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21. August 2004
Report by Eagleeyesix.
Translated to English by Doc 'Bleichrodt' Snyder
The 9th Flotilla was invited to this year's Game Convention, held in Leipzig, Germany, for a behind-closed-doors-preview-presentation of SH III. The "man at the guns" to represent the 9th Flotilla was Eagleeyesix.
Here his report:
The two devolpers attending to the GC with SHIII were Florin Boitor and Tiberius Astianax Lazar. Here some pics of these nice guys. I apologize not having been able to provide you with more photos, but due to some malfuntion of my camera, there's only a few shots of the game itself. But no need for being too disappointed - there's nothing new in graphics, so if you've seen the screenshots released before, you've seen the game at its' current state of development. And for pessimistic ones amoung you - yes, the game really looks like in the screenies.
SHIII's starup screen:
Tiberius Astianax loaded the first szenario, a convoy battle in the Mediterranean, south of Sardinia.
I had the possibility to actually play the game for about five minutes, so here's a summary of my experiences:
I got the chance to continue playing a scenario started up by the developers before and fire some torpedos at a tanker. While the devolopers explained, an air raid of the German Luftwaffe with Ju-87 Stukas and Ju-88 bombers took place in the game. It is possible to place the camera inside the attacking plane which allows the player to virtually take place inside an aircraft, it's pretty much like playing IL-2. Then I fired 2 T IV G7E Falke torpedos (acoustic eels) at a tanker that constantly changed its course since several vessels had already been hit before. The torpedos began to lock on to the tanker's screws' sounds and finally hit. They showed me the torpedo loading screen that looks pretty much like the one used in AOD: differnet types of torpedos are marked by different colors, the screen informs the player on re-loading times and the ammound of remaining torpedos.
I had the posiibility to ask some questions during the private presentation...
Question 1: What about the the multiplayer part at the time being?
The multiplayer part hasen't been finished yet, they are currently working on the main issues of the game, but it will be possible to play with up to 8 players in co-op.
Question 2: Will there be a DC2? We, and other flotillas, really enjoy playing in teams.
Yes! Provided that SHIII will become a financial success.
Question 3: How much does the crew management affect realism?
The influence is rather big, it will simulate the circumstances while being at sea. The crew's morale will decrease when being hit, taking damage, during storms and through crew members dying. This will have an impact on the crew's efficiency. Therefore, the player should rather decide whether to continue patrol or better head back for harbour. The commander will always need to have on overview on what his crew is doing at the current moment. Let's say, if he forgets to call back his men on lookout duty before diving, they will have to jump into the boat to avoid drowning. This, again, will have a negative impact on the crew's morale. On the other hand, you will be able to promote crew members, or hand out medals, which will have a positive effect on the crew's morale. If the boat takes damage, the commander is able to put together work groups and place them in the relevant stations to repair leaks, put out fires etc. At the beginning, crew members will only have one single ability, but it is possible to train them on multiple assignments. For example, a torpedo man can, after having completed some training, also be used in the engine room, which may come out to be extremly helpful in case of crew members dying.
Question 4: How powerfull will AI be?
It will be very powerfull. If, for example, a torpedo's trail gets recognized, ships will immediately change course and escort vessels will commence searching for the U-Boat. At bombing raids, ships will start zig-zagging to avoid being hit. The pilots will have different capabilities and states of experience, too, and therefore won't hit each time. Escorts will try building a team to hunt a U-Boat.
In addition, they showed me a stormy scenario and how waves affect the boat. It is said to feature waves with heights of several meters, at this scenario, it really looked impressive. Spray clashing against the bow and whitecaps dancing on the waves. Even inside the boat, I could feel the heavy sea, with the sub rolling back and forth - I don't recommend this realsim setting for seasick people
Freighters will carry different cargo, from tanks over aircraft parts up to ammunition, all of this will be in the game. The realism goes that far, that it's better not to surface in the close proximity of a ammunition freighter after launching a torpedo at it... the resulting explosions might cause severe damage to the U-Boat. Also, when a freighter goes into an inclined position, its' cargo may slip down the deck - this even works for aircrafts on a carrier!
A ship's sinking behavior also depends on where it had been hit. Each vessels I saw sinking showed different behavior and chunks and crates remained at the sinking position.
To conclude my survey, here some pics... i admit that quality isn't too good due to problems filming the monitors. I hope you'll be able to recognize something.
The entire demonstration took about 20 minutes - needless to say, that time rushed away like hell and it was impossible to show every single detail. Marc of Ubi and the two developers were given a little gift - 9th-Flotilla-made sawfishs of metal.
I would like to thank the administration of the 9th Flotilla and Marc of Ubi for this outstanding occasion! Marc was very friendly and I'd do this again at once!
I hope I was able to give you a good impression of SHIII - and thanks again.
