Silent Hunter 4, it's almost here

[LobsterBoy]

In my first post I'd like to say my experience goes back to Silent Service II. I played that sim so much I could almost see it in code like "The Matrix". It had it's own idiosynchrasies (like the time I sank Yamato with my four inch deck gun). I prefer unmitigated realism in my sims, though, so I'll play sh4 without any external cameras (including event cam). The pacific theater is by far my favorite, so my anticipation cannot be overstated. I must be patient, though. I get married in just over a month. We honeymoon in Hawaii, and I will finally get to see Pearl Harbor!! In a related note, we are getting scuba certifications for the trip, but after my first pool session on wednesday, the neoprene wetsuit has given me an allergic reaction (hence my username). If anyone has suggestions or solutions let me know!!!

[AS]

Hi all,

I also started with Silent Service on my C-64 when I was about 12 or so years old. Since my English was somewhat non-existent I never really knew the meaning of all the stuff. So I guessed around and found that "Dud Torpedoes" sounds really cool, so I took them. I think I never actually sank anything but myself then, but it didn´t matter, because I only "played" playing like children do. I just loved the atmosphere and pretended to be in real sub when I was sitting in my darkened room.


When SH1 came out I was playing Aces of the Deep. I remember reading every magazine article on SH1 (I had no internet then) and I hesitated buying it, because I was a young student without any money... when I finally bought it I was impressed by the graphics and yet everything felt a bit too perfect, too polished, too sterile, so I went back to AoD.

I still remember reading and writing about SH2 (!) on this fine forum, how we were argueing, debating, hoping and schemeing as if SH2 would be the revelation we had always craved for... and then there were the problems and delays - the rest is history.

I didn´t play SH2 for long... probably no-one did, or did they?

SH3 took me to the Atlantic again, thanks to GWX it never grew old, although I must admit that after two years some of the thrill is simply gone...

and just in the nick of time comes SH4... so I´ll pack my things ready to pin up my pin ups in a different sub...

Ahoi to all the sailors out there!

Cheers, AS

[longam]

Great Post Neal,

After years of waiting and trying different simulators for the PC I can honestly say that SHIII was the first step that was needed for the sub simulation (or any) community. I think that the home PC has finally reached the capacity to allow this.

The First Person Shooters have dragged down the PC gamming market to the console, and I find this disheartening, and I can only hope that titles like this will bring back the market strong.

[flyingdane]

Man this is crazy!.. Waiting is hard.

[-Pv-]

I was 5 or 6 when the Silent Service movie came out and I've been a Pacific War and sub fanatic ever since. During the dreadfull wait for SHIV I've kept the SHIII campaign I was on going despite not having any weather effects for over a year of real time play now and with 4 days away, it's all I can do to sit in one place for 5 minutes thinking all this frustration is about to get wiped.

The devs did a yowman's job keeping us in touch all through development. I've not seen any other promotion for a game work so hard to help the community feel a part of what is to come. In addition, I think we learned more about what to expect from the game than any other title I can think of. From everything I've seen and read and what the devs told us they want to accomplish, this is the exact game I would have created if I had done it myself. With weather dead for me in SHIII and so many nice things to look foward to in 4, it's not likely I'll ever play 3 again.

For those who just don't have any interest in the Pacific war, there will be nothing to please them about this release, but if the history of this SH franchise holds true, I've seen a lot of attention given to balance and challenge in these games, and if true to real history, many of the best American sub commanders went down under the crush of mine sweepers and tin cans. Having played several Pacific sub games, when you sink your teeth into trying to intercept a carrier fleet roaring along at 25 knots, any idea the sim will not have any challenges will be dispelled as the escorts spot your wake and the targets turn away. Although the US fleet boats are a little bigger, faster, tougher, and deeper, they are also easier to spot and noisy. It will be tough getting close to an aware convoy. Most of the convoys are dodging around narrow passeges between islands in shallow water. It's tough to be stealthy in a big US sub and VERY hard to get away from a determined escort.

As far as PC gaming dying, I've been listening to that talk for 5 years or more. I rank it in there with global warming.
Bring it on.
-Pv-

[flyingdane]

Dude i love the pacific Common, deep down we all do. :hmm:

[peewee]

I too started with Silent Service II, on my trusty Amiga 500 if I remember correctly. I also remember thinking the graphics were pretty cool in that you could actually tell those colour blocks were supposed to be Japanese battleships and carriers. It was quite a while before I found out about the Silent Hunter series and I still have I & II in my games box in the basement (also destroyer command which I think I played about twice). Since playing SHIII I've been hoping for a Pacific campaign game and now its just a week or so away......YIPPPEEEEEEE BTW, I have been saving a Best Buy gift card since christmas for this one game......and as of today they don't even have it listed as a 'forthcoming release'..............ah well, I guess they'll get it eventually.

[flyingdane]

Originally Posted by peewee

I too started with Silent Service II, on my trusty Amiga 500 if I remember correctly. I also remember thinking the graphics were pretty cool in that you could actually tell those colour blocks were supposed to be Japanese battleships and carriers. It was quite a while before I found out about the Silent Hunter series and I still have I & II in my games box in the basement (also destroyer command which I think I played about twice). Since playing SHIII I've been hoping for a Pacific campaign game and now its just a week or so away......YIPPPEEEEEEE BTW, I have been saving a Best Buy gift card since christmas for this one game......and as of today they don't even have it listed as a 'forthcoming release'..............ah well, I guess they'll get it eventually.

We are with you Bro..

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by LobsterBoy

In my first post I'd like to say my experience goes back to Silent Service II. I played that sim so much I could almost see it in code like "The Matrix". It had it's own idiosynchrasies (like the time I sank Yamato with my four inch deck gun). I prefer unmitigated realism in my sims, though, so I'll play sh4 without any external cameras (including event cam). The pacific theater is by far my favorite, so my anticipation cannot be overstated. I must be patient, though. I get married in just over a month. We honeymoon in Hawaii, and I will finally get to see Pearl Harbor!! In a related note, we are getting scuba certifications for the trip, but after my first pool session on wednesday, the neoprene wetsuit has given me an allergic reaction (hence my username). If anyone has suggestions or solutions let me know!!!

Welcome aboard!

[Ark]

Originally Posted by LobsterBoy

In my first post I'd like to say my experience goes back to Silent Service II. I played that sim so much I could almost see it in code like "The Matrix". It had it's own idiosynchrasies (like the time I sank Yamato with my four inch deck gun). I prefer unmitigated realism in my sims, though, so I'll play sh4 without any external cameras (including event cam). The pacific theater is by far my favorite, so my anticipation cannot be overstated. I must be patient, though. I get married in just over a month. We honeymoon in Hawaii, and I will finally get to see Pearl Harbor!! In a related note, we are getting scuba certifications for the trip, but after my first pool session on wednesday, the neoprene wetsuit has given me an allergic reaction (hence my username). If anyone has suggestions or solutions let me know!!!

Welcome to the fourms, LB.

[DaMaGe007]

Lobsterboy, try washing out the wetsuit well using fresh water, there may have been fine dust in there from manufacturing which gives you the reaction. If you still have problems you may have to get another wet suit using a different material. There are latex ones made for warmer water and you may not have a reaction to that material.

If the water is warm enough you can go without a wetsuit altogether, but remember to adjust your weightbelt or your going to the bottom

[cappy70]

Amiga 500/600/1200,,yes those were the days... 100% multitasking.

Silent Hunter was the first game that made me "stuck/stick" at the Amiga.

[DaMaGe007]

Dont forget the A2000 and A4000, ahh the good old days

The A2000 ad A4000 were proper desktop machines with separate keyboards, for the serious amiga users.

Edit: oh and the original amiga....the A1000 (separate keyboard)
If you open an A1000 the inside of the top cover had embossed signatures of all the people who designed it !

/trivia mode off

[McBeck]

Well written Neal, as could be expected from you.

I too remember the excitement when SH2 was on its way, I think I followed that development 2 years...that was a loooong wait.

SH3 was speedy and a wellinformed developemt and SH4....geeeessss...done in under 1 year!!!

First game was Silent Service II, which I got from a friend. That got both me and my dad hooked

It too anticipate and subsim release and I really take my time starting it up the first time. I suck in all information and impressions and take my time enjoying it.

Theres no greater feeling, than the feeling of anticipation!
The day before a great subsim release
The hours before any great date (where you know youll get lucky )
The short from when you wake up on you birthday, till you make it to the birthday breakfast.

[AJ!]

Cant wait

Its probably gona be a few years before a new sub sim game of SH standards is released so lets hope SH4 is a good one :p