Blackadder
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Joined: 01 Nov 2008
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Location: Cuntington Manor
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 Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 8:37 am Post subject: Silent Hunter 4. Worth it? |
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I skipped over SH4 since I read the horror stories about AI, bugs and missing features.
Since there is no demo, how do the Codexians that have tried this game feel it has come over the years?
Also, is anyone having trouble getting their SH3 working? I am getting a Green screen of death requiring hard reboot. Weird since it is the exact same system, except for a 7600GT over a 6600GT, that I ran the game on when I bought it (and the starforce of course...).
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Destroid
Joined: 09 May 2007
Posts: 4142
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 9:20 am Post subject: |
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| I didn't remove it from inventory, but never mustered the courage to install and play it. |
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Konjad
Joined: 03 Nov 2007
Posts: 2386
Location: Poland
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| Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 9:26 am Post subject: |
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Silent Hunter III is better, at least that's what I heard. So I bought Silent Hunter III which is a good game.
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commie
Joined: 12 May 2010
Posts: 1604
Location: Who cares? (Grammatically fixed)
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| Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 9:27 am Post subject: |
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Hmm, check out Subsim if you haven't already http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/index.php
It is the best place to ask these things. Even so I'll tell you that you're better off with SH III and the GWX mod. SH4 though has been improved no end with the OM(Operation Monsun) mod.
If you really need to, then try before you buy.  I know it's not moral but Silent Hunter games (especially SH5) are ridiculously buggy even after many patches(again SH5 has been pretty much abandoned by UBI half finished, so it's immoral of them to even sell it) so you should give it a spin first.
I haven't had that problem with SH III, either with my 7900GT or my current ATI 4770, running XP or Win 7. Maybe you have some conflicting driver or codec?
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GlobalExplorer
Joined: 21 Apr 2006
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Location: Germania, World Capital
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overtenemy
Joined: 06 Sep 2007
Posts: 139
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| Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 2:01 am Post subject: |
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Definitely get SH4. I agree with Global in that with Operation Monsun it overtakes SH3 with GWX. People are generally still of the opinion that GWX is the superior experience, but I'm beginning to chalk that up to the internet prestige the mod gets. Though it makes improvements to the game, GWX's only real advantage over Operation Monsun is the sheer amount of fluff that came from it being developed by a large team. Examples: the custom gramophone music, the interior of the boat tilting when diving, etc. Thing is, alot of these are available as separate mods for SH4, even if they're not included in the OM supermod.
In terms of actual gameplay, OM definitely gets my vote. Better crew management, ability to receive new orders with the radio, and that GNARLY attack periscope mod that comes with the OM environments pack. Forget what it's called. Was considering doing an ironman LP to raise general Codex awareness, but I'm lazy and I didn't think many people would give a fuck. Adventure games get all the press here. |
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Blackadder
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Joined: 01 Nov 2008
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Location: Cuntington Manor
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| Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 2:16 am Post subject: |
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Excellent stuff GE. I will definately buy SH4 and expansion now. I have played 2 and 3 to death over the years, and have been trying GWX, finding it quite good.
Thanks for the heads up everyone. Very helpful.
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Trash
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overtenemy
Joined: 06 Sep 2007
Posts: 139
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| Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 8:45 am Post subject: |
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| Trash wrote: | | Does OM include the U-boat war in the Atlantic or is it still the (imo much less interesting) war in the pacific? |
It's got everything, Weserubung to Drumbeat to Monsun. The guy that makes it is very, very thorough. He designs all the convoys in the game after the records of real convoys. You can see him cite sources in his threads. OM also includes the aircraft dropped homing torpedo, forget what the fuck it's called. Soon as that shows up, you get to dive to 80 meters fast or die 100%.
Edit: Something I wanted to point out, is that when Weserubung happens, you actually get ordered to positions on the coast of Norway. Conversely, in GWX you just get a little message stating the operation has started and nothing else. It's things like that, that make me prefer Silent Hunter 4. |
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GlobalExplorer
Joined: 21 Apr 2006
Posts: 2634
Location: Germania, World Capital
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| Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 11:54 am Post subject: |
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| overtenemy wrote: | | crew management, ability to receive new orders with the radio, and that GNARLY attack periscope mod that comes with the OM environments pack. Forget what it's called. Was considering doing an ironman LP to raise general Codex awareness, but I'm lazy and I didn't think many people would give a fuck. Adventure games get all the press here. |
that is called the KiUB (Kriegsmarine Interface): http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=152590&page=3 It's basically an excellent replica of the 'real' Torpedovorhalterechner or Torpedo Data Computer.
Here is a KiUB screen from my collection:
a comparison to the real thing:
a video that shows it in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY6PWox-WGg
Re: Blackadders question, I think SHIV (modded!) is the best subsim available now and it will stay so for a long time now (since SHV is crap). The problem is that everyone will first mention the things SHIV did not have when it came out unpatched and unmodded (an d it was really a trainwreck, I had to wait until 2010 until I could play it). Another problem with a loser community like subsim is that now everyone concentrates on SHV only because it's got the newest shader model and because it's well, newer.
But in fact, and this may be my subjective opinion, I find that from an esthetic point of view SHIV got the "better" graphics:
 
compare that to the overbloomed cheesy shots from SHV
[quote="overtenemy"]crew management, ability to receive new orders with the radio]
in fact SHIV brings many feature that SHIII never had like working weather, varied radio, etc. On top the mod adds things you already mention and also AI subs (you may notice burning ships in convoys), an amazing damage model (it's so good that being depth charged was actually the biggest fun I ever had in the game). The only thing that sucks in SHIV is the sound (voices), one should get a good voice mod like Sailor Steves DBSM.
And btw, SHIV 1.5 is now rock solid on my computer. though some mods made it CTD, and I had to find out which.
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Last edited by GlobalExplorer on Mon Aug 09, 2010 11:59 am; edited 1 time in total |
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GlobalExplorer
Joined: 21 Apr 2006
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Location: Germania, World Capital
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| Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 11:55 am Post subject: |
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| Blackadder wrote: | Excellent stuff GE. I will definately buy SH4 and expansion now. I have played 2 and 3 to death over the years, and have been trying GWX, finding it quite good.
Thanks for the heads up everyone. Very helpful. |
Definitely get the expansion, it's not even expensive.
Once you have it, your first major concern should be to get AA working (that's why most of the screenshots on the internet look so shit) I forgot what I exactly had to do but it had to do with widescreen and scaling options, and that I must run it at a 4:3 resolution. It can be a real pita until you got that working.
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GlobalExplorer
Joined: 21 Apr 2006
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bonescraper
Joined: 20 Aug 2008
Posts: 34
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| Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 4:37 pm Post subject: |
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| GlobalExplorer wrote: |
But in fact, and this may be my subjective opinion, I find that from an esthetic point of view SHIV got the "better" graphics: |
ORLY?
 
 
SHV is definitely one of the best looking games on the market. Unfortunately it's half finished and pretty buggy (although completly playable with 1.2 patch). Still, i'm enjoying it quite a bit ATM.
But don't get me wrong, SHIV is the best in the series in my opinion. No doubt about that. If you're into subsims, it's a must buy. |
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Gondolin
Joined: 06 Oct 2007
Posts: 180
Location: Tumladen
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| Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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| overtenemy wrote: | | Was considering doing an ironman LP to raise general Codex awareness, but I'm lazy and I didn't think many people would give a fuck. Adventure games get all the press here. |
Then stop being so lazy and forget about having a life, too, and do that LP, Ironman or not. I'd be interested in an SH LP, as long as you explain in some detail what you're doing and why. Also, make up some witty dialogue while you're at it. 
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MetalCraze
Formerly known as Skyway
Joined: 02 Jul 2007
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Location: Urkanistan
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| Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 5:46 pm Post subject: |
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Does SH4 with that mod have "wolf-packs"?
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overtenemy
Joined: 06 Sep 2007
Posts: 139
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| Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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| MetalCraze wrote: | | Does SH4 with that mod have "wolf-packs"? |
No. SH5 even unmodded has them, but they don't work for shit. If you keep reporting a convoys position, AI subs will eventually come, but they their AI is so fucked they can't do anything. SH4 + expansion pack unmodded has a system that allows you to call in recon from planes, and assistance from cruisers and eventually pocket battleships. OM gets rid of it though. The closest thing I've seen to allied cooperation was playing around in Guadalcanal during the battle in Lurker's American mod. Also forget what that's called. Haven't played in a long time. Anyway, the whole canal gets really heated, task forces and flights of aircraft going back and forth. I spotted a task force of destroyers cruising at like 35 knots, got cocky, fired off a few eels, hit one, and had them bear down on me. They gave up after awhile and I went to periscope depth to see what's what, to find a whole flight of allied planes bombing the shit out of them. Like half of them sunk. Haven't had any similar experiences in OM, but it's probably possible. |
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GlobalExplorer
Joined: 21 Apr 2006
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Location: Germania, World Capital
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| Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 8:00 pm Post subject: |
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bonescraper, as to SHV, I don't really care
1. those SHV shots are DX 10 right?
2. sure the environment on your screenshots looks better. But by 'esthetically' I mean one also needs to consider interface elements (consolish, a tiny testimony is e.g. the mouse pointer in some of your shots), and style (SHV makes me puke) and you get a different picture. But if you really wonna hear it, yes, technically the graphics in SHV are better!
3. it requires a damn internet connection, so it's not even the same type of product as SHIV or SHIII
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GlobalExplorer
Joined: 21 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 8:08 pm Post subject: |
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| MetalCraze wrote: | | Does SH4 with that mod have "wolf-packs"? |
It may be that this wolfpack thing is totally misunderstood. It cannot be so hard to implement from the standpoint of software development: if you have a working enemy AI (and the enemy AI in SHIII & SHIV is pretty good) there is no reason wy you should not be able to use it on friendly units too. I think Ubi Romania have realized that long ago.
I think it's rather a problem from the gameplay perspective. Wolfpacks could not operate on sight, so to do it right you also need to extend artificial intelligence into the radio traffic and that is hard to implement!
a reality check on what wolfpack operations actually happened. Usually 5 or 6 u-boats were appointed to a wolfpack, 2 or 3 actually reached the operational area and coordinated their attacks, that's all. To specify, they did not coordinate anything with each other, the FdU did that. Radio messages between boats were even forbidden as far as I know. Wolfpacks or not, your boat mostly needs to report its position from time to time, like it is now. The differency being that you should also catch messages sent to the other boats and that they would need to make sense too.
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bonescraper
Joined: 20 Aug 2008
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| Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 9:07 pm Post subject: |
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| GlobalExplorer wrote: | | 1. those SHV shots are DX 10 right? |
No, SHV doesn't support DX 10.
| GlobalExplorer wrote: | | 2. sure the environment on your screenshots looks better. But by 'esthetically' I mean one also needs to consider interface elements (consolish, a tiny testimony is e.g. the mouse pointer in some of your shots), and style (SHV makes me puke) and you get a different picture. But if you really wonna hear it, yes, technically the graphics in SHV are better! |
I forgot to hide the mouse cursor, so? That makes the game "consolish"? Damn... One can argue about the interface, i actually like to have less on the screen so i like the minimalistic approach of SHV. Eespecially when all the vital gauges and dials are actually working on your sub!. You can walk around and read them instead. But anyway, you can change the interface with mods to look exactly like in SHIII or IV. SHV graphic style is actually less "cartoony", so it looks more realistic than any ohter game in the series, therefore it looks better "esthetically". I guess you're just being nostalgic. But i don't want to ARGUE about that.
| GlobalExplorer wrote: | | 3. it requires a damn internet connection, so it's not even the same type of product as SHIV or SHIII |
Yeah, it's no longer a subsim, it's a console shooter with sticky cover system and regenerating health.
Im not trying to convince you to buy SHV or anything. It's not a bad game, but it's not the best in the series. Still, it's quite fun if you played the older ones to death. |
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GlobalExplorer
Joined: 21 Apr 2006
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Location: Germania, World Capital
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| Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 9:44 pm Post subject: |
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| bonescraper wrote: | | GlobalExplorer wrote: | | 1. those SHV shots are DX 10 right? |
No, SHV doesn't support DX 10. |
Then DX9 has actually more potential than I thought.
I see it that we disagree about the art style. No problem. There are also things which I DO like about your screens.
| bonescraper wrote: | | GlobalExplorer wrote: | | 3. it requires a damn internet connection, so it's not even the same type of product as SHIV or SHIII |
Yeah, it's no longer a subsim, it's a console shooter with sticky cover system and regenerating health. |
What I meant is that until recently software was bought, not rented, and SHV is nothing but a damn subscription!
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overtenemy
Joined: 06 Sep 2007
Posts: 139
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| Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 6:32 am Post subject: |
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| There was a recent post in the OM thread on Subsim that states that there are in fact AI wolfpacks. Lurker didn't elaborate though, so if I had to guess I'd say they probably don't work very well. I've never seen one myself. |
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GlobalExplorer
Joined: 21 Apr 2006
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Location: Germania, World Capital
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| Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 2:07 pm Post subject: |
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Then better not ask him about it. For he will probably flame you both publically and by pm, using huge letters and quotation marks around every noun. Instead of simply answering your question he will also send all text files he has ever written, as he always does
Also don't tell him about rpgcodex for he would probably end up posting and flaming people here regularly 
I have learned to simply ignore the guy, for beside his complete absence of social competence he is a really a great modder, that needs to be said.
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Trash
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GlobalExplorer
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poocolator
Joined: 25 Jun 2008
Posts: 5687
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| Posted: Mon Aug 16, 2010 5:07 am Post subject: |
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Fuck. Now I installed SH4 for that good ol' feeling. Still remember sneaking into an enemy harbour at night, torpedoing a massive docked cargo ship, and gettin' the hell out of there before dawn. I had to sit and wait for night, the previous day.
Or traveling submerged during the day for fear of the fucking recon planes, and breathing easy during the night as I coasted along on the surface.
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