In fact, it's not even that... it's the "Game-ER" end that repulses me. I got almost 20yrs out of AH, and I appreciate that. The game itself did not turn me away... the gam-ers, the game-the-game styles, Lag-bandits & never-ending-energy stuff etc, that's what burned my excitement. Certain attitudes and most certainly certain players (nobody in this thread unless there's a shade I don't know about) burned AH for me.
In the Robin Olds book "Fighter Pilot" there is a passage I just came across:
"Fighter pilot is not just a description, it's an attitude; it's cockiness, it's aggressiveness, it's self-confidence. It is a streak of rebelliousness and competitiveness. But there's something else; there's a spark. There's a desire to be good, to do well in the eyes of your peers and your commander, and in your own mind, to be second to no one. The sky is your playground and competitiveness is your life."
AW, Warbirds, and AH each had this attitude running throughout it's player-base during their peak. Sadly for me, AH lost this attitude in the MA long ago. You can still find it in FSO and Monday Night Madness events, but those numbers keep dwindling. THAT was the only reason I started looking outside of AH and I was pretty sure it no longer existed. I am VERY happy that I was wrong and find that attitude alive and kicking in DCS. Again this is what I found FOR ME. Others still find that in AH, or IL-2 and that is great.
This genre should motivate you to read, watch documentaries, meet up with fellow players in person, go to air museums, all in a thirst to learn and get better. To settle for anything less is missing out. The only competition between AH, IL-2, or DCS is in its ability to inspire this in you personally.
