European Ship Simulator

[Huw the Poo]

Just got an email from Excalibur:

For all the ship simulation fans amongst you, the great news is that European Ship Simulator is coming to Steam on November 21st (check out the screen shots below!).   This release is different to our usual ones though.  Before we publish the boxed retail version in the spring of 2015 at £29.99, we are issuing an Early Access version on Steam (the digital download site for PC, Linux and Mac). 

If you are not familiar with Steam (think of it as iTunes for video games), you can check it out here. The Early Access version is a fully working early version of the finished product.  Between late November and the end of February 2015, we will listen to users' feedback regarding what they like and dislike about the game and what other features they'd like to see added.  European Ship Simulator will then receive regular updates to the code which will continually enhance the content with the addition of new ships, ports, a mission editor and Steam Achievements.  By investing in the game as an Early Access version, you will pay just £14.99 instead of the finished product price of £29.99.

(Emphasis mine)

What do y'all reckon?  I'd be interested as long as there is some game in there.  I recall playing a bit of Ship Simulator Extremes and not having anything to do.  I hope there's plenty of interaction with the boat too.

[BanzaiCat]

I guess, whatever floats your boat. (Ba-dum-tissshhh.)

Seriously, I don't get all these sim games. It seems INCREDIBLY boring to simulate a large container ship, or an 18-wheeler, a city bus, or building a bridge, but I'll be damned if they don't have a game for each of those things, and then some. To me, it's almost as if these devs are seeing exactly how boring a topic they can come up with and still sell copies of it, and each time they're shocked they get lots of orders, so they try to go all Inception and make something even more boring within boring.

That said, if you like ship sims but don't think it'll give you the control you want, you might wait and keep an eye out for other videos, and keep an eye on their early access deadline. I wouldn't jump in too soon if I had concerns over what I could control. Maybe better would be to go into their forums and ask them that point blank.

[jomni]

Seriously, I don't get all these sim games. It seems INCREDIBLY boring to simulate a large container ship, or an 18-wheeler, a city bus, or building a bridge, but I'll be damned if they don't have a game for each of those things, and then some.

Don't forget the GOATS.  :D

[BanzaiCat]

Oy vey gevalt, thanks for that. I will have you know I have not even viewed one video or bit of information on that bit of stupidity.  :-X

[Huw the Poo]

Goat Simulator is a fun game actually.  I didn't care about it either, until someone here mentioned it and said he had a laugh with his kids with it.  Lo and behold, it did turn out to be a fun game to play with my own kids. :)

I'd also add that European Truck Sim 2 is a much better game than it sounds.  One of the best ways to unwind that I know of.