Silent Hunter V Dev Team Interview: Deeper, Kapitän, deeper. (1/19/10) - Page 3

jimmie · 01-19-10, 10:21 PM

The approach is very interesting. So they won't make a "technically correct" but sort of lifeless feeling sim like Il-2 (tho I admire Il-2 much).

The thing is, I kinda worry that with current technological limitations of programming, portraying psychological part of uboat life isn't easy... Say about Das Boot experience. If the crews on boat wearing very clean military clothes to the end and boat is so neat and roomy maybe I wouldn't feel like a part of Das Boot..

But still, I think the approach is very interesting. The other aspect is, we would like to have a solid framework for building "technically correct" sim. I hope modders will be able to add a lot of geeky stuff. For the extending campaign to 1945, I feel it would be very hard work tho. Probably it's not possible: how you add "program" for certain particular advanced weapon in which nothing close is included in the base game...

On the other note, this direction makes sense for console version in mind, I think.
My only disappointment at this moment is the BDU is yet again not interactive and important. Yeah, it's doesn't get too many attention in Das Boot but..

So hardcore simmers will incline to voice commanding and so on more? Will there be a log book in the interface?

rhaas · 01-19-10, 10:05 PM

... as a long time player of the Silent Hunter series, heck, I'm chagrined to admit that during a stint in the US Coast Guard I was playing Microprose's Silent Service for months ...

... anyhow, these days I use a Macintosh. I try to get my hands on a PC to play each new installment, but I look at all the other games that have high intensity graphics (Code of Honor, X3, Neverwinter Nights, etc. etc.) and are simply gorgeous and run so smoothly and with such reliability on my Macs ... it's all Intel these days, but the OS can either hork (technical term) things up or get out of your way nonetheless. I think OSX gets out of the way better than any Windows OS in a long long time.

... let me ask: is there any chance of a Mac port for the Silent Hunter series? Any chance at all?

... thanks for not laughing me off the forum.

ETR3(SS) · 01-19-10, 10:14 PM

Nothing personal Rhaas but every time someone mentions they have a Mac I think of this.

warning profanity

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse....gi?u=macs_cant

Sulikate · 01-19-10, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ETR3(SS)

Nothing personal Rhaas but every time someone mentions they have a Mac I think of this.

warning profanity

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse....gi?u=macs_cant

I laughed

Back-on-topic 5 cents: I'm really into the first person view and the impossibility of "warping" from station to station. I know many simply do not care for these features, but they've caught my eye.

Reece · 01-19-10, 10:37 PM

Has Neal or anyone seen an Atlantic storm with U-boat in very rough weather, every snapshot or video the sea is calm, is this Med theater only!

Also I have heard thunder but seen no lightning! (SHIV bug) I am even further concerned!!

Topo65 · 01-19-10, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reece

Has Neal or anyone seen an Atlantic storm with U-boat in very rough weather, every snapshot or video the sea is calm, is this Med theater only!

Also I have heard thunder but seen no lightning! (SHIV bug) I am even further concerned!!

+1. Never seen a screen or movie with rough weather and strongs winds in SHV.

Lanzfeld · 01-19-10, 10:38 PM

Is anyone who has been around since SH-2 or before really suprised?

FAIL.

I told you so.

Maybe I'll get it in the fail bin in 3 or 4 months for $5

Mopy · 01-19-10, 10:45 PM

Hmm some interesting choices.

I'm liking the fidelity angle and willing to take the 1943 end in exchange (for now

). I can also imagine as there is more going on in the subs, that it'll be harder and more time consuming to add additional types, so I'm willing to accept the VII's (for now).

Birthday on March 3rd, and trying to keep an open mind, I have decided to give a shot and see what happens.

brett25 · 01-19-10, 10:15 PM

This is likely an economic decision from higher up to keep the costs down to a certain level, and the devs are forced to do what they can within their allotted budget, which was probably cut by corporate. Unfortunately this is a reality in the world today-here is no money around (unless you work for goldman sachs). Im sure that this genre is considered a risk for Ubisoft, and they are balancing risk versus the future sales. However, that said, there would be no excuse if its a poor game, just that they probably needed to make some hard choices to remain withing budget. I will be a loyal customer, as long as they did a good job with what they've done. Modders should not be required to fix a game, just add more content. Its a serious bummer that there will only be type VII, but im hoping that the immersiveness, gameplay and graphics will make up for that lack. Highly detailed VII interior with lots of interaction. Please, please no arcade style gameplay!

Sailor Steve · 01-20-10, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhaas

... as a long time player of the Silent Hunter series, heck, I'm chagrined to admit that during a stint in the US Coast Guard I was playing Microprose's Silent Service for months ...... let me ask: is there any chance of a Mac port for the Silent Hunter series? Any chance at all?

... thanks for not laughing me off the forum.

Well, it looks like somebody tried to do just that. I played Silent Service on an Atari 520ST, and did a lot of work on it besides. I noted at the time that the Atari was way ahead of that generation of PCs, and I really wish I could see where they would be now. Unfortunately they kind of sucked at marketing, and pretty much put themselves out of business. The desktop editor I still use was originally created for the Atari, and I still think it's worlds better than anything else I've tried.

That said, I don't see UBI creating a Mac version of any SH, but then I'm not exactly an insider on these things. On the other hand, with people upgrading all the time it shouldn't be too expensive to pick up a machine that will run at least SH3. Of course I'm despairing at barely being able to run SH4 right now, and SH5 looks like a real loss until I can come up with the money for a brand-new toy.

Anyway, I just wanted to say WELCOME ABOARD!

FIREWALL · 01-20-10, 12:13 AM

SH5 will be a big seller.

On Ebays bargain bin.

msxyz · 01-20-10, 04:09 AM

I wonder if the differences between the various evolutionary steps of type VII will also be visible in interiors (realistically different machinery, electronic equipment, etc) or if they will use same interior for all the types.

rhaas · 01-20-10, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Well, it looks like somebody tried to do just that. I played Silent Service on an Atari 520ST, and did a lot of work on it besides. I noted at the time that the Atari was way ahead of that generation of PCs, and I really wish I could see where they would be now. Unfortunately they kind of sucked at marketing, and pretty much put themselves out of business. The desktop editor I still use was originally created for the Atari, and I still think it's worlds better than anything else I've tried.
[snip]
Anyway, I just wanted to say WELCOME ABOARD!

Been here a while, lurking, just like a ... well ... never mind.

Thank you for the pragmatic feedback ... I felt the same, but thought that it would be worth asking the question. Frankly, IMO, the lifetime gamers, are those who appreciate a well rendered game world, are less driven by the number of polygons and other sheer technical factors, but prefer the depth of thought, responsiveness, and stability resulting from a robust software engineering process. Substance over flash.

And anyone who quotes Heinlein is aces in my book.

My fav: "A man held a makework political job, polishing the cannon in front of the county courthouse. It kept him fed and let him put a little money aside, but he wasn't getting ahead in the world. So one day he withdrew his life's savings, bought a brass cannon --and went into business for himself." -- Robert A. Heinlein, The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress

Be well.

Richard

Sailor Steve · 01-20-10, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhaas

And anyone who quotes Heinlein is aces in my book.

My all-time favorite is from Time Enough For Love: "The optimist believes we live in the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist is afraid he might be right."

@ jclasper: WELCOME ABOARD!

JScones · 01-20-10, 11:59 PM

Or my favourite, a pessimist is what an optimist calls a realist (or a realist is what an optimist calls a pessimist depending on how you read it).

01-19-10, 10:05 PM	#2
rhaas Nub Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	... excuse the possibly profane question, but ... ... as a long time player of the Silent Hunter series, heck, I'm chagrined to admit that during a stint in the US Coast Guard I was playing Microprose's Silent Service for months ... ... anyhow, these days I use a Macintosh. I try to get my hands on a PC to play each new installment, but I look at all the other games that have high intensity graphics (Code of Honor, X3, Neverwinter Nights, etc. etc.) and are simply gorgeous and run so smoothly and with such reliability on my Macs ... it's all Intel these days, but the OS can either hork (technical term) things up or get out of your way nonetheless. I think OSX gets out of the way better than any Windows OS in a long long time. ... let me ask: is there any chance of a Mac port for the Silent Hunter series? Any chance at all? ... thanks for not laughing me off the forum.

01-19-10, 10:14 PM	#3
ETR3(SS) Ocean Warrior Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Between test depth and periscope depth Posts: 3,021 Downloads: 175 Uploads: 16	Nothing personal Rhaas but every time someone mentions they have a Mac I think of this. warning profanity http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse....gi?u=macs_cant __________________ USS Kentucky SSBN 737 (G) Comms Div 2003-2006 Qualified 19 November 03 Yes I was really on a submarine.

01-19-10, 10:37 PM	#5
Reece CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Down Under Posts: 34,684 Downloads: 171 Uploads: 0	Has Neal or anyone seen an Atlantic storm with U-boat in very rough weather, every snapshot or video the sea is calm, is this Med theater only! Also I have heard thunder but seen no lightning! (SHIV bug) I am even further concerned!! __________________ *Sub captains go down with their ship!*

01-19-10, 10:15 PM	#9
brett25 Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oakland CA, USA Posts: 737 Downloads: 570 Uploads: 0	This is likely an economic decision from higher up to keep the costs down to a certain level, and the devs are forced to do what they can within their allotted budget, which was probably cut by corporate. Unfortunately this is a reality in the world today-here is no money around (unless you work for goldman sachs). Im sure that this genre is considered a risk for Ubisoft, and they are balancing risk versus the future sales. However, that said, there would be no excuse if its a poor game, just that they probably needed to make some hard choices to remain withing budget. I will be a loyal customer, as long as they did a good job with what they've done. Modders should not be required to fix a game, just add more content. Its a serious bummer that there will only be type VII, but im hoping that the immersiveness, gameplay and graphics will make up for that lack. Highly detailed VII interior with lots of interaction. Please, please no arcade style gameplay! __________________ http://shmf.larsbundgaard.dk/index.p...1tn5&board=7.0

01-20-10, 12:13 AM	#11
FIREWALL Eternal Patrol Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CATALINA IS. SO . CAL USA Posts: 10,108 Downloads: 511 Uploads: 0	SH5 will be a big seller. On Ebays bargain bin. __________________ RIP FIREWALL I Play GWX. Silent Hunter Who ???

01-19-10, 10:21 PM	#1
jimmie Lieutenant Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Japan Posts: 259 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The approach is very interesting. So they won't make a "technically correct" but sort of lifeless feeling sim like Il-2 (tho I admire Il-2 much). The thing is, I kinda worry that with current technological limitations of programming, portraying psychological part of uboat life isn't easy... Say about Das Boot experience. If the crews on boat wearing very clean military clothes to the end and boat is so neat and roomy maybe I wouldn't feel like a part of Das Boot.. But still, I think the approach is very interesting. The other aspect is, we would like to have a solid framework for building "technically correct" sim. I hope modders will be able to add a lot of geeky stuff. For the extending campaign to 1945, I feel it would be very hard work tho. Probably it's not possible: how you add "program" for certain particular advanced weapon in which nothing close is included in the base game... On the other note, this direction makes sense for console version in mind, I think. My only disappointment at this moment is the BDU is yet again not interactive and important. Yeah, it's doesn't get too many attention in Das Boot but.. So hardcore simmers will incline to voice commanding and so on more? Will there be a log book in the interface?

01-19-10, 10:38 PM	#7
Lanzfeld Grey Wolf Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: New Tripoli, PA Posts: 994 Downloads: 64 Uploads: 0	Is anyone who has been around since SH-2 or before really suprised? FAIL. I told you so. Maybe I'll get it in the fail bin in 3 or 4 months for $5

01-19-10, 10:45 PM	#8
Mopy Torpedoman Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 118 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Hmm some interesting choices. I'm liking the fidelity angle and willing to take the 1943 end in exchange (for now ). I can also imagine as there is more going on in the subs, that it'll be harder and more time consuming to add additional types, so I'm willing to accept the VII's (for now). Birthday on March 3rd, and trying to keep an open mind, I have decided to give a shot and see what happens.

01-20-10, 04:09 AM	#12
msxyz Engineer Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 218 Downloads: 14 Uploads: 0	I wonder if the differences between the various evolutionary steps of type VII will also be visible in interiors (realistically different machinery, electronic equipment, etc) or if they will use same interior for all the types. __________________ ...Sinking deeper into the cold, dark oceans of life

01-20-10, 11:59 PM	#15
JScones Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 5,501 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	Or my favourite, a pessimist is what an optimist calls a realist (or a realist is what an optimist calls a pessimist depending on how you read it). Last edited by JScones; 01-21-10 at 12:16 AM.