Features in SH1 and Aces That Have Since "Disappeared"

[Capt. Morgan]

SH1:

Thermoclines were randomized, you never knew if there was one, and at what depth, until you made a test dive. They also changed depth over time/distance.

Raising the periscope on the surface gave you greater visual range.

Ran beautifully on Linux via Dosbox (and Winders too, I guess)

Now Flight Simulator, They know how to upgrade their sim. I've had most every version from Flight simulator II (for the Commie 64) to Microsoft's FS9, and in every new release, they've always just added new features, and never removed old ones.

[kptn_kaiserhof]

and the very first 3d control room but no crew

[d@rk51d3]

Remember getting prop and/or shaft damage that would give your position away, if you tried to sneak away while damaged?

[V.C. Sniper]

Both have simple graphics that doesn't require the amount of time needed to build and maintain like the graphics of today, therefore more time can be spent on adding new realistic/simulation features.



SAD. Developers have to reinvent the wheel everytime a new game is being developed and forgot much of what was learned from building previous games.

[FIREWALL]

Originally Posted by V.C. Sniper

Both have simple graphics that doesn't require the amount of time needed to build and maintain like the graphics of today, therefore more time can be spent on adding new realistic/simulation features.



SAD. Developers have to reinvent the wheel everytime a new game is being developed and forgot much of what was learned from building previous games.

I had to only read to your post #10 to get to what I had planned to say. While graphics were what they were for the times, content was there.

As computers improved they went for the "GLITZ" and passed on the content.

It's a shame what could've been.

[stoneys-nutz]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Anything is theoretically possible. It really depends on how modable the game is. If it can be done, it probably will be.

I really do hope so, because the game deserves better.

Originally Posted by FIREWALL

I had to only read to your post #10 to get to what I had planned to say. While graphics were what they were for the times, content was there.

As computers improved they went for the "GLITZ" and passed on the content.

It's a shame what could've been.

Could not agree more, eye candy over content will be the death of PC games, a good point well made.

[the_tyrant]

I can almost imagine what happened:
marketing guy a: What games are popular these days? and why?
marketing guy b: Crysis is pretty popular, mainly because of the graphics.
marketing guy a: Good graphics, what else?
marketing guy b: Well Mass Effect sold well, the RPG elements proved to be popular towards nerds with no life.
marketing guy a: Ok, so we add RPG elements, what else?
marketing guy b: Battlestations pacific was well accepted by gamers, it replaced realism with action and explosions
marketing guy a: Good, so we will tell the developers of Silent Hunter 5 to make the graphics better, add RPG elements and action and explosions to what they already have



2 months later:

developers: OMG this game takes up 10 dvds, and another 500 GBs to install.
marketing people: remove everything, just keep the awesome graphics, RPG elements, action and explosions.

[Badger Finn]

AOTD - Grid map still got it. Its laminated. Reading the first post its unreal how much has dissapeared no wonder im always tweaking and hunting around for this or that mod combo these days...

Bizzare...

[Schwieger]

Originally Posted by the_tyrant

I can almost imagine what happened:
marketing guy a: What games are popular these days? and why?
marketing guy b: Crysis is pretty popular, mainly because of the graphics.
marketing guy a: Good graphics, what else?
marketing guy b: Well Mass Effect sold well, the RPG elements proved to be popular towards nerds with no life.
marketing guy a: Ok, so we add RPG elements, what else?
marketing guy b: Battlestations pacific was well accepted by gamers, it replaced realism with action and explosions
marketing guy a: Good, so we will tell the developers of Silent Hunter 5 to make the graphics better, add RPG elements and action and explosions to what they already have



2 months later:

developers: OMG this game takes up 10 dvds, and another 500 GBs to install.
marketing people: remove everything, just keep the awesome graphics, RPG elements, action and explosions.

What Ubisoft doesn't realize is that most people who play subsims don't care for all the "awesome graphics, RPG elements, action and explosions"

Quite honestly, with what they gave us with SH5, they should have made a shooter. I remember seeing SH5 in stores not too long ago. I picked it up, looked at it, set it down and walked the other way.

[Lanzfeld]

This is sad as ****!

I fell in love with subsims for all the above reasons and now all those reasons are gone because some needledicks feel they always have to reinvent the wheel to impress the A.D.D. idiots of the world.

I want Aces back with modern graphics...THAT IS ALL!!!!

[sayaret]

SH1 lot of stock and even more custom made historic scenarios.

[Subnuts]

I've just updated the list, including recommendations from you guys and a few other things I've thought of overnight.

Man. How freaking depressing. The quick mission generators from Aces and SH1 were both awesome - you could set the weather, escort size, the possibility of air cover, enemy skill, the time of day...but BAM! It suddenly disappeared in SH3.

[goldorak]

Originally Posted by Subnuts

I've just updated the list, including recommendations from you guys and a few other things I've thought of overnight.

Man. How freaking depressing. The quick mission generators from Aces and SH1 were both awesome - you could set the weather, escort size, the possibility of air cover, enemy skill, the time of day...but BAM! It suddenly disappeared in SH3.

The quick mission generator was lost, but a dynamic campaign was gained.
I still remember how people were up in arms telling, shouting like they wouldn't buy SH 3 if it had scripted missions or a mission editor.
They wanted a dynamic campaign. Complete randomness. They got it, Ubisoft pushed back SH 3 to include what many of the hardcore group wanted.
Really good games, good simulations can be developed without having a dynamic campaign. In most cases a mission generator like that in SH I, or like that found in Wings over Vietnam is pretty good.
DW was "ostricized" by many in this community because god help us it didn't have a dynamic campaign. All the while ignoring the fact that the game had an extremely powerfull mission editor.
Damned if you do damned if you don't.
This is what game developers must be thinking.

[Subnuts]

Originally Posted by goldorak

The quick mission generator was lost, but a dynamic campaign was gained.

SH1 and Aces had a random campaign in the vein of SH3 and SH4. None of them are truly "dynamic" (like Falcon 4) in that sinking aircraft carriers or large tankers doesn't alter the outcome of the war one bit.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Lanzfeld

I want Aces back with modern graphics...THAT IS ALL!!!!

People said as much when SH3 was under development. And I agree, but I have grown to like the crew management, especially in SH4. I also of course want modern sound.

To add to the list, though:

Aces: Bottoming the boat would actually make you harder to detect. On the downside you could get stuck in the mud and not be able to get unstuck, so you and your crew died.

Aces also had the most realistic damage-control screen ever - a blueprint of the boat, with damaged circled, and clicking on the circles took you to a simple report by the Chief telling you what, where and when.

SH1: The tear-off calendar with lunar phases, moon and sun rise and set times, and the weather.

SH1 also had super-thick fog in dead calm weather, as described already for Aces, and it was wonderful.