Not Available Ships?

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[Barnacle]

Having found my screenshots (the manual lists the wrong place, developers; please fix) I looked around a little and found a folder called "Not Available Ships."  Lo and behold, it contains pictures of some very interesting ships which are, as the folder's name suggests, not available.  I wish they were available!

Does anybody have any idea why I have a folder of pictures of ships that are not available?

Barnacle

[pauljanaway1]

i think it is there so when it says ships not available on MP it shows a pic

[Captain Darling]

If you do not have the Official New Horizon addon for ShipSim08 then pictures of the ships in the add-on will be in that folder..

[Barnacle]

AhhhhHA!  A bit of marketing, eh.

Too bad they don't do it the way Microsoft does with Flight Simulator:  open the program interface to allow third party development.

Barnacle

[pauljanaway1]

if they did it would take the strain off vstep as ship simers could make the ships and evroments what we want and would free up vstep so they can inprove the game

[Barnacle]

My point exactly.  There are lots of things they could do if they could free up the resources to do them... and with third party ships and scenery it would be a much better sim.  I hope somebody up there is listening!

Barnacle

[Simaddict]

I am Sure someone will be paying attention, but with the large number of requests and ideas they are recieving throughout the forum posts, they must be getting a headache as to which to go for first.

[Agent|Austin]

I am Sure someone will be paying attention, but with the large number of requests and ideas they are recieving throughout the forum posts, they must be getting a headache as to which to go for first.

Agreed. I don't see why they think it is the best to not release any third party development programs or anything, that could double the size of the game just by having 3rd party's making new ships and such. I can see where they don't want that low quality in the game but FSX does it. If you don't want that cheap looking boat don't download it. 

[mvsmith]

The problem with the idea of third-party shipyards freeing up the VSTEP devs to improve the sim, is that the sim would be changing faster than the shipyards could keep up. They would be shooting at a moving target.
We are seeing that effect now in the faulty missions, many of which have been broken by improvements in the simulator. Early mission creators like Bottman were trying to construct missions while the original simulator was still under development.

[Barnacle]

Simaddict, I hope you're right, and that somebody is paying attention.

Austin and MV, let me make two points.  First, Flight Simulator has been open for third party development--aircraft, scenery, add-on and companion programs, etc.--since before Microsoft bought it from BAO.  BAO had a small staff and used its resources for development of the base program.  Third parties added aircraft and later, scenery.  Microsoft (in one of its few rational acts) continued the policy.

Second, programs (even sims like FS and SS) are not normally updated more than once a year, except to fix bugs.  They are a moving target to some extent, but the interfaces must remain relatively stable or their own ships, aircraft, scenery, etc. would have to be revised for each release--and that's not practical for anybody.

It is eminently practical for VSTEP to open the interface, and there would be many long term benefits to VSTEP as well as to the users.  I hope they'll do it!

Barnacle

[Simaddict]

Hi Barnacle,
I agree with your last post and accept that the addition to SS of third party software would be an asset to the sim, additional ships and scenery especially PORTs would I am sure be greatly welcomed by the membership. My only question would be who would be the deciding scrutineer as the the inclusion of such addons, When you talk of MFS a great number of reputable software companies present excellnet addons in respect of sceney and Planes and Most of Which are of a very high Standard even out classing MFS's own.
Who have the Permission of Microsoft to Do So. Who would set the standards of Addons for inclusion into SS. so that continual improvement is maintained and not a reversal. I am most certainly not a Kiljoy in any way I too would Like to see this implemented into SS. But I do believe that the Proposed Questions do require some consideration before approval can be granted.

 

[mvsmith]

Most arguments for third-party add-ins completely ignore the reality that the ships must function in a complex ocean model that may change in response to requests for higher waves, wind effects, etc. One reason for the new SS09 is a completely redesigned sea model. This may necessitate redoing the dynamics of all vessels.
We have already seen that requests for “improvements” in ship behavior or environments can break existing missions. The same could happen to third-party ships.

[Barnacle]

Simaddict...  I don't believe that Microsoft sets any standards or scrutinizes add-ons.  Some are avilable, for a price, from third-party companies.  Market forces take care of which fee-based products make it:  they get thoroughly reviewed in forums like this one.  Many add-ons are available free from sites like AvSim (http://www.avsim.com).  There are many other similar sites.  The freebies are done by people who...um...enjoy doing them!  You can download them for nothing, install them, and if you don't like them--uninstall them!

mvsmith... I can't comment on the differences in complexity between flight simulator environments and ship simulator environments.  But major changes like the one you mention should be relatively rare...and developers have to live with them.  FS add-ons specify which versions of FS they are compatible with.  FS 2004, for example, was a major change, and many aircraft are not compatible with earlier versions of FS.  But if you're a third party you have to consider these factors.  If you're the sim manufacturer, you don't have to worry about that sort of thing, except that it would anger third-party developers to be obsoleted every year!  And manufacturers usually don't have the resources to make major changes every year anyway.

Barney

[Simaddict]

Hi again Barnacle,
Thanks for your Reply withreference to MFS, i should of stated that i use FSX and have used all previous versions of MFS, so I fully aware of the The Url you Affixed and of course many more. And of Course you reference to the addons being supplied by enthusiasts yes there are many for MFS and you can install them and if you are not satisfied delete them this i would think could be the way ahead for addons for SS.
I would also like to thank all others for there input.

[mvsmith]

Gentlemen,
VSTEP had a standing offer to anyone with the skill to produce an acceptable 3D ship model, to integrate it into the simulator. They have also offered to pay for such models. So, unless the offer has been withdrawn, it is not entirely true that there can be no third-party ship development.
You can download this PDF that states their policy and requirements. It also details the amount of additional work required to integrate the ship into the game.
This document is nearly a year old, but should explain why you will never see independent third-party sources for ships.
Marty

[Barnacle]

mvsmith... I've just downloaded the PDF, not that it will enlighten me much. :O)  Thanks to you and Simaddict for an interesting and enlightening conversation!

Barnacle

[goodles]

it would of been so good if they went ahead with this