graphics improvement?

[hunter301]

have the graphics been improved on this game since its original release? I bought the game when it first came out and had it loaded on several computers ago and have been thinking about loading it on to my laptop to start playing again but was wondering if they ever did anything with the bland graphics. Silent Hunter 3 had gorgeous graphics and always wish they would do the same with DW.

[Dr.Sid]

There was update with very minor model changes, but the core of the engine was never changed.

[Polak2]

I am often wondering why DW had rather modest attempts in improving graphics.

Is it because of the rather difficult very robust and not too modder friendly way how the files are written/painted/made? Is it because strict prohibition of modding by EULA? Or just by the simple fact that that was never a priority for the simulation end users?

I have to made the disclaimer, that I am not very familiar with all past DW mods and all of the possibly important graphic changes they had introduced.

[FPSchazly]

If you compare the 688(I) now to what it looked like when Dangerous Waters first came out, it looks freakin' fantastic! Other than that, I don't really need good graphics. It's got pretty good looking water (compared to Sub Command) and I can readily identify all the ships. Gameplay is most important to me.

[Hinrich Schwab]

For what the engine was when it came out, the graphics for DW aren't that bad. They were never meant to be groundbreaking like other products. Bear in mind that DW was meant to be a full-blown sim and that Sonalysts is a DoD contractor who produces sims for the Navy. The graphics are sharp enough to serve their purpose. The immersion and realism of the sim are the most important thing, as it should be. Companies are so obsessed with "kewl graphics" that they lose sight of what makes games successful and popular. So long as the feel of the sim is dead-on accurate, I could care less about extreme graphics that only work properly on the bench rig the developers used to code the game.

[Polak2]

Thank you for your point of view. Indeed your replies fall in the category "no graphics improvement - end users mostly did not care for it".

I also support the concept and design decision of making the core of the simulation true and right.In the end, however, I am not quite sure if making such pure choice above all else does not have some detrimental impact on popularity, replayability, attractiveness and long term longevity of the product. Saying this, I have in mind histories and current progress of other comparable jewels of art of computer simulation like Steel Beasts and Silent Hunter series, or Falcon 4.

In the end "it is what it is" and I should probable have considered having my question answered above. Thank you.

[FPSchazly]

I like to find beauty in function, and unless you have Windows 8, Dangerous Waters functions rather well which makes it 'good-looking' to me :D

[tirta]

I have recently installed dwx 1.38.
I must say the graphics look better now compared to stock.