I think it's a good move. Simulators are complicated, take a lot of time, effort and money to develop and the people who fly them are only a small part of the gamer population. This means that as PCs get more powerful and we expect more features, every kind of game gradually becomes more expensive.

The difference is that most popular gaming genres can rely on their massive marketing appeal, even if they ship with short story arcs and then charge for sequels or DLC every few weeks/months. Well, you can't do that in a simulator because not only we're a cranky bunch, but it is also fundamental to have a more or less complete depiction of the theater in question, otherwise it defeats the whole purpose of the game . So, we either settle for less or the developers have to get more money to finance the whole deal. On the other hand, charging more for flight sims might shrink the amount of sales even more. So, something's got to give, but what will it be?

Now, look at Eagle Dynamics. They make simulators for the military, then they use that money to fund simulators for mass consumption that they sell at reasonable prices. The state pays a lot because it actually saves money from aircraft maintenance and jet fuel in training pilots, then that money becomes DCS Black Shark.

I think it's something like that, a government sponsorship with a certain aim (maybe not training real world military, but teaching the citizens about their history) that turns into a steadier cash flow for 1c, so that they can keep working on all the things we ask for here. Good move, everyone wins.

If it wasn't for Hitler, Russia would now be known as nothing other than a failed repressive empire. In the 21st century, what does Russia have to offer the rest of the world, other than cheap weapons: computer war games, made with imported computer technology. Russia is doing nothing to deserve status of superpower.

I sense bitterness!
 

The information is easy available for the one that seeks it.
But that discussion doesn’t belong in this thread or in this forum.

I'm not Russian, but if I were I would propably take this comment as an insult. Besides, I'm 100% sure that the economy of Europe would be not like it is today without the huge amounts of energy and materials imported from Russia.

And yes, that comment (or the whole discussion about "what Russia has to offer") has nothing to do about the subject of this thread.

I'm always scared by the word "patriotism". :(

Well, you do remember Russia is among the top when it comes to oil, gas and minerals as a whole, right?

And, on the "party-guy" side, it has quality vodka. Beat that, West! :mrgreen:

Yep Manu, "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel".

-Samuel Johnson

That is not to say being proud of your Nation, traditions and Heritage is not a good thing....it is and I for one certainly am. But when carried to Jingoistic and Hyper-Nationalistic levels can be a very worrying thing indeed.

Observe the rise of the far right in Russia as well as Europe and even Britain and the US have their fascist elements. Maybe the intent is to remind the Russian people what they so bravely stood against and suffered immensely for, more than any other allied nation. For that, Russia will always have my respect.

What do you have to do to get the status of a superpower? Usually act like a jerk, make a mess of other countries and then address them in a condescending way (and get away with it by having more guns). IMHO, the United States, Great Britain and Russia have all been superpowers at some point or another ;)

I have a great deal of respect for the richness and depth of Russian culture. Compared to the most powerful 18th century Tsars the Soviet Union was a better place to live (although it is unfortunate that it returned to the death penalty etc.)

Regarding the wargames - flight simulators have been abandoned in North America and Western Europe. Upper level management and a focus on short-term profitability has done them in. It is only TK/Thirdwire and the Russian firms such as Maddox Games and Eagle Dynamics who have kept going and breathed new life into the genre.

I have nothing but respect for what Oleg Maddox has done - not just in helping communicate Great Patriotic War history to a new generation of young people - but also in helping to do the same for Commonwealth history (as we can't seem to do it properly ourselves and the American publishers were generally oblivious when they existed).

@baronWastelan: Could you please grow up and stop fighting the cold war - said in the most humble and respectful tone

Me too - and think: Some North Americans seem to believe it is something different from "European" nationalism. Thankfully, I come from a country where nationalism in any form is largely not allowed, looked down upon or suppressed.

Faster to read than original.