Greetings all!
The object of this post is to attempt to add a little perspective on some of the recent nasty and silly (AH-other sim)crossboard postings.
I most certainly do not wish to offend, annoy, or otherwise bother ANYBODY with these words (well, except two persons). If this was the case, I would regret posting this, apologize, and not post on this board again. Just please hear me out for a few minutes.
I have been playing WB (poorly) on my MAC for the past three years. I donīt post much, but sometimes I enjoy reading the boards as much as playing. My enjoyment comes from the extraordinary knowledge, as well as style and humour that are VERY FREQUENT in these communities. Even the flaming and disagreements, in good measure, can be great fun.
As for gaming, my choice of OS has been a very, very serious handicap. I drool and get frustrated in software stores, but that is nothing compared to the drooling and frustration I feel at not being able to try AH on my MAC!
This sim rocks. I am thoroughly impressed by the community dynamics, the level of innovation and upgrading, and the extraordinary level of communication with the creators. I also LOVE tanks (no MAC tank simulator available), and would love to try something different than my trusted but old 2D warbirds terrain (MAC users sill fly in 2D over there).
I am frustrated, but am I pissed off? - most definetely not. I have chosen to use a minority platform, and thus have to suffer the consequences (there are also some compensations) The relative qualities of both OSīs are absolutely irrelevant to the question. I use a Mac because I like it, need it for professional reasons, and feel too old to change and relearn after using the thing since 1984. I will not switch, and I will bravely bear the consequences.
So where is the problem? Well, here goes:
1) A lot of people in my situation, perhaps with fewer years of age (not allways), are not only frustrated, but also angry because they canīt play AH. They feel somewhat entitled to equal treatment. I think that is wrong, but understandable. Donīt forget AH looks VERY attractive. If you have kids you will understand the reactions very well.
2) The appearance of AH has objectively reduced our enjoyment of our game (WB). Why? Simply because of the loss of PEOPLE. I feel a little tinge when I see so many exceptional pilots on this board. The name have been familiar to me for many years, and it is sad to realize they will not be shooting me down anymore (incidentally, I am doing much better in WB lately (Cause and effect?).
So what , you might ask? Nothing: -tough for all of us Macers, thatīs the way the market goes- There is little anybody can or should do about it. Maybe Linux will come before a Mac version! I just give you all points 1) and 2)as background for my next thoughts.
3) AH players inform and advertise on AGW: This is very good and understandable. Information has never hurt anybody (I donīt need them , I check this board a few times a week to see what I am missing). I would probably do the same thing in their shoes. BUT: the frequency, tone, and agressivness of these posts can be very offensive. Think of points 1) and 2)! Repeated threads on the excellency and superiority of AH do not, in my opinion, have an informative purpose. They are there to ANNOY. Is this necessary or positive? Why does it keep happening? You all know how easily people get p....d off (yeah, thats why you do it probably). Please, why donīt you limit this? Just tell us the great things AH is doing. But please stop dissing us. Itīs the only Sim we have!
4) There is one idiot around, and then another double idiot.
First the idiot: This "macboy" character is a serious disservice to both Mac users and WB players. I understand some of your reactions, and I think he is way out of line. There is no justification for what he is doing, and I hope he stops.
Now the double idiot: Some AH player uses the same name on AGW (MACBOY), to give the same treatment over there: offensive posts, and says : I will stop when you stop!
Jeeez... How mature and smart... and how stupid! AGW is a private board, and WB players do not get together and designate somebody to go post over here. Why try to hurt all for one idiot? This a....le doesnīt even have the brains to go post on the Ien board.
5) Remembrances of times past:
MAc users on WB now receive inferior service to those who use the majority platform (no 3D on a MAC), but in relative terms the level of support and quality of software for us has gone up very significantly since the current AH creators left WB. This is an objective fact, that does not take into account the eventual reasons that might have led to this (CALīs illness,availability of quality MAC programmers, etc...), but certainly colors some of our reactions. When Pyro et all where leading WB, I remember the support as being worse than anything you can imagine (much, much worse than the current WB support, which is poor but improving). Then I come over here and see something else! Extraordinary support and communication!
6) It is much easier to start a game from scratch than pick up on somebody elseīs code. Maybe thatīs part of the reason we feel HS and co. deserve a little break.
There. Sorry for boring you. There are a lot of things more important than the question I have just adressed, such as getting a good damage model (I mean it).
And of course all this is not about rights. Freedom of expression applies fully here. But what about a little consideration? (on both sides of course).
Thank you for your patience,
And let me pray for a Mac AH version some day. Unless WWIIOL comes out first of course, in which case I will probably be too busy to play AH OR WB, and this will all be moot.
Cheers and have fun!
figaro
