Anyone out there like me who broke the cycle of "New Software-itis"?

[Ripsnort]

This stems from a string of huge software disappointments.

Roughly around 1987, I had my *own* computer at home,and started buying just about every flight sim, or war game available.  Around 1991-92, anticipation of new software releases only lead to disappointment of unfinished , apparently untested products.  I continued to buy though, fueled by optimism until about 1997.  Since then, I can count the box sims that I've bought on two hands...in the last 2 years, I've bought 2 boxed sims/wargames, thats it, the rest of my time has been on online in AH.

Alot of it had to do with starting a family, and the "time constraint" in doing such, however, the "I gotta get that when its released!" feeling is gone.  

Anyone broke that vicious "I gotta have it" cycle like I from many disappointments over the years?

To date, I can name the flight sims that didn't disappoint me when the boxed versions came out:

SWOTLW
AOTP
AOTP 1946
AOE
Falcon 4

The rest, extreme disappointment.

[Sikboy]

I agree. I got tired of spending 40-50 bucks on serious crap games. During 1993-1997 I was buying everything up. But  Since 1997 I've probably bought only 2 games for full price. Starfleet Command and Operation Flashpoint.

In my case, Having playable demos more available has had something to do with it I'm sure.

-Sikboy

[Udie]

All the ww2 flightsims from like 97 or 98 killed it for me.  WW2 Fighters,  FDSOE,  EAW (the best of the bunch),  Falcon 4.  Each one of those disapointed me to the extreme. EAW was the only one that I continued to play for a few months, but only because of kali,  that's were I met swoop

 IL2 was/is the best ww2 boxed sim I've bought.  I don't think I'll be buying many more, not like I used to anyway......

[Wlfgng]

same here.  I bought IL2 (it rocks) but prior to that it's been years.. I think RedBaron was the final straw for me.

[Ripsnort]

I posted this because I recently bought IL2 (Getting smarter now, wait a year for all the fixes, patches) and I agree its a fine sim.  It should be considering it was 3 years in the developing...however, it certainly won't replace AH for online simming for me.  

I'm one of those that Hitech's markets reaches too, a nice mix between gameplay concessions, and realism. The big thing for me is direct 6 views, on a computer screen, where one has no peripherial vision, or ability to loosen the harness, lean forward, and crank your neck around to get alittle better rear view, I feel its absolutely necessary to have at least *some* 6 view.  I also feel that those that dislike direct 6 views *need* them and the subsequent "element of surprise" in order to get kills.  not having a direct six view, you end up with everyone flying high, looking for unaware lower pilots.  Thats just me though.

If it doesn't have a 6 view, I don't fly it online.


Incidently, I can't get my views to "snap view" in IL2, anyone know why?

[straffo]

Try F9 (I'm at work  so I'm unsure)

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by straffo
Try F9 (I'm at work  so I'm unsure)

Rgr, will try at home tonight.

[Udie]

Originally posted by Wlfgng
same here.  I bought IL2 (it rocks) but prior to that it's been years.. I think RedBaron was the final straw for me.

 No doubt man!  The graphics SUCKED RB2 that is.  But after the first patch the FM's where kick arse.  Then the big RB2-3D patch and they PORKED the FM's ruined the game for me.  That game had some serious potential sucked away from it when they did that.  Then they came out with "no more support"  same thing microprose did w/ EAW and F4.  I haven't bought a microprose game since....

[Ripsnort]

I called them "Microprozac" because prozac is what one needed after lame follow up support on their products.

[SKurj]

The last boxed sim I bought and wasn't dissappointed by was RedBaron2.

Prior to that I bought Falcon 3.0, AOTP, redbaron, chuck yeagers combat all of which didn't dissappoint in the least.

Since.. I have bought Falcon 4.0,longbow, EAW, .. ermm does ww2ol count?  falcon 4 not able to dumb it down enough, longbow was ok for a week, EAW.. lacked character.., ww2ol.. no need to say anything there eh!

I have IL2, however its not a legit copy.. will I give Oleg some money?
When he fixes the view system maybe...



SKurj

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by SKurj

When he fixes the view system maybe...



SKurj

Can you elaborate further? I want to see if its similiar to my complaints..

[Saintaw]

Last game I *ran* to the shop for was Falcon4... of course I'll be clicking on that "Refresh" button in two weeks, when 1.11's showing it's nose

[Charon]

I generally stopped buying flightsims with Air Warrior around 1993/94(transitioned to AH of course). Some looked appealing, but none ever had my heart pounding like a human opponent can, and all promised to teach me bad habits that would impact my online gaming. I did get Falcon 4, but I realized that I no longer had the patience to be a "systems man."

I buy plenty of other strategy, FPS etc. software, and quality control was horrible in the late 1990s (it seems better now, perhaps because there are fewer game engines involved). Around 1998 I decided to to wait a patch or two, and read the boards before I buy.  [I also got Red Baron 2, with a similarly poor experiece. I think that was the final straw, but there were many others around that time.]

I almost pulled the trigger early with WW2OL, but by about day 2 or 3, when I could finally access the boards, I was sure glad I waited. I'm still waiting on that one. I think I might just wait for HTC to mosey into a broader universe

I have a four-node lan gaming network at home (three in my "office" and one in the wife's); I generally buy multiple copies of older games like Unreal Tournament, which are cheap, stable and able to run well on lesser systems. The lan is a natural outgrowth of a setup I had with a roomate in the early 1990s running Doom/Doom2. It can be a real blast

Charon

[AKSWulfe]

I agree with Skurj on RB2/3D being the last sim I bought and wasn't disappointed by.

I kind of teeter on the fence between disappointment and "eh, it's 'okay'" with Il2.

I have my fingers crossed for Il2:FB.

Then again, the only reason I bought Il2 was because they released a demo to play so I could get an early idea of what to expect.

I doubt they'll do that for FB, but I'll buy it anyway just for the planes (main reason I bought Il2, new front and all).

The last jet game I bought was Jane's Anthology. Last time I'll buy a jet game, don't really like 'em. Stand off is no fun for me, and neither is managing avionics.

I will, OTOH, check out anything Vietnam/Korea style. (specially if they make a Vietnam game/sim with the Skyraider)

I never bought any of the CFS series.

I'm a sucker for WWI, so if a company produces a decent WWI game, I'll buy it.

As for civil aviation, I played the MS flight sim 4.xx or something, it was the DOS version on the 3 1/4 floppies. I also got Flight Unlimited (I think? it was by looking glass), and that was one of the nicest games I have played. Best appearance of terrain from low and high alt... even if it was 2D.
-SW

[Ripsnort]

Couldn't agree more with modern jets SW, however the Korea/Vietnam era early jets do intrigue me, however its my opinion no ones done a good sim for that era yet.

Korea, if done correctly, could cover prop/jet planes that would surpass 100 types.