Anyone want to help develop a RIB Simulator for the iPhone?

[Channel Ribs]

Part technical aid, part educational, part fun.

You start off by picking your hull form and loading (seats, tanks, engines etc).

Then you take your virtual boat our for a spin, using the accelerometer to steer and sliders for throttle and trim.

One fictitious map, with some channels and rocks and lots of marks.

Multiplayer option of course.

Any thoughts?

[gotchiguy]

Originally Posted by malthouse

Part technical aid, part educational, part fun.

You start off by picking your hull form and loading (seats, tanks, engines etc).

Then you take your virtual boat our for a spin, using the accelerometer to steer and sliders for throttle and trim.

One fictitious map, with some channels and rocks and lots of marks.

Multiplayer option of course.

Any thoughts?

I found this a while ago http://www.salcombepowerboats.co.uk/...-challenge.htm kinda similar to you idea but for iphone? There are already a few boat racing games out there on the app store but none of them are much cop. They mostly centre around the jet boats they race on the rivers in the southern hemisphere.

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

There are already a few boat racing games out there on the app store but none of them are much cop.

Deffo, moreover they do not have a real world use - ie demonstrating the effects of trim and loading or "what would my boat go like with a 250 four stroke...".

[chewy]

One here for trim:

http://www.bennetttrimtabs.com/simulator.htm

[gotchiguy]

Originally Posted by chewy

One here for trim:

http://www.bennetttrimtabs.com/simulator.htm

I was just about to post that one, but it isn't really a game, I played around with that for a while and, whilst you can replicate a good force ten it isn't highly realistic nor is it really that beneficial in persuading you to buy their trim tabs I don't think.

In response to Martin's point, I suppose it depends what you want, a game or a fully blown simulator, and if a proper sim like Flight Sim is something you mean then why for iPhone because surely it would then be more marketable if it was a game. Actually that quite a good idea LOL a nautical equivalent to Flight Simulator X, surely that would sell?! (cost alot of money to make though)

Heres the Jetboat game if you haven't already seen it http://www.hamjet.co.nz/jetboat_game

[chewy]

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

Actually that quite a good idea LOL a nautical equivalent to Flight Simulator X, surely that would sell?! (cost alot of money to make though)

You mean like ship simulator?

[gotchiguy]

Originally Posted by chewy

You mean like ship simulator?

Ship simulator...?

Edit: just found it, http://www.shipsim.com/ yes thats what I meant. May even have a look at the new one, comes out this month looks like

Since that exists (never heard of it before) then what do you want to get out of an iphone app? Of course a port of a cut down version of this ship sim game may be on the cards who knows?! But if you don't want a fun game thats technically pointless, why not simply get this for the PC; whats the need for it on the iPhone? I agree that it's a nice idea but I can't really see exactly what the aim is

[chewy]

Check the spec of your PC before you buy ship sim.
It is good and passes many an hour!

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

But if you don't want a fun game thats technically pointless, why not simply get this for the PC; whats the need for it on the iPhone? I agree that it's a nice idea but I can't really see exactly what the aim is

I have not used Shipsim, do they do a Mac version? But I doubt it is geared to RIBbers.

The idea is to appeal to anyone who is thinking about buying, building or modifying a RIB. Or anyone who just likes racing fantasy builds against a friend, or anyone who is wondering how much effect trim tabs will have, etc etc.

Like I say, have not tried Shipsim so that may be available on other platforms and allow all of those things.

[9D280]

To properly simulate stuff like console position, trim angle etc in a rib would you not need to have a bluetooth link to a motorised valve on a salt water hosepipe?

[gotchiguy]

Originally Posted by malthouse

I have not used Shipsim, do they do a Mac version? But I doubt it is geared to RIBbers.

The idea is to appeal to anyone who is thinking about buying, building or modifying a RIB. Or anyone who just likes racing fantasy builds against a friend, or anyone who is wondering how much effect trim tabs will have, etc etc.

A large group though we undoubtedly are, surely we are still a minority in the scheme of things, maybe if a member on here was a professional game designer and in his free time was willing/able to write us a little game then that surely we be all that was possible. A commercial viable app designed solely for rib users, but with the level of detail going into console position and trim tabs surely would not be able to find a market for itself in order to justify any serious investment which would result in research and added realism?

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by 9D280

To properly simulate stuff like console position, trim angle etc in a rib would you not need to have a bluetooth link to a motorised valve on a salt water hosepipe?

And a monthly standing order of a couple of hundred quid

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

A commercial viable app designed solely for rib users, but with the level of detail going into console position and trim tabs surely would not be able to find a market for itself in order to justify any serious investment which would result in research and added realism?

I have an App guy already working on a couple of other things, the cost is not so huge. The maths for the speed/power/hull all exist and the iPhone is very good at handling that type of work.

Clearly you cant see the point, nor the demand; so thanks for your thoughts and goodbye.

[gotchiguy]

I can see the point, definitely; an app that could satisfy the criteria of "game" and also have a practical/technical side to it would be fantastic. I just can't really see how you would integrate the two, an out and out sim app is all well and good, but it would loose the element of "fun", and personally I don't think the proper realistic sim type thing is right for the iPhone. For that platform, surely a "fun" game is what would sell/ there is a market for, and this doesn't appear to be what your aiming for

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

I never said it was a bad idea, indeed for us sort of people it would surely be great fun/very practical. I just can't quite get the exact kinda thing. I suppose the apple toolkit thing for apps may make it so easy nowadays that the investment is negligible, but if you so wish, I will shut up

I was just teasing.

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

... a "fun" game is what would sell/ there is a market for, and this doesn't appear to be what your aiming for

I know how to make it "fun"

[gotchiguy]

Originally Posted by malthouse

I know how to make it "fun"

I bet you do