Positive preview at SIMHQ

[Sanuck]

Well this chap is positive at SIM HQ

Neal it would be nice to get your thoughts on this ? (added Tom the author from simHQ popped in and answers some questions about his preview, page 3 onwards in this post. Thanks Tom )


http://www.simhq.com/_naval/naval_035a.html

[Decoman]

I wish I knew more about how they colored the North Atlantic.

Without being an expert, I suppose its a bit greenish, and then the ocean would be colored abit different at various places, depending on it being in the Atlantic Ocean or in the Mediterranean Sea.

Any experts here who know more about this?

[Darkreaver1980]

wow, nice preview. cant wait to play it :)

[ichso]

I have to say the reviewer has a strange understanding of simulation games as he proclaims SH5 is more simulation than the previous titles only because of walking around the sub. I think there is much more to the aspect on simulation than this.

You can still man stations, but now you have to "walk" in real time to that station. It also means you may not be where you need to be when the proverbial [enemy] stink hits the fan. In essence, you have to learn to trust your crew and likewise you have to build your crew up.
Nothing new, but still it sounds really interesting. That makes me excited how it will play out in the final version and in the long run.
The previewer makes it sound like this has a deep gameplay impact. Which would be really nice. But it could also be more of a immersion-thing only, we'll see.

Some of the videos from the last time have shown this and here is a screenshot of this as well: sometimes there are waterdrops blurring the view although you stand on the bridge, not using the UZO or anything. This is a bit strange, perhaps you are wearing glasses in this game ?

[ichso]

I wish I knew more about how they colored the North Atlantic.

Without being an expert, I suppose its a bit greenish, and then the ocean would be colored abit different at various places, depending on it being in the Atlantic Ocean or in the Mediterranean Sea.

Any experts here who know more about this?

Yes, I think it should get a slight green-grayish tone. I like how it looks under stormy conditions but some of the screen we've seen taken in good weather show the water in too clean and nice conditions. At least for the northern sea.

I have to say though, when I visited spain some time ago in the summer there was a small atlantic harbor and the water there was really crystal clear, so maybe it's not really that far off, if at all.

[piri_reis]

Good shots and nice to see someone positive, but what I don't get is:

All previews are dead short, none of them started a campaign, none of them went on a real patrol, found a convoy, ran from the escorts, depth charged, contact bdu, met the wolfpack, ambushed by aircraft... That's where the fun of the game is...

What's with this "because of time constraints" :doh:
Did you get a copy for previewing purposes or what !! Some people need to get their act together..

[Nordmann]

Yes, it's a tad worrying, why have all previews thus far avoided showing the campaign? Surely it is one of the most critical aspects of the game, yet apparently they are more concerned with graphics.

[Brag]

Here is what it says regarding drum and our protest:

Ubisoft's UPlay
I suppose this is as good a place as any to bring up Ubisoft's new Digital Rights Management System titled UPlay. Ubisoft has announced that UPlay will be included in all of its future releases starting with Assassins Creed II (http://pressextranet.ubisoft.com/EMEA/NO/PublicPages/PressReleasesDetails.aspx?prid=51) and would include Silent Hunter 5 . There is a large and quite vocal group of naval combat fans in the Subsim Forums (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=160764) that has stated point-blank they will not purchase the sim if it has Ubisoft's UPlay Services included.
This is my opinion on this controversial topic. I am not a fan of Ubisoft's UPlay Service as it is currently provided. It isn’t a deal killer for me, but it can be a decision maker if I am on the fence concerning the purchase of a piece of software. DRM software should make it difficult for hackers to copy and use the game, but it should be as minimally intrusive as possible for the purchaser of the software. Any DRM that prevents legitimate users from playing the game is a bad piece of software. It has to be remembered that it isn’t the hackers that pay the salaries of the executives in charge — it is the legitimate buyers of the game. Alienate them enough and there will fewer purchases. There are ways to check for legitimate users without resorting to such methods. Just look at what StormEagle Studios (http://www.stormeaglestudios.com/) did with their DRM protection software. It isn’t perfect, but in my opinion it does what it should do — allow legitimate game owners to play without constantly needing to be connected to the Internet. What do you think? Discuss it further in the SimHQ Forum on the topic. (http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/forums/175/1/Copy_Protection_and_Digital_Ri.html)

[Lanzfeld]

What has Neal said about the campaign? Did his copy have it?:06:

This whole business of "wanting to save some stuff for us to discover ourselves" is hogwash. Those that dont want to know shouldnt read the previews.:nope:

Give us the straight dope Neal. Did we ever get a final crew count? Why hold back this info?

[Bilge_Rat]

Tom Cofield is one of us, a serious wargamer. I trust his opinion. Did anyone miss these tidbits?


One of the reasons that Silent Hunter 3 and Silent Hunter 4 have remained on hard drives long after other games have been erased is because of the robust campaign system the developers put in place. Silent Hunter 5 continues to have dynamic campaign elements, but also adds a branching campaign system where the player gets to pick exactly where and how they want to continue the war effort. Players can slug it out in the North Atlantic or sail into the Mediterranean Sea.

Like its previous cousins, there is a variety of ways that you can either crank up, or tone down the realism in the game. Realistic dive times, ship targeting, torpedo reloads, battery life, fuel, ability to see your boat in third-person among other things are items that can be turned off or on depending on the type of play you prefer. Some will want to play the game with absolutely no "cheats" so they can feel as close to a realistic naval combat experience as possible while others (like me) can’t wait to jump to external view so they can admire their explosive handiwork first hand.




To be honest, I was mildly surprised by the fit-and-finish of Silent Hunter 5. That is not meant to take away anything from the seasoned development team. I have reviewed games that were gold launches with more issues than this Beta has demonstrated. I didn’t get the opportunity to test the multiplayer code so I can’t comment on that, but the single player setup is polished. Undoubtedly, I will have some nitpicks that I can throw out in the final shipping release, but lets see if those are still there with the final copy of the game.

This game won’t replace Silent Hunter 4 on my hard drive, but Silent Hunter 5 will have a spot right next to it. Short of a complete screw-up on someone’s part this game looks to be a real winner. I looked forward to it before I got the preview copy, but after spending time with it and seeing its features, details, and remarkable graphics, I am very excited to get my hands on the final version.



the comment about SH4 is because, like me, he prefers to play as the good guys in the Pacific rather than as an evil Nazi...:arrgh!:

[Nisgeis]

I wish I knew more about how they colored the North Atlantic.

Without being an expert, I suppose its a bit greenish, and then the ocean would be colored abit different at various places, depending on it being in the Atlantic Ocean or in the Mediterranean Sea.

Any experts here who know more about this?

Sea colour depends on a large variety of factors, that all combine to give you a couple of colours. The light will be scattered by the water and will also be absorbed by whatever micro-organisms are in the water. How much light enters the water is determined by the angle of the sun and also clouds. On overcast days, much less light penetrates into the sea and it does not have as much of an inner glow from light reflecting off the organisms. The angle of the sun depends on the time of day and also how far north/south you are and the season. The more directly overhead the sun is, the more light goes into the sea, as it approaches the horizon, most of the light is reflected off the sea surface and doesn't enter the water (pretty sunset). The mirco-organisms vary depending on the conditions of the sea, e.g. the pacific has different things in it that the atlantic has, each organism will reflect a different colour of light. Ones in the atlantic reflect brownish light and the ones in the pacific reflect blueish light which is why seas are different colours. Also, there is silt disturbance as well, which also depends on the depth of the water. In shallow muddy atlantic waters, storms churn up the silt and make the sea an opaque brown, with hardly any light penetrating into it, so it makes the sea look quite cold as there is no inner glow of light reflected from within the water itself.

[piri_reis]

Tom Cofield is one of us, a serious wargamer. I trust his opinion. Did anyone miss these tidbits?

Yes I got that, and I can see he has been a subsimmer for a while.
I never had doubt the campaign had dynamic side to it, the devs made very clear. There might be a storyline branch but the sandbox, free roaming is possible.
He says the dynamic campaign is there, by the looks of the menus I guess; but being a subsimmer, why not spend a few hours previewing it Tom? He doesn't have to get into every detail, but hell, he didn't get a copy just because they love him so much, it's a copy to preview and get press..

[Rhodes]

"The other decision that was made was to have the war conclude in 1943 as opposed to spanning the entire war. I am not totally sure that I agree with this idea since the Type VII U-Boat did continue to serve for the entire war although most were replaced(???) by longer range Type IX boats." :06:

[Lanzfeld]

"The other decision that was made was to have the war conclude in 1943 as opposed to spanning the entire war. I am not totally sure that I agree with this idea since the Type VII U-Boat did continue to serve for the entire war although most were replaced(???) by longer range Type IX boats." :06:

Good catch Rhodes. I didnt notice that myself. That is 180 degrees off.

[Sanuck]

Yes I got that, and I can see he has been a subsimmer for a while.
I never had doubt the campaign had dynamic side to it, the devs made very clear. There might be a storyline branch but the sandbox, free roaming is possible.
He says the dynamic campaign is there, by the looks of the menus I guess; but being a subsimmer, why not spend a few hours previewing it Tom? He doesn't have to get into every detail, but hell, he didn't get a copy just because they love him so much, it's a copy to preview and get press..

IM sure we have been told No Campaign in the early preview copy

[JScones]

Tom Cofield is one of us, a serious wargamer. I trust his opinion. Did anyone miss these tidbits?
Then why absolutely no mention of critical gameplay elements, such as enemy AI? And Wolfpacks? "I hope they are used". Yet oodles on the visuals ("I probably cannot describe the game any better than the screenshots."). Odd that after 10 hours of gameplay "serious wargamer" aspects hardly rated a mention. :hmmm:

Simple things like clicking on a crew member and asking them about their day-to-day life or giving them encouragement results in improved morale for that crew member. I suspect ignoring this probably will lead to resentment and poor performance. It looks like taking the crew for granted will not be part of this game. Crew management and interaction is a very important element in Silent Hunter 5.Great. Now I am forced into numbing "point and click" interaction with the crew. I hope this doesn't mean a daily visit to the exciting world of the torpedo room.

[Lanzfeld]

Great. Now I am forced into numbing "point and click" interaction with the crew. I hope this doesn't mean a daily visit to the exciting world of the torpedo room.

...So are The Days Of Our Lives.:88)

[piri_reis]

IM sure we have been told No Campaign in the early preview copy

Well I don't remember reading that, so the preview copies don't have campaign mode? I don't think so. Some previews out there mention starting a campaign but never go into the good details..

[urfisch]

cool, the first pic where to see some really long atlantic waves...

http://www.simhq.com/_naval/images/naval_035a_012.jpg

nice...

[piri_reis]

cool, the first pic where to see some really long atlantic waves... nice...

Yeah, who ever said there wasn't heavy seas :DL
He looks like he's pointing to an approaching aircraft maybe. Man the machine guns!!
I really like the huge waves and the stormy sky.

[Lt commander lare]

At least sim hq slammed ubisofts drm policy as well


Lt Commander Lare

[Iron Budokan]

The reviewer drooled over the visuals more than anything else.

I'll be glad when a hardcore subsimmer actually reviews the game. Be nice to have someone who knows what they are talking about other than the eye candy, and can give us the lowdown on the nuts and bolts of gameplay.

[GreyOctober]

A PREVIEW is not the same thing with a REVIEW. Aspects you mentioned, such as gameplay, AI and such are judged after the game is final and released, hence reviewed in in REVIEW.

[Ragtag]

A PREVIEW is not the same thing with a REVIEW. Aspects you mentioned, such as gameplay, AI and such are judged after the game is final and released, hence reviewed in in REVIEW.

Exactly, previews are just to give players a few pointers to what's coming. Bugs and alike should not be mentioned in a preview because it's still under development. Previews are mostly based on limited beta builds.

[Sanuck]

A PREVIEW is not the same thing with a REVIEW. Aspects you mentioned, such as gameplay, AI and such are judged after the game is final and released, hence reviewed in in REVIEW.

Thankyou

Wish i hadnt bothered posting this preview

I think we need a new forum for all the moaning

:damn:

[Nordmann]

What do you want us to do, sing the game's praises before having played it? Only a fool would fail to remain sceptical, before having seen the final product.

[piri_reis]

Wait till the game is released for the real moaning.

[onelifecrisis]

I must admit I'm not impressed with this preview. Firstly it's on a site called SimHQ so they (presumably) have a somewhat vested interest in the game. Second, as has been pointed out already, the guy just gushes about the graphics and doesn't really talk about anything else at all. The impression I got is that he spent 10 hours admiring the scenery. I love the scenery too, but it's not what I expect to read about in a preview.

[Bilge_Rat]

I must admit I'm not impressed with this preview. Firstly it's on a site called SimHQ so they (presumably) have a somewhat vested interest in the game.

you have never heard of SIMHQ?

It's one of the biggest forums to discuss all things related to simulations. They have no more vested interest in the game than this site does. Tom Cofield has played SH4 for a long time as you can see from his posts on the SH forum at SIMHQ.

I am starting to wonder if posters really want to get an objective opinion on the game or just want to advance their particular viewpoint.

[Sailor Steve]

I think it's an excellent preview. After all, he knows where to go for the best info:

Take a look at this video from Subsim (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QJnhU18hw4&hd=1)that demonstrates the reloading of the forward torpedo tube as represented in the game.
:rotfl2::rock:

[Rhodes]

Good catch Rhodes. I didnt notice that myself. That is 180 degrees off.

:salute:

[dcb]

Preview? What preview? Out of the 3 pages, the first is a brief overview of the series, the second is just a long praise of the visuals, and the third... well, the third only repeats what Ubi already said about the game in the past. I could find nothing new in the whole story. I expected more from a place called SimHQ.
In comparison, the Polish preview that surfaced earlier this week is far better and competently written.

Bottom line (IMHO): I'm not saying it is, but this could very well be an advertising story on behalf of Ubi. It has the proper looks.

[onelifecrisis]

you have never heard of SIMHQ?

It's one of the biggest forums to discuss all things related to simulations. They have no more vested interest in the game than this site does. Tom Cofield has played SH4 for a long time as you can see from his posts on the SH forum at SIMHQ.

I am starting to wonder if posters really want to get an objective opinion on the game or just want to advance their particular viewpoint.

Okay, but it's still a rubbish preview. Being a long-time player doesn't make one good at writing previews.

I've heard of SimHQ but I don't think I've ever visited it before.

I'm not sure what to make of your final comment. Is it aimed at me?

[SimHq Tom Cofield]

I have to say the reviewer has a strange understanding of simulation games as he proclaims SH5 is more simulation than the previous titles only because of walking around the sub. I think there is much more to the aspect on simulation than this.


Nothing new, but still it sounds really interesting. That makes me excited how it will play out in the final version and in the long run.
The previewer makes it sound like this has a deep gameplay impact. Which would be really nice. But it could also be more of a immersion-thing only, we'll see.

Some of the videos from the last time have shown this and here is a screenshot of this as well: sometimes there are waterdrops blurring the view although you stand on the bridge, not using the UZO or anything. This is a bit strange, perhaps you are wearing glasses in this game ?

It seems more 'realistic' to me, that is why I call it more of a simulator. IN other naval games you either are a third person directing from on high (like JUtland) or you are essentially bouncing around from station to station playing each individual role. In SHV you actually are playing the captain of the boat. It is more of an individual experience IMHO.

[Bilge_Rat]

I'm not sure what to make of your final comment. Is it aimed at me?


no, I should have put it in a separate post.

[SimHq Tom Cofield]

Boy you guys are rough. I had exactly two days with the game to do something with this preview. To be honest I replayed the campaign about four times but continuous crashes and odd bugs that will be fixed on release meant that I had to give up on trying to get any further in the campaign and just look at the single missions.

I am working with Beta code and to be honest, the game tended to crash whenever something really exciting started happening. Exterior views were almost impossible with this build simply because the game would cause horrific monitor difficulties whenever I went outside the boat. Likewise torpedo shots on ships created a slideshow effect. Part of the problem is my video card (Radeon 3850) and the other problem is beta code. The two convoys I did manage to maneuver close to turned into slideshows the moment I launced torpedoes. I do admit I should have taken more shots there but I was too busy cursing at the slideshow. Do not view this as a critique of the game. Almost every beta that I have worked with or have previewed has had similar problems. The game is more polished than a lot of previews I have seen and pretty darned complete but it is still beta and what it does with my Radeon gives me fits.

You guys have to understand the audience for the game at SimHq. It isn't Subsim. This is a direct entheusist site for Submarine fanatics. It should be a more detailed preview because it is designed for guys who are big time sub and naval boat guys. SimHq is a much more generalized site with a much wider fanbase. Any preview over 3 pages is nixed by management because it is too long for a preview.

As for Rah Rah, that is exactly what a preview is. Previews, IMHO, are not reviews. I don't mention bugs precisely because they may negatively impact the game. Bugs I find in beta code, to include crash bugs, bugs that cause weird graphical problems and just plain things not implemented yet but in the works are not in a preview. I put in what is planned, not what actually I see. IL2's preview was about 70% of the final game, I felt I had to report what was planned. This is a short, 3 page preview of a game that is coming out for a generalized readership that plays flight, fighting, and driving simulations. If I tried to make it an in depth preview it would take four times longer and the readership at SimHq would be turned off.

I expect the game to ship in a much more polished condition. If I have problems then I will give it some more critiques. There are some things that frankly concern me but they probably will be fixed. If not then I will point them out. I don't think I would ever write a review that would be as in depth as a Subsim review but that isn't our focus. That is the focus of your writers. I am a flight sim guy doing some naval stuff because the subject matter is interesting. I am also trying to not write 15 page previews, it ticks off the boss.

[pythos]

A review that does not make the game look bad!!!.

Is anyone satisfied? NO!!!!

What are some people saying? "Oh this previewer doesn't know how to write a review".

OH FOR GOD'S SAKE!!!

The guy obviously has some background with SIMULATORS!!!! I have never liked how I could go from the radio room, to the bridge in the blink of an eye. I am the captain of the ship, not an omnipotent being.

I would only hope that this feature works like this. I begin in the engine room chatting with Johan, someone screams out "Ship spotted, Be... (obscured by some noise), closing!!". At this I hit the key for the bridge, and my virtual self begins walking nonchalantly toward the bridge ladder. Realizing this is to slow I hold down a key, which causes my virtual self to book it to his destination. I see the wonderfully rendered interior and crew flash past as I make my way to the control room, and hear "ALARM!!!" followed by that bell. Once in the control room I see the watch crew pile down the ladder, and the watch officer telling what he saw, as the sounds of water flooding the tanks fills the room, as the crew clamors forward, and the boat takes a downward angle. I then change my desired room with the appropriate icon or key stroke...the control room. Then order 150 or so meters, silent running. From there, possibly pass under a harmless boat, or evade a depth charge attack.

Notice, I was not able to make it to the bridge, and had to quickly change my decision as to my next actions. This is pretty darned realistic to me, making this much more a simulation than a game. Compared to SH4 where I could go from the forward part of the control room to the bridge in the blink of an eye.

Which is more realistic? Which is more a game?

[Bilge_Rat]

It seems more 'realistic' to me, that is why I call it more of a simulator. IN other naval games you either are a third person directing from on high (like JUtland) or you are essentially bouncing around from station to station playing each individual role. In SHV you actually are playing the captain of the boat. It is more of an individual experience IMHO.

Tom, welcome. Since you have seen the game, are you free to comment on certain aspects:

1. what "realism" aspects can you turn on. You mentioned some of them in your preview. Is it the same as in SH4?

2. what about the campaign? does it work as in sh4? i.e., you are assigned to a patrol zone and the engine generates random ships/convoys along certain tracks.

3. what about Uplay?...:shifty:..how intrusive is it?

[Sanuck]

Sorry Tom
i posted this post cause i thought it might be of use to people
it soon appeared that all they did was complain

Ill send you a flak jacket, believe me you need it in here

thanks for your preview

:salute:

[SimHq Tom Cofield]

Tom, welcome. Since you have seen the game, are you free to comment on certain aspects:

1. what "realism" aspects can you turn on. You mentioned some of them in your preview. Is it the same as in SH4?

2. what about the campaign? does it work as in sh4? i.e., you are assigned to a patrol zone and the engine generates random ships/convoys along certain tracks.

3. what about Uplay?...:shifty:..how intrusive is it?

Pretty much the same as far as realism settings. It allows you to select quick reloading, fuel, batteries, targeting exterior views and event camera views, among other things. It is somewhat similar to SHIV.

As I said before, I had limited exposure to the campaign. Part of it was simply the game dumping me twice to desktop, another issue was me 'falling' off the conning tower and getting caught between the side of the ship and the conning tower (couldn't climb the ladder to get back up). After 20 minutes of that I gave up. These are well known beta bugs and shouldn't be in the final release but when you are trying to get somewhere to torpedo something and your wife is yelling for you to come to bed, then that happens.

I gave up on the campaign at that point and dedicated myself to as many single missions as I could in one evening.

The interface is almost completely different. Throw away the SHIV keycard. Some keys are the same but some really aren't . The W, S, D and A keys are movement keys in the ship now. F1 is still help but all the rest are different. It is much more mouse driven and much less key driven. That is good and bad but that is for the review, not the preview.


UPlay? Well, if you have a constant internet conncection it is a minor irritant. If you are out of town and not connected, or if you Comcast provider decides to screw you over then it is the spawn of Satan. Personally I don't like it. I was familiar with it with Wings of Prey and I tolerate it but don't care for it. I still don't and probably will less because SHV is a game I would love to have on my laptop. I won't get it though because about 1/3 of the time I am traveling or someplace where I don't always have an internet connection. That is impossible.

[SimHq Tom Cofield]

Sorry Tom
i posted this post cause i thought it might be of use to people
it soon appeared that all they did was complain

Ill send you a flak jacket, believe me you need it in here

thanks for your preview

:salute:

Don't worry, I once had a guy that blasted me because I didn't do time to alt checks with all of the planes in a CFS2 preview and then compare them to real time specs. It didn't matter that it was a preview, essentially a quick preview of coming attractions, because I didn't spend 12 hours doing all of these tests I was a worthless loser.

These guys make valid points. I wanted to really dive into the campaign. The Polish part of the campaign looks to be set up to make it a lot easier for people to figure out how to work the game. It is a lot different than SHIV and III in how the game is presented. As I said earlier it is much more mouse click driven and much less keyboard.

One guy pointed out how he would love to have an autowalk feature. I was thinking the same thing when I was walking through the boat. I would love to have that feature, something like what you saw in Das Boot when the sub crash dived. It isn't in there but hopefully a patch will be available or maybe even when the game is released. Who knows, maybe there will be a mod for this.

[Bilge_Rat]

... but when you are trying to get somewhere to torpedo something and your wife is yelling for you to come to bed, then that happens...



ah yes, "she who must be obeyed" has also ended more of my missions than enemy destroyers...:arrgh!:

thanks for the response.

[martes86]

Thanks for all the info Tom, and for looking at how people at SubSim felt about SH5, and posting it in the review, it isn't something one sees every day. :salute:

Cheers :rock:

[UrPeaceKeeper]

Don't worry, I once had a guy that blasted me because I didn't do time to alt checks with all of the planes in a CFS2 preview and then compare them to real time specs. It didn't matter that it was a preview, essentially a quick preview of coming attractions, because I didn't spend 12 hours doing all of these tests I was a worthless loser.

These guys make valid points. I wanted to really dive into the campaign. The Polish part of the campaign looks to be set up to make it a lot easier for people to figure out how to work the game. It is a lot different than SHIV and III in how the game is presented. As I said earlier it is much more mouse click driven and much less keyboard.

One guy pointed out how he would love to have an autowalk feature. I was thinking the same thing when I was walking through the boat. I would love to have that feature, something like what you saw in Das Boot when the sub crash dived. It isn't in there but hopefully a patch will be available or maybe even when the game is released. Who knows, maybe there will be a mod for this.


Awww did you have to bring up CFS2?! I miss CFS :wah: specifically CFS2!

The whole DRM thing really agrivates me, but I will most likely still buy the game. As it stands I have very few games I can stand to play for longer than an hour, and when I'm in the mood for Submarines I turn on SH4 with OM or FOTRS if I want German/US respectivly. Still though, I find the DRM too intrusive into a game I purchased for me to say "it's ok" I really hope that UBI removes it ASAP, as it's truely killed their hardcore fan base.

:arrgh!:

[SimHq Tom Cofield]

Thanks for all the info Tom, and for looking at how people at SubSim felt about SH5, and posting it in the review, it isn't something one sees every day. :salute:

Cheers :rock:

Well, I am excited about the game. I know it is hard sitting on the outside looking in. Speaking of she who must be obeyed, I just got done with another 12 hour night shift and she is telling me to go to sleep now.

I have a steering column to put in my 77 GMC pickup this afternoon and I need to sleep before I start trying to fiddle with that.

[onelifecrisis]

Oh god, I make one negative comment and the blummin' author shows up! :damn:

Tom, fair point about SimHQ being a general sim site and not one dedicated to sub sims. And thanks for explaining why you couldn't go into more depth, and why you couldn't say in the preview why you couldn't go into more depth.

[mookiemookie]

Thanks for the preview Tom! It's very reassuring to hear that the beta bugs are very minor. Here's hoping we don't get a repeat of SH4 at release!

[609_Avatar]

Nice to see you here Tom! :salute:

Thanks for the preview, and more importantly, for adding to it here! I look forward to all the reviews once it's released.

[pythos]

Tom, thank you for the first true preview of this game.

Sorry to hear of the difficulties of the campaign, I truly hope those bugs are indeed worked out.

[dcb]

Tom, thanks for the preview, but especially for the subsequent insights you gave us. Like many here, now I understand better that you got a different audience to cater for. Don't take the negativity too personally, it's rather aimed at the general lack of solid information about the game, in a community of subsim fans who crave for every bit of info. I see now that you are limited in what you may and may not say and I'm waiting for your promised review, based on the "end product.":salute:

Cheers,

dcb

[Weather-guesser]

Graphically, this is a well-polished Beta that I have been playing


Hmm..This is great to hear but makes me wonder what past reviewers were looking at earlier in the week when they described it as an alpha like version. :hmmm:

I hope the release will be more like this version.


the single player setup is polished


Outstanding!

[Boris]

Haha... the author shows up and everyone goes all polite :D

[Rip]

Boy you guys are rough. I had exactly two days with the game to do something with this preview. To be honest I replayed the campaign about four times but continuous crashes and odd bugs that will be fixed on release meant that I had to give up on trying to get any further in the campaign and just look at the single missions.

I am working with Beta code and to be honest, the game tended to crash whenever something really exciting started happening. Exterior views were almost impossible with this build simply because the game would cause horrific monitor difficulties whenever I went outside the boat. Likewise torpedo shots on ships created a slideshow effect. Part of the problem is my video card (Radeon 3850) and the other problem is beta code. The two convoys I did manage to maneuver close to turned into slideshows the moment I launced torpedoes. I do admit I should have taken more shots there but I was too busy cursing at the slideshow. Do not view this as a critique of the game. Almost every beta that I have worked with or have previewed has had similar problems. The game is more polished than a lot of previews I have seen and pretty darned complete but it is still beta and what it does with my Radeon gives me fits.

You guys have to understand the audience for the game at SimHq. It isn't Subsim. This is a direct entheusist site for Submarine fanatics. It should be a more detailed preview because it is designed for guys who are big time sub and naval boat guys. SimHq is a much more generalized site with a much wider fanbase. Any preview over 3 pages is nixed by management because it is too long for a preview.

As for Rah Rah, that is exactly what a preview is. Previews, IMHO, are not reviews. I don't mention bugs precisely because they may negatively impact the game. Bugs I find in beta code, to include crash bugs, bugs that cause weird graphical problems and just plain things not implemented yet but in the works are not in a preview. I put in what is planned, not what actually I see. IL2's preview was about 70% of the final game, I felt I had to report what was planned. This is a short, 3 page preview of a game that is coming out for a generalized readership that plays flight, fighting, and driving simulations. If I tried to make it an in depth preview it would take four times longer and the readership at SimHq would be turned off.

I expect the game to ship in a much more polished condition. If I have problems then I will give it some more critiques. There are some things that frankly concern me but they probably will be fixed. If not then I will point them out. I don't think I would ever write a review that would be as in depth as a Subsim review but that isn't our focus. That is the focus of your writers. I am a flight sim guy doing some naval stuff because the subject matter is interesting. I am also trying to not write 15 page previews, it ticks off the boss.


I wouldn't sweat it. You are correct this is a very tough crowd and they are about as riled up as you can get already. You never had a chance. :lost:

[Sailor Steve]

Thanks for the preview, and thank you for showing up to face the fanboys.
:rotfl2:

[Galanti]

Haha... the author shows up and everyone goes all polite :D

I found this hilarious as well.

[Onkel Neal]

Boy you guys are rough. I had exactly two days with the game to do something with this preview. To be honest I replayed the campaign about four times but continuous crashes and odd bugs that will be fixed on release meant that I had to give up on trying to get any further in the campaign and just look at the single missions.

I am working with Beta code and to be honest, the game tended to crash whenever something really exciting started happening. Exterior views were almost impossible with this build simply because the game would cause horrific monitor difficulties whenever I went outside the boat. Likewise torpedo shots on ships created a slideshow effect. Part of the problem is my video card (Radeon 3850) and the other problem is beta code. The two convoys I did manage to maneuver close to turned into slideshows the moment I launced torpedoes. I do admit I should have taken more shots there but I was too busy cursing at the slideshow. Do not view this as a critique of the game. Almost every beta that I have worked with or have previewed has had similar problems. The game is more polished than a lot of previews I have seen and pretty darned complete but it is still beta and what it does with my Radeon gives me fits.

You guys have to understand the audience for the game at SimHq. It isn't Subsim. This is a direct entheusist site for Submarine fanatics. It should be a more detailed preview because it is designed for guys who are big time sub and naval boat guys. SimHq is a much more generalized site with a much wider fanbase. Any preview over 3 pages is nixed by management because it is too long for a preview.

As for Rah Rah, that is exactly what a preview is. Previews, IMHO, are not reviews. I don't mention bugs precisely because they may negatively impact the game. Bugs I find in beta code, to include crash bugs, bugs that cause weird graphical problems and just plain things not implemented yet but in the works are not in a preview. I put in what is planned, not what actually I see. IL2's preview was about 70% of the final game, I felt I had to report what was planned. This is a short, 3 page preview of a game that is coming out for a generalized readership that plays flight, fighting, and driving simulations. If I tried to make it an in depth preview it would take four times longer and the readership at SimHq would be turned off.

I expect the game to ship in a much more polished condition. If I have problems then I will give it some more critiques. There are some things that frankly concern me but they probably will be fixed. If not then I will point them out. I don't think I would ever write a review that would be as in depth as a Subsim review but that isn't our focus. That is the focus of your writers. I am a flight sim guy doing some naval stuff because the subject matter is interesting. I am also trying to not write 15 page previews, it ticks off the boss.

Hey Tom, well said. :salute:

Before I began my preview, I tried to explain the purpose and scope of a preview, as opposed to a review. (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?p=1264278#post1264278) Sure, there are bugs and glitches in a beta build, but the preview is not there to be a bug list. How many game publishers would allow any 3rd party previews if the journalist presented the piece as a scathing report on the state of the unfinished game?

Look forward to reading your review when it comes out. :up:

[walsh2509]

I am a little confused , reading the 1st part he seemed to be amazed by the game and then at the end , the in summing up .

This game won’t replace Silent Hunter 4 on my hard drive, but Silent Hunter 5 will have a spot right next to it.

If its that good , it would replace SH4 on my drive!

[AVGWarhawk]

Personally I liked the review and I learned something new! This time you are a captain! Your talk to the crew and it actually helps with moral! Bark out some orders! Nice new take if you ask me. Thanks for dropping by Tom! Good preview! :up:

[Heretic]

I am a little confused , reading the 1st part he seemed to be amazed by the game and then at the end , the in summing up .

This game won’t replace Silent Hunter 4 on my hard drive, but Silent Hunter 5 will have a spot right next to it.

If its that good , it would replace SH4 on my drive!


Well, if you like to play US subs, SH4 is the only game in town. It'll be awhile before SH5 (plus expansions) matures to the point where it'll replace SHIII/IV for uboats as well. The gameplay focus seems slightly different too. I intend to bounce back and forth between them as the mood strikes me. Heck I can't even decide between RFB and TMO, so I play both of them.

[609_Avatar]

Haha... the author shows up and everyone goes all polite :D

Well... some of us can be polite whether he shows up or not! :D

[609_Avatar]

I am a little confused , reading the 1st part he seemed to be amazed by the game and then at the end , the in summing up .

This game won’t replace Silent Hunter 4 on my hard drive, but Silent Hunter 5 will have a spot right next to it.

If its that good , it would replace SH4 on my drive!

As someone mentioned earlier in the thread, Tom is more into the Fleet boats than the Uboats and that's where the comment is coming from.

[Frederf]

I still disagree with the idea that a preview necessarily has to be shallow and brief. A preview is simply a view of things yet to come to general audience while a review is a view of things that have already reached the general audience; simple. A preview can have depth without a lot of breadth as well: "The AI convoy reactions are greatly improved in SH5." Is that overly technical? No.

Two days is pretty short, most of us were under the impression you had more face time with SH5 than that. You must understand that it is frustrating to be fed the same "general audience" fluff over and over again when Subsim hungers for more. Our enjoyment of the title rests on deeper real gameplay mechanics like how sensors, AI, weather, and the campaign work; and yet we're kept in the dark.

I don't think it's unfair to review a game and say things like "More complex and in-depth impressions of the game were unable to be observed because of PC issues, beta issues, and time. If I had a week with the final release I could provide more info." UBI or SimHQ can hardly blame you for that kind of honesty. That's basically saying "no chance to observe" which is neither ignoring the existence of that aspect nor reviewing an incomplete title as complete.

Page 3 is really the only part of the preview that was really interesting, since I've heard pages 1 and 2 so many times. I learned that the branching of the supercampaign is done via player choice and not forced due to player performance. A+ for new info there. I would be happy to know to what extent "trusting your crew" means they help you and to what extent you have to run around like a headless chicken.

[SimHq Tom Cofield]

Hmm..This is great to hear but makes me wonder what past reviewers were looking at earlier in the week when they described it as an alpha like version. :hmmm:

I hope the release will be more like this version.



Outstanding!

Probably some of the crash bugs. Remember thought that my version was a Beta sent last Monday, (about 9 days ago). That is probably a significant time difference between titles.

The game has bugs, a couple of serious ones but compared to beta code and previews I have played before it isn't bad at all. I expect screwey things with pre-release code, especially code that is about a month and a half from release (when I got it).

I am not sure it will ship March 4th, it may take another couple of weeks. I know that this is the hardest time to do get all of these bugs fixed.

[jazman]

...and your wife is yelling for you to come to bed, then that happens.


There you have it: SH5 is better than sex.

[Mud]

There you have it: SH5 is better than sex.

:rotfl2::rotfl2:

Mud

[609_Avatar]

There you have it: SH5 is better than sex.

:rotfl2: :up:

[Heretic]

I've heard a bit about sex. How is it? Is it playable stock or does it need mods?

[Blackhawk1006]

Nice review he didn't seem to have a go at the DRM, maybe it's not that bad after all...;)

[Sailor Steve]

I've heard a bit about sex. How is it? Is it playable stock or does it need mods?
Stock is fine. Sometimes mods can help. Single play is okay, but multi-player is best.

Massive multiplayer? Much overrated. And online doesn't cut it at all.

[frau kaleun]

I've heard a bit about sex. How is it? Is it playable stock or does it need mods?

There are quite a few mods out there that can really spice things up for you, whether you're interested in advanced gameplay or just eye candy. But there's certainly nothing wrong with stock if you get the the install just right.

[AVGWarhawk]

There are quite a few mods out there that can really spice things up for you, whether you're interested in advanced gameplay or just eye candy. But there's certainly nothing wrong with stock if you get the the install just right.


Sometimes installing and uninstalling multiple times quickly helps alot. Also depends on what drive you are using. :O:

[frau kaleun]

Sometimes installing and uninstalling multiple times quickly helps alot. Also depends on what drive you are using. :O:

It's also a good idea to tweak things here and there until you see how everything works.

Edit: And, unlike a lot of other games, your fridge magnets only fall off if you're doing it right.

[Heretic]

It's also a good idea to tweak things here and there until you see how everything works.

Edit: And, unlike a lot of other games, your fridge magnets only fall off if you're doing it right.


Well, there seems to be lots of fan sites and the reviews are pretty favorable. Maybe I'll give it a shot. Thanks for the input.

*edit* Wait a minute. I did a bit of research and it seems if you pay for it, it's illegal but if you get it free, that's ok? How can that be? On the plus side there seems to be no DRM.

[frau kaleun]

On the plus side there seems to be no DRM.

DRM? We don't need no stinkin' DRM.

We have boobies. :O:

[Sailor Steve]

Oh, trust me, you never get it for free. It's pay for play, all the way.

It's the most subtle RM there is.

[onelifecrisis]

Wait a minute. I did a bit of research and it seems if you pay for it, it's illegal but if you get it free, that's ok? How can that be? On the plus side there seems to be no DRM.
:haha:

Oh, trust me, you never get it for free. It's pay for play, all the way.

It's the most subtle RM there is.
:haha:

Class!

[Heretic]

Oh, trust me, you never get it for free. It's pay for play, all the way.

It's the most subtle RM there is.

Oh yeah, I see what you mean. This looks expensive. Gold rings? Mortgages? Wow. Maybe I'll pass this one up.

[Sailor Steve]

Actually I was thinking more of the emotional side. ERM=Emotional Rights Management.

But don't get me wrong. Jokes aside, it's the best there is.

[onelifecrisis]

Oh yeah, I see what you mean. This looks expensive. Gold rings? Mortgages? Wow. Maybe I'll pass this one up.
No, they're not in the EULA. You're sort of expected to provide them but you're not actually obliged to.

[Heretic]

No, they're not in the EULA. You're sort of expected to provide them but you're not actually obliged to.

Maybe there's a demo I can try and see if I like it first.

[onelifecrisis]

Maybe there's a demo I can try and see if I like it first.

I don't think there's a demo, but there's a lot of preview videos around.

[Sailor Steve]

Maybe there's a demo I can try and see if I like it first.
:yep: Lots of them. Just be aware of the possible hidden add-ons. A demo can turn into a very expensive full-blown game if you're not careful.

[Heretic]

I don't think there's a demo, but there's a lot of preview videos around.

Well, at least I have the hardware requirements covered. I run overclocked with watercooling so I wouldn't need any upgrades. It just looks like a whole big thing to be getting into. Hidden costs out the wazoo. I dunno. Is it worth all the hassle?

[onelifecrisis]

Well, at least I have the hardware requirements covered. I run overclocked with watercooling so I wouldn't need any upgrades. It just looks like a whole big thing to be getting into. Hidden costs out the wazoo. I dunno. Is it worth all the hassle?
Definitely. Just make sure you use a good antivirus.

[Heretic]

Well, you've given me lots of things to think about. Maybe I'll run it past the wife and see what she thinks. Yeah, yeah, 'she who must be obeyed' ha ha, whatever. Anyway. She usually has pretty good instincts with this sort of thing.

[malkuth74]

Bunch of you guys should be ashamed of yourselves. Really what is the point being in the SHV Forum if all your going to do is complain.

Most of you are pissed becuase of what UBI has done, but TOm and the DEV team that made SHV are Not UBI Soft. UBI soft is a software company that fronts money to devs to make a game and release it.

Really I hope that Mods soon start coming down on people in this forum. I so sick of every single forum I go to with a New Release having people complaining and jumping all over people that actually might like the game.

And to boot the game is not even out yet. And Most of you have said your not buying it. So why stay in the forum.

Give some people a break, I want to read about a game that I am buying and will most likely enjoy. Not listen to a bunch of grown men act like a Bunch of children.

Seriously when will we put an end to it. I have seen other forums start kicking but when things get out of hand. If you want to complain I suggest go to the Official Forums.

[Sailor Steve]

What? You've already played?:o

NO.

NO.

NO!!!

You're only allowed one game at a time! No soup for you!:nope:

[Steeltrap]

Bunch of you guys should be ashamed of yourselves. Really what is the point being in the SHV Forum if all your going to do is complain.

Most of you are pissed becuase of what UBI has done, but TOm and the DEV team that made SHV are Not UBI Soft. UBI soft is a software company that fronts money to devs to make a game and release it.

Really I hope that Mods soon start coming down on people in this forum. I so sick of every single forum I go to with a New Release having people complaining and jumping all over people that actually might like the game.

And to boot the game is not even out yet. And Most of you have said your not buying it. So why stay in the forum.

Give some people a break, I want to read about a game that I am buying and will most likely enjoy. Not listen to a bunch of grown men act like a Bunch of children.

Seriously when will we put an end to it. I have seen other forums start kicking but when things get out of hand. If you want to complain I suggest go to the Official Forums.

Happily, our moderators are not unemployed Stasi members. :D

There's a lot of 'Voltaire' around here i.e. disagree with what you say but defend to the death your right to say it.

Don't like what others are saying? Bad luck. You are, however, free to object, as you have done, and I'm all in favour of that. :rock:

Don't make the mistake of thinking you can arbitrarily say who can say what in which thread. Won't happen. The mods do sometimes step in to remind people to stay on topic.

Comments such as "grown men behaving like a bunch of children" is bordering on the sort of behaviour the mods WILL object to. :down:

Doesn't do much to advance your point, either. Lecturing people like you're their parent won't get you far, but feel free to continue and see how well it works.... :hmmm:

[Steeltrap]

Boy you guys are rough.

This is a short, 3 page preview of a game that is coming out for a generalized readership that plays flight, fighting, and driving simulations. If I tried to make it an in depth preview it would take four times longer and the readership at SimHq would be turned off.

Yeah, wolfpack tactics are done to a fine art, here. :har:

Welcome aboard. This place IS tough. As you pointed out, there's a lot of aggro around DRM. Was nice of you to point people to the thread here, but a pity the poll results aren't visible (that's not your fault, of course). I'm sure a lot of us would like to see your definitive statement about DRM, especially around the fact you won't support it due to the nature of your laptop use, prominent in your final review.

To be fair, I think you'll find people fairly reasonable when given more info. I certainly appreciate you taking the time to visit and post, and your explanation around the limits of your preview was great. In a sense it's a shame some comment on that couldn't have been in the preview, but that might have been making comments that would be unfair on the game (people might make unjustified conclusions about the game without reading the article carefully).

Anyway, thanks for the article and for visiting. I can't imagine this is the first time you've run into passionate enthusiasts and the somewhat 'demanding' attitude they display!

Cheers

[Steeltrap]

DRM? We don't need no stinkin' DRM.

We have boobies. :O:

Some people mightn't object to 'constant connection required', however, despite how impractical that might be at times. :D

Crash dive, blow all tanks, crush depth and asDIC all take on entirely new meanings in this game.. :woot:

...and I don't want to know about hedgehogs or squids :o

[TarJak]

I'm sure a lot of us would like to see your definitive statement about DRM, especially around the fact you won't support it due to the nature of your laptop use, prominent in your final review.
CheersThe OSP DRM scheme actively discriminates against anyone who travels frequently and plays games on their laptop.

Use of the game is restricted to times when you have internet access, which for me when travelling is usually work time, as the cost of access in most hotels and some public places is so ridiculously high, to make it laughable that any one would want to use it for gaming.

No play in any form of transport unless you are prepared to pay the stupid costs of mobile broadband. So I can't play when flying to my destination and have seen all the in flight movies and still have 3 hours to kill before landing.

No play for most armed forces personnel stationed overseas or on ships/submarines where internet access is restricted.

How many potential customers of Ubi will be hit by this. OK SHV customers may be limited, but extrapolate this over their entire catalogue and their potentual p!ss off factor increases significantly.

Sales people, business people, pilots, armed services personnel all of whom travel often and have significant down time and large enough numbers of whom use gaming to fill the void of staring at the same four walls when having a jet lag induced no sleep night.

Trust me, it's not fun waking up at 2am and being wide awake with nothing but hotel TV to entertain you.

[Lord Biceps]

This preview doesn't really tell me anything I didn't already know or could deduce from the screenshots.

[THE_MASK]

This preview doesn't really tell me anything I didn't already know or could deduce from the screenshots.
I agree my Lord , previews dont seem to give away much info . I beg my lords pardon sir . Good day .

[Safe-Keeper]

Then why absolutely no mention of critical gameplay elements, such as enemy AI? And Wolfpacks? "I hope they are used". Yet oodles on the visuals ("I probably cannot describe the game any better than the screenshots."). Odd that after 10 hours of gameplay "serious wargamer" aspects hardly rated a mention. :hmmm:

Great. Now I am forced into numbing "point and click" interaction with the crew. I hope this doesn't mean a daily visit to the exciting world of the torpedo room.:DL

(sorry about the spacing between lines here, don't know why the forums do that)

WATCH OFFICER







Your orders, Herr Kaleun!
Man AA and Deck gun.
Stand down the watch crew, prepare to dive.
This is a nice conning tower you've got yourself here. {Skill: Flattery}
You look sad.
That will be all.
:picks 4:

WATCH OFFICER







Well, ja. You zee, I wuz working on ein Potion called "U-Boot Specialcoctail", but mein Rezipebuch has gone missing. Wizout it, I kann nicht make the Potion to zell to ze crew.
Man AA and Deck gun.
Stand down the watch crew, prepare to dive.
Weather report, please!
This is a nice conning tower you've got yourself here. {Skill: Flattery}
Don't worry. I will find out who stole the book.
That will be all.
:picks 5:

WATCH OFFICER


You vill?! How splendid! I knew I could rely on you, Herr Kaleun! I will share with you my Coctail when it's done! {You received 10 Renown!}
Man AA and Deck gun.
Stand down the watch crew, prepare to dive.
Weather report, please!
This is a nice conning tower you've got yourself here. {Skill: Flattery}
That will be all.
:picks 5:

In-game message: YOU HAVE RECEIVED A NEW QUEST

:accesses Orders screen:

ORDERS




U-58, Commander Safe-Keeper von Bergen
Patrol grid AF49 for hostiles. Tankers are priority targets.
Find William's missing book.
Help Peter get a boyfriend. COMPLETED!
Help the engine crew get rid of the ghost in the Diesel Engine Room so that they can get back inside.
Level 6 U-Boat Skipper/Thief / XP 1654/1700
Affiliation: German U-Boat Weapon, Rangers' Guild; Chaotic Nazi
Married to Peter van Lang

[Nordmann]

Sounds like my kind of game! Oh, wait, I see what you did there.

[Safe-Keeper]

When you reach Level 19, you can cast Summon Battleship!


Seriously, though, I do want SH5, but having to click on people to give them morale boosts when they need them is going a bit overboard, and I think I'm just going to mod that out.

[martes86]

:rotfl2:

[Iron Budokan]

When you reach Level 19, you can cast Summon Battleship!



Yeah, but you have to make sure you have a soul shard first, which you get from a quest chain out of Lorient, before you cast that

[Iron Budokan]

This preview doesn't really tell me anything I didn't already know or could deduce from the screenshots.

It told me the reviewer was enamored of graphics. Well, that's fine, I guess. But it told me absolutely nothing about simulation gameplay or replayability.

I'll say it again. These fanboy "previews" that ooh and ahh over the graphics mean very little to me. I know the game looks purty. We all do. I'm not arguing that.

But I'm still waiting for a preview/review written by a hard core subsimmer who actually knows the genre and not someone who admits he doesn't play submarine simulations a lot.

[Safe-Keeper]

Yeah, but you have to make sure you have a soul shard first, which you get from a quest chain out of Lorient, before you cast thatOh. That's why it didn't work.

See, I got fed up with the random encounters with wolves and Urinating Sailors, and just fast-travelled form the city to the harbour instead of running there. Never got that sleek black car either. So I missed the entire quest chain, unless it's the one that starts when you rescue Bernard from the rabbit that's in the process of killing him, and he gives you a treasure map out of gratitude.

Did raid the dungeons under Wilhelmshaven, though. Lots of good stuff in there. Amazing how many of those lemons and Homing Torpedoes I can fit in my Inventory, though, they really should make you over-encumbered once you've picked up two or three of them.

[heartc]

1WO: "I saw a dolphin the other day. Horrible creatures."

Kaleun: "Nasty things, but I heard the meat's not too bad."

Silent Hunter V: Oblivion.

[Lord Biceps]

It told me the reviewer was enamored of graphics. Well, that's fine, I guess. But it told me absolutely nothing about simulation gameplay or replayability.

I'll say it again. These fanboy "previews" that ooh and ahh over the graphics mean very little to me. I know the game looks purty. We all do. I'm not arguing that.

But I'm still waiting for a preview/review written by a hard core subsimmer who actually knows the genre and not someone who admits he doesn't play submarine simulations a lot.

Exactly. I'd especially like to know more about the functionality of the AI, examples of the dynamic campaign being affected by the player, and so on. Already know about the graphics, the DRM, the 3D-sub, etc., now tell me about the game mechanics!

[Lord Biceps]

1WO: "I saw a dolphin the other day. Horrible creatures."

Kaleun: "Nasty things, but I heard the meat's not too bad."

Silent Hunter V: Oblivion.

:rotfl2:

I fear that the crew interaction can get VERY repetitive after a couple of patrols...

I wonder if they implement the same "observations" NPC's in Oblivion offer after you reach certain skill levels. "You're a fit one...been running a lot?" :rotfl2:

[flag4]

Tom Cofield is one of us, a serious wargamer. I trust his opinion. Did anyone miss these tidbits?





the comment about SH4 is because, like me, he prefers to play as the good guys in the Pacific rather than as an evil Nazi...:arrgh!:


sorry, but they were not evil or nazi's. most were ordinary young german men and not affiliated with the nazi party. and thank ubi(!) we have a game where we do not have to be american.:woot:

[heartc]

Maybe we should also be able to make a "character build":

"Birthsign: Shadow. Being born under the sign of the shadow, this power grants you and your surroundings to become invisible once per day. Plan your transit through Gibraltar accordingly!"

"Skills: Persuasion. You have a way with words. Convince Großadmiral Dönitz that the British have cracked the Enigma Code."

...

[Safe-Keeper]

:other submarine sending morse message:
"OH MY GOD ITS YOU STOP THE HERO OF THE BAY OF BISCAY STOP THIS IS TRULY AN HONOUR STOP U56"

[Heretic]

It there was the same sort of triggers as RPG games have, you could actually do some pretty cool stuff. You could have the watch officer give you a report after each shift change, for instance. I don't believe there's actaully anything that sophisicated in the game, but if there was, it could proove useful.

[Sgtmonkeynads]

It there was the same sort of triggers as RPG games have, you could actually do some pretty cool stuff. You could have the watch officer give you a report after each shift change, for instance. I don't believe there's actaully anything that sophisicated in the game, but if there was, it could proove useful.


That is one of the main things I'm looking forward to. If things like that are moddable, this game will be worth a VII's weight in gold.