SUBSIM: Silent Hunter 5 preview - Page 5

Bilge_Rat · 02-22-10, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Now, here's something I have always been interested in: crew AI. It seems in SH5 their ability to detect ships is slightly less than yours. To test this out, I approached an enemy task force based on sound bearings. I kept watch with the AI crew on the bridge, and I was able to make out the ships on the horizon before the AI crew did. Big plus for that, I like incentives to get more involved in the gameplay and this one is appreciated.

I was under the impression it was designed that way in SH3 and SH4 as well. Am I remembering wrong?

janh · 02-22-10, 09:34 AM

Nice review, indeed. Though it sets off all of my alarm bells. The game looks quite arcadish, and some of the features you described support the change of audience Ubisoft may be trying here. Plus the bug issues of SHII, III and IV before repeated patching appears to reoccur. That was the main reason I didn't buy SHIV (besides lack of new features), so here is maybe a dejá vu? My conclusion (to be adjusted by future reviews) is that SHV will likely require substantial patching and at least 1-2 years for modders to remove the arcade elements, and bring back the core of SHIII with the other boats and the last war years. Before serious modders come up with such supermods, there is little chance that I would abandon SHIII even though it has no wolf packs.

Anyway, with the online-DRM for single player my answer remains No by principle. So many other companies from gaming and software to music and DVDs have started to reduce use of DRM as they seemed to realize that it hurts more customers than pirates, that Ubisoft's move seems to be totally surreal. Some companies do not care about customer wishes, and I really don't want to see the times where you have to be online 100% of the time if you want to run anything on your computer -- and if we don't stop this trend by exerting our customers rights, Neal will be right that companies will try that in the future.

One question: The campaign speaks of "missions"? Neal, can you specify more accurately how the campaign system works? This seems to be the only highlight here. Are those "scripted" missions? Or are all time-relevant, local campaigns running simultaneously and I can select where to head to with my boat and influence the outcome?
Example: I saw the Poland mission, or the British East coast convoys. Or both active simulationeously? And what if I want to ignore both and head my boat over to the french West coast?

KL-alfman · 02-22-10, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nufsed

I would guess that most of the negativity is coming from those not so hardened enthusiasts.

I strongly disagree.

jerm138 · 02-22-10, 09:54 AM

Thanks for the preview.
And thanks for mentioning the bit about the interface. I have found it to be an eyesore since the first time I saw it, but haven't heard many other complaints about it (with the DRM complaints drowning everything else out.)

I'm sure the interface can be modded, but you'd think they would have made it 1940's-style from the beginning, or maybe offer a couple different-style interfaces (who knows, maybe they will)... that way the A.D.D. iGeneration can still have their sleek-looking modern interface, and we'd get something that's more fitting to the era.

Lord Justice · 02-22-10, 10:24 AM

Sir Neal, good stuff, i think it likely to do the cause some good with pepole of positive judgement. A much needed sensible satisfaction to read, thank you kindly sir

and good day.

609_Avatar · 02-22-10, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerm138

...I'm sure the interface can be modded, but you'd think they would have made it 1940's-style from the beginning, or maybe offer a couple different-style interfaces (who knows, maybe they will)... that way the A.D.D. iGeneration can still have their sleek-looking modern interface, and we'd get something that's more fitting to the era.

That was my take on it. The 40s might just be too retro for the younger crowd for them to get into it. As they've been stating, they are trying to appeal to the greater masses and maybe their "research" has indicated this sort of thing... Who knows. With the developers stating how modifiable it will be I'll be people will be able to have whatever kind of interface they want.

Ping Jockey · 02-22-10, 11:41 AM

Good preview Neal!!

col_Kurtz · 02-22-10, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heretic

Thanks Neal.
I hope I'm not out of line here, but I thought that first screenshot made such a nice wallpaper that I edited out the GUI elements and made it available here:
http://webpages.charter.net/mdpeyton...5-27-16-73.jpg

For me it`s a great and nice wallpaper of the game... wich I will never see

Eightbit · 02-22-10, 12:50 PM

It's kinda funny actually. Because it looks like a really nice interface (lots of features) But I have to agree, sh series has never really used much of an interface or had much need for a big one. Sadly its pretty unfitting.

I think I actually enjoyed the interiors of sh3 more then what I have seen of sh5. sh3 seemed more gloomy and dark. Also looked a little more detailed.

Subtype Zero · 02-22-10, 12:54 PM

Thank you for the preview, Neal.

Although I will not be purchasing SH5 until something is done about the DRM straight-jacket, I would like to offer an optimistic opinion regarding the (currently) arcadish interface.

My unsupported theory is that the devs were told by Ubisoft very early on that Ubi wanted SH5 to be as appealing to young and inexperienced gamers as possible in order to avoid letting the franchise go "stale." This explains the attention to eye-candy, RGP or FPS elements, and the simplistic Windows 7 type interface. Plus, the devs were held to a fast development cycle in order to get the game out the door as soon as possible. This forced them to concentrate on just enough for a "basic" sub simulation: only one submarine type, a shortened campaign (avoiding the technological complexities of the late war), simplistic (but functional) interface, etc.

I would not be surprised (but do not expect) that one of the early patches will contain a more authentic interface. More likely, Ubisoft will concentrate on squashing the bugs caused by the rushed delivery and leave the "fixing" of the interface to the modders. This probably explains the devs comment that SH5 will be the most friendly to modders SH yet. Making the game easy to mod relieves the devs of extra work and helps them to get the game out the door quickly.

Such is the state of PC gaming these days, I'm afraid.

02-22-10, 01:11 PM

Thanks for the preview... DRM aside for a moment, it comes across as a more graphical SH3....i.e. better looking environment but just as buggy as all the other SH titles.

Now factor in DRM and its of no interest at all to me.

One for the failure charts methinks and will most probably sell less than SH4.

Safe-Keeper · 02-22-10, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Anyone notice your first mission as kaleun in the "Total Germany" part of the campaign was to sink 50,000t on the East coast of Britain from 6th Sept '39- June 1940?

50,000t

How do you know it was a single mission? Looks to me to be one of the "major goals" in the campaign, that you and other subs achieve over time.

Nordmann · 02-22-10, 01:55 PM

Thanks Neal, a fair preview in my opinion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by onelifecrisis

Thanks Neal. Twas a good read... with a rather negative ending.

No point sugar coating it, the game has some negative issues, which hopefully will be resolved in the near future.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nufsed

I would guess that most of the negativity is coming from those not so hardened enthusiasts.

A bold statement, and completely untrue. As a matter of fact, the game has received negativity from all quarters, and rightly so.

tienman75 · 02-22-10, 02:02 PM

Thanks, Neal

conus00 · 02-22-10, 03:19 PM

Thanks for the preview, Neal.

Well written, with good points and insights. Unfortunately it just confirmed my decision to not to buy the game (at it's release anyway) and wait and see...

I'm not sure how busy are you in your real life but here is a thought:
Considering, that you have just written preview and you will be waiting for final release it would be great if you could start a new thread (something like Q&A between you and the subsim community) and address some of the questions and concerns.

Something like
Q: Is it possible to run both diesels separately?
A: Yes, in a copy I have tested it is possible.

It would be nice to have them all in one thread.
If your time restrictions don't allow it, of course we understand..

02-22-10, 09:34 AM	#62
janh Stinking drunk in Trinidad Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 349 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	ok... Nice review, indeed. Though it sets off all of my alarm bells. The game looks quite arcadish, and some of the features you described support the change of audience Ubisoft may be trying here. Plus the bug issues of SHII, III and IV before repeated patching appears to reoccur. That was the main reason I didn't buy SHIV (besides lack of new features), so here is maybe a dejá vu? My conclusion (to be adjusted by future reviews) is that SHV will likely require substantial patching and at least 1-2 years for modders to remove the arcade elements, and bring back the core of SHIII with the other boats and the last war years. Before serious modders come up with such supermods, there is little chance that I would abandon SHIII even though it has no wolf packs. Anyway, with the online-DRM for single player my answer remains No by principle. So many other companies from gaming and software to music and DVDs have started to reduce use of DRM as they seemed to realize that it hurts more customers than pirates, that Ubisoft's move seems to be totally surreal. Some companies do not care about customer wishes, and I really don't want to see the times where you have to be online 100% of the time if you want to run anything on your computer -- and if we don't stop this trend by exerting our customers rights, Neal will be right that companies will try that in the future. One question: The campaign speaks of "missions"? Neal, can you specify more accurately how the campaign system works? This seems to be the only highlight here. Are those "scripted" missions? Or are all time-relevant, local campaigns running simultaneously and I can select where to head to with my boat and influence the outcome? Example: I saw the Poland mission, or the British East coast convoys. Or both active simulationeously? And what if I want to ignore both and head my boat over to the french West coast?

02-22-10, 09:54 AM	#64
jerm138 Watch Officer Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 332 Downloads: 35 Uploads: 0	Thanks for the preview. And thanks for mentioning the bit about the interface. I have found it to be an eyesore since the first time I saw it, but haven't heard many other complaints about it (with the DRM complaints drowning everything else out.) I'm sure the interface can be modded, but you'd think they would have made it 1940's-style from the beginning, or maybe offer a couple different-style interfaces (who knows, maybe they will)... that way the A.D.D. iGeneration can still have their sleek-looking modern interface, and we'd get something that's more fitting to the era. __________________

02-22-10, 10:24 AM	#65
Lord Justice Previously 4Para Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Britain Posts: 609 Downloads: 51 Uploads: 0	Sir Neal, good stuff, i think it likely to do the cause some good with pepole of positive judgement. A much needed sensible satisfaction to read, thank you kindly sir and good day. __________________ If you cant be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning!

02-22-10, 11:41 AM	#67
Ping Jockey Medic Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Arizona, USA Posts: 159 Downloads: 294 Uploads: 0	Good preview Neal!! __________________ I joined the U S Navy in 1964. Saw the world and a lot more.

02-22-10, 12:54 PM	#70
Subtype Zero Lieutenant Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: 19,998 Leagues under the sea Posts: 262 Downloads: 7 Uploads: 0	Thank you for the preview, Neal. Although I will not be purchasing SH5 until something is done about the DRM straight-jacket, I would like to offer an optimistic opinion regarding the (currently) arcadish interface. My unsupported theory is that the devs were told by Ubisoft very early on that Ubi wanted SH5 to be as appealing to young and inexperienced gamers as possible in order to avoid letting the franchise go "stale." This explains the attention to eye-candy, RGP or FPS elements, and the simplistic Windows 7 type interface. Plus, the devs were held to a fast development cycle in order to get the game out the door as soon as possible. This forced them to concentrate on just enough for a "basic" sub simulation: only one submarine type, a shortened campaign (avoiding the technological complexities of the late war), simplistic (but functional) interface, etc. I would not be surprised (but do not expect) that one of the early patches will contain a more authentic interface. More likely, Ubisoft will concentrate on squashing the bugs caused by the rushed delivery and leave the "fixing" of the interface to the modders. This probably explains the devs comment that SH5 will be the most friendly to modders SH yet. Making the game easy to mod relieves the devs of extra work and helps them to get the game out the door quickly. Such is the state of PC gaming these days, I'm afraid. __________________

02-22-10, 12:50 PM	#69
Eightbit Seaman Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 35 Downloads: 22 Uploads: 0	It's kinda funny actually. Because it looks like a really nice interface (lots of features) But I have to agree, sh series has never really used much of an interface or had much need for a big one. Sadly its pretty unfitting. I think I actually enjoyed the interiors of sh3 more then what I have seen of sh5. sh3 seemed more gloomy and dark. Also looked a little more detailed.

02-22-10, 01:11 PM	#71
Uber Gruber Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Thanks for the preview... DRM aside for a moment, it comes across as a more graphical SH3....i.e. better looking environment but just as buggy as all the other SH titles. Now factor in DRM and its of no interest at all to me. One for the failure charts methinks and will most probably sell less than SH4.

02-22-10, 02:02 PM	#74
tienman75 Swabbie Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 11 Downloads: 22 Uploads: 0	Thanks, Neal __________________

02-22-10, 03:19 PM	#75
conus00 Grey Wolf Join Date: May 2008 Location: DB85 Posts: 804 Downloads: 166 Uploads: 0	Thanks for the preview, Neal. Well written, with good points and insights. Unfortunately it just confirmed my decision to not to buy the game (at it's release anyway) and wait and see... I'm not sure how busy are you in your real life but here is a thought: Considering, that you have just written preview and you will be waiting for final release it would be great if you could start a new thread (something like Q&A between you and the subsim community) and address some of the questions and concerns. Something like Q: Is it possible to run both diesels separately? A: Yes, in a copy I have tested it is possible. It would be nice to have them all in one thread. If your time restrictions don't allow it, of course we understand.. __________________