Why play a U-boat sim?

Antonin · 04-18-06, 08:33 PM

I don't actually have SH3 yet. Still weighing the comments of the very kind people on this forum re the risk of Starforce.

But in doing my research for possibly buying SH3, I read some comments on Amazon. Some reviewers loved the game, some hated it. Some complained that it was boring because sometimes the patrols didn't produce any action. I thought, "Well, these people are missing the point! Sometimes that's how it was in real life."

Some gamers apparently buy and play SH3 not because they are interested in or knowledgeable about German submarines, but just because it's another game where they can blow stuff up.

For me, the appeal of a U-boat sim lies in its ability to hopefully recreate or simulate a piece of history. I've been very interested in German submariners for many years partly because of the espirit d'corps of the U-boat arm, partly because of my fascination with the evolving tactics and technical upgrades, partly because of the 'what-if' aspect (they did, in fact, have the British worried), and partly because of the interesting contradiction of mostly honorable warriors serving such a negative cause. Most of them showed an incredible amount of 'pluck' and courage.

When I played AOD I never minded the slow times on patrol. I would conduct practice dives, or sometimes go up top at night and 'lean against the railing' of the conning tower and just watch the moon. I remember passing close by the English coast one night and seeing a lone freighter hugging the shore and thinking "Sail on, kamerad enemy. We'll have peace between us tonight."

To those of you who have SH3, why do you play? Is it just another game? An historical tool? A way to escape your RL and 'put to sea' for an evening of adventure, away from the wife and kids?

Are you primarily a gamer or an historian? I'm not saying either is more 'legitimate' than the other, I'm just curious to know. Before I read the comments on Amazon it never occurred to me that a non-historian would be interested in a U-boat sim.

04-18-06, 08:33 PM	#1
Antonin Sailor man Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere near Iceland Posts: 46 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Why play a U-boat sim? I don't actually have SH3 yet. Still weighing the comments of the very kind people on this forum re the risk of Starforce. But in doing my research for possibly buying SH3, I read some comments on Amazon. Some reviewers loved the game, some hated it. Some complained that it was boring because sometimes the patrols didn't produce any action. I thought, "Well, these people are missing the point! Sometimes that's how it was in real life." Some gamers apparently buy and play SH3 not because they are interested in or knowledgeable about German submarines, but just because it's another game where they can blow stuff up. For me, the appeal of a U-boat sim lies in its ability to hopefully recreate or simulate a piece of history. I've been very interested in German submariners for many years partly because of the espirit d'corps of the U-boat arm, partly because of my fascination with the evolving tactics and technical upgrades, partly because of the 'what-if' aspect (they did, in fact, have the British worried), and partly because of the interesting contradiction of mostly honorable warriors serving such a negative cause. Most of them showed an incredible amount of 'pluck' and courage. When I played AOD I never minded the slow times on patrol. I would conduct practice dives, or sometimes go up top at night and 'lean against the railing' of the conning tower and just watch the moon. I remember passing close by the English coast one night and seeing a lone freighter hugging the shore and thinking "Sail on, kamerad enemy. We'll have peace between us tonight." To those of you who have SH3, why do you play? Is it just another game? An historical tool? A way to escape your RL and 'put to sea' for an evening of adventure, away from the wife and kids? Are you primarily a gamer or an historian? I'm not saying either is more 'legitimate' than the other, I'm just curious to know. Before I read the comments on Amazon it never occurred to me that a non-historian would be interested in a U-boat sim.