Thanks Neal - thought provoking in the light of the negativities shown in the 'Patch' thread.
Extract from 'The Future of Our Genre' by Thomas "WKLINK" Cofield posted in SimHQ Air Combat Zone:-
Quote:
This is the hardest recommendation but one that needs to be said. Part of the reason we have become so small as
a genre is because in essence we have alienated many potential gamers. Part of the reason many earlier games
like Longbow and U.S. Navy Fighters sold so well was because they could be scaled so that new gamers could get
into them. Most of the sims released today still can be but we tend to thumb our noses at those that play them
that way.
In essence, we drive away folks that might get into these games. We demand that all games not only approximate
reality, but we insult and impugn anyone who doesn’t fly it that way. If a game comes out that doesn’t conform
to our view of reality or isn’t totally ‘accurate’, we slam it to the point that people don’t want to buy the
thing. It is true that less than ten percent of all flight simmers are members of a site like SimHQ. Still, many
people do come to sites like ours to read reviews and opinions of games before the purchase them.
I am guilty of this as anyone. My (and my co-writers) tend to focus so much on the ‘reality’ of a game that we
forget to mention the scalability and the potential for a quick bout of fun that can come from it. In our quest
for the ultimate sense of reality, I forget that not everyone cares about corner speeds or torque effect. In
essence, my reviews make a non-simmer feel that these games are too complicated for the average flight simmer.
In some cases they are, but often they have different scales that make them as easy as any FPS game. IL-2:
Sturmovik - Forgotten Battles is a perfect example. This game can be as arcadish as Crimson Skies but no one
knows it. In the future this point needs to be emphasized.
The point is that we need to get people interested in these games. Most of us long term gamers started with F-15
Strike Eagle or U.S. Navy Fighters. Games that really were arcadish compared to today’s games. We have
progressed to Falcon 4.0 but that is after we cut our teeth on easier games. It is easy to progress when you
start out simple, something we all tend to forget.
These are some thoughts that I put together after sitting around thinking about the future of our genre. We
aren’t dead by a long run but we need to make some changes. Either we look toward the future of our hobby or we
will continue to lose our market. There is no quick fix. Don’t look for a benign developer to show up and shell
out the funds needed to create these games. The money just isn’t there. These games will be developed
increasingly in nontraditional ways and we need to look at it that way. We can either support it or we can
continue to keep our heads in the sand. Either way change will come, its our choice as to which one we embrace.
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I have focused on this area of concern as the developer has the almost impossible task of meeting the needs
in a game like DW of the 'reality' seekers and the 'arcadish ' players. The former forget too easily that often they
started as the latter.'' I am guilty of this as anyone.'' Amen to that.
SA have made a very good fist of embracing both ends of the spectrum.
Some discontent and negativity springs from the frustration of experienced divers from SC who feel they
have lost some realistic elements and battle to regain/develop them.
Speaking frankly as a 'guilty party' I will do everything in my power to fight to regain the first class submariners game
some of us feel we have lost. At the same time, and wearing another hat, I will do everything to make the
game more understandable and fun for new players. (egs. SVAK for new divers and 5 Fun MP scenarios)
Some positive suggestions to further the last cause and emphasise 'gameplay styles' :-
1. SA to consider printing a 'Casual Play Guide' as Janes F15
2. Mission designers to clearly label scenarios egs. 'Fun' 1 hour appx.or ' Real-life' 2 hour appx.
3. This forum to have a new section - call it say 'Casual Players Corner.' Lets have AAR (After action reports)
I think SA will get the positive vibes which Jamie wishes to see attract new players. Moderators will be essential who can preserve the lagoon from cynical sharks !
I remain optimistic that the new release will 'do the business' and yes lets get real if SA deliver extra
DWX features we must be prepared to pay for them.
DW is still, and I am confident will remain, the best thinking mans
action wargame out there. Long may it remain so.
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