[Mike 'Red Ocktober' Hense]

... Is Too Much, and How Much Is too Little?

ok... lets continue from a response to a question in the SH3 forum,

[TLAM Strike]

That sounds like a good balance between playability and reality.

I would try and keep the EO if possible it sounds like a good place to start the game. If it sounds like the player would have too little to do maybe add the Countermeasures to his list of duties (US Subs had them in late WWII). Also damage control and daily matenaince would keep the player busy if that is implemented.

[cdragon]

For the external view, you might limit it to the a small window, like the event window that pops up in SH3, to show you a torpedo approaching its target, for instance, or like the small 3D window in Dangerous Waters. Full screen external view is limited to the deck stations (Bridge, gun, AA). Crew members could then rotate bridge watches, for instance, to get the full 3D external view, but they wouldn't be sight-seeing; they'd be there for a gameplay reason. Or, at the Captain's discretion, you can let them up for a cigarette, or to witness a spectacular sinking.

[EDIT]
OK, I just saw you're doing a modern subsim. Still, a little external view window for everyone might be appropriate.

[Deamon]

[Bill Nichols]

Will the diving officer be able to 'trim' the boat, i.e., pump/flood water to/from trim tanks?

[Mike 'Red Ocktober' Hense]

hey there guys... lemme try to answer a few questions best i can...

cdragon... i really think external views take a way from a submarine sim... the whole idea of being inside the sub and submerged gets diluted when you are able to go outside for a look... and worse, if you are submerged and can not only go outside the sub, but outside and on the surface... you can see what the other guy is doing!!!

i've never used the cinematic camera or whatever its called in SH3... again, that lets you view things that you would never see if you were aboard a sub... and takes away from the game...

in all fairness though, every flight sim i know of allows for an unrealistic external view... and there are plenty of virtual sailors who would like to see their subs in action from a remote location... so i guess i'll work out some compromise... something that will keep it as real as i can make it while giving the option to externally view the sub...


Deamon - that should answer a few of your inquiries as well... as far as the engine controls, the helm of the wwII model includes a power register (both engines together, sorry), speed indicator, compass, rudder wheel, and the station is only available for the direct control of the Captain... only the Captain can manually take over this station, or give orders to the ai controlling the station...

the engineering (manuevering) room model has the register and responder, the engine condition levers, the engine throttle levers, the generator output control (battery or propulsion), the electric motor power wheel, battery level indicators, charging/discharging indicators, and buss on/off switches at this time... it is a simplified analogy of the real thing, with enough to do to keep a guy stationed back there too busy to have free time to look outside...

the two engine rooms are manned by bots, but can be taken over by the Engineering Officer (or the Captain if he chooses to override command the Engineering Officer), and have the engine start stop panels and the controls for the main air induction...

if there is a human at the Engineering Officers Position, he will have to manually switch to that station and operate the controls when needed...
he's gonna be a busy watchstander, especially during the dive and surfacing, and when manuevering...

the Engineering Officer also commands the Radio Room... not coded or modelled yet, but it's functionality is coded so that orders come in and some reports go out... and your transmissions can be detected...

as far as a demo... the next one you see will most likely be a prelude to the release... although i may do something like a static tour... or an online test with some people... sorry no deadlines or projected release dates... i've already defaulted on this and i don't intend to raise anyones hopes unexpectedly again... especially my own :nope:

i owe Neal a game from wayyyy back, so he will get first notification of anything and will probably have the final say as to what's going on... what's released and when... seeing as i plan to have the initial availability only be through the forum store... sortof a way for me to give back to the forum for all the help and encouragement i've gotten through the years... as well as the comradery as well

Bill - the current ballast control model is, again, a simplified version of the real thing... controls for the main and negative tank vents and blow switches for the main, negative and safety tanks are all that i've modelled so far... it was hard enough getting the sub to respond to these and the plane positions correctly and realistically (well, semi realistically anyway)... flooding only affects the total bouyancy state, and local flooding affects are not modelled(flooding in the torpedo room for instance, won't cause the bow to get heavier and sink) so trimming is not factored in to that level... sorrry... the only options i've programmed in are negative trim and pumping out of the mains to compensate for flooding...

the Diving Officer controls these stations, and is responsible for maintaining required bouyancy for operations as ordered by the Captain... in addition, the planes stations are also under his control, as is one of the deck stations during manuevering watch...


as you can see... in single player, the Captain is gonna be a busy guy if he decides to manually take command of every station... but the option is there for him to let the AI respond to his orders...

in multiplayer (to be honest, i've only gotten one successful multiplayer session working where there has been multiple crew (human players) aboard one sub) each player will be an Officer Crewman, in command of a section during certain watches, and also be able to roam the sub (most of the sub) for relaxation and interaction with other online players ( the ward room would be the central meeting place when not on watch)...


well... that's the grand plan... quite a mouthfull, eh... wish me luck...

(oh Bill, the interior floorplan for the Nautilus main deck i asked about... i need to be able to visualize the where the ladder from the bridge is, and if there are any compartments to the port side of the periscope stand up in the attack center... thx)


--Mike