Danger From The Deep as an alternative to SH5

[Gunnodayak]

I am writing here, in SH5 forums, because I know that a lot of people that were expecting SH5 will are starting to become not so thrilled about the idea, from various reasons. So, I am suggesting to all of you that are interested, to support in any way that we can Danger From The Deep, which is a valuable and honest, open source project. Its a project that have a lot of unexploited potential. I know that the game is not as eye candy as SH5 is, but it's something different, it's an open source project, and I am sure that our modders here would be capable to express their creativity and ideas in a more constructive way, than in UBI's "mandatory Internet connection needed" Role Playing Game, stillborn product, SH5. Of course, only if they would be interested. Modding is open source also, UBI isn't. For the ones that this name, Danger From The Deep, is new, here is the address of the site:
http://dangerdeep.sourceforge.net/

And also, an in-game footage:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU1aM_SmoSM
Please that this video is from the 2 years old version of the game!

The game can be downloaded for free at:
http://kawaii.indexof.co.uk/dangerdeep-latest/ and an ubuntu repos here: https://launchpad.net/~aegirxx-googlemail/+archive/dftd-latest/ (https://launchpad.net/%7Eaegirxx-googlemail/+archive/dftd-latest/)

Maybe we will manage to find our true WWII submarine simulator in there, helping in every way we can. Or maybe even the owner of subsim may be interested in a close collaboration. Just sending petitions in void, that nobody cares about will not solve anything. But acting for real, it can. It's just an idea, I am expecting feedback and replies from some of you.

Somebody said that some of us are negative and we're not helping in any way. Let's start to be positive, but not regarding SH 5! For all of us that were called "whiners", here's our chance to act.

[Nordmann]

I've followed their progress for some time, but I don't know how user friendly the current build is. I get the impression you have to know what you're doing to get it installed and running.

[Gunnodayak]

I've followed their progress for some time, but I don't know how user friendly the current build is. I get the impression you have to know what you're doing to get it installed and running.
Yes, you may be right, but maybe if there would be some organized "request" and collaboration from our side, the things might change in a positive way.

[cherbert]

Progress on this has been slow at best. And I now can't even get it running anymore on Windows 7. Just crashes with a red screen.

And it hardly compares to the fully 3D sub we are getting in SH5. If you are asking me to play Danger From the Deep I might as well dig out my old copy of Silent Hunter 2.

[Onkel Neal]

Maybe we will manage to find our true WWII submarine simulator in there, helping in every way we can. Or maybe even the owner of Subsim may be interested in a close collaboration. It's just an idea, I am expecting ideas and replies from some of you.

I am, but I don't have any contact info for them. Can you help me find an email address?

[Gunnodayak]

Progress on this has been slow at best. And I now can't even get it running anymore on Windows 7. Just crashes with a red screen.

And it hardly compares to the fully 3D sub we are getting in SH5. If you are asking me to play Danger From the Deep I might as well dig out my old copy of Silent Hunter 2.
No, I am not asking you that, I know that the graphics are not so great. But the water is looking good, you must admit. I was thinking that maybe this project can be helped, to rise up, to be developed. And become in time playable by the ones frustrated by UBI.

[Gunnodayak]

I am, but I don't have any contact info for them. Can you help me find an email address?
Neal, I've managed to obtain the email address of the head of the project, and also the address of the guy I've been talking to. I am sending you their emails in a private message. They are from Germany, both of them.

[Gotmilk]

Neal, I've managed to obtain the email address of the head of the project, and also the address of the guy I've been talking to. I am sending you their emails in a private message. They are from Germany, both of them.

Hey there could you PM me his contact too. I have a question regarding about ingame music of this game.:salute:

[Gunnodayak]

Hey there could you PM me his contact too. I have a question regarding about ingame music of this game.:salute:
Sure, mate, I've sent you! And I am sure they will be very opened, they seem to be very polite and even modest regarding their work.

[rascal101]

WOW I HAD NO IDEA ABOUTTHIS GAME LOOKS VERY GOOD TO HAVE COME SO FAR BY THEMSELVES

WE SHOULD SPREAD THE WORD AND GET SOME OF THE SUBSIM MODDERS IN TOUCH WITH THESE GUYS - MY SKILLS ARE MINIMAL WHEN IT COMES TO GRAPHICS BUT I'M GOOD AT REASEARCH OR DOING BASIC PIECE WORK

LETS GET BEHIND THIS - NO DRM JUST THE BASICS OF A GOOD SIMULATOR NOT A KIDDIES GAME

r

[SteamWake]

As with any of these community projects coordination and cooperation is key.

Having two different threads on the same topic is not a great start :yep:

[Gunnodayak]

WOW I HAD NO IDEA ABOUTTHIS GAME LOOKS VERY GOOD TO HAVE COME SO FAR BY THEMSELVES

WE SHOULD SPREAD THE WORD AND GET SOME OF THE SUBSIM MODDERS IN TOUCH WITH THESE GUYS - MY SKILLS ARE MINIMAL WHEN IT COMES TO GRAPHICS BUT I'M GOOD AT REASEARCH OR DOING BASIC PIECE WORK

LETS GET BEHIND THIS - NO DRM JUST THE BASICS OF A GOOD SIMULATOR NOT A KIDDIES GAME

r
Yes, that's exactly what it is , a basis from we can start. A raw, pure, uncorrupted basis. But they surely need our support and attention. And don't forget it's an OPEN SOURCE project, which means FREE in translation. And still, I would give them the money I've planed to give to UBI a few months ago, if that would be necessary. Fortunately, they won't arrive in UBI's pocket anymore, that's for sure.

[Gunnodayak]

As with any of these community projects coordination and cooperation is key.

Having two different threads on the same topic is not a great start :yep:
I know, you're right basically. But until a couple of weeks ago, I didn't even knew it of the existence of Danger From The Deep Project, it is "hidden" somewhere in "Indie Projects" section or so. So, putting the searchlights on this projects is understandable.

[onelifecrisis]

As with any of these community projects coordination and cooperation is key.

Having two different threads on the same topic is not a great start :yep:

Yer, I'm not sure what rascal was thinking there. :hmmm:

[KL-alfman]

Progress on this has been slow at best. And I now can't even get it running anymore on Windows 7. Just crashes with a red screen.

And it hardly compares to the fully 3D sub we are getting in SH5. If you are asking me to play Danger From the Deep I might as well dig out my old copy of Silent Hunter 2.


but at least you have to admit that all the types of german u-boats are available. though I don't know anything of the end of war/campaign in DftD.

[KL-alfman]

Yer, I'm not sure what rascal was thinking there. :hmmm:


maybe the "Alternative to SH5?"-thread?

edit: oh no! just noticed that rascal himself opened a thread about DftD

[Gunnodayak]

maybe the "Alternative to SH5?"-thread?

edit: oh no! just noticed that rascal himself opened a thread about DftD
Yes, but this is the "official one", I don't have the right to ask rascal to delete his.

[martes86]

This has been in development for quite some years now. It's way too slow a progress that it has, doesn't even get close to SH3 in looks after all these years (no offense), and I think they're using SDL to develop it... too complicated me thinks, I prefer Ogre, it's much much easier to plug stuff in, there's a big and solid community for it, and there's the advantage I'm already working on a project that uses it, I guess I'm biased. :DL
And, projects right out of the zip file look much better than what DftD has archieved. So, if you're going for a subsim, use Ogre, and I'll try to cooperate as well. :DL

Cheers :rock:

[Gunnodayak]

This has been in development for quite some years now. It's way too slow a progress that it has, doesn't even get close to SH3 in looks after all these years (no offense), and I think they're using SDL to develop it... too complicated me thinks, I prefer Ogre, it's much much easier to plug stuff in, there's a big and solid community for it, and there's the advantage I'm already working on a project that uses it, I guess I'm biased. :DL
And, projects right out of the zip file look much better than what DftD has archieved. So, if you're going for a subsim, use Ogre, and I'll try to cooperate as well. :DL

Cheers :rock:

I don't agree with you in the "graphics area". Look at the water and you will see one difference between Danger From The Deep and SH3, the water it's like in SH5. Overall, SH3 looks better graphically speaking, but this is not the point, I know for sure that there are some rotten things that cannot be changed in SH3 or SH4, no matter how hard modders will try. Maybe concentrating to a new raw, uncorrupted and opened source code, like Danger From The Deep has, it can be a much more viable option.

[martes86]

I don't agree with you in the "graphics area". Look at the water and you will see one difference between Danger From The Deep and SH3, the water it's like in SH5. Overall, SH3 looks better graphically speaking [...]

There's a contradiction. You don't agree with me but later you say SH3 looks better overall (which is kinda my point anyways). :O:
The water in DftD looks good... well, good for them (it's been some time since I saw it last time, so I can't counter that) I never mentioned any specific details anyways, but anything else doesn't, in fact, they use a full 2D interface (like in SH2) which, as a developer myself, I can't think of ever implementing in a modern game, no matter how well it worked back then.

Cheers :rock:

[Gunnodayak]

There's a contradiction. You don't agree with me but later you say SH3 looks better overall (which is kinda my point anyways). :O:
The water in DftD looks good... well, good for them (it's been some time since I saw it last time, so I can't counter that) I never mentioned any specific details anyways, but anything else doesn't, in fact, they use a full 2D interface (like in SH2) which, as a developer myself, I can't think of ever implementing in a modern game, no matter how well it worked back then.

Cheers :rock:
I am talking here from the position af a subsim member who would rather play a subsim game with an interface close to SH3 (and Danger From The Deep has the potential to overcome SH3 in this area, that's for sure!) but very good fom historical and simulation point of view, than the stillborn Role Playing Game Internet Mandatory Connection SH5, with an eye-candy graphics.

[Michal788]

Look this!

http://dangerdeep.sourceforge.net/wp-content/gallery/screenshots-0_3_0/screen_3.jpg

[andycaccia]

Progress on this has been slow at best. And I now can't even get it running anymore on Windows 7. Just crashes with a red screen.

And it hardly compares to the fully 3D sub we are getting in SH5. If you are asking me to play Danger From the Deep I might as well dig out my old copy of Silent Hunter 2.


This happened to me as well on win Vista 32 bit, I guess it's a Opengl issue. That's strange, because every recent graphic driver should contain latest release of opengl libraries..

[Brag]

The work they have done so far is impressive. It looks like a couple of years before the game is really playable. What amazes me, they are willing to share their progress. I imagine that an influx of help and support from Subsimmers would be a lucky break for some very deserving people.

A breath of fresh air compared to Ubi who doesn't even respect its own Devs.

[The Enigma]

.... Ubi who doesn't even respect its own Devs.

Sorry Brag, that's an assumption and as long as there is no proof, a very harsh statement.

[artao]

regarding contacting them: they have an IRC channel at #dangerdeep on freenode. They've been quite friendly and as helpful as they could.
I can't get it to run myself, as I use win xp with an ati x700 - a bit old, and this is yet another reason I need to replace it - as i've read others have win problems as well. They've told me they don't HAVE a win developer, and compile their win versions in a win virtual machine under linux. I'd like to try compiling it myself, but have little to no experience doing so, thus haven't.
However, the whole 'helping them out' thing is illustrated well, i think, by this issue. If someone who knew HOW would do a win compile, and/or look at the code to see if there's some inherent windows incompatibility accidently programmed in, that would improve things a good deal.
This is a perfect opportunity to build a sim we'd like to play. The game, as is, with just these devs, MAY be a couple years from playable, but that could be sped up significantly with an influx of help. I'm trying to decide where I could contribute myself ... :|\\ :arrgh!:

[Gunnodayak]

The work they have done so far is impressive. It looks like a couple of years before the game is really playable. What amazes me, they are willing to share their progress. I imagine that an influx of help and support from Subsimmers would be a lucky break for some very deserving people.

A breath of fresh air compared to Ubi who doesn't even respect its own Devs.

I totally agree with all that you are saying. I also think that with some support from here, this project will raise up its capabilities, the potential shown is really impressive. And the most important fact, they don't belong to a company, that have as its first rule: "MAKE MONEY, DOESN'T MATTER HOW!" And that means they are more opened minded, with no strings attached.

Yes, it's really fresh air. I would rather play a simulator game like Danger From The Deep with lower emphasis on eye candy graphics, then playing SH5, "walking" to my Uboat and see people that are acting with a such of nonsense attitude. A lot of people are talking about the "immersion", but I can gain that feeling without the need to see ghostly people around my uboat. My imagination can surely make them move with real purpose, while the game itself would present itself like a simulator. If I would be so ecstatic about seeing people with "staring into void" eyes and nonsense pattern moves, I would probably play a shooter. Steel Beasts and Ka-50 "Black Shark" are simulators, and Danger From The Deep has the potential to be one. Silent Hunter Series has lost its direction into simulation zone, unfortunately.

I am aware that I might attract some antipathy from some, but I will say what I think: Those who need to see crew members going to the toilet, manning wheels, and the cook making goodies, before putting the emphasis on the REAL THINGS that matters in a simulation game, they probably have a serious lack in the region of the brain that is responsible for the imagination. I am sure they have other qualities, but not this one. And they are probably not aware that in their subconscious mind, they are looking for a shooter or for an RPG game. And this is not an insult towards them, it's about the different kind of taste and the different kind of each and everyone's personality.

[Gunnodayak]

This is a perfect opportunity to build a sim we'd like to play. The game, as is, with just these devs, MAY be a couple years from playable, but that could be sped up significantly with an influx of help. I'm trying to decide where I could contribute myself ... :|\\ :arrgh!:
I think they are missing some research in the historical events area, dynamic campaign design, but in these matters we can sure help, we'll just need to gather ourselves in an organized way and open some "communication channels", they seem to be somehow isolated.