SH5 customer feedback

GerritJ9 · 06-19-10, 10:22 AM

I would have bought SH5 but did not, for several reasons. Fisrt, the SE Asia-Pacific scene is of far more interest to me (though I did buy SH3) and I hoped for more expansions for SH4- IJN, RN and RNethN to cover all navies that operated subs in that theatre. But it was the Atlantic again. Next, only one sub and only until 1943. HUH? Did the war end in 1943??? Even then, I probably would have bought SH5 if only to support the genre. But UBI slapping on their excessively restrictive DRM was the sale killer- I don't particularly like the DRM on SES Distant Guns and Jutland, even though it is by no means as restrictive as UBI's. Plus, I have not forgotten the IL2 Sturmovik 4.05m/Boonty Box fiasco- excellent way to treat and alienate customers! So, UBI, kiss one sale goodbye.
Although I did not buy SH5, I have played it briefly on a mate's computer so I have taken a look at it. Yes, the graphics leave SH3 for dead; they are also better than SH4's, but not by much in my opinion. The manual is a disgrace for such a complex sim- I'd almost say "WHAT manual?" The manuals that came with SH3 and SH4 were streets ahead of this one. And even after patch 1.2, it still has bugs- ships colliding for no apparent reason, for example.
And yes, the mods have taken care of quite a few bugs etc. But that should be UBI's job, not theirs. Patch 1.2 came with much less than was announced at first, and after a considerable delay (though the Russians did get it earlier). Will a patch 1.3 be released? UBI won't say- their silence is deafening.
Then there are such silly and avoidable errors such as "Emden"'s armament- half of her eight 15cm guns are missing, as are her torpedo tube mounts. A minor point, and no doubt mods can (fairly) easily correct this- but again, the devs could and should have spotted and corrected this during their testing.
SH3 and SH4 had their share of bugs, and SH5 has continued the tradition of being released without sufficient proper testing. UBI never learns, it seems. Apparently the pirates don't even bother with SH5 any more- surely a sign that the sim is not worth persevering with. All in all, I'm glad I gave SH5 a miss; I'll stick with SH3 and SH4. Perhaps in three years or so, if/when DRM has been removed, the price has dropped and UBI have patched out all the bugs it will be worth buying- but I'm not holding my breath.

View Poll Results: How has the design and quality of SH5 affected your purchase decisions?
I have not purchased SH5 because of the "always on line" requirement	82	38.68%
I have not purchased SH5 because of poor quality and/or design	69	32.55%
I have purchased SH5 but I am unhappy with the "always on line" requirement	42	19.81%
I have purchased SH5 but I am unhappy with the product quality/design	61	28.77%
I will purchase SH5 if the "always on line" requirement is removed	47	22.17%
I will purchase SH5 if quality and design issues are addressed	29	13.68%
I will not purchase any future UBI product with an "always on line" requirement	71	33.49%
I will not purchase any future UBI products under any circumstances	16	7.55%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 212. You may not vote on this poll

06-19-10, 10:22 AM	#11
GerritJ9 Sonar Guy Join Date: May 2007 Location: Netherlands Posts: 389 Downloads: 47 Uploads: 6	I would have bought SH5 but did not, for several reasons. Fisrt, the SE Asia-Pacific scene is of far more interest to me (though I did buy SH3) and I hoped for more expansions for SH4- IJN, RN and RNethN to cover all navies that operated subs in that theatre. But it was the Atlantic again. Next, only one sub and only until 1943. HUH? Did the war end in 1943??? Even then, I probably would have bought SH5 if only to support the genre. But UBI slapping on their excessively restrictive DRM was the sale killer- I don't particularly like the DRM on SES Distant Guns and Jutland, even though it is by no means as restrictive as UBI's. Plus, I have not forgotten the IL2 Sturmovik 4.05m/Boonty Box fiasco- excellent way to treat and alienate customers! So, UBI, kiss one sale goodbye. Although I did not buy SH5, I have played it briefly on a mate's computer so I have taken a look at it. Yes, the graphics leave SH3 for dead; they are also better than SH4's, but not by much in my opinion. The manual is a disgrace for such a complex sim- I'd almost say "WHAT manual?" The manuals that came with SH3 and SH4 were streets ahead of this one. And even after patch 1.2, it still has bugs- ships colliding for no apparent reason, for example. And yes, the mods have taken care of quite a few bugs etc. But that should be UBI's job, not theirs. Patch 1.2 came with much less than was announced at first, and after a considerable delay (though the Russians did get it earlier). Will a patch 1.3 be released? UBI won't say- their silence is deafening. Then there are such silly and avoidable errors such as "Emden"'s armament- half of her eight 15cm guns are missing, as are her torpedo tube mounts. A minor point, and no doubt mods can (fairly) easily correct this- but again, the devs could and should have spotted and corrected this during their testing. SH3 and SH4 had their share of bugs, and SH5 has continued the tradition of being released without sufficient proper testing. UBI never learns, it seems. Apparently the pirates don't even bother with SH5 any more- surely a sign that the sim is not worth persevering with. All in all, I'm glad I gave SH5 a miss; I'll stick with SH3 and SH4. Perhaps in three years or so, if/when DRM has been removed, the price has dropped and UBI have patched out all the bugs it will be worth buying- but I'm not holding my breath. __________________ Quamvis Patiens Acris My SH3/SH4 mods: http://www.gamefront.com/files/user/GerritJ9