Portable Subsim

[desertisland]

I can dream.

Just bought a DSi XL. I sigh at the wasted potential of the handheld. With the stylus as a substitute for a mouse, the DS is perfectly capable of running a subsim. Who cares about 3d graphics. Just give me a clickable (touchable?) map, sonar, and a blurry telescope. Sturmovik made it to the DS so a subsim shouldn't be too much of a dream, right?

[Castout]

Umm that would be nice.

There appears however no hope with Sonalyst currently exclusively developing the sim for the military.

Now if I could be a US citizen and applied for the navy submarine branch maybe just maybe


Well . . .

[Falkirion]

Have a look at the E3 coverage. There was a side scrolling sub game announced. Looks fairly tame compared to what they could do with the DS hardware

[desertisland]

Originally Posted by Falkirion

Have a look at the E3 coverage. There was a side scrolling sub game announced. Looks fairly tame compared to what they could do with the DS hardware

As I said, such wasted potentials. What looks like a true wargame did make it to the DS this March: T.A.C. Heroes: The Big Red One. It reminds me of Advanced Squad Leader. Game reviewers slam it; understandable given where they come from.

Dangerous Waters is perfectly portable to the DS. The problem lies with profitability. Nintendo probably charges developers a fortune just for allowing a game to be released on the DS. I guess homebrews are our last best hope. Here's a subsim for palm: http://www.subsim.com/ssr/review_shiphunt.html

[Sonarman]

Yes, it seems to be a rather tortuous process for devs to get permission for an Nintendo release I know that the devs of "Ports of Call" the maritime business simulation (which first appeared on the Amiga) have been trying for over 2 years to get a license from Nintendo to release a version for the DS. It does make you wonder how many other great games are waiting in the wings!

In the meantime the only naval themed game is Steel Horizon a strategy title with 3d tactical sequences. The strategy part is not bad but the tactical sequences are a bit of a let down as they are time limited to a mere sixty seconds in each encounter.

[desertisland]

Instrument panels are sexy, aren't they?

Originally Posted by Sonarman

Yes, it seems to be a rather tortuous process for devs to get permission for an Nintendo release I know that the devs of "Ports of Call" the maritime business simulation (which first appeared on the Amiga) have been trying for over 2 years to get a license from Nintendo to release a version for the DS. It does make you wonder how many other great games are waiting in the wings!

Meanwhile Fast Food Simulator 6 is going gold. I could rationalize with the fact that DS is made for the general non-gamer gamer market. Nintendo is interested in maximizing its profit, not funding the revolution; nothing wrong with that. Just an old guy complaining...

In the meantime the only naval themed game is Steel Horizon a strategy title with 3d tactical sequences. The strategy part is not bad but the tactical sequences are a bit of a let down as they are time limited to a mere sixty seconds in each encounter.

Here are two more Japan exclusives:



The Senkan (The Battleship), a testerone-driven Yamato-simulator in which you fire main guns, AA batteries. Gets old fast.




And



Taiheiyou no Arashi (Pacific Storm)



Plays like Advanced Wars in the sea, i.e., unrealistic. None of these hit the spot for me.