Immersion

[19Herr_Rapp86]

Kind of a different topic. I was just wondering (and I hope RockinRobbins posts on here because he likes to talk about his immersion into the Silent Hunter World, which is what gave me the idea for this post ) how many people are like me here in the submarine simulation world. For me, I like to conduct my patrols at real time. When I get home from work I catch my clock up to what time it is here (Central Daylight Time), and then park myself on the bridge of my beautiful boat, kick on the radio (courtesy of the Silent Hunter 4 sound mod Hawaiian Radio Music pts 1 - 4 ), and kick back in my chair and read a book. To others this may seem a bit boring but for me, this is great stuff. I get to be a sub skipper, at real time. On weekends I do not have to work, I'm going to try and incorporate another type of immersion into the game. Setting the speakers louder than normal so that important events can awake me from my sleep and I can resume my duties at the conn. It brings so much more to the game to be able to experience not only the thrill of the hunt, the terror of being hunted, but also the boredom and idleness of being at sea for long periods of time. Now that's what I call realism factor of 100% I'd like fellow Captains to post their stories here of how they immersify themselves in their little submarine world.

[Arlo]

Originally Posted by 19Herr_Rapp86

Kind of a different topic. I was just wondering (and I hope RockinRobbins posts on here because he likes to talk about his immersion into the Silent Hunter World, which is what gave me the idea for this post ) how many people are like me here in the submarine simulation world. For me, I like to conduct my patrols at real time. When I get home from work I catch my clock up to what time it is here (Central Daylight Time), and then park myself on the bridge of my beautiful boat, kick on the radio (courtesy of the Silent Hunter 4 sound mod Hawaiian Radio Music pts 1 - 4 ), and kick back in my chair and read a book. To others this may seem a bit boring but for me, this is great stuff. I get to be a sub skipper, at real time. On weekends I do not have to work, I'm going to try and incorporate another type of immersion into the game. Setting the speakers louder than normal so that important events can awake me from my sleep and I can resume my duties at the conn. It brings so much more to the game to be able to experience not only the thrill of the hunt, the terror of being hunted, but also the boredom and idleness of being at sea for long periods of time. Now that's what I call realism factor of 100% I'd like fellow Captains to post their stories here of how they immersify themselves in their little submarine world.

I think it's cool and if I had the luxury, I'd be tempted to do the same. Alas, my beautiful (and fun) bride, demands of being a father (step and otherwise), scheduled visits to see a doc from time to time, the in-laws ... well, you get it. It would take me the better part of a couple of years to finish a patrol. That and I'm spending time on a website that seems more of a passion than the game, itself, now.

But ahhhhh .... a month of your kinda immersion would be a nice escape. If only the Mrs. would share me with it and offer periodic 'shore leave' without demoting me for dereliction of duty.

I hope she never finds this forum.

[19Herr_Rapp86]

Ah yes. I hear you there. Fortunately for me my Mrs. is rather intrigued by this and enjoys history almost as much as I. That and she thinks the hum of the diesels, combined with the sound of the Pacific waters against the hull, and the songs of the old Hawaiian radio make for a quiet, peacefull time.

[Arlo]

Originally Posted by 19Herr_Rapp86

Ah yes. I hear you there. Fortunately for me my Mrs. is rather intrigued by this and enjoys history almost as much as I. That and she thinks the hum of the diesels, combined with the sound of the Pacific waters against the hull, and the songs of the old Hawaiian radio make for a quiet, peacefull time.

Well, maybe mine'll come around. I once asked her if there was a 'SubSim/SH4 re-enactor uniformed ball thingie' (Cod what a geek I am) if she would dress 40s period and go along and she said yes. I'm guessin' she figures the odds are slim. *chuckle*

[razark]

Originally Posted by Arlo

I once asked her if there was a 'SubSim/SH4 re-enactor uniformed ball thingie' if she would dress 40s period and go along and she said yes.

So, you're organizing a Subsim meet, then? When and where is it?

[Sailor Steve]

For me turning on the game and letting it run while I do something else is not immersion, nor is it actually playing the game. I run in and out of harbors in real time, and conduct attacks that way, but I've never understood how not playing the game in real time is any more "real" than using time compression. When I was in the navy I spent a lot of my time wishing I was somewhere else.

If you really want to experience the boredom and idleness, don't read a book, don't listen to the radio, don't do anything but sit and stare at the screen, for hours on end. Otherwise you're not playing the game at all, you're ignoring it.

[19Herr_Rapp86]

Otherwise you're not playing the game at all, you're ignoring it.

In a way perhaps, but crewman had things to do to keep their mind off the monotony. In a sense ignoring events around them. Or lack of events thereof. Writing letters, keeping journals, etc. In the book "Iron Coffins" the auther tells of buying books in port to read in off-duty hours.

If you really want to experience the boredom and idleness, don't read a book, don't listen to the radio, don't do anything but sit and stare at the screen, for hours on end

I catch myself doing that a lot too. Its just.... well.... fun!

[razark]

Originally Posted by 19Herr_Rapp86

In the book "Iron Coffins" the auther tells of buying books in port to read in off-duty hours.

The problem is that in game, it's never off-duty hours.

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

If you really want to experience the boredom and idleness, don't read a book, don't listen to the radio, don't do anything but sit and stare at the screen, for hours on end.

I already have a game for that. It's called a job.

[I'm goin' down]

[19Herr_Rapp86]

What are you shaking your head about IGD? Whats up

[19Herr_Rapp86]

The problem is that in game, it's never off-duty hours.

Create your own. As we all know we all have an imagination of some sort or we wouldn't be here at this particular forum. This is what I do (when time permits of course). You have 3 watch shifts correct? For the number 1 shift, I do sit and stare at the screen for hours on end. I do practice diving drills, sounding runs, observe the seas, frequently check maps, etc etc. When the whistle blows to signal next watch I click to go below decks and then do my thing. Go up to the bridge for an occasional peek. Then resume when watch 1 takes over again. It's how I like to do things. Not right or wrong. Everybody has their own way of playing the game and immersing themselves in it.

[Arlo]

Originally Posted by razark

So, you're organizing a Subsim meet, then? When and where is it?

Never Again Volunteer Yourself ....

[19Herr_Rapp86]

Nice website... Your fleetboatsim.com

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by 19Herr_Rapp86

In a way perhaps, but crewman had things to do to keep their mind off the monotony. In a sense ignoring events around them. Or lack of events thereof. Writing letters, keeping journals, etc. In the book "Iron Coffins" the auther tells of buying books in port to read in off-duty hours.

Been there, done that. Eating, reading, watching a movie, even sleeping, you can feel the motion and smell the salt air. The ship is a part of you. For me, no game can ever replicated that, at least not the current generation. I put the game in to get away from reading, sleeping and the boredom of real life. If there was some kind of helmet or real-life holodeck, then sure.

But that's just me.

On the other hand I've been playing computer subsims for twenty-five years.

[19Herr_Rapp86]

25 years. Wow!!! Nice. And yeah nothing really replicates the real thing. Just like all this call of duty modern warfare stuff can't replicate what it was like patrolling the streets of some few towns in Iraq with my Marines. I hear you there