The void of surface based naval games

[AceBit]

Sure, we have of course the Silent Hunter series, Dangerous Waters, 688(i) and all those subsim games. But it seems there is a distinct lack in excellent sims allowing you to control a surface ship. While there were the Battlestations games a few years back, i wouldent really stretch it as far as to call those two games simulations of naval warfare. While there are more of them beggining to pop up, with World of Warships and War Thunder eventually planning to add a naval complement, i dont really see any true sims. I mean, its understandable that there isnt an especially large market for naval warfare, but I'm sure a mod friendly naval warfare game would be welcomed! What is your take on it?

[Torplexed]

Originally Posted by AceBit

i dont really see any true sims. I mean, its understandable that there isnt an especially large market for naval warfare, but I'm sure a mod friendly naval warfare game would be welcomed! What is your take on it?

Here's a thread in which this was discussed a while back--

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=219512

I think the dearth of surface warfare games comes down mainly to economics, marketing and demographics. Games are far more complex in terms of graphics and coding than ever before and making a blockbuster that gives a good return is the priority. So it comes down in many cases to making games with a mass appeal so packed full of adrenaline packed moments that the ADD-addled kids who play them aren't bored for a second.

Surface combat doesn't fit this parameter. Battles between surface vessels was a sporadic affair in WW2. Surface ships rarely saw more than one of two surface engagements if that many, so you couldn't make a game career of it without invoking a lot of fantasy and hypothetical scenarios. A lot of commanding a surface combatant meant confirming your movements to a battle line of a fleet of other ships which is anathema to independent minded gamers, who want to run their ship around the ocean the way they please. That probably explains why subs lent themselves to sims best as they didn't sail in flotillas or squadrons.

And a lot of surface warfare was to be truthful--dull. Outside of the rare big gun battles most of it was AA escort duty, ASW duty, bombardment duty, and sailing between points A and B. Not a good selling point to the masses if you want it to be historically accurate.