This next gen space opera/sim has finally been announced.
I love the look of it and the way they are going about it.
I made my first crowd sourcing pledge to it as this game is what got me into space/flight simulation all those years ago.
I hope Luthier is watching this one, they are doing everything exactly how I would like IL2 to evolve and the community interaction is the best I have ever seen. Maybe luthier should also take a look at using an off the shelf (customised of course) Cryengine 3 type approach to the MMO. (if its still alive) Here's to hoping Luthier and 1C can do something similar for the WW2 universe!
Free to play - Pay once and play for free for ever
Single player campaign with branching stories (can also be played Co-op)
Offline and online play
Persistent Universe Public Servers AND Private servers.
No concept of Pay to win - although it looks like you could still theoretically buy the best ships and parts, they are going to discourage that type of game play through the gameplay somehow... "no concept of level 80 - kill everything players" to quote Chris Roberts.
Private servers allow modding and community content and the Public world will also allow approved community content.
Micro patching instead of yearly patches and they will constantly add content and new single player stories. (some you have to pay for.. a new story/mission pack for example)
You have to see the teaser trailer and Chris Roberts 1hr launch video to appreciate the level of immersion he is creating... walking around carriers, getting in ships, full 3d rendered cockpits (and fully animated pilots) and cockpit entry/exit in realtime first person view. WOW!
PS. he makes no apology for needing latest gen hardware for this game either.
Official site
http://www.robertsspaceindustries.com/
Good press annoucement
http://www.kotaku.com.au/2012/10/mee...ury-successor/
1hr Launch video and preview
http://au.gamespot.com/shows/gamespo..._panel20121010