I suspect, that in some respects F4(and variants) is IT.
The hardware evolves due to the dynamics of the market...but there are VERY few if any...(F2+ comes to mind...I`m drawin` blank on any further) developments that I know of, that offer anything in the same league...
F4 has really broken free of it`s creator...and in retrospect...with all the talent, who are makin` an impact on it...there is..IMO...NO FRIGGIN` WAY any organisation motivated by profit(developer/producer) can touch the level of commitment gone onto it...even if the development would to halt today...
I`m not completely sure it`s a bad thing either...hell, we are getting all this for free...plus there might be side effects to this F4 craze...
A brand new, extermely flightsim savvy programmer base, one, that is only secondarily motivated by $$$, and would be rather mentioned in my nightly prayers...
(hell...I might even ditch Darwin...
As the story goes...I really don`t see a limit as to how delicate the F4 line can get...hell we`re talkin` new, appropriate to the hardware`s state texture sizes, 3D models, AI, physics modelling...these dudes are boggling my little mind as it is...and they`ve just started unravelling the threads...there might be things comin` out of F4...that started folks on the digital highway...that we have no clue about...
So...to cut the shit short...they are raising the bar...as to if anyone cares to, or able to follow...
I`m not sure I care...I`ll stick with them...even if they decide, thay have something to offer for a price...
And I hope they get to the point, when they can start to sell me the stuff I need...NOW...
BTW Sleepdoc...you`re one of the dreamers, that provided foundation to this brand new F4...world/war...and will never be forgotten for it...
enjoy the notoriety...
[This message has been edited by Toecutter (edited January 10, 2001).]