Setting up an online flying sim

[Hawco]

Originally posted by WhiteHawk
well, first off. never use your competitors forums for technical assistance.

First off, not a competitor, second, Just a subscriber like you, thirdly, not looking for technical assistance on anything.
Have a nice day.

[Grayeagle]

I'll restate some of the obvious:

Ideas are the easy part. They are literally a dime-a-dozen.

Puttin 'em on screen takes a *lot* of work.

If you can find a good team that works well together, it can be done.

Average developement cost for a game is a cool million per year of developement. Historical flight sims demand a *lot* of research and can drive that average cost quite a bit higher. (try renting 'Crazy Horse' to verify the 'look and feel' you are after, f'rinstance)

Good luck, hope you do well, and no, I am not available.

-GE

[weaselsan]

Advanced Computer graphic skills...and poor spelling .

[Hawco]

Originally posted by Grayeagle
I'll restate some of the obvious:

Ideas are the easy part. They are literally a dime-a-dozen.

Puttin 'em on screen takes a *lot* of work.

If you can find a good team that works well together, it can be done.

Average developement cost for a game is a cool million per year of developement. Historical flight sims demand a *lot* of research and can drive that average cost quite a bit higher. (try renting 'Crazy Horse' to verify the 'look and feel' you are after, f'rinstance)

Good luck, hope you do well, and no, I am not available.

-GE

My buisness interests range from Energy/Technology, automotive and was looking to diversify, maybe into sims, the online gaming thing looks like it's more popular than ever, I just don't know enough about it to make an informed decision, I want to invest/aquire something around the 1st qtr of 07, this is just one of the things I'm currently looking at.
I'll keep looking around and see what comes up.

[Grayeagle]

Well .. if you can wade thru all the BS that EA spouts and find someone who can actually make a decision and stick to it .. perhaps you could aquire the rights to Air Warrior.. that would be a start.

It's very much a dead horse atm, would take a great team to make it flyable again, at the very least a new engine and outstanding paint job

And dealing with EA is like stepping into a pig wallow.
Yer gonna get covered with it and the smell is unbearable.. credibility is not their 'event' at the very least..

.. but that's just my opinion.

-GE

[Heater]

hummm GE I thought you loved EA with all your hart...............




















Heater Runs and Hides and throws rocks at GE

[BTW]

Just curious, have you any idea how small a percentage flight sims make up of the online gaming market?

So you just skipped past the idea of MMORPG's? Glad you aint investing my money

[Habu]

You could probably buy into World War Two Online or Fighter Ace or even this game if you had a proposal that made sense.

It would have to be one that makes the existing game owners and you both winners. Ie you invest and the game will have bigger revenue due to ????. Or the existing game is not really making enough (or anything) to keep the current owners happy. You come in buy them out and then invest in a new version to get back the customer base.

Maybe you could take the game and open up a new area that takes the existing game engine and incorporates some real life flying things like IFR approachs and training, real life airports like in MS Flight Sim and then appeal to students learning to fly. Only with cooler planes and others real people in the airport area. Have a scoring system for properly flown circuits and lose points for poor airmanship and bad flying.

A better marketing plan. A partnership with a company that makes hardware for the games.

Be creative I guess and who knows what could happen.

But always remember. Money talks and BS walks. No one likes to deal with someone with lots of new expensive ideas but no cash to show they are serious.

[Seagoon]

Hawco,

Step one would be a profitability study based on existing flight sims.

My uneducated guess would be that the investment to return ratio on this would be low, so it better be a labor of love.

Oh, and a thick skin so you can endure 10 years of whining about how Air Warrior was better than anything you eventually produce.

[Hawco]

Originally posted by Airscrew
Cool idea Hawco,  cant get Hitech to setup the game you like so go make your own game.
Should be no problem,  just pickup a couple of used Dell servers on ebay and setup your garage as the office.  Then get your buddy thats good with tools and run some cat 5 into the garage.  Maybe you can get your mom to make some lemonade too  Yes sir , you'll be up and running in no time.  all you'll need after that is a couple of million dollars, somebody to code your software, couple of somebodys to do your artwork, setup the ballistics and flight models, research, and about two years of work.  
We'll be waiting

Must be nice to have your foresight and clairvoyant like powers that enable you to have such insight.
I would suggest that you get out more into the fresh air.
Have a nice day.

[DREDIOCK]

Originally posted by Hawco
Thought I'd  ask as you lot as you guys probably know very game out there..

What exactly do you need to get started? Some software guys, a few servers and some marketing I take it.
Or maybe it's best to buy into an existing company ? I've noticed the rise in these types of games and if you do it right then there would be huge potential for any well run business.
I'm in Investment/Aquisition mode right now and I'm curious to learn more about this.
Hawco

no you cant buy or "aqquire" AH

You try. we will kill you

[Debonair]

133+ $k!11z

[Bodhi]

There is actually flight sims and not just BBS wars????

WOW!

[J_A_B]

"Oh, and a thick skin so you can endure 10 years of whining about how Air Warrior was better than anything you eventually produce."

Speaking the truth isn't "whining"!  

J_A_B