A request for an 'interview' from ED

[Guest ThomasDWeiss]

I am positive many would like to read something about were LO is and were it is going - How about 10 questions ? I would post any answers at Lockonfiles frontpage ( that's a lot of free publicity )and I am certain Wolfie would do the same.

 

Is LOBS on track ?

 

Is speedtree to be implemented?

 

Are we going to see an extended map?

 

Is AI going to be better?

 

Will the F-15 and A-10 be improved in any way ?

 

After LOBS what can we expect in the short (1 year) term ?

 

Is a new map going to be available?

 

What kind of ME improvements can we expect?

 

Is an F-16/MiG-29in the horizon ?

 

And the AH-64 Apache ?

[SwingKid]

Are you bored? :)

 

You can always pop over to http://www.lockoncampaign.com and post some feedback about SkyWars2, to pass the time...

 

-SK

[dynamocl]

From what has been posted in previous threads (please, others fill in the blanks)

 

 

Is LOBS on track ?

- I don't know.

 

Is speedtree to be implemented?

- Not in BS.

 

Are we going to see an extended map?

- Yes, some of Georgia is going to be modelled

 

Is AI going to be better?

 

Will the F-15 and A-10 be improved in any way ?

- Not in any major way, if in fact at all.

 

After LOBS what can we expect in the short (1 year) term ?

- I imagine they are starting to look at a new engine, so nothing short term.

 

Is a new map going to be available?

- You asked this earlier

 

What kind of ME improvements can we expect?

- Non.

 

Is an F-16/MiG-29in the horizon ?

- Maybe in future editions, lockon 2 maybe...

 

And the AH-64 Apache ?

- Issue arrises with the 2 men aircraft.

[Guest ThomasDWeiss]

From what has been posted in previous threads (please, others fill in the blanks)

 

 

Is LOBS on track ?

- I don't know.

 

Is speedtree to be implemented?

- Not in BS.

 

Are we going to see an extended map?

- Yes, some of Georgia is going to be modelled

 

Is AI going to be better?

 

Will the F-15 and A-10 be improved in any way ?

- Not in any major way, if in fact at all.

 

After LOBS what can we expect in the short (1 year) term ?

- I imagine they are starting to look at a new engine, so nothing short term.

 

Is a new map going to be available?

- You asked this earlier

 

What kind of ME improvements can we expect?

- Non.

 

Is an F-16/MiG-29in the horizon ?

- Maybe in future editions, lockon 2 maybe...

 

And the AH-64 Apache ?

- Issue arrises with the 2 men aircraft.

 

Amazing, you have the same answers I give to questions that people PM me at Lockonfiles, you summed it up perfectly. ;)

 

Are you bored? :)

 

You can always pop over to http://www.lockoncampaign.com and post some feedback about SkyWars2, to pass the time...

 

-SK

 

I will.

 

Not bored - frustrated.

[GGTharos]

From what has been posted in previous threads (please, others fill in the blanks)

 

 

Is LOBS on track ?

- I don't know.

On track in what way? It's being developped, if you're asking for a timeline, uh ... I think there've been enough examples of things not being ready when peopel thought they would be, so why even fish for that one?

 

Is speedtree to be implemented?

- Not in BS.

 

Yep, unfortunate.

 

Are we going to see an extended map?

- Yes, some of Georgia is going to be modelled

 

Yep

 

Is AI going to be better?

 

That's anyone's guess ... but it is the intent.

 

Will the F-15 and A-10 be improved in any way ?

- Not in any major way, if in fact at all.

 

Right, not in BS anyway - the focus is on the helo.

 

After LOBS what can we expect in the short (1 year) term ?

- I imagine they are starting to look at a new engine, so nothing short term.

 

... new engine?

 

Is a new map going to be available?

- You asked this earlier

 

Yes, you did. ;)

 

What kind of ME improvements can we expect?

- Non.

 

There are already FARPs...

 

Is an F-16/MiG-29in the horizon ?

- Maybe in future editions, lockon 2 maybe...

 

And the AH-64 Apache ?

- Issue arrises with the 2 men aircraft.

 

Um, there's not going to be a 'Lock On 2', like there wasn't a 'Flanker 3'.

[SwingKid]

Not bored - frustrated.

 

Frustration usually expresses itself in one thread per topic, no? ;)

 

-SK

[Guest ThomasDWeiss]

Frustration usually expresses itself in one thread per topic, no? ;)

 

-SK

 

right.

 

To sum it up:

 

It will be ready when it is ready, speedtreeless, no changes for the rest, after LOBS is anyone's guess, Map improvements maybe.

 

So we will have to wait for the inevitable SimHQ news release a month before it goes on sale ...

[Brit_Radar_Dude]

I understand your frustration Thomas ol' buddy, I really do. I also can't wait for the next release. But I can also understand the Dev's reluctance to put out too much detail.

In the past they have been more forthcoming than any Software Company that I have ever worked for concerning their product plans and timescales.

But then, when the inevitable timescale issues (that happen on any Software project bigger than 1 man-year effort) force them to make tough decisions about what is in and what is out of the product, they get burned on the Forums....

"You promised it on this date", "You promised it would have feature X and feature Y", etc.

A few of us with Software development experience understand it when that happens, but many, many others b*tch about it. You've been around long enough to have witnessed the bouts of fury on the forums in the past 2 years regarding patches, and FC release, etc...

 

If I was the boss of ED, I wouldn't tell us a damn thing, other than " We released it yesterday". But that's just me. ;)

[Witchking]

it does make sense though. ED learnt it the hard way through LOMAC 1.0. Features "talked" about ...but due to constraints that make them skip them.

 

Its also human nature....I know I personally feel bad that speedtree has been scrapped...but I guess its just a wait.

[Wags]

Pretty much BRD. Rep inbound.

 

-Matt

[condor11]

Someone needs to do real interview with ED (and by that I don't mean asking when Blach Shark will be ready). Questions should be along the lines of:

- tell us why you decided to do helicopter addon, not another airplane

- What makes Ka-50 easy to implement, what parts are difficult?

- Where would you like to see your company 5 years from now?

- What limitations of current hardware do you see the most showstoppers for flight sim market?

- What technologies do you forsee in the near future to emerge/advance to make your job easier making flight sims: physics engine, graphics, multicore processors?

 

...and many many more.

 

You know, real interview :)

[SwingKid]

Yeah, I understand too. It's tough - everybody wants to communicate with the developer, but the more time spent communicating, the less time spent developing.

 

Maybe if he was demanding an F-15E or saveable debriefings, instead of "eye candy" like SpeedTrees, then I'd understand even more. ;)

 

-SK

[Guest ThomasDWeiss]

I know that - I witnesed how SimHQ forums evolved from a year before to a year after 1.00 was released.

 

I doubt there is more than a fraction of that crowd that knows much about LOBS or when it will be released. Anyhow, I find ED reluctance understandable - I am sure they have their reasons, I am just trying to help.

 

Hijacking my own thread :D - I am happy that meanwhile there is a new sim in the works :

 

http://www.boldgames.com/products/woe/woe.html

 

Engage in blood-draining, G-pulling, action-packed dogfights against 13 different types of Cold War Soviet aircraft.

 

Fly era-specific aircraft through Central Europe in three epic campaigns.

 

From the developers of the highly successful European Air War,

Strike Fighters: Project 1, and Wings Over Vietnam.

 

Random mission generator provides maximum flexibility and replayability. Campaign missions also have a different outcome each time.

 

Open architecture for mod support. Download thousands of user-created skins, aircraft, terrain, missions, campaigns, and editors already available on the Internet.

 

Next generation environmental effects including volumetric clouds and state-of-the-art dynamic lighting.

 

Highly-accurate planes, weapons, flight models, and challenging enemy AI.

 

Win decorations, awards, and promotions with each successful mission.

 

I am very interested about it - so much so that I going to get Wings over Vietnam this weekend :)

[Brit_Radar_Dude]

Thomas, let me know what you think of WoV - been wondering whether I should get it. This forthcoming WoE sounds interesting too. Not so sure about some of the other Sims on the site though, that John Deere farming Sim sounds a bit too "fast lane" for me LOL.

[Guest ThomasDWeiss]

LOL! I will - I really love the A-4E and it will be fun to fly it.

[brewber19]

I had a look at the screenies for WoE and am a bit confused by the Harrier screeny....its looks like an FRS 1 (which is Royal Navy not US at all), yet has RAF Gr3 cammo paint job and has "marines" and a US flag plastered on the wing.

 

There are a couple of inconsistencies there...IIRC..in that US had the AV-8A and B which had a different shape nose cone (more a snout like the british Gr.3)...that THAT paint job was used by the RAF, not US marines (the odd shade of blue/gray with the green is distintive. US army/marine cammo was/is a lighter gray) or the Royal Navy (FRS1s were a dark grey/blue on top and off-white underneath).

 

Happy to be proved wrong on the above, but if i do recall correctly then should I be concerned about the fidelity of the sim/game? I'll probably buy it anyway though ;) (just like I bought BOB2-WoV which, IMO, was a steaming pile of cack...and now makes a nice coaster.)

 

Ok, Brewber rant over (must drink less coffee)

[VapoR]

Hijacking my own thread :D - I am happy that meanwhile there is a new sim in the works :

 

http://www.boldgames.com/products/woe/woe.html

 

There's my dream sim right there!! Too bad they will drop the ball on it--no online component except for free-for-all dogfights (same as the Strike Fighter series). Things they DID get right: Era--80's cold war gone hot. DC (very basic, but still will auto-generate missions for you to fly). SF series finally gets HUD's, CCIP, TV-guided missiles--problem is radar will probably still be very arcade.

 

If TK can open his mind and develop the MP aspect of this sim it could potentially take the crown in the MP department.

[Pilotasso]

never heard of this SIm before, their lineup of jets sure is interesting. Where can I get more info on this?

 

They "droped the ball"?

[pappavis]

Someone needs to do real interview with ED (and by that I don't mean asking when Blach Shark will be ready). Questions should be along the lines of:

- tell us why you decided to do helicopter addon, not another airplane

 

These would be good questions to have answers too.

[Groove]

Please tell me from official site that colliding with trees in Black Shark will make my helo go down !

 

Or will the trees just be like in lock on where i can fly through them ?

[MBot]

Please tell me from official site that colliding with trees in Black Shark will make my helo go down !

 

Or will the trees just be like in lock on where i can fly through them ?

 

 

This is actualy a very good question. Since SpeedTree wont be in the initial release as it seems, will the current trees be upgraded to block fire and visual sensors ( and helos ) ? For a helicopter sim this is of very high importance.

 

 

About WoE. That sim would be a dream come true if this wasn't a Strike Fighters derivate. Cold war gone hot over germany, in a juicy 70s setting, what do you want more ? I will keep an eye on it, but wont keep my hopes high.

[zaelu]

While this atitude of secrecy is somehow understandable bacause of the reasons Brit Radar Dude explained (and Wags happily agreed :) ), I am very concerned about the total lack of advertising for Black Shark.

 

Ok we have some screenshots once a week or so... but the devs should know by now that we, the ones that have acounts on Lockon.ru are very likely to buy the Black Shark Addon. So they should focus on trying to atract more buyers. After all they are buyilding a product. Now, for me this is not just a product. I don't whach to much TV but I am sick of the jokes and stories that my work colegs are talking about adds they are see on TV for useless "soap cleaner", "non feeding food" and "beyond death skin protection". I want some noise about Black Shark. It doesn't matter that some will be biatching on forums (maybe I will too :D ), just make your self known better.

 

Fill those gameportals and gaming news sites with screenshots, dev updates, interviews and trailers. I think the space is not costing too much but it will bring you back your money.

 

I am thinking that maybe you know something about this business more than I do... and maybe you have your very well calculated reasons not to do things like I would do (in your place). But sometimes I stay and wonder... maybe you are all gone mad. (just kidding)

[Woodstock]

 

This is a screenshot from the Wings over Europe homepage.

If you don´t know the Strike Fighter Series and want to get a feel for it´s realism, immersion and attention to detail, just look at this F-15´s ejection seat handles... - Yikes!

But I guess I´ll buy it anyway, just to check it out, as I bought SFP1 and WoV as well just to check them out. Any flightsim developer deserves his €30.- from me for each new title for their contribution to the genre. - No matter how bad their product is...

[Pilotasso]

Too bad if the terrain is going to look like that. As usual it looks fine up high but as low as this, its alrady visible how mushy it is. and no trees whatsoever...

[504MrWolf]

I reguested a interview with ED last month but the are too busy :(