Silent Depth - a 3d submarine game for mobile devices

Xaron · 08-02-13, 10:26 AM

Yes, modern smartphones can handle a lot, the question I've asked myself was, if it makes sense. I mean the graphics part definitely but a complex sim might not be the target scope for mobile gamers. PC games are a complete different beast here!

So we decided to make it more a lightweight sim, and we don't think anyone would like to drive hours on a mobile phone. Again, that is different to PC gaming.

Sharing saved game states is a thing we still think about it but don't think it's very that necessary for our game. We don't even know if it makes sense to create a desktop version for our game...

Sung · 08-02-13, 12:02 PM

Here is the torpedo run video.

Xaron · 08-05-13, 02:11 AM

Hi all,

regarding the depth gauge we scratch our heads about the used units for the balao class subs for instance.

I always thought they where measured in feet but the picture above shows values up to 165 which is more likely that they used fathoms?

Thanks for any hints!

Julhelm · 08-05-13, 05:49 AM

Make it in feet since that is the most intuitive. That said, I think you should look over your GUI and make the controls larger and more readable. Right now it looks very cluttered as a result of trying to cram in everything at once on the screen.

Silent Hunter 1 had a very nice, clean, readable GUI that would translate almost perfectly to a smartphone.

Your game looks pretty good though. Is it going to be mainly 3rd person based gameplay?

Sung · 08-06-13, 05:54 AM

Hi Julhelm,

look at that video i made today.

We think a lot about the GUI and it is now very easy to play with.

Julhelm · 08-06-13, 09:54 AM

I dunno, from looking at the video it looks like you had to fiddle around with some of the controls. And some people have pretty fat fingers too so you don't want to accidentally hit the wrong spot. Especially on something like the depth gauge that could be fatal.

Sung · 08-06-13, 02:39 PM

I didn't fiddle. It is very difficult holding the camera and playing the game.
All works fine and the buttons are big enough even for fat fingers

It will be truly the best GUI you ever has seen on a smartphone subsim.

Xaron · 08-07-13, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julhelm

I dunno, from looking at the video it looks like you had to fiddle around with some of the controls. And some people have pretty fat fingers too so you don't want to accidentally hit the wrong spot. Especially on something like the depth gauge that could be fatal.

Hehe, I understand your point. What's still missing is multitouch support which will be in. So there might be the possibility that one of (the fat) fingers already touches it anywhere and with just single touch you won't be able to control anything.

All in all, Sung already said that he was holding the cam in one hand while holding the phone in the other and actually I don't know how he was able to control anything at all, must be some finger acrobatic stuff I'm not aware off!

And touching the "wrong" depth on the depth gauge doesn't mean anything. It takes time to reach a decent depth as this doesn't sink like a stone! You always see the entered depth (white) and see the current (red)

08-02-13, 10:26 AM	#1
Xaron Ensign Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 222 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Yes, modern smartphones can handle a lot, the question I've asked myself was, if it makes sense. I mean the graphics part definitely but a complex sim might not be the target scope for mobile gamers. PC games are a complete different beast here! So we decided to make it more a lightweight sim, and we don't think anyone would like to drive hours on a mobile phone. Again, that is different to PC gaming. Sharing saved game states is a thing we still think about it but don't think it's very that necessary for our game. We don't even know if it makes sense to create a desktop version for our game... Last edited by Xaron; 08-02-13 at 12:29 PM.

08-02-13, 12:02 PM	#2
Sung Developer Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 335 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Here is the torpedo run video. __________________ SILENT DEPTH the submarine simulation for your mobile device www.silentdepth.com https://www.facebook.com/silentdepth/ Silent Depth Manual

08-06-13, 05:54 AM	#5
Sung Developer Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 335 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Hi Julhelm, look at that video i made today. We think a lot about the GUI and it is now very easy to play with. __________________ SILENT DEPTH the submarine simulation for your mobile device www.silentdepth.com https://www.facebook.com/silentdepth/ Silent Depth Manual

08-06-13, 02:39 PM	#7
Sung Developer Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 335 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	I didn't fiddle. It is very difficult holding the camera and playing the game. All works fine and the buttons are big enough even for fat fingers It will be truly the best GUI you ever has seen on a smartphone subsim. __________________ SILENT DEPTH the submarine simulation for your mobile device www.silentdepth.com https://www.facebook.com/silentdepth/ Silent Depth Manual

08-05-13, 02:11 AM	#3
Xaron Ensign Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 222 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Hi all, regarding the depth gauge we scratch our heads about the used units for the balao class subs for instance. I always thought they where measured in feet but the picture above shows values up to 165 which is more likely that they used fathoms? Thanks for any hints!

08-05-13, 05:49 AM	#4
Julhelm Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The Icy North Posts: 693 Downloads: 189 Uploads: 0	Make it in feet since that is the most intuitive. That said, I think you should look over your GUI and make the controls larger and more readable. Right now it looks very cluttered as a result of trying to cram in everything at once on the screen. Silent Hunter 1 had a very nice, clean, readable GUI that would translate almost perfectly to a smartphone. Your game looks pretty good though. Is it going to be mainly 3rd person based gameplay?

08-06-13, 09:54 AM	#6
Julhelm Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The Icy North Posts: 693 Downloads: 189 Uploads: 0	I dunno, from looking at the video it looks like you had to fiddle around with some of the controls. And some people have pretty fat fingers too so you don't want to accidentally hit the wrong spot. Especially on something like the depth gauge that could be fatal.