Game or sim?

[quitefrankly]

Hello. Is this meant to be a simulation or a game? If its a simulation, then I think I probably just bought the wrong thing. But if its a game, then I think I'm missing something, or doing something wrong. Anyway, this is what it seems like to me:

I get a mission, and its only ever one of about 3 or 4 things... Take a photo, deliver a spy/supplies, or patrol. So I set off from port, I go to the objective, I sink some ships, and then I return to base. And then its that all over again, again, and again?

Is that it? If that IS it, then thats ok... I'm not attacking the game or anything. Its a simulation and the depth is in the controlling of the sub and perfecting your attacks and stuff. But I was just hoping for it to be more of a game. Flight Simulator X I find boring. But something like Lock On, I really enjoy, because there are lots of missions and each one seems completely different, even although I am still doing pretty much the same thing.

But anyway, I'm about to uninstall this, so I thought I would ask incase I'm missing something and someone can maybe help. I just seem to be getting the same missions over and over, and its almost like a vague excuse to leave the port and blow up ships. I spent the first week figuring out how to play, but then its just sail to the deep ocean, blow up a bunch of ships, sail home, and repeat a million times. And I just don't really understand that. If thats all it is, then I can understand that its just a sim. But I would still find it odd that they didn't try to dress it up a bit nicer and add in some more missions or something.

Am I looking at this the wrong way?

Thanks.

p.s. I completed a campaign and its the least impressed I've ever been after completing a campaign in any game. And the only option left for me, was to just do it all over again in another campaign. I think I'm maybe more suited to flight sims?

[leovampire]

and if you have enough Ammo left they will send you to do somthing else for a start. Send a status Report is what I meant for new orders.

When you find a convoy or task force send a contact report and you will get further order's or if the enemy intercept's it they may come after you then it is fun trying to attack when order to do so.

But it is both a Game and a Simulation of what US submarine war fair was like with the Jap's

[stabiz]

I think you have to like the quit hours on the sea as much as the action to love subsims. Luckily I do.

[AVGWarhawk]

Well, you can look at it both ways. Set realism setting very low and it seems more like a game. Start removing these settings and the game now becomes more sim like. Try 100% manual targeting and solution finding for the torpedoes. Very satisfying when the solution you came up with sinks a ship. This is when it really becomes a simulation and usually once you accomplish this, you get hooked with the simulation. Add your features of limited fuel, etc. I have always felt the sub/uboat sims need a bit of imagination on the players part. You stated that you patrol here and photo there. Basically this is what the submarines did. Go look at the mods and add new things to the game to make it more enjoyable for you. I add my own music for the gramaphone and listen to the wartime radio while playing (mods you can find on the mod forums). Through in Trigger Maru for tougher DD. Plenty to add and do if you let it!!!

[seafarer]

There's also nothing that limits you to doing just what the orders say. Even if you get orders to go somewhere else, your route there is of your own choosing (fuel permitting of course). Once you've done that photo recon, or patroled your sector long enough to complete the mission requirements, go off and do what you like. Sail somewhere you've never been, try a sneak harbor attack on a port of your choice, read up on your history and go hunting for a big historical fleet (the Midway campaign, or an invasion fleet).

Personally, I like to go off on ludicrously distant voyages, just to see how far I can push my fuel (shortly after SHIII came out, I took my IXC to the Seychelles from Lorient, just because I could!).

The orders you receive are just the minimum required to successfully complete the patrol or misssion and continue your career - but beyond that, the ocean is yours! (well, until you get sunk and killed - the IJN have their own funny idea that the ocean is theirs, not yours)

[SteamWake]

Its a simulation game :p

If it was a true simulation it would take you months to play a single mission. I dont think anyone wants to spend a month of real time to complete a mission. You have to mow the grass at some point.

[AVGWarhawk]

You have to mow the grass at some point.

Pause button...........

[Wilcke]

OH.....C$^*....I forgot about the mowing!:rotfl: Man when is winter coming so that thing will go dormant!

I actually like the slow pace of cruising the mighty Pacific searching for transport. It fits my lifestyle, ability to save the game and pick up the next night. I like the adrenaline rush when you do find a target and then prosecuting the contact. Its truly a very nice sim of Sub warfare in the Pacific. Lots to learn though pretty steep curve.

Have fun

Wilcke

[longam]

Originally Posted by Wilcke

OH.....C$^*....I forgot about the mowing!:rotfl: Man when is winter coming so that thing will go dormant!

I actually like the slow pace of cruising the mighty Pacific searching for transport. It fits my lifestyle, ability to save the game and pick up the next night. I like the adrenaline rush when you do find a target and then prosecuting the contact. Its truly a very nice sim of Sub warfare in the Pacific. Lots to learn though pretty steep curve.

Have fun

Wilcke

Save Game, I agree with you there. I finally got out of port after many modification updates (mods) and just setup on a convoy when I had to bail because of the time. But tonight it’s ready and waiting.

[FIREWALL]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Well, you can look at it both ways. Set realism setting very low and it seems more like a game. Start removing these settings and the game now becomes more sim like. Try 100% manual targeting and solution finding for the torpedoes. Very satisfying when the solution you came up with sinks a ship. This is when it really becomes a simulation and usually once you accomplish this, you get hooked with the simulation. Add your features of limited fuel, etc. I have always felt the sub/uboat sims need a bit of imagination on the players part. You stated that you patrol here and photo there. Basically this is what the submarines did. Go look at the mods and add new things to the game to make it more enjoyable for you. I add my own music for the gramaphone and listen to the wartime radio while playing (mods you can find on the mod forums). Through in Trigger Maru for tougher DD. Plenty to add and do if you let it!!!

Good Morning All I agree with AVG This can be anyway you want it to be. The nice thing is the choice is yours. Your in Command.

[tomoose]

Quitefrankly;
This game/simulation is all about patience and manoeuvering stealthily in for the kill as opposed to jumping right into the action (although the single missions do that). Yes, the missions are fairly repetitive but for the U-boats and Pacific Sub drivers that was the reality ("go to Area X, patrol, sink enemy ships, come back home, rest, refit, go out and do it all over again"). The bonus for us is we can do in hours in the game what it took months to do in reality.

Don't forget it's a historical sim and the object is to sink enemy ships. I'm not sure what you mean by wanting it to "be more of a game".

[SteamWake]

I tend to think of it as the old cat and mouse game.

That cat will lay there for hours appearing to be asleep or half asleep when BAM a bolt out of the blue they pounce with an action so fast you cant even see it.

[ReallyDedPoet]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Well, you can look at it both ways. Set realism setting very low and it seems more like a game. Start removing these settings and the game now becomes more sim like. Try 100% manual targeting and solution finding for the torpedoes. Very satisfying when the solution you came up with sinks a ship. This is when it really becomes a simulation and usually once you accomplish this, you get hooked with the simulation. Add your features of limited fuel, etc. I have always felt the sub/uboat sims need a bit of imagination on the players part. You stated that you patrol here and photo there. Basically this is what the submarines did. Go look at the mods and add new things to the game to make it more enjoyable for you. I add my own music for the gramaphone and listen to the wartime radio while playing (mods you can find on the mod forums). Through in Trigger Maru for tougher DD. Plenty to add and do if you let it!!!

Yeah this , nice post AVG. The game has broad appeal because of the settings and also the great mods available.


RDP

[quitefrankly]

Thank you everyone, for the replies. Very kind. I think I understand it a bit better now.

[AVGWarhawk]

Quite frankly, Quitefrankly, go pick up a book or two on the subject. Reading the first hand war stories gives you some insight and imagination for playing the game. I just finished the book Bowfin. The book reads like the game. So it is cool to play the game and experience in-game what you just read from one of the books of real experiences. Next thing you know, your a sub/uboat junkie attempting to score new books and browsing E-bay for sub/uboat stuff.