Gonna keep it sweet and to the point.
1. UI (user interface) Looks like a MSVB app I could write in 10 minutes, with my finger cut off, and blind folded, with the keyboard upside down. You expect people to pay per month what most games cost as a one time fee with a VERY amutuer looking menu/background.
2. Uh, wheres the rest of it? If I remember correctly, the ol v1.0 symbol means its 'done' barring unforseen bugs that need to be addressed later, but for the most part, there it is, complete. There isnt even flak for gods sakes, let alone fully modelled (and not very well modelled) aircraft.
3. Im not a pilot or anything, but I see people on this board who are or claim to be who want some real flight data and hard numbers on the planes. If the FMs are so great as you claim, give em the data.
4. Gun modeling. HELLO? Is any one home, I didnt bring it up before becuase I figured it was for BETA purposes, but why to the bullets fall after 450 metres of travel, but arent effected by wind (is there even wind?) Even a .223 long rifle fires darn straight to 1000metres or so. Id assume a .50 cal round would fare even better.
5. Cyborg ack gunners. Nuff said.
6. Sprites are out. We are in the 21st century now, lets act like it. Ill go so far as to accept voxels, but sprites and pixelated (even at hi-res') textures are a huge no-no. If this was a retail game, pc gamer/pc accellerator/firing squad would thrash you endlessly for out dated graphics. Any one seen the piccies of b-17 II? Exactly. Very dialed.
7. Gotta aggree with hangtime in another thread. For 30 bucks a month I expect 'when' questions answered about promised features.
Ok now the good.
1. 30 bucks a month. Aint THAT bad, check this equation.
2.5 hours of big time movie+soda+popcorn=10.50$$ down south X 4 weekend outtings to see them=42.00$$
Hours of entertainment?
10
50+hours (casual gamer, few hours every day after work and on weekends in spare time) of aces high
30$$
Much better ratio.
2. Good community support, youve got good people flying your sim and that just rocks. Llama-to-Jockey ratio 10 to 1. (translates to 10 good players to 1 'dweeb' as you all put it)
3. Fun factor is through the roof, but I have fun playing darts, doesnt mean im gonna shell out 30bucks for it. (though still pay attention to ratio above, its not that bad, but other hobbies are cheaper, all im sayin)
4. Detailed Damage model is good if not the best of any flight sim ive played. Feed back from the damage youve taken and how your flying is top notch, very easy to have good SA
5. Youve shown over the past few weeks that you CAN get things done, now just keep it up and bring us all out of the beta and into pay for play with some truely ground breaking stuff and youve got a winner.
Final Thoughts:
Very good _non retail_ game. Gamers as a whole expect more, but your not aiming at gamers, your aiming at the flight sim junkies who swarm on this stuff like crack. (some of you who payed more than 100 bucks for WB need mental help, some people do it in vegas, you do it over the net. Your sick sick people, spend your money on your wife/kids/dog..just say no!) online pay for play games have proven to be a cash cow *cough ultima online cough* so your not going to be poor any time soon. Personally I dont think its near finished, and I think that youve fallen into the trap of thinking you can get free beta testing from the community to give you feedback on whats right/wrong and then they dont give you the feedback you want, and start expecting things from you (hence why the rest of the gaming companies dont do open betas, ValVe, Id, Epic, they just finish thier games , what a concept, then sell them in the store, woah another concept, and make the money and let it alone) I still think your a talented bunch of guys, but going all the wrong way, trying to find the thin line between succeeding and getting the 'right people for the right game' unfortunalty those people are very few and far between, so you end up charging them the ol american dollar monthly to make up for it. I think if you all sat down, got thinking, really poured sweat and blood into a game, then released on the shelves, youd have much better luck. But thats just my opinion.
