Amazing potential
 

I think I get what the devs were trying to accomplish. Overwhelming pressure from upstairs to finish the launch on time regardless of the state - However, as far as I can tell, they made an extra effort to make this game highly extension-able.

politics aside (i realize it's not fair or ethical to rely on the community to finish the game), at least they built an amazing engine. Most software companies would have thrown SH series out the window without a blink.

The game in its current state is almost unplayable, but they did make an amazing engine. Wait 3 months, SH5 will be solid, wait a year SH5 will be the best ww2 sim ever made.


ps: I owe all the moders a beer.

While I have yet to purchase the game, I agree that it certainly has potential, though I still believe the devs could have done a lot more. If and when this DRM fiasco is sorted out, I will probably buy the game, but at the moment it's too much of a risk (servers being down days at a time etc).

I must admit, the engine does look fantastic, coupled with the ability to roam the boat, you have to say that it's a real milestone achievement. However, from what I have read so far, this comes at the expense of the gameplay we have become accustomed to with previous titles. That being said, it looks as if our gallant mod community is already rolling out some excellent mods, so no doubt gameplay issues will be dealt with in due course.

It's a pity Ubi mishandled this game in the manner that they did, because I have a feeling that if would have sold many more copies without the net requirement (overseas service personnel, travelling businessmen etc).

Yeah, I honestly don't blame people who are frustrated by bugs and the general "beta" feel of the game, but I simply cannot bring myself to call it "bad". What I will call it is unfinished.

If I picture the game without the bugs, unbalanced stuff and missing features... if I picture it as a finished product, plus all the fantastic mods the incredible moddability will bring about... I picture a true gem. I really do think this game can overtake SHIII and maybe even GWX in terms of realism and immersion.

Sure, there's lots of arcade features, like the ability system for your crewmen ("yay, I sunk a carrier, now I can give my weapon officer three promotion points so that he becomes better at preheating torpedoes!"), it's not as if these can't be fixed.

Exactly. I'm amazed by how fast the modders are churning out fixes for the game. It can be frustrating almost to the point of funny sometimes (like the time when I had to abort a patrol because I couldn't get the hatch to the top of the conning tower to open:rotfl2:!), and I, too, would rather it be delayed a month or six so the devs could finish it and perhaps add even more features (such as more ships), but you've just gotta play the cards that are dealt you.

If you have a certain tolerance for games in beta stage (I think one of the reasons why I like SH5 is that I'm already a beta tester for FS, so I guess my skin has been thickened over the months and years), by all means, buy SH5. If you can't stand unfinished products, stay well clear until it's in a better state.

I agree with everything you've said. Except...

I don't want to wait a YEAR to play a game I bought on release for $50.00.

Even buggy SH3 was playable &4 was playable after a patch.

If I want to play a game in a year, I'll buy it in the bargain in a year. For $10.00

I'm hoping it will be at bargain price long before the year is up, because if so, then I might be tempted to buy it.

Scuttlebutt says you are correct, and that there was pressure to release the game.

The ships do look nice IMHO.