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. I was given permission to post 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! The third time's the charm??!

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?the info and 'fraternal give and take"
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? excellent moderation and
civility strictly enforced
3) Are there other places (Discord, Reddit, other social media) where you go to for the SubSim community?nope; one forum is sufficient
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?...going on 12 years;...the birthday threads and WAS games
5) Anything else you'd like to say about the website or community or anything you think is important? Thank you to our
fearless leader (and fellow trucker):Onkel Neal!

[Commander Wallace]

Originally Posted by 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. I was given permission to post 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!

Welcome to Subsim, Tommy. I hope you enjoy your time here.
I can only answer your questions for myself and from my perspective. Subsim is a diverse and International Community. We were brought here because of our interests in all things related to military gaming. It has become much more than that.

The International members can talk of anything that interests them and share them with our other members, like Cars, Motorcycles, Music, Politics, Astronomy and other things of Interest. Through this discourse, we have discovered things of other countries and really, how very much alike we all are. In many cases, this is our only contact with others from different Countries. Our members are also pillars in their respective communities. They come from Law enforcement, Legal, Medical, Military and engineering backgrounds, just to name a few.

I don't think a better or smarter group will be found anywhere in other Forums. We have other talented members here that code and have worked and labored hard to develop modifications for our various Simulations so that our members can enjoy their respective gaming experiences to the fullest.

Members have gotten together to share fellowwship in such venues as in Texas, going to see U-boat U995 at the Laboe Naval memorial in Germany and other places of interest. Members got to meet their fellow Subsim members in Germany. The trip cemented friendships that started here in Subsim. These trips are a strong indicator of the strength and diversity that defines Subsim.

Members here help each other on a continuing basis. While we have had our disagreements with each other on occasion, the underlying respect we have for each other keeps things in check.

One of our best features here in Subsim are the discourse and discussions that take place on a routine basis. It is always a great thing to see different viewpoints. The last thing that makes Subsim special is how unique and genuine people are here. I think that flows from Neal Stevens, the creator of Subsim and Jimbuna who moderates, writes articles and basically does the day to day work and holds things together Others here quietly strive to make Subsim the best it can be and add the fun quotient. Their respective work has attracted the best people which in turn, brings out our best. Lastly, it's the incredible members that make Subsim what it is. The people here in Subsim also have a sense of humor and I have taken a number of " hits " from some of our members as have many others. I never say anything as they seem to like it.

I hope this narrative helps you Tommy to understand how special Subbsim is.


~ All the best Tommy and once again, welcome to Subsim ~

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Onkel Neal

This message is approved.

Nice one, I almost messaged you this morning

[HW3]

I joined in April 2005 for the SH3 mods and then for the SH4 & SH5 mods. I ended up staying for the virtual friendships that developed over the years. The moderators here make sure this site stays civil and a good place for everyone to come including minors. The modders here do fantastic work, and it is all for free so even the poorest among us can enjoy their work. I have cruised the internet for more than 20 years and have found no other site even close to this one that I would want to join. There have been disagreements in the past but, as long as you remain civil in your posting, it is allowed to remain, and things usually work out in the end.

[mapuc]

Originally Posted by 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. I was given permission to post 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?
- Have been a member since Sept. 2003 with some years absent where I was more active on another subsim site Sub Club, from around 2009 I became a lot more active here

2) What is it about the site that keeps you a member?
- The friendship or you could say we are one happy family

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?
- I must say it has to do with the fact that the number of sub-related games keep on coming and the happiness of talking with other subsimmers

3) Are there other places (Discord, Reddit, other social media) where you go to for the SubSim community?
- Yes I use to read what my subsim friends post in our Facebook group

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?
- Our meetings. I have attended two of them-The Netherland 2005 and Denmark 2009. Secondly my funniest memory must be SubSim's own trial against a former member, Drebbel. Sadly I have also lost good friends who are now on eternal patrol or have left the community

5) Anything else you'd like to say about the website or community or anything you think is important?
I hope this community will still be here in 10 or 20 years from now

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

My answers are within the quotes and are in kursive.

Markus

[Ostfriese]

Originally Posted by 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. I was given permission to post 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?
4) Are there other places (Discord, Reddit, other social media) where you go to for the SubSim community?
5) 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?
6) 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!

1) Joined in 2004, was active for a few years, then went into lurking mode due to the ever-increasing work load. Returned to the surface in 2021 and have been around ever since.

2) Mostly the forums. Most modern social media are much to fast for my liking, topics are changed way too quickly. The classical forums are much slower in that regard, especially here where the amount of users is comparatively small.

Oh, and I also use any chance to hone and improve my skills in English - I'm not a native speaker.

3) A relatively niché category in the wide field of video games. This category only draws a small amount of players, and simulation players usually have to show much more patience than most "gamers" are willing to invest into games. That doesn't mean that players in general don't have the patience - they just aren't willing to be patient (which is absolutely OK - playing video games is free time).

4) Not really. I'm active in a general gaming forum, but while there are players of simulations they are only a small group.

5) As I have only recently returned, with most of my activity coming from the past four years there's nothing I can mention here.

6) We -the users- might not agree on everything, and discussions about certain topics can become quite heated, but the vast majority of people here are decent.

[Raf1394]

1) How long have you been a member of the SubSim community here at the site? Joined last year as member. But if been reading Subsim for a while.

2) What is it about the site that keeps you a member? My main interest in submarines/uboats keeps me here.

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? I honestly don't know. Maybe because of the community that is so friendly?

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

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? I'm new haha

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

[Eichhörnchen]

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

2) What is it about the site that keeps you a member? Genuine camaraderie with folks who are happy to give advice on any subject at all - from bicycle repair to feeding squirrels. And such a diverse community, although we often use the word "family" here; we soon learn that, despite being a bunch of foreigners, we have much more which binds us than divides. Added to this the knowledge that the place has rules diligently enforced by our moderators, most notably Jimbuna

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? I have myself joined a number of online forums for different interests and then been guilty of abandoning them or just plain forgetting that I'd joined them, after an initial surge of enthusiasm. But I've always kept my Subsim pals close - especially when real life has been tough... I'm just glad they're all still here waiting kindly and patiently; this place remains an unchanging haven. But just look down the list and see how HUGE Subsim is; look at the enormous number of sub-forums, not to mention the vast membership from every conceivable walk of life and corner of the globe among whom there are many expert designers and modders who, just for love of the games and those who enjoy them, keep the whole thing alive, growing and thriving

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

5) 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? Friends who've gone away - and we often don't ever find out why - but they're never forgotten; the great fun with other friends who are still here, especially on their birthdays; Aktungbby's scholarly puns; Commander Wallace asking me once whether I was perhaps "not very tightly wrapped" ; Reece missing all the big points in Whac-A-Squirrel because he was snoring in bed on the other side of the world

6) Anything else you'd like to say about the website or community or anything you think is important? The subversive game known as "Whac-A-Squirrel" (W-A-S) - the cheese which does always manage to slide off the cracker. Also this is where I made my very first online friend - 'Catfish' - he's shown me just how much fun those Germans can be and I value his friendship especially. This place just rocks

[Skybird]

Hi!

1) How long have you been a member of the SubSim community here at the site?
Since around 1998 or 99. The site was launched in I think 1997. The avatar date is misleading, there was some database thing going on twenty years ago, if I am not mistaken. It ended d with many of the long time members now having almost similiar entry dates although they already were here before that timestamp.

2) What is it about the site that keeps you a member?
Familarity with many of the long-lasting members, mostly in good mood and sometimes in - well, its like in the real world, with some people you have a good chemistry, with others not so much. Thats life. Thats okay.
Next, memories of games of the past. Hot political debates which meanwhile have lost in temperature since many of us grew over two decades older, and learned better manners. Back then, support for simulations also was imortant for me, but not that much - for me - anymore. You see, things have grown beyond the gaming experience alone. For some even more than for me - they held international "club meetings" several times in the past on both sides of the Atlantic that lasted for days. I know that more than once true real world friendships formed up here.


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?
Well balanced moderation and management that regulated what had to be reulated and let run what could be let running. Not overdoing moderation, not letting things slide. The right attitude of many members.

3) Are there other places (Discord, Reddit, other social media) where you go to for the SubSim community?
No. Why would I? This place is the best of them all. Look at the manners people show in other places. It does not compare.

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?
For me, it started as a game support site for titles like Silent Hunter 3, Jane'S 688, Sub Command, Dangerous Waters. Then other games were discussed in subforums, too, and I was heavily into Steel Beasts Pro, Falcon 4. Also FSX. The website policy allowed that. From there some of us also dived into political and historical and real world discussions, cooking threads, threads on personal hobbies, religion, sometimes it turned hot, sometimes we behaved better. But usually, we got our acts together again. And that is important for the spirit of this place. While I still play a few modern naval sims amongst other games and VR, in the main Subsim.com to me is predominantly a social platform now, like social media are for others. Today, I am almost exclusively active in the General Topics section these days (and am heauvly enaged there), but what many people maybe do not know is that I passively scan a few of the other subforums as well with passive sonar. Its just that I do not go actively pinging there. Usually. Thats why most people do not know that I read there, too.

5) Anything else you'd like to say about the website or community or anything you think is important?
Thank you Neal, for having made this place possible! Thank you to the many of you doing their part to make this place what it is!

[Catfish]

Originally Posted by JudgeBread

Hello!
My name is Tommy Reinking and I'm a freelance games journalist. [...]

You from the US?

[Gorpet]

Originally Posted by Catfish

You from the US?

I,..know as soon as the sun comes up on the eastern coast, The western coast even in darkness are asking.What will sunlight bring ? Sunlight, If your worried look to the West across the ocean.

That, interview didn't last long.

But we did get a photo.