Good news for Sonalysts

Sea Demon · 01-12-08, 03:59 PM

Congratulations Sonalysts. Good work!

OneShot · 01-12-08, 04:27 PM

Interesting ... btw. for those who didnt know that particular tidbit yet ...

Quote:

Through the research program, Sonalysts first proved the feasibility of its product, then developed a prototype, and now has been awarded the contract to continue producing and marketing the teaching tool, Goldsmith said. The Navy has recognized the result as a “success story.”

DW itself was a Feasibility Study ...

Rotary Crewman · 01-12-08, 04:32 PM

Does that mean we're heading towards more controllable platforms? Including a Nimrod and Merlin Mk1?

Congrats by the way

Zachstar · 01-12-08, 07:00 PM

Don't count on it at all.

Look at the above quote. It is no wonder the graphics were not high on the list. DW was simply a way to convince the Navy this was feasible.

What they earned on DW was burger money compared to the contract they got.

Yes they may come in and say "We love our users and possibly in the future we may get more platforms out" or whatever, however, it is a waste of time and a waste of employee money. Remember that what the Navy gets and what WE get is totally different.

If the DoD allows them too.. They ought to just stop selling DW and get part of the source code out. This may allow others to get new platforms in legally.

What they MAY want to do to make a tiny bit of money is make a deal with Valve to be paid 5 thousand or so to allow all their products to be made free on steam and valve stamped on it.. This will allow some extra profit and valve will be happy to get more free stuff on Steam to get more users. Valve added HL2DM along with a demo of portal to a package that is free to Nvidia users. This is the direction I think they are taking.

It is also good for them because Sonalysts will get more users of their products which might make them be considered more in future game projects.

Otherwise I think for now... Modern submarine simulation development has all but stalled and would be dead had Dr. Sid not started his subsim project.

Congrats to yall for winning the contract! Please give us somthing to remember you by!

To be · 01-12-08, 07:27 PM

I wouldn't be so cynical, as this is the company that made not just DW, but Sub Command, Fleet Command, and 688(i) as well. It would be far easier for them to have just made a prototype, and not a game, which has the added hassles of distribution and support. Basically Sonalysts has given us these games, which gain them little, if any profit. So I would give them a little appreciation for that.

Zachstar · 01-12-08, 07:34 PM

To be fair of course. My annoyance isn't with them.. It is the industry that seems to be turning it's back of simulation development.

People like Ubisoft ought to be doing these big game simulation projects.

Anyway don't take my annoyance to mean too much... What is important now is for them to get their products out for free to keep them from drowning in the shelves of abandonware. OR get the driveable code out so DW can be maintained.

It's simple buisness. DW has had it's day and Son. has it's big contract. There is NO money in continuing to support DW.

A trickle of sales does not pay the bills for the programmers.

OlegM · 01-12-08, 08:10 PM

Indeed, how naive can you guys be? Get real. Zachstar is right, don't count on any new games or expansions. Since Jamie left SCS I don't thnk we heard a single word from anyone at Sonalysts.

Now if they won Big Money contract to develop something for the Navy they have even less motive to work on commercial products, that need to be marketed, supported, demoed, patched, and "defended" from a VERY demanding group of customers who always want more and complain what they have is not "realistic enough".

What they earned from us is peanuts, it always was peanuts, and with this contract in their pockets it will by comparison be even smaller peanuts.

For us gamers SCS is dead, we will most probably never see another game from them.

BTW this message is not a whine. I am thankful to Jamie personally, and to SCS for all the wonderful games they made and for all the good (and occassionally bad) time I had with them. DW is still on my PC and will remain.... probably for years to come.

I just lost any hope we will ever see another game or expansion from SCS. You better lose it too, and move on.

Fish · 01-13-08, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneShot

DW itself was a Feasibility Study ...

So, we worked for Sonalysts so they could lure the navy with DW? :hmm:

01-12-08, 04:32 PM	#3
Rotary Crewman Sonar Guy Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The cold part of a Helicopter, the back. Posts: 395 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Does that mean we're heading towards more controllable platforms? Including a Nimrod and Merlin Mk1? Congrats by the way __________________

01-12-08, 07:00 PM	#4
Zachstar Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Shreveport, Louisiana Posts: 1,956 Downloads: 13 Uploads: 0	Don't count on it at all. Look at the above quote. It is no wonder the graphics were not high on the list. DW was simply a way to convince the Navy this was feasible. What they earned on DW was burger money compared to the contract they got. Yes they may come in and say "We love our users and possibly in the future we may get more platforms out" or whatever, however, it is a waste of time and a waste of employee money. Remember that what the Navy gets and what WE get is totally different. If the DoD allows them too.. They ought to just stop selling DW and get part of the source code out. This may allow others to get new platforms in legally. What they MAY want to do to make a tiny bit of money is make a deal with Valve to be paid 5 thousand or so to allow all their products to be made free on steam and valve stamped on it.. This will allow some extra profit and valve will be happy to get more free stuff on Steam to get more users. Valve added HL2DM along with a demo of portal to a package that is free to Nvidia users. This is the direction I think they are taking. It is also good for them because Sonalysts will get more users of their products which might make them be considered more in future game projects. Otherwise I think for now... Modern submarine simulation development has all but stalled and would be dead had Dr. Sid not started his subsim project. Congrats to yall for winning the contract! Please give us somthing to remember you by! __________________

01-12-08, 07:34 PM	#6
Zachstar Sea Lord Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Shreveport, Louisiana Posts: 1,956 Downloads: 13 Uploads: 0	To be fair of course. My annoyance isn't with them.. It is the industry that seems to be turning it's back of simulation development. People like Ubisoft ought to be doing these big game simulation projects. Anyway don't take my annoyance to mean too much... What is important now is for them to get their products out for free to keep them from drowning in the shelves of abandonware. OR get the driveable code out so DW can be maintained. It's simple buisness. DW has had it's day and Son. has it's big contract. There is NO money in continuing to support DW. A trickle of sales does not pay the bills for the programmers. __________________

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01-12-08, 03:59 PM	#1
Sea Demon Ocean Warrior Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: USA Posts: 2,552 Downloads: 33 Uploads: 0	Congratulations Sonalysts. Good work!

01-12-08, 07:27 PM	#5
To be Electrician's Mate Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 140 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	I wouldn't be so cynical, as this is the company that made not just DW, but Sub Command, Fleet Command, and 688(i) as well. It would be far easier for them to have just made a prototype, and not a game, which has the added hassles of distribution and support. Basically Sonalysts has given us these games, which gain them little, if any profit. So I would give them a little appreciation for that.

01-12-08, 08:10 PM	#7
OlegM Engineer Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 214 Downloads: 7 Uploads: 0	Indeed, how naive can you guys be? Get real. Zachstar is right, don't count on any new games or expansions. Since Jamie left SCS I don't thnk we heard a single word from anyone at Sonalysts. Now if they won Big Money contract to develop something for the Navy they have even less motive to work on commercial products, that need to be marketed, supported, demoed, patched, and "defended" from a VERY demanding group of customers who always want more and complain what they have is not "realistic enough". What they earned from us is peanuts, it always was peanuts, and with this contract in their pockets it will by comparison be even smaller peanuts. For us gamers SCS is dead, we will most probably never see another game from them. BTW this message is not a whine. I am thankful to Jamie personally, and to SCS for all the wonderful games they made and for all the good (and occassionally bad) time I had with them. DW is still on my PC and will remain.... probably for years to come. I just lost any hope we will ever see another game or expansion from SCS. You better lose it too, and move on.