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08-18-09, 04:16 PM | #1 |
Seasoned Skipper
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 665
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Simple Integration - Writing Patrol Logs / Reading Books
The following is two related suggestions for Silent Hunter 5. A lot of suggestions for the upcoming release are grandiose, pie-in-the-sky ideas that would require massive development effort and very early introduction into the development cycle The two ideas listed below should be relatively to introduce at a moderate to late stage in development and should provide good bang-for-the-buck value in terms of development effort.
Writing Patrol Logs One of the stronger modern references to WWII submariner activity is the patrol log. They vary from simplistic statements to rich paragraphs and give surprisingly efficient insight into the reality, complexity, and feeling experienced. Similarly, letting Silent Hunter players construct, read, and exchange journals at sea will provide a feeling of history and connection with their boats and the community at large. The best thing about logging is that, given a few simple tools and abilities, the content is all user-created. There are no 3D modelers and skinners to employ for countless hours. Some rather compartmentalized programming and minimal UI design is all that's required. The list of suggested features (priority top):
Reading Books I can't count the number of times that I've wanted to read some website, pdf, or forum discussion while playing Silent Hunter but have been unable to since the document is outside the game and I'm inside. Given a way to have simple text (possibly with graphics) books accessible in game, so much could be possible. Community-written submarine guides could be referenced and read by new players while playing. Historical manuals, orders, and references could be read during patrols. Even simple entertainment reading is easy. Books might have a date associated with them to control release. A 1944 book might not be accessible in 1941 for example. Not all documents would choose to be restricted but the possibility opens up loads of opportunities. |
08-18-09, 05:14 PM | #2 |
Mate
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Ohio
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I would love to be able to write notes in the patrol log.
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08-18-09, 05:27 PM | #3 |
Sailor man
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Sweden
Posts: 46
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It would be a HUGE immersion factor to be able to write the log, and a great way to spend time during those mission that you do play with out speeding time (coz you all do it right?).
Listen up to Frederf and make it even easier to share these logs, no more need to sum it all up after the missions over or use paper and pen (not that big of a hassle but a tad more work when sharing stories). Great post
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08-18-09, 05:30 PM | #4 |
Navy Seal
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Ditto! That's a great idea. Let's see what we get. I hope my pessimism is unfounded.
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08-18-09, 05:45 PM | #5 |
Admiral
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: netherlands
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How could i forget this. They had it in silent hunter 2 i think. And indeed how many times i wanted to add my personal view into the log when exiting stuff happened on patrol.
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08-19-09, 06:22 PM | #6 |
Seasoned Skipper
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Pollard, Oklahoma
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Both those ideas are raw elegance.
I remember an old DOS sci-fi game that let you write captain's logs...loved it then, loved it now. Books? On patrol? With the ability to put in your own .doc or .pdf files to read while you hunt? I don't think I'd ever stop playing...
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08-19-09, 06:56 PM | #7 |
Watch
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: USA
Posts: 26
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Hi All
That's a excellent idea. I hope it's included in Silent Hunter 5 |
08-19-09, 07:41 PM | #8 |
Silent Hunter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Y'ha-Nthlei
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Great idea. Probably won't make it in, though. Ubi never has been too hell-bent on satisfying some of the more meager wants of their customers.
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08-19-09, 10:42 PM | #9 |
Seaman
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 31
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Thank you UBI
Tired of silent hunter 4 at times , I'm sure you do to as with any game you play it, you play it, you play it & well you play it, I would like to see something DIFFERENT this time, don't get me wrong I LOVE silent hunter 4 GREAT GAME. no wait AWESOME game, But I know that you can only fit about 4 gigs on a dvd or have they moved to Double layer dvds now? been so long since i bought a store bought cd, i like the download the game and burn my OWN DVD,
but all this stuff we want in the game, i agree about the mussem ditch that i NEVER use it anyway. but i saw the trailer and I'm thinking to myself hmm, NOW IF omg please if only it plays this way. you can talk to your crew watch them work ect, I'm tired of watching that guy tighten that same damn bolt over and over, it's tight dummy move on . but i mean with today's technology lol they should SAID should be able to implement something for all of us. i mean i love mods and more mods but i hope they take the TIME and do us right this time , and NOT have to download 4 or 5 or 6 patches THEN the mods on top of that. UBI I PRAY YOU TAKE YOUR TIME , PLEASEEEEEE for the love of the game. As we ALL love it. FOR god sake do it right, THANK YOU tho for putting out another which I have faith you will do it right THIS time silent hunter. My thanks to you. |
08-20-09, 12:24 AM | #10 |
Fleet Admiral
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It would certainly add to the immersion. again hope it gets in but not one that would stop me buying it if it wasn't there.
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08-20-09, 03:29 AM | #11 |
Medic
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 167
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A good idea and it would seem to be a relativly easy feature to add.
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08-20-09, 06:29 PM | #12 |
Admiral
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: PQ AN 25
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Oh god yes! Patrol logs! Gimme the power to write them!
Sitting in my virtual Kaleun's Bunk, opening a drawer and start writing about the life on a Boot! But honestly! The Kaleuns bunk could be used that way. Typing or writing logs. Or taking a look into the crew's-files. Performances, Shifts or Watch Roosters, LI Reports. It would be the real deal! Please UBI give this Kaleun something to do while the sea is calm!
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08-21-09, 06:09 AM | #13 |
Navy Seal
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,501
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This goes to show how much happiness can be created from such a simple addition. Surely a notepad or similar would not take much effort to implement; just a static screen to capture and display user-entered text, as well as default (but editable) system generated "ship sunk" and other key messages.
An "open" file format allows modders to develop tools to import/export and share KTB's across the community. My only disagreement with Frederf's suggestion is that I want period KTB's; no hyperlinks or embedded images as IMHO that just makes it tacky. And stick to period KTB layout too, otherwise again, it just becomes tacky and arcadish. Insofar as viewing online material, given the nature of u-boat warfare (lot's of quiet time), the ability to browse the web or open reading material easily from within SH5 should be seriously considered. |
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