[Shipshape]

Hello again!!

The intention with the tread I started was not to dismiss the new Silent Hunter 4. My intention was to start a debate about the fact that without you all competent users out there who make modds on freeware basis to the SH4 and are experiencend players will be disappointed. Would you buy a car or a 42” flat screen tv knowing that it will not work as intended? How about if your new car suddenly “died” when you used the AC and opened a window at the same time. Or your new flat screen functionality depended on the fact that you could get local support, on freeware basis adjusting it to its intended functionality. The software industry has made us used to the fact that there will be upgrades to make the thing work. Just look at Windows who every month launches security and other uppdates. What have all this to do with SH4 then?

Well I, just as the rest of the subsim community, was looking forward to the new subsim. But when you see all the eunthusiasm in the treads I can’t help thinking back on the history from earlier releases. Imagine that all the competent modders who mostly on freeware basis makes the simulation experience as god as it gets, and it will be very good in SH4, would stop. That they for some reason decided that they wouldn't share theire experiences and work. What would that result in? The real heroes of the software industry is this people, eunthusiasts, who we all depend on. And what is anoying is that the corporate management on UBISOFT etc know this and then let us, the users make the product work. The user has suddenly become the quality-, support-, and developmentdepartment. Without costs for the software development company.

SH4 is, and will be, a great simulator experience thanks to the subsim community. And I´am very glad that the subsim community works as well as it does, and of course an extra thanks to all of you at subsim.com who makes room for me too write this. The problem is do UBISOFT management recognize and contribute to those who make it work, e.g. subsim community etc? Reading youre posts make me think that short term financial reports is more important than deliver what they promised.

In the future, may bee its time to SH5!, and on the Webb you can read, “We will on the 16 of march start selling a brand new subsim that will be a very good simulation experience. In 5 to 6 months after release, when you the user without any cost for us, has finished for us.” What kind of market success would that bee?

I´am a big fan of simulators, it can bee Flight-, Ship-, Sub- or Trainsim, and the software industry all behave at the same way, depending on that there is a community that make it work. Hove long shall we accept this kind of business model? We wouldn't accept it when buying other things, a DVD-player, a book, a.... etc. Until we can influence the software industry we can find trust in the community, so keep up the good work all you modders out there.

Best regards Shipshape.

P.S:
The SH4 outdates earlier subsim,s and is worth waiting for.