Is the sim genre dead?

[FIREWALL]

As long as there's large websites like this showing interest in Subsims.

Some smart game company will pickup the ball Ubisoft dropped.

[skoop]

Originally Posted by the_tyrant

First of all, is silent hunter dead? Because it is one of the last hard core simulations around. If silent hunter is dead, than the simulation genre is pretty much dead. (HAWX and Battlestations pacific don't count. lock on is now the last sim standing)
Silent hunter is the last submarine simulator we have, so i'm thinking maybe we should start a supermod. Like the Openfalcon mod for falcon 4.0. Or else in the future we will have nothing left to play on our 32 core processors and our 9870*2s.

What, you don't play FC2 + DCS blackshark with DCS A10C on the way ?

You don't play Steel Beasts pro pe ?

No love from combat mission ?

I just named 3 active sims that are very well supported, seems that if you are concerned about sims dying, maybe you should support the ones that are left.

[JScones]

Originally Posted by elanaiba

We're talking about something hypothetical after all, and in that hypothesis we can agree that if no-one from Ubi would be involved, there would be positives:
-a new team and creative vision can bring a different approach, different path, instead of going the same old routes
-possibility of having TWO subsims developed and competing against each other, instead of the current status quo - you like SH or not, its the only game in town.

You know, whilst I agree 100%, I can't help but think that had anyone else made the same post, there'd be at least five "you're wrong" (and one "your wrong") posts made by now.

Just a random observation.

[robbo180265]

Originally Posted by JScones

You know, whilst I agree 100%, I can't help but think that had anyone else made the same post, there'd be at least five "you're wrong" (and one "your wrong") posts made by now.

Just a random observation.

your wrong....

[JScones]

Originally Posted by Ducimus

There was a time when there were a few sub sims to choose from.... way back in the AOD, SH1 days, and the couple of "me too" clones they inspired. But the way things are now, ill wager that if no more submarine sims were ever made again, the only group (a small group in the big scheme of things) who would notice is the subsim.com community. The majority of game players and makers would not notice, nor would care.

<snip>

I for one, do not expect to see ANY more sub sim's for a VERY long time. Maybe even never again.

Here's where I think the future of "subsims" is...

http://au.xbox360.ign.com/articles/110/1103627p1.html

[Arclight]

Maybe. I'm not sure the team would decide to pursue his vision. I don't think having Dan on that team would exclude either of the 2 options.

[JScones]

Originally Posted by robbo180265

your wrong....

[Tessa]

SH is nearly exactly like the X^ universe game series in terms of gameplay, mods and difficulty. If you're looking for instant gratification out of the box you'll be sorely dissapointed, but if you take the time to read the manuals and the forums (just the manual in both cases I think will still leave you really green and not get the full potential of the game) both games have nearly infinite possibilities.

The one aspect that I wish SH had that the X universe games have heavily benefitted from is having many of the game's actual programmers are also some of the biggest mod contributors to the game. Many of the mods for the games are unbelievable; though I would say that the quality and dedication of both SH and X^ communites is about equal, having programmers that are also hard core players and modders gives everyone an enormouse edge. Major bugs/physics problems are discovered by the people in the position to change them in future patches rather than have them propogate through each game like a few have with the SH series.

I can emphatize for the companies desire to have good DRM, but we're not talking about software that costs $200,000+ to license! Have faith in your customers, especially in this genre we're not talking about a bunch of irresponsible kids that are proud of how many cracked programs they have on their computer. Even if SH were shareware, I'd still pay the $20 because its worth it, and want to see newer better ones come out. As earlier pointed out SH5 was marketed to the wrong crowd which I think's 100% on the mark; not many people under 25 or 30 are going to have the interest in this series (of course any that do are always welcome with open arms, having the younger generation learn about what war was really like is outstanding) and spend the hours just learning how to play the game to the point that its enjoyable. Those of us that do aren't going to worry about DRM since we've go no reason not to buy a legit copy in the first place.

[Jankowski]

sims wont die for a looong time. look at il2 1946, soon to be releasing the 4.10 patch!

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Jankowski

sims wont die for a looong time. look at il2 1946, soon to be releasing the 4.10 patch!

In fairness though...I think you've chosen one the most popular titles as an example, heck even I have that

[Gorshkov]

I agree PC simulators are pretty dead genre now and this won't change in the future. I think what mostly killed them was emerging of console games market which removed PC from position of most popular gaming platform. On the other hand it is almost impossible to develop advanced simulators on consoles due to many various reasons. What is worse younger gamers play usually on consoles and PC games (especially simulators) look like some dinos to them!

In sum PC simulators market shrink considerably in the last decade to the point all mainstream publishers abandoned it with UBI being the last example. Now PC simulators are developed almost exclusively by fan groups and companies present on both military and entertainment markets. Such situation means game development takes very long time (fan groups do not have enough money, they write games in their spare time) or games are quite expensive and not always possess features liked by players. That is why you have only those still "active" simulators left:

- Steel Beasts Pro - 125 bucks only

- DCS study sims family made by ED - each module bought separately, lack of dynamic campaign, quite long development time

Maybe Oleg Maddox will make a show with his Storm of War but let's wait how this game will finally look like. Anyway MS abandoned FSX, UBI most probably abandoned SH franchise, Sonanalysts left game market after DW release, etc. I intentionally do not take into account some old games still sold or modded today because this is another story.

And that is pretty much all...

[Hartmann]

And more

X plane (for flight sim)
Orbiter (space, upgraded to the 2010 version)
Arma (well is ground warfare , but is a sim)

I think that the market is reduced but in some cases in continuous development . flyght sims are the better situated while naval sims are near to the end.

The only way could be develop a 3d engine where can be possible use all type platforms, ships, planes, ... and easy to mod

[von faust]

I think that this is the end of Submarine Simulators

My dream is a new simulator like Dangerous Waters......but this is only a dream

[JU_88]

Its no suprise the PC game market is dwindling in gerneral.
10 years ago.....
PC games had the visual edge over consoles
Online gameing was PC exclusive.

Now in 2010 Consoles offer online play and match the PC in terms of visuals, couple that with the fact that they are:
a) A 1000 times more user freindly,
b) far more affordable
c) less prone to piracy
-and its really a no brainer.

As for sims, the average gamer is simply not willing to invest the time in to getting to grips with a sim, they want instant gratification.
And of course the cost of games production is in the millions!

So i guess modding is the last remaining ace up the PC gamers sleeve.

Yes, much has changed over the last 10 years.
Those expecting near perfect hardcore sims out of the box for a mere $50 are living in a fantasy world, not the real one.
Evolving sims with DLC (paid downloadable content) are perhaps more finacially viable, the trouble is that the 40 something year old stick in the muds, that buy simulators.....simply refuse to embrace it.

Ill bet that in another 10-20 years, optical media will virtually extinct - along with the phrase 'it is my game / movie / album'.
We will physically own nothing but a piece of 'play back' hardware.

[Ducimus]

Originally Posted by JU_88

Ill bet that in another 10 years, game DVDs & blueRay Discs will be history.

You know what ive been wondering, is how the decline of PC games will effect the computer industry in general. I don't think it's any sort of embellishment to say that gaming, has been the (edit: I should say, "A major" instead of "the ) driving force that has pushed technology standards and barriers. You don't need a bleeding edge video card and a quad core processor for word processors, spread sheets, web browsers, or power point presentations. I suppose its entirely possible that if PC games dies out completely the computer industry in general, while it won't disappear, it could experience a sharp decline, or stagnation.