Aces of the Deep

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Aces of the Deep
Studio Dynamix
Publisher Sierra Entertainment
Erstveröffent-
lichung		 1994
platform MS-DOS
genre simulation
Game mode Single player
Age rating
USK approved from 16

Aces of the Deep (English: aces depth ) is a computer game . It is a marine simulation focused on submarines that is set at the time of World War II . Aces of the Deep was developed by Dynamix and published by Sierra in 1994. In 1995, Command: Aces of the Deep was released, a new edition designed for Windows .

Aces of the Deep is playfully the forerunner of all modern submarine simulations with a historical scenario, especially the Silent Hunter series.

Game description

The player takes the position of the submarine commander of a German submarine during the Second World War and operates in the context of the Atlantic Battle . The areas of application range from the North Sea to the Gulf of Mexico , an additional disk also added the Mediterranean scenario.

There are individual missions, but the focus is on career mode, in which the player virtually goes through the entire Second World War. The player carries out various patrol trips with his boat and tries to get fame, awards and promotions by sinking as high a tonnage as possible. When implementing the career mode, emphasis is placed on historical circumstances and events. So in the early years of the war it was still easy. However, the enemy AI is gradually turning to new technologies such as B. Asdic , or new tactics such as convoy formation . Conversely, the players over time to benefit from new technologies such as comes snorkel , radar or steering torpedoes or equal to new submarine types.

The center of the game is the command center of the boat, from which the player has access to all control elements ( bridge , torpedo room, periscope etc.). The player gives more precise commands at the individual stations, and standard maneuvers (going to periscope depth, emergency diving maneuvers, etc.) can also be arranged via a menu bar. Overall, the player must consider many aspects of the game and act accordingly.

The player primarily competes against enemy ships, which he has to fight with torpedoes or the deck gun . Normal merchant ships are hardly able to offer resistance, possible escorts or military units including air support, on the other hand, are heavily armed and represent enormous obstacles for the player, which have to be avoided in a tricky way. The flexible AI makes a contribution to such tense situations as it reacts adequately to both submerged and surface submarines and usually knows how to exploit its technical superiority.

The following submarine classes could be played:

technology

The 3D graphics engine was revolutionary for its time. It showed ships and airplanes as three-dimensional textured objects and thus finally replaced bumpy raster graphics , as they were common in earlier games ( Silent Service , 688 Attack Sub ). Explosions and other effects, as well as coastlines, were only shown as two-dimensional bitmaps. However, the engine also simulated all sea, weather and light conditions as well as their influence on the game, which was also a complete innovation.

In terms of sound technology, the game also offered innovations. Among other things, it presented a voice output with which all commands of the player were acknowledged in a military tone. With the improved new edition Command: Aces Of The Deep that runs under Windows , it was even possible to give verbal commands yourself via voice input , but only with English commands. The background music was also integrated into the game and was presented as music from the on-board gramophone . For example, the player could not arrange any background music during battles, but only during marches . The music selection even included the usual repertoire of classical works, folk songs and marches, including the already well-known film The boat used It's a Long Way to Tipperary .

System requirements:

Employee

  • Production: Mike Jones
  • Senior programming: Langdon Beeck
  • Tech. Direction and programming: Peter Lukaszuk
  • Additional programming: Mike Jones, Rick Overman, Mark Boettcher, Joe Wingard, Ryan Hinke
  • Artistic Direction: Jarret Jester, Kyle Miller
  • 3Space Model: Vance Naegle, Damon Mitchell
  • 3D animation and graphics: Peter Lewis, Cyrus Kanga, Joel Maiano
  • Sound effects: Ken Rogers

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