Adding a bit of thought here...
First, since WWIIO isn't yet released in Europe it is going to cost you $70 (the widely circulated cost for Europeans to import a copy themselves) to try it. I'd advise you at least take airspro up on his offer. I already sent mine to someone else or else I would send it to you.
Second, WWIIO isn't all bad. The atmosphere is cool, the tanks are cool, heck, even flying around (when you have acceptable frame rates) is cool. What isn't cool is the lack of supply, the low numbers of infantry, capricious spawn limits that change frequently, flight model, CTD's, high system requirements, bizaare gameplay concessions, etc. Much of this is in every MMOG, and you'll have to judge for yourself whether this combination of ingredients is palatable for you. I suspect if our flight model quirks are making you look around you'll still be looking once you get done there.
Third, I am a pilot in sims, and that is all I want to be. I don't have a problem really with the way WB or AH, CFS2, RB2, FD, A-10 Cuba!, DoA, or AW did/do things WRT flight dynamics. Each sim has a definite feel, but you get used to it. What they all have in common is a clear delineation of flight models amongst the respective aircraft. Not so in WWIIO. Further, the glaring omission of parasitic drag and energy bleed with control deflection jar me out of any suspension of disbelief. I used to hang my Stuka on knife-edge in turns with Spits because I knew I had better lift that way (real, huh?) and even though the pilot could try to yo-yo or spiral climb he had to run or die. In all my time in the Stuka I was shot down one (1) time, shooting down probably 200 Allieds in the process. I even went looking for dogfights. While fun for a while, it isn't the ultra-realistic experience it was billed to be. I had plenty of people tell me this is historically accurate, yet I can't manage to find a book that can verify it. I also have people tell me I just ran into inept pilots. Nope, the stupid places I put myself should have killed me over and over and didn't.
Finally, as far as teamwork is concerned it is the same wherever you go. Some guys work together, some don't. As said already, find the leaders and follow. In WWIIO there are the people that will lead and are good at it, and there are people screaming on the country channel about how we are all "blowing it", just like here. You won't find any difference, for sure.
Still and all you should try it yourself if you can avoid paying a huge lump of money to do it. By no means should you do a major upgrade to your computer just to play that game, like many players have, only to find it still doesn't perform acceptably or that you CTD 4-5 times an hour. Do not be sucked into believing the next patch is "going to fix all the problems and put in supply", because they've been saying that since June. Do not believe there are not people there who won't exploit every game hole known to man, because just like here they will. In short, you ultimately have to be happy, but don't think you are escaping when you go there.
[ 11-24-2001: Message edited by: Kieran ]
