Ze Das Boot factor

[Blakenzy]

Hello all. I haven't bought SH5 yet, but I do own SH3, which I bought used at my local cyber cafe gamer hangout (super cheap) that came with 2 homemade disks full of patches and mods (which in my opinion make the game). I really didn't know about subsims at all until last year when I ran across an article (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_226/6729-The-Agony-of-Defeat) talking about how few war games are playable on the losing side. It mentioned SH3 and strongly recommended it citing the atmosphere, excitement and the opportunity to fight on the losing side of the conflict. So I bought the cheapest copy I could find just to see what the fuss was about and 30 minutes after install.... I was right there, I s&%$ you not, in Das Boot!

Well, shortly after I learned of SH4, but for some reason after all the reading on it and screen shots and youtube videos I just wasn't interested. And it wasn't because of the initial bugs because many mods correcting them had already been launched by that time. Improved graphics, assorted missions, many opportunities to take down carriers, command a big, roomy fleet boat! ...meh

Then I read that SH5 was coming out! I haven't been diving for six months in SH3 and there were already two newer versions of the game to choose.

Any way, I was excited. Silent Hunter IV didn't do anything for me despite the improvements over III but V definitely got my attention. Then of course I learned of everything that wasn't nice about it, and considering the chosen release date and complaints of previous versions, it would probably be premature and bug ridden. Plus it is $$ and I am not a beta tester. So I said NO to it. But that didn't change the fact that I really, really want it. it just has that "thing".

So why did SH5 have that effect on me while SH4 didn't do anything? I think it's all because of Wolfgang Petersen and his damn movie.

How strong do you think the "das boot" factor is in Silent Hunter sales?

[Mike@UK]

I wouldn't be surprised if Das Boot was at least part of the reason the developers chose to go for a more "personalized" 1st person approach with SH5.

All I know is that there's nothing quit like getting a Convoy radio report, playing "Konvoi" in Media Player, then running to the engine room and ordering Ahead Flank. :rock:

[alexradu89]

So why did SH5 have that effect on me while SH4 didn't do anything?
Same thing happened to me, I really enjoyed SH3, but SH4 as much as I tried liking it, something just didn't work, but I guess for me it's just the fact that i prefer the Atlantic over the Pacific, and "ze germans" over the americans, and I really like the u-boats ;). Roaming around the dark, cold Atlantic, hunting unarmed merchants and oceanliners under the moonlight. :arrgh!:

[java`s revenge]

Guys,

Am i crazy or :hmmm:

A captain didn`t ran through the boat for giving orders. There
were (i don`t know the name) pipes you could talk into so others
could here it and what do you think of the telegraph???

[Mike@UK]

You can give most orders from anywhere on (or off) the Sub (at least I can with the Keyboard Command mod, never tried stock), but if you're not in the Engine Room when you give the order to go to Flank then you can't watch as the Engines rev up in all their glory. ;)

[jerm138]

Guys,

Am i crazy or :hmmm:

A captain didn`t ran through the boat for giving orders. There
were (i don`t know the name) pipes you could talk into so others
could here it and what do you think of the telegraph???

We called them "voice tubes." Not sure what the Germans call them. They're fun to pour water down and douse the new guys below.

[pythos]

Das Boot most definitely has an effect on my playing. Konvoi, plays through my mind as my boat rushes to an intercept point of a convoy to set up a shot.

Every now and then I will try the speed boat attack the captain of U-96 does, those are fun. You do feel like a wolf rushing in on prey. If there is an escort not seen, and he pops out of no where, the immersion is just fantastic.

The ensuing depth charge attack amidst the creaks and groans of your sinking prey is surrealistic.

This is my experience with SH3 modded with GWX.

I hope, just hope, Sh5 can be modded to this level, and not have the same fate as 4, which for me is gathering dust on the shelf.

[IanC]

Didn't one of the devs say they were going for a 'Das Boot movie' experience with SH5? I'm almost sure I read that somewhere..

[JFL1]

Das Boot most definitely has an effect on my playing. Konvoi, plays through my mind as my boat rushes to an intercept point of a convoy to set up a shot.

Every now and then I will try the speed boat attack the captain of U-96 does, those are fun. You do feel like a wolf rushing in on prey. If there is an escort not seen, and he pops out of no where, the immersion is just fantastic.

The ensuing depth charge attack amidst the creaks and groans of your sinking prey is surrealistic.

This is my experience with SH3 modded with GWX.

I hope, just hope, Sh5 can be modded to this level, and not have the same fate as 4, which for me is gathering dust on the shelf.

Same here! :yeah:

[JFL1]

Didn't one of the devs say they were going for a 'Das Boot movie' experience with SH5? I'm almost sure I read that somewhere..

If, by that, he meant the part of the movie where the U-boat sinks, he's definitely right... ;)

[alexradu89]

Bottom line is, this IS a great game with even greater modding/scripting capabilities (making it even better) however we just need to give it some time (way too much time sadly, as there will be months, maybe even a year or so untill the last final patch will be implemented), and also if (though it's highly unlikely) we would have the GWX team (the modding legends of SH imo ;)) actually finish this game (since the devs wouldn't) it would be beyond SH3, and for a few years become the greatest sub sim.
NOTE: I'm not boasting the game (because at the moment it's pretty much :down:) but if we have patience, give it some time, let the modders get the hang of the game, and not to mention the hopefully as many patches as it takes to fix at least some of the game's present issues. So this is just what I think... I don't know about you all but i guess i still have faith that the game can become better.