Silent Hunter 6

[mookiemookie]

No more Ubisoft SH titles, please. They've driven the series into the ground.

[Zedi]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

No more Ubisoft SH titles, please. They've driven the series into the ground.

Amen. SH series should stop now, no more under Ubi logo. Fix what can be fixed and let it go. At least I will never buy another Ubi product, never again.

Maybe one day some indie company will build another subsim from scratch, would be nice to hire the best moders from subsim.com to help on that. Only then we will have assurance for a quality game with a quality support.

I've got to say. If I were given the option before the release of SHV saying 'You can have type VII with interiors, but no other subs, or all the subs from SHIV, but with SH4/3 Style interiors. I would choose the full interior option.

It adds a great deal of immersion to the game, feeling that you really are 'there'.

The problem is, they didn't do it very well.

I'm fairly confident that we'd all love it if the crew actually did something realistic, instead of just loafing around in their beds, if when orders were issued you saw the effects of your actions. (Eg, CRASH DIVE and suddenly all the crew in the rear of the boat run to the forward sections, how awesome would that be?)

Also, if they got the one sub right! It seems to me that they 'beefed' up the VII. To me it just feels like it is much more durable than it historically should have been. Plus the absolutely absurd passive abilities that make it into a 24 knot fast, uber quick turning, almost impossible to detect monster sub leave me feeling that they really didn't put the effort in.

Sure, perhaps casual gamers want that kind of thing, but to be honest. I think Ubi don't realise that they could probably casual up SHV all they want, but the casual recreational gamers just don't want to play a simulator. If you look at almost every simulation game out there (or rather, that used to be out there, sim games are dying...quickly) they were designed and made for a niche market. People have mentioned B17 - The mighty Eighth. I had that game, and played it to death. Yes, it took me about 2 weeks and pinning the manual to my forehead to get to grips with how to play it, but it offered a massively rewarding experience, and I recommended it to friends, who also bought, and enjoyed the game.

What I'm trying to say, is that Ubi, if they ever do think of releasing another SH title. Need to realise that this type of game just can't appeal to a mass market. Its not that type of game. There are plenty of simulation enthusiasts out there to keep Ubi in a nice little profit. OK they might not make enough to buy their Managing Director a new Ferrari and matching Mansion. But surely some profit is better than a loss? Ubi need to stop trying to be greedy, if they're ever to continue the SH series.

However, my vote would go that they sell it to a smaller, more committed developer. Ubi have had this title for long enough.

[Feuer Frei!]

So, since some of us are saying Ubisoft should get rid of the SH5 licence, who is out there currently that would take the plunge? Pun intended.
I doubt very much the big companies would do this, niche games are a hard market to cater to, from a business-sense not much money to be made.
If it's a smaller, independent company, niche market games, in particular sims have a small budget to work with...
Would this bode well for the quality of the release? Budget tight ie scimp on things included in game etc etc?
Thoughts anyone?

[jwilliams]

Originally Posted by Feuer Frei!

So, since some of us are saying Ubisoft should get rid of the SH5 licence, who is out there currently that would take the plunge? Pun intended.
I doubt very much the big companies would do this, niche games are a hard market to cater to, from a business-sense not much money to be made.

Former members of ACES studios (FSX & MS train simulator) have set up a new company. Simulations-based development studio named Cascade Game Foundry. Further details relating to their first project are to be announced.

Our previous efforts focused on building traditional simulation titles. However, now we get to redefine what a simulation game can be.

Maybe they could make a good Subsim ????

And im sure there are other small Dev teams out there willing to fill the void left by Ubi.

Atleast i hope so.

[doomlordis]

I hope they dont drop it, i still think 5 is a good game and could be made the best ever with a few patches.
US boats and the theatre itself are a bit dull though, no disrespect to the brave men who served.
I really hope UBI release Type 9 add on with 43-45 included.

[Feuer Frei!]

Since this thread is a hypothetical, a what-if, a "i dream", what would be the 1 single thing in everyone's eyes that would make SH6 a winner....AT RELEASE?
1 thing...
i say Open Source

[Zedi]

Originally Posted by Feuer Frei!

So, since some of us are saying Ubisoft should get rid of the SH5 licence, who is out there currently that would take the plunge? Pun intended.
I doubt very much the big companies would do this, niche games are a hard market to cater to, from a business-sense not much money to be made.
If it's a smaller, independent company, niche market games, in particular sims have a small budget to work with...
Would this bode well for the quality of the release? Budget tight ie scimp on things included in game etc etc?
Thoughts anyone?

There is many examples of indie companies developing games for a small market, the key is to find a good publisher and keep constant feedback with the fans.

Because I'm a MMO fan I can give as a quick example example Darkfall and the notorius EVE who won the game of the year 2009 prize. EVE is not a popular game, actually is a hardcore one, but with a great and intelligent community. CCP, the developers of EVE, was a very small indie company few years ago and with EVE they become the most successful story in the MMO industry after WoW.

Of course, there is a very hard work and risk involved in such an adventure. But SH has constant fanbase and even on fails they are still playing and love the game. We have no other sub sim around, so the risk in loosing money is pretty small compared with EVE where they had to fight with a colossus like Blizzard &WoW. And if they manage to keep the communication gates open non-stop with the fans, it's a win-win situation.

[Feuer Frei!]

Originally Posted by Magnum

keep constant feedback with the fans.

Key point

And if they manage to keep the communication gates open non-stop with the fans, it's a win-win situation.

Key point
Also one thing we haven't mentioned is reputation.
Business relies upon it, now if a indie company comes along and took over the licence, what is their reputation like? In previous ventures. Current SubSimmers would be watching with a close eye of course, but the trepidation and fear would be there, a new business taking over the reigns.....driving it into the ground even more?
Introducing bizarre new things into SH6 that just will not go down well with the community. Or introduce something completely different than what has been offered currently.
The key point is really: communication.
Communication and actually taking feedback into consideration, when implementing changes or developing games. I still think that the possibility of a new developer= 3 possibilities:
1) Keep the traditions that Ubisoft had implemented in their games, expand a little on that and produce SH6
2) Totally revolutionalise SH6 by changing source code completely, totally redesigning it, with the communitie's ideas and wishes actually implemented, to a large extent
3) Keep traditions that Ubisoft had implemented, do not listen to or communicate with the community, and keep the game engine and mechanics largely what it has been so far. Ie FAIL!
Of course this is all hypothetical, it really all depends on the current/future developer of a game, how they conduct business, with their customers, how they market themselves and their products, how they support their customers, how they communicate and if they are quick in response times....after all, it's business for the Dev.
For us? The End User?
I think it's pretty clear don't you?

[Cap.Palla]

Silent Hunter 6 ???

[Zedi]

Originally Posted by Feuer Frei!

Also one thing we haven't mentioned is reputation.
Business relies upon it, now if a indie company comes along and took over the licence, what is their reputation like? In previous ventures. Current SubSimmers would be watching with a close eye of course, but the trepidation and fear would be there, a new business taking over the reigns.....driving it into the ground even more?
Introducing bizarre new things into SH6 that just will not go down well with the community. Or introduce something completely different than what has been offered currently.
The key point is really: communication....

Well, I don't know what to say about the reputation. I don't care much about it, dunno about the rest. But let's consider this.. how much of you knew about the SH moders before they started to work on mods? Nothing. But after they released good mods, they gained more and more popularity and respect from the community. They listen to the community, they work together with the community is a real friendship there.

To get further with this example.. I stoped playin SH3 right before that mega GWX mod was released. So I did not know anything about those guys, but now that I see their site, their work and clips on YT with the mods.. I'm amazed. These guys have my respect even if I never played SH3 with the GWX installed. Also, just look at thegreywolves.com .. it's a joy to browse it, a lot of info, screenies etc. Now compare this with Ubi's uber-mega lame website... say no more.

Also, I care more about the communication and how much these guys would listen to the fan base. I would care more about a strong alpha/beta test where stuff are tested and fixed before release, a good and responsive support.. so bottom line, I don't care about the reputation.. I care more about the end result. And if they care about the customers/fans/business, there will be no bizarre or different things implemented than what the customers expect.

[Faamecanic]

Originally Posted by Magnum

There is many examples of indie companies developing games for a small market, the key is to find a good publisher and keep constant feedback with the fans.

Because I'm a MMO fan I can give as a quick example example Darkfall and the notorius EVE who won the game of the year 2009 prize. EVE is not a popular game, actually is a hardcore one, but with a great and intelligent community. CCP, the developers of EVE, was a very small indie company few years ago and with EVE they become the most successful story in the MMO industry after WoW.

Of course, there is a very hard work and risk involved in such an adventure. But SH has constant fanbase and even on fails they are still playing and love the game. We have no other sub sim around, so the risk in loosing money is pretty small compared with EVE where they had to fight with a colossus like Blizzard &WoW. And if they manage to keep the communication gates open non-stop with the fans, it's a win-win situation.

YES!!

CCP was NOT a big company when EVE first came out. Small dev that has grown quite large BY LISTENING TO THEIR FAN BASE.

Another fine example is Cornered Rat Software that has continued to support and grow WWII Online over 7 years now (or is it 8 years?). They are ACTIVELY involved with the subscriber based. Are they perfect No.... but they are still around after all these years, and about to release a MAJOR upgrade to the game. Are they a HUGE developer now?? No... but does their game satisfy the niche market for a MMO WWII simulation and make them a decent living...YES.

Why the devs and UBI did NOT listen to us, igonored ALL that was good about GWX, RFB, TM... and totally trash the UI, and NOT fix bugs that have carried over from SH 3 is beyond me. How can you hope for success like this??

[Faamecanic]

Originally Posted by Feuer Frei!

So, since some of us are saying Ubisoft should get rid of the SH5 licence, who is out there currently that would take the plunge? Pun intended.
I doubt very much the big companies would do this, niche games are a hard market to cater to, from a business-sense not much money to be made.
If it's a smaller, independent company, niche market games, in particular sims have a small budget to work with...
Would this bode well for the quality of the release? Budget tight ie scimp on things included in game etc etc?
Thoughts anyone?

Just look at the two naval sims on Subsim's homepage news..... that will answer your question.

A small, niche market, developer CAN and HAS made a decent sim.

[danizzz]

If they will produce SH3 + GWX + modern graphic and some little features i will buy it.....im not interested in SH5 in the pacific.

Maybe could be interesting a sub game with modern subs....

[Iron Budokan]

I would like to see a new company try their hand at this, tbh. Anyway, I'm not all that sanguine Ubi will release a new submarine simulation anytime in the future.

It wouldn't surprise me too much if this was their swan song as regards sub sims.

Yeah, I'd def like to see another company take a crack at this, though.