Writing about mods for SH5

[Hovis]

Hi folks, I'm writing an article about modding for a magazine (Custom PC, in the UK, dunno if any of you folks might have seen it, if so, OMG HI) and I'm taking on the task of seeing if I can raise Silent Hunter 5 from being a turkey to a great, or at least good, game. I mean I played it when it came out and really felt it was terrible, but I thought it could be fixed, in time, so here I am.

Looking around though I'm kind of baffled as to where to start with SH5, as SH4 and SH3 both have some really epic big mods, and also they generally played better by default out of the box. Magnum Opus looks like a good place to start, but I was wondering what the general thinking is with folks about SH5 and it's mods. I mean, is it a game beyond redemption, or has it grown from its buggy, ugly roots to become something bigger and better than the previous titles? Or are the majority of modders sticking to the tried and tested and arguably superior previous games?

Any help would be much appreciated.

[TheDarkWraith]

I'll say it again....SH5 is the future. SH3/4 are old and really nothing in comparison to where SH5 is and where it's going to be in time. SH3's game engine is way outdated in comparison to SH5. SH4 is ok and it's graphics are just under SH5's par. What makes SH5 shine is it's moddability (and the tools the devs included with it - not to mention the script engine, a version of Python, that the devs included with the game to allow you to extend it). We are currently just scratching the surface of this rough diamond. All we need are more people working/experimenting on it.

Soon new units will be included in the campaign. The stock campaign is also being redone (currently by one person - he NEEDS help! I would help him but I'm busy trying to figure out things to allow others to do things)

I'd say that in the next year you'll see many SH3/4 people migrating over to SH5 because of our accomplishments :yep:

The old saying still applies: Build it and they will come :salute:

[reignofdeath]

It still taxes the snot out of your computer resources thought!! :O:

But from what I've seen I agree alot with TDW, he is right. Sh5 is the future.

[Hovis]

So are elements like the annoying 'must-run-around-the-ship-to-control-it' control interface removed or removable? That bugs me a lot, to be honest I'm really struggling to find my feet with the game in general. I mean it's not like SH3 and SH4 were really pick up and playable in the traditional sense. Are there mods to make the game feel more like the earlier ones? Or am I just being a big wuss and should I embrace and learn to love the new interface etc?

I do like that there are mod tools and so forth available though, that's a positive move considering so many games just don't give a crap about the modding community.

[FIREWALL]

I'll say it again....SH5 is the future. SH3/4 are old and really nothing in comparison to where SH5 is and where it's going to be in time. SH3's game engine is way outdated in comparison to SH5. SH4 is ok and it's graphics are just under SH5's par. What makes SH5 shine is it's moddability (and the tools the devs included with it - not to mention the script engine, a version of Python, that the devs included with the game to allow you to extend it). We are currently just scratching the surface of this rough diamond. All we need are more people working/experimenting on it.

Soon new units will be included in the campaign. The stock campaign is also being redone (currently by one person - he NEEDS help! I would help him but I'm busy trying to figure out things to allow others to do things)

I'd say that in the next year you'll see many SH3/4 people migrating over to SH5 because of our accomplishments :yep:

The old saying still applies: Build it and they will come :salute:


What he said. :DL

[TheDarkWraith]

So are elements like the annoying 'must-run-around-the-ship-to-control-it' control interface removed or removable? That bugs me a lot, to be honest I'm really struggling to find my feet with the game in general. I mean it's not like SH3 and SH4 were really pick up and playable in the traditional sense. Are there mods to make the game feel more like the earlier ones? Or am I just being a big wuss and should I embrace and learn to love the new interface etc?

I do like that there are mod tools and so forth available though, that's a positive move considering so many games just don't give a crap about the modding community.

check out the UIs mods available in the SH5 MODS forum. Then tell me if you still have to run around the ship to control it......

It appears you are unfamiliar with the SH5 MODS forum. Go take a peek. Some exciting things are happening :yep:

[Hovis]

Cheers, the UI was a major issue. I'll have a big dig around. :)