More intriguing comments from Buzzsaw.... possibly the next module?

[FurphyForum]

What would be good is, if all the skins were unified in one repository under one umbrella.... like HSD.

[Dagwoodyt]

2 hours ago, Mysticpuma said:

Latest news is that the Graphics update is coming (hopefully) in the second quarter of 2022. Whether VR comes before that (which was planned to happen before the release of the graphics update) is unclear.

 

The next module should be announced before or by the end of February if current reports are correct. 

 

 

Strangely, looking back to November 2020, I actually predicted the graphics update as mid. 2022

 

 

 

I was under the impression that the Re-launch/Visual Update Package would be released as a unit that would include VR. Is that no longer the plan?

[Mysticpuma]

6 hours ago, Dagwoodyt said:

I was under the impression that the Re-launch/Visual Update Package would be released as a unit that would include VR. Is that no longer the plan?

No, it has been stated that:

The visual update package would be released before VR. 

 

This was then reversed and VR was the priority a d the visual update package would come after. 

 

Currently if the Visual update package comes out 2nd quarter... VR should come out before? 

 

Just depends if Buzzsaw can clarify? 

 

Both statements have been said by TFS, visual effects first then VR. Then we got VR priority and then visual effects later. 

 

Hopefully someone from TFS can clarify when they get a moment. 

[Dagwoodyt]

36 minutes ago, Mysticpuma said:

No, it has been stated that:

The visual update package would be released before VR. 

 

This was then reversed and VR was the priority a d the visual update package would come after. 

 

Currently if the Visual update package comes out 2nd quarter... VR should come out before? 

 

Just depends if Buzzsaw can clarify? 

 

Both statements have been said by TFS, visual effects first then VR. Then we got VR priority and then visual effects later. 

 

Hopefully someone from TFS can clarify when they get a moment. 

"This was then reversed and VR was the priority a d the visual update package would come after."

 

Could you please provide a link to that new information. To my way of thinking the entire package outlined in the May 29, 2021 TF Note would need to be in place before a beta could be started.

[No.54_Reddog]

On 1/21/2022 at 11:03 AM, 343KKT_Kintaro said:

 

 

Really? Is there anything on this we could still find in the internet?

 

 

Sure, if you've access to the TF forum 5 years ago when I was briefly a member...there were pictures. Apart from that I imagine Buzzsaw will settle the curious minds and prove me wrong shortly. (A period between now and never, other timescales available)

[343KKT_Kintaro]

No problem Reddog, I'll simply wait and see.

[Mysticpuma]

1 hour ago, Dagwoodyt said:

"This was then reversed and VR was the priority a d the visual update package would come after."

 

Could you please provide a link to that new information. To my way of thinking the entire package outlined in the May 29, 2021 TF Note would need to be in place before a beta could be started.

Some links are no longer active, all I can say at the moment. 

 

 

[Dagwoodyt]

1 hour ago, Mysticpuma said:

Some links are no longer active, all I can say at the moment. 

 

 

Both those references are more than a year old. The more recent of the two predates the May 29, 2021 TF Note by more than six months. Thanks for the clarification!

[LLv34_Flanker]

S! 

 

I bet the February update will cover VR, graphics update and next module or planes in detail. Not long now and sure worth the small wait. 

 

People keep posting about the VR asking for info every week and it should have been out right now. If not sooner they will stomp feet and allegedly not play. If rushed out the door this same crowd will be in the first line of attack against TFS that VR implementation sucks and how game x or y has it better. 

 

How about just calming down and waiting for the next bigger announcement around the corner? Have a nice weekend all and happy hunting in the virtual skies in your sim of choice 

[Mysticpuma]

All calm. 

My initial post simply suggested the possible new aircraft. 

Other questions in the thread have been answered. 

No drama or concerns, just civil conversation. I know it's a rarity but it is just conversation showing interest in the upcoming news ?

[9./JG52_J-HAT]

@LLv34_Flanker what is this February update you mentioned? Is there anything planned that I‘ve missed?

 

From what I recall, VR was intended as the next step after Tobruk‘s release (early 2021). But some things needed revamping so they would look good in VR. Maybe TrueSky was coming put before that. All I remember is there was a lot of scattered info about what will be done and should come first posted throughout the year and the last thing I know is graphics improvements incl. TrueSky, Speedtree, 4k textures, 3d elements in older cockpits etc. and VR are coming together. Which seems to be the current plan in my understanding. 
 

But at least we are keeping the forums (semi)active with these posts. Otherwise it would be a lot more quiet around here…

Edit: btw, my bet is on April 2022 for the whole Graphics + VR package.

Edited January 28, 2022 by 9./JG52_J-HAT

[Dagwoodyt]

I had suggested Summer 2022 for the Visual Update Package. I am concerned tho that we have yet to see trueSKY in action. Until trueSKY is shown I would not make any guess as to availablility date for the "Package".

 

5 hours ago, LLv34_Flanker said:

S! 

 

I bet the February update will cover VR, graphics update and next module or planes in detail. Not long now and sure worth the small wait. 

 

People keep posting about the VR asking for info every week and it should have been out right now. If not sooner they will stomp feet and allegedly not play. If rushed out the door this same crowd will be in the first line of attack against TFS that VR implementation sucks and how game x or y has it better. 

 

How about just calming down and waiting for the next bigger announcement around the corner? Have a nice weekend all and happy hunting in the virtual skies in your sim of choice 

Requests to sign up for the "beta" seem to have evaporated so I guess your advice is being taken to heart.

?

Edited January 28, 2022 by Dagwoodyt

[Mysticpuma]

It really will be much appreciated when we finally get a proper official update from TFS with their updated road map as well as information on the new module. 

 

Like it has been said, barring a few people posting questions, these official  TFS forums would be absolutely dead as a door nail! 

 

What happened to updates, even monthly would be appreciated, but at the moment the updates are so scattered and sporadic, anyone still interested is left hunting multiple forums and threads just to find anything of interest. 

 

Does TFS still have a media/PR person? 

Edited January 29, 2022 by Mysticpuma

[Dagwoodyt]

37 minutes ago, Mysticpuma said:

It really will be much appreciated when we finally get a proper official update from TFS with their updated road map as well as information on the new module. 

 

Like it has been said, barring a few people posting questions, these official  TFS forums would be absolutely dead as a door nail! 

 

What happened to updates, even monthly wod be appreciated, but at the moment the updates are so scattered and sporadic, anyone still interested is left hunting multiple forums and threads just to find anything of interest. 

 

Does TFS still have a media/PR person? 

Well the "Remove Creepy Co-pilot" topic is the current discussion magnet so there you go.

?

 

[Dagwoodyt]

Why not stop and do some pattern recognition. What invariably happens in the forum when anyone persists in pressing for responses from the Team regarding commitments and timeline thereof that the Team has made to its' customers?

My attitude is that a customer need not be a "fan", just someone who has purchased or is considering a purchase. Customers ought to be able to ask questions of the Team and be answered by the Team on a regular basis. If responses are predominantly from self-appointed surrogates who say "stop asking questions" that creates a tense atmosphere. The forum suffers as a result.

Consider also that some customers purchase Blitz/DW-T and assume that full time staff support, features and communication style will be similar to those available in  Great Battles, only to discover after-the-fact that such is not the case.

Edited January 29, 2022 by Dagwoodyt

[simfan2015]

I am completely baffled about people demanding full support and personal feedback for 30 usd products. Dunno when that became the new normal!?  My company-department indeed also offers such a service. However... our software licenses may cost you around 100000 usd and updates and personal helpdesk about 10000 usd... per year. If my company had to offer all this for free we would have filed for bankruptcy ages ago! That is why

I, personally, am very grateful a company, website and service like this one here even exists, a place where even the CEO and developers come and offer advice and assistance. What is especially unbelievable is the fact that these sims/games are still .... dirt cheap! 

[Enceladus828]

4 hours ago, Mysticpuma said:

It really will be much appreciated when we finally get a proper official update from TFS with their updated road map as well as information on the new module. 

Well Buzzsaw did say that they have completed legal negotiations with a 3rd party team and the TF 6.0 announcement will come at the end of January or the first 2 weeks of February. So in 2 weeks the announcement may come ?: 

 

[9./JG52_J-HAT]

52 minutes ago, Enceladus said:

Well Buzzsaw did say that they have completed legal negotiations with a 3rd party team and the TF 6.0 announcement will come at the end of January or the first 2 weeks of February. So in 2 weeks the announcement may come ?: 

 

Thanks for posting this. I hadn’t seen Buzzsaw’s last post about that. Great news indeed. 

[Mysticpuma]

9 hours ago, Enceladus said:

Well Buzzsaw did say that they have completed legal negotiations with a 3rd party team and the TF 6.0 announcement will come at the end of January or the first 2 weeks of February. So in 2 weeks the announcement may come ?: 

 

 

Yes, remember it well....now tell me the last piece of TFS news/update/WiP they mentioned before that?

 

No this isn't a campaign, yes they are part time, yes there has been Covid....but I have said it before, it takes seconds to create a screen shot, less than a minute to post an update. It's just disappointing that they don't understand that tumbleweed really doesn't promote or excite anyone still interested in the product.

 

If the team are excited about their product, share the excitement with the community....please?

 

[Eisenfaustus]

2 hours ago, Mysticpuma said:

 

Yes, remember it well....now tell me the last piece of TFS news/update/WiP they mentioned before that?

 

No this isn't a campaign, yes they are part time, yes there has been Covid....but I have said it before, it takes seconds to create a screen shot, less than a minute to post an update. It's just disappointing that they don't understand that tumbleweed really doesn't promote or excite anyone still interested in the product.

 

If the team are excited about their product, share the excitement with the community....please?

 

What if - due to the reasons you mentioned yourself - there isn’t anything to share? 
And in relation to 6.0 - they said when we can expect news, so there is a plan for that ( although I personally don’t like announcing announcements)

 

I actually prefer them not to flood us with irrelevant small details and only tell us when there’s something to be said. 
 

And keeping up the excitement - those who are still into CLOD are a fairly loyal bunch used to waiting. Those who are not into CLOD right now won’t care at all for news like“we slightly remodelled the Spit I altimeter so it might look a little better in VR but we still have to update the skin“

 

Doing all this in your free time means there will always be real life challenges slowing progress significantly or even temporarily halting it completely. I‘m very thankful they are keeping the ball in the game and don’t think they owe me a constant information stream. 

[Mysticpuma]

52 minutes ago, Eisenfaustus said:

What if - due to the reasons you mentioned yourself - there isn’t anything to share? 

Then that would mean they have done nothing in the last 2-years.

 

Okay, you win.

[Dagwoodyt]

The pattern of surrogates feeling called upon to run interference is unhelpful once recognized, but without an ability to chart another path forward that mechanism remains locked in.

Pattern recognition can also be used to help analyze upcoming announcements.

Edited January 30, 2022 by Dagwoodyt

[9./JG52_J-HAT]

EAW also has the loyal few that stuck around the SimHQ Forums.

https://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/forums/85/1/european-air-war

Problem is, even loyal fans may eventually find other more interesting things to do. Or grow tired of the current offer. And move on.
 

Speaking from personal experience, I had given up on CloD long ago, having invested heavily in BoS. Just to come back to CloD when Tobruk came out.
Many haven‘t come back though. And many of those who have also didn‘t stick around for too long.

The numbers show this… MP is dead atm. Not even the few 15-25 players we were getting on TWC last year are happening anymore.
And Steamchart total numbers aren‘t too high either, showing a steady decline since Tobruk came out. Only a short peak happened due to the last event that had an almost full server for a few hours. 

The forum is awfully quiet, except for very few posts every week there wouldn‘t be any activity.

 

But if hanging a tiny carrot  from a stick and waving it in front of us so people can keep interest longer isn‘t a valid strategy, then I guess we will have to wait and see how the current communication strategy works out. 
 

I really hope the Graphics + VR update causes a massive increase in player numbers that lasts for a long time. For me it just seems more and more improbable that it happens as time passes though. Sadly. 

[Mysticpuma]

9 hours ago, 9./JG52_J-HAT said:

EAW also has the loyal few that stuck around the SimHQ Forums.

https://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/forums/85/1/european-air-war

Problem is, even loyal fans may eventually find other more interesting things to do. Or grow tired of the current offer. And move on.
 

Speaking from personal experience, I had given up on CloD long ago, having invested heavily in BoS. Just to come back to CloD when Tobruk came out.
Many haven‘t come back though. And many of those who have also didn‘t stick around for too long.

The numbers show this… MP is dead atm. Not even the few 15-25 players we were getting on TWC last year are happening anymore.
And Steamchart total numbers aren‘t too high either, showing a steady decline since Tobruk came out. Only a short peak happened due to the last event that had an almost full server for a few hours. 

The forum is awfully quiet, except for very few posts every week there wouldn‘t be any activity.

 

But if hanging a tiny carrot  from a stick and waving it in front of us so people can keep interest longer isn‘t a valid strategy, then I guess we will have to wait and see how the current communication strategy works out. 
 

I really hope the Graphics + VR update causes a massive increase in player numbers that lasts for a long time. For me it just seems more and more improbable that it happens as time passes though. Sadly. 

 

I have pretty much moved over to BoX now, from a movie making point of view it offers so many more opportunities. 

I come back here to see if there have been any nuggets of information but often it just turns out to be the very few asking questions, then being told they are impatient, then being told real jobs, part time, etc, etc... 

 

I honestly can't believe that not one single member of the team can post a few occasional WiP pics. It takes seconds to make a screen grab. 

 

However, as I will no doubt be told, I am a troublemaker and if they spend 1 minute making a screenshot it will take 12 hours of development away from the team. 

 

Anyway, I am back off to BoX and will now pop back very occasionally to see how the next update due in 2020 is doing. 

[BladeMeister]

15 hours ago, Mysticpuma said:

 

Yes, remember it well....now tell me the last piece of TFS news/update/WiP they mentioned before that?

 

No this isn't a campaign, yes they are part time, yes there has been Covid....but I have said it before, it takes seconds to create a screen shot, less than a minute to post an update. It's just disappointing that they don't understand that tumbleweed really doesn't promote or excite anyone still interested in the product.

 

If the team are excited about their product, share the excitement with the community....please?

 

Well, if you hadn't left TF or been asked to leave TF, whichever was the case, then you would still be the PR guy and would be filling the need.  But, your not, so here we are. It's all really kind of your fault MP.

 

S!Blade<><

[Mysticpuma]

8 hours ago, BladeMeister said:

Well, if you hadn't left TF or been asked to leave TF, whichever was the case, then you would still be the PR guy and would be filling the need.  But, your not, so here we are. It's all really kind of your fault MP.

 

S!Blade<><

 

  

 

 

[Enceladus828]

@Mysticpuma Since you were once the PR guy, how about you apply for that position again or appoint a community member to be the new PR person to give much more frequent updates and WIP images as Pattle certainly cannot.

[Missionbug]

I think most of us in the community understand that a small group doing this in their spare time will find it difficult to continually post updates, however, that said, Mystic has a valid point when he says it takes moments to take a screen shot while testing/playing and providing they do not go against any secrecy clauses then they could/should be shown to try and retain interest from those who might find any small piece of information of interest and at least show the wider community development is still ongoing.

 

Most of us would dearly like to love this sim but just cannot, sad to say it is way behind what is out there and I sometimes fear they are flogging a dead horse.

 

I know, says he who still mods the old 1946 you might say, that is and most likely always will be the benchmark unfortunately that everything else is judged by as old as it might be and many want this iteration to absorb their love and passion like the old, more to the point like we hoped Cliffs of Dover would all those years ago when it first appeared.

 

Take care and be safe.

 

Wishing you all the very best, Pete.

[Mysticpuma]

1 hour ago, Enceladus said:

@Mysticpuma Since you were once the PR guy, how about you apply for that position again or appoint a community member to be the new PR person to give much more frequent updates and WIP images as Pattle certainly cannot.

I was kicked out of the team by Buzzsaw for reasons he refused to back down from, even when proved wrong. It's been discussed before, but there is no going back. I did enjoy it, it was very hard as there was rarely much shared with me, but I scraped and cobbled updates together just to keep the community in touch with the team and prove we were still active.

 

Just seems sad now that there apparently big updates coming but if you look across the forums most of the updates aren't updates, they are just screenshots posted in random threads for users to spot by accident.

 

So here is an example:

 

https://theairtacticalassaultgroup.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35575

 

Then check Buzzsaw's first reply. So straight away there is news of the next update, but the BoX forums are supposed to be the main forums for TFS and yet if you look through the CloD forums......it's  a barren wasteland of news.

 

I don't think Pattle actually does the updates any more, so any news comes from who knows where?

 

I worked on Newspapers for 23-years so was pretty good at writing and creating updates, however the way it seems at the moment, publicity is no longer required, people will stay and wait for any breadcrumbs to be thrown, yet as can be seen from the player base, they are forgetting about this sim, no one is actively sharing news, no one is stirring interest, it's simply a case of "you'll wait for us and be glad that we even talk to you".

 

I honestly just don't get it.

 

Fortunately, I am now an admin. on the Cliffs of Dover Facebook page, so I can post news as and when I see it, but with two and a half thousand followers, finding anything to excite them of late is near impossible.

 

I mean I even created a short video to showcase how cool the Contrails are in the game:

 

 

 

Looking at the Facebook stats, 988 people viewed the post, 30 liked it and just 693 people have viewed it so-far. 

 

Searchlights over Tobruk, released over a year ago. Just 641 views:

 

 

 

However, "Flak Alley" which Buzzsaw said couldn't be done in CloD, actively turning people against the software...I showed was possible and that has 12,603 views. This is because a lot of other sim pilots have shared it asking for their software to do the same. You see this is the bit that is crazy. CloD CAN do this, this video shows it can be done, but Buzzsaw actively had a go at me on the forums for sharing it, complaining it isn't realistic. Who cares! The software is capable of doing this! This is what someone who is involved in publicity and understands it should be sitting there and shouting from the rooftops "Look at what our software can do!", yet I get slated and told off for posting such an outrageous video? It just beggars belief that a game developer would complain about showing off their software?

 

 

 

What cheeses me off most is that I have enjoyed CloD, I have made multiple videos, I have showcased it, I have shown people what it can do.....yet now what are we seeing from the publicity point of view? Sporadic posts anywhere that you can hunt them down, no regular updates, no work in progress, the promise of an update here or there, yet if anyone asks a question "real lives, real jobs, covid, etc, etc". We know.....but we aren't expecting huge videos, I mean my Flak Alley video took 10 minutes to create, 10 minutes to fly, 20 minutes to render and upload......12000 views.

 

But publicity isn't of any use, apparently.

 

Awaiting a rebuke and telling off, thread to be locked and updates to continue to be wherever they can be found.

 

As I said, I am now enjoying BoX greatly and loving the cameras it affords me.

 

 

 

 

Edited January 31, 2022 by Mysticpuma

[Dagwoodyt]

Central question is whether a part-time, modestly reimbursed development effort is practical in an environment of rapidly advancing technology. When self-imposed timelines are almost characteristically failed, credibility suffers. It is a simple matter to review archived Team' assertions and development goals and see how they square up with demonstrated achievements a year or 18 months later. Obvious mismatches generate forum malaise.

Edited January 31, 2022 by Dagwoodyt

[343KKT_Kintaro]

Pffff... there's no other malaise than the one you want to see...

 

The guys are doing their best, which is more than sufficient enough to me... as it is to others. This sim was first released in 2011 and 2017 is the date of the stable version and the raise of Team Fusion as the official developer. So "Blitz" is 2017 and "Desert Wings" is 2020... and this happened two years ago only. These elapsed periods of time are reasonable timings for a video game development company, whether it is 100% professional or not.

 

From facts, they DO well, whatever you say. You rascal you... and your permanently biased speech...

 

 

[Guest deleted@7076]

 

Hello 343KKT_Kintaro,

because English is not my mother tongue allow me to ask: what is the meaning of "rascal"?

~V~

 

11 hours ago, 343KKT_Kintaro said:

 

... From facts, they DO well, whatever you say. You rascal you... and your permanently biased speech...

 

 

 

 

Edited February 1, 2022 by Varrattu

[343KKT_Kintaro]

English is not my mother tongue either. If you want to discuss the meaning of rascal, please use wordreference.com, or let's have a private talk via private messages. Now, let's stay on topic please...

[Mysticpuma]

33 minutes ago, Varrattu said:

 

Hello 343KKT_Kintaro,

because English is not my mother tongue allow me to ask: what is the meaning of "rascal"?

~V~

 

 

 

Mischievous. 

Person who causes mischief without being mean. 

Person who causes issues but without ill intent. 

Rapscallion

 

 

[LLv34_Flanker]

S!

 

 I do play CloD whenever time permits and having a blast, even there is no VR or Graphics+ yet. And more people I know are transferring from BoX to CloD, have even kept lessons on TS how to configure the game and showing where to get more information for finetuning your experience. VR and Graphics+ will be icing on the cake. I uninstalled BoX last year and have not looked back since. Not going into detail why, because it just sparks needless arguments etc. But can say that many of those who have been playing CloD more lately share the sentiment.

 

Sure TFS could post more updates, but again pretty pointless to do so if there is nothing important to show. An upate for the sake of posting one is meh. So far info has been quite adequate, even sometimes a bit scattered between ATAG, here and Steam. An unified sticky thread for updates, with no replies, could keep it tidy on all 3 platforms? Have a nice day all

[Mysticpuma]

6 hours ago, LLv34_Flanker said:

S!

A unified sticky thread for updates, with no replies, could keep it tidy on all 3 platforms? Have a nice day all

Already got one. 

They announced patch 5.029 on Jan 18th

and patch 5.028 in October. 

So updates every quarter of a year aren't too bad. I guess no need for WiP. 

 

 

[9./JG52_J-HAT]

Progress report on VR:

 

https://steamcommunity.com/app/754530/discussions/0/4792395310119450266/

 

 

[Mysticpuma]

2 hours ago, 9./JG52_J-HAT said:

Progress report on VR:

 

https://steamcommunity.com/app/754530/discussions/0/4792395310119450266/

 

 

Thank you for the news and also for perfectly proving my point ?

[343KKT_Kintaro]

Ok so... what's new?

[9./JG52_J-HAT]

51 minutes ago, 343KKT_Kintaro said:

Ok so... what's new?

Maybe you knew it, I didn‘t. VR code is finished.