Does this mean there is no SH4?

[Driftwood]

Well I for one am anxiously awaiting SH4. I'd very much like to take the helm of a Gato or Balao class fleet sub in WWII. Doesn't seem like it should be that big of a deal to convert SH3 into a WWII Pacific theater campaign with US subs. But then, I'm not a software developer.

[TDK1044]

It's still possible that SH4 will happen, but it won't now be a 2006 release.

[GlobalExplorer]

I have no kind of information whatsoever but I believe there is some hope that we are going to see a different kind of game with the same engine. Yes it was said "the team has bee split onto other projects", but not that these are completely unrelated projects.

For my part I could very well imagine a fantastic Pirate sim or maybe a Captain Nemo game with this engine. Why no sim about treasure hunters, I have been waiting for this one for 15 years? If it said UBISoft Romania I wouldn't hesitate.

I mean shouldn't UBI have noticed that they are having the currently best naval engine at their hands, even though the next game needs a wider appeal to be successful?

[SteamWake]

Originally Posted by GlobalExplorer

I have no kind of information whatsoever but I believe there is some hope that we are going to see a different kind of game with the same engine. Yes it was said "the team has bee split onto other projects", but not that these are completely unrelated projects.

For my part I could very well imagine a fantastic Pirate sim or maybe a Captain Nemo game with this engine. Why no sim about treasure hunters, I have been waiting for this one for 15 years? If it said UBISoft Romania I wouldn't hesitate.

I mean shouldn't UBI have noticed that they are having the currently best naval engine at their hands, even though the next game needs a wider appeal to be successful?

Actually there WAS a sim about treasure hunting. Looooong time agon in CGA graphics. It was actually kind of entertaining. Cant remember the name of it but basically you had to locate wrecks, dive on them, recover treasure, and stay financially sound while upgrading your equipment. There were competitors and "claim jumpers" too.

Anyone remember this game ?

And now for something completly different :P http://www.jawsthegame.com/

[Ping Jockey]

I read here that SH3 had only sold 26,000 copies world wide.I find that hard to believe. Does anyone know how many copies it did sell??Gamespot shows a release date of Q4 2006 for SH4.

[GlobalExplorer]

Originally Posted by SteamWake

Actually there WAS a sim about treasure hunting. Looooong time agon in CGA graphics. It was actually kind of entertaining. Cant remember the name of it but basically you had to locate wrecks, dive on them, recover treasure, and stay financially sound while upgrading your equipment. There were competitors and "claim jumpers" too.

Anyone remember this game ?

I think I have seen this game downloadable on ..
Still hard to believe that this idea was never picked up again. Could be a perfect mix between strategic decisions, great naval graphics and some good roleplaying as well.

And btw there has also never been a serious SCUBA simulator, I'd buy that the day it comes out.

P.S. I just found something funny. Whenever I submit that link it is changed to www.the-underwear.org :hmm: The site is perfectly legal, isnt it??

[GlobalExplorer]

Originally Posted by Ping Jockey

I read here that SH3 had only sold 26,000 copies world wide.I find that hard to believe. Does anyone know how many copies it did sell??Gamespot shows a release date of Q4 2006 for SH4.

SH4 is vapourware as far as the announcement on Gamespot and other gaming sites is concerned. There was some indirect hint for a possible sequel, which was then quoted and requoted on the various sites.

The number 26,000 has often been published, but imo out ouf context. It is (supposedly) the sales figure for the months March and April, the "hot" time when the game was still new, and when a games economic fate is usually decided. Rest assured that if the number was true, SH4 would have been the worst disaster in UBI's long history. I don't believe it.

And, though I can't answer your question, from what I know it sold so-so. At least in Germany it was some kind of a success (have checked that personally at some local mediastores), but of course this was to be expected, and of course it isn't enough.

I guess we mostly agree that it should have become the simulation of the year, but I am afraid that's not to be. Watching at the map screen for hours while listening to the Tipperary song is not everyone's cup of tea

[Type941]

Originally Posted by oRGy

Sounds like typical corporate management techniques.

Team makes a good game, break them up, move onto something else, repeat.

break up, or more often - let them go. I know of a lot of guys who usually are used on a project, than are disposed of. My friend is wokring on a game right now in Australia, mentioned that it's quite common practice among big developers. Note there's every now and than you come across a website of a freelancer, that looks top quality, but they guy works per project, not full time.

Shame.

[oblio]

Originally Posted by Ping Jockey

I read here that SH3 had only sold 26,000 copies world wide.I find that hard to believe. Does anyone know how many copies it did sell??Gamespot shows a release date of Q4 2006 for SH4.

IIRC 26,000 copies of SHIII were sold within the first (or first few) month of it's release. I have not seen any information regarding total sales figures.

Check out www.ubisoftgroup.com if you are interested in looking for more information.

[ReM]

There is NO freaking way that SHIII sold only 26000 copies! Maybe UBI did not get the sales figures they were targeting, but I am quite positive they sold more copies than 26000.......
Heck I bet subsim alone got more than 26000 new members just because of it (myself included!)
But seriously 26000 copies..........can't believe it.

[Marhkimov]

If SH3 did indeed sell 26,000 copies (or more), does that mean that 95% of those people have never been to subsim.com?

[oblio]

Originally Posted by marhkimov

If SH3 did indeed sell 26,000 copies (or more), does that mean that 95% of those people have never been to subsim.com?

Well, on the assumption that half of the registered users on this forum have the game, you're looking at a value closer to 75%. However, that does not account for non-registered visitors to SubSim. But again we’re only talking about those first 26,000 copies.

As for SH4, I can’t imagine UBISoft will be investing in another u-boat simulation anytime soon considering the size of console market. I would though, be willing to bet another WWII era submarine simulation will emerge within the next 6 years by a major player, not excluding UBISoft.

[irish1958]

If Ubisoft is, in fact, not interested do you think some of our wonderful moddlers could come up with a good pacific addition?

[GlobalExplorer]

Originally Posted by irish1958

If Ubisoft is, in fact, not interested do you think some of our wonderful moddlers could come up with a good pacific addition?

I had thought about taking this question to another thread, but it's probably too early.

I think it is possible. You probably will see american subs with the interior of the Type XXI and with american uniforms. There's no way somebody can do the correct interior.

Everything else, the subs hull, the Japanese vessels, campaign, speech files, etc, can be done imo. I'd guess it will take 1-2 years for this mod to appear tho.

[irish1958]

I don't feel so bad about not having a SHIV now. I know our modlers will come up with this. I'm not very computer smart, but if anyone is looking for someone to beta test this, keep me in mide.
Any English majors out there: is it moddlers, modlers, moders, or moderers?
irish1958