I'm more worried about "Internet connection required to activate game". What's after that
"Internet connection required to play game"?

So far I am trying to stay optimistic with this new release with all of what I have read and seen, but I have to admit to being worried that I am going to be disappointed.

I was hoping that 1c was keeping the final excellence of what we can expect from CoD close to the chest until the last moment, but after seeing that official release video I am concerned that my expectations have simply been too high.

CrazySchmidt. :)

As it happens, Wiek Luijken is a fan of the Il-2 series and has visited here and at Ubi under the name, "wiekiewiekie"

Unlike his other works, the 109 picture does not seem to have been used previously, although it does feature in his gallery section. Ask away I reckon. Maybe they'd make him an offer ;)

http://www.luijken.com/

It's been confirmed that there is only one simple online activation. Ubisoft has made the mistake of requiring constant connection to the internet with a couple of games before, and payed for it dearly. I assure you that this will not be the case. If it was, I'm sure Oleg would have something to say about it.

And as far as the release video is concerned, its all old footage that was recorded months ago on an early beta version, and then slapped together. Who knows maybe it could be a placeholder for a better video that they will put up in awhile. This might be wishful thinking but who knows... nobody really at this point.

They should get French comic artist romain hugault to do a cover. That would be sensational.

I like your cover feathered, that chap is a real good artist thanks for the link.

The internet connection required topic, what about the guys who dont have a net connection, will they be able to activate another way. I hope so as thats a real stupid move by UBI, at least 1 out of 10 peeps on average dont have the net, the flight sim community being a smaller niche market, lets say 1 out of 20 per simmers, thats quite a big loss in money for UBI when those people dont buy.

That cover is SO much better than the UBI one. Would be wonderful if that or something like it could be used.

I'm hoping that the UBI one is just a mock-up for initial demonstration purposes and that the real version will be much better, but fear that is just wishful thinking.

Presumably though, they won't yet have done the full print run for the cover so maybe if we somehow bring it to the attention of the people who matter it could be changed???

I just sent an email to Wiek at his homepage to explain and suggest he PM Oleg here. It's worth a shot.
It's funny, but his work is so beautiful it even makes the title look good :)

Excellent. :)

Someone posted this one before, but I'll put it in again because it's so fantastic and shows the possiblities:

not that I've anything against 109s on the cover you understand! :)

Well even if they have to take their system over to a buddys house or grandmas to activate the game it's not a huge effort to do so. I know that's what I would do if I personally didn't have internet. And if they didn't have any friends or relatives with internet than I don't see how they would even know what Cliffs of Dover is... unless they hang out on a computer at the library or something. But my point is that just because you don't have internet doesn't mean that its the end of the road for you. Install the game and take your tower over to a buddys, a relative, or maybe a nice neighbors house and activate it. Problem solved.

Hopefully he will get in touch with Oleg. I looked at all of his stuff on his site. What an amazing artist!! But i would imagine that the box-art is probably final so that they can start production and get ready to ship the final product on release day. :(