Tweet
Long post, but too short for the SCR.
The SubCommittee, as I don’t need to remind everyone, is not just about RC Submarines. Though I can agree that’s the main focus, at least as seen on the Forum, or even in the report itself. Certainly overshadows static or the research side, and not to mention the entertainment side.
But I’d like to see if there is any among you that currently enjoy Submarine Combat Simulation Gaming, or may be interested in trying it out.
Way back when, during the Gene Berger Editor Era, I wrote a column called CyberSub. I think I even mentioned it recently in a post here. We were new to the online presence back then. Some may even remember the original SubCommittee Bulletin board I ran on OS2 WARP using x286 PC and a 2400baud dial up modem!!
Basically I focused on helping the masses get online (back then) and spoke about online gaming. Don’t think it was well received at the time, having the least interest in a survey by the SC, but what the heck.
As a Cold War Sub Vet I prefer Nuc Boat Simulators over the WWII FleetBoat or German Wolfpack games, though I have of course played them, napping through a long “End Run” attack lol. But to each his own.
Back then I was playing Electronic Art’s 688 Attack Sub (1989 John W. Ratcliff/Paul Grace), moving on to their SSN-21 SEAWOLF (1994). These were either single/campaign missions or two payer via null modem. I then moved onto EA’s Jane's 688(i) Hunter/Killer (1997), was developed by Sonalysts Inc., which had previously developed submarine simulations and wargames for the United States Department of Defense.. The first true multiplayer sub simulator (at least in my memory) that could handle 8 players at once
The interesting thing about that was an online group called the “SeaWolves”. I became a member, and over the course of a year or so played games online as a member spanning quick “knife fights” to multi-month wars! They had a very extensive “community” with Rank, Positions, Training (Yes, a Sub School!). They even had a JAG to settle disputes! Reminded me of a Sailing Club lol. Well I had kid’s to raise and SubReggatta’s to attend, so something had to go. But it was really cool.
The last game I became addicted to, before I got hot and heavy into sailing, was the successor 688(i) H/K, which is EA’s Sub Command, subtitled Akula Seawolf 688(I) (2001), also by Sonalysts Inc. A very cool game, and as a Sub Vet who actually performed TMA on a Soviet Sub (can’t say which class or when), this game is about the most realistic to what I experienced onboard. You can play either the SEAWOLF, 688(I), or AKULA. It is also a multiplayer sub simulator that could handle 8 players at once.
With the release of “Cold Waters” (Spiritual Successor to the Microprose Classic “Red Storm Rising”) back in 2017, I’ve been itching to get “underway”. This past holiday it was on sale for $19.99US ($39.99 list) on STEAM, so I thought I’d grab it. I also saw STEAM had my old friend “Sub Command” for $9.99US, so I grabbed that as well. Sub Command is even working on my W10 64bit Laptop thanks to STEAM, not bad for a program originally written for a much older OS.
So these past two weeks I’ve been on holiday, I’ve been staying up late at night, “underway” in a room “rigged for red” hunting my prey. Yes, I’m sure I need help, but I’m having the time of my life.
Having written a book here, I won’t go into the gameplay, or a review. But I’ll give you the main differences between the two. Perhaps you’ll want to try for yourself. Or look for others!
“Cold Waters”: Single Player.
Campaigns during 1968 North Atlantic, 1984 North Atlantic, 2000 South China Sea. Steep learning curve. Watch Youtube Video’s to help. (I suggest a channel run by a guy called "Jive Turkey" former Silent Service Vet Sonarman) Though a good simulator, the 3rd person view gives it the ARCADE feel, after all a true sub Commander can’t view his boat in 3D to avoid incoming torpedoes! But the 3D modeling of the boat’s is worth the ticket price for admission. Lot of fun. This sailor has it set at a realistic level, and I do the best to avoid the 3D portion, but I’m not saying I always do ;-) There must be “mods” out there, I’ve seen people playing just about every post 1955 sub imaginable. I would think this would be the pick for 99% of you. My XMAS post showed a 16 minute video of actual gameplay.
“Sub Command”: Single Player/Multiplayer
Dated of course. VERY steep learning curve. NOT for the arcade player, but as close as you can get to actually serving if you want to experience a Modern Submarine hunting and Combat. I play this with ALL Autocrew off, meaning I have to find, classify, track, generate firing solutions, and get out of dodge with nothing but incoming torpedo bearings to survive. The 1% of any SC member Nuc boat aficionado out there who wants to play this truly wants to know what a modern submariner feels like doing his job.
I’ve been playing single games to get back up to fighting trim. Right now I’m commanding the USS SEAWOLF SSN21 tracking a rogue Typhoon under the ice north of Svalbard. He’s looking for polynya to conduct an unauthorized missile launch on the US. Sound familiar? I have to find and sink him without hitting the Soviet SSN that is shadowing him. I’m also trying to get Multiplayer operational with Sub Eddie in today’s environment with “Firewalls” and what not. My hope is that someone out there will want to go “Mano-a-mano” with me.
Back to “Cold Waters”
Here are some screenshots of my recent mission to sink a Soviet Capitol Ship (KIROV) and her escorts: a KRESTA II, SOVREMENNY and a SIERRA!! Took about 2 hours of patience, stealth and hiding among thermal layers to accomplish the mission.
USS Hawkbill (SSN-666) I wasn't kidding about the "rig for red".
My SIERRA Kill, single Mk48, wire guided in till acquiring.
Death of a Soviet Capitol Ship (KIROV Class).
The battlefield afterwards.
and my reward...
Soviet Union 0, "Sub" Ed 4, and survival.
I write this rather long post in the hopes of gathering those who do, and those that may be interested, in joining me on the creation of “The SubCommittee” Group on Steam. It’s my hopes here we can compete against each other (friendly competition for Fellowship) and others, post rewarding screenshot’s, and enjoy another avenue of our rather unique fellowship.
I did search the forums here and saw at least one earlier attempt to gather the masses into another venue.
I understand it’s not for everyone, I suspect less than 5% of the membership might be interested. I’m sure those of you who already partake will. I know it’s hard enough to divy up time as it is, after all, free time should be building time. But I think, for those times you have a head full of submarine, but you’re in between projects, or even to lazy to head to the shop, and your tired of watching “Destination Tokyo”, “Ice Station Zebra” or “Hunter KIller” for the 75th time, you might just want try being the movie yourself. Be the hunter with the satisfaction that your tactics allowed you to overcome, much less return to the surface.
With today’s Game Engines being what they are, the new games coming out look fantastic! Hunting and sinking a Soviet Project 613 “WHISKEY” with a 1968 era SKIPJACK with nothing but Mk16 “Dumbshoots” and the Mk37 Electric “Go slow” on a Saturday evening after a full day in the shop just might be the thing to top a great “Sub” day.
Here is another “Indie” (Deep Water Studio) developed product for you WWII enthusiats (Capt. LaRue??).
UBOAT
A cool video of Gameplay
THIS looks awesome!
In conclusion, if anyone here is interested, and we can get a group going, let me know and I’ll set up a group on STEAM. I think we may even be able to attract new recruits for the SC if we get a large enough presence and show who we are, after all aren’t we the experts?
Again, I hope I can convince some of you to come “live” the movie, and not just watch it. I already told my boss I’ll need to be treated for “Shell Shock” and decompression sickness when I get back to the grind on Monday.
Yeah, I admit I’m a sick one.
The SubCommittee, as I don’t need to remind everyone, is not just about RC Submarines. Though I can agree that’s the main focus, at least as seen on the Forum, or even in the report itself. Certainly overshadows static or the research side, and not to mention the entertainment side.
But I’d like to see if there is any among you that currently enjoy Submarine Combat Simulation Gaming, or may be interested in trying it out.
Way back when, during the Gene Berger Editor Era, I wrote a column called CyberSub. I think I even mentioned it recently in a post here. We were new to the online presence back then. Some may even remember the original SubCommittee Bulletin board I ran on OS2 WARP using x286 PC and a 2400baud dial up modem!!
Basically I focused on helping the masses get online (back then) and spoke about online gaming. Don’t think it was well received at the time, having the least interest in a survey by the SC, but what the heck.
As a Cold War Sub Vet I prefer Nuc Boat Simulators over the WWII FleetBoat or German Wolfpack games, though I have of course played them, napping through a long “End Run” attack lol. But to each his own.
Back then I was playing Electronic Art’s 688 Attack Sub (1989 John W. Ratcliff/Paul Grace), moving on to their SSN-21 SEAWOLF (1994). These were either single/campaign missions or two payer via null modem. I then moved onto EA’s Jane's 688(i) Hunter/Killer (1997), was developed by Sonalysts Inc., which had previously developed submarine simulations and wargames for the United States Department of Defense.. The first true multiplayer sub simulator (at least in my memory) that could handle 8 players at once
The interesting thing about that was an online group called the “SeaWolves”. I became a member, and over the course of a year or so played games online as a member spanning quick “knife fights” to multi-month wars! They had a very extensive “community” with Rank, Positions, Training (Yes, a Sub School!). They even had a JAG to settle disputes! Reminded me of a Sailing Club lol. Well I had kid’s to raise and SubReggatta’s to attend, so something had to go. But it was really cool.
The last game I became addicted to, before I got hot and heavy into sailing, was the successor 688(i) H/K, which is EA’s Sub Command, subtitled Akula Seawolf 688(I) (2001), also by Sonalysts Inc. A very cool game, and as a Sub Vet who actually performed TMA on a Soviet Sub (can’t say which class or when), this game is about the most realistic to what I experienced onboard. You can play either the SEAWOLF, 688(I), or AKULA. It is also a multiplayer sub simulator that could handle 8 players at once.
With the release of “Cold Waters” (Spiritual Successor to the Microprose Classic “Red Storm Rising”) back in 2017, I’ve been itching to get “underway”. This past holiday it was on sale for $19.99US ($39.99 list) on STEAM, so I thought I’d grab it. I also saw STEAM had my old friend “Sub Command” for $9.99US, so I grabbed that as well. Sub Command is even working on my W10 64bit Laptop thanks to STEAM, not bad for a program originally written for a much older OS.
So these past two weeks I’ve been on holiday, I’ve been staying up late at night, “underway” in a room “rigged for red” hunting my prey. Yes, I’m sure I need help, but I’m having the time of my life.
Having written a book here, I won’t go into the gameplay, or a review. But I’ll give you the main differences between the two. Perhaps you’ll want to try for yourself. Or look for others!
“Cold Waters”: Single Player.
Campaigns during 1968 North Atlantic, 1984 North Atlantic, 2000 South China Sea. Steep learning curve. Watch Youtube Video’s to help. (I suggest a channel run by a guy called "Jive Turkey" former Silent Service Vet Sonarman) Though a good simulator, the 3rd person view gives it the ARCADE feel, after all a true sub Commander can’t view his boat in 3D to avoid incoming torpedoes! But the 3D modeling of the boat’s is worth the ticket price for admission. Lot of fun. This sailor has it set at a realistic level, and I do the best to avoid the 3D portion, but I’m not saying I always do ;-) There must be “mods” out there, I’ve seen people playing just about every post 1955 sub imaginable. I would think this would be the pick for 99% of you. My XMAS post showed a 16 minute video of actual gameplay.
“Sub Command”: Single Player/Multiplayer
Dated of course. VERY steep learning curve. NOT for the arcade player, but as close as you can get to actually serving if you want to experience a Modern Submarine hunting and Combat. I play this with ALL Autocrew off, meaning I have to find, classify, track, generate firing solutions, and get out of dodge with nothing but incoming torpedo bearings to survive. The 1% of any SC member Nuc boat aficionado out there who wants to play this truly wants to know what a modern submariner feels like doing his job.
I’ve been playing single games to get back up to fighting trim. Right now I’m commanding the USS SEAWOLF SSN21 tracking a rogue Typhoon under the ice north of Svalbard. He’s looking for polynya to conduct an unauthorized missile launch on the US. Sound familiar? I have to find and sink him without hitting the Soviet SSN that is shadowing him. I’m also trying to get Multiplayer operational with Sub Eddie in today’s environment with “Firewalls” and what not. My hope is that someone out there will want to go “Mano-a-mano” with me.
Back to “Cold Waters”
Here are some screenshots of my recent mission to sink a Soviet Capitol Ship (KIROV) and her escorts: a KRESTA II, SOVREMENNY and a SIERRA!! Took about 2 hours of patience, stealth and hiding among thermal layers to accomplish the mission.
USS Hawkbill (SSN-666) I wasn't kidding about the "rig for red".
My SIERRA Kill, single Mk48, wire guided in till acquiring.
Death of a Soviet Capitol Ship (KIROV Class).
The battlefield afterwards.
and my reward...
Soviet Union 0, "Sub" Ed 4, and survival.
I write this rather long post in the hopes of gathering those who do, and those that may be interested, in joining me on the creation of “The SubCommittee” Group on Steam. It’s my hopes here we can compete against each other (friendly competition for Fellowship) and others, post rewarding screenshot’s, and enjoy another avenue of our rather unique fellowship.
I did search the forums here and saw at least one earlier attempt to gather the masses into another venue.
I understand it’s not for everyone, I suspect less than 5% of the membership might be interested. I’m sure those of you who already partake will. I know it’s hard enough to divy up time as it is, after all, free time should be building time. But I think, for those times you have a head full of submarine, but you’re in between projects, or even to lazy to head to the shop, and your tired of watching “Destination Tokyo”, “Ice Station Zebra” or “Hunter KIller” for the 75th time, you might just want try being the movie yourself. Be the hunter with the satisfaction that your tactics allowed you to overcome, much less return to the surface.
With today’s Game Engines being what they are, the new games coming out look fantastic! Hunting and sinking a Soviet Project 613 “WHISKEY” with a 1968 era SKIPJACK with nothing but Mk16 “Dumbshoots” and the Mk37 Electric “Go slow” on a Saturday evening after a full day in the shop just might be the thing to top a great “Sub” day.
Here is another “Indie” (Deep Water Studio) developed product for you WWII enthusiats (Capt. LaRue??).
UBOAT
A cool video of Gameplay
THIS looks awesome!
In conclusion, if anyone here is interested, and we can get a group going, let me know and I’ll set up a group on STEAM. I think we may even be able to attract new recruits for the SC if we get a large enough presence and show who we are, after all aren’t we the experts?
Again, I hope I can convince some of you to come “live” the movie, and not just watch it. I already told my boss I’ll need to be treated for “Shell Shock” and decompression sickness when I get back to the grind on Monday.
Yeah, I admit I’m a sick one.
Comment