Feature Suggestions

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[Cloud]

Hi Stu,

Indeed, lets see what the editor and patches bring us. One thing for sure I am glad for the great response SS08 has received, that should keep VSTEP motivated to keep on developing the program.

To answer your question, I was fortunate to make my first trip as a cadet on a passenger ship called the Jason in the Med. A very small pax ship by today's standards only about 5000grt and 250 pax. She had twin screws and a bow thruster of sorts that evidently hadn't worked since she was delivered in the 60's. Consequently good use was made of her anchors in the tight little ports we went into. I attached a photo if you are interested. Anyway...I'm off topic here. 

You're probably right, would be fun just to make something like that in GMAX anyway... 

All the best,

Larse

[Stuart2007]

Hi Larse,

I've seen a ship like it before. An ex British Sealink mail ship- UK/Europe. Converted into a mini cruiser and run out of Miami.

Must be dozens of a similar design still about even now.

Do you know the history of the ship??

(if you want to talk about the ship - I'm always interested in boats- sure most would like to know as well- prob best to post in "small talk")

Stu

[chouby-20]

if it's possible to heave up or lower the towing line during towing operation

[groennegaard]

if it's possible to heave up or lower the towing line during towing operation

Hello chouby-20!

The use of lines and achors in SS08 has improved considerably from what we had in SS06 and I am sure that the handling of mooring lines will improve in future.

Your suggestion has been posted several times before so please use the search function before posting. Take a look on these topics:
http://www.shipsim.com/ShipSimForum/index.php/topic,882.msg9104.html#msg9104
http://www.shipsim.com/ShipSimForum/index.php/topic,999.0.html

Regards,
groennegaard

[chouby-20]

I recognize that it's very good like this.
Sorry, i haven't seen that the question in the forum.

[Biggles1975]

A autopilot would be nice for those who want it but only added to add on ships and not to the default sim leaving vstep time to make more harbours and improveing the sim in other ways but SS2008 is a major leap forward from SS2006
ideas for add packs
ferrys
crusie ships
tankers
cargo ships
steamers
small boats
harbours

[Cloud]

Hi Stu,

Do you know the history of the ship??

Just to follow up...I'll put a little bit about the Jason in Small Talk.

Cheers,

Larse

here's the link to the history part http://www.shipsim.com/ShipSimForum/index.php/topic,1070.0.html (http://www.shipsim.com/ShipSimForum/index.php/topic,1070.0.html)

2nd Edit: Stu, you are most welcome, glad you found it interesting.

[Stuart2007]

Just to follow up...I'll put a little bit about the Jason in Small Talk.

Thanks. Look forward to it.

Stu

EDIT: Very interesting, thanks Larse. ALways interesting to learn the history of a ship from someone actually there, rather than just from books. I'd love to buy a ship- especially one from that era (on the account that they are millions cheaper!)

[Stuart2007]

I think my only real suggestion is that there should be one route that can be completed (such as Rotterdam- Hull) rather than say leave Rotterdam, then mission over.

Having a complete route- like Southampton-Cowes, but for the PoR/Titanic/frieghter would be a good move. But lets see what the future holds

Stu

[KPD]

First thing's first... Awesome game. Buggy, but still pretty damn neat! I've been a flight simmer since 1994 and always wondered if there is going to be a ship simulator one day. Until last night, when I found shipsim 2008! Almost 14 years late, but it's finally here. Howcome I never heard of the 2006 version is still a mystery to me, though! Maybe because Ship Sim community isn't as huge as flight sim. So I'm going to base my suggestions on what I have learned from FS over these years...

1) Complete freedom of design for 3rd party artists. This includes ship/scenery/dynamics artists. Anyone with enough knowledge should be able to modify or design textures and models. From floating tubes to giant cruise liners to oil rigs. Reason is simple: the more i can costumize the game to my own liking, the more i will play it and the more I will talk about it!!! I would have spent 5 hours instead of 2, if I was able to replace that P&O logo with "biggest spammer on the net," if I knew how to edit skins. (I know about the ship editor... I'm just saying...).

2) Customizable traffic. Last time I was in Southampton, I saw more boats and ships! It'd be great if users were able to add/edit AI trafic.

3) More accurate sound system. Including different wind sounds, etc.

4) Antarctica/Arctic ocean. Do I really need to explain why?! Though, this is going to need a whole new dynamics engine. But still, I'm sure it'll be very popular.

5) Calais/Dover routh.

Hmm... That's it for now! Of course, navigation and autopilot options that were mentioned before would be great too.

p.s. Regarding the "biggest spammer on the net," and P&O thing, I once registered with their website to buy a ticket and since then I haven't been able to unsubscribe!!! I even telephoned them. No luck. Blocking was the only left option. I'm told I'm not the only one.

[[RWP]DJM]

Welcome to our wonderful community KPD

I do like the idea of Antarctica/Arctic Ocean, very nice suggestion

I must admit, I am looking forward to seeing how Ship Simulator develops in the future

Regards.

DJM.

[Stuart2007]

I must admit, I am looking forward to seeing how Ship Simulator develops in the future

I think it could develop nicely by adding Dover and Calais as well

Stu

[[RWP]DJM]

I think it could develop nicely by adding Dover and Calais as well

Stu

Absolutely.  Of course, I want Liverpool included....not too far away from where I live

I always fly over The Wirral etc. in FSX

DJM.

[Jazz]

- Take back the old walk around system. The new one is pretty crappy, no walk movements and no sound from the captains shoes, and if you use shift the captain suddenly knows alot about free running and there's nothing who can stop him.

- Bring back the old steering system while orbiting the ship, It was much better only having to tap once on the <- arrow instead of dragging the wheel with your mouse, which is by the way too sensitive. Even if you have a DPI controllable mouse it's not easily opperated I certainly don't have room for a joystick, even if I own one.

- The harbours look very dead/ghost townish to me, there's no cars driving around, no people walking around, no life at all, those stiff dudes on the harbour waiting for taxi doesn't count! I would also like to add that it would be very nice with some people on the boats! Walking around on deck, sun bathing, regular people stuff (of course should the animations be customized after what boat you're on, no sun bathing on an oil tanker etc). The game Silent Hunter is a nice example to this, and even more Battlestations: Midway where the ships felt really alive. It would also be nice with more people and textures on the bridges, It's quite lonley.

- Proper clothing for the allready existing people. What oil rig allows t-shirts? And everyone is apparently related with everyone, twins!

And since there's going to be a patch with bug fixes (I hope that includes fixing bugged missions?), and the other stuff like sinking ships and mission editor I have nothing to add. Thanks for a great game, I can't WAIT for the multiplayer!!!

[[RWP]DJM]

For the controls bit you mentioned, you can use the Shift key for controlling steering/throttle, hold Shift, then tap arrow keys

Regards.

DJM.

[groennegaard]

- Take back the old walk around system. The new one is pretty crappy, no walk movements and no sound from the captains shoes, and if you use shift the captain suddenly knows alot about free running and there's nothing who can stop him.

Personally I do not miss the captains tap-dancing shoes...  Due to safety reasons he is now wearing safety shoes with a nice quiet rubber sole. I think it is alright that he is able to stride over railings and breakwater arrangements. I would do that myself if I was on board - especially if I was in a hurry.

Regards
groennegaard

[Jazz]

Thanks for the tip DJM! It would be great with cycling weather/advancing time if that isn't implented already? I haven't played long enough to notice. 

[Sandpatch]

I have some suggestions

- more places to control the ship from, for example both sides of the sherpa and to steer the pride of
  rotterdam from the side stations on the bridge
- tides
- more extreme weather conditions
- much more missions, especially ferry missions
- have some standard traffic routes so that you also have traffic in the free roam mode, as in FSX
- VHF radio chatter, also as in FSX
- extended light systems
- limited fuel and ability to start and stop engines
- breakable towlines
- doors that can be opened and closed
- extended docking stations
- more realistic docking so that you have do steer much closer to the mooring points
- add a canal as for eample the suez canal or the panama canal
- add more really big ferrys to the game and have lots of mission for them
- don't change the control system, and think its is great now
- add waves behind the ship
- make it to a "career mode", for example you start with water taxi, make random missions (as in silent hunter 4) and
  earn enough money for a tugboat, then make tugboat mission and so on but if you damage the ship you have to
  you have to pay the damages.
- make the other ships smarter, it would be possible if you added radio chatter becouse then the harbour master
  could order the other or your ships to stop and wait untill the other ship has passed

These are some ideas and i don't think that it will pe possible to realise them all but who know, never say never

[Patrik72]

Hi all! Permission to come aboard?? 

Im completly new at this sim. I have not even tried SS06. Anyway, i thought i will give it a chance and a cruise. I dont know much about boats, but i have fun in this sim. Like getting the Titanic out of the port at Southampton. Jesus!!! Now that was hard. I think this sim suits all kind of users very well, not just hardcore boat-fanatics. 

Now over to the suggestions...

1. More boats to play with, both military and civilian. Also it would be really fun to try out one of those jetengined raceboats. 

2. A more live enviorment, birds people, fish (sharks), whales, seals.

3. More missions with greater variaty. Slavage operations, escort divers to special locations, sharksafaris, etc etc...  (The missions with the powerboat are really boring. First time it was fun to jump and slide. Unfortunatly, this continues in the rest of the missions with the powerboat).

4. I liked the idea that another member wrote here. The one with sinkable ships and view it from the liferaft.

Not much and i dont know if they are of any help. 
Have a safe voyage guys.

[Captain Kool]

- make it to a "career mode", for example you start with water taxi, make random missions (as in silent hunter 4) and
  earn enough money for a tugboat, then make tugboat mission and so on but if you damage the ship you have to
  you have to pay the damages.

We have talked about that part before, it sounds good, but it's getting down the line of an economic simulator.

Apart from that, I see you're new, good suggestions!

Cheers

[Lighthouse]

Hi,

If the sinking comes in there should be an abandon boat option. After pressing the button you appear outside the boat in inflatable life raft thing and then you can whatch the boat sinking from the view of inside the life raft!!

I like this Idea. But wait... isn't the life raft already within the game? I thought I saw one picture of it some where here on this site but now I can not find it.

Anyways I reckon it would be a great attition to the game. Should be in the new patch, it's not like it a whole new ship. It's just a new view perspective.

What do the rest of ya think?

Bon Voyage,

Lighthouse 

[toni81]

Bring back the power of the Harbor Tugs.
A yacht like in SS 06'.
Passenger ship's such as QM2 or Freedom of the Seas.
And possibly a submarine.

[Lighthouse]

Hi again all,

Bring back the power of the Harbor Tugs.

The Blue tug (Harbour Tug) of Ship Simulator 2006 has been developed into Ship Simulator 2008. Check out this link. ( http://www.shipsim.com/features/ships.phpPHPSESSID=5a74baff8bb92aa4a5b55616d86548e2)

...And possibly a submarine.

I love the idea of having a submarine, but that honestly is a whole new game. To produce a sub in the game under water detail would have to be improved when using the scope. However I would like the walk function on the sub.

I'd like if possable two (2) different types of subs. One (1) small sub and one (1) large sub.

Bon Voyage,

Lighthouse

[Biggles1975]

Just one more add on idea shipping lines come have the ships and afew of the ports they sail to on one pack

[alazose]

The following suggested features may have been mentioned previously, so let's say I am submitting them for the sake of emphasis.  Can't hurt...

1.  City Lights At Night - Especially for New York and San Francisco, where the lights of the bridges, ships, and skyline would be very dramatic.

2.  Moving Land Traffic  - Car, truck and train movement on land, visible from the ships in the harbours, would add considerably to the realism and enjoyment of the simulation.  (The tram on the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam proves that this is feasible.)

3.  Loading and Unloading Container Ships  from one port to another would be a very challenging mission - especially if the weather in such missions were a random factor.

4.  Ability to Name Ships  would be a nice feature, and hopefully will be included as an option if and when new ship models are provided.

5.  Tall Masted Sailing Ships  but where the sails flutter in the breeze.  I know this one's been mentioned once or twice before, and I know it will be difficult, and I know it ain't coming any time soon.  But 'twould be nice.  (You still out there, Barry?)

No, I won't expect any of these in a patch in the near future.