Simulation design is an art. That is undisputable.
Defining the elements that make up a killer sim is one thing. Addressing the various desires of a specific segment of a niche market of the flight simulation enthusiast population, is another thing, although still tied to the former.
So how does AH perform with regard to the feature set it presents for the edification of our fighter pilot fantasies? More to the point, and in fact the only question I can ask with a degree of equanimity, is how does AH stack up against my own expectations of a realistic air combat environment of WWII piston engined aircraft?
As it stands, AH is an incredible ACM simulation.
It's strength is without question, the flight modelling of the various aircraft.
AH is a great game, so is this not enough? It most obviously is for quite a few, but I wonder if a slightly different tack might not produce equally enthusiastic response from others who like me, are members of the flight simulation fraternity.
Let's scrutinise the offering. It is obvious that modifications have been made as a consession to game play, the more obvious is fuel flow rates of the various aircraft and the disabling of the collision feature among friendlies (not a criticism!).
This is where the art form of simulation/game design comes into play. HTC are designing a game, with rules, and they have a vision of how they would like the game to be played. I come along and play with the beta and gradually as I become more aquainted with the rules, begin to formulate desires which naturally I would like to see implemented into the game ... it sounds presumptuous I know, but we all do it to a certain extent.
But hang on a minute! Won't AH succeed if it doesn't change beyond what it already is? I think it will succeed. In fact the total package (including price plans) might be enough to ensure a large slice of market share, but it will not be enough for the likes of me. Not the petulant threats of a spoiled child ... far from it, I am merely expressing my decision process with regard to what I wish for in an online combat flight sim.
O.K. smarty pants, I hear you say
... what does AH need to include in its feature set to entice you to become a fanatically loyal fan? (And does anyone give a rat's ... hehehe)
I would be a most happy vegimite, if AH were to include the following features as it matures through the beta stage into the lime light of commercial online combat flight simulation gaming.
Feature One:
Include engine management. This might have been beaten to death, but as yet there has been no response from HTC that I'm aware of. Will we have pitch control on the planes which had it? Will we be able to feather the props? What about mixture control? The ability to engage high blower etc?
Why? Because despite the protestations of the nay-sayers, engine management is as integral to flying and fighting as is controlling the settings of the manifold.
Not having engine management means that we have an approximation of the flight model, therefore the flight model is only close in a small window of the flying experience.
Feature Two.
Get rid of the radar feature.
Feature Three.
Ummm ... there is no feature three, but as an after thought, I'd like more clouds, and I want it now! (oops, how'd that slip out?
).
Cheers
Teapot.
