Ship Simulator 2008

Rating Everyone Genre simulation Publisher Lighthouse Interactive External Links Official Ship Simulator Website

There is a fine line between game and simulator, and Ship Simulator 2008 pushes that line to the limit. I'm not here to pass judgment to gamers on what particular styles and genres 'float their boat', but the urge to sail the seven seas with the wind in my hair has never really taken my fancy let alone doing this virtually at my computer. Always one to try someone new, I threw caution to wind and said full steam ahead me hearties.

Upon hearing that this delightful title would be falling through my post box any day caused slight apprehension. Would I be able to sail a ship? The only other experience I've had to date with true simulators was an old Microsoft flight simulator my dad got hooked on. Its host of complex flight maps and procedures ensured that I stayed well clear of sims in the pursuing years. My first thoughts were that, surely, a ship is as hard to control and requires as much planning as flying a plane. To my delight and somewhat relief, the controls are simple. Any newbie captain can easily take control of a vessel of their choice. The basic controls are simply a steering wheel with a left and right throttle. A lack of any tutorial missions hindered my early process, resulting in hunting down the tutorial video supposedly located within the installation. The video nowhere to be found, though the development website provided a download which runs through the controls of the ship.

Ship Simulator 2008 should fulfill most avid sailors’ requirements. Craft selection ranges from little speedboats and tugs up to mighty container ships and even the infamous Titanic, unfortunately unsinkable in the mission. The developers are aiming to correct this issue, along with a host of improvements that can be viewed at their website. Other enhancements have arrived in the form of more real world environment. Players will be able to navigate their way along the Solent in England, New York, Marseilles and four other destinations. These environments heighten the slight enjoyment to be had when recognizing certain city characteristics. Weather and locations have been improved with extensive night/date conditions. Tweak the weather settings to see what Poseidon can do when he gets angry, but not before you take some Dramamine!

Gameplay modes break down into two categories. Some missions require you to complete the set objectives such as saving broken down ships, towing an oil rig down a river, or sailing of the Red Funnel ferry from the Isle of Wight to Portsmouth Harbour. Then there is Free Roam mode. Here, you’re given choice of a ship, location and weather attributes. After those are decided, sail off into the sunset until your heart's content.

There is nothing essentially wrong with this game. Barring a few glitches, it does what it sets out to achieve. Regardless, the sex appeal factor of this game is low. The one main issue I have with the game is the pace. In a modern gaming world full of high-octane explosions and split second thinking, plodding along the open seas just doesn't cut it. It’s so slow that it almost becomes meditative. Graphically, if your computer can cope, it’s truly outstanding, with particular attention having been paid to the most important aspect of the game: the sea. Depiction of the ship cutting through the waves is done in high detail and the scenery is just as pleasant to look at, which is great since there’s nothing much else to do but look around and have a cup of tea after a course is set. The title has included the feature to take a stroll around the vessel when in mission, which can break up the tedium. However, every boat is minimally detailed. They all seem to have that Mary Celeste feel to them.

The most casual gamer will pick this up and place it back down within half an hour. Obviously I'm not in the key demographic that the developers are aiming to sell this game to. Older folks with a love of the sea fit the category. I’m sure there must be a large core group of gamers who love these sims. After all, they’ve been going longer then I’ve been alive. However, simulations are hard to play and review. By definition, they are not really games. They are simulations of real life scenarios that some people find mild enjoyment in, similar to how one enjoys a job. The fun to be had is in taking control of one of these mighty ships, but a very keen interest is needed in the subject matter to retain the gamers’ mind