Silent Hunter V Dev Team Interview: Deeper, Kapitän, deeper. (1/19/10) - Page 17

TarJak · 01-20-10, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elanaiba

Yeah, and then somebody on UBI boards will say "they are answering questions on subsim!". If I go there somebody here will gringe. And then marketing will have my head.

And I do have to build a game in the meantime.

The thing that bugs me is that we haven't released any scripted campaign so far, yet people fear it. They take apart what we say looking for hints at something evil

Re: Tarjak:

To get access to ANY historic port flotilla that you choose, you have to mod it. You will have several starting points that we have chosen, but those are easily modable too.

Dan, please don't misunderstand my questioning as griping. All I'm trying to do is better understand what will be released in March and part of that is speculating on what I've read so far and voicing some of the conclusions I've come to.

Thanks for the direct answer it clears a lot up for me and give me an insight into how the game will play out for me.

As I've already stated having been used to it from SH3/4, I'm interested in still being able to choose my starting point and dates. It sounds from your answer that these choices out of the box will be limited but easily moddable to allow greater control over where I start.

The big question from there will be how the game plays outside the confines of the out of the box campaign.

edjcox · 01-20-10, 08:25 PM

Seems every version is a matter of throwing something away and adding something new.

Why can't these game developers simply build on what the comunity points out as the pathway....

Make it easy to command and make the crew work. If I command a range on a target an officer should use the UZO and state that range... If I command "dive" the crew should initiate the dive given certain sequenced events including the closing of the hatchway.

I'll buy it but probably will gripe.

brett25 · 01-20-10, 09:01 PM

I m a little concerned about the direction the gameplay may take however. i think PC gaming is being drawn toward PS3 or console style gaming. The days of having an open sandbox, unscripted environment is becoming very rare, I saw this change happen to a favorite series of mine on the PC recently. I would be really worried if they are intending to make a console version of the game as well as PC. Thats usually a bad sign that we will have more of an arcade game rather than a true simulator.

I can deal with ALL the limitations as long as this game remains a simulator and does not become a FPS/RPG console game! I will not buy or play such a game and stick with SH3 instead. Im sure the devs will do the right thing!

hocking · 01-20-10, 09:40 PM

I am very perplexed as to why they would only model one type of UBoat (with a few slightly different variations), and only a certain part of the war. As far as modeling only one uboat, you have simply modeled boredom into your game after about 5 or 6 patrols. Even if we will end up using the Type VII most of the time, almost all of us changed back and forth between the various boats just to add a little variety.

As far as ending the game in 1943, it makes the entire game seem incomplete. If your goal is to leave a portion of the game open for an Add-On, then I am fine with that as long as you follow up with your add-on soon. I hope you are able to generate revenue to keep the series going, but you do need to follow up soon to make your game feel more complete.

The greatest news is that the game is very modable. With that, I can honestly say that this game probably won't reach a level that we are looking forward to until about 9 to 12 months after it is released. I truly think the modders have alot to do to bring this game to hard-core simmers likings, and this will take time.

JScones · 01-20-10, 09:56 PM

I still want to know if we'll be able to confidently save games mid-patrol. Now THAT would be a HUGE leap forward in the SH series.

Wolfehunter · 01-20-10, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brett25

I m a little concerned about the direction the gameplay may take however. i think PC gaming is being drawn toward PS3 or console style gaming. The days of having an open sandbox, unscripted environment is becoming very rare, I saw this change happen to a favorite series of mine on the PC recently. I would be really worried if they are intending to make a console version of the game as well as PC. Thats usually a bad sign that we will have more of an arcade game rather than a true simulator.

I can deal with ALL the limitations as long as this game remains a simulator and does not become a FPS/RPG console game! I will not buy or play such a game and stick with SH3 instead. Im sure the devs will do the right thing!

This does worry me too. True PC games are vanishing. I'll wait till I'm comfortable before I buy the game. I'll read peoples posts on the forum and see what they say. Some pic I'm sure will be posted so I'll have an idea of what they're playing if not some youtube vids...

But I'm not rushing into it yet. Something smells fishy..

Lanzfeld · 01-20-10, 10:34 PM

I am very worried that the AI is going to cheat or get super nerfed in order to make UBI's idea of a "sim".

Doesnt matter. They are not getting my $$$.

Reece · 01-20-10, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JScones

I still want to know if we'll be able to confidently save games mid-patrol. Now THAT would be a HUGE leap forward in the SH series.

Funny I have never had any issues saving mid patrol, hundreds of times, in SH3, only if close to a port!

can even reload a mid patrol-save submerged, with SH3 Commander!

JScones · 01-20-10, 10:51 PM

Me either, but then I don't save mid-patrol for that very reason, lol.

Sailor Steve · 01-20-10, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randomizer

Of course actual U-Boat captians were always allowed to select their own patrol areas or sail wherever they wanted to...

Were they? My understanding has always been that BdU kept a very tight rein on them, and they always went exactly where they were told, at least up to a point.

Sailor Steve · 01-20-10, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhaas

And anyone who quotes Heinlein is aces in my book.

My all-time favorite is from Time Enough For Love: "The optimist believes we live in the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist is afraid he might be right."

@ jclasper: WELCOME ABOARD!

JScones · 01-20-10, 11:59 PM

Or my favourite, a pessimist is what an optimist calls a realist (or a realist is what an optimist calls a pessimist depending on how you read it).

Archive1 · 01-21-10, 01:33 AM

Appreciate the interview, Neal, and the bit of candor that the dev team has given.

Have been involved in the "Letters from Home" project and the limited career will at least reduce the significant effort needed to write letters every month for every career to the end. We'll see if we can resurrect that add-on.

Maybe an awkward question, but how much of Tomi's work will be incorporated into SH5? Does anyone know...or is it something that should/will/must be held close for legal reasons?

JScones: Finally, it is good to know that one can close the game while submerged or close to a convoy in mid patrol while using Commander. We have been warned several times not to do so and that makes it awkward to go forward if 'under' or attacking a convoy if there is not enough time (real time) to go to the absolute end, expecting a DD attack for several virtual hours.

Look forward to SH5 and almost certainly forthcoming brilliant mods. In any case, am grateful to Ubi for any development they do, without them what would we have, eh?

Easty · 01-21-10, 02:39 AM

Bit disapointed with just the one uboat type and the 1943 end, not sure if I will buy it or not, have to wait and see if the modders can do something with it.

Gotmilk · 01-21-10, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easty

have to wait and see if the modders can do something with it.

no they cant.

01-20-10, 08:25 PM	#242
edjcox Engineer Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Shang Gri La Posts: 219 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 0	Ok I'll get it but.... Seems every version is a matter of throwing something away and adding something new. Why can't these game developers simply build on what the comunity points out as the pathway.... Make it easy to command and make the crew work. If I command a range on a target an officer should use the UZO and state that range... If I command "dive" the crew should initiate the dive given certain sequenced events including the closing of the hatchway. I'll buy it but probably will gripe. __________________ EJ Cox http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z...jcox/usaCa.gif

01-20-10, 09:01 PM	#243
brett25 Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oakland CA, USA Posts: 737 Downloads: 570 Uploads: 0	I m a little concerned about the direction the gameplay may take however. i think PC gaming is being drawn toward PS3 or console style gaming. The days of having an open sandbox, unscripted environment is becoming very rare, I saw this change happen to a favorite series of mine on the PC recently. I would be really worried if they are intending to make a console version of the game as well as PC. Thats usually a bad sign that we will have more of an arcade game rather than a true simulator. I can deal with ALL the limitations as long as this game remains a simulator and does not become a FPS/RPG console game! I will not buy or play such a game and stick with SH3 instead. Im sure the devs will do the right thing! __________________ http://shmf.larsbundgaard.dk/index.p...1tn5&board=7.0

01-20-10, 11:59 PM	#252
JScones Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 5,501 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	Or my favourite, a pessimist is what an optimist calls a realist (or a realist is what an optimist calls a pessimist depending on how you read it). Last edited by JScones; 01-21-10 at 12:16 AM.

01-21-10, 02:39 AM	#254
Easty Mate Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 55 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	SHV Bit disapointed with just the one uboat type and the 1943 end, not sure if I will buy it or not, have to wait and see if the modders can do something with it.

01-20-10, 09:40 PM	#244
hocking Sparky Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 154 Downloads: 156 Uploads: 0	I am very perplexed as to why they would only model one type of UBoat (with a few slightly different variations), and only a certain part of the war. As far as modeling only one uboat, you have simply modeled boredom into your game after about 5 or 6 patrols. Even if we will end up using the Type VII most of the time, almost all of us changed back and forth between the various boats just to add a little variety. As far as ending the game in 1943, it makes the entire game seem incomplete. If your goal is to leave a portion of the game open for an Add-On, then I am fine with that as long as you follow up with your add-on soon. I hope you are able to generate revenue to keep the series going, but you do need to follow up soon to make your game feel more complete. The greatest news is that the game is very modable. With that, I can honestly say that this game probably won't reach a level that we are looking forward to until about 9 to 12 months after it is released. I truly think the modders have alot to do to bring this game to hard-core simmers likings, and this will take time.

01-20-10, 09:56 PM	#245
JScones Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 5,501 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	I still want to know if we'll be able to confidently save games mid-patrol. Now THAT would be a HUGE leap forward in the SH series.

01-20-10, 10:34 PM	#247
Lanzfeld Grey Wolf Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: New Tripoli, PA Posts: 994 Downloads: 64 Uploads: 0	I am very worried that the AI is going to cheat or get super nerfed in order to make UBI's idea of a "sim". Doesnt matter. They are not getting my $$$.

01-20-10, 10:51 PM	#249
JScones Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 5,501 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	Me either, but then I don't save mid-patrol for that very reason, lol.

01-21-10, 01:33 AM	#253
Archive1 Captain Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Washington State south of Tacoma Posts: 496 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	Appreciate the interview, Neal, and the bit of candor that the dev team has given. Have been involved in the "Letters from Home" project and the limited career will at least reduce the significant effort needed to write letters every month for every career to the end. We'll see if we can resurrect that add-on. Maybe an awkward question, but how much of Tomi's work will be incorporated into SH5? Does anyone know...or is it something that should/will/must be held close for legal reasons? JScones: Finally, it is good to know that one can close the game while submerged or close to a convoy in mid patrol while using Commander. We have been warned several times not to do so and that makes it awkward to go forward if 'under' or attacking a convoy if there is not enough time (real time) to go to the absolute end, expecting a DD attack for several virtual hours. Look forward to SH5 and almost certainly forthcoming brilliant mods. In any case, am grateful to Ubi for any development they do, without them what would we have, eh?