Luthier, many thanks for rescuing CoD !! 3 cheers for luthier

[Chivas]

The new IL-2 game engine has slowly but steadily improved, and is still our best hope for the type of WW2 aircombat sim we all want. Even with all COD's problems, its the only combat flight sim that's been able to rekindle my interest in flying. The only major feature holding COD back from being a real good combat flight sim is the AI and commands. If the AI issues can be address, and further improvements are made to other features, the Sequel should be a success. The community and third parties have become involved and are making excellent campaigns.

The development definitely has been a struggle, for many reasons, most we will never hear about, and it appears from posts in the Russian forums there is still some life in the development. I would imagine the development delays have put scrutiny on the jobs of more than a few in the development, some warranted, some not so much. Oleg had more than his fair share of problems developing COD, and Luthier appears to have had many of the same problems. Oleg was a casualty of the long development, and retired, I would imagine Luthier is/has been in the cross-hairs, again warranted or not. Building a far more complex game engine will always be tough in the beginning, but it appears to be at the end of the beginning, and they certainly deserve smoother sailing into the future of the series.

If the development has secured further financing, things will definitely get better, and the Debbie Downers will have to change their mantra from the sim is dead to counting rivets.

[Mysticpuma]