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LtCdrAlan · 12-01-08, 10:15 PM

I previously mentioned that none of the boomers are controllable, thus the 688i. I realize that nuclear weapons are specifically not included in DW, the idea was to use the existing elements available and designate them as being a nuclear threat. This is where a little creativity comes into play. It won't work as an out of the box, plug and play, no assembly required type of scenario, but there is a notion which some of you may have heard of, called "suspension of disbelief" that can be used in this context. Basically, suspension of disbelief is the willing acceptance of someoneone who views a work of fiction (such as a movie or game) as real, rather than fiction. In simple terms, it is the viewer's or audience's willingness to watch a fictional movie, for instance, while still being engaged in the plot and film by allowing their brain to "pretend" that the movie is real, or a plausible concept of something that could happen at least. In other words (if you still haven't gotten it), its called using your imagination. Take what we get with DW, have the mission briefing, radio broadcasts, and other senory information given to you in the game indicate that there is a nuclear threat, and let your imagination do the rest. Yes, you may be in a 688i, with TLAMs in the VLS, but using your *imagination* - through the *suspension of disbelief* by the use of radio broadcasts, failures, and mission briefings, you can let your brain *think* it is actually an Ohio SSBN and the targets you are directed to intercept (say SSM sites) are actually mobile ICBM launch platforms.

You can't say there is no point in pretending, because you are playing a game. The very nature of the simulator demands that you use your imagination even in the included missions and campaigns. Do you really think you are driving some LA class attack submarine when you open up your 688i stations? Do you really think that your actions are having some effect in waters near the South China Sea? If you are controlling the USS Hartford, do you really think that in the real world that Mk48 torpedo you just fired at the Akula you've been tracking is really going to engage the sub and kill those russian sailors? Of course not! But you are willing to pretend the simulator is real - to allow the suspension of disbelief - so that you can have fun and see what it might be like to command a 688i SSN attack submarine.

I'm not talking about trying to convince you that the earth is really a cube, and has sharp edges, I'm talking about allowing the acceptance of using TLAMs in the 688i VLS to simulate the SLBM tubes of an Ohio SSBN. Think of it as a "SSN sub simulator simulating a SSBN sub simulator." It is all a simulation anyway! After reading mission briefings on serious threats to the continental US by extremists with nuclear weapons, ordered to patrol a sector near the extremist forces, and finally engage them following the detection of their missiles being fueled, is someone going to say it would be too hard to believe? All the major components are availlable in DW, all that is required is that the player accepts (imagines) that they are on a SSBN, facing a possible pre-eminent strike on nuclear sites, and that when they fly their birds, the resulting explosion is nuclear. Is it really that hard to pretend? I mean you can even simulate a huge "nuke" explosion if you are determined to have the visuals by setting an arrray of targetpoints, and at triggerfire, "addeffect" - "explosion" - and if you create a circular array of points, you have a big round boom. I think that would be pointless as I can just as easily imagine the consequences, but apparently imagination isn't acceptable to all...

12-01-08, 10:15 PM	#4
LtCdrAlan Swabbie Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: TX, USA Posts: 5 Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	I previously mentioned that none of the boomers are controllable, thus the 688i. I realize that nuclear weapons are specifically not included in DW, the idea was to use the existing elements available and designate them as being a nuclear threat. This is where a little creativity comes into play. It won't work as an out of the box, plug and play, no assembly required type of scenario, but there is a notion which some of you may have heard of, called "suspension of disbelief" that can be used in this context. Basically, suspension of disbelief is the willing acceptance of someoneone who views a work of fiction (such as a movie or game) as real, rather than fiction. In simple terms, it is the viewer's or audience's willingness to watch a fictional movie, for instance, while still being engaged in the plot and film by allowing their brain to "pretend" that the movie is real, or a plausible concept of something that could happen at least. In other words (if you still haven't gotten it), its called using your imagination. Take what we get with DW, have the mission briefing, radio broadcasts, and other senory information given to you in the game indicate that there is a nuclear threat, and let your imagination do the rest. Yes, you may be in a 688i, with TLAMs in the VLS, but using your imagination - through the suspension of disbelief by the use of radio broadcasts, failures, and mission briefings, you can let your brain think it is actually an Ohio SSBN and the targets you are directed to intercept (say SSM sites) are actually mobile ICBM launch platforms. You can't say there is no point in pretending, because you are playing a game. The very nature of the simulator demands that you use your imagination even in the included missions and campaigns. Do you really think you are driving some LA class attack submarine when you open up your 688i stations? Do you really think that your actions are having some effect in waters near the South China Sea? If you are controlling the USS Hartford, do you really think that in the real world that Mk48 torpedo you just fired at the Akula you've been tracking is really going to engage the sub and kill those russian sailors? Of course not! But you are willing to pretend the simulator is real - to allow the suspension of disbelief - so that you can have fun and see what it might be like to command a 688i SSN attack submarine. I'm not talking about trying to convince you that the earth is really a cube, and has sharp edges, I'm talking about allowing the acceptance of using TLAMs in the 688i VLS to simulate the SLBM tubes of an Ohio SSBN. Think of it as a "SSN sub simulator simulating a SSBN sub simulator." It is all a simulation anyway! After reading mission briefings on serious threats to the continental US by extremists with nuclear weapons, ordered to patrol a sector near the extremist forces, and finally engage them following the detection of their missiles being fueled, is someone going to say it would be too hard to believe? All the major components are availlable in DW, all that is required is that the player accepts (imagines) that they are on a SSBN, facing a possible pre-eminent strike on nuclear sites, and that when they fly their birds, the resulting explosion is nuclear. Is it really that hard to pretend? I mean you can even simulate a huge "nuke" explosion if you are determined to have the visuals by setting an arrray of targetpoints, and at triggerfire, "addeffect" - "explosion" - and if you create a circular array of points, you have a big round boom. I think that would be pointless as I can just as easily imagine the consequences, but apparently imagination isn't acceptable to all...