Question / Questions About Maps

[EAF19_Marsh]

The Kuban release is absolutely fantastic and represents a new high for flight sims - I think the general reaction shows that. However, it seems that beyond hot-fixes and some general development re: careers, key aircraft FM, weather, or something universal, the team attention is now focused on BoBp (which is great).

 

I know that the Kursk map is under development for Tank Crew, but BoBp represents a shift towards the West (and a very lucrative market) so I suspect that new content for the EF might be somewhat on the back burner, which is a bit of a shame but given the team size and FC obviously there has to be prioritization.

 

As of BoK, we have aircraft that cover much of the fighting up to Smolensk and Bagration (yes, I know, it is not full and a Yak-9 among others would really be needed), but there is maybe a possibility for some sideways movement. Given the great new career system, I was therefore wondering what the potential might be for new maps, specifically some or all of:

- Minsk

- Smolensk

- Voronezh / Kharkov

- Kiev

- Leningrad (but probably difficult with the city)

- Crimea (West)

 

I understand that Jason and the team are not a fan of kick-starter, but would there be any interest in exploring a widening of the EF content through some kind of community investment, allowing the team to progress on the future titles as well as widening of the great EF material already made?

 

Just wondering. Maybe this has already been considered dismissed.

[-TBC-AeroAce]

In regards to additional aircraft fillers like yak9 or whatever else. They are experimenting with third parties to create aircraft (the po2). If this is successful and up to their standards we will get a lot more one off collector planes.

[EAF19_Marsh]

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In regards to additional aircraft fillers like yak9 or whatever else. They are experimenting with third parties to create aircraft (the po2). If this is successful and up to their standards we will get a lot more one off collector planes.

 

It was more about the 1941-43 maps, the Yak-9 was more an outlier re: Smolensk - Smolensk '41 is covered, for example

[Juri_JS]

I would prefer to see more maps created by community members, so the developers can concentrate on other things. With the now available mods on mode, I hope we will see some progress in this area.

[EAF19_Marsh]

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I would prefer to see more maps created by community members, so the developers can concentrate on other things. With the now available mods on mode, I hope we will see some progress in this area.

 

That would be fantastic if it were possible. I expected that it might require some funding, that was all.

[CountZero]

7 minutes ago, Juri_JS said:

I would prefer to see more maps created by community members, so the developers can concentrate on other things. With the now available mods on mode, I hope we will see some progress in this area.

 

That would be great!

[sevenless]

I would love to see all of that done, tbh. So that I can start a campaign 1941 and end it at Berlin 1945. The campaign really is the heart of this sim and the deeper you are drawn in and immersed the longer the game will live.

[EAF19_Marsh]

Given the effort required to create aircraft, my point was focus on maps that use current aircraft. 1945 is probably out for now, as might be 1944, but there are several areas 1941-43 that use the aircraft currently on strength.

 

So investment vs. return is theoretically higher if there were a way to contribute to their development.

[sevenless]

34 minutes ago, EAF19_Marsh said:

Given the effort required to create aircraft, my point was focus on maps that use current aircraft. 1945 is probably out for now, as might be 1944, but there are several areas 1941-43 that use the aircraft currently on strength.

 

So investment vs. return is theoretically higher if there were a way to contribute to their development.

 

I see your point. However I´m asking myself the question if offering pure maps would drive sales in a meaningful way for them? My guess is, that only the combination of a new and attractive theater with new fancy planes is motivation enough to generate new sales in a significant way.

[Uufflakke]

EAF19_Marsch,

At this very moment there is one map in the making by some enthusiasts on the Russian forum: Odessa.

There used to be another WIP map Murmansk but that one is postponed or cancelled.

And a few words about a Karelia map.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 19, 2018 by Uufflakke

[EAF19_Marsh]

I have no idea what the relative return on investment might be and possibly maps without aircraft are not deemed worth it. Was more raising this as a possible idea.

 

I heard about the Odessa map but then it all went a bit quiet. My thought was if there were someway to advance-fund these efforts, maybe in-house and 3rd party cooperation.

[Legioneod]

Would love to see more maps to expand the career all the way to 45 that way we can play through the whole war. I also hope for more western front maps that way we can do careers in the earlier 43-44 western Europe.

[EAF19_Marsh]

So it would appear that there is interest, but how much would be required and what might be the break-even point?

 

The list I gave are maps with no additional aircraft required/ Would people buy these at $10, $20 or similar? If so, would the team be interested in considering? Would it need some forward-investment vehicle? What additional work would be needed to extend the current career system to include new campaigns?

 

Might be a silly idea, but with the aircraft on-hand and the development of Kursk, I thought simply it might be worth raising alongside the anticipated 1944-45 roadmap.

 

[Danziger]

It's not about what the team wants or doesn't want to do. Like us, they want it all as well. The problem is the very small size of the team makes them have to create it as they have time to do so. This is why 3rd party map making is encouraged. You can see by the number of 3rd party maps we have how difficult they are to create and take people with a lot of time and dedication. Basically what we all want and need is 3x the team members so more things can be worked on at one time. This is being experimented with Jason working with this 3rd party team building the U-2/Po-2.

[sevenless]

43 minutes ago, EAF19_Marsh said:

So it would appear that there is interest, but how much would be required and what might be the break-even point?

 

The list I gave are maps with no additional aircraft required/ Would people buy these at $10, $20 or similar? If so, would the team be interested in considering? Would it need some forward-investment vehicle? What additional work would be needed to extend the current career system to include new campaigns?

 

Might be a silly idea, but with the aircraft on-hand and the development of Kursk, I thought simply it might be worth raising alongside the anticipated 1944-45 roadmap.

 

 

I can tell you that I surely would be willing to pay 20 bucks for a campaign and map-pack allowing me to follow say II.Gruppe/Jagdgeschwader 52 from 22.June 1941 to say End of 1943. However I would only be willing to invest in this if the "path" so to speak will be integrated in a dynamic campaign with some bells&whistles.

 

Something like this for BOX:

 

http://www.simhq.com/_air15/air_576a.html

 

and I´m all sold :-)

Edited March 19, 2018 by sevenless

[EAF19_Marsh]

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This is being experimented with Jason working with this 3rd party team building the U-2/Po-2.

 

Hence my thread about how this could be made more efficient, profitable, formal and realizable. I did not say; 'Wouldn't it be nice if...', but was more precise in what I proposed.

 

There seems to be appetite. The core team is small. Users might be willing to pay. What could be done?

[Danziger]

Right but it's been discussed with Jason already in the live Q&As. It's kind of a paradox right now. They need more funding to hire more crew (which is a monumental task just finding qualified people in Russia or willing to relocate and fluent in Russian) but we need more content to buy in order to provide more funding. This is why Jason put so much into the core game features during the Kuban cycle and is launching a three pronged assault with Bodenplatte, WW1 and tank modules coming in the next cycle. With this and the 3rd party experiment, hopefully there will be plenty of income for further expansion.

[EAF19_Marsh]

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They need more funding to hire more crew (which is a monumental task just finding qualified people in Russia or willing to relocate and fluent in Russian) but we need more content to buy in order to provide more funding.

 

I quite understand, hence wondering if there were a way of solving this through some kind of forward payment that would allow investment in resources (internal / external) that would deliver the content. My supposition - potentially incorrect - is that new maps using current plane set would not be the most revenue generating path by itself, but might be less resource-intensive than whole new theatres and aircraft

 

As BoK is on a bit of a roll at present, maybe time to consider this?