Marine simulation

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A marine simulation is a genre of computer games . A marine simulation gives the player the opportunity to command a surface or underwater unit, sometimes even complete units.

The first marine simulations got their attraction from a sometimes high complexity and depth of the game, only later did the graphics performance offer corresponding incentives.

software

With the introduction of home computers , private individuals had enough computing power available for the first time to allow a marine simulation that was realistic within limits. Due to the lack of graphic skills, the first simulations concentrated on the most realistic possible representation of the very variable possibilities that sea battles generally allow.

hardware

The typical hardware for marine simulations that are run on the home PC only consists of the standard keyboard and the mouse, since almost all commands are entered using keyboard shortcuts. Today's simulations usually also place increased demands on graphics cards, RAM, etc.

Simulation and reality

In contrast to so-called " shooters ", users of marine simulations are interested in the realism of the simulation programs. The behavior of the commanded ship units plays just as important a role as an enemy intelligence ( AI ) that acts as realistically as possible . The close proximity to reality is often an essential part of the simulation experience for computer gamers. Due to modern graphics processors in the most common home computers, there is also a minimum requirement for graphic implementation, i.e. textures (marine vehicles, explosions) and water that is as realistic as possible.

In 1981, Battle for Midway was the first marine simulation for the PC. You could control naval units of the USA or Japan . The game was programmed in BASIC and was comparatively very simple.

Gato , the first submarine simulation, appeared in 1983. Gato was the pong for marine simulations, it offered 20 quadrants spread across the Pacific and was very realistic for its time. The aim of the game was to complete as many missions as possible before having to go to a supply boat in your home quadrant.

1985 appeared for Amstrad CPC , Apple II , the Atari 8-bit series, the Commodore C64 / C128 and 1987 and 1988 for the Amiga 500 / 600 and the Atari ST Sid Meier's Silent Service , a submarine simulation, most players of this generation will probably know.

Two of the first simulations for surface ships were the Destroyer, first published in 1986, and the Advanced Destroyer Simulator , published in 1990 . The series Harpoon (from 1989, based on the tabletop of the same name ) and Great Naval Battles (from SSI from 1992, also known as Burning Steel ) were also equipped with a marine theme, but designed as turn-based strategy games with an emphasis on detailed work that is more typical of simulation . Also a remarkable simulation of historical above water warfare provides Task Force in 1942 by MicroProse represents.

Silent Service 2 appeared in the early 1990s , until 1994, when Aces of the Deep set a long-standing standard in the area of ​​complexity. In 1997 the game was replaced by the modern nuclear submarine simulation Jane's 688 (i) Hunter / Killer , which was continued in 2001 with Sub Command . In 1999, with Fighting Steel , which was settled in World War II, and the modern Jane's Fleet Command , marine simulations followed for the first time, which no longer allowed the player tactical control of individual ships but of entire units.

In 2001 Ubisoft first developed the option of combining two marine simulations ( Silent Hunter II and Destroyer Command ) in online multiplayer mode.

In 2002, the Enigma: Rising Tide , taking place against a fictional background of the 30s, was released and relied on easy-to-use action instead of complex simulation technology for the first time in a long time.

In 2005, Silent Hunter III appeared , which has since been the reference in terms of graphics and realism in marine simulations.

In 2006 rondomedia published 1914 - Shells of Fury , which is set in the First World War.

In March 2007, Silent Hunter 4 appeared , which, like the first part, deals with the US Navy's submarine warfare in the Pacific during World War II.

In March 2010, Silent Hunter 5 - Battle of the Atlantic was released , which, like parts 2 and 3, is located in the Atlantic. The most important innovation this time is that the player can move through the entire boat in the first person perspective.

Compared to other simulation genres such as B. Flight or racing simulations , marine simulations are still “niche products” that have a small but often enthusiastic fan base.

Examples of marine simulations

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