Indications are......

[SCG_Neun]

We are seeing an increase in the amount of Multiplayer interest from players that have been enjoying the single player/campaign mode of the sim and wanting to move up to the multiplayer level.  Most of the increase seems to be in the North American area as far as new enlistments for our units and this is something we are excited about.  I know it's early, but indications are that this sim is going to just keep getting better and the player base is starting to get excited.  Four of the last five applicants have listed within their application that they have been playing strictly offline and feel like they are ready to move up to the human populated servers.   It's a good sign!

Edited December 29, 2016 by 4./JG52_Neun

[Finkeren]

 

Nice of you to share.

 

I'm also sensing more positive vibes than I've seen for a long long time.

[SCG_Space_Ghost]

-snip-

 

I'm also sensing more positive vibes than I've seen for a long long time.

 

Could get banned for this one but a little Western-flavored PR from Jason has gone a lot further than the uncompromising arms-crossed PR provided by the cold, hard Russian beet that was Loft.

 

With that being said, I do appreciate his effort and his contribution to getting us where we are now.

Edited December 29, 2016 by Space_Ghost

[Y29.Layin_Scunion]

 move up to the multiplayer level.

I don't know.  I'd say fighting an expert AI is much more difficult that any actual person I've fought against!

 

But I completely agree that seeing more people is a great thing.  Servers (WoL specifically but sometimes TAW) have low-mid number during the week when in the past they've always been completely empty.

 

For sure a good sign.

[Lusekofte]

I think this is the main reason for moving into Pasific, getting USA and Aussies more into this. And Asia in general.

When VR is compatible with this we will see a increase of WT and DCS players too. 

It will make everything more washed out and not so polarised in forum too. I think BOS series is in its birth and have been , and it will be a prosperous business for our Dev team

[1./JG54_Seiler]

I really enjoy flying online when I can.  Recently found the "Random Expert" server and enjoy all that this server provides.  Very supportive to squad style flight ops. 

 

 

[SCG_Neun]

I don't know.  I'd say fighting an expert AI is much more difficult that any actual person I've fought against!

 

But I completely agree that seeing more people is a great thing.  Servers (WoL specifically but sometimes TAW) have low-mid number during the week when in the past they've always been completely empty.

 

For sure a good sign.

That's a good sign as well then.  Offline mode needs to be challenging but I still consider multiplayer a move up in time and immersion commitment.  I haven't played an offline mission in a long time and I know they can be fun, but there's something more immersive in speaking to real human players and calling on their skills (or in my case, lack of it) to spot enemy, targets, navigate and come to your rescue.  Nothing like clearing your buddies six with a real human player in the cockpit, and nothing more humbling than having him pump your belly full of lead.  Then there's the scream out of nowhere....SIX, SIX, SIX....BREAK!

 

Of course now with my new Echo Alexa.......  

 

Alexa........how many Russians are on my six?   

Edited December 30, 2016 by 4./JG52_Neun

[No601_Swallow]

Just to say:

 

It is possible to have multiplayer/coop missions against the AI - which is exactly what my own squadron does (we have historically based "operations" missions - with scores/deaths recorded - against AI each week on our own servers, while "mid-week" flying on public MP servers is more "free-style"!).

 

we find the AI - since the MP-lack-of-aggression fix a couple of months ago - is fine for historical-ish recreations. They're a challenge, they are - often -  difficult to predict, and - for us crucial - they do what the mission tells them to do! they're mostly pretty cool!

Edited December 30, 2016 by No601_Swallow

[Gambit21]

That's a good sign as well then. Offline mode needs to be challenging but I still consider multiplayer a move up in time and immersion commitment.

Multiplayer is not a move "up" it's just different - and arguably less immersive from a "flying in WWII" standpoint. I've spent many hours doing both for many years, and I don't remember any AI wingmen ever typing in the chat "hang on, the wife just walked in" or "the cat just ran over my keyboard lols!" So...it's a trade off both directions.

 

I actually got burnt out on multiplayer in the old IL2 and took a "single player only" break for a few months and found the differences welcoming.

Point is - one isn't a superior experience to the other across the board.

[VBF-12_Snake9]

Could get banned for this one but a little Western-flavored PR from Jason has gone a lot further than the uncompromising arms-crossed PR provided by the cold, hard Russian beet that was Loft.

 

With that being said, I do appreciate his effort and his contribution to getting us where we are now.

Your brave to say it, but there's a big difference between the two cultures. Americans won't pay for someone to tell them options are wrong. They'll just say F U and spend their money on something they like.

[FlyingNutcase]

-snip- I don't remember any AI wingmen ever typing in the chat "hang on, the wife just walked in" or "the cat just ran over my keyboard lols!" So...it's a trade off both directions. -snip-

 

lol

[ViKe213]

Pacific Theatre is what I am waiting for.

In time

My guess is when pacific theatre releases there will be a big  jump in multiplayer activity.

Edited December 30, 2016 by ViKe

[Gambit21]

It's going to be epic.

We'll have Jason to thank for that - never would have happened otherwise.

[SCG_Neun]

Multiplayer is not a move "up" it's just different - and arguably less immersive from a "flying in WWII" standpoint. I've spent many hours doing both for many years, and I don't remember any AI wingmen ever typing in the chat "hang on, the wife just walked in" or "the cat just ran over my keyboard lols!" So...it's a trade off both directions.

 

I actually got burnt out on multiplayer in the old IL2 and took a "single player only" break for a few months and found the differences welcoming.

Point is - one isn't a superior experience to the other across the board.

Well this is what I said actually in clarifying...."but I still consider multiplayer a move up in time and immersion commitment."  Flying in a squad is a heck of a commitment if you do it right and we don't use chat anymore, and I suppose all the other diversions you mention can happen offline as well.  I don't mean the move up in a snub way at all.  For me I actually have to play online from my office because of SAT connection at home, so that's another extra step I do as well.  But I understand your points.....so in referencing my first post...lets say "move over" instead of "move up".

 

I don't know the numbers but I would think offline is more popular for a large part based on the ability to jump on and play at your own pace without the coordination of team mates signing into the lobby and all the other pre-flight checks getting everyone set, etc.  Flying 2 hour missions, interacting with players, well it's just a lot of stuff and it's understandable how you could get burnt out.  Glad you are enjoying offline.  I will probably go back to it.....I mean..."over" to it, at some time as well.

Edited December 31, 2016 by 4./JG52_Neun

[SCG_Neun]

We play against AI as well, and they have turned into the killer bees of the old days...of IL2.

 

Just to say:

 

It is possible to have multiplayer/coop missions against the AI - which is exactly what my own squadron does (we have historically based "operations" missions - with scores/deaths recorded - against AI each week on our own servers, while "mid-week" flying on public MP servers is more "free-style"!).

 

we find the AI - since the MP-lack-of-aggression fix a couple of months ago - is fine for historical-ish recreations. They're a challenge, they are - often -  difficult to predict, and - for us crucial - they do what the mission tells them to do! they're mostly pretty cool!

[Gambit21]

Well this is what I said actually in clarifying...."but I still consider multiplayer a move up in time and immersion commitment."  Flying in a squad is a heck of a commitment if you do it right and we don't use chat anymore, and I suppose all the other diversions you mention can happen offline as well.  I don't mean the move up in a snub way at all.  For me I actually have to play online from my office because of SAT connection at home, so that's another extra step I do as well.  But I understand your points.....so in referencing my first post...lets say "move over" instead of "move up".

 

I don't know the numbers but I would think offline is more popular for a large part based on the ability to jump on and play at your own pace without the coordination of team mates signing into the lobby and all the other pre-flight checks getting everyone set, etc.  Flying 2 hour missions, interacting with players, well it's just a lot of stuff and it's understandable how you could get burnt out.  Glad you are enjoying offline.  I will probably go back to it.....I mean..."over" to it, at some time as well.

 

Yeah a squad is a time commitment - which is why I never joined a squad.

I'll get back to some serious online flying when the Pacific get's here - until then I doubt I'll be motivated to make the time.

[ShamrockOneFive]

Planning on getting more into multiplayer in the new year. I had started to get into it more but life intervened (as it does) and I didn't get going with it.

 

I do intend to fly some more multiplayer and learn complex engine management better in 2017!

[=EXPEND=Tripwire]

Lots more players getting online and into MP.

 

WOL has reached 1700 unique pilots online already in the last 6 days!

 

[Lusekofte]

I had a go in the LA 5 yesterday at owl server, as usual very unprepared, while on auto level and in the key assignment trying to find and setup the cowling / rads while a insensitive bugger decided to shoot me down. Cant get a brake anywhere I do not think my career as a multiplayer fighter pilot gonna last long, tested Finnish server too. pretty cool . See more and more populated servers

[=EXPEND=Capt_Yorkshire]

i think we could do with another server similar to wings,DED or TAW its becoming a challenge to get in a server some evenings.

[deWaardt]

That multiplayer is growing is absolutely amazing. I've tried to introduce some new players to the game, and they're quite getting into this.

They were scared off by DCS, which I totally understand, but as this game absolutely nails the "game" aspect, they liked it quite much!

 

I've been goofing around with server hosting, I have some server hardware, but no clue how to make a proper mission to play.

I also have no idea what hardware is required to host any basic server.

[Roo5ter]

I had a go in the LA 5 yesterday at owl server, as usual very unprepared, while on auto level and in the key assignment trying to find and setup the cowling / rads while a insensitive bugger decided to shoot me down. Cant get a brake anywhere I do not think my career as a multiplayer fighter pilot gonna last long, tested Finnish server too. pretty cool . See more and more populated servers

 

I just came back to the game after a long absence and am not a very experienced flight simmer with significant transferable skill as well.  I highly suggest to just start out doing ground attack/bombing and working your way bit by bit into dogfighting.  It has really worked out for me and I am doing much better at dogfighting after about a month of that.  

[BlitzPig_EL]

 

I'll get back to some serious online flying when the Pacific get's here - until then I doubt I'll be motivated to make the time.

 

This.

[Guest deleted@30725]

I felt I had to get good vs AI to be good in mp, i find that this is a silly idea really beause there are plenty of people in the 'normal' server that can't even takeoff. I found I wasn't nearly as bad as I thought, but the tactics humans used were different,

 

What then scared me about going to expert was having to manage the engine, etc in the planes and without labels I would be scared of a fight for thinking they might be my own side. Yet managing your engine is not so hard and target ID just takes practice.

 

What I grew to love about this game in expert mode was navigation. I never thought that simply using my map and comparing to ground landmarks get to and then to find a target for bombing could be so much fun. Target hit and return to base using navigation to then land back home can be a fun tasks in itself.

 

I think even if day one player join a normal level server with labels and auto engine and fly vs other players. You learn far more in a few hours vs other player than vs an AI that loves to turn fight you.

 

No fear, not everyone online is pro one shot.

[216th_Jordan]

I think what would be really needed are custom icons. Servers where you can see for example friendly or enemy labels below 1.5 km range and stuff like that. There are quite some people that want a kind of immersion like in expert but some help in the heat of a battle (for example people without trackir). I really hope we get this in the not too far future.

Edited January 7, 2017 by 216th_Jordan

[Lusekofte]

 

 

I'll get back to some serious online flying when the Pacific get's here - until then I doubt I'll be motivated to make the time.

 

You really should try FNBF, it is really fun . I envied the JU 52 flyers 10 in number. must have been a lot of fun