What is IV missing...

[Rosencrantz]

So far I have found only two things I really miss:


1.) A better radar screen/wiev. "Model IV" is propably the most clumsy-to-use installation I have ever seen. It's very real, but really not very handy. Especially taking bearings is really challenging.

2.) Boat's course and depth displayed in numbers in toolbar and possibility to give a new course by clicking the numbers - not compass. Just like it's done in DW. And I think this doesn't have to mean kind of "digital" outlook but something more "old fashion" functioning in the same way.


-RC-

[coasterdigi]

I know it's purely cosmetic, but one of the things I enjoyed about SH3 was the ability to 'hang out' in the captain's nook and watch the radioman and sonorman work. Something about that just added to the immersion factor for me.

I'd love to see some sort of virtual tour of a fleet boat, with at least most of the compartments modeled and the ability to move through each one. Hell, even the Deadliest Catch game had one. I realize it would be a lot of work on the devs' part, but how cool would it be to watch your guys in the forward torpedo room reload tubes one and two after nailing a merchant?

[Herr Trigger]

I agree with Coasterdigi about the bunk, but most off all I would really like to see semaphore signalling! Having just moved over from SH3 the first thing I noticed on my first SH4 Tub was a big fat flashlight on the back of the conning tower, Yippee I thought, but if only it worked.

H.T.

Ha, Ha, just noticed. I know I haven't posted for a while but I didn't know I've been promoted to 'Shore Leave',
& where the hell did the admin get my photo from? Lol

[Aramike]

Originally Posted by coasterdigi

I know it's purely cosmetic, but one of the things I enjoyed about SH3 was the ability to 'hang out' in the captain's nook and watch the radioman and sonorman work. Something about that just added to the immersion factor for me.

I'd love to see some sort of virtual tour of a fleet boat, with at least most of the compartments modeled and the ability to move through each one. Hell, even the Deadliest Catch game had one. I realize it would be a lot of work on the devs' part, but how cool would it be to watch your guys in the forward torpedo room reload tubes one and two after nailing a merchant?

I completely, 100% agree ... I wish you could move around your boat. Would be even better if you could interact with your crew meanfully. This would add an extra dimension to the game, beyond compressing time, finding ships, sinking ships, rinse, repeat.

[AVGWarhawk]

Interact with your crew? Play cribbage What interaction with the crew other than clicking his pixel head, said head shaking yes or no then make a valve turn with a pixel hand.

[FIREWALL]

I think from looking at the pics that GWX4 is going to grant a few wishes.

[AVGWarhawk]

As far as I know the Uboats in SH4 have the capts and sonar quarters. I suspect the original poster was refering to the fleetboats not having these quarters to visit?

[Rockin Robbins]

• Equipment malfunctions, especially electronics! 100% reliability can't be called simulation!
• Digital compass course under compass instead of rudder position!
• Steering by heading not direction of movement, both in forward and reverse.
• Map positional uncertainty, weighted by distance, target height and observing conditions for visual targets.
• Real ONI recognition manual not containing all targets in the game and as ambiguous as the real one
• Stadimeter adjustments: you should have to input the height of the deck, cabin top, funnel or mast you want to measure into the stadimeter and then take the sighting, just like the real sub. ONI manual should contain multiple height measurements for each target.
• Digital range readout on the radar
• Direct TDC input from radar and sonar for range and bearing
• Realistic diving behavior, varied by speed of submarine.
• Direct TDC to periscope connection as the real subs had. American subs COULD do Fast-90. SH4 ones cannot.
• Player control of ballast system. Just once I'd love to issue the command "Flood negative to the mark." Require trim dives to calibrate negative and incorporate specific gravity changes in the water to penalize not doing trim calibration dives.
• Digital input of depth and heading orders.

Yeah, there's more, but that's enough to make a game that's much better than we have.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

• Equipment malfunctions, especially electronics! 100% reliability can't be called simulation!
• Digital compass course under compass instead of rudder position!
• Steering by heading not direction of movement, both in forward and reverse.
• Map positional uncertainty, weighted by distance, target height and observing conditions for visual targets.
• Real ONI recognition manual not containing all targets in the game and as ambiguous as the real one
• Stadimeter adjustments: you should have to input the height of the deck, cabin top, funnel or mast you want to measure into the stadimeter and then take the sighting, just like the real sub. ONI manual should contain multiple height measurements for each target.
• Digital range readout on the radar
• Direct TDC input from radar and sonar for range and bearing
• Realistic diving behavior, varied by speed of submarine.
• Direct TDC to periscope connection as the real subs had. American subs COULD do Fast-90. SH4 ones cannot.
• Player control of ballast system. Just once I'd love to issue the command "Flood negative to the mark." Require trim dives to calibrate negative and incorporate specific gravity changes in the water to penalize not doing trim calibration dives.
• Digital input of depth and heading orders.

Yeah, there's more, but that's enough to make a game that's much better than we have.

Now were talking!

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

• Stadimeter adjustments: you should have to input the height of the deck, cabin top, funnel or mast you want to measure into the stadimeter and then take the sighting, just like the real sub. ONI manual should contain multiple height measurements for each target.
  
• Player control of ballast system. Just once I'd love to issue the command "Flood negative to the mark." Require trim dives to calibrate negative and incorporate specific gravity changes in the water to penalize not doing trim calibration dives.
  

Those two things would add so much to the game experience.

[Aramike]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

Interact with your crew? Play cribbage What interaction with the crew other than clicking his pixel head, said head shaking yes or no then make a valve turn with a pixel hand.

Plenty of games offer interaction with NPCs. It's hard for me to consider anything a command simulation when it completely ignores the influence the skipper can have on his crew. Consider a scenario where a crew member is wounded and low on morale. Wouldn't it be interesting to walk through your boat, notice shaky crew behavior, and be able to address it as a real skipper would?

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Aramike

Plenty of games offer interaction with NPCs. It's hard for me to consider anything a command simulation when it completely ignores the influence the skipper can have on his crew. Consider a scenario where a crew member is wounded and low on morale. Wouldn't it be interesting to walk through your boat, notice shaky crew behavior, and be able to address it as a real skipper would?

To be honest, no. Crew interaction would be the last on my list considering the other aspects of the game that were left out (See RR's list above). To me it is a simulation of tactics and the weapons of the time. Not a game to take care of shaking pixel people. I'm completely satisfied with what SH4 has concerning a crewman on the crew screen interface with a shade of pink is enough for me to realize he is ill'in. So he goes to the medic. Done deal. I do not want to spend my time starting the conversation with, "Look son.....". Tracking, tactics and sinking ships That is what it is about for me. If you want to influence your crew...avoid depth charges and attacking aircraft! They will love you for it.