The Crystal Ball

[Chivas]

Post from Luthier in the latest update

"Hey folks,

I see that these answers led some folks here, and most of the folks on my favorite sukhoi.ru, to read between the lines and see my answers to specific questions as indications of larger-scale abandonment of the project.

That's not the case at all.

I answered specific questions and didn't touch on the larger effort. It remains the same. Sped up graphics, launcher errors, improved FM, etc, all of that is in progress as previously stated.

We are trying to pull off a very difficult balancing act with developing a new game and supporting an old one at the same time. Pretty much no one does that. Most large developers simply release games, support them for a month at the most, and then switch to new paid content regardless of the state of the game. We are however trying not only to patch up major issues, we're working on improving things that generally work - and we're doing that for free seven months after release. We are doing that by trying to parallel tasks as much as possible and improving CoD while developing a sequel.

That is however simply not possible with some features. In some cases that's a question of limited resources. We cannot make a new flyable for CoD because that means one less flyable for the sequel. With other tasks it's simply a matter of time. Some of the changes we're making are so sweeping, they're scheduled to be completed very close to the sequel's ship date. The animation for example is such a huge task with so many facets that we can't just take it, turn it into a half a gig patch, and release it for CoD a month before the release of the sequel.

And to make sure to drive my main point across. We are still working on improving CoD. No one's abandoned it. There will be patches. My answers about things in the sequel were meant for those specific features. Please don't try to read between the lines! "

[hiro]

thanks Chivas was going to look for what you posted



Luthier - And to make sure to drive my main point across. We are still working on improving CoD. No one's abandoned it. There will be patches. My answers about things in the sequel were meant for those specific features. Please don't try to read between the lines!


Well since complaints get multiple posted might as well multi post something that makes sense. . .

[RickRuski]

If you read my post chivas nowhere do I suggest that they are abandoning COD and the last two paragraphs of my post were taken from Luthiers post that you Quote. He is also stating that the replys from him were on specific questions put to him with regards to extras for COD. If you also read the first "Quote" Luthier states that any improvements will come with the sequels as in PF and 46 where improvements to graphics etc will come as part of the paid for sequels. This if he is telling us the truth and says that the patch won't be released prior to the release of the sequel, then let him explain in more detail when the patch to correct the failures of the current release will come. Will it be as a free patch? or will it be part of the sequel to be merged with COD as in Il2 PF and 46 (which will mean we pay again to fix their problem) as suggested in his first quote.

[jayrc]

Originally Posted by RickRuski

If you read my post chivas nowhere do I suggest that they are abandoning COD and the last two paragraphs of my post were taken from Luthiers post that you Quote. He is also stating that the replys from him were on specific questions put to him with regards to extras for COD. If you also read the first "Quote" Luthier states that any improvements will come with the sequels as in PF and 46 where improvements to graphics etc will come as part of the paid for sequels. This if he is telling us the truth and says that the patch won't be released prior to the release of the sequel, then let him explain in more detail when the patch to correct the failures of the current release will come. Will it be as a free patch? or will it be part of the sequel to be merged with COD as in Il2 PF and 46 (which will mean we pay again to fix their problem) as suggested in his first quote.

I don't think it could be any more clear, business as usual. I'm sure these features were promised as capabilities of their engine which when sorted, will be included little by little, key improvements coming in next free patch, with alot of cool stuff coming in the next sequel, it's really very exciting, I'm looking forward to it

[Chivas]

Originally Posted by RickRuski

If you read my post chivas nowhere do I suggest that they are abandoning COD and the last two paragraphs of my post were taken from Luthiers post that you Quote. He is also stating that the replys from him were on specific questions put to him with regards to extras for COD. If you also read the first "Quote" Luthier states that any improvements will come with the sequels as in PF and 46 where improvements to graphics etc will come as part of the paid for sequels. This if he is telling us the truth and says that the patch won't be released prior to the release of the sequel, then let him explain in more detail when the patch to correct the failures of the current release will come. Will it be as a free patch? or will it be part of the sequel to be merged with COD as in Il2 PF and 46 (which will mean we pay again to fix their problem) as suggested in his first quote.

It makes sense that all COD patches will be free. These patches will include the graphic engine improvements, sound, AI, FM , DM etc. Major new features like Dynamic Weather, will only come with the sequels. Some aspects of new weather will probably be seen in the first sequel, but I highly doubt we will see full Dynamic Weather for sometime atleast until the game engine is highly optimized and the weather highly optimized to allow playable frame rates.

[Tavingon]

This one is a bit of a hot potato.. I have to say that I will be buying EVERY addon and installment, I like the game that much, even for its flaws I want to see it do well and grow!

[Insuber]

No, they will work for free for you like slaves for the rest of their miserables lives.

[Aer9o]

...Either way they dissapointed me... the least to say by not releasing anything this Christmas and NO, I will not pay again to have this game fixed!

[FS~Phat]

Hi guys you're of course welcome to voice your opinions and feelings but please be 'mindful' what you say. Posts are being heavily moderated and you may find your posts deleted if they come even close to going over the line and worst case whole threads being locked or deleted and even possibly earning yourself a ban for 24hrs. Constructive comment and criticism is always welcome as long as it doesn't descend to personal attacks, false statements and wildly inaccurate speculation. This thread will be closely watched as it is the type that brings the worst out in people and it will be locked if it degrades. You have been warned!

On another note...
Merry Christmas all! This simulation is well on its way to becoming what we all want it to be, and I was one that wasn't very happy with performance from day one, but it is night and day now compared to 9 months ago and the new engine will address the remaining performance issues.

It is what it is as far as the past goes but they have shown they are committed to the series and it's only logical that some features come out in later versions. That is the way this series evolved from Sturmovik to 1946 and Luthier has made it clear this generation of IL2 will be no different.

The beta patch will come out when it's ready. The nature of software development with a major engine rewrite is that things can come up that ruin the best of plans. Once the major rewrite is complete, it is likely it will be easier to release betas in a predictable manner. Please be patient and keep the faith.

People need to move on and stop dragging up the past. We will get the new engine along with other fixes without buying the sequel. Some features will only be available in the sequel and that is no different than the old series. The GOOD thing is, the new "theatre" features and upgrades are available for earlier theatres of operation.

Please excuse typos sent from my iPad!

[335th_GRAthos]

I am a bit dissapointed this Christmas...

#1. My Christmas present (to myself) a Thrustmaster Warthog was half a success: I kept the Warthog Throttle but stored the Warthog Stick quickly away and brought back my loyal MS SW2FFB. It is suicidal for my wrists' tendons to use this stick to fly a WWII plane with no automatic trim.

#2. NV decided not to introduce the next generation of graphics cards for Christmas
I am waiting for the next generation and for the generation after that in order to be able to play this game with full resulution and full graphics.

#3. No beta patch for Xmas present Oh well, life is like that...


At least the great news was the special offer, CoD for USD9.99 which is great!


I have managed to play a reasonable time online at the REPKA and ATAG servers and it has been amazing fun. I have managed to make a reasonable amoun of air-, ground- and sea-kills, too.
Of course I fly at lower settings than I would like to (but I blame NVIDIA for this) but it is still 70fps, memory leak is not a problem and the immersion of this game is so big that I have not touched my IL2FB versions ever since!

So for me, the game is great! Period!

And I paid only once (actually twice - I bought two) and I am grateful to the ATAGs' and REPKAs' who put all the money and hw so that I can play for free.

Just as a reminder, the World of Warcraft and some other similar communities have between 10 - 17 million players (repeat: ten to seventeen million players) who pay subscriptions of USD 10.00 per month (repeat: ten dollars per month) to play online!

So,
- I am grateful that 1C created a WWII game of this excellence (because I do not like World of Warcraft and similar games).
- I am grateful that I do not have to pay every month.
- I would pay for the next and, after next and, after after next version of the game if 1C keep developing the game of my taste.
- I will spend thousands of dollars in order to get the necessary hardware to play my game (so the cost for the game is peanuts compared to the money I spend for my gear so why the hell do I have to feel bitter about it????).

Of course I will buy any better WWII simulation on the market. But, hold on, there is no other WWII simulation out in the market...

unless if you want to play against Chuck Norris...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=FOaGhE_sejI

So relax all and Merry Xmas!

my 2 cents
~S~