*comes back up to comms depth for awhile*

Wow, I've been away awhile... SH4 is out...though not complete...

Anyway, my experience overall with SH3 (even with the latest GWX) has been pretty much dull. Every mission...go here, go there, sink anything you encounter (or...most anything you encounter). Even using manual TDC it still gets pretty repetitive and hence, boring. I tend to rack up lots of renown and save it for the XXI, where I stop hunting merchants and go for warships exclusively...this made it less boring for awhile. Yet, even now it has become boring, even hunting those H/K groups offers little challenge. Where's Destroyer Command 2? I still have the orgiginal version of DC...

While I'll agree that the SH3 environment is far more immersive than SC and DW, SC and DW offer more challenge, even offline (well, with LWAMI anyway...). Especially when hunting an elusive Kilo...who is apt to shoot first and ask questions later...

In truth, if DW had the graphics of SH3/4, the elements we like would likely suffer to balance things out so people could still play the game/simulator without having unplayably low framerates.

I'm gonna stick with DW for awhile, at least...until Harpoon 4 comes out (if ever...).

I don't have a problem with DW's 3D graphics, though I do think it is way behind its time. I'm not the hardcore type who sneers at eye-candies. Fighting Steel, for example, is an instant uninstall for me after about 2 hour's play. But I think DW has just enough eye-candy to catch my attention but nothing more. If the 3D is better I will like it more.

I do have a problem with DW's overall presentation, though. The poor intro and credit movies, the annoying menu music, mediocre menu art, not to forget the totally unfriendly gameplay. For a game of this difficulty, one would expect a whole range (at least 10+) of training missions, covering all aspects of the game.

SH3. I like playing around with this game, even modded the entire in game music with Das Boot soundtrack, dynamic BGM and everything, but, as you pointed out, game play gets repetitive after a while. Too bad I got it early on for 50 bucks...

Well, I have learned now: a game which is worth playing is worth waiting for. I will only get SH4 when it drops within my price range. Before then DW and SC will sustain my appetite. :ping:

Ouch, I hope Frying Tiger has a good sense of humor about himself. :)

Fortunately, you can mod out the music (finiteless sound mods, kind of trippy, but nice and ambient, soothing... something you can listen too for a LONG time without freaking out or getting annoyed) and I don't spend enough time in the menus to really notice, but in fact I kind of like the in game art.

You can also disable the intro and credit movies in the .ini file.

DW feels to me like exactly what it is... a well done 2001 game with a contract simulator built on top of it, and then hacked up and covered with moderately priced artwork for sale to the general public.

Not that this is a bad thing... it's the only way a game like this could be made for available to us, so get down on your knees and prey to your idols of Jamie. :arrgh!:

In regards to the gameplay: well NO one said commanding seven (7) modern naval weapon systems would be EASY! :|\\ :ping:

Cheers,
David

Yes here you have a very good point.
DW is very rough around the little details, little details that add nontheless to the overall enjoyment of the game.
The main problem is not that the gameplay is unfriendly as much as the total lack of a good tutorial.
The manual is excellent, but it leaves out important details : tactics and how to employ the units. :rotfl:
DW has a very steep learning curve, and it is made much steeper by not having any kind of ingame tutorial.

Yes, goldorak. Friendliness and difficulty are two different things.

A game can be difficult and friendly at the same time if it is patient enough to explain itself to newbies.

I guess I misunderstood you.

Well yeah, I'll be the first to point out that although community support for DW is generally very good, the most obvious thing we have all (the developers and the community) overlooked is a comprehensive tutorial mission and documentation set for every platform.

Cheers,
David

Is he the graphic designer?

My apologies if I offend anyone.:o
but it is not my intention to throw accusations around, just providing my uninformed opinion...:yep:

He's the graphics design lead... and also currently a moderator on this forum and the representative of SCS to the community. :know:

I think he's used to it, after all he works for Sonalysts (a police state). :rotfl:

Cheers,
David

Hi!

As for DW 1.04 graphics: It is good with LWAMI 3.08 mod except this nasty Akula 3D model! I have read here it is hard to replace by third-party moddlers because Akula is a playable unit.
Can't Sonalysts make any new Akula desing at all??? :-?

Sonalyst can't make anything anymore I'm afraid ..

I don't keep up with recent developments. So why they can't???

The SCX Akula model can the substituted for the DW Akula model with reasonable results for anyone that's willing to go through the trouble to learn how.

lb

I am a newbie in this game so unfortunately I can't modify it yourself using game editors and other similar tools because of lack of necessary knowledge. Well, if it isn't possible to replace Akula model easily, I will rather stay with this ugly stock one...

PS. What is "SCX Aluka" model and where can I see it?

YES !!! DW the real simulator
Permission of sh4 players:-? :up:

In www.simulacionnaval.com all multiplayer misions for sh3 are historical by wolfpack strategy .
But in Pacific any submarine attack in strategy wolfpacks.
This is serius problem to play historical misions.Yes...in single is possible run sh4 to play historical missions .

DW?
No have for secrets reasons missions to play historical missions
But this is only real "simulator"

To be honest with you. With all the enthusiasm, and mod activity for the series, I'm thinking about going out and buying a copy of SHIV myself.

Ramius is showing off one of the models here and XabbaRus is showing an unfinished one (that was never released). http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...ighlight=Akula

Its not that difficulat to swap, as long after your comfortable with DWEdit. Look in the Mod forum for tips.

I'm not exact sure they can't... in fact, it at least appears they are interested in fixing DW further, but it is hard to judge for actual fact, as opposed to appearances.

I'm hopeful they're not completely out of steam yet, but more patches just means more chances for them to mess something else up, so be careful what you wish for. SCS has a below average track record when it comes to creating new bugs in updates.

Cheers,
David

Still in command but taken a big break as i havnt been able to get online or even play DW for a while, so my submarine is in for major overhaul and refit :D

Now, now, I'd have to say our track record on creating new bugs in patches is actually quite above average.... (g,d,r)

Are you DW graphics designer? If so, I think new Akula 3D-model should be atop of your priority list! Each other playable sub is quite well modeled except this ugly Akula. She looks like being found in scrapyard...:cry:

PS. Second huge bug in the stock DW needed fixation is an issue of Russian 65 cm torpedo parameters. Where did you find such messy data about it??? Look at LWAMI mod for example. Implementation of its 65-76 torpedo data in the stock DW is the simplest way to correct this problem. ;)

Man you really are naive if you expect another patch.