Let's step back and look at this from a different perspective. Let's say that Silent Hunter III had never been released. What impression would people now have of what we know about the upcoming Silent Hunter V?
What's being offered is a really good video game in the Das Boot mould, with a VII sub, first person crew interraction, a real dynamic campaign and good graphics.
The primary demographic that Ubisoft is most interested in attracting with Silent Hunter V is the casual gamer. To that end, a video game version of Das Boot is right on the money.
Of course there are going to be hard core simmers who don't like the fact that the game ends in 1943 and that it only offers a type VII sub. There will be a few here who don't purchase the game for those reasons.
The gamble that Ubisoft is taking is that they will attract a new audience of players for Silent Hunter V, while also selling the game to most of the simmers who purchased Silent Hunter III and Silent Hunter IV.
Hostility towards the Devs is out of line in my view. They inherit decisions made by the suits and they have to build the game that the publisher orders. Of course they have a lot of input, but they have no say in company strategy.
So, let's see what we get in March. Let's see how modable it is. And let's see how enjoyable it is to play before we trash it.
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