Translated QA

[Denum]

Nothing about Normandy was copy paste I'm not even sure where you're getting this idea from.

 

In some ways the German aircraft line up does leave a bit to be desired. It's not like the real life situation was so much different. 

 

Short of doing full on unicorn aircraft there's not a whole lot that they can work from and still maintain some semblance of historical accuracy.

 

 

Edited September 27, 2022 by Denum

[Enigma89]

-disregard

Edited September 27, 2022 by Enigma89

[=621=Samikatz]

I can't imagine not being excited by more airplanes. As long as there's a decent number of distinct models then I am happy to learn about them and fight with and against them

[Drum]

I would buy into a 'features' module, add more realistic features plus a few more maps.  Just having a map of an area that saw action with planes we already have could be exciting, also adding features that expand the sim in more realistic ways, plus more helpful features to keep the MP community thriving.

 

[MAJ_stug41]

Bagration to warsaw would be a great expansion, allows some fancy late soviet stuff, interesting maps, more tanks, plenty of scenarios (and could work for mid and early war as well, depending on map!). Also gives some recognition to the most impressive ever land campaign.

[Avimimus]

1 hour ago, Enceladus said:

Jason said they have enough info about the Zero to make it, and as stated before, for planes such as the Val and the Kate which are dive bombers and torpedo bombers respectively, the FMs don't need to be 99% accurate because they are not fighters. If they have enough info to make the cockpit then that is totally fine. And things like how many ammo magazines the gunner had and whether there is a radio doesn't matter.  

A 5v3 or 4v3 planeset with just the Zero, Kate and Val for the Japanese plane lineup is fine.

 

I recall another set of developers was also speculating that CFD has become affordable enough (and accurate enough) that it could fill in some of the gaps.

 

 

1 hour ago, Denum said:

Just winging it is not a good business model either. 

 

They could do the Spanish civil War next for all I care. 

 

I enjoy all the theaters. 

 

Yeah, they've reached a level of fidelity that makes me interested in essentially anything. That said, I feel like your first and second sentences here contradict each other (unfortunately, because I'd love SCW if it was feasible from a business perspective).

[357th_KW]

Ultimately, BoX has developed into a fighter focused game.  As such, any eastern or western front module that focuses on the Germans as the primary Axis component is going to yield gameplay that’s very similar to what we already have.  The only way to get away from that and make something significantly different is to focus on the Japanese or Italians, or focus on night fighters or heavy bombers.  
 

Based on what we read, I’m hoping for something Mediterranean in flavor.

[Avimimus]

  

26 minutes ago, Drum said:

I would buy into a 'features' module, add more realistic features plus a few more maps.  Just having a map of an area that saw action with planes we already have could be exciting, also adding features that expand the sim in more realistic ways, plus more helpful features to keep the MP community thriving.

 

The problem with this is that features end up being included in the core game engine - so everyone gets them for free. I suppose the exception would be features that require specific aircraft (e.g. expanded photorecon, expanded artillery spotting gameplay) - those features could be made into their own modules with their own unique aircraft.

Edited September 27, 2022 by Avimimus

[Voidhunger]

48 minutes ago, Denum said:

Nothing about Normandy was copy paste I'm not even sure where you're getting this idea from.

 

In some ways the German aircraft line up does leave a bit to be desired. It's not like the real life situation was so much different. 

 

Short of doing full on unicorn aircraft there's not a whole lot that they can work from and still maintain some semblance of historical accuracy.

 

 

Low level fighting again and again, I dont like PTO but i would rather have carriers i stedet for another low level fighting with just different map.

[354thFG_Rails]

11 minutes ago, Voidhunger said:

Low level fighting again and again, I dont like PTO but i would rather have carriers i stedet for another low level fighting with just different map.

The game has always focused on the tactical air war side of things. It’s going to be mid to low level based missions. That said MP can switch it up to include some high alt fighting or even someone making a single player campaign. I’m not sure the devs are to blame for what they set out to focus on. 

Edited September 27, 2022 by 86th_Rails

[Avimimus]

So here is an interesting question - assuming they go '45 East......what module comes after? Assuming there is one?

 

"1945 East" is an obvious choice for a module (a lot of the German aircraft for that time period are already done, a lot of the devs speak Russian and have access to references or even preserved aircraft)... but what comes after it is less obvious... which makes it a really interesting question to ask.

 

This is especially true if they aren't planning on going back to 1941 or earlier. That would rule out Battle of Britain, Battle of France, and some parts of the Mediterranean...

 

The remaining options are all interesting:

- 1948-1955 Europe (no need for carriers, WWII style avionics and tactics for the most part. Also a possible stepping stone towards Korea).

- 1944 Italy or 1943 Sicily (can re-use some aircraft, possible synergy with a WWI Isonzo/Gulf of Venice map).

- 1942-1944 Leningrad (could fill in a lot of gaps in the existing planesets, add some Axis Finnish or Italian aircraft as well). 

- Land based Pacific module (lower development risk due to a lack of carriers, as a possible intermediate step towards a Midway module).

 

There are also options for smaller projects:

- Anniversary editions of existing models (e.g. paid upgrade with additional aircraft types, more map objects)

- A strategic bomber interception module (might be feasible if the bombers remained AI only)

- 1942-1944 Channel map (probably would be a smaller module with just five aircraft?)
- Artillery spotting module (Fi-156, Fw-189, L-5 etc.)

 

Anything else? What am I missing?

Edited September 27, 2022 by Avimimus

[Voidhunger]

9 minutes ago, 86th_Rails said:

The game has always focused on the tactical air war side of things. It’s going to be mid to low level based missions. That said MP can switch it up to include some high alt fighting or even someone making a single player campaign. I’m not sure the devs are to blame for what they set out to focus on. 

True, true but its boring after five BOX game. Give us bomber streams, carriers ....

[simfan2015]

The Q&A confirmed what we in fact already knew or anticipated.

The great news though is the supposed excitement of the team regarding the new module(s).

The Churchill coming soon is also good to read.

People who still and really want PTO may now focus on DCS for it and wait for another 5 years or so (?) for it to be playable.

The only news that was less encouraging (to me) is the fact that we may never get Air Marchall ... but that too was already hinted at by Jason.

Now the waiting game to find out what *will* come next ! 

[Raptorattacker]

Karelia or thereabouts in timeframe?

I don't necessarily think that new modules=later timeframe... 

[MAJ_stug41]

3 minutes ago, Raptorattacker said:

Karelia or thereabouts in timeframe?

I don't necessarily think that new modules=later timeframe... 

And people complain enough already about the moscow map being monotonous, I cant imagine what they would say about this.

 

I could see leningrad working, if they abandoned their fear of modeling large cities. 

Large timespan of use, opportunity to add finns, interesting and varied missions over water and land.

[354thFG_Leifr]

No (carrier) Pacific, and seemingly no heavies, it's not super surprising really but it is a disappointment to have one of these two confirmed as being off the table. It's also a shame that the planned Marshall mode has been scrapped, but if technological barriers have been hit then well, that's how it is. I look forward to seeing where the team go next, the window seems fairly narrow to me now. I'm not interested in unicorn aircraft for either side and the choice in airframes (especially for Axis) are rapidly dwindling.

 

Interesting times ahead!

[Voidhunger]

first fix the not existent radio commands after x years, improve performance (time dilation), AI, career mode and the damned TC. I dont need next BOX.

....and I would be happpy ?

[Lusekofte]

3 hours ago, Avimimus said:

use guesswork to a degree that might be unacceptable to the commun

Sorry, this is simply not the case. None and I mean none of the planes we currently have meet a accurate real flight model. It might be so close as this game engine can manage.

Oleg did just fine, he manage to create Japanese airplanes that was believable compared to its opponents. 

And our standard has not changed, Just look at the history of development in this game, you will see endless complaints about FM and in the end they changed it, even with proper documentation.

They simply won't give us New Guinea , because it create a precedence of developing PTO further. PTO is never going to happen, probably because it won't pay off economically. That's it. I see no other option than Italy right now. Just because it brings in new axis planes, and I hope this time bombers will be added. If that happens, I have a hope for continious interest. Again, I do not judge their decision. They have a business to take care off. I just fight for my own interest

3 hours ago, Hitcher said:

"if it isn't what I want I will no longer support this product" - some simboomer in his cream cargo shorts 

You are pretty short sighted, if after 10 years following this , and in total 22 years flown this francaise, I be damned be calling that. One simply do not spend money on things of no interest. And I have fir years because PTO was a ambition they had, and now abandoned. 

[CAFulcrum]

3 hours ago, Avimimus said:

 

I'm not sure about that. I know that Japanese and some French aircraft had a lot of documents lost - but I'm less certain about Italian.

 

Sometimes it is quite surprising - for instance the WWI Italian front is exceptionally well documented. I put together a list of aircraft and about 70% had a surviving example - some of the others had surviving factory drawings in such detail that perfect flying replicas have been created. It is rather shocking actually - Ansaldo S.V.A.5, Aviatik (Berg) D.I, Hansa Brandenburg (Phönix) C.I, Hansa Brandenburg D., Oeffag Albatros, Caproni Ca.3, Macchi M.5, Hansa-Brandenburg FB/W.13, Caudron G.4 even the FBA "H" or Macchi M.3! Even some cockpit references for the Mickl H 'blue wonder' survive...

 

There are a few gaps of course - I haven't found any cockpit references for the Hansa-Brandenburg "CC" or W.18 (let me know if you spot any), but some of the Austro-Hungarian aircraft are much better documented than some German aircraft... it doesn't feel that way though - because we are less familiar with the theatre generally. Anyway, I got distracted - but the general point is that what is or isn't well documented is often quite surprising (and unpredictable).

 

I just remember it being an issue way back with Targetware's Italian modules.  The issue was mainly to do with the lack of documentation of the plane's development and possibly manuals... possibly in comparison to German aircraft.  They made them, there was just lot of guesswork involved.  IL2's devs seem to be pretty big on using documentation rather than "feel" or balance to make FMs so it would be interesting to see how they handle it.  Targetware died years ago so for all I know the documentation is easier to find now.

[Eisenfaustus]

5 hours ago, DBFlyguy said:

To this day, still one of the most well known TV shows surrounding the air war in the pacific, "Black Sheep Squadron/Baa Baa Blacksheep" barely even mentions aircraft carriers.  I'd also guess more of the global potential customer base knows what a A6M Zero or Corsair is especially compared to whatever "Yak's" fills the next sure to be eastern front "Battle of"... ?

Never heard of that show. 
 

And while you’re correct about the plane types I guess more potential customers know „there was a battle of Berlin in WWII“ rather then „there was a battle for Guadalcanal in WWII“

[Jaws2002]

A Finnish map would be useful for both early war and late war. Brewster, Morane, Chaika, Blenheim. We could also use an early Russian bomber, like DB-3F, that was used in many roles all over the front.

 

I'd also like an Odessa map. We are getting the IAR-80/81 add the Chaika, DB3F, Macchi C-200, maybe a He-112 and we are good to go.

Edited September 27, 2022 by Jaws2002

[Eisenfaustus]

4 hours ago, Hitcher said:

"if it isn't what I want I will no longer support this product" - some simboomer in his cream cargo shorts 

„If I don’t like a product I won’t buy it“ very basic consumer behaviour in free societies…

[Rjel]

2 minutes ago, Eisenfaustus said:

Never heard of that show.

Well, it wasn't Twelve O'clock High, BoB or Bridges at Toko-Ri. It was more akin to most comic books or movie serials. Part comedy. Part drama, mostly overacted. Loved the Corsairs. The episode about the P-38 ace had pretty good shot of the Lightnings. Always enjoyed Robert Conrad but B.B.B. hasn't stood the test of time. IMHO.

[Trooper117]

I think I've got to a stage where I am at a loss... I need something from the team that will really draw me back into the fold again.

I was really hoping for a complete change in their direction. I had already assumed that the Pacific carrier side of things was not coming, but Guadalcanal or Malaya would have immediately fired my desire to continue.

Second to that would be Korea... I think the team could really delve into that theatre and make it work like no other development company has managed to so far...

I'll await to see what transpires of course, but my days of buying stuff just to support any gaming company have long gone... 

[Guest deleted@83466]

39 minutes ago, Eisenfaustus said:

Never heard of that show. 
 

And while you’re correct about the plane types I guess more potential customers know „there was a battle of Berlin in WWII“ rather then „there was a battle for Guadalcanal in WWII“

 

It’s a moot point now, but do you realize how much fighting took place around Rabaul with land-based USN, USMC, RAAF, USAAF vs land-based IJA and IJN?  

Edited September 27, 2022 by SeaSerpent
usaaf

[DBFlyguy]

1 minute ago, Eisenfaustus said:

Never heard of that show. 
 

 

How is the weather under  that rock you reside under ??

 

 

You've really never heard of this show???

 

2 minutes ago, Eisenfaustus said:

 

And while you’re correct about the plane types I guess more potential customers know „there was a battle of Berlin in WWII“ rather then „there was a battle for Guadalcanal in WWII“

I'd find this very hard to believe... but if you're talking about potential russian customers, maybe so.  Guadalcanal is one of the most well known parts of the war in the Pacific.

[Gambit21]

16 minutes ago, Eisenfaustus said:

I guess more potential customers know „there was a battle of Berlin in WWII“ rather then „there was a battle for Guadalcanal in WWII“

So not the case my friend. 
 

 

[Eisenfaustus]

6 minutes ago, SeaSerpent said:

 

It’s a moot point now, but do you realize how much fighting took place around Rabaul with land-based USN, USMC, RAAF vs land-based IJA and IJN?  

Yes I do - but like most history buffs here on the forum you and I hardly qualify as average customer. 
 

9 minutes ago, DBFlyguy said:

You've really never heard of this show???

Nope - but the intro looks interesting. 
 

11 minutes ago, DBFlyguy said:

I'd find this very hard to believe... but if you're talking about potential russian customers, maybe so.  Guadalcanal is one of the most well known parts of the war in the Pacific.

My perception is that even in the US the war in Europe is more is better known then the war in the pacific. Movies about beating the Nazis seem more numerous and doing better then those about beating the Japanese. 
 

4 minutes ago, Gambit21 said:

So not the case my friend. 

 

But of course I might be wrong - just my impression. 

[DD_Arthur]

43 minutes ago, DBFlyguy said:

How is the weather under  that rock you reside under ??

 

 

You've really never heard of this show???

 

I'd find this very hard to believe... but if you're talking about potential russian customers, maybe so.  Guadalcanal is one of the most well known parts of the war in the Pacific.

I’m fifty-nine year old Brit. I’ve never heard of it….

[Chief_Mouser]

Late-war Russian front commercial suicide. What's the second-best idea?

[Gambit21]

2 minutes ago, DD_Arthur said:

I’m fifty-nine year old Brit. I’ve never heard of it….

That’s because you were too busy watching crap like Faulty Towers ?

 

[TheSNAFU]

If as it appears, the series will not move to the pacific I find it hard to imagine another theatre, be it late east front or something else that would interest me much. If pacific is indeed off the table maybe the devs should invest their time overhauling the engine so that it takes full advantage of the modern hardware we have and is vr centric. Performance it seems, is increasingly problematic as better maps and improvements to the environment are introduced. Perhaps small modules/planes/tanks/campaign projects could be simultaneously built to keep money coming in. If no pacific will be done this is what I wish for but I’m sure there are plenty of other approaches to consider. 

Edited September 27, 2022 by TheSNAFU

[Chief_Mouser]

1 minute ago, Gambit21 said:

That’s because you were too busy watching crap like Faulty Towers ?

 

 

'I knew a woman once. Took her to see India.'

'India Major?'

'Yes. At the Oval.'

 

And if any of you have no idea what that's about, well it's your loss. ?

[ww2fighter20]

48 minutes ago, DBFlyguy said:

How is the weather under  that rock you reside under ??

 

 

You've really never heard of this show???

 

I'd find this very hard to believe... but if you're talking about potential russian customers, maybe so.  Guadalcanal is one of the most well known parts of the war in the Pacific.

As someone from the Netherlands, anything about the Pacific is barely know over here.

Rarely any movies/tv shows are shown about the Pacific, lots about europe.

[Jade_Monkey]

2 hours ago, Voidhunger said:

first fix the not existent radio commands after x years, improve performance (time dilation), AI, career mode and the damned TC. I dont need next BOX.

....and I would be happpy ?

 

None of those things are a module to sell, no matter how much you would pay for it.

They need to implement those for everyone, regardless if people bought the module or not.

 

They obviously need to develop something that brings in money. I don't think that needs any explanations.

 

 

 

They said they have discussed the next expansion and they are fired up, let's give them a chance to at least announce it. People are already poo pooing everything and haven't even heard the next module yet.

 

 

Edited September 27, 2022 by Jade_Monkey

[Avimimus]

1 hour ago, Trooper117 said:

I think I've got to a stage where I am at a loss... I need something from the team that will really draw me back into the fold again.

I was really hoping for a complete change in their direction. I had already assumed that the Pacific carrier side of things was not coming, but Guadalcanal or Malaya would have immediately fired my desire to continue.

Second to that would be Korea... I think the team could really delve into that theatre and make it work like no other development company has managed to so far...

I'll await to see what transpires of course, but my days of buying stuff just to support any gaming company have long gone... 

 

So, that was how I felt when Bodenplatte was released - I was excited by more Bf-109 or Fw-190 variants, I'd developed a dislike for the P-51 in Il-2 1946, I wasn't a particular fan of the Tempest, and I knew that the Me-262 wouldn't really be that usable in practice.

 

So I've been there. But a few years later I had learned to like the P-51, had a Fw-190F-8 for the first time, and was surprised by the much more varied experience that Battle of Normandy provided... so what I'm saying, I suppose, is that there is light at the end of the tunnel and likely something interesting along the way. But I understand disappointment - so sympathy.

 

I also think that a land based Pacific scenario would be pretty cool (in spite of originally being disinterested). I also think that a Korea scenario should be preceded or followed by a European scenario from the same era - it'd give us a lot more British aircraft (Venom, Canberra) and a lot more of a balanced scenario with many more Russian aircraft.

 

I am personally really curious to see where they'll go after the next module - they'll have to do one of your preferences - about the only way to avoid it would be to do Leningrad, revisit the early war (e.g. BoB) or the Mediterranean... I think they are running out of alternatives though - so sometime within the next six years would seem likely. So long as you can keep them from redoing BoB anyway

 

 

1 hour ago, Eisenfaustus said:

„If I don’t like a product I won’t buy it“ very basic consumer behaviour in free societies…

 

...and announcing it loudly and repeatedly for months on end without giving anyone a break is very common consumer behaviour in online societies...

Edited September 27, 2022 by Avimimus

[BlitzPig_EL]

What possible scenario is there in Europe in the 1948 to 1955 period?  None.  Flying C47s into Berlin loaded with coal and potatoes?  YAWN.

 

Eastern front late will have most of us on this side of the pond thinking really hard about dropping more coin on this title, though I admit flying the Brewster and Hawk 75 over Finland appeals to me.  Something new must be done.  If the Pacific/South East Asia/CBI is out, then the only logical choice is North Africa and the Med/Italy.

 

I cautiously await the announcement of the next iteration of this series. 

[Hook_Echo]

Give me Corsair and Zero collector planes and I'll gladly fly them in Europran alternate history campaigns of my own imaginings. Some people want to fly historical campaigns. I want to fly planes against planes and the timeframe/location is unimportant. If we get late war east I look forward to seeing what the Yak-3 can do against everything else including the Brits and Americans. The coolest part about 1946 was the massive amount of planes.

[ST_Catchov]

Okay so Sneaksie snuck a snippet in surreptitiously which doesn't really say anything. Except what's not going to be done. Where's Jason? Silence. Has he left the building?

[LukeFF]

13 minutes ago, Hook_Echo said:

Give me Corsair and Zero collector planes and I'll gladly fly them in Europran alternate history campaigns of my own imaginings. Some people want to fly historical campaigns. I want to fly planes against planes and the timeframe/location is unimportant. If we get late war east I look forward to seeing what the Yak-3 can do against everything else including the Brits and Americans. The coolest part about 1946 was the massive amount of planes.

 

...and then you're going down the road of basically DCS at that point, where the planes and maps actually making sense together is more of a coincidence than anything else. No thanks.