Oleg and Team.

[tater]

Bearcat, I mean maps that started from NOTHING, not retextures of existing maps.

Some of the maps alluded to are not based AT ALL on any stock maps. They were created from whole cloth (and space shuttle radar topography mission data).

they are not stretching existing maps, they are not redecorating existing maps, they are... NEW MAPS.

The only stuff reused are textures/objects since there is already a substantial library of decent textures and objects. Reusing stock textures (most all the stock maps, do, too) is desirable since it increases compatibility for anyone who wishes minimal changes. You can absolutely ONLY load new maps as mods, for example.

[tater]

Actually, I don't see that attitude much at all. I see that attitude towards people irrationally attacking mods, but not vs Oleg. I think RRG gets most of the flak on the "official" level since the PTO crowd feels like they got a very poorly executed product, and many of the most glaring problems turned out to be not that hard to fix.

[msalama]

OK, as a former IL-2 player this is what I think:

You can't really compare SH3 and IL-2. The first one is primarily an offline game, and while you can go multiplayer there the gameplay is still against an AI opponent only. And there's a fundamental difference between the participants all fighting against a common enemy vs. them going at each others' virtual throats anyway - the former promotes unity and teamplay, the latter discontent and competetiveness to the point of the combatants using whatever means in their disposal to win... including cheating.

So in that sense IL-2's anonymous online play is indeed as good as dead now. And it's not as if there wasn't any cheating before this thing went public; there was, but the situation today still isn't the same because you have no way of telling who's flying what now, or even whether the CRT=2 thingy works anymore. So instead of the implicit trust we had w/ the locked FMs of old what we have now is oodles of paranoia and mistrust - and that in itself is enough to wreck the anonymous online component of this game for good, even if no-one took any advantages of the FMs being currently exposed.

Yah, sounds like I'm whining, I know, but I'm not. Hell, I would've quit playing IL-2 even if this thing had never happened, because the old girl was getting pretty shallow and repetitious after all these years anyway. So in that sense I really don't care what's happening w/ the game, but I still think anyone claiming this thing hasn't changed anything fundamental are, frankly speaking, talking out of their butts.

But then, s*t happens and all things must pass, eh?

But as regards modding IL-2 I really don't see the point myself, even beyond any moral and cheating issues. I mean, what IS the point? If you use mods online you get branded as a cheater, and if you use them offline you still have to suffer the godawful AI and other assorted limits of an ancient game engine. Well each to their own, of course, but I'd still use my time in something more worthwhile if I were you

OK, rant off & back to SH3 + GWX 2.0, sez Herr Kaleun Marcus Salmowsky, the commander of U-55 S! all and keep the sunny side up guys.