Oh wow, this is really really bad

[XLjedi]

What am I missing?

This is just a tedious, not fun at all, mess of a game right now.

They seem to have either gotten rid of, or simply replaced with countdown timers, anything from a tactical and attack perspective.

:hmmm: Tell me I'm wrong and just totally missing a screen or something please. I'd really like this to be THE new sub game... but it's just a huge disappointment thus far. :wah:

[bstanko6]

Countdown timer?

The game is more crew management, than anything.

[junkets]

If you're playing it like you've been playing SH5 tWos then you're gonna have a bad time. Plenty new things to get used to, though also plenty things you should be familiar with.

A lot of the manual stuff is hidden. Some things to improve your situation are not automated, those you also have to find.

Without specifics its hard to give advice. Maybe check the tips thread?

[XLjedi]

If you're playing it like you've been playing SH5 tWos then you're gonna have a bad time. Plenty new things to get used to, though also plenty things you should be familiar with.

A lot of the manual stuff is hidden. Some things to improve your situation are not automated, those you also have to find.

Without specifics its hard to give advice. Maybe check the tips thread?

My point of reference is mostly SH3 with GWX mod, and/or SH4 with the Wolves of the Pacific addition.

[VolvicCH]

I think it is a bit premature to compare a game in early access to a game that had a mod come out over a year after it was released. Just saying.

[XLjedi]

I think it is a bit premature to compare a game in early access to a game that had a mod come out over a year after it was released. Just saying.

:hmmm: Perhaps... I'll give it some time. On the other hand, they've been workin on it for what? 4 years now? ...and still in pre-alpha???

Unmodded SH3 had a very smooth interface and easy external camera controls right off the bat.

[VolvicCH]

:hmmm: Perhaps... I'll give it some time. On the other hand, they've been workin on it for what? 4 years now? ...and still in pre-alpha???

Unmodded SH3 had a very smooth interface and easy external camera controls right off the bat.


I think this is down to budgetary constraints. SH 3 was developed and published by Ubisoft, whereas "Uboat" is the first release of Deep Water Studios and was funded by a Kickstarter campaign. I have to say I'm pretty impressed with what they came up with.

[bmaxa]

What am I missing?

This is just a tedious, not fun at all, mess of a game right now.

They seem to have either gotten rid of, or simply replaced with countdown timers, anything from a tactical and attack perspective.

:hmmm: Tell me I'm wrong and just totally missing a screen or something please. I'd really like this to be THE new sub game... but it's just a huge disappointment thus far. :wah:


I am having fun even I didn't sailed out of port yet ;p
This game does have different aspect to crew management,
Scuba dive and carrying water to control room to pump out ;)

[W_clear]

:O::yeah:

In fact. SH5 mode game has been tired of playing, I feel very happy with the new mode.

[Justaguyinnc]

I once had an old pair of brown shoes.. man, I loved those shoes.. everyday I could just slip into them and be on my way comfortably.. I didn't think I would ever give them up.. then one day I walked past this store window and a new brown pair of shoes caught my eye. Really not to different than the old, but there was something about them with a twist of the new with a breath of fresh air.. I purchased them. Man, years later I love these new old brown shoes.. I can slip right into them and be on my way comfortably.. I still have the older brown shoes.. I keep them around to remember the feeling and to look how they aged over the years.. but I am happy I purchased the new brown shoes and grew into them...

:Kaleun_Cheers:

[XLjedi]

I once had an old pair of brown shoes..

It seems these new shoes I bought are both for the left foot. I can break em in a little, but... I'll hold out hope that within a month or two they provide something new for my right foot. Really painful to walk in them right now.

:Kaleun_Cheers:

[Jonesy]

What am I missing?

This is just a tedious, not fun at all, mess of a game right now.

They seem to have either gotten rid of, or simply replaced with countdown timers, anything from a tactical and attack perspective.

:hmmm: Tell me I'm wrong and just totally missing a screen or something please. I'd really like this to be THE new sub game... but it's just a huge disappointment thus far. :wah:

I haven´t played it, but this is the impression I am getting from watching gameplay videos on youtube.
it's like they took all the features of Silent Hunter I don´t like and want turned off (all the boring crew management things) and made a game out of just that......good luck to the developers but this doesn´t look like it's for me.

[Hjalfnar]

I haven´t played it, but this is the impression I am getting from watching gameplay videos on youtube.
it's like they took all the features of Silent Hunter I don´t like and want turned off (all the boring crew management things) and made a game out of just that......good luck to the developers but this doesn´t look like it's for me.For me it's exactly the other way round, they gave me everything I always missed with SH: A crew to command and manage! Finally I am not a submarine, but a submarine COMMANDER. Great stuff.

[JU_88]

All i,m going to say is that game is (that based on feedback so far,) its abit like Marmite (you can google that if you want) People either love it or hate it.
To those that simply hate it, i'd suggest either refunding it if you are short of cash or otherwise shelving it for another 6 months and waiting to see what develops. Its still in early access and Imo, deserves a chance.
Honestly though i will point out thet alot of the people who slate it on steam have often had little more than an hour clocked of play time. This game clearly doesn't fly well with those who lave limited patience.

[hulldmg]

For me it's exactly the other way round, they gave me everything I always missed with SH: A crew to command and manage! Finally I am not a submarine, but a submarine COMMANDER. Great stuff.


Interesting polar opposite opinion.

While I'd fall into more of the camp of: "SH3 crew managment was bit tedious and boring" and I still haven't played Uboat!
I would like to know, is the crew managment part of Uboat enjoyable process and not an annoying one? and is there an alternative way to play the game if that gameplay loop is not for me exactly?


Thank you!

[divemonkie]

Interesting polar opposite opinion.

While I'd fall into more of the camp of: "SH3 crew managment was bit tedious and boring" and I still haven't played Uboat!
I would like to know, is the crew managment part of Uboat enjoyable process and not an annoying one? and is there an alternative way to play the game if that gameplay loop is not for me exactly?


Thank you!

Lets hope it becomes an option in future. I have the game, seems to run ok on my system but I'll have to wait till I get a larger monitor to see whats going on.

There was a B-17 pilot who described flying missions as hours of tedium punctuated by moments of shear terror...I cant remember where I heard that but it sound bout right.

[Sub187]

I found crew management VERY tedious in SH3, and not at all in Uboat. It really is more comparable to The Sims than with crew management in previous submarine games.

[JU_88]

Interesting polar opposite opinion.

While I'd fall into more of the camp of: "SH3 crew managment was bit tedious and boring" and I still haven't played Uboat!
I would like to know, is the crew managment part of Uboat enjoyable process and not an annoying one? and is there an alternative way to play the game if that gameplay loop is not for me exactly?


Thank you!

This is the thing, the developers built this game around 'The Sims/Bomber crew/This war of mine management model.
But many have demanded more conventional Silent Hunter style play,
So where the game is now is a bit of mash up between the two, the result is that's its a pretty complicated game to play.

How people have taken to this is really mixed, some really like it as it is. Some love the management play aspects, and others just want a straight up Silent Hunter clone.
Nobody could say which you would fall in to until you have tried it for yourself.

Where the devs will go with it I don't know. But i get the impression they are trying to keep everyone happy, and they will probably keep tuning it to be flexible towards different play styles, but its not quite there yet, if you want to play it kinda like SH5, as it stands, you 'sort of' can - but its quite hard work.

[Hjalfnar]

This is the thing, the developers built this game around 'The Sims/Bomber crew/This war of mine management model.
But many have demanded more conventional Silent Hunter style play,
So where the game is now is a bit of mash up between the two, the result is that's its a pretty complicated game to play.

How people have taken to this is really mixed, some really like it as it is. Some love the management play aspects, and others just want a straight up Silent Hunter clone.
Nobody could say which you would fall in to until you have tried it for yourself.

Where the devs will go with it I don't know. But i get the impression they are trying to keep everyone happy, and they will probably keep tuning it to be flexible towards different play styles, but its not quite there yet, if you want to play it kinda like SH5, as it stands, you 'sort of' can - but its quite hard work.I am always amused when people describe UBOAT as tedious to play. xD I have 3500hrs playtime with Hearts of Iron 3. THIS game is tedious, and I love it. In comparison UBOAT is a joke...but a pretty entertaining one.

[JU_88]

I am always amused when people describe UBOAT as tedious to play. xD I have 3500hrs playtime with Hearts of Iron 3. THIS game is tedious, and I love it. In comparison UBOAT is a joke...but a pretty entertaining one.

Well yeah, but not everyone is a Hjalfnar. :)

[GoldenRivet]

If you have ever played Microprose's B-17 the mighty eighth, this is the exact same game, only aboard a U-boat instead of a B-17 bomber.

the game wont be for everyone.

if you read through this and have been keeping up with the thread and videos and release notes dev diarys etc and were expecting a sandbox survival game - as advertised - congratulations, you wont be disappointed.

If you didnt do the above, and were thinking this was going to be hours of watching a circle drive across a map while you didnt have to do anything expect sink ships and not run out of gas, well.. you will be sorely upset about your purchase.

this game is 100% about managing your crew, and im not talking about stuff like making sure the radio man goes to the radio when he is supposed to, or making the watch crew individually go on deck... because they do that stuff automatically under 90% of circumstances.

where this game shines, is that you are in charge of a crew of 20 some odd officers and sailors now, not just a one man point and click captain.

do you like playing sims 4?

do you like playing silent hunter?

marry the two and live happily ever after.

but if you HATE sims 4 but LOVE silent hunter... this would be a solid pass.

personally, im crazy about this game and have dedicated an embarrassing amount of play time to it over the past few days.

[Justaguyinnc]

Really painful to walk in them right now.


Most new shoes are... once broken in.. they become part of you.. hang in there.. it is all a "normal" process.. :up:

[Jojojung]

I have to say that I'm really disappointed from the game. There is such a good basework for a real SH5 TWoS successor, but the gameplay is like "The Sims".









My Review of the game in german at steam and the answer from the Uboat Team:



Ich hatte gehofft, dass Spiel legt ein wenig mehr Fokus auf Simulation und Realismus statt auf Arcade Gameplay. Vielleicht sogar als würdiger SH Nachfolger. Auch wenn beispielsweise SH5 erst durch den Mods spiel- und erlebbar wurde (z.B. The Wolves of Steel Mod), ist es doch mein Genre. Zumal es dafür eigentlich alles mitbringt was man braucht. Viele Stationen des Bootes sind detailliert nachempfunden und lassen sich auch gut bedienen. Grafik ist ansprechend, Explosionen auf Schiffen sehen super aus. Abgesehen von der Sprache sind viele nette Aspekte enthalten, die Spieltiefe vermitteln können, wie z.B. Funksprüche, Radiosender etc.
Aber das Spiel hat für meinen Geschmack (Simulationsfan) deutlich zuviel von "Die Sims". Zuoft muss man Vorratsschränke auffüllen, Werkzeug holen, mit einer Spielfigur einen Scheinwerfer ausschalten und zu detailierte / relativ unrelevante Crewaufgaben vergeben. Wenn ich vor einem anlaufenden Zerstörer wegtauchen muss, möchte ich nicht erstmal mit Max Mustermann zur Ventilstation schlendern und da die Ventile öffnen (ist im Spiel übrigens die falsche Ventilstation, aber egal).
Weiterhin merkt man stark, dass das Spiel natürlich auf den Mainstream Gamer ausgelegt ist - was grundsätzlich dem Entwickler natürlich nicht vorzuwerfen ist - und damit er auch schnell und möglichst andauernd Spaß hat, werden Aspekte die für einen Simulationsfreak unabdingbar sind, reduziert oder weggelassen (z.B. realistische Nachladezeiten, Sauerstoffvorrat, Distanzen und Geschwindigkeiten sowie Fahrverhalten des Bootes sind sehr sehr stark vereinfacht usw.). Der Durchschnittsspieler wird also nicht der aus der SH oder IL2 Community kommen, wo Spiele, die schon mehrere Jahre (gar Jahrzehnte) alt sind, immernoch gespielt werden oder wo Fans sich über Stunden ohne Zeitkompression an einen feindlichen Gleitzug heransschleichen, eigene Erkennungsbücher auf dem Schoss liegen haben und Schusswinkel selbst berechnen, nur um dann letztendlich den einen Treffer zu landen und das Schiff zu versenken. Das Zielpublikum von "UBOAT", wird einige Wochen vielleicht sogar einige Monate Spaß an dem Arcade-Stil des Spiel haben und es dann beiseite legen, schätze ich.
Sehr schade, denn ich glaube, dass bei der grundsätzlichen Modelltiefe des Bootes, die das Spiel bietet auch für Simulationsgamer mehr herauszuholen wäre. Eventuell mit einem "echten Simulationsmodus", dazu müsste aber die Spielphysik zu sehr überarbeitet werden.
Hab daher zunächst einmal leider die Rückerstattung beantragt. Würde dem Spiel aber eine 2. Chance geben, wenn es sich doch noch etwas mehr in die Simulationsgenre entwickeln würde, oder diesen Gamemodus zulassen würde.

Zum Schluss möchte ich ergänzen, dass ich auf Grund der Steam-Regularien natürlich nur wenig Zeit hatte das Game anzuspielen, da sonst die Rückerstattungsoption wegfällt. Für das Tutorial und 2 "Feindfahrten" im Sandbox-Modus hat es aber dennoch gereicht.
Ich hoffe dieses Review ist nützlich für alle, die auf einen SH Nachfolger mit echter Simulationstiefe hoffen.


-------------------------




Hello! Thanks for such extensive review.

We have never tried to make a Silent Hunter spiritual successor but we think we're taking the best from two worlds... And we are aware some players are not looking for crew management experience - but we would urge anyone to at least give UBOAT a chance, especially after we release some additional patches.

Take care,
Korvettenkapitän


---------------------------



Hallo Korvettenkapitän,

I expected that and it is fully understandable. So please don't understand my review as a general rejection of your good project, but my personal hope was a different style of gameplay. I appreciate your projekt and your faithfully work in creating the VIIC Model.

[italianmarine]

I have to say that I'm really disappointed from the game. There is such a good basework for a real SH5 TWoS successor, but the gameplay is like "The Sims".









My Review of the game in german at steam and the answer from the Uboat Team:



Ich hatte gehofft, dass Spiel legt ein wenig mehr Fokus auf Simulation und Realismus statt auf Arcade Gameplay. Vielleicht sogar als würdiger SH Nachfolger. Auch wenn beispielsweise SH5 erst durch den Mods spiel- und erlebbar wurde (z.B. The Wolves of Steel Mod), ist es doch mein Genre. Zumal es dafür eigentlich alles mitbringt was man braucht. Viele Stationen des Bootes sind detailliert nachempfunden und lassen sich auch gut bedienen. Grafik ist ansprechend, Explosionen auf Schiffen sehen super aus. Abgesehen von der Sprache sind viele nette Aspekte enthalten, die Spieltiefe vermitteln können, wie z.B. Funksprüche, Radiosender etc.
Aber das Spiel hat für meinen Geschmack (Simulationsfan) deutlich zuviel von "Die Sims". Zuoft muss man Vorratsschränke auffüllen, Werkzeug holen, mit einer Spielfigur einen Scheinwerfer ausschalten und zu detailierte / relativ unrelevante Crewaufgaben vergeben. Wenn ich vor einem anlaufenden Zerstörer wegtauchen muss, möchte ich nicht erstmal mit Max Mustermann zur Ventilstation schlendern und da die Ventile öffnen (ist im Spiel übrigens die falsche Ventilstation, aber egal).
Weiterhin merkt man stark, dass das Spiel natürlich auf den Mainstream Gamer ausgelegt ist - was grundsätzlich dem Entwickler natürlich nicht vorzuwerfen ist - und damit er auch schnell und möglichst andauernd Spaß hat, werden Aspekte die für einen Simulationsfreak unabdingbar sind, reduziert oder weggelassen (z.B. realistische Nachladezeiten, Sauerstoffvorrat, Distanzen und Geschwindigkeiten sowie Fahrverhalten des Bootes sind sehr sehr stark vereinfacht usw.). Der Durchschnittsspieler wird also nicht der aus der SH oder IL2 Community kommen, wo Spiele, die schon mehrere Jahre (gar Jahrzehnte) alt sind, immernoch gespielt werden oder wo Fans sich über Stunden ohne Zeitkompression an einen feindlichen Gleitzug heransschleichen, eigene Erkennungsbücher auf dem Schoss liegen haben und Schusswinkel selbst berechnen, nur um dann letztendlich den einen Treffer zu landen und das Schiff zu versenken. Das Zielpublikum von "UBOAT", wird einige Wochen vielleicht sogar einige Monate Spaß an dem Arcade-Stil des Spiel haben und es dann beiseite legen, schätze ich.
Sehr schade, denn ich glaube, dass bei der grundsätzlichen Modelltiefe des Bootes, die das Spiel bietet auch für Simulationsgamer mehr herauszuholen wäre. Eventuell mit einem "echten Simulationsmodus", dazu müsste aber die Spielphysik zu sehr überarbeitet werden.
Hab daher zunächst einmal leider die Rückerstattung beantragt. Würde dem Spiel aber eine 2. Chance geben, wenn es sich doch noch etwas mehr in die Simulationsgenre entwickeln würde, oder diesen Gamemodus zulassen würde.

Zum Schluss möchte ich ergänzen, dass ich auf Grund der Steam-Regularien natürlich nur wenig Zeit hatte das Game anzuspielen, da sonst die Rückerstattungsoption wegfällt. Für das Tutorial und 2 "Feindfahrten" im Sandbox-Modus hat es aber dennoch gereicht.
Ich hoffe dieses Review ist nützlich für alle, die auf einen SH Nachfolger mit echter Simulationstiefe hoffen.


-------------------------




Hello! Thanks for such extensive review.

We have never tried to make a Silent Hunter spiritual successor but we think we're taking the best from two worlds... And we are aware some players are not looking for crew management experience - but we would urge anyone to at least give UBOAT a chance, especially after we release some additional patches.

Take care,
Korvettenkapitän


---------------------------



Hallo Korvettenkapitän,

I expected that and it is fully understandable. So please don't understand my review as a general rejection of your good project, but my personal hope was a different style of gameplay. I appreciate your projekt and your faithfully work in creating the VIIC Model.











Since TWoS is a mod which took time to develop, also Uboat will have mods and I am sure that also for the harcoresimmers, there will be added more stuff. TDC can be used already and you can calculate on the map. It will be updated soon once the bugfixing will be done. (that's why it is called Early Access)

[Jonesy]

I have to say that I'm really disappointed from the game. There is such a good basework for a real SH5 TWoS successor, but the gameplay is like "The Sims".









My Review of the game in german at steam and the answer from the Uboat Team:



Ich hatte gehofft, dass Spiel legt ein wenig mehr Fokus auf Simulation und Realismus statt auf Arcade Gameplay. Vielleicht sogar als würdiger SH Nachfolger. Auch wenn beispielsweise SH5 erst durch den Mods spiel- und erlebbar wurde (z.B. The Wolves of Steel Mod), ist es doch mein Genre. Zumal es dafür eigentlich alles mitbringt was man braucht. Viele Stationen des Bootes sind detailliert nachempfunden und lassen sich auch gut bedienen. Grafik ist ansprechend, Explosionen auf Schiffen sehen super aus. Abgesehen von der Sprache sind viele nette Aspekte enthalten, die Spieltiefe vermitteln können, wie z.B. Funksprüche, Radiosender etc.
Aber das Spiel hat für meinen Geschmack (Simulationsfan) deutlich zuviel von "Die Sims". Zuoft muss man Vorratsschränke auffüllen, Werkzeug holen, mit einer Spielfigur einen Scheinwerfer ausschalten und zu detailierte / relativ unrelevante Crewaufgaben vergeben. Wenn ich vor einem anlaufenden Zerstörer wegtauchen muss, möchte ich nicht erstmal mit Max Mustermann zur Ventilstation schlendern und da die Ventile öffnen (ist im Spiel übrigens die falsche Ventilstation, aber egal).
Weiterhin merkt man stark, dass das Spiel natürlich auf den Mainstream Gamer ausgelegt ist - was grundsätzlich dem Entwickler natürlich nicht vorzuwerfen ist - und damit er auch schnell und möglichst andauernd Spaß hat, werden Aspekte die für einen Simulationsfreak unabdingbar sind, reduziert oder weggelassen (z.B. realistische Nachladezeiten, Sauerstoffvorrat, Distanzen und Geschwindigkeiten sowie Fahrverhalten des Bootes sind sehr sehr stark vereinfacht usw.). Der Durchschnittsspieler wird also nicht der aus der SH oder IL2 Community kommen, wo Spiele, die schon mehrere Jahre (gar Jahrzehnte) alt sind, immernoch gespielt werden oder wo Fans sich über Stunden ohne Zeitkompression an einen feindlichen Gleitzug heransschleichen, eigene Erkennungsbücher auf dem Schoss liegen haben und Schusswinkel selbst berechnen, nur um dann letztendlich den einen Treffer zu landen und das Schiff zu versenken. Das Zielpublikum von "UBOAT", wird einige Wochen vielleicht sogar einige Monate Spaß an dem Arcade-Stil des Spiel haben und es dann beiseite legen, schätze ich.
Sehr schade, denn ich glaube, dass bei der grundsätzlichen Modelltiefe des Bootes, die das Spiel bietet auch für Simulationsgamer mehr herauszuholen wäre. Eventuell mit einem "echten Simulationsmodus", dazu müsste aber die Spielphysik zu sehr überarbeitet werden.
Hab daher zunächst einmal leider die Rückerstattung beantragt. Würde dem Spiel aber eine 2. Chance geben, wenn es sich doch noch etwas mehr in die Simulationsgenre entwickeln würde, oder diesen Gamemodus zulassen würde.

Zum Schluss möchte ich ergänzen, dass ich auf Grund der Steam-Regularien natürlich nur wenig Zeit hatte das Game anzuspielen, da sonst die Rückerstattungsoption wegfällt. Für das Tutorial und 2 "Feindfahrten" im Sandbox-Modus hat es aber dennoch gereicht.
Ich hoffe dieses Review ist nützlich für alle, die auf einen SH Nachfolger mit echter Simulationstiefe hoffen.


-------------------------




Hello! Thanks for such extensive review.

We have never tried to make a Silent Hunter spiritual successor but we think we're taking the best from two worlds... And we are aware some players are not looking for crew management experience - but we would urge anyone to at least give UBOAT a chance, especially after we release some additional patches.

Take care,
Korvettenkapitän


---------------------------



Hallo Korvettenkapitän,

I expected that and it is fully understandable. So please don't understand my review as a general rejection of your good project, but my personal hope was a different style of gameplay. I appreciate your projekt and your faithfully work in creating the VIIC Model.











I have been tempted to buy it to give it a try a couple of times...because the game does have some nice graphics....but the "sims" aspect keeps snapping me out of it.

[Julhelm]

This game was never advertised as a Silent Hunter clone. The kickstarter was 100% about the crew management concept.

[JU_88]

Yeah I don't know why people are 'dissapointed' its not like SH, I can only assume they looked a screen shots and hardly read anything about it.
Still they can likley mod it to play that way in future if don't just refund it.

[Jojojung]

I know that the game concept was not a SH like simulation game and more about "crew management". I don't put the blame on the developers but I hoped it can be used more in a simulation gameplay style. So I tried it.
At the moment it's no game for me personaly, because of to many foolish things to do with the crew instead of concentrate on the combat itself.



But I see a great perspective for the game if it is modded in a simulation matter.

[charognard]

I did my first game yesterday on Uboat, and after so many time on SH games, it s a bit difficult to switch... But, even if i think, too many things are missing (no salvo, no spread angle, no torpedo speed settings, no torpedo deep settings, no magnetic detonators, no access to chronometer on map screen, no charts... ) I take pleasure to make this first patrol... First target sunk easly, with manual fire solution find on the map, the second, was with a ****ing bad 139° aob at 5km, easy shoot for me on any moded SH but a miss on Uboat :D

The game is prety young, i m sure we'll get like in SH some difficulty and realism options available later during the game dev, aswel about more ships, subs and all things needed in a good Uboat simulation. I don't think the crew management is actually perfect, but it's a good start and a fresh way to play with our favorites toys :D

[Sailor Steve]

There was a B-17 pilot who described flying missions as hours of tedium punctuated by moments of shear terror...I cant remember where I heard that but it sound bout right.
Best evidence indicates that the phrase was first used to describe trench warfare in World War 1, when it was "Months of bordom etc).
https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/103851/where-does-the-phrase-of-boredom-punctuated-by-moments-of-terror-come-from

[junkets]

Also, have a look at the patrols of U-48, considered as the "most successful".

https://www.uboat.net/boats/patrols/u48.html

Patrols are between 20-30 days, with ships sunk between 0-8.

[SubV]

Basically, what most needed is a new SH3, with state-of-the art graphics and optional multiplayer. More ships, more variations, maybe some elements of procedural generation and/or dynamic campaign.

I don't think we can mod this to a playable state. At least, not yet.

[Nordmann]

Basically, what most needed is a new SH3, with state-of-the art graphics and optional multiplayer. More ships, more variations, maybe some elements of procedural generation and/or dynamic campaign.


That's probably never going to happen, I'm sorry to say. Indie developers have limited resources, and AAA developers won't touch this genre with a ten foot barge pole. Ubi themselves appear to have given up on Silent Hunter for good, probably as a result of the backlash and nonsense surrounding SH5.

I said at the time that dumping on SH5 as hard as this community did was only going to drive away the one publisher prepared to take the risk, and I'm afraid that's exactly what happened. It was likely already a break-even series for Ubi, so all the bad press achieved was making it even easier for them to write it off and move on to more profitable ventures.

At this point I'd say we're very lucky to have UBOAT, and we either give it a chance, or else we can look forward to nothing for the foreseeable future. Eventually the older titles will struggle with newer operating systems, and if there's no new games on the horizon, then this could pose a rather significant problem for many of us.

Let's not sink this one early chaps, please!

[JU_88]

Basically, what most needed is a new SH3, with state-of-the art graphics and optional multiplayer. More ships, more variations, maybe some elements of procedural generation and/or dynamic campaign.

I don't think we can mod this to a playable state. At least, not yet.

I don't know about most, but there is certainly a faction who wanted that.

And yeah what you are witnessing with Uboat is a game with roughly the same scope and depth as SH3, but how long it takes for a team of 3 to complete and polish what a team of about 30 made previously.

The only advantage Deepwater has is that they did not have to build the games engine from the ground up as they went with Unity. otherwise compared to UBI's manpower, funding and resources they are disadvantaged in every way imaginable.

[Sub187]

I said at the time that dumping on SH5 as hard as this community did was only going to drive away the one publisher prepared to take the risk, and I'm afraid that's exactly what happened Come on, with the SH games Ubisoft delivered a series of buggy, unfinished products that were DRM'ed to death. The backlash was, and still is, completely justified. I know the current standard is to accept any and all half-finished shovelware publishers throw at the public, under the calling "support the devs, it's better than nothing!", but with that attitude the situation will never change and consumers will be kept being put over a barrel.

Ubisoft should've known that a mediocre effort leads to mediocre sales.

[bstanko6]

Here is a crazy idea, what about us... Subsim?

Can't we develop a game to our standard?

I mean, Neal tagged along with Wolfpack, and look what happened there. A pretty damn good game.

And I know we have great guys here who are, were, or interested in game development.

Can we build our own superior sub simulator?

I have limited game knowledge, but I would gladly help!

[clayton]

Come on, with the SH games Ubisoft delivered a series of buggy, unfinished products that were DRM'ed to death. The backlash was, and still is, completely justified. I know the current standard is to accept any and all half-finished shovelware publishers throw at the public, under the calling "support the devs, it's better than nothing!", but with that attitude the situation will never change and consumers will be kept being put over a barrel.

Ubisoft should've known that a mediocre effort leads to mediocre sales.
^this

[XLjedi]

Here is a crazy idea, what about us... Subsim?

Can't we develop a game to our standard?

I mean, Neal tagged along with Wolfpack, and look what happened there. A pretty damn good game.

And I know we have great guys here who are, were, or interested in game development.

Can we build our own superior sub simulator?

I have limited game knowledge, but I would gladly help!

I'll give Wolfpack a try once they incorporate solo play options. I hear that's at least in the works... although I haven't been following it too closely. I would not be as excited for instance if they just programmed bots to do what the humans are doing now. Rather, I'd want playable stations that I can rapidly switch between.

[bstanko6]

You got to try the game with people it’s fun!

[XLjedi]

You got to try the game with people it’s fun! I'm sure it is... If it doesn't have solo though, it's a non-starter for me.

[Onkel Neal]

I'll give Wolfpack a try once they incorporate solo play options. I hear that's at least in the works... although I haven't been following it too closely. I would not be as excited for instance if they just programmed bots to do what the humans are doing now. Rather, I'd want playable stations that I can rapidly switch between.

That's the same approach I favor. Allow the player to manage as much as he wants but also give him/her the UI to set speed/depth/course so he can focus on scope observation and TDC when attacking, and hydrophones when evading. I play a lot by myself, it's tricky to find time to coordinate games with other players (outside of our excellent scheduled games) and except for the cumbersome running between the dive planes and the TDC in the conning tower, Wolfpack is an excellent solo player platform. Having a mode with the single player dashboard will really explode the game's potential.

[Pisces]

I'm sure it is... If it doesn't have solo though, it's a non-starter for me.Well, it is solo-with-effort now. It doesn't take ages to switch between stations. You'll be there in mere seconds. At the most you'll spend a couple of seconds more going up the ladder in the conning-tower for the TDC or AP. (But nothing like Uboat where the crew is walking front to aft in their leisure time) And just as much time to go to the bridge and another stair further the deck gun. But you should be assured to be safe and have the time anyway if you want to go there.

I imagine the bots will allow you more focus on a task you choose while solo-playing. It is not a requirement to run the boat. Just that you have less to worry about and not as much stress to check the menial tasks. And if you have the experience of games like SHx/SC/DW or older hands-on sub-games then you'll know how to prioritize your actions a bit better than a complete newby to the genre.

And if you haven't already, just watch a few video's of how the game works. Granted, there are not so many videos (or I have not found them outside of here) where serious teams successfully attack a convoy.

[John Pancoast]

Come on, with the SH games Ubisoft delivered a series of buggy, unfinished products that were DRM'ed to death. The backlash was, and still is, completely justified. I know the current standard is to accept any and all half-finished shovelware publishers throw at the public, under the calling "support the devs, it's better than nothing!", but with that attitude the situation will never change and consumers will be kept being put over a barrel.

Ubisoft should've known that a mediocre effort leads to mediocre sales.

This #2.

[XLjedi]

Well, it is solo-with-effort now. It doesn't take ages to switch between stations. You'll be there in mere seconds.
[snip]
I imagine the bots will allow you more focus on a task you choose while solo-playing. It is not a requirement to run the boat.
[snip]



This is what I don't get... Granted, I have not played the game, but I would think, the way to accommodate solo play would be to forget bots and just add quick-travel icons for each station to the bottom of the screen. Or have a little window at each station to give access to certain commands like engine speed and helm control.

If they're going the route of bots... I don't want bots driving while I'm working out an attack course, or watching a target through the attack scope.

[Pisces]

This is what I don't get... Granted, I have not played the game, but I would think, the way to accommodate solo play would be to forget bots and just add quick-travel icons for each station to the bottom of the screen. Or have a little window at each station to give access to certain commands like engine speed and helm control.

If they're going the route of bots... I don't want bots driving while I'm working out an attack course, or watching a target through the attack scope.Ok, we will have to see how they implement it exactly in WP. I don't know either. But I'd rather have simple AI check whether the boat is still at periscope dept and adjust the diveplanes accordingly (uselessly because you set the EOT at Stop), than have to worry about that too while I am watching through the scope. Or have the helmsman keep steady course in bad weather while I am on the bridge looking out. The idea behind Wolfpack is team work and segregation of responsibilities (though not enforced). And hands-on controls for immersion enhancement. Adding all those UI elements would detract from the 3d environment you play in. I guess they will come back from that a bit to make it easier. But there is nothing from stopping you to become a control freak in this game by doing everything yourself.

p.s. It feels weird talking about another game in this forum. Feels a bit off topic.

[Nordmann]

Come on, with the SH games Ubisoft delivered a series of buggy, unfinished products that were DRM'ed to death. The backlash was, and still is, completely justified. I know the current standard is to accept any and all half-finished shovelware publishers throw at the public, under the calling "support the devs, it's better than nothing!", but with that attitude the situation will never change and consumers will be kept being put over a barrel.

Ubisoft should've known that a mediocre effort leads to mediocre sales.

So instead we get nothing instead of something, in a niche where virtually nothing is the norm. Yes, such an improvement!

[Sub187]

I'd rather play an old working game, than a new broken game any day. In my leisure time, I like to keep frustrations to a minimum and just want to enjoy myself. And looking at the Steam scores, i'm not alone in that.

[Nordmann]

I'd rather play an old working game, than a new broken game any day. In my leisure time, I like to keep frustrations to a minimum and just want to enjoy myself. And looking at the Steam scores, i'm not alone in that.

Working for now. Also, consider this, no new games means new players are unlikely to join the community, which in turn results in stagnation. Last time I checked, stagnation tends to result in the eventual demise of group, organisation, company etc.

[Taboo]

Keeping the company financially stable so that they can stomp these bugs and start adding new content is why I bought it, not everyday you see a sub game like this. I've dealt with constant crashing but its still a joy to listen to the radio as I ogle at the interior. Very early access but its a fresh look at the genre.

[Jonesy]

I decided to give it a change and bought it, but my first impressions by watching on youtube were right, this is just not for me, just asked steam for my money back.

[Hjalfnar]

For me it is exactly what I wanted. Besides, the stats are speaking a clear language.

Wolfpack:
Below 20k sales, 19(!) viewers on Twitch on 4 channels, 14.000 followers on Steam, peak players yesterday below 200

UBOAT:
Below 100k sales, 1700 viewers on Twitch on 23 channels, 68,000 followers on Steam, peak players yesterday 2000


Overall a stunning success for UBOAT that might finally revive the dying subsim genre.

[Amiral Crapaud]

Well, erm, by "subsim genre" I suppose you all mean "WW2 subsim genre".
To me Cold Waters was certainly a beautiful beast that gave our beloved genre a good bowl of fresh air 2 years algo already (even if that air came directly from the 90s - but another proof that Microprose in its market segment was right all along ^^ )

[Nordmann]

Well, erm, by "subsim genre" I suppose you all mean "WW2 subsim genre".
To me Cold Waters was certainly a beautiful beast that gave our beloved genre a good bowl of fresh air 2 years algo already (even if that air came directly from the 90s - but another proof that Microprose in its market segment was right all along ^^ )

I think we were lucky to get Cold Waters and UBOAT, the genre hasn't just been dying, it's been dead since 2010. Not even on hiatus, just flat out dead and buried.

I know some folks on here don't give a damn about new games, but I firmly believe that without them it's going to be harder and harder to keep people interested in the genre. New blood is essential to maintain a healthy community, and old games won't cut it.

[difool2]

The one constant with these latter day sims is their lack of any sort of truly open-ended dynamic campaigns. Now, you could argue various angles in response to that-d.c.'s are a devil to code, the "twitch" crowd has no patience for stalking a convoy over a period of hours, but the fact remains that, for whatever reason(s), we haven't gotten one since SH5. I just dislike precanned scenarios with little or no wider context/significance where it seems I am the only asset in the entire area fighting the good fight.

[John Pancoast]

The one constant with these latter day sims is their lack of any sort of truly open-ended dynamic campaigns. Now, you could argue various angles in response to that-d.c.'s are a devil to code, the "twitch" crowd has no patience for stalking a convoy over a period of hours, but the fact remains that, for whatever reason(s), we haven't gotten one since SH5. I just dislike precanned scenarios with little or no wider context/significance where it seems I am the only asset in the entire area fighting the good fight.

I've always believed the advent of 3d graphics are what fubared two things to not work well if at all in any game genre:

- saved games

- dynamic campaigns

It can be noted that that (3d graphics advent) is when these two functions started having problems/disappeared all together.

Sh5 was "easier" campaign - wise I imagine because of the work already done in Sh3 with one.