You mention the rudder as the example of the lack of ability to steer the ship as if that was the only way to do it. It isn't. The alternative is spelled out pretty clearly in the miserable excuse for a manual. The point and click method is very appropriate to someone who doesn't know a rudder from a scupper.
I've had a look and I can't find it , mind you my eyesight isn't too good these days and I may be missing it because all the photo's are sooooo small.
I can see how to move in FPS style, and I can just make out the keyboard layout picture - but as I remember , using the keyboard gives you 1% one way and 100% the other?
I'm guessing that you mean the "waypoint method" which I knew about because of SH3 , I guess newbies could work it out if they have the patience.
As to AI you are playing as an experienced Subsimmer. When
you are closing on a target you don't come in, balls to the wall, blasting away. You know how to execute an attack. The non-Sub-Simmer doesn't and is going to have a hard time with the AI until they figure it out. As well (and this part is supposition) the non-Subsimmer just wants to blow stuff up and watch it sink. They would find evasion boring and if the AI was so good that they couldn't get close or get away the first time they tried they would hate the game.
Excellent point - well made. I would venture however, that without any real challenge it would get boring pretty quickly for anyone (it certainly has for me) - but then as you say, I'm an experienced subsimmer - so who knows for sure.
As far as the AI for experienced Subsimmers goes have you played past 1939? From my experience in 1939 they can't find me at all. In 1941 they can find me but have a hard time holding me. By 1943 they are beginning to give me a very hard time, indeed. And this, for the Grognards, is spot-friiggin-on realistic, historically speaking.
Not made it past '40. The lack of variety of targets and the AI leaves me quite bored after a while and I just can't bring myself to play on. Plus now we know that there is a patch in the offing it seems silly to carry on when I'll most likely have to start again, and as I said - loving SH3 GWX atm.
As far as Ubisoft's decision not to communicate on this game I am not going to even venture an opinion. As we used to say at a company I worked for "It's their company.... they can screw it up any way they want".
The reality is that this information blackout has been going on long before this patch tempest in a teapot. Look how hard it was to even get a preview copy for Subsim. Clearly something inside of Ubisoft has changed vis a vis their relationship with Subsim.com. I have my theories why (and they go back to some stuff that happened with SH4) but they are only theories, so best kept to a favored few. Point being that this lack of information should not have come as a surprise to anyone... it has been S.O.P. from the beginning of this project.
And it's that S.O.P. that irks me the most. For whatever reason not talking to Subsim is one thing - but not communicating via their own forums is just plain stupid IMO, does more damage to their reputation.
And lastly, and I addressed this above, people are responsible for their own actions Even when you hide behind a nom-de-net.
Agreed
JCC