TFS - Mid-year update 2025

[BlitzPig_Bill_Kelso]

At a certain point, it's time to move on. The Great Battles series averages a few hundred players a day and CloD competes with the original IL2 1946 with a little more than a dozen players a day.

It's dead Jim...

[ST_Catchov]

If they can just get Truesky, a Lanc and VR everything will be all right. Never surrender to the naysayers.

 

[Dagwoodyt]

14 minutes ago, ST_Catchov said:

If they can just get Truesky

Check out the most recent Simul YT video.🤔

[Mysticpuma]

Any news on Buzzsaw returning?

4 visits to ATAG since April, last post on May 25th 2025....last visit to the TFS website on August 17th......is the dream still alive or the baton being passed to someone else?

[354thFG_Leifr]

There's a baton to pass? 🤓

[jdu]

13 hours ago, 354thFG_Leifr said:

There's a baton to pass? 🤓

Launch a crowdfunding campaign, use the money raised to become the owner of the source code, acquire the publishing rights, hire a team of developers, a team of 2D artists, sound engineers, a few aeronautical engineers, a historian specialising in WW II, and any other skilled individuals you deem useful to finally release the game to your liking and within your timeframe.

The advantage is that you already have a potential CM (but he may be volatile).
Good luck.

 

[354thFG_Leifr]

35 minutes ago, jdu said:

Launch a crowdfunding campaign, use the money raised to become the owner of the source code, acquire the publishing rights, hire a team of developers, a team of 2D artists, sound engineers, a few aeronautical engineers, a historian specialising in WW II, and any other skilled individuals you deem useful to finally release the game to your liking and within your timeframe.

The advantage is that you already have a potential CM (but he may be volatile).
Good luck.

 

 

Team Fusion are already doing this, they have everything under control and know what they're doing.

[ST_Catchov]

Let's not be too hasty. Just because they have everything under control and know what they're doing doesn't mean everything is ok. 

[jdu]

42 minutes ago, 354thFG_Leifr said:

 

Team Fusion are already doing this, they have everything under control and know what they're doing.

You are wrong and speaking without knowing.

[marcost]

So nothing is under control and they don't know what they're doing. Good update, thanks

[Dagwoodyt]

What the TFS business entity is doing is trying to squeeze a little more profit out of an old and exhausted DWT. It does this by promising DLC's that the TFS business structure cannot ever seem to deliver. 

      Is there really a "Team" in TFS or is the business entity just a sole proprietor soliciting "volunteers" who form an entirely different group having no control relative to the TFS  "business"?

Edited October 2 by Dagwoodyt

[Buffo002]

Don't be mad at me, but the new DLC didn't come out for several reasons. It's already been written here that the main 3D aircraft modeler died unexpectedly, he made most of the models. And secondly, the problem with the crappy VR hasn't been solved. So I don't understand why you keep going back on the promise of a release when the team was still complete without complications (2024) . You keep talking about it here like market bums. It's like I could complain for 20 years that the single player isn't finished, especially in the campaign statistics, kill counts, etc. But I know they have a lot of things to do and not just releasing the new DLC. And it's already been said here that VR, true sky and other things will be solved first and only then the new DLC will be released. Just wait.

Edited October 2 by Buffo002

[Dagwoodyt]

Does TFS "own" the CloD source code? Does TFS "own" anything other than its' own incorporation documents and the rights to intellectual property contributions given to it by unpaid "volunteers" ? 

[jdu]

8 hours ago, marcost said:

So nothing is under control and they don't know what they're doing. Good update, thanks

 

- TFS members know what they're doing.

- No, they don't control everything. Some things are in other hands.

 

[Dagwoodyt]

Why bring that lack of civility back?

[354thFG_Leifr]

He isn't in control, and doesn't know what he's doing.

[II./JG27_Rich]

I would just like a little more info that's all. Even if it could be once every two months.

[marcost]

Those that seek to frustrate the frustrated might want to consider who is doing the greatest dis-service to the future of the game.

 

Frustrated customers are better than no customers, but everyone gives up at some point.

Edited October 2 by marcost

[No.54_Reddog]

10 hours ago, jdu said:

You are wrong and speaking without knowing.

Oh the irony...

[LuftManu]

Guys, stop the personal attacks and name-calling. First warning.

If you are going to show your frustration, try to do it in a polite manner, even if it's harder. 🙂

[BladeMeister]

2 minutes ago, LuftManu said:

Guys, stop the personal attacks and name-calling. First warning.

If you are going to show your frustration, try to do it in a polite manner, even if it's harder. 🙂

It's just that,"frustration" but I get it.

 

S!Blade<><

[LuftManu]

Just now, BladeMeister said:

It's just that,"frustration" but I get it.

 

S!Blade<><

I know Blade, but this leads to thing get heated and then some nasty things happen!

Please, just try no to attack anybody! We can all share our hope and frustration withouth that. 
(Of course not referred to you, Blade! but to the whole crowd)

Kind regards,

 

[Dagwoodyt]

I don't think that Team members should be expected to provide status information to TFS' customers. I suspect that they get only carefully curated information from leadership. As a customer I think that the only parties who should sense an obligation to provide status info to customers are those parties who received the sales proceeds and made promises to customers. 

   If anyone does want to speak on behalf of TFS though I'd appreciate some sort of badge that would clearly identify them as a TFS "Team" member. 

[343KKT_Kintaro]

TrueSky has folded. This so severely affects the refurbishing of Cliffs of Dover that we should expect that there will be no refurbishing whatsoever.

 

Now everyone, here, is free to choose to be polite, civilised and magnanimous... or not.

 

 

[FTC_Rostic]

5 hours ago, 343KKT_Kintaro said:

TrueSky has folded. This so severely affects the refurbishing of Cliffs of Dover that we should expect that there will be no refurbishing whatsoever.

Why is that? It's last implementation in Beta version worked fine. Yeah, distant clouds are quite pixelated for half of presets. But if team limit (in official missions and campaigns) clouds presets to those look fine it can be released as is (see attached screenshots with presets I think are fine). In compare to what we have now in stable release that's is a huge improvement. But what to do after that with weather system - that is a big question.
 

Spoiler

Clear:

 

 

 

Light Clouds:

 

 

Medium Clouds:

 

 

 

Stratus:

 

 

 

Nimbostratus:

 

 

Altostratus:

 

 

Also foggy weather look nice but I have no screenshots, here is official video:

 

 

[Blitzen]

1 hour ago, FTC_Rostic said:

Why is that? It's last implementation in Beta version worked fine. Yeah, distant clouds are quite pixelated for half of presets. But if team limit (in official missions and campaigns) clouds presets to those look fine it can be released as is (see attached screenshots with presets I think are fine). In compare to what we have now in stable release that's is a huge improvement. But what to do after that with weather system - that is a big question.
 

  Hide contents

Clear:

 

 

 

Light Clouds:

 

 

Medium Clouds:

 

 

 

Stratus:

 

 

 

Nimbostratus:

 

 

Altostratus:

 

 

 

Also foggy weather look nice but I have no screenshots, here is official video:

 

 

I know its a matter of personal taste , but I've thought for quite a while that I like the clouds,in general, in CloD slightly better than those in GB...

[FTC_Rostic]

22 minutes ago, Blitzen said:

I know its a matter of personal taste , but I've thought for quite a while that I like the clouds,in general, in CloD slightly better than those in GB...

 

Well, clouds in stable release may look nice from time to time but in general they are look very simple and use outdated not optimal for performance technology.

Spoiler

Nice looking

 

 

vs

 

Mostly look like:

 

 

 

Edited October 20 by FTC_Rostic

[Dagwoodyt]

I guess we'll want to see Simul's updated statement at EoM. 

    Certainly TFS has long been aware of Simul's status changes. Anyone can correct me as appropriate, but I seem to recall that TFS was touting trueSKY even before committing to a VR implementation in 2021. Whether TFS has a perpetual trueSKY license and/or can legally reverse-engineer tS code are issues that might need to be addressed. As oft repeated, TFS needs to respond to its' customers. That TFS has gone radio silent seems ominous under these circumstances. Additionally, my understanding via the TFS' Discord is that release of the next "beta" test build will need to be delayed for the next four weeks because of a staffing issue. If TFS would just make public the instructions to "beta" testers for each new build that would at least demonstrate some effort toward transparency. Perceived criticism of TFS is likely far less corrosive to its' credibility than its' penchant for secrecy.

[343KKT_Kintaro]

3 hours ago, FTC_Rostic said:

Why is that?

 

 

If the company that provides such a middleware simply disappears, then you can't go with the original plan because at some point you might need updates and/or support. Unless you become the rights holder of the so mentioned middleware.

 

By the way, Rostic, no matter how many clouds of the current version of Cliffs of Dover you post, please think they are not very compatible with VR. For that latter, you need volumetric clouds, not the 2D clouds we still have in the game. Not that they are not beautiful clouds for the 2D standards, but they were intended to be thrown away so that the game moves on to the next stage.

 

TFS will or will not find an issue to the problem, but for now it seems they are at an impasse.

 

 

[Avimimus]

10 hours ago, 343KKT_Kintaro said:

Now everyone, here, is free to choose to be polite, civilised and magnanimous... or not.

 

Within limits.

[Dagwoodyt]

This is an interesting discussion. Did TFS ever respond, perhaps in another thread?

[FTC_Rostic]

2 hours ago, 343KKT_Kintaro said:

By the way, Rostic, no matter how many clouds of the current version of Cliffs of Dover you post, please think they are not very compatible with VR. 

 

TrueSky was already implemented in VR beta. AFAIK it is volumetric. It works. I still think VU release as is possible in worst case scenario. Though VR beta testers may correct me on that (I'm flat screen tester).

 

But, yeah, devs should find solution what to do with unsupported tech in future.

[Dagwoodyt]

 

 

One of the things that puzzled me about the "completely functional" assertion was how 2d clouds could possibly be used in any VR implementation of CloD.

[paul_leonard]

The clouds are volumetric. Very pretty in VR. Room to criticize the presets but I think also room to design your own clouds.  Me, I’m pretty happy with the presets and ability to modify.  But I have no idea what all of this corporate disappearance creates.

 

The future bitch will be that real people can’t see through clouds, but I I think AI can’t even see clouds. A cheat?  So mission design has to anticipate awareness and visibility. 2 giant steps forward, 1 baby step back.

 

[Mysticpuma]

I mean, I'll be honest, having seen some of the Truesky issues that really will be a problem now the Devs (Simul) won't be around to fix them....it could be messy. 

[Avimimus]

I do seem to recall Oleg Maddox saying that the clouds were volumetric. It was a while ago though, so my memory could be off... but it is what I recall.

[Avimimus]

I've said this before - these forums exist for discussing the projects, and even providing constructive feedback. However, posts singling out a single individual or developer are not permitted. 

[Avimimus]

I've had to issue a penalty to one of the forum members (posts removed). Please follow the forum rules - especially #6, #7, and #13:

Note regarding Rule 6: If you have issues with the moderation you can reach out via a private message to the moderators or the community manager. We are happy to engage with feedback.

[Dagwoodyt]

The plan to upgrade the CloD game engine into a successful series without putting money in was inherently flawed. A history of failure to deliver steady, consequential upgrades over the years suggests that the current stalled situation is unlikely to resolve itself. If the CloD forum has been contentious throughout much of its' lifespan that has only made an unfortunate situation worse and for the remaining followers memories are long. The most recent Blitz/DWT update was many months ago and I believe consisted solely of some fixes for multiplayer issues. Long needed improvements to control surface animations had to be walked back. Certainly there will always be a few people who will still buy DWT, but fewer and fewer as time goes by. Maybe the oft repeated entreaties to join the TFS volunteer pool will work somehow, but certainly those helpers won't have gotten their CloD upgrades for "free".

Edited October 23 by Dagwoodyt

[Blitzen]

37 minutes ago, Dagwoodyt said:

The plan to upgrade the CloD game engine into a successful series without putting money was inherently flawed. A history of failure to deliver steady, consequential upgrades over the years suggests that the current stalled situation is unlikely to resolve itself. If the CloD forum has been contentious throughout much of its' lifespan that has only made an unfortunate situation worse and for the remaining followers memories are long. The most recent Blitz/DWT update was many months ago and I believe consisted solely of some fixes for multiplayer issues. Long needed improvements to control surface animations had to be walked back. Certainly there will always be a few people who will still buy DWT, but fewer and fewer as time goes by. Maybe the oft repeated entreaties to join the TFS volunteer pool will work somehow, but certainly those helpers won't have gotten their CloD upgrades for "free".

Sadly put....