Yes, we're aware that Oleg is attempting to raise funding from government in Russia (http://www.next-gen.biz/news/russian-government-may-fund-patriotic-game-series)

He is asking US$ 24 million, which will be distributed into 6 combat sim projects, according to the article above. This gives US$ 4 million of funding for each project(finishing of SOW probably included), and it gives a good idea of the costs of developing a high quality flight sim product.

UK and Argentina, I'm pretty sure that if we approach UK government we'll be ignored, but Argentina is another different matter, there's a decent chance, although at the risk of having the project lean to one side (bias)...

Argentina, I can see that. For them, the issue never really went away:

From Wiki...
"The initial invasion was characterised by Argentina as the re-occupation of its own territory"
"However, as of 2010 and as it has since the 19th century, Argentina shows no sign of relinquishing its claim"

So interest in the project and the potential for bias could both be likely. I wonder though, in what ways a country could lean a project like this toward their interest, or to a more favorable perception of that country in the historical sense.

Also, if the project was funded by the Argentinian government, would UK be more, or less, willing to license intellectual property required for completion?

All kinds of questions start to come up when you look at national involvement.

Dante thanks for the informative posts, I hope you understand my post was in jest. It's nice to know how hard you guys have worked on this project and we all hope it will see the light of day. Keep up the fight guys and good luck on the obstacles ahead!

The EU offers grants to indie game developers, once every 6 months if I remember correctly.

EDIT: I believe you need to have a company registered within the EU to be eligible.

Good luck Dante.

Cheers

Jebus, not this crap again. I thought there was a way around this issue? Can't it be called something else in game?
Either way, looking forward to this when it works out.

Why not ask Boeing to support your project?

Ripcord

BlueHeron: there will be a lot of interesting developments in the political side of things. We still keep it discreetly, but the argentinean government *already* is supporting us. I think it was 2005, Ariel Cancio from Thunderworks together with a delegation from ECV56Condor online squad members went into a field photo and research trip to the Tandil Military Air Base, Buenos Aires Province, where they're able to get all photo material we ever dreamed, including switched on systems in cockpits HUD/radar displays, Ariel had 1 hour of stick time in the actual IAI Dagger (Finger) training simulator and a ECV56Condor member (Cazador) earned a backseat ride in a real plane!

HitchHikingFlatlander: no problem sir! It's one of my tasks, to communicate to the community what is actually going on.


AD: thanks for the heads up, actually the company has a branch registered in the UK, so this might be something to look at. I was also pondering about this.

tagTaken2: name change doesn't works, check this

One of several examples around, since 2008 this has been happening, with increasing frequency.

The solution, is to get decent funding, and properly license the stuff. I own Ace Combat and HAWX for console and although I can't post a pic right now, I can see clearly in one of the frontend/credits screen the several aircraft company logos (LM, Boeing, Dassault Aviation etc) and trademarks clearly visible - which means, Namco and Ubisoft properly licensed($) the stuff. No fuzz.

Ripcord: It would be cool to have USMC AV-8Bs in a modern setting, wouldn't?

Owning the Trademark for a product name doesn't mean you have a blanket ownership of the name. There are tons of companies trading products under the name of Harrier, Toyota is one of them! Unfortunately for Boeing, they don't own Computer gaming/Simulation trademarks.

We were concerned about using the name Apache and Apache longbow, but after thorough research we found that while Boeing owns the trademark under several categories, Helicopters (REAL helicopters that is), plastic models, watches etc, their application for a trademark under the Flight simulation and game category was rejected. Why? Most likely because they don't have a product to trade. Have you checked the US patent office website?

Frankly, if you're expecting to license the name you'll be waiting an eternity. After Boeing told us we'd have to license the name (AH-64D/Apache/Apache Longbow) we requested licensing information. That was several months ago, as yet, no response.

Cheers

This is indeed a terrible part of the combat sim development job. I know that even studios working in FPS games like Modern Warfare have whole legal teams working around the clock in the licenses of military equipment such as Colt AR-15s, Humvees, even military knife's brands... these legal teams do phone calls in a daily basis to the owner of the rights, etc, to make the process move forward on schedule. It's an utter despair.

Which just shows the utter imbecility and greed of those companies.

When I was working, ages ago, in the Marketing department of an Airline, I remember overhearing a conversation between two of the senior Managers , one was griping about how to prevent Passengers taking with them utensils with the Company logo, the other one replied that he must be an Imbecile, that that they were doing, was free advertising for the Airline.

Same with a M-4 rifle, they should want their product to be in a game.