# Subsim > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Subsim > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Subsim.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subsim > Source revision: 1247091691 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Online publication Subsim Type of site Entertainment Available in English Founder Neal Stevens URL subsim.com Launched Jan. 26, 1997 Current status Active **SUBSIM** is an online publication founded by Neal Stevens in Jan. 1997 that focuses on naval and submarine [computer game](/source/Computer_game) reviews, articles,[1] and news. Subsim is short for [Submarine simulator](/source/Submarine_simulator). Subsim's forums have been online since 1999, with archives back to 2001. Membership totals were 117,023 at August 2016, with approximately 7,700 active members daily. International meets have been held in London, Houston, Amsterdam,[2] Copenhagen, Groton, Germany, and Tokyo. Subsim is the media outlet for game publishers that feature naval content, a resource for military strategists,[3] as well as a source of editorial comment on the state of PC computer simulations and games.[4] Subsim members have been consultants and testers for game such as [Enigma: Rising Tide](/source/Enigma%3A_Rising_Tide), [Silent Hunter II](/source/Silent_Hunter_II), [Silent Hunter III](/source/Silent_Hunter_III), [Dangerous Waters](/source/Dangerous_Waters_(video_game)), [Sub Command](/source/Sub_Command), Fleet Command, Destroyer Command, among others. Shortly after the release of the ill-fated Silent Hunter II, [Ubisoft](/source/Ubisoft) agreed to provide Subsim with the game [source code](/source/Source_code) to replace the rTime multiplayer engine with [DirectPlay](/source/DirectPlay). Subsim members raised $10,000 to pay a programmer to make the improvements. ## Significant events 1998 - Subsim gets their first industry interview: Mike Jones of [Aces of the Deep](/source/Aces_of_the_Deep) answers a series of questions about his groundbreaking U-boat sim. Also, the Subsim *Fix My 688(I) Campaign*[5] begins, designed to urge EA/Sonalysts into producing a no-cheat [patch](/source/Patch_(software)) for [Jane's 688(I)](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jane%27s_688(I)_Hunter/Killer&action=edit&redlink=1).[6] 2002 - Subsim works with [Ubisoft](/source/Ubisoft) producer Carl Norman to initiate a broad reaching mod that will convert [Silent Hunter II](/source/Silent_Hunter_II) and [Destroyer Command](/source/Destroyer_Command) from the original MP engine (rTime) to Microsoft DirectPlay. The mod is deemed Projekt Messerwetzer[7] (messerwetzer (ms-r-vt-zr-) n. [German] - A [craftsman](/source/Craft) who sharpens old knives.) To avoid legal constraints, *Projekt Messerwetzer* is [funded purely by donations](/source/Crowdfunding) and will be [free](/source/Freeware) to all. Subsim donates $1000 and Subsim players eventually raise $10,000 for the project. Multiplayer was significantly improved with this [unofficial patch](/source/Unofficial_patch).[8][9] 2003 - Subsim and Sub Club members meeting in London for the first Intercontinental Meeting. 2004 - Subsim Editor Neal Stevens attends the 2004 [E3 convention](/source/E3_convention) in [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles). First looks at [Sid Meier's Pirates](/source/Sid_Meier's_Pirates!_(2004_video_game)), [Akella](/source/Akella)'s [PT Boats](/source/PT_Boats%3A_Knights_of_the_Sea), and Ubisoft's [Silent Hunter III](/source/Silent_Hunter_III) reveal that 2005 will be a very good year for subsim players. 2006 - Neal Stevens of Subsim[10] is invited aboard the new nuclear submarine [USS Texas](/source/USS_Texas) for a media tour. The Sept. 9 [commissioning ceremony](/source/Ship_commissioning) drew more than 10,000 guests and visitors to [Galveston](/source/Galveston), including ship sponsor First Lady [Laura Bush](/source/Laura_Bush), Sens. [Kay Bailey Hutchison](/source/Kay_Bailey_Hutchison) and [John Cornyn](/source/John_Cornyn). 2007 - Subsim publishes the 2007 Submarine Almanac,[11] celebrating 10 years on the web with a flotilla of stories, articles, and art from naval historians, subsim players, game developers, and Navy men. Foreword by Bestselling Author [Joe Buff](/source/Joe_Buff). [Abraham Zeegers](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Abraham_Zeegers&action=edit&redlink=1) of [Netherlands](/source/Netherlands), moderator and host of the 2005 Subsim meet, is found dead in his Amsterdam apartment, less than one week after he had testified at the [Willem Holleeder](/source/Willem_Holleeder) trial. Dutch media discovered that although Abraham was a state witness in protective custody, he had a secret identity and was prominent in the Subsim forums.[12] 2008 - Subsim's server is knocked offline by a [transformer](/source/Transformer) explosion and fire[13] at [The Planet Internet Services](/source/The_Planet_Internet_Services) (ex. EV1 & Rackshack) Houston datacenter. At first, the Planet was able to restore power after two days but the datacenter's [backup generator](/source/Backup_generator) failed, and the website was down two more days. 2009 - Subsim hosts their fifth international meeting in [Copenhagen, Denmark](/source/Copenhagen%2C_Denmark).[14] Members shuttle to [Kiel](/source/Kiel), Germany to tour [*U-995*](/source/German_submarine_U-995), the only remaining Type VII [U-boat](/source/U-boat) and conduct dives onboard [Peter Madsen's](/source/Peter_Madsen_(inventor)) 18.2m (approx.) homebuilt submarine, [UC3 Nautilus](/source/UC3_Nautilus). 2010 - Subsim breaks the 50,000 member mark. The annual [April Fools' Day prank](/source/April_Fools'_Day)[15] causes a furor. 2016 - Swedish submarine game HMS Marulken is picked up as Subsim's first game production: Wolfpack.[16][17] 2019 - Subsim and Usurpator release Wolfpack on Steam.[18] 2022 - Subsim celebrates 25 years on the web.[19] ## Notes 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Broad Coverage: *Rig Ship for Ultra Quiet*](http://www.broadcoverage.com/education-learning/article1735.htm) on broadcoverage.com 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Subsim Amsterdam Meeting](http://www.subclub.info/wpl/pics2.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20091223045150/http://www.subclub.info/wpl/pics2.htm) 2009-12-23 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [*Project 971 Shuka-B Bars-class*](http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/971.htm) on globalsecurity.org 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [*The Future of Submarine Games*](http://www.ethicalelements.com/computers-software/article6058.htm) on Ethical Element 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Deep Domain: *Sub News*](http://www.cavalla.org/sitenews.html) on cavalla.org 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [*War Game Still Rages*](http://www.subsim.com/ssr/newlond.html) on [New London Day](/source/New_London_Day) by Robert A. Hamilton (December 19, 1998) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [*Submarine simulations*](http://www.froola.com/S/U/Submarine_simulations) on Froola 1. **[^](#cite_ref-PCgames_8-0)** Trotter, William (2003-05-01). ["Submarine marries Destroyer: The long vaunted union of SSI naval-sims is complete - thanks to fans"](http://www.subsim.com/ssr/pcgamer_pmarticle.html). *[PC Gamer](/source/PC_Gamer)*. Retrieved 2017-05-06. *gave source code to subsim.com [...] a fund raising drive netted more than $7000 to jump-start Project Messerwetzer [...] Skilled volunteers and playtesters rallied to the call [...] a free 5MB to 6MB patch that will be finally polished and playtested. The original crippling flaw, multiplayer instability, has been dramatically minimized [...]* 1. **[^](#cite_ref-wargamer_9-0)** Scott Parrino (24 May 2003). ["Behind the LInes #5"](https://web.archive.org/web/20051130005148/http://www.wargamer.com/articles/behind_the_lines_5/Default.asp). [The Wargamer](/source/The_Wargamer_(website)). Archived from [the original](http://www.wargamer.com/articles/behind_the_lines_5/Default.asp) on 30 November 2005. Retrieved 2017-05-06. Subsim Review served as the gathering place for Projekt Messerwetzer, the project that brought Silent Hunter II - Destroyer Command computability to full fruition 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [*Technology sets submarine apart from others*](http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?wcd=89797) on [Galveston Daily News](/source/Galveston_Daily_News) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [SimHQ: *Review of the Submarine Almanac*](http://www.simhq.com/_naval/naval_031a.html) on simhq.com 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** [*Bezoekers Subsim.com betreuren dood Holleeder*](http://www.bright.nl/bezoekers-subsim-com-betreuren-dood-holleeder-getuige) on [Bright.nl](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bright.nl&action=edit&redlink=1) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** [*Explosion At ThePlanet Datacenter Drops 9,000 Servers*](http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/06/01/1715247&from=rss) on [Slashdot](/source/Slashdot) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** [Uncle Biek: *Adventures in a sub*](http://biek.giantpixelracingteam.net/?p=1321) on giantpixelracingteam.net 1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** [April Fool's joke](http://www.subsim.com/april_fool_2010.htm) on subsim.com 1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Καλύβας, ΑΠΟ Δημήτρης (2016-06-26). ["Το HMS Marulken χρηματοδοτείται από την κοινότητα Subsim"](http://gr.ign.com/hms-marulken-pc/30202/news/to-hms-marulken-khrematodoteitai-apo-ten-koinoteta-subsim). *[IGN.com](/source/IGN.com) Greece*. Retrieved 2016-07-17. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Stone, Tim (2016-07-22). ["Submarine Dreams"](https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/07/22/the-flare-path-submarine-dreams/). *[Rock, Paper, Shotgun](/source/Rock%2C_Paper%2C_Shotgun)*. Retrieved 2016-07-24. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** [*Wolfpack release date on Steam*](https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/490920/view/4738306083309298947) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** [*25 years on the web*](https://www.subsim.com/ssr/ssr_history.html) ## External links - [Subsim.com](http://www.Subsim.com/) official website. - [Projekt Messerwetzer](http://subsim.com/ssr/p_messerwetzer.htm) An unofficial multiplayer upgrade for *Silent Hunter II* - [Akula: The Soviet Shark](http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/971-refs.htm) Subsim Article on Global Security - [2007 SUBSIM Almanac foreword by author Joseph J. Buff](http://www.joebuff.com/subsim.htm) Joe Buff Publisher website - [2007 SUBSIM Almanac book review](http://www.strategypage.com/bookreviews/313.asp) Strategy Page - [Submarine Marries Destroyer!](http://www.subsim.com/ssr/pcgamer_pmarticle.html) PC Gamer magazine - [Subsim.com Site Info (Third party)](https://archive.today/20130414195445/http://www.freewebsitereport.org/www.subsim.com) Freewebsitereport.org - [Front page archival images](https://web.archive.org/web/*/subsim.com) Wayback Machine - [Subsim presents: Wolfpack by Skvader Studios](http://www.wolfpackgame.com/) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Subsim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subsim) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subsim?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.