Q and A response?

[TDK1044]

So, if the game is going to have online DRM, can someone explain to me this response to Neal's question to the Devs?


Subsim: Modding, everybody asked me about this, the games before have been open to a certain extent to mod, and modding is a big thing, a lot of credibility on modding. How open is this game to modding?

Alex: Modding? Let's say like this: the modders will be extremely happy with Silent Hunter 5. It's quite a bit more open than the previous, and you surely will find some nice surprises.


How can you be extremely happy with a game that you can't mod at all? They must have known about the DRM in the game because of this response later?

Subsim: Last question: copy protection; what kind of copy protection scheme will SH5 use? Some kind of serial number, a program, or will the game be linked to Steam, or Uplay?

Alex: We cannot comment on that either right now.

Subsim: Is it under discussion or is it just finalized and you aren't going to go into details?

Dan: We... cannot comment on that right now. (laughs).


The plot thins. :)

[piri_reis]

Good point.
But I think the game will be modable. Otherwise there's no point that the Devs would say that, unless, the Copy Protection plan was being discussed at the time of the interview and a much more strict system has been decided on. I'm totally against the "always online DRM" but my guess is the game will be modable even with this DRM. If not, what a shame, on UBI's part, and a financial loss it will be.

[mookiemookie]

How can you be extremely happy with a game that you can't mod at all?


Let's see how it shakes out first, before making statements like this. It may be moddable, and updates may not be automatic.

[TDK1044]

I have yet to talk with one experienced modder who will be buying this game. I've spoken with a few who are running away from it as fast as they can.

[tonyj]

clearly the DRM has been designed to secure their app and allow it to be moddable at the same time. steam allows you to mod an app and that works very well for me personally, though some people have problems with steam. i bought sh3 through steam and i've got it modded to the hilt.

[TDK1044]

clearly the DRM has been designed to secure their app and allow it to be moddable at the same time.

I really hope you're right, tonyj. I'm not purchasing it anyway now because of the online commitment, but if you're right then those here that do buy it and will be effectively Beta testing it for six months will at least get to mod it. :DL

[McBeck]

Let's see how it shakes out first, before making statements like this. It may be moddable, and updates may not be automatic.
I second this - its too early to say. But there are more indications thats its moddalble than its not. The devs have stated it clearly and I doubt a decision about copy protection would be made this late in the game.

[tonyj]

these guys know we love to mod this series and they've said that they've made it even more moddable so why would they restrict it?!?? i know there's only one type of sub, etc, so its more restrictive from a unit sense (but higher quality type VII) but i don't believe they will lock it down and make it unmoddable. unless of course they plan to release add ons, add new types & features. much like fsx.

[tonyj]

saying that even with fsx its not actually locked down. anyone can produce mods or commercial addons for it.

[TDK1044]

I don't think any of our modders are remotely interested in modding this game....not the ones I've spoken with anyway.

Even if it turns out that the game is in fact modable, the fact that it's an 'online' game kills it dead for many people.

This level of stupidity from Ubisoft reminds me of a quote from 'The Longest Day'.


"This is history. We are living an historical moment. We are going to lose the war because our glorious Führer has taken a sleeping pill and is not to be awakened."

Sleep on, Ubisoft. :DL

[tonyj]

their will be some that want to mod it and Dan has just said in the Q & A thread that it is infact moddable.

[BulSoldier]

The problem is of the possible auto updates that could overwrite the mods and the req to be constantly connected to their server.

[tonyj]

you can turn those off in steam so i don't see why you couldn't do it with ubisofts answer plus that would go against what dan said. nothing to worry about modding wise i'm sure.

[maerean_m]

You can transform the entire content of the game to your liking and it will still work.

You can mod the dynamic campaign, the missions, objectives, ships (AI <yes, for the first time>, characteristics, textures), crew (AI, dialogs <including sounds>, abilities, appearance), game commands, the interface, keyboard layout, graphic shaders.

You'll have the old tools (Mission Editor) plus some new ones, we hope you'll enjoy. That's exactly the same tools the team used to create the game in the first place.

The game is even more mod-able than SH3 and SH4. The entire team has gone to great lengths to give you an open ground to work your magic, so the end result is a game you enjoy, a game that can proudly sit in the hall of fame of submarine simulations, a game that sets a new standard for submarine games to come.

regards,
M.

[Thomen]

You can transform the entire content of the game to your liking and it will still work.

You can mod the dynamic campaign, the missions, objectives, ships (AI <yes, for the first time>, characteristics, textures), crew (AI, dialogs <including sounds>, abilities, appearance), game commands, the interface, keyboard layout, graphic shaders.

You'll have the old tools (Mission Editor) plus some new ones, we hope you'll enjoy. That's exactly the same tools the team used to create the game in the first place.

The game is even more mod-able than SH3 and SH4. The entire team has gone to great lengths to give you an open ground to work your magic, so the end result is a game you enjoy, a game that can proudly sit in the hall of fame of submarine simulations, a game that sets a new standard for submarine games to come.

regards,
M.

Thanks.
That is very good news (I hope, since I am not a modder myself) for the modding community.:yeah:

[TDK1044]

That is truly excellent news, Mihai. And please don't think that any of this frustration is aimed at you or the other Devs. You are very much liked and respected here. I just will not play a game that requires me to be connected to the internet the whole time I'm playing it. :DL

[Thomen]

That is truly excellent news, Mihai. And please don't think that any of this frustration is aimed at you or the other Devs. You are very much liked and respected here. I just will not play a game that requires me to be connected to the internet the whole time I'm playing it. :DL

Seconded.

[bigboywooly]

You can transform the entire content of the game to your liking and it will still work.

You can mod the dynamic campaign, the missions, objectives, ships (AI <yes, for the first time>, characteristics, textures), crew (AI, dialogs <including sounds>, abilities, appearance), game commands, the interface, keyboard layout, graphic shaders.

You'll have the old tools (Mission Editor) plus some new ones, we hope you'll enjoy. That's exactly the same tools the team used to create the game in the first place.

The game is even more mod-able than SH3 and SH4. The entire team has gone to great lengths to give you an open ground to work your magic, so the end result is a game you enjoy, a game that can proudly sit in the hall of fame of submarine simulations, a game that sets a new standard for submarine games to come.

regards,
M.

Interesting and good news indeed
When the OPS ( DRM ) has been removed will be right on it :yeah:

[BulSoldier]

Its nice that atleast the devs take time to check on us and correct misleads and make some things straith.Much apreciated.

[sabretwo]

Mihai, overall it looks like you guys did a great job. I also don't think anyone here is really criticizing the dev team specifically or the game's features. The revolt that exploded here seems to be all related to DRM.

Its just too bad that the business decision to DRM has killed off a lot of the fan base from potentially appreciating your work.

Unfortunately, I'm one of them.

[Boris]

You'll have the old tools (Mission Editor) plus some new ones, we hope you'll enjoy. That's exactly the same tools the team used to create the game in the first place.



OMG! We're pretty much getting an SDK... right? Am I wrong?
This is pretty huge.

[badkarma]

...lots of good news...

Tragically wasted when your net connection / Ubi's servers go down for the evening and you can't access any of yours (or anyone elses) hard work.

I was sceptical about SHV but what I've read (that's not DRM related) over the past 4-5 days is making it a real shame that buying the game is completely untenable.

[Elder-Pirate]

When they ( UBIsoft, not the Devs ) send/delete OSP/DRM or anything else that may do the same thing straight to hell, then and only then will I purchased SHV.

Sorry SHV Devs for it looks like your very hard hard work will probably not pay off due to some higher up empty suit/suits over at UBI.:(

Really a shame what some of these corporates will hire in the big suit dept.:down:

[JScones]

@maerean_m: That's great. :yeah: Now hopefully your parent company won't take too long to decide to remove the DRM so that many experienced modders can buy the game and find out. :up:

[Reece]

maerean_m Said:
so the end result is a game you enjoy, a game that can proudly sit in the hall of fame of submarine simulations, a game that sets a new standard for submarine games to come.Not with DRM it wont!:-?

[urfisch]

You can transform the entire content of the game to your liking and it will still work.

You can mod the dynamic campaign, the missions, objectives, ships (AI <yes, for the first time>, characteristics, textures), crew (AI, dialogs <including sounds>, abilities, appearance), game commands, the interface, keyboard layout, graphic shaders.

You'll have the old tools (Mission Editor) plus some new ones, we hope you'll enjoy. That's exactly the same tools the team used to create the game in the first place.

The game is even more mod-able than SH3 and SH4. The entire team has gone to great lengths to give you an open ground to work your magic, so the end result is a game you enjoy, a game that can proudly sit in the hall of fame of submarine simulations, a game that sets a new standard for submarine games to come.

regards,
M.

finally, the first good statement since weeks!!! why took it so long?...

:yeah:

[Captain Wreckless]

That is truly excellent news, Mihai. And please don't think that any of this frustration is aimed at you or the other Devs. You are very much liked and respected here. I just will not play a game that requires me to be connected to the internet the whole time I'm playing it. :DL

Same here..

CW :arrgh!:

[tonyj]

see nothing to worry about thx to maerean_m

[Brag]

Excellent news Maerean. Now, let's see if those brilliant marketeers see the light. No DRM/OSP or similar!

[TDK1044]

see nothing to worry about thx to maerean_m

I'm really glad that the game will be very modable, Tony. The DRM issue hasn't changed though. There are still those like me who will not be buying the game until I can load it on my computer and play it offline any time I want. Until that is an option, I'm out.

[tonyj]

lets hope they release a patch to set it free at some point. will you change your stance should you find that after the release people are raving about it? surely you'd be tempted? could you resist?

[Mikhayl]

lets hope they release a patch to set it free at some point. will you change your stance should you find that after the release people are raving about it? surely you'd be tempted? could you resist?

Tough call considering everything I read about the game pleases me. We'll see what's what on release day :)

[tonyj]

TDK, as i said in your other thread about DRM, they will take it out at some point because they won't want to provide all that resource for a game. Think of the amount of server resource needed to support the authentication process, save game management, etc and the support network. they are a company after all.

[TDK1044]

lets hope they release a patch to set it free at some point. will you change your stance should you find that after the release people are raving about it? surely you'd be tempted? could you resist?

It's an interesting point. I really can't answer that right now. The priciple of not having the freedom to play offline bothers me a lot. Also, if Ubisoft is true to form, their server interface will be a disaster and people will be getting booted off all over the place.

I guess it's a wait and see game. :DL

[KL-alfman]

lets hope they release a patch to set it free at some point. will you change your stance should you find that after the release people are raving about it? surely you'd be tempted? could you resist?


no, I couldn't resist, I admit.
but I prefer UBI to patch SH5 from the very beginning.
we could finally concentrate on the sim itself.

[JU_88]

You can transform the entire content of the game to your liking and it will still work.

You can mod the dynamic campaign, the missions, objectives, ships (AI <yes, for the first time>, characteristics, textures), crew (AI, dialogs <including sounds>, abilities, appearance), game commands, the interface, keyboard layout, graphic shaders.

You'll have the old tools (Mission Editor) plus some new ones, we hope you'll enjoy. That's exactly the same tools the team used to create the game in the first place.

The game is even more mod-able than SH3 and SH4. The entire team has gone to great lengths to give you an open ground to work your magic, so the end result is a game you enjoy, a game that can proudly sit in the hall of fame of submarine simulations, a game that sets a new standard for submarine games to come.

regards,
M.

Somebody buy that man a beer! :rock:

[HundertzehnGustav]

now lets stomp that online connection thing down, and get it offline-capable.
Then i am game.

I mean i am interested as hell after such statements. IXes, IIers, XXXIers, all possible?

I feel like i am trying to run:up::up:, but there is a chain holding me back.:damn:

FUNK!:x

[andycaccia]

now lets stomp that online connection thing down, and get it offline-capable.
Then i am game.

I mean i am interested as hell after such statements. IXes, IIers, XXXIers, all possible?

I feel like i am trying to run:up::up:, but there is a chain holding me back.:damn:

FUNK!:x

XXXI??

Never heared about this u boat class...:rotfl2:

BTW, I agree with you..

[HundertzehnGustav]

*blush*

;)