Black Shark Release Date

[adi-Michael]

Good news Vekkinho, this agrees with the promise that has been made by ED, that is about the release of simulator within this year. :thumbup:

[PythonOne]

I tried BS beta release that was presented at MAKS 2007 airshow and I was very impressed with the game.

 

I definitely must say that playability was great although I tried only one mission available but 3d Models and overall looks of the sim were really impressive.

 

Of course, I had a chance to fly simplified Ka-50 in terms of avionics and FM because anything realistic (read complex) might discourage anyone who's interested in trying the BS.

 

So my impression is that the BS is almost 100% complete so I believe there is not many days left before the release. Final preparations and touches might only add more to it so chances of playing BS in 2007 are great!

 

very nice. Btw, when you were playing with the demo, was it possible to fly the other aircraft like the Su-27 and such?

 

because we can't trust this anymore

The question was already answered on the official LockOn.ru page:

 

There will be both a download and CD version. For both versions:

 

* If you already have Flaming Cliffs, it will add all the 1.2 content.

* If you don't have Flaming Cliffs, it will upgrade Lock On to 1.2 standard but it will not include the Su-25T and Flaming Cliffs missions and campaigns.

 

So many things have changed and that page hasn't been updated for the longest time now.

[Vekkinho]

No, unfortunately there was a sole mission available at ED's corner in Zhukovski allowing you to fly Ka-50 exclusively and no access to Mission Editor screen was possible but I believe that all flyables we had before are flyable too in 1.2

 

I can't say if there's any improvements in jet fighters flight modelling cause I only saw AI Mi-24 Hind active in the map of that mission.

 

However, ED released some screenies with new Su-25,27 and MiG-29 3D models so I hope for some modernized airframes too (like Su-27SK) and MiG-29M.

 

I'm a definite buyer and if ED needs any support from my side (in terms of money) I'd be glad to preorder my copy of BS anytime!

[VMFA117_Poko]

I could pre-order too.

[amalahama]

I would preorder too. Have you seen this?

 

http://www.simw.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=dsp_simware_show08

 

In the prestigious premises of the 'Cinquantenaire', down in the heart of Brussels, SimWare Simulations is pleased to invite you to its « SimWare Simulations Show '08», organised on Friday 2nd, Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th of November 2007 (10AM to 6PM).(...)

 

 

(...)

 

• Eagle Dynamics to present their Black Shark, new version of Lock-On.(Exclusivity)

(...)

 

Maybe these day we can do the first preorders...

 

Regards!!!

[VMFA117_Poko]

2nd November 2007... Maybe this gonna be "A World of One Sensation" - final version 1.2 first sales... Who knows? Anyway good finding amalahama.

[Force_Feedback]

Gosh, don't spoil it, I like the wait and uncertainty, makes things more interesting.

[britgliderpilot]

Good news Vekkinho, this agrees with the promise that has been made by ED, that is about the release of simulator within this year. :thumbup:

 

Promise? No. ED haven't promised that Black Shark will be out before the end of 2007.

 

Like I said, they're optimistic about 2007. But please do remember that you can't predict these things absolutely . . . .

IMO, though, 2007 is a very real possibility :)

 

I'm very glad Vekkinho enjoyed his brief play with Black Shark, but without the complete featurelist and access to all the features, you simply can't tell what's completed and what remains to be done.

 

 

Oh, and SimWare have no inside information and don't have a release date either. Whatever they say is their own speculation.

[RogueRunner]

Trust me . . . . it isn't vapourware ;)

 

 

Black Shark remains under development and is taking shape very nicely - but plenty of bugs need to be squashed, and a couple of key features still need to be implemented, fixed, and tuned.

 

The team remain optimistic that Black Shark will be completed before the end of 2007, but software development is a very difficult thing to predict.

 

Key features still to be implemented and you want to get it through Q&A and release in 3 months time?!? :music_whistling:

 

I am as keen as everyone but this sounds a little too good to be true or recipe for disaster :smilewink:

[skinnadoor]

Key features still to be implemented and you want to get it through Q&A and release in 3 months time?!? :music_whistling:

 

I am as keen as everyone but this sounds a little too good to be true or recipe for disaster :smilewink:

 

 

 

If ED is keen and has some buisness sense, they'll get her out before Xmass '07.

 

Buy the way everyone, I orderd the first component of my new pc for Black Shark....lol..... just a $100 Dual core ASUS board... but the hell with it...... I'm so stoked about black shark, even if it doesn't come out this fall, , the new pc i'm building will be wicked for FC.

 

I'm glad everyone is interested in this thread,:thumbup: perhaps ED will have a peek at it and clue in that people are on edge waiting for it to be released, after all, who wouldn't want to play the worlds most advanced helo flight sim??? Judging by LOMAC FC, I can be confident in saying that LOBS will deliver and be outstanding.

 

Been playing Flight sim's since 1996 and almost 30 years old. My wife would rather me at home with Black Shark :joystick:or Flamming Cliffs, then at the bar ....,...lol, i'm sure some of you old farts will agree....lol:book:

[Topo]

... My wife would rather me at home with Black Shark :joystick:or Flamming Cliffs, then at the bar ....,...lol, i'm sure some of you old farts will agree....lol:book:

 

same here :-D

[VMFA117_Poko]

If there was a playable BS demo on MAKS07, why don't spread this to us on lockon.ru like they did with demo version of Flaming Cliffs in the past? Oh, maybe there's a surprise for us - I forgot!

[suntrace1]

Promise? No. ED haven't promised that Black Shark will be out before the end of 2007.

 

Like I said, they're optimistic about 2007. But please do remember that you can't predict these things absolutely . . . .

IMO, though, 2007 is a very real possibility :)

 

Oh, and SimWare have no inside information and don't have a release date either. Whatever they say is their own speculation.

 

There are 3 things that are begining to bug me:

 

First of all, ED did claimed on their own site, autumn 2006.

 

Second, it's taking too much time -this situation is not even remotely similar to the situation with v1.02 patch and

 

thirdly, all you beta testers have become a PR people, nothing more, nothing less. I bet you've played BS to the death and are becoming a bit annoying with your patronizing tone.

 

I for one, was into LOMAC much earlier then many of you beta testers and can STILL totally relate to people that ''whine'' when will it be released, since it's been forever now. What did you expect? So please, surprise me this year.

[TekaTeka]

I really understand your frustrations. But, we are not 'playing' BS, but examining it. This is a BIG difference. Testing BS is a very tough job because it is very serious and detailed sim. BS is not a GAME any more. So it is taking much longer time than expected.

 

We are definitely not PR people.

[VMFA117_Poko]

Everyone of You have different task for testing day - like in F1 team? How it looks behind the curtin?

[airea]

Suntrace1 got a point here...

[Groove]

There are 3 things that are begining to bug me:

 

First of all, ED did claimed on their own site, autumn 2006.

 

Second, it's taking too much time -this situation is not even remotely similar to the situation with v1.02 patch and

 

thirdly, all you beta testers have become a PR people, nothing more, nothing less. I bet you've played BS to the death and are becoming a bit annoying with your patronizing tone.

 

I for one, was into LOMAC much earlier then many of you beta testers and can STILL totally relate to people that ''whine'' when will it be released, since it's been forever now. What did you expect? So please, surprise me this year.

 

Your point about "2006" - please read Wags post regarding the A-10C simulator for the National Guard which binded almost or all the ressources from Black Shark.

 

Your second point - taking too much time - unfortunately the people which signed the NDA cant tell you too much, but time will be a huge factor when this thing is out on market. Time you will need to memorize the startup sequence, not talking about the proper flying or even landing of the Ka-50.

 

The people with access to the Beta arent PR people, they testing the "game". TekaTeka`s post says all about it.

[Ulrich]

thirdly, all you beta testers have become a PR people, nothing more, nothing less. I bet you've played BS to the death and are becoming a bit annoying with your patronizing tone.

 

You're becoming a bit annoying with your try to talk about testers, it is not your scope.

[pappavis]

ROFL, nice one Poko, nice one!

 

There's lots coming out November time to tide us all over though I guess, depending on peoples interests etc, to name a few:

 

Many of our squad are into Armed Assault which certainly is a big hit with the Lock On community as well.

 

If ED is keen and has some buisness sense, they'll get her out before Xmass '07.

 

Bohemia Interactive (developer of ArmA) was kinda cash strapped they apparentley released ArmA while it still had some bugs.. with the sudden sales they manged to fairly quickly release bugfixes to which ArmA is veryt good. I dont know any bugs in it, do you?

That doesnt mean that we want LOBS to be released in a unfinished state. The financial situation of ED is none of my business. Even if they do release BS in its current state (with warning: some parts may be incomplete) many ppl certainly would buy it. That way i contribute to a faster release, and can have some serious fun.. WEe all know the whining and screaming when LO1.0 was released. We dont want that to happen. Which is kinda what happened with ArmA as well.

[Groove]

If ED is keen and has some buisness sense, they'll get her out before Xmass '07.

 

Yes, because they target market buys games for christmas gift.

[ALDEGA]

IMO, though, 2007 is a very real possibility :)

I'm confident it will be released in 2008.

[SuperKungFu]

Yes, because they target market buys games for christmas gift.

 

That's what ubi did and pushed ED to release the original Lock On early. Then it gave both ED and ubi a bad rep because the first release was pretty buggy. I hope they don't make the same mistake again. If the product is finished and ready and released at the end of 07, great, if not, I'm cool with that. I rather wait until its ready.

[MarcPhoenix]

I'm confident it will be released in 2008.

 

01/01/2008 ??? :lol: :pilotfly:quickly ..............

[britgliderpilot]

There are 3 things that are begining to bug me:

 

First of all, ED did claimed on their own site, autumn 2006.

 

Second, it's taking too much time -this situation is not even remotely similar to the situation with v1.02 patch and

 

thirdly, all you beta testers have become a PR people, nothing more, nothing less. I bet you've played BS to the death and are becoming a bit annoying with your patronizing tone.

 

I for one, was into LOMAC much earlier then many of you beta testers and can STILL totally relate to people that ''whine'' when will it be released, since it's been forever now. What did you expect? So please, surprise me this year.

 

Mmmn.

In order, then.

 

1. I don't know why ED claimed 2006 - it turned out to be unrealistic. But after having revised that info, there's no promise for Black Shark to be released in 2007.

ED no longer give release dates, because if they slip there's an uproar. Now it seems that even if they don't give release dates . . . . there'll be an uproar.

 

2. You're quite right, this is nothing like the situation with the 1.02 patch.

It's infinitely more complicated ;)

Hopefully when Black Shark is released there will be a greater understanding about just why it took so long.

 

3. Beta Testers usually do have something good to say about ED or Black Shark. If we weren't enthusiastic about it, we wouldn't be on the Beta Team.

And yes, we do handle some questions on the forums on behalf of the devs, because we can. Would you rather we said nothing at all?

 

So we handle some PR tasks - but thanks to this little thing called an NDA, we can't tell you about the testing we do.

And it's by no means a picnic. The community complains if they get a CTD, or a bug, or AI doing something stupid, or missiles never hitting, or instruments failing to work, or graphics glitches . . . . well by the nature of beta testing we have to go out and look for things like that. And then try and deliberately reproduce them.

Trying to make a buggy program lock up your PC on purpose, and then find out exactly what caused it can sometimes lack a little fun.

So can having to go through and report whether each light in the cockpit lights up at just the right time.

So can having to watch AI battles over and over to see if they do it right.

 

Clearly, laying hands on a sim in development can be rewarding - otherwise we wouldn't do it - but playing a broken game isn't always fun.

 

 

 

Now then, the final point . . . do you think ED are just sitting on their hands with a complete product ready to go?

 

Black Shark Just Isn't Ready Yet. As soon as it is, it'll be released . . . . but until then, the Beta Team have to deal with all the infuriating bugs that would cause the community to go beserk if they made it into a product on sale.

Even "good business sense" can't cause programmers and testers to work twice as fast as normal.

 

To pre-empt the next question . . . . yes, we're still doing the community a favour. See snide comments in innumerable reviews about being a paying beta tester for examples . . . . and as far as I know, we all still have to pay to get the release copy of Black Shark.

 

 

Now go enjoy the Su25T campaigns and whet your appetite for Black Shark . . . .

[S77th-GOYA]

but playing a broken game isn't always fun.

 

Well said, BGP.