SH4 removes some functionality from SH3

[Tikigod]

Although they have added what looks like alot more immersive content...they removed these two features:

1. "Due to the accelerated development cycle of this title, the damage control screen and radio stations are simplified from previous versions. The damage control center does not have a sub cutaway with little compartments, fires, and flooding animations. However, the player is given the ability to group several damage teams with experts and more efficiently prioritize the tasks."

2. "There is no dedicated station depicting a radio room, simply a clipboard with the radio traffic. "
"The lack of a radio room station is a casualty of an aggressive schedule, and can in no way be construed as a showstopper. However, for a title that rightfully prides itself on bleeding edge graphics and ambiance, realistic animated crews and 3D environments, this is a small step back. If anything, I was hoping SH4 would include all the stations present in SH3, and possibly expand into new compartments. The radio room and captain’s quarters in SH3 had no real gameplay function but don’t discount the value they have on creating the mood while playing the game."

http://www.subsim.com/sh4/demo_sh4.php

[hyperion2206]

Originally Posted by Tikigod

Although they have added what looks like alot more immersive content...they removed these two features:

1. "Due to the accelerated development cycle of this title, the damage control screen and radio stations are simplified from previous versions. The damage control center does not have a sub cutaway with little compartments, fires, and flooding animations. However, the player is given the ability to group several damage teams with experts and more efficiently prioritize the tasks."

2. "There is no dedicated station depicting a radio room, simply a clipboard with the radio traffic. "
"The lack of a radio room station is a casualty of an aggressive schedule, and can in no way be construed as a showstopper. However, for a title that rightfully prides itself on bleeding edge graphics and ambiance, realistic animated crews and 3D environments, this is a small step back. If anything, I was hoping SH4 would include all the stations present in SH3, and possibly expand into new compartments. The radio room and captain’s quarters in SH3 had no real gameplay function but don’t discount the value they have on creating the mood while playing the game."

http://www.subsim.com/sh4/demo_sh4.php

True, but I don't really mind because IMHO damage control and the radio room are 'just' eye candy. It would have been nice to have the radio room but gameplay won't suffer I guess.

[DanCanovas]

so how will damage control work exactly. i think this is a major feature of any sub sim, the excitement of repairing and limping away!

[Fat Bhoy Tim]

Originally Posted by DanCanovas

so how will damage control work exactly. i think this is a major feature of any sub sim, the excitement of repairing and limping away!

Same as before, just minus the animations which didn't really add anything. As long as the information telling you when flooding, for example, has been brought under control - suits me.

[Boris]

I can understand leaving the radio room out due to time constraints... but the damage repair screen?
How hard could it be to come up with some 2d graphics for it? Hell I could do it in a day. Not sure how much programming would have to go into it, but I can't imagine that it would be that hard. Than again I might be wrong.

[Safe-Keeper]

Look at the tiny submarine image. It wouldn't exactly be easy to implement too many details. And as was said (as I understood it), damage won't be represented in the image anyway, so what's the use.

[Hartmann]

I think is the most important screen of your boat, were you can see how damaged is with a glimpse. what compartment is in red, yellow or blue (flooding).

Damage screen of Sh1

[flintlock]

It would have been nice to have the radio room but gameplay won't suffer I guess.

I was quite surprised to read this snippet from Neal's article. I would have expected the next iteration of the series to add to the sections modeled within the subs, not subtract from the already arguably limited list as it stands. I'll concede that while the radio room isn't as critical as the control room, having it modeled serves an important function for many--it adds to the immersion of the experience. And that shouldn't be underestimated.

Whilst on patrol, all you have is the sub you're sailing in. At various times on patrol, I would appreciate and enjoy the freedom of exploring various compartments of my sub (contol room, engine room, torpedo room, etc). To have this ability adds immeasurably to the level of immersion you experience in a sim such as this. As good as SH4 is looking, I was dissapointed to read the develpment cycle for SH4 is being rushed. I would've preferred the devs had an unaccelerated development timeline, rather than be constrained by a limiting "accelerated development cyle" snapping at their heels.

While I can certainly appreciate that modeling extra compartments is time and resource consuming (read dollar), in the end I can't help but believe Ubi would deliver a superior product, period. Personally, I would've been willing to pay extra and wait longer for SH4's release. That being said, it is what it is. I can't deny the project looks exciting, and while I eagerly await the release--I can't help but wonder how much better it could have been.

[Shaffer4]

seems to me that the only reason for the inclusion of the Radio Room in SH3 was the fact that it was also the Radar station and that radio traffic was presented... on a clipboard as well, so the radio equipment shown was merely eye candy. Judging by neil's wonderful preview there is a radar station in the game... so... I can hardly see where any functionality is lost there, other than some eye candy.

The change in the Damage control station is minor to me, as the crew Automation has lessened its need somewhat, and the new crew shift setup has taken up most of the screen where the damage information was displayed. It seems a fair compromise to me.

[Iron Budokan]

Will it take ten seconds to repair the damage like in stock SH3?

[CCIP]

Originally Posted by Iron Budokan

Will it take ten seconds to repair the damage like in stock SH3?

That's the part that worries me.

Otherwise I would say that it's not true that it removes functionality. Why, we may have had a separate radio room, but it all still came down to a notepad which, thanks to the canned comms of the game, was really almost useless. This may reduce the amount of screen space dedicated to it, but if it makes radio comms more dynamic - then it's an increase in functionality.

Then there's the damage control - I think we'll see about this. What functionality did we have, other than an open compartment graphic that showed flooding levels? As soon as we have 1) reports of what's damaged; 2) reports of how long it takes to fix, I think we're good. And unless SHIV goes the way of 'health' for the sub (and I know the devs aren't stupid enough to do that), I think it would again be an increase in functionality as we're already promised a 'smart' repair team that will switch compartments on their own.

[TheSatyr]

I was afraid that adding in the S-Class would cause them to take something out...apparently I was right.

As nice as it is to have S-Class subs i would have rather of had the radio rooms and an improved damage control screen...oh well.

[donut]

Originally Posted by Hartmann

I think is the most important screen of your boat, were you can see how damaged is with a glimpse. what compartment is in red, yellow or blue (flooding).

Damage screen of Sh1

How much time does this take? Remember some repairs could be done only surfaced.

[peterloo]

Anyway, this is the blame to the agreesive timetable...

But modders will make it all right... With them, it is not a tough problem... Even in SH2, we have mod to transform every stuff from Atlantic to Pacific...

[AJ!]

Originally Posted by TheSatyr

I was afraid that adding in the S-Class would cause them to take something out...apparently I was right.

As nice as it is to have S-Class subs i would have rather of had the radio rooms and an improved damage control screen...oh well.

Well you see thats the problem. No ones ever happy

If it was the other way around people would be complaining there is no S class.... I think we should be happy with all the cool new stuff in game and not dwel on two small losses.

Like people have said they were just eye candy really and while i am alittle dissapointed at the loss of damage control and radio room its not that huge an impact.