After becoming increasingly disgruntled with another online WWII flight sim, I dropped out of the scene, and waited to see what would come next. Time passed, then out came the announcement for Aces High, put out by none other than the original hardcore Coder, HiTech, and the Dataman, Pyro, both of ICI's
Warbirds fame. I was eager to see what would result from their latest project, though I had some idea of their direction from some things they had said back in the WB days.
Now that I've been here since the second beta version (what number was that, again?) my only response can be an emphatic, "Right on!" Right now we have eight fighters and 2 bomber/transport types, with another fighter and bomber on the way. Twelve planned aircraft in the beta. We also have a film viewer, a neat live-gunner implementation (BuffOtto is dead in AH), falling parts, explosions, engine & fuel smoke and stress limits, including gear and flap dammage, as well as an intricate country resource & damage structure. It's been stated that aircraft models will be put on hold, so that the FM can be refined, and for the introduction of vehicles.
One of my biggest gripes with all other online flight sims was that there was never any strategy except for some one-dimensional method like landing an aircraft or dropping paratroopers. With the introduction of vehicles, the element of strategy can finally be placed on the ground, where it belongs. This will open the game so much, that I won't even try to address it.
So, all this and we're still in beta. I have to say how pleased I am with the direction HTC is taking, trying to implement a sound strategic framework from the very beginning. New aircraft will always be coming, but without a ground strategy, a flight sim turns into nothing more than an aerial shooting gallery. And all this in three month's time. IMHO, HTC have done a fabulous job. Keep it up
Happy New Year!
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leonid, aka grisha
129 IAP VVS RKKA
