A Really Great Sub Sim

Edward · 03-25-07, 03:20 PM

Now that the hysteria has stopped and the people who pirated the game have shut up about the 2D crew men, it's time for normal players like me to tell the Developers they did a great job. It's the truth.

Okay, I've played version 1.1 enough to say I really love this sim

I was finally forced to try manual targeting and it's quite a challenge, and fun. Neal's training video was a big help (thanks Neal), and you just have to practice. Gives you a lot of respect for the guys who did it for real

I'm using target ID help from my crew, which I think is realistic, and it seems just about right to me in terms of difficulty.

The game seems to generate the right number of targets and I toned down the Japanese aircraft patrols a tad and it's perfect now. The only thing it needs to become a classic is a fix for the jaggies (we need Anti-Aliasing badly!) And with the ease of Modding it I'm sure anyone who wants can tune this one to their liking and have a blast.

I'm just really glad one company still makes great simulations like this

Edward

AJ! · 03-25-07, 03:26 PM

when all the patching is done in a month or so (i assume) then we will have a classic on our hands

I am having a great time with SH4 and once all the bugs are sorted i will have even more fun

Havin a great time with the map editor at the moment (check the screenshot and video thread)

bayfire66 · 03-25-07, 03:32 PM

I agree I'm tired of all the whining about the bugs,AA etc. I like the game and it will get fixed,If you don't like the game don't play it. It's as simple as that

PeriscopeDepth · 03-25-07, 03:36 PM

Yeah, it's awesome! Run's great on medium settings on my very mid range machine (hasn't dropped below 40 FPS, this is with environmentals, glare, and light shaft off and everything else maxed) and looks awesome as well. There's a few minor bugs, but it is far from unplayable. I for one am having much more fun than I did with SH3, but that's probably just because I'm a PacWar nut. They really got the basics down with this one, it's far more immersive than SH3 ever was for me.

PD

sea enemy · 03-25-07, 03:46 PM

I like it alot..The bugs in the current version are keeping me from getting too deep into career mode (I'll wait for the next patch), but..I think I already like it better than SH3 ..but then again, I'm a bona fide pacwar nut, too..

Banquet · 03-25-07, 03:52 PM

I agree.. I'm having a great time with SH4. Some of the bugs are pretty bad (no working speed stopwatch, even after a patch!) but I think it looks graphically sublime, even without AA.

I love the the Pacific as an area to hunt in. The Uboats and Atlantic campaign has a special place in my heart but I do find the Pacific a much more interesting place to navigate around. The missions add an extra dimension to the game. In SH3 I always felt a bit naughty sneaking into an enemy port when I was supposed to be out hunting convoys. The missions in SH4 add an extra dimension and give extra moments of tension!

The crew management is a bit of a unknown for me.. the manual doesn't give much away.. but it seems better than SH3. There are more stats for the crew and it seems possible to develop them more in a RPG kind of way which I like. The duty roster idea works very well I think.

Overall, there is work to be done yet but it's not stopping my enjoyment of this great sim!

macky · 03-25-07, 04:53 PM

well i wasnt imnpressed at all until I improved my graphics card which certainly improved the game 100%

Still believe that they should have tested the gameplay and perhaps aligned what was in the manual to the actual gameplay, but i guess thats just symantics

Kapitan_Phillips · 03-25-07, 04:55 PM

Its good to see that such a niche market is getting attention. I'd much rather go back in time in a VIIC or Balao than fanny about in a Cessna doing nothing

Skweetis · 03-25-07, 04:55 PM

Im loving every minute of it.

XanderF · 03-25-07, 05:02 PM

The effect the game has had MOST on me is to make me wish BADLY that some things were ported over to Sh3, as I still think that's a better game.

Things that would be awesome in Sh3?

- The crew management is WAY better. Not even in the same league as Sh3's (which was nice to see, at least!). This is just TERRIFIC.

- Graphics. I miss FSAA, but if we could keep that, the 3d model (including crew) polygon count is WAY higher, textures are WAY sharper, the weather effects are amazing, and the post-processing effects are SUBSTANTIALLY cooler than Sh3's current "bloom". So...move these over, too.

- Missing briefings and 'objectives'. Really nice touch, I like the briefing interface better, I like the objectives, the entire 'port' experience is more immersive, even if it doesn't (yet) have the ship traffic Sh3+GWX does (but I'm confident this will be modded in), so...move the mission briefings over, too!

- Haven't tried it yet, but the option to command the escort forces? Sounds fun!

But everything else, though? I just prefer Sh3. For starters, a TDC I can manually ENTER stuff into (no TDC station in Sh4), the greater number of 'rooms' you can pace back and forth in, the interacting with the crew, I prefer Sh3's management/command UI, Sh3's ships you can command, the theaters, how the sim actually gets MORE CHALLENGING as you progress instead of less so, the technology modelling (all the different types of radar, sonar, radar warning receivers - how the stations are fully modelled, etc), etc. Basically, the 'meat' of the sim.

If we could take all the 'flash' from Sh4 and stick it on the 'game' of Sh3...we'd have the PERFECT sim!

Charos · 03-25-07, 05:06 PM

I was [] < This close to NOT buying this game due to the bugs reported by all the

.

Until it was posted that most issues were confirmed to be illegal copies - only then did I buy the game.

I have not been dissapointed - NO CTD's - no issues really to speak of (No Show stoppers).

Only main issue I have is that patch 1.01 installs but wont run IE EXE loads into RAM with 100% CPU but DVD drive is not spooling up. :hmm:

SH4 on 100% realism is WAY better than SH3 - very nice challenge.

AirborneTD · 03-25-07, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward

The game seems to generate the right number of targets and I toned down the Japanese aircraft patrols a tad and it's perfect now.
I'm just really glad one company still makes great simulations like this

Edward

Edward, I agree with your post. How did you tone down the air patrols? --there are way too many for me.

FAdmiral · 03-25-07, 06:48 PM

Look in the mods section of this forum. All the mods and changes the
guys are making to this game are in there. And they are growing very
fast indeed !!

JIM

Deathfrombelow23 · 03-25-07, 07:05 PM

How do you have your crew help with Identifying the target? Is there an option for this that I missed?? I'm playing with Manual TDC and VERY HARD difficulty... it certainly would save time if the crew could identify the target in my periscope!! Thanks!

Edward · 03-25-07, 07:10 PM

AirborneTD

As FAdmiral said its in the Mods Section. Go to the Cfg folder and find the Airstike.Cfg file. Then go down to the line that says:

Default Air Strike Probability=10

and lower the number 10 to whatever.

DeathFromBelow23

Again its in the Mods section.

You just add some lines in the Menu.cfg file at the Periscope section to create a new ID target button and create a new command (shift I) is what he uses. See the post by Stene.

Edward

03-25-07, 03:20 PM	#1
Edward Watch Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 26 Downloads: 191 Uploads: 0	A Really Great Sub Sim Now that the hysteria has stopped and the people who pirated the game have shut up about the 2D crew men, it's time for normal players like me to tell the Developers they did a great job. It's the truth. Okay, I've played version 1.1 enough to say I really love this sim I was finally forced to try manual targeting and it's quite a challenge, and fun. Neal's training video was a big help (thanks Neal), and you just have to practice. Gives you a lot of respect for the guys who did it for real I'm using target ID help from my crew, which I think is realistic, and it seems just about right to me in terms of difficulty. The game seems to generate the right number of targets and I toned down the Japanese aircraft patrols a tad and it's perfect now. The only thing it needs to become a classic is a fix for the jaggies (we need Anti-Aliasing badly!) And with the ease of Modding it I'm sure anyone who wants can tune this one to their liking and have a blast. I'm just really glad one company still makes great simulations like this Edward

03-25-07, 03:26 PM	#2
AJ! Commodore Join Date: May 2006 Location: That lil island above france Posts: 601 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	when all the patching is done in a month or so (i assume) then we will have a classic on our hands I am having a great time with SH4 and once all the bugs are sorted i will have even more fun Havin a great time with the map editor at the moment (check the screenshot and video thread) __________________

03-25-07, 04:55 PM	#8
Kapitan_Phillips Silent Hunter Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Swansea Posts: 3,903 Downloads: 204 Uploads: 0	Its good to see that such a niche market is getting attention. I'd much rather go back in time in a VIIC or Balao than fanny about in a Cessna doing nothing __________________ Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into.

03-25-07, 04:55 PM	#9
Skweetis Watch Officer Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Cambridge, Canada Posts: 335 Downloads: 39 Uploads: 0	Im loving every minute of it. __________________ "Is the glass half-empty? Or half-full? Either way, when you're thirsty, there's water to be had in that glass." - Neal Stevens

03-25-07, 05:02 PM	#10
XanderF Samurai Navy Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 554 Downloads: 14 Uploads: 0	The effect the game has had MOST on me is to make me wish BADLY that some things were ported over to Sh3, as I still think that's a better game. Things that would be awesome in Sh3? - The crew management is WAY better. Not even in the same league as Sh3's (which was nice to see, at least!). This is just TERRIFIC. - Graphics. I miss FSAA, but if we could keep that, the 3d model (including crew) polygon count is WAY higher, textures are WAY sharper, the weather effects are amazing, and the post-processing effects are SUBSTANTIALLY cooler than Sh3's current "bloom". So...move these over, too. - Missing briefings and 'objectives'. Really nice touch, I like the briefing interface better, I like the objectives, the entire 'port' experience is more immersive, even if it doesn't (yet) have the ship traffic Sh3+GWX does (but I'm confident this will be modded in), so...move the mission briefings over, too! - Haven't tried it yet, but the option to command the escort forces? Sounds fun! But everything else, though? I just prefer Sh3. For starters, a TDC I can manually ENTER stuff into (no TDC station in Sh4), the greater number of 'rooms' you can pace back and forth in, the interacting with the crew, I prefer Sh3's management/command UI, Sh3's ships you can command, the theaters, how the sim actually gets MORE CHALLENGING as you progress instead of less so, the technology modelling (all the different types of radar, sonar, radar warning receivers - how the stations are fully modelled, etc), etc. Basically, the 'meat' of the sim. If we could take all the 'flash' from Sh4 and stick it on the 'game' of Sh3...we'd have the PERFECT sim! __________________

03-25-07, 03:32 PM	#3
bayfire66 Bilge Rat Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Seatlle Wa Posts: 1 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I agree I'm tired of all the whining about the bugs,AA etc. I like the game and it will get fixed,If you don't like the game don't play it. It's as simple as that

03-25-07, 03:36 PM	#4
PeriscopeDepth Sea Lord Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 1,894 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Yeah, it's awesome! Run's great on medium settings on my very mid range machine (hasn't dropped below 40 FPS, this is with environmentals, glare, and light shaft off and everything else maxed) and looks awesome as well. There's a few minor bugs, but it is far from unplayable. I for one am having much more fun than I did with SH3, but that's probably just because I'm a PacWar nut. They really got the basics down with this one, it's far more immersive than SH3 ever was for me. PD

03-25-07, 03:46 PM	#5
sea enemy Mate Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 52 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	I like it alot..The bugs in the current version are keeping me from getting too deep into career mode (I'll wait for the next patch), but..I think I already like it better than SH3 ..but then again, I'm a bona fide pacwar nut, too..

03-25-07, 03:52 PM	#6
Banquet Machinist's Mate Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 122 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I agree.. I'm having a great time with SH4. Some of the bugs are pretty bad (no working speed stopwatch, even after a patch!) but I think it looks graphically sublime, even without AA. I love the the Pacific as an area to hunt in. The Uboats and Atlantic campaign has a special place in my heart but I do find the Pacific a much more interesting place to navigate around. The missions add an extra dimension to the game. In SH3 I always felt a bit naughty sneaking into an enemy port when I was supposed to be out hunting convoys. The missions in SH4 add an extra dimension and give extra moments of tension! The crew management is a bit of a unknown for me.. the manual doesn't give much away.. but it seems better than SH3. There are more stats for the crew and it seems possible to develop them more in a RPG kind of way which I like. The duty roster idea works very well I think. Overall, there is work to be done yet but it's not stopping my enjoyment of this great sim!

03-25-07, 04:53 PM	#7
macky Machinist's Mate Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Dallas Texas Posts: 129 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	well i wasnt imnpressed at all until I improved my graphics card which certainly improved the game 100% Still believe that they should have tested the gameplay and perhaps aligned what was in the manual to the actual gameplay, but i guess thats just symantics

03-25-07, 05:06 PM	#11
Charos Helmsman Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 109 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	I was [] < This close to NOT buying this game due to the bugs reported by all the . Until it was posted that most issues were confirmed to be illegal copies - only then did I buy the game. I have not been dissapointed - NO CTD's - no issues really to speak of (No Show stoppers). Only main issue I have is that patch 1.01 installs but wont run IE EXE loads into RAM with 100% CPU but DVD drive is not spooling up. :hmm: SH4 on 100% realism is WAY better than SH3 - very nice challenge.

03-25-07, 06:48 PM	#13
FAdmiral Pacific Aces Dev Team Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Atlanta, GA, USA Posts: 1,079 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Look in the mods section of this forum. All the mods and changes the guys are making to this game are in there. And they are growing very fast indeed !! JIM __________________ If you\'re not taking losses, you\'re not doing enough. RAdm. Kelly Turner, USN ********************************** www.fairtax.org

03-25-07, 07:05 PM	#14
Deathfrombelow23 Electrician's Mate Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 134 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	How do you have your crew help with Identifying the target? Is there an option for this that I missed?? I'm playing with Manual TDC and VERY HARD difficulty... it certainly would save time if the crew could identify the target in my periscope!! Thanks!

03-25-07, 07:10 PM	#15
Edward Watch Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 26 Downloads: 191 Uploads: 0	AirborneTD As FAdmiral said its in the Mods Section. Go to the Cfg folder and find the Airstike.Cfg file. Then go down to the line that says: Default Air Strike Probability=10 and lower the number 10 to whatever. DeathFromBelow23 Again its in the Mods section. You just add some lines in the Menu.cfg file at the Periscope section to create a new ID target button and create a new command (shift I) is what he uses. See the post by Stene. Edward