MaverickNZ

No worries, it was a bit vague in the initial post as to exactly what we were trying to say :)

Hi Outlawal2, Sorry but you have seem to have got the wrong idea - we will not be topping up the kickstarter with extra money at the end, we will be looking at other options.

I kinda wish we could have seen the F-23 - I just think it has really sleak looking lines - looks way better than the F-22 IMO. :)

Just incase people missed it - as there still seems to be some confusion around this. Eagles statement was meaning that in terms of the total project funding, the completed $75K from kickstarter would be "topped up" i.e. added to, by KI funds to create the total funding for the project (which is a lot more than $75,000). Even if the kickstarter is not successful (We never say never though, we are getting more supporters finding out about this project every day), we will be completing the project and getting it funded - if not by the community then by more traditional development means. What can you guys do to help? At the moment you can help us by pledging (obviously), or if you already have, by spreading the word to friends and other flight sim communities that you are a member of, if they might also want to be part of this project. We have put some "DCS F-35 Test Pilot" avatar and signature images on our Facebook page that you can download and use if you like :) If you are a member of a virtual squadron, don't forget our squadron package, which can get you 12 copies of the A, B, or C and 12 personalised aircraft including a custom squadron paint job. Mav

Next thing you know, you go to shoot a target and end up dialing your Mom instead. Whoops. Either that, or *somehow* it ends up programming your mother in-law from your phones contact list, into the targeting system ;)

sylkhan, what Eagle was meaning here is that it is a combination of KI existing funding, and the goal of $75,000 which would fund the project, not that we would be "topping up" the kickstarter with funding, but I can see how it could be read that way. npole, once a kickstarter campaign has commenced it cannot be changed. So no, we cannot reduce the target mid campaign, nor extend the dates. As posted previously

If the kickstarter doesnt reach target then noone will be charged. All three models are being developed regardless, it will simply take longer to source funding and then do the versions one at a time. The idea behind the stretch goals is that it would give us enough funding to start working on the B and C models much earlier on in development.

Due to requests from both high pledgers and virtual squadrons, we have added two new pledge levels! The first of these is the $1,000 level, which gives you not only all the rewards of the previous tiers, including a digital AND boxed copy of the F-35A sim, OPEVAL access, hard copy manual, test patch, and both the F-35B [/url]and F-35C ‎ additional aircraft, it also includes personalised versions of all three aircraft, and your own custom paint job*! The second addition is we have had some groups ask us about getting their squadron represented or reserved in-game. Now for $3,000 you can get 12 digital copies of the A, B or C model, and 12 personalised aircraft with an exclusive custom squadron paint scheme* (Can be real or fictional) - this is limited to a first in, first served basis, so get in quick to secure your squadron. *custom paint designs subject to KI approval

Hey everyone, can we ask a big favour! We have just started a thread on F-16.net also, to try and get more people aware of this project. If you have a forum account there we would really appreaciate some support so the thread doesnt get buried before people see it! The link to the thread is http://www.f-16.net/f-16_forum_viewtopic-t-24241.html Thanks!

Hi npole, I think that's a pretty naive attitude there and it saddens me to hear that you feel that way about our project. Perhaps it needs to be clarified as to why we are running this kickstarter campaign to address these misconceptions. It has already been stated that the sim will be made regardless of kickstarter being successful or not, if it isnt, then it just means that alternate funding would have to be found to bridge the gap that this kickstarter is trying to fill, and that may take time - valuable time that could be used to get started developing the sim. By having the community fund a portion of the development (in conjunction with existing funding), it puts more control in the hands of the development team and the community to create the sim that they want - a high quality, authentic as possible simulation of the F-35. It also helps us to build a fantastic community of pilots who are as excited about this project as we are - who are willing to support us in the most expressive way possible - by putting their money where their mouths are. It is a great community like that which helps to create the highest quality product possible and a strong, supportive community can transform a good game, into a legendary game that lasts for decades. We have a long road ahead to make not just the A model, but the B and C model beyond that, and hopefully content for a long time to come. As we have seen many times over in video game publishing, when you get traditional publishers involved it becomes less what the developers want, and more what the publisher thinks will sell the most copies, and if its not ready by the release date? well, how many games do we see released that are either "half baked" or buggy. And thats something that nobody wants. Thats why we have had the likes of Ace Combat, Hawx, and that other Janes "advanced" strike fighters recently, instead of more high quality air combat simulators like the other DCS modules - because they sell more copies and make the publisher more money, and that's not what we are about. So kickstarter is not "easy money" in fact, its really hard money - much harder then getting someone to just invest in the product, but in the end it could provide a better quality simulation - which to us is worth it. Because we aren't talking about a mod here, we are talking about an experienced development team, who are dedicated to creating a serious and detailed simulation at the level of the DCS titles that have gone before it. I hope this has provided some food for thought and made the intentions behind this approach clearer. Maverick

Yes, as David Kinney said in his video, the OPEVAL testing will be very closely directed :)

I think David has already had some time in the F-35 sim, and is currently talking to them about getting some of the test team access also, but thats a great offer, if he is open to helping then it could be a great contact to have :)

Hi Paulrkii, Thats a good point, and I think the answer to that is that we need to have a good and open relationship with the community that if someone disagrees with an element of the simulation we can explain, "well, this is the information we are working off" and be able to explain why we made that choice. We certainly want people to be giving us feedback on what they think. For instance, if testers with no real world military aviation background complain the sim is too hard or complicated, then we need to look at how we can help support those pilots, through creating training options, community support and other avenues, as Eagle said, our motto should be "No pilot left behind". Having a large number of testers is important to us to help ensure that the end product that we are releasing to the public is as high quality as possible. :)

Smashed through 30% last night and closing on 1/3rd of the target, we are also upto 193 test team members - going to be an awesome community to help build this project! Todays facebook topic - what squadron or nation do you want to see in the sim the most? ;)

Thanks for the help K2mil, it means a lot to us! :)

Thanks for the suggestion, I sent them an email :)

We just passed 179 OPEVAL team members, thats up from 158 earlier today :)

Yup, just edited my message as you posted this one :)

Hey Starkiller, not sure for everyone else, but its showing a picture from a couple of days ago for me - got 15K as the total, when actually its nearly 22 now! :) Edit: just checked the kicktraq site and it looks like the widget is broken ;) Edit:Edit: just did a hard refresh and it is working, just obviously caches from the last time you load it, rather silly for something thats supposed to update regularly!

Thats awesome :D

Sounds like we have the start of a really awesome community going - got 174 test pilots signed up sofar. Looking forward to getting our forums up and flying alongside you guys! :)

Hi Guys, Just picking up on one comment made here - we are not actively avoiding questions, but with over 100 pages of comments its easy for us to miss questions given that this isnt the only forum we are monitoring, nor even the only thing we are working on towards the project at the moment. We have started a Q&A thread on our facebook page where David is answering questions from the community - if you have a genuine question about the DCS F-35 and would like him to answer it, please submit it as a comment on the Q&A. Thanks! :) Mav

Passed the 20% mark last night, also getting a nice group of followers on our Facebook page too :)

Great start sofar, we just hit 10% within day one! Thanks to all those who have pledged sofar, we are looking forward to working with you in our community! :)

Just checking my new email sig with the website and facebook links works, thanks to the guys who have liked it sofar. :D