Thanks for the warm welcome. I agree with Butterfield to a large extent and I would love to see the damage model be as complex as it is in the PC version of the game; however, I don't think it's too much of a big deal when it boils down to it.
I'd rather take a slightly 'dumbed down' damage model and great 'everything else' over super accurate damage and empty game lobbies. I don't wish to sound too hyperbolic but my point is that I don't think that the (God I sound like a snob here) 'masses' will appreciate simulation like we do. The majority of XBOX Live players I know simply like to plug and play*. IL-2 BoP's learning curve is still going to be steep to a player who is used to arcade style flying games and I doubt that they'll stick around very long to appreciate the nuances of having individual aelerons shot off!
So I think it's a matter of give and take. 1C are breaking into a new market and they have to attract new players whilst remaining as loyal as they can to their current player based. I think that they're doing mostly everything right and I'm certainly going to be more forgiving since this is their first attempt. This game certainly beats the living daylights out of H.A.W.X, Blazing Angels and that new one which is coming out which looks rubbish...Heroes over Europe.
*I may be wrong when it comes to applying my perspective to a wider context: I'm just writing from experience and I've only been exposed to what probably is a small percentage of XBOX Live players.
