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.