give us WW2 with both the Atlantic and pacific campaigns.

[Hartmann]

A new code need more time in develop a decent game, and start from nothing.

if the time is limited , it could mean that the product perhaps don´t have any of the very cool and amazing features that the people request like full modeling of the subs, a decent IA or other things. :hmm:

[tomagabriel]

Well, I am still hoping and waiting for a Cold War nuclear adventure. I know people will be perplexed by this wish of mine, but as they do not find Cold War too appealing , I do not find the WWII so appealing (to me WWII seems boring as it lacks action, the boat seems to me more like a submerged metal box than a ship - funny thing, the WWII fans say exactly the same about Cold War - I guess the problem is in us, not in the history) :) Probably one day we will get some new-engined nuclear/modern stuff. Though I doubt SH V will do this, I still hope for that. SHIV was for me the peak of my interest in WWII. I enjoyed it a lot, but I do not think I will pursue this WWII line (financially speaking).

[Rip]

I'm not talking about a fictional campaign with WWII equipment. I'm talking about one for Cold War era equipment like SSKs and SSNs. The main theme I see with posts opposing this kind of sim is that there is nothing historically to base it on. My counterpoint to that is that if the campaign is well thought out it would most certainly work. No one raises the issue with Sonalysts games or modern flight sim games. Every modern flight sim I have ever seen has a fictional campaign. Heck, NovaLogic's F-22 Lightning 3 even featured the B-61 Tactical Thermonuclear bomb! :oMaybe my imagination just falls short on this one, but I don't get the appeal of the Cold War era subsim.

Sonarman picks up a contact, targeting computer develops a track, you select a track to engage and push the fire button. Weapon moves over to the predicted intercept and activates its seeker. Heck, if the target detects the launch, the weapon can still be updated with new information, changing its course enroute. Oh, and your cruise missiles just get blasted by gatling guns or high-speed missile systems.

Everything is automated. At least SH, so far, has been a challenge to play. And a throwback to WWI would mean your only option is making Dick o'Kanes (no gyros to have your torpedoes turn unto a certain track).

I don't get it. :-?

* not that I didn't enjoy Dangerous Waters, but the scale is far smaller. Just a particular sea where all the action takes place, instead of an entire ocean to roam.
If you had served on one you would realize that nothing is automated. There are tools to help you identify and find solutions on targets and then assist you in employing your arsenal but I can assure you it is much more complicated and interesting than you make it sound. Actually some parts of it are far more complicated and challenging than a WW2 era sub. Although I am pulling for another WW2 game with both theaters and much more graphics and interaction with your crew/submarine. Strategically I love modern subs and served on one, but it is much more difficult to make use of eye candy, and eye candy is VERY important these days. IMHO

No matter though, I am happy for any submarine simulations to be developed. No matter the period or even the quality to some degree.

Rip

[CapnScurvy]

In my opinion if a SHV is released by the 1st quarter of next year this means the product is just about done today. The Devs will be coughing up whatever they have in the next month or two to have it stamped in plastic, package designed and shipped. Probably it will be out on the shelves at the two year aniversary of SH4 in March (or so).

So what will it be like? Well, we just paid a "U.S. Grant" for the 5th patch to a bug filled game. Why not pay some big bucks for patch six? I don't expect this next new "game" to be much different than a rehash of the same SH4 game but with a few new images and missions. From Ubisoft's point of view, the lure of the almighty dollar will force the developers to hand over their work (complete or not), so the Ubisoft bank account can start showing an increase in size.

Patch Six, yes that's a great title!!! Worth every penny of $60.00.

[Diopos]

In my opinion if a SHV is released by the 1st quarter of next year this means the product is just about done today. The Devs will be coughing up whatever they have in the next month or two to have it stamped in plastic, package designed and shipped. Probably it will be out on the shelves at the two year aniversary of SH4 in March (or so).

So what will it be like? Well, we just paid a "U.S. Grant" for the 5th patch to a bug filled game. Why not pay some big bucks for patch six? I don't expect this next new "game" to be much different than a rehash of the same SH4 game but with a few new images and missions. From Ubisoft's point of view, the lure of the almighty dollar will force the developers to hand over their work (complete or not), so the Ubisoft bank account can start showing an increase in size.

Patch Six, yes that's a great title!!! Worth every penny of $60.00.

Well with all respect to the European audience and the interest in WWII-Atlantic-sub-warfare (with which I fully identify) I think that the US market is much more profitable for PCgames. And the US audience would be probably more interested in "their" subwarfare ie the Pacific rather than "Germany's" in the Atlantic. So comercially speaking, SH4 was the opportunity for Ubisoft. The question is if they succeeded or not! The answer to this question will "shape" SH5!!!!:yep:

[Arclight]

If you had served on one you would realize that nothing is automated. There are tools to help you identify and find solutions on targets and then assist you in employing your arsenal but I can assure you it is much more complicated and interesting than you make it sound. Actually some parts of it are far more complicated and challenging than a WW2 era sub. Although I am pulling for another WW2 game with both theaters and much more graphics and interaction with your crew/submarine. Strategically I love modern subs and served on one, but it is much more difficult to make use of eye candy, and eye candy is VERY important these days. IMHO

No matter though, I am happy for any submarine simulations to be developed. No matter the period or even the quality to some degree.

RipLike I said; maybe my imagination just falls short on this one. ;)
And my apologies; you're right, I make it sound to easy. Didn't mean to sell anyone short or anything.

I know from Dangerous Waters that the nuclear subs have their appeal to. Just find WWII a more interesting setting. IMHO SH = WWII. If Ubi wants to do a nuke sub game, don't put the SH label on it.

In the end, I'll probably just take what they throw at me. Whatever it is. :yep:

[Task Force]

I think its gona be WW2, Picific/Atlanic, Maby some new models, new options like wolfpacks (hince the poll on the SH4 web page) and improved graphics/weather.;)

[Rip]

Like I said; maybe my imagination just falls short on this one. ;)
And my apologies; you're right, I make it sound to easy. Didn't mean to sell anyone short or anything.

I know from Dangerous Waters that the nuclear subs have their appeal to. Just find WWII a more interesting setting. IMHO SH = WWII. If Ubi wants to do a nuke sub game, don't put the SH label on it.

In the end, I'll probably just take what they throw at me. Whatever it is. :yep:

I also agree that pre-modern submarine games in general are likely to be more accessible and have more visual feedback and other characteristics that typically make a better game for John Q Public. So the WW2 product should be the lead product and get major engine improvements first. I especially think the the Silent Hunter branding should be WW2 exclusive. I'd love to see WW1 and modern sub sims realeased by them as well though. Perhaps they could crank out a WW1 one while they work on the next WW2 one. I would imagine you could grind out a nice one by using the SH4 engine.

[Sonarman]

Well with all respect to the European audience and the interest in WWII-Atlantic-sub-warfare (with which I fully identify) I think that the US market is much more profitable for PCgames. And the US audience would be probably more interested in "their" subwarfare ie the Pacific rather than "Germany's" in the Atlantic. So comercially speaking, SH4 was the opportunity for Ubisoft. The question is if they succeeded or not! The answer to this question will "shape" SH5!!!!:yep:

Not so sure thats true... I remember the first time sales figures for SH4 were bandied on the forums here about courtesy of an article from CNN? with a figure of 30,000 sales, seemed a bit low, later it was stated that this was the US sales figure, worldwide the game had sold over 300,000 copies and to quote gamesIndustry.biz...

"Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has told GamesIndustry.biz that Europe is now the biggest territory for the world's third largest publisher - greater than the US by "more than 5 per cent" - thanks to greater accessibility of games."

I also think you'll find that the Atlantic theatre is actually more favoured by most Americans here than the Pacific despite the historical connections.

It will be interesting to see what happens with the Western release of PT-Boats whose theatres are designed mainly to appeal to it's home (Russian) audience.

[Rip]

I have been told by someone who knows that sales for SH4 are very close to those of SH3. Perhaps if SH5 could cover both theaters it could reach the sum of both. Can you imagine being able to command a sub from any of the nations that had them in WW2. That would be really cool and appeal to audiences the series has never appealed to before. We might actually get some Japanese players.

[Scharnhorst1943]

I have been told by someone who knows that sales for SH4 are very close to those of SH3. Perhaps if SH5 could cover both theaters it could reach the sum of both. Can you imagine being able to command a sub from any of the nations that had them in WW2. That would be really cool and appeal to audiences the series has never appealed to before. We might actually get some Japanese players.

I would love this as well, but equally or maybe even a bit moreso, I would like to see Destroyer Command 2 ... or maybe a sim that combines Destroyer Command with Fighting Steel?

[Steeltrap]

Given 65% of school leavers in USA (i.e. year 12 for the rest of us) can't identify the United Kingdom on a map of the world, I don't think it matters which theatre you give them - they won't have a clue about it anyway....

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[Steeltrap]

On a more 'serious' note, someone challenged us to think of ways to run the game as a MMO scenario.

Here are a few thoughts:

* A 'real' campaign at a tactical AND strategic level. Think about the challenges from each side.
ALLIES:
- need to get a certain volume of traffic through the various convoy routes each week.
- have a certain level of new hulls being built.
- have a certain level of escorts.
- have finite repair capacity (which increases).
- have certain numbers and types of aircraft.
- personnel requirements (enough to man ships, training, R&R).
- ability to conduct R&D in various ways: radar, ASDIC, weapons (air and sea), ships, aircraft, intel (code-breaking and other sources) etc.

AXIS:
- need to prevent the Allies meeting their convoy requirements.
- new hulls.
- various improvements to base facilities (larger capacity, more repairs etc).
- other factors as mentioned above.

* Crew development along the lines of 'Eve' i.e. you need to send crew members to specific training courses to get certain proficiencies. This occurs as real time passes. Experience then adds to the proficiency. In some cases, new technology requires basic training before it can be employed (akin to the delay in fitting out and sea trials as currently in SHIII).

* Same logic for development of technology, deployment of resources (be they bases, base improvements, personnel etc).

In essence you'd be turning WWII into a strategic and tactical environment running 'real time'.

Now, how do you co-ordinate that approach with individual players' availabilities?

Well, a few thoughts:

The strategic side of things involves ability to put ships/technology etc in the field to critical areas.
If you think about it, despite our love of the ability to sail all over the place as/when we like, real skippers didn't have that level of freedom.
Following from that, it doesn't matter about the journey over large parts of the convoy/patrol paths - it's when they intersect things get exciting.

Given these points, you could have a system whereby you are assigned to a flotilla and you manage your crew/boat (decide on upgrades, send crew for training, have repairs conducted etc.) in port and on patrol.

When you login, you're told current status of all those things and when your next patrol is scheduled. If you login once your patrol has 'started', you'll find yourself somewhere out in the ocean. Play for a while and see what you can find. Attack if you find something etc. etc. Eventually you'll get new orders or choose to return to base.

The biggest challenge is how to merge all the different patrols etc into a coherent experience around the globe for all players. There are several ways to do that, I expect. Some of them can be:

* break time into 'chunks' i.e. instead of continuous, time is treated more like 'large turns' from the strategic perspective.

* have the system allow certain orders to be conducted on your behalf when logged out (such as, crucially, to pursue convoys as reported by other boats/assets). You might get a report when playing that could then calculate the various course/speed/time of interception options and allow you to choose (important info would be what your fuel status and distance to base would be based on those choices). You could choose one and log-off, knowing your boat will go in that direction.

* how to coordinate combat? Well, the system could give alerts/schedules i.e. tell you when contact is anticipated (for known targets) so you'd know when to login. It could also tell you when others are due to join battle and you can choose to attack or wait until then. Throw some AI boats into it and you're not dependent on other players loggin in to do a wolfpack attack.

* you can have 'standing orders' in place i.e. if aircraft sighted, dive to 'x' depth then slow to 1/3 for 2 hours etc. This would cover your boat while you're not able to command it.

Now these are all simply some thoughts. The details in working it out would be a killer (although happily taking from existing online experiences makes sense if those mechanisms are fit for purpose). Other issues such as...
- who plays what side (can humans play all combatants?)?
- who 'commands' at a strategic level?
- what ability is there to change history, and to what extent?
....are all further challenges.

Point is it would be possible to do....as I've mentioned, Eve has some aspects of interest, given running around in a human/AI space environment while the players need to logoff for large periods is similar to the challenges in a strategic/tactical subsim.

As to do I think anyone's going to do it? Nope. But if you wanted to justify monthly subscriptions, and create a true online experience merged with strategic considerations, these are embryonic thoughts of how one might approach it.

Cheers

[Sonarman]

I would like to see Destroyer Command 2 ... or maybe a sim that combines Destroyer Command with Fighting Steel?

Yes I'd love a DC2 as well but merged with "Task Force 1942" rather than "Fighting steel" which I thought had a terrible interface.

[Solemfero]

Given 65% of school leavers in USA (i.e. year 12 for the rest of us) can't identify the United Kingdom on a map of the world, I don't think it matters which theatre you give them - they won't have a clue about it anyway....

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

65% ?? If that is true it doesn’t say much for modern education standards. One wonders how bad their knowledge of history and WW2 is.
Back to the debate on the future of SH.... The future seems to be pointing to on line gaming. Look at games like Battlefield 2 with 50,000 plus players at the same time playing in 100’s of servers. SH needs to expand its on line gaming. Maybe more than one player in each ship or sub and up to 50 people in any game. On one hand trying to protect a convey while others try to sink it. If your ship is sinking you can transfer to another warship/steamer and carry on etc....
What about special missions?? Take command of a midget submarine?? A chariot sub?? Having to get out and cut anti sub nets to blow things up in harbour etc
Anyone else like this idea??

[difool2]

Point is it would be possible to do....as I've mentioned, Eve has some aspects of interest, given running around in a human/AI space environment while the players need to logoff for large periods is similar to the challenges in a strategic/tactical subsim.

As to do I think anyone's going to do it? Nope. But if you wanted to justify monthly subscriptions, and create a true online experience merged with strategic considerations, these are embryonic thoughts of how one might approach it.Cheers
All good ideas-I've already considered much of what you wrote, however. The ultimate issue for the developer/publisher is whether something like that can be profitable (i.e. draw in enough subscribers). The issue with the model you put forth is the extensive downtime involved-like a real skipper you would be experiencing boredom 99% of the time, and excitement (terror) 1% of the time. Even if you got those ratios to 90%/10% respectively, how many people out there would want to subscribe to something like that? Us hardcore subsimmers would of course, but for more casual players that kind of model likely has very limited appeal. This is in addition to other issues to consider in this model-like losing your sub to your dumb AI XO when you are offline.

Hence to draw in these players you may be forced to go with more arcade-like (Navyfield-ish) gameplay, ensuring enough action to keep their attention. The playing area likely would shrink significantly, to name one, and the hunting aspect would fade as you would know where the enemy is most of the time and can beeline straight for them.

You mentioned Eve Online. Could someone who plays that chime in here and offer their thoughts on what lessons we could draw from that game?

[scrapser]

Maybe SH5 will actually be SH4 - Second Edition. That's what I would like to see. You know....yards, not meters...no issues with the environment graphics...no torpedo issues, crew management that works as advertised...no bugs of any kind...none...nada, etc. In short, a sim that works for a change without having to call in the mods to save another highly anticipated beta release from UBISoft.

It's a dream I have.

[Task Force]

Yes but without bugs, and stuff like that. What will the Moders do?:hmm:

[Sledgehammer427]

make the game better...
i believe ubi makes games with potential crappy so us modders have something to do!:rotfl:

[Ivan Putski]

I too would like to see subs from other nations envolved, Britain, Japan etc. Ubi has a penchant for rushing games into production though, and considering talk of a 1st quarter 09 release date isn`t promising. If done right SHV would hit an all time sales record for this type of sim. Puts

[Adriatico]

Afterall, I think that we are all togather "caught on empty hook"... casted by our belowed Subsim...

There is some logical order of things: annoucement/confirmation of project, features description, first screens, beta... etc.

Obviously, there is some "activity in Romania"... but whole this thread is pointless till project comes at least "to periscope depth"...

I would be happy if it hits the shelves in August-September09.

(... of course, if it is not Nikita Hruschov snorkling... against seventeen US radar screens)

:dead:

[Sailor Steve]

Okay, here are the facts as percieved by someone who actually got to talk face-to-face with the actual lead developer of the current installment of the Silent Hunter series, and actually got to ask some actual questions.

1) Yes, there is going to be a Silent Hunter 5.









That's it. From what I gathered they are still in the initial planning stages, and it's not going to be available in the first quarter of 2009, or even the first quarter of 2010. That was what Neal put up, either because he was guessing or just wanted to get us talking, or because he knows something and wants to get us talking. Of course I could be wrong, but show me someone outside of Dan and his team who knows anything more, or else it's just all guessing.

The actual discussion of the game consisted of Dan asking us questions, and the questions themselves were all of the "How would you feel if we did it this way?" variety. Our answers varied from "Yes, I'd like to see that" to "No, I wouldn't touch that with a ten-foot pole", with the occassional "But that would be too hard to implement" - which got a response of "What we can or can't do isn't important, I'm just asking what you'd like to see." When someone said he wanted to see British or Dutch or Japanese subs and I made my usual statement about the cost of hiring voice actors, he looked at me and said, "Yes, but that's not all that hard to do". So my objections mean no more than anyone else's.

I don't know about Neal, but the rest of us came away with the joy of having talked to him and not much else. So for now "I think they're doing this" and "I'm sure they wouldn't do that" is no more precise than my own "I have no clue". I'm hoping it's a WW2 sim, based in the Atlantic (for no other reason than that's where the war started), that fixes all the problems and advances the feel of the simulation. And I'm hoping that it includes the Pacific side as well, or is quickly followed by that, since the work is already done and it would be easy to implement once the basic work was done. Japanese, Dutch, British, Italian and Russian submarines? If the basic game is done right that shouldn't be hard to do with small and profitable add-ons, which gives the players something to look forward too, makes money for UBI, and keeps the devs employed and working on the genre we all love so much. Destroyer Command 2? Same thing: once the groundwork is laid commanding surface ships shouldn't be a problem, and if the initial coding is included then submarine/destroyer interplay should again be a possibility, and then maybe a reality.

This much I did gather from what we said and did: they are of course obviously working on something, but they're not yet ready to go into detail. But they are talking to us, asking us what we want and asking us what we think - about some ideas of theirs and about the genre in general.

Jokes about 'Penguins of the Atlantic', Armed Merchant Cruisers and Fashion Barbie, and the idea that Dan is quitting the team and moving to America aside, I don't know any more about Silent Hunter 5 now than I did before I went. But this I do know: Dan is a great guy with a wicked sense of humor, they do respect us and our opinions, our opinions and wants are so widely varied that there is no way they can give us all what we want, and they like and respect us and are listening and want to give us the best experience they possibly can.

[Dowly]

2010 would sound good to me. :hmm: Good, perfected "über" SH. Atlantic, Pacific, maybe even multiple sides to play as. *drool*

But what I would like to see the most is the war and supplies running in the background, so you could get info of how your struggle is affecting the war in general. Also, something has to be done to have AI subs hunting, heck, if not fully working AI subs, even somekind of dice rolling going on in the background to determine if your fellow kaleuns sink something. Then, you'd catch messages sent by another uboat in the event of the dice rolling a 'successfull attack' for that particular boat. Would add heaps of immersion. :yep:

[Adriatico]

...in a few words, the name of the game is - GWX4

Triple coffe for wolfpack team, please !

:up:

[Jimbuna]

I concur with Steve http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/thumbsup.gif

If anyone has any complaints, the guy on the right is the one you should complain to.

http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/4592/p1000147ll0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Best bring a few mates :lol:

[Diopos]

ww2 WW2 WORLD WAR 2 WORLD WAR 2 WORLD WAR 2 WORLD WAR 2

Both oceans please! And a spherical (at least)WORLD, too!:yep:

[Bosje]

aye, WW2

although privateer merchant raiding in the 1700s or early 1800s could be fun, too

[Rip]

I totally agree with Steve. I probably dominated Dan's attention as much as anyone (I am quite sure he was glad to escape my constant game discussion) and if I came away with anything it was a healthy respect for what the developers WANT to do. I can only hope that anything I discussed with him will make their task a little bit easier and the end product a little more grandiose.

Rip

[Jimbuna]

I totally agree with Steve. I probably dominated Dan's attention as much as anyone (I am quite sure he was glad to escape my constant game discussion) and if I came away with anything it was a healthy respect for what the developers WANT to do. I can only hope that anything I discussed with him will make their task a little bit easier and the end product a little more grandiose.

Rip

Echoed matey http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/thumbsup.gif

[elanaiba]

I totally agree with Steve. I probably dominated Dan's attention as much as anyone (I am quite sure he was glad to escape my constant game discussion)
For me, the highlights of this meeting were, in no particular order: Battleship Texas, and the people. All so different, and all so cool and interesting.

I am not a very communicative guy and my sense of humor is strange sometimes (the unfriendly bear), but even if it may have seemed otherwise it was all of interest to me.

In fact, the problem was how to be everywhere and catch everyone's opinion.

The biggest surprise I had was from FAdmiral, StdDev, Rebel and Dano... these guys really play or used to play multiplayer, from SH2/DC onwards. I really need to look into some things :)

So Jim (FAdmiral), I really did take note :) Thanks for putting it up. Again and again and again :P

[THE_MASK]

Silent hunter 5 = SH4 multiplayer patch addon/enhancement where there are people commanding ships and subs set in ww2 in the atlantic utilising the existing SH4 multiplayer game. This game will also patch SH4 to 1.6 giving us the german subs to play in the atlantic single player campaign. The addon that follows will be the pacific multiplayer and gives us more ships and planes and american subs . Is this too much to ask LOL . SH5 should enhance what we we already have and that is a great game already . cheers . oh and it should include some dx10 enhancements .

[tonibamestre]

Thats a good point of view.Yes,improve the multiplayer capability,weather and sea state conditions and let be in command of other units via further addons,expansions or whatever.So we can set a wide range scenario of playable units,DDS,CLS,BBS,CVS........ Concerning the carriers,the entire air wing could be operative via an interface similar to the used in Battlestations Midway or so.

[Adriatico]

Silent hunter 5 = SH4 multiplayer patch addon/enhancement where there are people commanding ships and subs set in ww2 in the atlantic utilising the existing SH4 multiplayer game. This game will also patch SH4 to 1.6 giving us the german subs to play in the atlantic single player campaign. The addon that follows will be the pacific multiplayer and gives us more ships and planes and american subs . Is this too much to ask LOL . SH5 should enhance what we we already have and that is a great game already . cheers . oh and it should include some dx10 enhancements .

I'm just afraid, within present "engine", it would be :
Start game loading on Friday night... so that you can play Saturday afternoon

Keep in mind that HardDisc is the only piece of hardware that didn't make significant speed progress... since realease day of SH3.
:dead:

[Kapitan_Phillips]

Lets hope it doesnt turn out like FSX did :p

[peabody]

Given 65% of school leavers in USA (i.e. year 12 for the rest of us) can't identify the United Kingdom on a map of the world, I don't think it matters which theatre you give them - they won't have a clue about it anyway....

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Well, seeing how according to the internet:

Schooling in Australia starts with a kindergarten or preparatory year followed by 12 years of primary and secondary school.

I guess that would be year 13, now wouldn't it? Of course, I'm just one of dem dere idiot Americans, so I wouldn't know for sure. :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Peabody

[THE_MASK]

Maybe SH4 should be on the americans school curriculum . It has a good map and would make geography fun .

[Adriatico]

Maybe SH4 should be on the americans school curriculum . It has a good map and would make geography fun .

SouthBank would be just right, except for TypeIX... :rotfl:

[Rockin Robbins]

Maybe SH4 should be on the americans school curriculum . It has a good map and would make geography fun .

What a lousy idea! What? You want 'em to actually learn something? That is a perfect example of why we let professionals not educate our children.:know:

[Seeadler]

You want 'em to actually learn something?
yes, that the earth is flat:rotfl:

[Syxx_Killer]

You want 'em to actually learn something? yes, that the earth is flat:rotfl:

You say that as if you don't believe... :huh:

http://www.theflatearthsociety.org/forum/

[Jimbuna]

You say that as if you don't believe... :huh:

http://www.theflatearthsociety.org/forum/

I've spent a little time over there in the past....a real eye opener :lol:

[TitaniumRR]

Will be appreciated this way.

http://kepfeltoltes.pirateclub.hu/pics/SHIP_1.jpg