Ok, bear with me here,
First of all, anything I say here is NOT definitive, nor an indication of what may or may not be in the game.
I am not an Ubi dev, I don't influence their decisions. you'll just have to wait for them for definite answers
the night before the actual presentation we had a sort of brainstorming session/discussion with Dan, Mike and Mihai about all sorts of aspects of the game. I was partly distracted during that because Dan had brought a book I was very interested in (sneaky
). Also after the presentation, and the day after that, some lively talks with the individual devs were surely had. I can only report on what I know of course.
also keep in mind that everyone present at the meet is an avid sub-simmer, we've all played sh3 and sh4 and often other sub-games as well. this means it's easy to forget that they want to sell the game not just to you, but if at all possible to your 12-year old relative/kid sister/whatever, and make them like it. a difficult mission by any standard.
Anyhow, we discussed things like what we want from a game in the way of simulation, what sort of problems crop up in building a Silent Hunter game. And also about what types of Uboots should be in the game. That the standard boats would be in was without question, but the discussion about prototypes like the type XXI was inconclusive, mostly because we went on to other things.
There was a discussion about expansions/other options such as Multiplayer and what possibilities that offers. Also about if and how something like destroyer command for SH2 could be implemented in sh5 and if such a thing would sell.
Now, keep in mind that if Dan & co. could call all the shots on what sh5 would become, and if they had an infinite budget, they'd pull all the stops and you'd get the ultimate Uboot simulation. You'd also get a 300 page manual with it, and you'd have to read it all before you could even contemplate going out on a feindfahrt. This of course is not the case. It couldn't be.
They've gone for an accessible game, and I applaud the way they've done it.
Do not fear that sh5 will become some sort of arcade sub-game, it will definitely be silent hunter as you know it. Only better.
I also had a talk with Mihai and some of the other guys about engines on uboats, specifically about implementing more detailed engine options such as running on e-motors on the surface, and why would this be necessary. also about using only one diesel because of damage/fuel/other reasons, and what this would mean for steering the boat, specifically how much would the rudder need to compensate for the fact that there's only one propeller turning. Now, Implementing something like ordering each engine separately would add a level of complexity to the game that is not necessarily a good thing. personally I'd love to have it but that doesn't mean it's feasible to put in. I think it may very well be, but that's not up to me of course.
Hope this satisfies your curiosity somewhat... I've gotta make dinner now...
