Chance of an Expansion?

[Karasunx]

Even if expansions aren't planned, that would be an interesting route to take with Silent Hunter. Other sims that I know of (Rise of Flight, Railroad Sims) add other vehicles and features in expansion formats. It makes sense, at least in my mind, trying to support a niche game has got to be costly so why not develop smaller add ons that people can pay for if they really want them. True, people would probably complain that these "added features" should have been in the initial release, but paying 10-20$ for what someone spent 100's of man hours on would be worth it. Not to mention extending and improving the life of what was a good base game.

[tonschk]

I agree with Karasunx

[janh]

^^
That way you an keep the simulation basic and simple for those who are not very deep in the subject and would be satisfied with 1 sub model and cruising around a bit. And those who are truly (sub)sim* fans, you could offer additionally the II, IX and XXI boats for $10 each, or a "Dönitz Addon" with some additional gimicks like a strategic screen to change wolfpack placements or so.

That way you could make do with a base price of $40, and with all addons, you'd end up in the premium section of elite sims and strategy games of ~$80.

All that would be missing to still take that route for SHV would be (a) a patch to fix all the problems and bugs from cinema like explosions, exaggerated campaign goals, get working AI subs and wolfpacks with proper AI, improve ship and plane AI, and add the missing 43-45 part. And then take it on from there.

Maybe long term this thing would even open the route to the development of a new Destroyer Command, or a new "Fighting Steel" with strategic campaign level on a full Atlantic map? Never seen before! The engine would surely be suitable for it.

[TheDarkWraith]

Originally Posted by janh

^^
All that would be missing to still take that route for SHV would be (a) a patch to fix all the problems and bugs from cinema like explosions, exaggerated campaign goals, get working AI subs and wolfpacks with proper AI, improve ship and plane AI, and add the missing 43-45 part. And then take it on from there.

Not tooting my own horn here but if you haven't tried IRAI then you are missing out. There is a drastic and noticeable change in all the AI with it.

[tonschk]

Slient Hunter 5 have a lot of potential and is getting better and better day by day

[janh]

Originally Posted by TheDarkWraith

Not tooting my own horn here but if you haven't tried IRAI then you are missing out. There is a drastic and noticeable change in all the AI with it.

For the time being, I am still an onlooker. OSP-DRM is still a kind of huge salt grain that holds me back. There is just too many other games out there that can eat my very rare free time these days, but don't come with it. If have been porting a big scripting project from OFP days to ARMA2 now that I switched a year ago, and stops me from buying anything new until I am done with that.

But I will keep watching progress and changes here. Surely by the time some modders announced "added new sub types", "added all GWX ships", and "added complete, dynamic 43-45 campaign", I might convince myself to buy. I am fully aware of your efforts with the AI, and it does look very promising. Would be nice if some of that would make it into stock via a patch, and if the dev's could do something to further the interaction with AI subs and wolfpacks (reaction to contact reports etc). That part just played to big of a role in the Atlantic.