Well I agree with you Beef, what I've seen of WWIIOL looks damn good, though I'm not yet convinced if all this will work in an online environment...
I mean, their concept is to create a scoring system that eventually gives the experienced players more influence.
That leads to question 1: their scoring system would have to be very complex since a k/d ratio system like the one we have in AH won't be enough, it just doesn't reflect everything that makes a good pilot (leadership ability, ability to actually complete a given mission etc.). Now how do you make a computer understand how important a certain mission was? Lets say some guys get the order to do an offensive patrol to drag the enemy fighters away from their airfield while another friendly squadron levels the now defenseless field. Does the computer understand the importance of the decoys? No it doesn't, and the decoy pilots will probably just get some points for shooting enemy planes, not for risking their virtual lifes dragging the enemy away from its field.
second, the concept depends of the players' ability and willingness to work together all the time and to support their country by doing what the important guys tell them. Sounds just great in theory, but there're so many people out there who want to relax when playing a game and have fun flying around a bit without having to think much. Those guys just don't fit into the concept of WWIIOL, but they do exist, I bet everyone of us is sick of trying to get his countrymates work together sometime and just has to grab his favorite ride and stupidly fly towards the next furball, kick some butt and do it again over and over.
third, the technical aspect. I believe that the WWIIOL 3d engine is powerful enough to satisfy everyone playing the game, pilot, tank driver or grunt. But I'm really wondering about packet size and things like that. The amount of information my FE needs to create an arena filled with ships, tanks, vehicles, ground troops and planes along with the changes in the terrain itself (they want to implement burning woods and maybe even give ground troops the ability to dig their own fox holes) would be enourmous. I doubt a 56k modem would be enough to ensure a more or less lag free gameplay.
Please don't get me wrong, I can't wait for the WWIIOL beta myself (in fact I even applied as closed beta tester), and if the game is half as good as they promised I will probably consider paying for it, but I DO have some doubts, the concept just sounds too perfect to me.
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Redwing
Commanding Officer
Red Dragons Aces High Division
www.reddragons.de
