10, must have, items for SH4

[Onkel Neal]

My 10 Must Have items list:

1. A working stadimeter, as the US subs had, where a dual image is lowered until the mast height is even with the surface of the ocean.
2. Complete red-light shading: SH3 did this well in 80% of the screens, but the Ship ID log and the UZO blind me when playing at night in a dark room.
3. More realistic escort visual abilities: US subs frequently slid into convoys at ranges of 2000 yards without detection on moonless or overcast nights. US subs also used sailing fleets and junks as camouflage.
4. Neutral Russian ships – very important along the coast to ID ships, sinking a Russian neutral should cause a skipper to be relieved of command, career over.
5. Coral reefs, shoals, rocks, and shallows should abound. Some not marked on the charts. Big part of the US sub war was trying to avoid running aground.
6. Radio traffic and more of it. HQ does most of the talking, sending Ultras, convoy info, and area reports
7. No “Enemy Target Destroyed” messages
8. A new compartment to view; such as the engine room, mess, or torpedo room, with 3D crew.
9. Tokyo Rose broadcasts – and lots of them!
10. Phosphorescence of sub and torpedo wakes. In certain areas, at certain times, US subs at high speed would leave a glowing trail. This would be a good tactical consideration that adds to the gameplay.
11. Large-scale naval engagements, such as Midway, Battle of Coral Sea, Battle of the Philippine Sea, the Okinawa Invasion, etc.

Err...yes! Number 11 sounds very good. Get the large battles invloved of Midway etc. Even if you're a spectator and aren't directly asked to intervene...can you imagine a crippled destroyer from the battle happening across your path and BAM! you catch him off guard. I love randomness like that...

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

My 10 Must Have items list:7. No “Enemy Target Destroyed” messages

Looking over the convoy documents brings me to add: No "Dud Torpedo, Sir!" messages; they listed almost all duds as misses.

And for that matter, no "Torpedo Hit" or "Torpedo Missed" messages. I think a captain could figure that out for himself.

9. Tokyo Rose broadcasts – and lots of them!

I like that, but maybe for the record player downloads.

10. Phosphorescence of sub and torpedo wakes. In certain areas, at certain times, US subs at high speed would leave a glowing trail. This would be a good tactical consideration that adds to the gameplay.

Now THAT would be cool. Even if there was no phosphorescence, one of the things SHI had that SHIII misses is the fact that even after the foam died down the wake would be a different color form the rest of the water for miles. Planes would follow the wake to the sub.

[Mulder]

Originally Posted by mfykes
2. I don’t need 3-D crew members; I can do that in my head! Besides, the more 3-D images of crew members, the more power that’s needed to render them as individuals.

Dont need it? fine...go play SH II

[Highbury]

Originally Posted by mfykes

2. I don’t need 3-D crew members; I can do that in my head! Besides, the more 3-D images of crew members, the more power that’s needed to render them as individuals. This includes all of their individual and random movements. It’s either a “SIMS� game or a Submarine war game. It shouldn’t be both. It’s starting to turn into an interactive WWII movie. What’s next, the smell of fuel oil in your living room?

Think you missed the pulse of the crowd here with this one. Don't think too many of us would ever willingly give up our 3D crew.

I am also sure that almost all of us would consider a small spray can of "Diesel fuel scent" added with the game to be a major bonus for immersion!