Demo gameplay + commentary

[Sean C]

If you keep at least as much manual control as in the video above as an option, I will buy it.

[Lanzfeld]

I just downloaded it and played really quick and it looks promising. Keep in mind the sonar diagram is NOT relative to your ship but it’s actually on true north. So if you have the submarine off of your nose it’s not necessarily straight up on the sonar diagram. It’s a little confusing.

So far I like it but it seems like the submarines are super aggressive. In real life they would be trying to hide from the destroyer but in the simulation so far they press the attack on the convoy while you are actively pursuing them. Maybe this can be an adjustable realism setting?

[Artur Salwarowski]

Hi there,

Thank you very much for the feedback. Yes, the current AI is slightly on the agressive side, because of some issues that we have encountered in mid-development of the demo.

When we first implemented the AI, it had more maneuvering variety and the agression level was more or less what we wanted. However, as development progressed, certain issues popped up which made it difficult for the U-boat to re-engage the convoy once you pressed it hard enough. It often happened that the U-boat was unable to get a decent shot even if you didn't really pursue it, and it seemed wrong not to have a challange, or at least some pressure - the game got boring if there was no feel of immediate danger

However, in the full game we will have multiple U-boats, and they will have 'levels of temperament'. There will be Kaleuns who attack agressively, and those who will lie in wait and make various confusing maneuvers.

In general, the AI is far from ready, so don't worry - it will be much better once we finish.

[Lanzfeld]

Killed the sub. Don’t know how to post pictures here.

[Artur Salwarowski]

Wow, that's quick

I thought it would take you a little longer till the first kill, but cheers!

[Lanzfeld]

I might have been lucky. I just started a plot and then I lead him a little using my eyeball. Didn’t use the TRR graph thing. It is difficult to operate several stations at once but that comes with practice.

Having fun so far.

One quick suggestion. The little picture of the sub that appears when you drop is a little vague. Can’t tell where the drops are going. Maybe a top down view would be better?

[PL_Andrev]

@Arthur,

This game is AWESOME.
Thank you for release a demo to test this game.
Amazing, I missed that since old Destroyer Command.

Unfortunatelly there are some missing features which I want to show.
Maybe you add them...

Difficulty level:
easy mode with auto-update CIC contacts
hard mode with no uboat camera when drop DC

CIC & SONAR:
I missed ship icone at CIC and SONAR to know where ship is going.
(Maybe normal difficulty only?)

Control:
WSAD is much more "friendly" than type 023 course again and again.
Similar with speed.

Ships:
More ships: tankers, linears, troop transports
More sinking effects: explosions, burs etc,

Sonar:
Not sure passive hydro is working (my scrollwhell doesn't work).
Maybe player is able to listen uboat propeller itself?

Mission end:
+ Don't know why mission is over after 25 minutes.
+ (No damages for uboat, 4 of 9 ships destroyed).

AI:
+ Let Ai try attack player - my DD stopped and nothing happened.

Next proposals:
+ Mission editor (build big convoy, weather control)
+ Multiplayer co-op mode with escort cooperation (one DD = one player)

Next expansions:
+ Multiplayer mode DD vs SUB (one ship = one player)
+ Pacific theatre

Post scriptum:
+ Background music is absolutelly gorgeous.