PT Boats in Focus: Interview

[GT182]

End of the year release is still pretty vague. It sounds like a tossup to me whether I buy it or not. Personally the scripted missions isn't too appetizing to me either. I would like to see a demo to get a better idea of game play before I decide to buy or not.

[SurfnSea]

Seems we've steered away from another missing feature-Mission Editor. If I recall, at one time MP was not going to be part of the game either.

Also, to help judge if a game is/or going to be to my liking, I pay attention to what the company does NOT hype; you know if the game has a great feature it'll get hyped to increase interest. It's interesting that the way the company promotes this game is that it makes potential buyers, for right or wrong, hesitant to purchase right away if not sooner-to take a wait and see position. You'd think talk about this game would help create interest so we will pre-order or start whining about when the thing will be released and who's got it first etc. This game isn't creating that feel. Which I think is in part due to the instincts of us naval simmers; our feeling of apprehension at the unmodability, no ME, 'scripted' etc.

Perhaps some of the pre-judging is because some of us are taking a close look and not being impressed enough to save up for it and we can direct our attention at upcoming games that are worth our time to look closer. Maybe some of us are looking for the company that actually makes a quality naval sim that incorporates the features we're always asking for, doesn't treat us like dirt, and doesn't need numerous patches etc.

It'll be interesting to see how this game plays when it's finally released.

[EAST]

Well said.

[iambecomelife]

Originally Posted by SurfnSea

Seems we've steered away from another missing feature-Mission Editor. If I recall, at one time MP was not going to be part of the game either.

Also, to help judge if a game is/or going to be to my liking, I pay attention to what the company does NOT hype; you know if the game has a great feature it'll get hyped to increase interest. It's interesting that the way the company promotes this game is that it makes potential buyers, for right or wrong, hesitant to purchase right away if not sooner-to take a wait and see position. You'd think talk about this game would help create interest so we will pre-order or start whining about when the thing will be released and who's got it first etc. This game isn't creating that feel. Which I think is in part due to the instincts of us naval simmers; our feeling of apprehension at the unmodability, no ME, 'scripted' etc.

Perhaps some of the pre-judging is because some of us are taking a close look and not being impressed enough to save up for it and we can direct our attention at upcoming games that are worth our time to look closer. Maybe some of us are looking for the company that actually makes a quality naval sim that incorporates the features we're always asking for, doesn't treat us like dirt, and doesn't need numerous patches etc.

It'll be interesting to see how this game plays when it's finally released.

No, I don't think so. All critics of this game suffer from "SELF GRATITIFICATION AND EGO WRAPPED IN A WEAKLIY INTELLECTUALIZED JUSTIFICATION!" to quote one of Subsim's finest minds. :rotfl: How dare we criticize the game unless we're making a sim of our own?


Anyways, given that so many new games nowadays retail for $49.99 in the U.S., I expect some pretty substantial replay value if I purchase one. I had no problem paying this price for SH4 since for all its faults it had substantial graphics improvements, a new theatre, and most importantly the same dynamic career mode that made SH3 a success. If the reports about this sim are correct, your PT boat is doomed to repeat the same old missions in the same general locations unless you play multiplayer or someone releases an enhancement permitting dynamic/semi-dynamic play. IIRC Akella was involved with Sea Dogs/POTC which in my opinion successfully balanced scripted and dynamic campaign elements; it is a little surprising to see them release something like this. PT Boats reminds me of a recent helicopter sim (name escapes me at the moment) that had great graphics and a lot of potential but a scripted career mode that seemed to have been tacked on as an afterthought. Since the game will lack replayability out of the box and since it will take modders several months (at least) to devise a mission generator/dynamic campaign if it's at all possible, why reward the producers by paying the release cost right away?

[GT182]

Yep, my money will be better spent on redoing the dash of my 66 GTO. Wood dash insert is only 49.00.

So I'll save .95 if KOTS costs 49.95 when it finally comes out. LOL

[stabiz]

Bah, no dynamico no purchasico.

[hyperion2206]

I don't think that no dynamic campaign is really a drawback. I mean German S-Boats could only stay out for ca. 2 days (maximum) before they had to return and I don't think that other PT boats more fuel. If you look at the S-boats: They left the harbour, went to the British coast, waited for a convoy to pass, attacked and then they headed back home. They didn't patrol the ocean for weeks like the U-Boats.
Therefore a scripted campaign with various missions is just logical.

[Kapitan_Phillips]

Originally Posted by EAST

Because you don't own, and haven't purchased a game in the last <time period since you decided you don't like anything scripted> that has scripted content. Uh huh.

lol...little more than self-gratification and ego wrapped in a weakly intellectualized justification.

Why don't you go make the game that no developer has the will, ability, intelligence, what have you, to make. Write out your design spec, pitch it, fund it, hire for it, create it. Not that you would actually ever do that, but I do wish you could experience some punk*ss climbing on his soapbox proclaiming that your game sux because you didn't do <insert your pet issue here>.

The point is this: if you discourage people from purchasing a game in this very small and relatively unproductive gaming niche, you become a large part of the reason there aren't more games created for it. If it sells well but has enough communication from the community, you not only may see another game from them, but you will see changes. Witness the changes from Silent Hunter 2 - Silent Hunter 3: all community driven. But trust me, not from the whiners and complainers, but from the communicators.

I'll stop here in case I'm guilty of "trying to teach a pig to read".

The whole point of this forum is to post your own opinions about the game, regardless whether or not anyone agrees. If people choose not to buy this game because of its scripted nature, then that's their choice. Dynamic content in a naval game, to many people, is critically important not just for replay value, but for immersion.

So instead of calling people pigs, why dont you post what you think about the game, rather than the person who posted above you?

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by hyperion2206

I don't think that no dynamic campaign is really a drawback. I mean German S-Boats could only stay out for ca. 2 days (maximum) before they had to return and I don't think that other PT boats more fuel. If you look at the S-boats: They left the harbour, went to the British coast, waited for a convoy to pass, attacked and then they headed back home. They didn't patrol the ocean for weeks like the U-Boats.
Therefore a scripted campaign with various missions is just logical.

The big issue (for me atleast) is re-playability. The game is fun once, then you know what is going to happen the second time. I guess if you like playing the same mission over and over... But you may be right, a torpedo boat game is going to be very limited on what you can do.

[Kapitan_Phillips]

I'll still give this game a go. Are there plans to release a demo or something like that? If what I can do on the boat itself is impressive and realistic, I'll still go for it. Besides, if they release a mission editor, we can rely on Subsim to make some interesting new ones for us.

[nikimcbee]

I wish I knew more about the Soviet Navy in WW2. They were pretty much a non-factor.

[dudalb]

For me, the lack of a mission editor is a definent negative.

[nikimcbee]

Have they made any progress on this game, it seems like it has dropped off the map.

[GlobalExplorer]

Well, it's not like we haven't seen this before. Anyone here who followed WWII RTS - Battlefield Command - Theatre of War? Took 5 bloody years to finish and when it came out it was without soul / replayability. Now they are working on a sequel, fwiy I guess it might actually be good this time.

Now - just my personal opinion of course - what merits does this game display so far that it deserves an own forum? So far I dont see anything here but sweat and tears.

Just meant as constructive criticism.

[CaptHawkeye]

And so Akella continues the great developer trend of trying to turn a PC game into a console game for no reason other than someone probably misread the demographics charts. I bet they even blew off millions of dollars just making the look good too. Idiots.