Silent Hunter IV - what already !

[Achtung_Englder]

There are plans for SHIV to come out next year :-

http://www.play247.com/play247.asp?pa=search&searchtype=PC&searchstring=silent+hunter+4&page=search

I don't want to sound negative but I am worried that this excellent sim will be become another cash cow franchise like some of the EA sport games whereby the game is essentially the same with minor tweaks here and there which really should be addressed for SH3 via mods, patches or a decent expansion pack

Franchises tend to become tiresome and unoriginal

If Ubi are to make SHIV than we should expect another overhaul to the engine similiar to SHIII from SHII

[Hertston]

Expect maybe, but it seems unlikely we will get it. That's why my guess is a Pacific setting, its the only thing that would make an SH4 (on the timescale suggested) worth buying... but it WOULD be worth buying (there's far more material than an expansion could really cover).

I think Ubi are pleased SH3 seems to be selling well, but I doubt even their most optimistic suits think the market can support a new U-Boat sim every year.

[JFF_Elmo]

This just sucks *** first ubi needs to UNBUG this game then they can start thinking about SH4

[msxyz]

yeah, and I'd like to see an expansion with uboat AI, and a better campaign

[Wavemanmav]

I am pleased with SH3 and believe that a well done and well updated SH4 could be a good thing. Fortunately or unfortunately, a cash cow usually gets a sequel. If SH3 does well, it could also prompt other Devs to get into the sub sim market. It is always good for players to have a choice.

The sports games "cash cow" statement is right on the money. Sports games come out with basically the same product each year with updated teams, players and graphic tweaks for the purpose of making more money out of the franchise. However, the core game is usually pretty much the same as the previous year's installment.

One trick that EA Sports pulled, which was reported in the New York Times last December, was to pay $300 million to the NFL to get the exclusive rights to players names, teams, logos, etc. Why did they do this? Because ESPN 2K5 was a just as good, if not a better, game and sold for $20 vs. EA's Madden 2005 which released at $50. EA's $300 million investment was for the sole purpose of grabbing a monopoly on NFL computer games and driving all competition out of the market for 2006. So much for free enterprise.