Pity RoF didn't get a mention.

I think a huge oversight on the part of the SimHQ team, given the continued and ever expanding content of this great sim.

Of course I only play RoF, so I might just be an ency weensy bit bias.

Rise of Flight was released in 2009.

But it's still being developed into something more! ROF in 2009 is a far cry from ROF in 2011.

True, but it should be acknowledged that it is a constantly evolving product rather than a one shot, wham bham, thankyou mam, with a couple of patches, product.

Yes, it's a different way of selling a sim, that doesn't necessarily fit into the traditional sim development scenario, but it should be acknowledged, just like that of Benchmark sims V 4.32 that it continues to grow and add new content etc etc.

Simply saying it came out in 2009, I'm afraid, just doesn't do it justice.

Rise of Flight is one of the greatest flight sims of our time - hands down the best WWI flight simulation I've ever flown. Graphics, controls, textures, single- and multiplayer gameplay, quality of flight and damage models, etc. ... wow, what a game! However, the "Best Simulations of 2011" considers products that were released in 2011. Benchmark Sim's 4.32 update simply beat out all the Rise of Flight updates released this year.

Ya ok.

Jason

O-kaaaay?

Well, I beg to differ, but no sweat!

For next year's edition SimHQ should definitely have a "Best update of existing sim" category. RoF deserves a prize for the amazing work done on it: Truly ground-breaking, both simulation-wise and marketing-concept-wise.

I think SimHQ needs to change or modify its measuring parameters. Don't have a category for ROF, then create one.

Really...Benchmark 4.32's single update is better than the flood of updates and content we received in the entire year for Rise of Flight?

I mean, I could understand if it were singular updates but c'mon...RoF's catalog of updates could be considered one update. Especially if you're new to the game, it's an all in one package.

Shouldn't RoF at least get an honorable mention? While admittedly a number of us (myself included) are enamored with the product, we're enamored for a damn good series of reasons!

Guess I need to get out more but I haven't even heard of this thing called "Benchmark Sim's 4.32 update" much less the original game until I just read it in this thread. So I already know I'm biased towards RoF.

lol, I remember when SimHQ was being labeled by members and other sites as RoF fanboys... now were not doing enough... we just can't win with some of you.


BTW, I've had the game since release, bought every plane... and I just can't get into it... I try, I tell myself I should like this, everyone else does.... but I don't... flying in circles struggling with controls trying to get sights on target... only to spin out and crash. Of course I might not like it because I suck... but I suck at all games and still like some.

Glad so many people like it, the developer/publisher deserves loyal fans.

That category is covered. Consideration is given for any sim, new or old.

I fail to see how the RoF updates and new addon DLC (which are payware) compete with the Benchmark 4.32 which won the non-commercial category. By and large doesn't RoF compete with the commercial products?

As for "honorable mention" there is not a "second best" entry in the list for any category.

I'd take RoF over a FSX

Makes sense, especially since RoF is commericial updates, and 4.32 is freeware, but . . .

How did an FSX add-on I've never heard of beat the ROF Beta Career/Re.8/F2B/Spad.VII combo?

I would give Benchmark 4.32 1st prize in any category. RoF is fantastic, but give credit where it is due (good job SimHQ).

I'm amazed it didn't get a best add-on or something for the Brisfit or the Re-8, BF3 retuen to Karkand did and that isn't even a sim.

I can't believe Battlefield 3 got a review here and 2 awards, this site just lost all it's credibility.

lol... BF3 is a game, and the add-on is a game... they won for best land game... rightfully so.

I won't mention how I'm not hurt about our lost of credibility from a 25 post member... opps dammit, just did.

Why would you give a prize for an aircraft released with a known error in its climb rate, and a very uncommon armament?

The entry surprised me as well, as I don't even own FSX, but that doesn't diminish its amazingness.

As with any poll results or "Best of..." contest, there will always be differences of opinion, but I hope folks take the chance to actually look at products that were selected instead of their own personal favorite. They might just learn a bit about the rest of the whole wide simulation world out there.

Just amending that since you quoted me out of context. I'm not going to bother gracing it with an actual answer.

I was just trying a light hearted dig, don't get all serious.

Ok, I'll bold "Brisfit." Is that better, oh snarky one?

How to distinguish between paid and unpaid with regard to RoF.

The game has evolved considerably in the last year, not least of which is the campaign. None of this had to be paid for unless you wanted to contribute, so some, a lot, or even most have contributed to the further development and doubtless it wouldn't have happened without that financial support, but then it's entirely possibly that people have received all the updates with very little financial input at all.

In the past most of the base game development updates would have been that have happened in RoF would have been passed off as a new improved game with the implication that if you wanted to continue flying the sim then you had jolly well better cough up.

Maybe, RoF should have warranted an honorable mention at the very least, but then it's not as if I'm biased, honest !!!!!!

Yeah, the RoF Career Beta was a great update, if that was a category in this "awards" thingy... Then again, maybe the fact that it is self-proclaimed "beta" had something to do with it being snubbed? Who the he!! knows, but in the end, do we really ___ care? I mean, I don't watch the oscars or any of that hype.

We'll all keep trumpeting from on high the virtues of RoF to all who will listen! Let's just keep our community focused meanwhile...
Ok, I had a few on the train home...

Good grief, YOU COULD AFFORD THE TRAIN

What in hell is Benchmark Sim's 4.32 and if it is so good what is the plane set?

When I clicked the Best of 2011 link I never even thought of RoF. The possibility in retrospect only crossed my mind when i saw this thread. SimHQ have done a great deal to promote and encourage this sim, something I am sure Jason is thankful for despite his mild protest on page 1. Rise of Flight has continued to improve almost monthly since 2009. But that gradual march is hard to quantify. Hint: a CHANNEL MAP or ALPS MAP is very easy to quantify and I am sure would win some consideration in 2012 so long as the sim continues to be outstanding.

The BMS update was a deserved win. It took a 13 year old sim and gave it a rebirth. It didn't just bring it up to DirectX 9. It also added features to and removed glaring mistakes from the F16. Somehow they did it for free.

What really impresses me there is the devotion to technical accuracy (the graphical improvements were a bonus). I love RoF, but it is falling behind at bit in that category. Hopefully 2012 will be better.

Just to broaden this a bit:

Has 777 or Jason given any further hints as to what could lie in store for this sim or game engine in 2012?
I seem to recall they had some big news to announce before Christmas and were looking for beta testers. Not sure if it was the hand guns and streamers?

And I do remember some tantalising pics of what looked like pacific scenery?

Anyway, here's hoping. I love the Rise of Flight engine, business model and commitment to historical accuracy. Love to see them make a push into the WWII theatre this year.

Do you know the Falcon 4.0 series? It's basically an F-16 sim made 10 years ago that's been modded and modded and modded like nobody's business. FF, OF, Red VIper etc.

BMS 4.32 is the latest and greatest mod for it and it's brought the title into the 21st century with a very loud and convincing bang. It's second to none as far as modern combat sims go, arguably the best there is out there, and it's an ongoing project. I hear that the F/A-18 not too far away from release for it and there's definitely a dedicated effort in the community to improve the terrain, tweak various aspects of game-play and add new objects and theaters.

The plane-set is based around the F-16 obviously, the various versions of that aircraft take precedence, but there is also the Mirage 2000 and the A-10 that have been modeled in some detail and the F/A-18 in the pipeline. Other aircraft are also flyable but many of them retain the F-16 cockpit.

I'm crazy about it, don't know what the hell I'm doing half the time but it's truly a masterpiece.

I very seldom fly in circles. And why do you struggle to get sights on target ? Those open cockpits offer really good view. TIR or something similar is a must, of course.

Yo - anyone know if the call for beta testers was to test the hand guns and streamer, or something else?

http://riseofflight.com/Blogs/2011/06/24/default.aspx

Not sure if it's the Pacific, the trees look European, or they might be placeholders.

Yeah I hate to say it but same here. I love ROF but... Well, BMS 4.32 got me to fly Falcon multiplayer. I've been flying Falcon 4.0 since 1998 and nothing, no mod, not BMS 2.0, SP 2/3/4, Freefalcon, OpenFalcon--none of these got me to fly multiplayer. Now I fly Falcon online almost every night.

That's saying a lot. BMS 4.32 is the Falcon we've all been secretly dreaming about for all these years but accepted a long time ago it'd never happen... and then it did. BMS opens up so many possibilities now for Falcon it is amazing.

It still doesn't quell my urge for dogfighting though--nothing does except RoF and RoF does that best.

yeah, but the water looks rather tropical.

fingers crossed anyway ...