Questions for the SubSim community

[JudgeBread]

Hello!

My name is Tommy Reinking and I'm a freelance games journalist. I learned of the SubSim genre of games and the community on a podcast, and was surprised that I had never heard of it before. I've been exploring the site for a bit, and this community and site is fascinating! It's not often you find a website from the 90's still running and with an active community! I'd love to ask some questions to the community to learn more about you all. Also, I was given permission to post some questions here by Neal Stevens.

If you could all be so kind, I have a few questions! Feel free to answer as many or as few as you'd like.

1) How long have you been a member of the SubSim community here at the site?
2) What is it about the site that keeps you a member?
3) What is it about this website that has allowed it to survive for nearly three decades while other video game websites have died out?
3) Are there other places (Discord, Reddit, other social media) where you go to for the SubSim community?
4) If you're a member who's been here for years or decades, what are some of your favorite memories of being a member of the SubSim community/site from the 90's, 2000's, or 2010's?
5) Anything else you'd like to say about the website or community or anything you think is important?

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions!

[Onkel Neal]

This message is approved.

[Aktungbby]

JudgeBread!

[blackswan40]

1) How long have you been a member of the SubSim community here at the site?


I have been a Subsim member since 1992 (in those days I was known as Upholder) there was a link to Subsim in the Silent Hunter Two Game manual so i joined and ive been here ever since.


2) What is it about the site that keeps you a member?


The Commeradery of the members theres always something new to read and reply to posts of Tales of Brave Mens blood and actions in war.


3) What is it about this website that has allowed it to survive for nearly three decades while other video game websites have died out?

is the only place on the web that as a wealth of knowlege on all things naval history and mods for all naval games old and new theres always new mods getting released or upgraded available on Subsim downloads.
On Subsim posts asking for help usually get a reply within two to 24 hours theres always someone on hand in the know how to fix a issue with a install ect.


3) Are there other places (Discord, Reddit, other social media) where you go to for the SubSim community?


Subsim Discord and Subsim Facebook
Other places of interest when finding out information on WWII Convoys (convoyweb) and (uboat.net) both are great sites packed with info.


4) If you're a member who's been here for years or decades, what are some of your favorite memories of being a member of the SubSim community/site from the 90's, 2000's, or 2010's?


When I joined Subsim all those years ago when the membership was around 8400 members in 1992 even back then it was a very friendly place and you were made to feel welcome some of the old salts are now on Eternal Patrol but never forgotten.

5) Anything else you'd like to say about the website or community or anything you think is important?


I think of Subsim as a family like the Waltons (of Jimbob Mary allen and Grandpar) but on a bigger scale theres always someone needing help with a install or can't find the mod they need or someone asking the history buffs for info on some thing from history.
Todays Newbie is tomorrows Mod Guru continuing to grow the Subsim Community for years to come Home is where the Heart is! Never a Truer Word Spoken.


Kind Regards blackswan40 Andrew Oldfield AKA The Mudskipping Prawn from the Island of mud Limeyville UK England.


JudgeBread Welcome to hope to see you on the forums again Sir

[Anvar1061]

@JudgeBread

[Shadowblade]

@JudgeBread

[Bilge_Rat]

I have been dropping by here since the late 90s, altough I only registered in 2002. I have always been interested in naval stories and got interested in submarine simulations when I got into computers. My first subsim was Jane’s 688 Hunter Killer which seems like a dinosaur compared to current subsims.

The SubSim website/forum was always the place to be if you were interested in submarine/naval simulations. There are a lot of knowledgeable members here, including current/former submariners/sailors and picked up a lot of interesting trivia over the years.

SubSim also has a more, let us say, “mature” crowd (most of the time anyway ), so it is easier to have interesting discussions. Too many gaming sites these days seem to be overrun with kids/young adults.

My favourite memories around here were probably during the 2005-12 period when popularity of SH3-4-5 was at its height and whenever you would pop in here, there would be a new game mod to discover. That energy waned afterwards, although it seems to be picking back up now that we have a new generation of submarine simulations, Wolpack and Uboat, to play with.

[pabbi]

1) How long have you been a member of the SubSim community here at the site?
Member since 2007, lurking around since late 90's

2) What is it about the site that keeps you a member?
Interest in sub and naval games

3) What is it about this website that has allowed it to survive for nearly three decades while other video game websites have died out?
The very best game site on the internet

3) Are there other places (Discord, Reddit, other social media) where you go to for the SubSim community?
No

4) If you're a member who's been here for years or decades, what are some of your favorite memories of being a member of the SubSim community/site from the 90's, 2000's, or 2010's?
When SH3 and SH4 came out

5) Anything else you'd like to say about the website or community or anything you think is important?
Big thanks to Onkel Neal for a great site and thanks to all moders out there

[Doolar]

1) How long have you been a member of the SubSim community here at the site?
Since Feb 2007 (18 years)
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2) What is it about the site that keeps you a member?
There are always new Game play mods being released. I love to read about tactics in hunting and on defence. There’s never a shortage of help if requested.
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3) What is it about this website that has allowed it to survive for nearly three decades while other video game websites have died out?
See question #2 answers.
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3) Are there other places (Discord, Reddit, other social media) where you go to for the SubSim community?
Yes, I visit the Discord for ONEALEX and I get a lot of info from UBOAT.NET
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4) If you're a member who's been here for years or decades, what are some of your favorite memories of being a member of the SubSim community/site from the 90's, 2000's, or 2010's?
Talking to older, original member and learning from them and being able to help newer members and seeing their success.
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5) Anything else you'd like to say about the website or community or anything you think is important?
It’s amazing that a game from 2005 (or close to it) is still alive and well and has such versatility in the game play stiles. There is something for everyone. If ya want to just blow stuff up after a hard day at work, you got it, in an arcade stile. If you want extreme realism and crew management, you got it, and all points in between. But no matter how you play or your taste. The eye candy is very satisfying. Last but not least, a major mod is close to release, or as we say here at SUBSIM there’s smoke on the horizon.

[FUBAR295]

1) How long have you been a member of the SubSim community here at the site?
Joined Subsim way back on March 2002. I had hair on my head back then. You can say I have been here a while.

2) What is it about the site that keeps you a member?
The comradery of like minds. I have made many friends from all over the world.

3) What is it about this website that has allowed it to survive for nearly three decades while other video game websites have died out?
The modding community is first class. The modders have keep SH3 alive far longer than maybe would normally with other game venues. They have added so much more visually and game play wise with the super mods like CCoM, GWX, LSH3, NYGM and WAC and some important, but smaller mods, that enhanced SH3 beyond what was originally put out by UBI.

3) Are there other places (Discord, Reddit, other social media) where you go to for the SubSim community?
Not really, not a very social media person.

4) If you're a member who's been here for years or decades, what are some of your favorite memories of being a member of the SubSim community/site from the 90's, 2000's, or 2010's?
Most memorable would be helping run "Wolves at War" as a admin back in the late 2000' to early 2010's.

5) Anything else you'd like to say about the website or community or anything you think is important?
Thanks to Neal for providing this site and putting up with all us cranks.

[Anthony Davis]

The new modsfire update is making me cry as I just spent 7 hours downloading the ARB 1920x1080 widescreen mod as I have to individually download every file which is one unorganized and two just tedious so unless I have to pay money I have to do this. So can a brave Herr Kleun give me some tips on how other people do it