Target is end-of-month!

http://riseofflight.com/Blogs/post/2012/04/06/Airco-DH4-Work-in-Progress.aspx



p.s

Yesssssss!

so thats 4 allied 2 seaters and 2 cp 2 seaters...

ah well, new planes are always welcome

Considering there were about twice as many Allied plane types built, that would be about right. The problem is there still are not enough two seaters (especially 1916-1917 era) of any nationality.

Very good point Nimits and one that is frustrating me. I'd love to see a few more early types.

I'm more thinking on 3/1/2 [=Bri/Fra/Germ] so we need a 2-seater from France, hope it will be a early war, now the EIII will be hunted by 4 types of 2seaters.

I actually think that once the DH-4 is released, we're pretty good in the two seater department. I'd put two more in, for the early war scenarios. We really don't have any observation types for the DH-2/Fokker Eindecker period.
French types of the time incuded Voisons and Farmans. Don't know if anyone would want to be up in one of those. Two good choices, only in my opinion of course, would be the BE-2 and the Aviatik.

Yes, we could do with two/three early war two-seaters.
It might also be good to add the Rumpler for the later war (so the two-seaters are more evenly matched between Entente and Central).

It's not just Entente and Central thought is it? Realy it's Britain, France and Central as the 3 major factions. France only has the Breguet so they are the hard done to faction. France needs the Salmson A2, the standard French spotter and recon plane for 1918.

The name of the game in Russia is "War in the Heavens - 1917," so the DH4 fits that bill very nicely.

War in the heavens? We need the Rumpler.

This. I LOVE early war planes. The late ones are really neat, but early war, it's seat of the pants flying fun.

There are sooo many, but one at a time will have to do. Good news to see the DH4 following the Halberstadt CL.II so closely.

The strategy of filling in mid-late war before going early is not a bad one. I think that there is a bit more to do in that time period before moving on. The Germans could definitely use a late war recon like the LVG C.V. The Salmson would make a nice addition for the French and Americans. The British are doing quite well with the RE8, Brisfit, and DH4.

Going backwards from early 1917 ...
Sopwith Strutter (used in numbers by French and British)
BE2e
Dorand AR - this is a tough sell because it is not well known and utterly un-sexy. It was the bridge between the pushers and the later war models, so it is important.

to late 1916 ...
Farman F.40
BE2c
FE2b
Albatros C.III

So we're less than 10 planes away form a nice stable of 2 seaters and really only 2 away from late 1917 to end of war.

Honorable Mention:
Rumpler C.IV: Nice but kind of dull - circle until you get so high that nobody can catch you - fly mission - return
Aviatik C.III: Stable mate to the Alb C.III.
Albatros C.V/VII: Stable mate to the DFW.
Albatros C.X/XII: Nice variety for late war.
Hanover CL.II: Stable mate to the Halberstadt. Iconic Schlasta aircraft.
Voisin L.III: Stable mate to the Farman.
Caudron: Iconic early war AC used for a variety of mission types.
AWFK 8: Later stable mate to the RE8.

On the scout side the Halberstadt D.II would be great, as would the Morane N for early war and the Nieuport 24/27 for mid war.

etc. etc. etc. Coming along nicely.

That's the problem though, I'd love to see all these planes but crates like the Farman and Dorand are almost completely unknown outside these boards. I can understand 777 being concerned about the financial viability of these planes. I do wonder what sales of the DFW and RE8 have been like, I think that'd give a large pointer towards future sales.

The RE8 might but for the longest time the DFW was the only CP 2 seater so it must have sold fairly well because there was no other options. The RE8 is the latest in a series of Allied 2 seaters. The Breguet 14.B2 sold well since it was also the only 2 seater at the time and then the F2b sold well since it is iconic and then finally the RE8 which I am sure did not sell as well as the previous two since it is not as iconic and there was more than 1 choice.

I wonder if a small variation in business model might help. Create planes as AI only. Sell them as a package. For single player just do plane substitution if the player does not have the required package. For multiplayer setting up the required packages would be part of server setup. Players would be required to own all of the server defined packages to join. It's not that much different than the new map - you're not going to be able to play it if you don't buy it. Just a thought. I write software fr a living so listening tome develop business plans might not be the best idea .

I still think that 777 has some rope left on their current model. Some planes like the FE2b will sell, and I bet an early war German two seater would also sell reasonably well. There are a few more scouts left too.

Yeah, there' s still a couple of years worth of familiar 2 sweaters left and some less well known scouts if 777 choose to make them.

Planes like the Roland and Strutter would sell pretty well surely?

What they need to do is role that I-16 out of the hanger and fire that f..ker up!

CS.

Heheh, though about it.
But, you know what I noticed?

I know it's a LONG SHOT, but... consider this.
When you pick a map (I think in the quick mission builder or single mission, can't remember...) on the top-right corner, you can see its name.

I.e. : WWI Western Front.

This is to be expected since they're going to release a new "Channel Map", but... why they specify WWI?
It's like they where thinking to release "eventually" other theaters.

Wait I'm not inferring WWII, but maybe immediately BEFORE WWI or immediately AFTER...

OR... I'm just dead wrong.

Oh hell... that's exactly what I'm hoping for.

I love this game I really do, but for the love of God, please just 2 WWII planes 1 each from opposite sides of the conflict.

Ok... now waiting to get booed off the stage.

CS.

When they designed the game they designed it so that they game engine could be used for different eras but I dont think RoF did well enough for them to justify dropping it and making a new sim.

My point is they wouldn't drop the WWI, simply add (pretty much as the Channel Map) new eras.
Maybe it's a map with an annex era. So to speak 1915-Gallipoli (I know it's part of WWI, it's an EXAMPLE!)

I am not sure I understand what you are saying.

They include WWI in the name structure because the engine was designed for more than just WWI even though they have no current plans for anything other than WWI that I know of.

Correct. I mean, not really the discovery of a new continent, but...