[scrapser]

I think this is an interesting discussion. It's funny how improvements in sims and games have unexpected consequences. When I first played MicroProse's "Silent Service" on my Commodore 64 back in November 1985, I was floored by the realism. The game worked perfectly. All I remember wanting from it was high value targets like aircraft carriers and cruisers. But I was happy to run across a convoy of three oilers, a troop ship and a couple merchants protected by 3 escorts. I played this game for hours each day and for months on end.

Fast forward to today. The sub sims "look" incredibly photo realistic and there's lots of details and a plethora of targets (even in the case of the Atlantic, some high value targets). But the games are never perfect, full of bugs, and something has been lost that was there in the old days. I think what was lost is your imagination.

In the old days, we instinctively "filled in the blanks" with our imagination to make it seem real. But the more built in "realism" that's included, the less your imagination is called upon. If the added realism cannot replace your imagination apples for apples, then the enhancement has failed. It's great to find yourself in a raging storm at sea but if the boat is riding the waves like it's nailed to the sea floor...something is amiss.

I think this needs to be the benchmark of for what enhancements should be included in new sims.