a few thoughts on Uboat v1.0

amerelium · 08-16-24, 07:32 AM

...some observations from the standpoint of it being an immersive sim.

The good:

Earth curvature - very neat.
Visuals - nice albeit there are some glaring issues with the gfx engine
Crew management and upgrades - a pretty interesting aspect.
Sub mainanance - bilges, pressurized air, pretty good.

The annoying:

Binoculars - just an extension of the periscope, and it will never point in the direction you are looking until you get the Focused skill. Which makse you, the captain, a moron.

Sub Interiors - pretty neat to walk around inside the sub (1 pers of course) but it is ruined by too many interface icons all over the place. They should all be hidden until really close and looking right at them.
Oh, and take a quick look at the map and the captain (you) will wonder off to a different part of the sub in the meantime.

Damage models - non existent. Torpedo a ship, there is some flames, and then it promptly sinks in 10 seconds. Vanilla SH3 was better then this.

Gunnery - a sad affair. Looks like a game from the mid 90s. SH3 did this an order of magnitude better two decades ago.

Darker night - supposed to be more realistic, but anyone who believes that has never been at sea on a moonlit night.

Uboat is a nice The Sims at sea I guess, but of you want to game Das Boot (which is of course what these games go for) Silent Hunter III does it much better - and that is not taking mods into consideration.
Still the standard, after all these years.

Just fire up the intro menu - sums it up perfectly. The hauntingly scored main menu of SH3 puts you right in the mood; that in itself is a fitting image of the difference between the two titles.

Threadfin · 08-16-24, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amerelium

Uboat is a nice The Sims at sea I guess

Tepid praise indeed.

To each his own, but for me, UBOAT is leagues beyond what unmodded SH3 is. So much so that I doubt I'll fire up Silent Hunter again, unless 6.

AVGWarhawk · 08-16-24, 11:22 AM

I finally downloaded the files and started a new career. I proceeded to do the training again as I had not played the game in over a year. I selected I guess easy torpedo/weapons because my crew did all of the work as I simply clicked them to do it during this training. Arcade like for sure. The ship of course was hit and split in two. No fire, explosions or slow sinking. Very much a let down. I will go back and click hard core weapons/torpedo and solutions to a sinking.

I concur with the GFX. Not as good as I recall.

XLjedi · 08-16-24, 12:46 PM

On the binoculars...

I would argue that those should be VERY stabilized in the sense that, it is what we do with our head intuitively!

Stabilization should be an *advantage* of opting for binoculars over the UZO or scope in rough seas. The disadvantage is that it is fixed at 4x zoom which is a magnification we are not used to seeing, and... You cannot link binoculars to the firing solution/TDC. Those disadvantages are PERFECT, but they should be grouped with a very stabilized view.

No one would be standing there on a rolling ship looking through binos and not compensating for the roll. I can literally do this myself holding a beer on the tower of a sport-fishing boat, so it should not be an issue for my watch officer.

Threadfin · 08-16-24, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XLjedi

I can literally do this myself holding a beer on the tower of a sport-fishing boat, so it should not be an issue for my watch officer.

Effective analogy. Even I can do it and tuna towers are up there, increasing the apparent pitch and roll. Probably close to U-boat bridge height.

Even so, the comparison is with the 2005 stock version of SH3 right? Can't agree with the OP, but it's rather subjective isn't it?

And if we go beyond stock in to modded versions, then I think we are in for a convergence even with the best of the Silent Hunter super mods.

Beyond that though, beyond the little details like how stable binoculars are, UBOAT is just done with a broader brush, and adds improvements, facets and mechanics missing from other sub sims, and which I've taken a liking to.

Like the crew for example. The campaign structure. The dynamic map. Boarding and searches. Awards system. Running pumps and compressors. Milk cows (which the player can shift around) and more.

If UBOAT takes the same sort of mod trajectory as SH3 has, then I think the scope here will be an asset. Time will tell.

amerelium · 08-16-24, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XLjedi

On the binoculars...

I would argue that those should be VERY stabilized in the sense that, it is what we do with our head intuitively!

Stabilization should be an *advantage* of opting for binoculars over the UZO or scope in rough seas. The disadvantage is that it is fixed at 4x zoom which is a magnification we are not used to seeing, and... You cannot link binoculars to the firing solution/TDC. Those disadvantages are PERFECT, but they should be grouped with a very stabilized view.

No one would be standing there on a rolling ship looking through binos and not compensating for the roll. I can literally do this myself holding a beer on the tower of a sport-fishing boat, so it should not be an issue for my watch officer.

...the annoying bit about the binoculars - besides the clunky controls - is not that the view is unstable, it is that if you are looking at something, lets say due west, and activate the binoculars, you will suddenly be looking south-east. Or some other random direction. That is pretty stupid. With the Focused skill, the directions will be correct.

hombre al agua · 08-17-24, 12:47 AM

In the simulation aspect Uboat is second to none if you chose the correct options and the right mods.

Calling uboat the "uboat sims" it is a 2019 thing. We are at 2024 with the game released and 400 mods. For example there is no better and realistic TDC out there (we have two and various related systems simulated too), and all the things you can do in SH 3 you can do them in Uboat plus a lot more things.

If you press U all UI is gone.

There is damage model and not always the ship sink fast or the same way, anyway they are changing how it works and there is a mod that already changes the sinking tempos.

If you dont like darker nights , you can disable it.

Uboat is already superior to SH3 and every month is a bit better.

I recommend to read the 200 pages manual to get a grasp of all the systems and possibilities of the sim and check the workshop of steam to check mods.

amerelium · 08-17-24, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hombre al agua

In the simulation aspect Uboat is second to none if you chose the correct options and the right mods.

Calling uboat the "uboat sims" it is a 2019 thing. We are at 2024 with the game released and 400 mods. For example there is no better and realistic TDC out there (we have two and various related systems simulated too), and all the things you can do in SH 3 you can do them in Uboat plus a lot more things.

If you press U all UI is gone.

There is damage model and not always the ship sink fast or the same way, anyway they are changing how it works and there is a mod that already changes the sinking tempos.

If you dont like darker nights , you can disable it.

Uboat is already superior to SH3 and every month is a bit better.

I recommend to read the 200 pages manual to get a grasp of all the systems and possibilities of the sim and check the workshop of steam to check mods.

I know you can - but then the UI is disabled

There isn't - as in there is but it is so simple it basically not there

I know you can - was not the point.

No, it is not. You are focusing on the superficial.

No, I know Uboat through and through - do all my own targeting, etc.

Yes, I know it will (hopefully) be modded the hell out of - however, read the thread title.

Ruby2000 · 08-17-24, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amerelium

...the annoying bit about the binoculars - besides the clunky controls - is not that the view is unstable, it is that if you are looking at something, lets say due west, and activate the binoculars, you will suddenly be looking south-east. Or some other random direction. That is pretty stupid. With the Focused skill, the directions will be correct.

Hi amerelium.

that is strange. When you press the B button, you should look with the binoculars exactly where you were looking before. Do you know which boat you were travelling on?

Cheers Ruby

Ruby2000 · 08-18-24, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XLjedi

On the binoculars...

I would argue that those should be VERY stabilized in the sense that, it is what we do with our head intuitively!

Stabilization should be an *advantage* of opting for binoculars over the UZO or scope in rough seas. The disadvantage is that it is fixed at 4x zoom which is a magnification we are not used to seeing, and... You cannot link binoculars to the firing solution/TDC. Those disadvantages are PERFECT, but they should be grouped with a very stabilized view.

No one would be standing there on a rolling ship looking through binos and not compensating for the roll. I can literally do this myself holding a beer on the tower of a sport-fishing boat, so it should not be an issue for my watch officer.

Hi XLjedi,

are you sure you are using the binoculars?
The behaviour/stabilisation between UZO/binoculars is different. Go to FPP mode and press the hotkey B for binoculars and compare.

If this is not the case, tell me the boat you are using

Cheers Ruby

Andreas86 · 08-18-24, 01:34 PM

Tried getting into Uboat here after it released proper, but honestly the game feels horribly un-optimized. And I have absolutely no idea why this game needs 87GB. It certainly cannot have anything to do with the scenery, as the Kieler Förde is just appalling.

s0cks · 08-19-24, 07:01 PM

Well I'm 60+ hrs into it now and I really like it.

Darker nights, in my experience, does change quite a bit depending on cloud cover, but I do agree it is perhaps too dark, and without it, too light. Would be nice if it were a sliding scale so we can adjust for our own preference.

I'm playing the game roughly similar to how I played SH3, and not locking onto targets, but I do definitely miss some QoL tools. I really want an RAOBF, and I want to be able to set speed by knot. I would also like constant updates on the bearing of closest hydrophone contact. Plus some in game charts, like flags, and speed corrections. Map tools were arguably better for the most part too.

There are definitely improvements over SH3 too though. The graphics for one (although the water and diving physics are meh). Curved Earth. The ability to quickly draw a course line around countries. The ability to automatically dive on a schedule and check for hydrophone contacts. Better time compression. No corrupt saves. No disappearing sounds. More historically accurate TDC. Addition of pumps. Better crew management (it's sooo bad in SH3). Torpedo maintenance. Different mission types.

Lots to love imo. Devs are working on sinking physics next, and I'm sure mods will make this game in the future.

Rockstar · 08-21-24, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s0cks

Well I'm 60+ hrs into it now and I really like it.

Darker nights, in my experience, does change quite a bit depending on cloud cover, but I do agree it is perhaps too dark, and without it, too light. Would be nice if it were a sliding scale so we can adjust for our own preference.

I haven’t tried it yet myself, but may be possible by adjusting screen gamma. Might mess up interior views though.

ReallyDedPoet · 08-22-24, 06:54 PM

Been playing since the early days. Some nice additions with the official release. Definitely some possibilities
with this sim going forward

08-16-24, 07:32 AM	#1
amerelium Watch Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 21 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	a few thoughts on Uboat v1.0 ...some observations from the standpoint of it being an immersive sim. The good: Earth curvature - very neat. Visuals - nice albeit there are some glaring issues with the gfx engine Crew management and upgrades - a pretty interesting aspect. Sub mainanance - bilges, pressurized air, pretty good. The annoying: Binoculars - just an extension of the periscope, and it will never point in the direction you are looking until you get the Focused skill. Which makse you, the captain, a moron. Sub Interiors - pretty neat to walk around inside the sub (1 pers of course) but it is ruined by too many interface icons all over the place. They should all be hidden until really close and looking right at them. Oh, and take a quick look at the map and the captain (you) will wonder off to a different part of the sub in the meantime. Damage models - non existent. Torpedo a ship, there is some flames, and then it promptly sinks in 10 seconds. Vanilla SH3 was better then this. Gunnery - a sad affair. Looks like a game from the mid 90s. SH3 did this an order of magnitude better two decades ago. Darker night - supposed to be more realistic, but anyone who believes that has never been at sea on a moonlit night. Uboat is a nice The Sims at sea I guess, but of you want to game Das Boot (which is of course what these games go for) Silent Hunter III does it much better - and that is not taking mods into consideration. Still the standard, after all these years. Just fire up the intro menu - sums it up perfectly. The hauntingly scored main menu of SH3 puts you right in the mood; that in itself is a fitting image of the difference between the two titles.

08-16-24, 11:22 AM	#3
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,252 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	I finally downloaded the files and started a new career. I proceeded to do the training again as I had not played the game in over a year. I selected I guess easy torpedo/weapons because my crew did all of the work as I simply clicked them to do it during this training. Arcade like for sure. The ship of course was hit and split in two. No fire, explosions or slow sinking. Very much a let down. I will go back and click hard core weapons/torpedo and solutions to a sinking. I concur with the GFX. Not as good as I recall. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

08-16-24, 12:46 PM	#4
XLjedi Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Palm Beach, Florida Posts: 1,243 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 8	On the binoculars... I would argue that those should be VERY stabilized in the sense that, it is what we do with our head intuitively! Stabilization should be an advantage of opting for binoculars over the UZO or scope in rough seas. The disadvantage is that it is fixed at 4x zoom which is a magnification we are not used to seeing, and... You cannot link binoculars to the firing solution/TDC. Those disadvantages are PERFECT, but they should be grouped with a very stabilized view. No one would be standing there on a rolling ship looking through binos and not compensating for the roll. I can literally do this myself holding a beer on the tower of a sport-fishing boat, so it should not be an issue for my watch officer. __________________

08-17-24, 12:47 AM	#7
hombre al agua Seaman Join Date: Nov 2017 Posts: 31 Downloads: 15 Uploads: 0	In the simulation aspect Uboat is second to none if you chose the correct options and the right mods. Calling uboat the "uboat sims" it is a 2019 thing. We are at 2024 with the game released and 400 mods. For example there is no better and realistic TDC out there (we have two and various related systems simulated too), and all the things you can do in SH 3 you can do them in Uboat plus a lot more things. If you press U all UI is gone. There is damage model and not always the ship sink fast or the same way, anyway they are changing how it works and there is a mod that already changes the sinking tempos. If you dont like darker nights , you can disable it. Uboat is already superior to SH3 and every month is a bit better. I recommend to read the 200 pages manual to get a grasp of all the systems and possibilities of the sim and check the workshop of steam to check mods. Last edited by hombre al agua; 08-17-24 at 01:18 AM.

08-22-24, 06:54 PM	#14
ReallyDedPoet Canadian Wolf Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Canada. The one and only, East Coast Posts: 10,884 Downloads: 946 Uploads: 5	Been playing since the early days. Some nice additions with the official release. Definitely some possibilities with this sim going forward __________________ Back in the Day

08-18-24, 01:34 PM	#11
Andreas86 Officer Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 241 Downloads: 58 Uploads: 2	Tried getting into Uboat here after it released proper, but honestly the game feels horribly un-optimized. And I have absolutely no idea why this game needs 87GB. It certainly cannot have anything to do with the scenery, as the Kieler Förde is just appalling.

08-19-24, 07:01 PM	#12
s0cks Watch Join Date: Jul 2024 Posts: 17 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Well I'm 60+ hrs into it now and I really like it. Darker nights, in my experience, does change quite a bit depending on cloud cover, but I do agree it is perhaps too dark, and without it, too light. Would be nice if it were a sliding scale so we can adjust for our own preference. I'm playing the game roughly similar to how I played SH3, and not locking onto targets, but I do definitely miss some QoL tools. I really want an RAOBF, and I want to be able to set speed by knot. I would also like constant updates on the bearing of closest hydrophone contact. Plus some in game charts, like flags, and speed corrections. Map tools were arguably better for the most part too. There are definitely improvements over SH3 too though. The graphics for one (although the water and diving physics are meh). Curved Earth. The ability to quickly draw a course line around countries. The ability to automatically dive on a schedule and check for hydrophone contacts. Better time compression. No corrupt saves. No disappearing sounds. More historically accurate TDC. Addition of pumps. Better crew management (it's sooo bad in SH3). Torpedo maintenance. Different mission types. Lots to love imo. Devs are working on sinking physics next, and I'm sure mods will make this game in the future.