Official Fulqrum Publishing forum

Official Fulqrum Publishing forum (http://forum.fulqrumpublishing.com/index.php)
-   IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover (http://forum.fulqrumpublishing.com/forumdisplay.php?f=189)
-   -   A final message from Luthier (http://forum.fulqrumpublishing.com/showthread.php?t=36444)

janpitor 12-12-2012 08:21 PM

I was also flying il2 since beta. I didn´t have a pc that could run it those days, so I flew at my schoolmate's pc only with mouse and keyboard. I enjoyed the whole series and I think it is a pity it came to this solution just in the time the engine started to be more and more polished and hardware friendly.

When I look back to the hundreds of hours in the series, I might try out the 1946 just for the nostalgy. It is a great sim and only COD outperformed it. Unfortunately the sequels will have a hard time.

Thank you and the whole team, with Oleg in the first place, for the best sim ever, and for us, who started the real simming on il2, even the best sim forever.

mazex 12-12-2012 08:30 PM

Dear Ilya!

Like many others here I also remember the day I fired up that IL2 Demo and took off in my 109 with a big grin on my face. I realized right after the take off that this was the best flight simulator I had ever tried after playing most sims that where released since the Spectrum days...

And unlike you I just reaped the fruits of what you and the team later did over the years to produce an amazing series with a staggering number of wonderful flyable aircraft and locations... Thanks a LOT for bringing that joy to the rest of us!

The CloD project really hurts as there is so much potential in this game and just as the gem was starting to shine through more and more the project got axed. The comparison to Falcon 4 is very easy to do... You tried to give us the ultimate simulator with blood, sweat and probably tears but the project finally got so complex it killed your business. So sad.

I hope that CloD one day will be remembered the same way as F4 - a monumental simulator at least 10 years ahead of it's time. It's just sad that you could not get the confidence from 1C to continue the project. As much as I like RoF and hope that they succeed it's simply just one of the best sims out there. It does not have that F4 buggy "wow" feeling around it like CloD...

As a fellow manager in the IT business that have gone through a lot of insane projects myself I also realize all the sleepless nights and mornings waking up with emails in the phone about new problems that everyone thought where solved the late evening before... And investors and other managers chasing you every week with demands for progress reports and budget cuts etc.

Good luck in the future - and I sincerely hope that you will continue in the gaming industry doing what we love most. Flight simulators!

/mazex (beeing a nerd I realized my post count is 1337 - a good number to stop at and sign out with you ;))

juanjo 12-12-2012 08:41 PM

I suggest..someone make a video...of all of us..red and blues...flying in Steam...as much as possible...in formation...as a tribute and thankfull to the effort of Luthier and company. They faught hard to die with proud, and they left behind the best sim ever. Just set a date and I will be there...If you want to join...pass it...and just click +1

Freycinet 12-12-2012 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kristorf (Post 487489)
Personally I think your wrong there mate, rushed and shoddy product killed this game, we only wanted what we paid for and were told we were getting.
Just my opinion


Quote:

Originally Posted by smink1701 (Post 487503)
Have to agree with Kris. The game had some nice aspects but was mismanaged from start to finish and deeply flawed. If if could have been saved with all the years and dollars that were invested in this mess, 1C would not have killed it. But they did so it is what it is. And it's nobody's fault but the developer's.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedToo (Post 487521)
I have absolutely no interest in reading Luthier's biography, but I would pay good money to read Oleg's.
As for Luthier: Goodbye.
RedToo.

Some people go out of their way to show how small they are. This is an example. In this thread, if you have nothing good to say then just keep it to yourself.

Luthier, I can't thank you in many ways but I'll dedicate my next film to you as a token of my appreciation. Flying CoD online is mindblowingly fantastic. A true glimpse into a simming future that I hope will truly come to fruition one day.

As a young boy in the early eighties I devoured books on WWII aviation and daydreamt of flights I would never be able to make in Spits, Messerschmitts and Mustangs. Then flightsimming came along many years later and suddenly I could live out my dreams. Your work has Given Life to Dreams.... And that is not a small thing! So thanks and good luck with your future endeavours.

Abbeville-Boy 12-12-2012 09:03 PM

Ilya Shevchenko let me say to you how very sad I feel about this terrible news. Cod game is so much beauty and so much fun that I cannot understand how it was dropped. Please walk away from them and continue a new some where else. Your knowledge and talent should not be left to gather moss

kristorf 12-12-2012 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freycinet (Post 487540)
Some people go out of their way to show how small they are. This is an example. In this thread, if you have nothing good to say then just keep it to yourself.

As I said, it's my opinion only, and it was in answer to another post, so please quote the whole thing or don't bother.

Thank you

PS, I never was a Fanboy, just a gamer who felt betrayed having flown IL2 from it's first release.
Yes it's sad how it's all ended but who's to blame for that, us, the paying public?

Hans 12-12-2012 09:46 PM

Thanks!
 
Luthier, the IL2 series has given me much pleasure during many, many years and I shall continue enjoying the CLOD for a long time to come. I just realized I spent about as much on taxi ride tonight than what I paid for the CLOD, and you surely get much more of a wow-feeling in the cockpit over the Channel. All the best for you and your team members!

RedToo 12-12-2012 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freycinet (Post 487540)
Some people go out of their way to show how small they are. This is an example. In this thread, if you have nothing good to say then just keep it to yourself.

Luthier, I can't thank you in many ways but I'll dedicate my next film to you as a token of my appreciation. Flying CoD online is mindblowingly fantastic. A true glimpse into a simming future that I hope will truly come to fruition one day.

As a young boy in the early eighties I devoured books on WWII aviation and daydreamt of flights I would never be able to make in Spits, Messerschmitts and Mustangs. Then flightsimming came along many years later and suddenly I could live out my dreams. Your work has Given Life to Dreams.... And that is not a small thing! So thanks and good luck with your future endeavours.

As a young boy in the sixties and seventies I devoured books on WWII aviation and day dreamed ... etc. For example saving up for ages in the early seventies to buy 'Warplanes of the Third Reich' by William Green which cost the then huge sum of ten pounds sterling etc, etc.

I too have been dedicated to flight simming for a long while and the IL2 series has given me more pleasure than any other title. My point is that I believe Oleg is much more responsible all the good things in the IL2 stable, from the original IL2 to Clodo than Luthier. I have met Oleg and occasionally corresponded with him over the IL2 series. He has always replied and I believe valued my contributions. Not something I can say for Luthier.

This is of course just my opinion and I would point out that I am not saying anything good or bad, just expressing my opinion, in I hope a polite and civilised way.

RedToo.

Cranky 12-12-2012 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freycinet (Post 487540)
Some people go out of their way to show how small they are. This is an example. In this thread, if you have nothing good to say then just keep it to yourself.

Luthier, I can't thank you in many ways but I'll dedicate my next film to you as a token of my appreciation. Flying CoD online is mindblowingly fantastic. A true glimpse into a simming future that I hope will truly come to fruition one day.


I bet Luthier cant wait for that next film, Yawn!!

SlipBall 12-12-2012 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cranky (Post 487575)
I bet Luthier cant wait for that next film, Yawn!!

Well Cranky, you do realize that its all over and ended now. You don't strike me as being a ROF kind of guy, do you fly it?

swiss 12-12-2012 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlipBall (Post 487578)
Well Cranky, you do realize that its all over and ended now. You don't strike me as being a ROF kind of guy, do you fly it?

He's tree.
Tree flys RoF.

Robert 12-12-2012 10:51 PM

Best of luck and thank you, Luthier.

I know some may take this as an insult, but that is far from my intention. During the development and release of CoD there were heightened emotions and frustrations from all involved. Some fans felt cheated. Many other's wanted what we hoped would be the continuation and improvement of the greatest combat flight sim ever created, IL2. Despite the fans feeling let down, the crew continued to work hard to produce the game based upon the vision that inspired them, even through the darkest times.

I thank you and leave this video, not as an insult but as reminder that through all the hard times, you kept your sense of humour. it's hard to keep yourself miserable while listening to banjo music, and in those days Im sure there was a lot of adversity to keep you down.

Good luck, Luthier. Hope to see you around again soon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jn3KCZEqxc

Cranky 12-12-2012 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swiss (Post 487584)
He's tree.
Tree flys RoF.

No I dont fly ROF, I purchased it to support it but the WW1 scenario is not my thing, Battle of Britain is my thing, but the lack of Coop's / online wars killed it for me and my squadron and many other squadrons.

Bottom line is that Luthier failed to listen to his customers, netcode was never fixed, cries for Coop's were dismissed. But most of all he missed the very most important feature that any flight sim should have and that is 'Immersion'. The Atag server is/was great but because of netcode issues we couldn't even use the default stock skins, Luthier shot himself in the foot and I hope that he learns the valuable lesson that 'your customer is always right', if they ask for more communication then give it to them, and never ever ever tell them lies.

Clod is great for making movies but other than that its a dead duck, very sad but it wasn't ruined by any of us here fans and whiners alike, it was ruined by the dev's.

Jugdriver 12-12-2012 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cranky (Post 487598)
But most of all he missed the very most important feature that any flight sim should have and that is 'Immersion'. .

That is a load of crap.

JD
AKA_MattE

Cranky 12-12-2012 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jugdriver (Post 487608)
That is a load of crap.

JD
AKA_MattE

I agree, the Immersion was a load of crap.

swiss 12-12-2012 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cranky (Post 487598)
it was ruined by the dev's.

Actually it's the result of rather poor management, and that begun under Oleg.
Does that mean Oleg and/or Luthier are incompetent? ? No! Not at all, both are specialists in their field.
The funny thing is, a project manger doesn't have to be that deep into the matter, in fact that knowledge can be your worst enemy as you get sidetracked by problems which are not yours.

Robert 12-13-2012 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cranky (Post 487598)
No I dont fly ROF, I purchased it to support it but the WW1 scenario is not my thing, Battle of Britain is my thing, but the lack of Coop's / online wars killed it for me and my squadron and many other squadrons.

Bottom line is that Luthier failed to listen to his customers, netcode was never fixed, cries for Coop's were dismissed. But most of all he missed the very most important feature that any flight sim should have and that is 'Immersion'. The Atag server is/was great but because of netcode issues we couldn't even use the default stock skins, Luthier shot himself in the foot and I hope that he learns the valuable lesson that 'your customer is always right', if they ask for more communication then give it to them, and never ever ever tell them lies.

Clod is great for making movies but other than that its a dead duck, very sad but it wasn't ruined by any of us here fans and whiners alike, it was ruined by the dev's.

It's not like you haven't voiced your opinion ad nauseum on the forum. This isn't the place. Zip it pin head. it's a topic to say good bye and if so inclined to thank Luthier for his efforts. You don't have to like how it worked out, but show a little respect.

EDIT:Same goes for other who feel the need for one last pot shot. Let it go.

Bearcat 12-13-2012 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fruitbat (Post 487480)
I wish you all the best for the future, its sad that things have ended as it has.
I was talking to T_O_A_D on comms earlier about this, and it occurred to me that its thanks to yourself and Oleg and the rest of the team involved with il2, that there we were, talking to each other, me in the UK, him in the US.
Without il2, it is very unlikely that we would ever know each other and be friends, and all the other friends i have made though flying il2.
For that alone, you have my thanks, the hours and hours spent flying il2 is a a massive bonus.
cheers fruitbat.

This to me is one of the longest and least mentioned aspects of the whole IL2 venture. I learned to build PCs, use Photoshop, made friends from all over the world, some that I have known for over a decade and much much more as a direct result of IL2. Thank you Ilya .. not only for the efforts you put into CoD but also and moreso for me anyway.. PF.. As quiet as it is kept PF helped to save this sim and it would not be what it is today without PF and all that it brought afterwards.

Think about it..

So thanks.. and all the best. I do not know what will become of these boards in 18 months.. or what your plans are for the future but if you can find it in you, your presence and Oleg's for that matter would be a very welcome sight in any sim, on any forum, and any place in Cyberspace where IL2 is still celebrated.

~!S!~

Liz Lemon 12-13-2012 01:16 AM

Hope you find fortune in the states!

David Hayward 12-13-2012 01:31 AM

Stay classy, Tree.

Skoshi Tiger 12-13-2012 03:00 AM

Luthier,

Thankyou for all your hard work over the years. Thankyou for Bringing Cliffs of Dover as far as you could.

It's a fantastic simulation and you should be proud of what you created.

It is sad that we will not get a chance to see what it would have looked like using this game and graphic engine on the Eastern Front! I'm sure it would have pushed the bar even further.

Thanks again for the hours of entertainment and immersion in the world you help create.


Skoshi Tiger!

naz 12-13-2012 04:15 AM

I remember downloading the original IL2 demo on a 56k modem in a desert town in the middle of Australia and being completely amazed... and have been hooked ever since.

Thank you Luthier for being a part of giving me so many years of fun. I loved the original series and I love Cliffs (warts and all). Best of luck for whatever you do next mate.

Cheers
Naz
aka II./JG53_Opfer

hiro 12-13-2012 07:20 AM

Thanks for making a difference . . .

And for your efforts in the IL-2 series. Not too many can say they played a role in changing something as great as WW 2 sims, in the ground breaking game that IL-2 is. And was continued in Cliffs.

I hope your endeavors take you where you want to go, and may the winds blow favorably for you.

Thanks.

Viking 12-13-2012 08:36 AM

Had to log in again just to say thanks to the team, Luthier and Oleg , if he still is around, you guys and girls showed the world the true and real meaning of the world simulation . And as a not so unimportant byproduct you opened the door to heroic battles and unselfish deeds that had been hidden and distorted to us by the historians in the west.
Thank you and don't forget the Korean air war.
Viking

Ataros 12-13-2012 08:48 AM

Hi, Ilya,
can you share your future plans already? Is it true that you work on a Korea sim?

Do you know what happens to CLoD engine? Can 1C license it cheap if someone finds an investor (say for a Korea sim or a sort of WWII Online clone)?

Whom modders(e.g. TD) should talk to if they want to mod CloD: Jason or 1C?

Sorry for many questions but I think 1C made a mistake(again) switching to an older DX9 engine with poor AI optimization. Another year of work on CloD engine could make it perfect. Hope you or Oleg can do this one day.

JG52Krupi 12-13-2012 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ataros (Post 487679)
Hi, Ilya,
can you share your future plans already? Is it true that you work on a Korea sim?

Do you know what happens to CLoD engine? Can 1C license it cheap if someone finds an investor (say for a Korea sim or a sort of WWII Online clone)?

Whom modders(e.g. TD) should talk to if they want to mod CloD: Jason or 1C?

Sorry for many questions but I think 1C made a mistake(again) switching to an older DX9 engine with poor AI optimization. Another year of work on CloD engine could make it perfect. Hope you or Oleg can do this one day.

+1 to all of that!

theOden 12-13-2012 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ataros (Post 487679)
.. Another year of work on CloD engine could make it perfect...

Let me guess, you're a fulltime developer by profession?

Enlem 12-13-2012 10:19 AM

Hi Ilya,

As being a simulation fan not a gamer, I am very very tearful.

Thank you for your great efforts, for sleepless nights.

If it is possible, please reunite with Oleg and make a kickstarter project.

Only legends can make a decent Flight Simulation.

Best wishes to you and Oleg Maddox.

Liz Lemon 12-13-2012 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ataros (Post 487679)
Hi, Ilya,
can you share your future plans already? Is it true that you work on a Korea sim?

Do you know what happens to CLoD engine? Can 1C license it cheap if someone finds an investor (say for a Korea sim or a sort of WWII Online clone)?

Whom modders(e.g. TD) should talk to if they want to mod CloD: Jason or 1C?

Sorry for many questions but I think 1C made a mistake(again) switching to an older DX9 engine with poor AI optimization. Another year of work on CloD engine could make it perfect. Hope you or Oleg can do this one day.

Is it true that Ilya relocated to the US? EDIT: because you seem to be more informed then most of us.

If so, then I'd hope he'd start having some communication with some people on this forum...... ;)

He111 12-13-2012 11:35 AM

Thanks Luther .. we'll still have that night in Paris ... errrr, I mean, I still love CLOD and IL2, they were/ARE great sims.

Still flying CLOD .. into the sunset.

.

CKY_86 12-13-2012 11:52 AM

So long Luthier. Thank you for all you have done for the community and the fantastic series which is IL2. I hope you have as much fun with your future endeavors as you did with IL2.

Take care buddy ~S~

Ataros 12-13-2012 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liz Lemon (Post 487707)
Is it true that Ilya relocated to the US? EDIT: because you seem to be more informed then most of us.

I am not informed, just read some rumors on ATAG, SimHQ and sukhoi.ru forums. One rumor said Luthier moves to Asia to work on Korea sim for a different publisher. Another one said he is in the USA now.

SlipBall 12-13-2012 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ataros (Post 487764)
I am not informed, just read some rumors on ATAG, SimHQ and sukhoi.ru forums. One rumor said Luthier moves to Asia to work on Korea sim for a different publisher. Another one said he is in the USA now.


Do you know of any reports of him wearing a handcuffed attache case...could be the best thing for the US since Operation Paperclip...all kidding aside, Korea would be cool

nic727 12-13-2012 03:26 PM

It's a bad new :(

I just want to know what happened with that? Sorry I don't have the game yet, but it's coming...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC29KL_wSBo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHc04iRFFwA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QArJnYGoO9A

thx for your great work in the Il2 community.

RegRag1977 12-13-2012 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomcatViP (Post 487473)
You stepped with the giants.

No question. I would even say with Oleg they "stepped" on the giants: IL2 1946 is a milestone, a -still living- powerful collossus of a WW2 sim.

Thanks for the IL2 legendary WW2 simultators. They represent a huge step in the history of the genre, and this is something you, your team and of course Oleg Maddox can be proud of.

You have my gratitude,

S!

As many here, i hope to see you back with a new project soon. Good Luck!

slm 12-13-2012 04:17 PM

Too bad CoD ended the way it did. The original IL2 series was awesome and team Daedalos seems to be able to tweak it even further. Maybe the new series that was just announced will approach the dimensions (maps, plane types etc) of the original series one day, we'll see.

Good luck!

rga 12-13-2012 05:40 PM

Luthier,

I still remember the first day playing IL-2 like it was just yesterday: flying the MiG-3U hunting the German "window frame". And I am enjoying Clod, as I have since the day I bought it.

No matter what other people may say, CloD is a masterpiece. The feeling of flying alongside the White Cliff of Dover at dawn is so overwhelming that I completely forget it was just a sim and I'm sitting before my computer. You should be, even has to be proud of what you and your companions have achieved.

I feel a little bit said when I heard that 777 Studio took over the game. Not because they are bad developers, quite the contrary, not because the new game will be bad, one should not say anything which won't come in at least one year. But it is because I know no-one could surpass the old Maddox game in terms of passions and obsession they have for flying.

I just hope, even wish that those people "above" at 1C will change their mind and offer you a proper position in the development of the new game. Because IL-2 would never be the same without its own creators.

Friendly_flyer 12-13-2012 06:53 PM

Too bad it had to end like this. Best of luck, Luthier!

Ikarushin 12-13-2012 07:49 PM

Luthier,

Thank you very much for all you've done, for all your efforts.
Good luck!

With kind regards,
Ikarushin

TUCKIE_JG52 12-13-2012 08:36 PM

Luthier, don't let the frustration possess you, you must go on and keep working on other simulation projects after some necessary rest. You live simulation like no other. Now you got the experience. You can analyse it all. But we want you back. If it's alongside with Oleg, much better!

Congrats for CoD, I'm one of these who entirely liked... yes, including the Su-26.

My respect!

Fenice_1965 12-13-2012 09:09 PM

I play simulators from the Times of Chuck jeager's air combat and secret weapons of luftwaffe. Nothing can be' compared to what I had from Il2. I became part of a community, of a squad, Made new friends, met fantastic people, increased my history knowledge....
I only hope that the spirit of that sim (and not only the brand) will be' transferred somewhere and it is not lost.
Thx luthier and oleg for all you gave to us.

Freycinet 12-13-2012 09:10 PM

It says a lot about the haters that they couldn't even leave this thread alone, but had to come in here to insult Luthier and others. Good riddance to you small small people, I pity those around you.

whatnot 12-13-2012 09:18 PM

Godspeed Luthier and thank you for everything you've done for IL-2!

planespotter 12-13-2012 09:47 PM

Farewell Luthier. Pacific fighters was my favorite chapter of IL2. How many hours I spent trying to perfect those carrier landings amd torpedo runs. And in the end CoD for me runs great and I love the BoB era.

So good luck and keep passing the open windows!

Faustnik 12-13-2012 11:00 PM

Thank you for all your hard work Luthier.

Stiboo 12-14-2012 12:19 AM

Thank you Ilya

I wish you good health and a long life!

Il2 has been part of my life since the day of release, what do I do now?!


Time for the modders to take over...new planes and maps and it will live for 10 years, and just like the old IL2 in a few years everyone will run COD maxed out....

BRIGGBOY 12-14-2012 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stiboo (Post 487904)
Thank you Ilya

I wish you good health and a long life!

Il2 has been part of my life since the day of release, what do I do now?!


Time for the modders to take over...new planes and maps and it will live for 10 years, and just like the old IL2 in a few years everyone will run COD maxed out....

+1. And have a large brewski.

jcenzano 12-14-2012 03:00 AM

May you have clear skies and tailwinds on your new projects...

I am a simmer since the good old C64 days and have played many, many flight sims.

Thanks for making our lives a little less "boring" and for feeding our passion for military aviation.

IMHO, Il-2 and COD, are now part of aviation history, as a moving-interactive enciclopedia available for us aviation lovers.

You have all my R E S P E C T.

From a RL FP.

jamesdietz 12-14-2012 03:29 AM

You did good- real good!

chn6 12-14-2012 07:56 AM

Salute to all people to dream and desperate, OLEG and ILYA, you are our hero forever!
This moment, was unable to control my tears ..

向所有为了梦想而不顾一切的人们致 , OLEG和ILYA, 你们是我们永远的英雄!
这一刻, 我的泪水无法克制..

Falstaff 12-14-2012 03:17 PM

Freycinet said

Quote:

Good riddance to you small small people, I pity those around you.
But not as much as they pity you, perhaps?

(a farewell thread, and you still have to take over-exposed kiddy snapshots from atop your moral tripod eh?)

JG52Krupi 12-14-2012 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falstaff (Post 488052)
Freycinet said



But not as much as they pity you, perhaps?

(a farewell thread, and you still have to take over-exposed kiddy snapshots from atop your moral tripod eh?)

You don't even own the game, why are you here!

Mango 12-14-2012 04:24 PM

I've spent many, many hours playing Pacific Fighters and 1946 and loved every minute! I look forward to the many hours to come playing CloD now that it's patched.

Thanks Luthier! You've made an enormous contribution to something very important, not only a seriously exciting and convincing experience in WWII aircraft but a deep desire to find out more about one of the most important periods in our history.

I really hope this is not your "Final Message", we all look forward to someday hearing about your next project. Best of luck, with my sincere gratitude.

1.JaVA_Jumper 12-14-2012 05:13 PM

S!

what a sad story, about leaving your love child.

I thank you for the hard work, and i hope to see you soon in the skies

S! from a JaVA member: :cool:
Jack

major_setback 12-14-2012 06:33 PM

Thanks Ilya for 2 wonderful sims.

I have flown with the Il2 series since the start, joining the forums a couple of years after that. Scince then both of these passtimes have taken up nearly all of my free time. At one point I was flying several hours each day and dreaming only of how to outwit other pilots! It sounds a bit crazy, I know, but that was how it was. It was so dangerously captivating it almost ruined my social life and mental well being. That's how good it was! :-)

Thanks for bringing back my childish passion for play.

It's been a great time, and will continue to be. The game isn't dead, it just won't reproduce anymore :-). It's sad, but these things happen. As it is youv'e presented us with some wonderful things. They are muched loved and you should be a very proud father.

CoD - I was hoping that the worst was over, and that from now on development would move steadily forward. I really had my hopes up that this would continue the same way the original game did.

I can't thank you enough for saving us with the Final patch. I'm just sorry it wasn't enough to save you.

Thank the entire team from me. I know that they have contributed enormously and that it is only because of their marathon effort that CoD has been able to be saved.

BTW is a little Korean War sim too much to ask for?
:-)

Keep flying high. And good luck.... no... Great Luck!

chantaje 12-15-2012 04:45 AM

its a shame, i was really hoping on seeing the engine working as it deserves some day. i have great fun online but i feel that the engine has much more to offer . its ahead of any other sim despite the defects in terms of complexity imo
good luck with your future projects.

Rowddy 12-15-2012 06:33 AM

Thanks so much for all you have done for us Luthier! I salute you. What will you do now? It's sad to see that one of the icons of this great flightsim has gone missing :(

S! and regards Rowddy.

Viper 12-15-2012 09:09 AM

Thank you, Oleg and Ilya! I cannot believe this is the end. Wake up me please!!!

easytarget3 12-15-2012 09:45 AM

Thank you Luthier and your team, for your great vision, your high expectation which show us so much new and incredible stuff which can be put in simulator.You were like a scientists who experiment with new things and not to limit yourself with business and money. Unfortunately for sims which is tiny market we are living in world ruled by money and thats what make our dreams often limited. Good luck with your future project and please stay passionate and bolder and dont compromise from your dreams too much, because even things get screwed you show the future and goals which can be achieved. Well its sound cheesy but i hope you get my point. I go and fly COD to thank you for your afford.

ps:will you be involved in BOS?

Rince 12-15-2012 03:21 PM

THX ,
for at least two great simulations, that kept me my passion for flying.you did a great job from the first release and left us a nice toy to keep the spirit up.
Wherever the future will lead us, the community will be seen there...!

Good Luck and best wishes @ ALL !!!!! (concerning x-mas and so....)

DUI 12-15-2012 03:47 PM

Luthier, thank you for all of your and your team's effort!

What a phantastic simulation Cliffs of Dover already is and what it even would have become in the next years. A true benchmark for all flight simulations in the years to come!

Best regards
DUI

JG52Karaya 12-16-2012 12:09 AM

What a sad end to your and your team's efforts Luthier, I wish you all the best for the future!

ArcticWolf 12-16-2012 02:46 AM

Best of luck!!

Avimimus 12-16-2012 06:57 PM

A little late - But I remember you answering my questions back in 2000! As a forum member!
I remember Il2 Centre and your trip to Moscow! I remember your reaction to the horrible events of 9/11. Many of us went through all of it to (albeit at a distance)!

We remember.

Thank you for all of your contributions over the years. I hope your experiences have not soured your love of sims in any way and that you'll continue to enjoy the remnants.

Thank you,

BH_woodstock 12-17-2012 12:58 AM

~S~ Luthier

thank you for all the years and the fruits of your labor.please keep us posted on your next project.you have many friends and people who know your work. i salute you sir and dont forget about us.we will not forget you.

danjama 12-17-2012 11:59 AM

Bit late to this party (what can I say?), but good luck to you Luthier, and I hope life brings you health and prosperity!

ramstein 12-18-2012 08:21 PM

thank you Luthier... you provided something that was depesterately needed to help complete the WWII franchise.. not a week goes by without all IL-2 pilots seeing and flying your babies..

priller26 12-18-2012 10:26 PM

Good Luck with future endeavors!

slamelov 12-18-2012 11:30 PM

Thanks for your work, Luthier, and good luck.

Is there any chance that CoD code gets Open Source?

GOZR 12-19-2012 04:05 PM

Good luck.. :|

Wanna start an addon ?

SEE 12-19-2012 04:51 PM

Many thanks Luthier and team, many happy hours with CloD, all the best for the future.

dflion 12-26-2012 10:27 PM

All the very best Ilya
 
Sorry to hear you are moving on Ilya - you gave COD your best shot under difficult circumstances and it is still one of the best flight sims on the market. I am just puting the finishing touches on two COD campaigns using all the new tools you switched on in the last patch - its looking great.
Hope to see you with both a Korean Air War and Vietnam Air War flight sim in the near future or out there somewhere doing what you really like - flight simming.
DFLion

Rattlehead 12-28-2012 11:11 AM

Sorry that it didn't work out for you, Luthier. Sad day for all of us.

jctrnacty 12-28-2012 05:11 PM

Is there a way that we could help you to buyout the sourcecode to finish the job Luthier?

il_corleone 12-28-2012 08:55 PM

Thanks for everything luthier, i grew up whit this sim ,started to play whit 10 years, now i am an adult and keep the game like one of the best experiences ever, thanks for all and for sharing your great work, good luck, you will suceed in other projects like always you do :grin:

Volksieg 12-29-2012 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jctrnacty (Post 490458)
Is there a way that we could help you to buyout the sourcecode to finish the job Luthier?

Sounds like a nice idea but something tells me Luthier is probably strangely relieved to see the back of it. :D

If he is reading this at all I can imagine him smiling through gritted teeth thinking "Please don't let anyone else think this is a good idea.... please...." :D

BOBC 01-01-2013 04:54 PM

Whilst tackling the deeper issues would I imagine see Luthier or anyone there dropping the idea now like a hot potatoe, I would hope, pray and like to think that it is possible for someone there to revisit it, in their spare time if such is allowed, and just make some minor mods, as skinners can amend artwork.

Simple things I have hoped for, as have others, like removing the errors in the Spit cockpit, and having correct looking Spitfires in all the screenshots I see, correcting the spinner on the Mk1a, its only a fault in the allocation process , it chooses the Mk2 spinner, easy to fix if access to code is there, but its beyond us. A BoB sim has to have Mk1 spits visible so fix this if nothing else.

It would not cause harm to anyone to do so, if Clod was a passion, I just hope that some of it still resides in someone's heart and that they read this. The things I hope for, having read that the latest patch makes functionality a lot better, are the once less important things, but for me and others they matter, fuel gauges for both tanks, single tier rudders, large time of trip clock, two fuel cocks, one starter button, an ammeter, landing Lamp raise lower lever and control arm and on/off switch and so on, aluminium seat with flare rack (maybe a skinner job). Such are important to the correct look of the Mk1 office and flying of the Mk1. I would also like the Chain Home towers corrected in shape and add the missing platforms as well as correct the MG15 gunsights for the gunner positions flying option. Things that I would imagine and hope are relatively easy and fixable but add a marked accuracy to important features.

Could someone in the former CloD team take up the reigns on such relatively easy fixes ?

BOBC

Codex 01-01-2013 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jctrnacty (Post 490458)
Is there a way that we could help you to buyout the sourcecode to finish the job Luthier?

Luthier doesn't own the rights / code to CloD. You need to write to 1C corporate, email address is on their main page.

Don't bother unless you have a few hundred thousand to offer.

JZG_Con 01-03-2013 02:46 PM

sorry to see you go
 
Luthier, the IL2 series has given me much pleasure too ive bought and download all the releases , claimed CLOD first day on steam , shame its come to this ,your be sadly missed ....i hope you take your talent to new levels of flight sims , combat ...

JZG_Con 01-03-2013 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dflion (Post 490252)
Sorry to hear you are moving on Ilya - you gave COD your best shot under difficult circumstances and it is still one of the best flight sims on the market. I am just puting the finishing touches on two COD campaigns using all the new tools you switched on in the last patch - its looking great.
Hope to see you with both a Korean Air War and Vietnam Air War flight sim in the near future or out there somewhere doing what you really like - flight simming.
DFLion

yea now that would be good ...

Halfen 01-04-2013 12:07 AM

"A final message from Luthier "
 
I remember getting a floppy disc in the mail from the Empire Rowan fellows so I could get Flying Corps to work on my machine. The Smack.dll file I could get on my own from EAW.
I remember going onto the internet without a firewall.
I remember looking for an old analog joystick on the internet so I could play FC in dos.

That is when I stumbled upon the IL-2 Shturmovik work in progress.
Imagine a flight sim being developed with a 200mhz cpu as a minimum requirement!
The excitement in those days about flight sims was remarkable.
I remember the SimArena and Dogfighter sites.
I remember seeing Luthier post on SimHQ in those days.
The guy was part of the Golden Age of flight sims.
Hoping that whatever his endeavors, that we do hear from him again.
Best Wishes Luthier, Harold

nachtritter 01-05-2013 05:09 AM

Thank You Ilya “Luthier” Shevchenko Re: A final message from Luthier
 
Ilya “Luthier” Shevchenko,
I have been a quiet reader of this site and others for as many years as I have enthusiastically followed the development of flight simulation since the beginning of Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator, MSCFS2 (WWII Pacific Theater), MSCFS3 (Battle for Europe), Jane's WWII Fighters, Microprose's Gunship, Jane's Attack Squadron, Rowan's Battle of Britain, the Microsoft Flight Simulator series (2002, 2004, X, etc), the evolution of the Lock On (and Flaming Cliffs and Black Shark) series, the emergence of the DCS series, (... you get the idea), and, of course, IL-2 Sturmovik: WWII Combat Simulation and every one of its impressive add-ons (Forgotten Battles, ACE Expansion Pack, Pacific Fighters) and most importantly of all, the community contributions that brought tremendous talent from around the world together to create maps and terrain and aircraft and take simulation to a whole new level. But, there has never been a flight simulator like Cliffs of Dover! I, along with many others waited for years as this was under development and I, along with many others were a little frustrated that it did not roll out as smoothly as we had hoped (some more than others it would seem from quietly reading the posts on this site over the years), but having flown many types of real military combat aircraft and having "flown" several generations of professional "combat" flight simulators, never has anyone come close to producing what Cliffs of Dover brings to the home computer. You, Oleg and the rest of the team deserve the flight simulation community's respect and praise for raising the bar for flight simulation to a whole new level. This program is nothing short of Awesome! And it is just a little sad, notwithstanding our understanding of the business side of the equation, that we will not see more development of this unparallelled flight simulator or that the code will not be provided to the community for it to take it to even further levels, as was done with IL2-1946.

Before I return to my normal status as quiet observer on this site, I wish to thank you so much for bringing your dreams of a totally immersive and accurate WWII flight simulation to a reality which can now be shared by enthusiasts around the world!

Ilya “Luthier” Shevchenko, Well Done! I hope you walk away extremely proud of your accomplishments and I hope you will continue to share your tremendous skill and passion with the flight simulation community around the world in the years to come!

Spasiba

Наилучшие пожелания

jamesdietz 01-05-2013 04:17 PM

What he said ( above) doubled!

Bartoszcze 01-10-2013 07:04 AM

new project
 
I thought that you and your team will now start working with 777 on the next il-2 over the eastern front? Isn't that true anymore?

Buster_Dee 01-10-2013 06:15 PM

Only modelers I think.

tomandre81 01-15-2013 08:44 PM

;(
 
R.i.p

Hymppa 01-20-2013 02:29 PM

Thank You
 
i have been playing IL2 series from the beginning, still remember my jaw hitting the floor when playing demo for the first time.
I just want to say thank you for this great experience (As an air force kid we dreamed about something like this when playing around with airfix models....)
All the best for the future, i hope i can still play IL2 series in old folks home....

dali 02-22-2013 06:00 PM

admit, you were sacked :)

Continu0 02-22-2013 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dali (Post 498149)
admit, you were sacked :)

Thanks, sensitive capitain obvious...

Flying Pencil 03-01-2013 02:36 AM

Blue skies ahead,

and we will keep the hangar open for you when you come back. :-)

buz13 03-01-2013 03:26 AM

Thanks for the masterpiece.....and all the hard work.
Best wishes for the future......I hope it's working on a great sim someplace.
IL2 will live on and on and on......still the best after all this time.
SALUTE!

Chivas 03-02-2013 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bartoszcze (Post 492934)
I thought that you and your team will now start working with 777 on the next il-2 over the eastern front? Isn't that true anymore?

The IC publishers lost patience with Luthier, and the MG developers, and shut down the COD game engine development. The IC publishers obviously had discussions with 777 Studios on the merger to see who would stay, and who would go, from the COD development crew, some of it had to be very political, and cut throat.

Personally I think in the long run, IC publishing made a mistake, as IMHO the Cod game engine has far more potential than the ROF game engine. The ATAG modders are now seeing that vast potential, and it would have been even better if groups like the ATAG modders and developers were working in tandem taking ideas from each other, that would have only improved the product for everyone.

The BOS development should do OK if they greatly improve the user mission builder, and make it easier for users to create mods and content. I personally have some qualms as to 777 Studios behind the scenes involvement in the demise of the new IL-2 game engine, but some people will suggest they saved the sim, I'm not so sure. Time will tell.

SlipBall 03-02-2013 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chivas (Post 498780)
The IC publishers lost patience with Luthier, and the MG developers, and shut down the COD game engine development. The IC publishers obviously had discussions with 777 Studios on the merger to see who would stay, and who would go, from the COD development crew, some of it had to be very political, and cut throat.

Personally I think in the long run, IC publishing made a mistake, as IMHO . I personally have some qualms as to 777 Studios behind the scenes involvement in the demise of the new IL-2 game engine, but some people will suggest they saved the sim, I'm not so sure. Time will tell.


I said this very thing awhile back...if Jason reached out to 1C and initiated/lobbied for the talks to join forces with 1C, why then that would be sad.

robtek 03-02-2013 06:50 PM

For BoS to prosper CoD had(has) to die.
imo

SlipBall 03-02-2013 06:53 PM

Clod can never die, its just too good :cool:

TBear 03-02-2013 08:04 PM

Pacific fighters gave me my place in the online world....

A huge o/ from me...

godspeed

former
6thIJN_Oiink
CO 6th Kokutai
JFC

hiro 03-03-2013 04:37 PM

I think its for the best.

When Oleg was with the game, they had something working. Then he left, and then the engine was broke. Luthier tried his best and it was great effort, but all CLOD was is potential.

The IL-2 1946's successor was gone with Oleg left. We won't have that experience again. But one thing is during his tenure was he cared for the game.

Luthier did too, but seemed it was more obligatory, and if really would have cared, he'd gone to aid 777 with continuing the series. But he really likes Korean War.

777 crew care about the game, so its in good hands.

As much as I wish Tolkien's Fantasy was reality, it's not, its always that awesome potential in my imagination.

That's what CLOD was to me. It worked for me, as I had access to a really powerful computer, but it had the little glitches.

To scrap a game engine after its been developed (and released), really shows that engine had some major flaws and the advantage of fixing it vs using a prior and working engine and modding it to get close to quality of the new buggy engine wasn't worth it.

When they changed it over, I am assuming 777 took pro's vs con's on the CLOD engine and realized it was much easier to mod ROF's engine to close to CLOD than to use CLOD's and fix it.


I really wanted it to get better. But I think when they went to the ROF sound guy, and the sound was on point that one patch, that's when I think started it.

I agree w/ Robtek, one had to die so the other could take its place.

Chivas 03-03-2013 05:27 PM

Luthier didn't break the COD game engine. The COD game engine was unfinished and therefore not working when Oleg left. COD could not be played on most average systems, and normal optimizations weren't enough, so a major rewrite of the graphic engine was required. This huge delay, coupled with all the delays when Oleg was in-charge, user angst, huge costs, destroyed publisher/investor confidence, and they went a different direction. That's unfortunate as COD worked well when first released on my highly optimized system, and only needed some AI work, and COOP tweaks to make the game good enough to play until they were able to fix, improve, and add future features. Team Fusion made up of modders from around the world, are currently seeing the huge potential of the game engine built by the Oleg/Luthier team and believe the future is very bright.

SlipBall 03-03-2013 08:38 PM

I wonder how Luthier is doing, anyone hear some new news with him

zapatista 03-04-2013 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hiro (Post 498844)
Luthier ....blabla...., and if really would have cared, he'd gone to aid 777 with continuing the series. But he really likes Korean War..

what a load of nonsense !

you know nothing of what luthier is currently doing, neither do you know or recognise what luthier had to fight against just to keep the CoD release from not occuring at all, and you seem to believe that replacing reality with your own fantasy creation magically makes something be true in this universe

Quote:

Originally Posted by hiro (Post 498844)
777 crew care about the game, so its in good hands.

777 is a money making franchise aimed at squeezing their pocket money loaded teen audience for every cent they can get, and keep milking them at every turn. instead of buying a game at 30$ or 50$, they succeed in draining their "fans" of around 500$ for the same product. if you find that being "in good hands" then off you go to 777 land, but for most il2 fans its a hell realm of wasted opportunity (eg not continuing the SoW dream and building on all the good work already done)

Quote:

Originally Posted by hiro (Post 498844)
To scrap a game engine after its been developed (and released), really shows that engine had some major flaws and the advantage of fixing it vs using a prior and working engine and modding it to get close to quality of the new buggy engine wasn't worth it. .

you really dont have a clue do you, but on you go galloping of into your own fantasy world

lol CoD is/was fixed !! the major issues that caused it to flop on the 2011 release WERE successfully addressed in the july/august/september 2012 patches (the game and gfx engine itself). in your limited mental universe you maybe only perceive it as "fixed" if it resolved ALL issues and addressed your personal pet peeves, but as an initial working version of the SoW series it was perfectly fine and delivered what CoD should have been at original release in 2011. and be prepared for a serious disappointment if you think that RoF-BS is going to be like CoD but only better and with no problems, RoF-BS is going to be very dumbded down and feature limited in comparison (as we already know from 777's own statements)

and it is under the explicit and direct instructions of 1C that luthier from september 2011 NOT work further on CoD and would focus on creating BoM (with the gfx and game engine being fixed for that release), eg it was not a choice of luthiers to do this ! when we got the bad news in oct 2012 that the SoW series was discontinued it was also confirmed by insiders that BoM which they had been exclusively working on for the previous 12 months was on track to be released for early 2013. CoD players got as their last final patch in sept 2012 the same gfx and game engine fixes which had been developed for BoM ( but because of the strict 1C instructions not many further CoD fixes were included). with luthier and a few other MG employees still trying to cram as many fixes into the CoD game as they could at the last minute when it seemed likely the whole series was to be discontinued, you should be thankfull for their hard work.

and in that context you can personally thank 777 for PREVENTING the release of BoM in early 2013 and getting more CoD fixes, because as part of 777's deal with 1C they made it conditional to can the next episode of SoW, to reduce competition when 777's much inferior product would be released later

Quote:

Originally Posted by hiro (Post 498844)
When they changed it over, I am assuming 777 took pro's vs con's on the CLOD engine and realized it was much easier to mod ROF's engine to close to CLOD than to use CLOD's and fix it.

nope grasshopper, that aint it

777 is using its own old game engine because:
1) they are subcontracted by 1C to produce a game at short notice, and do NOT obtain access to the old SoW development material (other then a few models of objects developed for BoM in the last year)
2) 777 does not have the resources or time to develop a new updated game engine for RoF-BS, and they assured 1C they had the means to produce something quickly (which 777 can if they just reskin the old RoF and add a few new planes and ground objects). after the initial release they can just keep working on new objects and sell those piece by piece to keep their gravy train going

and the biggest point you have missed in all of this is that 1C does NOT believe 777 can make a "better" il2-sturmovick series next gen sim that most of the hard core flightsim il2 fans have been waiting for, but instead the motivation is that 1C is frustrated by the money lost on the SoW series they funded for so many years without a financial return and they "liked" the RoF sales model (which for a small initial investment kept milking the same customers over and over every few weeks, to the extent that you could squeeze 500$ out of every customer every year or 2). now THAT is the only thing that mattered in the decision to subcontract their next ww2 flightsim to 777. 1c said exactly that themselves, but maybe just a bit less bluntly

its much easier to understand the world if you limit yourself to some basic logic and reasoning with known facts instead of galloping off into your personal fantasy world


All times are GMT. The time now is 03:59 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 2007 Fulqrum Publishing. All rights reserved.