For 1946 & Oleg Fans

[Raw Kryptonite]

I agree with much of what you said, but not in comparing this to 1946.
Compare it to the original release, not the one that came out SIX YEARS later, including expansions and longer development. I've got 1946, not the original, so I'm looking at the features for the first version here:

# Fly 31 types of Russian, German and American planes
# Fly pilot or rear gunner (IL-2 plane types only)

So the original game had fewer planes than Birds of Prey. Gunner view was on the IL-2 only. I would like to have a more useable gunner view or at least control, since shooting and aiming with the HAT while flying the plane at the same time is a little too much multi-tasking. LOL Glad we can shoot from a bomber though.

RE: mapping of buttons on the flightstick
I place that blame squarely on Saitek with this cheap flightstick. What a ridiculous layout of buttons! We need more flightstick options (being actively sold NEW that is), but that isn't Gaijin's fault.
On the padlock, I don't use that I use the HAT. If you use the padlock, again, it isn't Gaijin's fault Saitek was drunk the day they designed this stick.

I also agree about OGF being a brilliant and far underrated game. Too bad the presentation is so bad when the flight is so good (and controls are excellent too for a controller). I wish I could use this flightstick with OGF, but I can't really blame OGF for that. (problem being that the throttle isn't used and rudder is reversed)

The game isn't perfect, but I don't know any game that is. I love it just the same. I think Gaijin did a great job with a game that isn't like anything they've done before. They worked to give us what we wanted in a situation where the publisher didn't start out on our side. Looking forward to future content and a sequel.

Interestingly enough, Oleg and Maddox games are listed in the credits, first column.