An observation...

Rami I think I am speaking for a lot of members in saying thanks for all the hard work that has been done for cfs2 this past year. The main problem for members like me is that after work and family time there is very little time for video games or any other type of entertainment. I for one am working extra hours every day since the econmy took a dive.I am hoping this labor day weekend to enjoy a hour or two with some of the new aircraft and missions. :salute::salute:
 
Well, I´m also guilty of not posting often enough. But I do appreciate the work of everyone who designs scenery, objects, aircraft, missions, ships etc very much.

I have thougt about offering to beta-test several times. The reason i didn´t is in my irregular job schedule. Sometimes I´m at home for several days and then again I´m away for a week. So I fear that it would take too long for me to complete testing a campaign, and therefore I believe it wouldn´t be of much use for the designer.

I have also seen a little of the "other side" to this. Before I released my first humble effort of a campaign in spring, I was fortunate that Pips volunteered to test it. He came up with a lot of suggestions, which helped me remove sseveral bugs and enhance the missions overall.

And although i haven´t had feedback on the campaign either, I will continue to make more.

Rami, thanks for bringing up the topic. I´ll try to post more often in the future!

Wolfgang
skylane
 
I guess I'm an offender at this reticence to praise other's work too, I'm a bit hesitant uploading my own skins because so many other painters like Morton and Sopwith are so much better.


:jawdrop:....! - I'd say the same about you WD - your Marauder Skins are much better than mine ! :ernae:

Keep on Keepin' on

Jim

P.S. That goes for all the other developers too
 
Same problem here........

You got that right GR - like MR I don't seem to do much Mission Flying either (too busy tinkering) - and I'm not always first in line to say "thanks" ......

....to the point I don't even remember when I flew my last mission!!!!!

Mine is a slightly different problem. I have lived alone for so many years, (even when I was married) and I live out in the country, that my dayly workload is roughly double than the one who lives in town or in a city. I don't want to bother with a description of my days, but they are quite full. Like anyone else's, I am sure.

Even though addons production slowed down considerably because all of the WWII flyable materials had been covered, including scenery objects and such, I have never been able keeping up with all of it. I tried downloading as much as I could, I probably have 95% of it, but when it comes to installing and testing, well.... :redf: ... I am so backed up, always postponing to some magic day when I'll be bogged down by bad weather, or heck knows what, and I'll be able to sit down, open what I downloaded AND USE IT!

Just as an example, I created a multi-theatre, single install, CFS2 over six years ago, but I haven't ironed out all problems yet and, guess what? They are exactly the problems, that more often than not, make a mission go awry and cause CTDs!

Sometimes the culprit is a scenery, sometimes it's something I did (and I forgot when) that slows down the fps of a mission to crawl. Then I have to squeeze my memory to recall what I did, perhaps two years ago! It all involves a lot of time tracking down and fixing the problem.

Then I have to edit all new missions to make them accept the aircraf folder names system I have, which reflect MS stock names. For ex., if a mission calls for a FDG2_P-51C-MH, that very same aircraft in my CFS2 is called P51C_MUSTANG_MH, as it would be if it were a stock plane....

Then comes my addiction to tinkering, very hard to overcome! Anytime there is a new aircraft I HAVE TO see if the payloads are standardised with the rest of my fleet and historically correct, I HAVE TO change the prop disc and add exhaust effects, I HAVE TO to test fly it and see if it flies according to real-life, 1% standards, if I spot a mistake in the skin or anywhere else I HAVE TO try fixing it...and I haven't covered all the aircrafts I downloaded yet!

Oh, so much CFS2, so little time!

What truly scares me about this thread is that some of the most talented developers we have, read it, agree with Rami's most legitimate complaint and decide that, after all, CFS2 is too old and obsolete to waste anymore time with it. Thus decide to stop alltogether doing anything new for the senior sim, which would sound the definitive death toll for it, by killing any further interest in it! :crybaby:

Please, keep CFS2 alive even if you get a lot of downloads and little feedback! There is still so much to do to improve CFS2 yet, many times I read of people stating that CFS2 potential hasn't been exploited 100% yet! Think of the revolution brought by Rhumba's new world mesh and watermasks only two years ago! Please, please, oh please......


Lots of downloads do speak for people still enjoying it, am I right or not? :wiggle:

My eternal gratitude goes to all of those who did any kind of work to improve CFS2! You don't know how much enjoyment and relaxation I got from your creations, even when I went through some of the worst periods of my life!

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

Now I have to run to chop my firewood for the winter before I start teaching again by the end of the month! :wavey:

Cheers!
KH
:ernae:
 
Reply...

Rami,

To hit the mark, I am a user who utilizes my own converted aircraft and would love to know how to use Mission Builder to add them to the Mossie missions and campaigns which you have so greatly done. Does this help?:jump:

PJmack,

Yes, that helps. I just want to make sure that all developers, modders, and tweakers get their due, as you just said.

And, all you have to due is use Morton's utility to swap the aircraft out!

I guess I'm an offender at this reticence to praise other's work too, I just finished your Pattle campaign and loved it. I am interested in the MTO and would like to see more campaigns here.

Watchdog,

That's a favorite of mine, too. I haven't forgotten about the Med. :jump:

Kelti,

That's what I worry about. There's only a relatively small cluster of developers and modders. I don't want to see CFS2 wither on the vine like CFS1 did.
 
I can only speak for myself. I would comment on stuff but I figure that others know more about what might improve different aspects of the game than I do.

Rami,Talon, Devildog73 and other mission builders - I usually don't survive missions and campaigns long enough for one reason or another to be of any help in making any suggestions about them. With my skill level I wouldn't know if it were me or the the mission. I have a lot of them downloaded but very few installed. By the time I get one installed and try to fly it there is an updated version so I'm always a step or two behind.

voyager
 
I rarely post about anything but that doesn't mean I don't follow this forum closely and appreciate the hard work of our designers. Like many who posted before, I haven't flown missions and campaigns all that much in the last year or two and rarely download them, concentrating more on planes, skins, ships, and scenery.

I find it hard to criticize because I recognize that all of our downloads are free and the hard work of individuals doing this for fun. Whatever I may think of a particular download, the designer still put a lot of effort into it and is proud enough of his creation to post it for all to see. No one started out at the top and I'd rather encourage designers with the hope they get better than throw cold water on someone, especially a new contributor.

I'm much more inclined to give my opinion in a PM where it is a "private" conversation and I'm not slamming or embarrassing someone in the open forum. Even then, I recognize that just because I don't like something or would do it differently, doesn't mean that I'm right. It's still just my opinion.

In the end I think there are two gauges of success. One is the number of downloads your submission gets (although all of us have downloaded a clunker or two only to quickly delete it); and secondly does it have legs? Over time do people continue to see it as worthwhile. When a newbe asks what are the "must have" downloads and your scenery, skins, campaigns, etc. are recommended you should feel proud. In either case the market place will decide whether or not a particular download is worthy and if you are happy with your work that should be satisfaction enough.

That said, I think it is human nature to be slow to heap praise on those who deserve it and I am just as guilty as anyone in that regard. So..... to all the designers out there THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO! Now, get back to work and crank out some more great stuff. :salute:
 
A reasonable expanation pehaps?

I have noticed a downward trend in the CFS2 forum which I feel needs addressing.

I have 2 comments here:

#1 - it's summer (in the northern hemisphere) ... many people are outside enjoying the warm weather, not sitting at the PC nearly as much as they do in the cold winter months. Most people take their vacations during this time of year.

#2 - to the best of my knowledge; this (SOH) is the largest & busiest CFS2 forum & database on the internet.




For some developers out there, we feel that there has been a significant decline in the amount of appreciation expressed when a new item is released.

Particularly for those who design missions and campaigns, and especially those that are historically-based, (I'm not just referring to myself here, I'm also including other developers who may back me on this if they wish) there is a significant amount of research which goes into constructing these projects, and most of us have jobs and children, which means that we have only limited time to work on our beloved hobby.

Given those facts, it's understandable that some of us get frustrated when we get very little feedback for other CFS2 members. Please note that I'm not just referring to "atta boy" messages, I'm also talking about constructive criticism...

It makes it kind of hard to know what campaigns or missions to do if you don't offer suggestions and ideas on what it is you want to fly. Frankly, it also makes it hard for developers to get motivated to do these products, considering that they're freeware, if we don't get occasional praise for our work.



Re: feedback
Have either of you Gentlemen (Rami & Talon) stopped to consider that even though your campaigns have been downloaded, that they have not yet been installed and flown by everyone? hence - little or no feedback. To me; this is probably the major reason.

As I said earlier, summer is a slow time. I've been kicking around this forum for more than a few years and things slow down at this time every year. The statistics don't lie; even Skype has had less users on-line daily since June. (down aprx. 15 - 20% when compared to the winter)

I'm sure you'll both know when your work is being flown as that's when the questions will start & user problems will appear. Until then, relax & enjoy what's left of the summer. - except for Talon, cuz it's always summertime for him!! :jump:



Why do we make stuff for CFS2?

I had this discussion with a senior member 5 years ago (when I wuz just a 'noob" or "Dirt-let"???). What is more fun ... flying CFS2 or mucking around with it?

For me, mucking around inside the program for sure! Learning the inner workings of CFS2 taught me how programs work and opened the door to understanding how to apply this knowledge to other apps.


We always do things for a reason. This usually boils down to 2 possibilities:

(1)
we do it to expand our knowledge and abilities; to test new theories or for the simple joy of creating something that others can enjoy too.

or

(2)
we do it for glory & praise from our peers.

Personally I do it for reason #1. Because I LOVE CFS2; but I noodle around with it MORE than fly in it. Most of my contributions have been in private discussions or Skype conference calls. Figuring out new things, trying to solve old problems and helping to find solutions to new problems encountered by others.

Recently I became aware that sometime vital was needed for a new campaign. This (I thought) had been produced by someone else, but learned that it had been lost due to two unfortunate accidents.

So I stepped up & made a complete Canadian screenpack for the ETO. Funny thing is that I DON'T FLY IN THE ETO!

But I had the ability to make it, I'm a Canadian & it was needed. Add to this the fact that I have only 2 previous uploads & had not uploaded anything in 2 years. (mostly because I've been concentrating on Vietnam-4-CFS2)

I enjoyed making the screenpack and am pleased with the end result. It's not nearly as good as the one that was lost ... but it's better than nuthin!

I know others will use it although I doubt that I ever will; BUT I will always have the personal satisfaction of knowing I created something useful for my fellow CFS2ers - and that is enough for me.



There is great joy to be found in creating something .... and a greater joy when those creations are shared with others.

Do whatever you wish in life or CFS2 - just understand your motivations and be honest with yourselves.


.
.
 
I have just lost all of my installs of cfs2. I had this plan of running the sim from an external hard drive. "Something" went wrong and most of it is gone. That is what happens when you think you know what you are doing. Mercifully, I have 2 or 3 installs backed up on discs, and can rebuild from them. When you are faced with this, that's when ya really remember just how much the "masters" have added to this sim. I think most of us "young fellas" look at your work and think, "how in the world did those guys do that?" Those of us who have tried building a little mission or tried to make an airfield or do a repaint soon learn it's not easy, it's frustrating, and it takes a whole lot of time. I will most likely NEVER see the day that something I created will be enjoyed by someone else. I just don't have the know how, and even trying to figure out how to work with the great tools guys have made and paint shop drive me nuts. I will have to find some other way to help out around here.

So......you "masters", all of you, please understand, guys like me think you are like "Gods". Your creations make our cfs2 world come alive. We would still be flying around in a stock cfs2, if it were not for you. You guys are the reason cfs2 is not a pc "game" sitting under a pile of other junk. Your work is what keeps us all interested and helps us forget our troubles for awhile.

Well, back to the rebuilding. Jeez, there sure is a lot of stuff to do, how many freaking hours of work have you guys put into this?:salute::salute::salute::ernae:
 
My Personal Peanut Gallery...

....Now I have to run to chop my firewood for the winter before I start teaching again by the end of the month!...

Stef, you and I have GOT to have a chat about "training" girlfriends to help with the chores.....

Dirtman said:
...even though your campaigns have been downloaded, that they have not yet been installed and flown by everyone? hence - little or no feedback. To me; this is probably the major reason...

If I may interject - I'm an inveterate Tinkerer, and prefer to mess with the internals of CFS2 [Creating infrastructure and scenery] than actually flying in Missions / Campaigns. Fact is, I usually only fly to test new A/C in Free Flight... or to see how a building or ship will explode when hit !

That said, I download virtually EVERYTHING new that's posted, especially since the Great Crash - should we ever suffer another disaster like that, I want to have good clean copies on HD to help with a Restoration... Much like we just did a few weeks back !

So - PLEASE don't think your hard work is under-appreciated !!!! The quality of our Guerrilla Army of Creators is Unmatched, Fluid, and [in most cases] Always Freely Shared.

Long Live S-O-H ! :salute:
SC
:kilroy:
 
Reply...

I appreciate that many people have stepped up here to voice their appreciation, and here's hoping that the cold winter months do indeed provide more feedback.
 
I've hesitated for a while about posting in this thread but the fact of the matter is that feedback when I post is rather more important to me than to most other forum users.

I recently helped with the great restoration and with copies of Andrew Wai's files. When someone asks a question to which I think I know the answer, I usually post a reply. However, my commitment to this is variable due to the way my posts are treated. When I read a post, I read it properly rather than just scanning it as some people obviously do. When I reply, I put time and consideration into what I write. I usually include a link but this takes time to find and copy. Yet what happens ?

Some recent examples - someone is looking for a King Air for FSX; I find a link for the ISDT version and post it, only to have the original requestee say it doesn't have a VC. They never bothered to say they wanted one with a VC, and of course didn't even say "thank you". Someone else was looking for a general category of planes. My contribution was to point them to the correct part of the Library only to have this ingrate expect me to list the files I had found in my search. This particular individual, like several others here, will not have any help from me in the future, especially when they could not even say in their request where they had searched themselves (to avoid me wasting my time repeating that work). And after all this work helping others, what happens when I need help or have a question ? My threads are obviously written in invisible ink since my questions are overlooked or ignored. I've lost count of the number of threads that I started which still, after several months, have not one single reply - and I'm not just talking about this particular forum or even website !

Anyway, my point in posting is to say that for most of this year I've been developing a large program which works with CFS2. I learnt one language and wrote a prototype with most of my planned functionality, then learnt another language so that I could create a decent user interface for it as well as publish it for others to use. Although I completed the original design much earlier this year, I've started from the beginning at least twice more when I grew unhappy with the interface or with how the coding was developing. But the biggest problem has been the way that users have responded to my posts. As I said, I depend on this interaction a lot more than most users, and frankly when my posts are treated as I've described above, I lose heart and give up on my development ("why should I bother ?"). That's where I am right now for about the fourth time this year, and each time it gets harder to pick it up again. If it had not been for these insensitive idiots, the program would have been released according to my original schedule back around May.

Now, between the way these things happen when I post here and at other places, and the way that the supplier from whom I bought parts for a new PC I wanted to build has been treating my complaints about their lack of customer support when they failed to deliver a case which met their specification, I doubt I'll ever finish my program. Or if I do, it will probably be without all the functionality I added so that other users would find it helpful (which I don't really need) and, as such, it won't be published ...
Ro
 
My humble opinion by Finn

Guys - I know that Rami started this thread, but now it has expanded to some of those whom I am a big fan of, that why this is addressed to you all. I LOVE the work you are all doing. I myself is a computer idiot, who would never be able to create such wonderful things myself, and given the very fact that CFS2 (though being still the very best) IS a bit dated there are very few worthwhile things out there to buy - something my wife keeps telling me is very good (lol) so only by the works of you geniusses we lesser beings will still be able to fly our preferred sim at all. Thus in a nutshell YOU guys keep this thing going and avoid it being a thing of the past.
And yes, there ARE things that annoys me, but since I am not able to do things better myself I feel ashamed to point it out. If held at gunpoint Rami I would mention in your BOB missions I feel a bit annoyed that I can fly for literally hours and the very second I hit the next point, WHAM I am in the middle of a swarm of enimies. In real situations one would have seen them in the distance, but still: I cannot do anything even coming close to it, and I remain one of your biggest fans. I still haven't installed your latest one, but hope to find time for it this weekend.
In short: THANK YOU to you guys for doing this wonderful work for us lesser beings.:salute::salute::salute:
 
Guys - I know that Rami started this thread, but now it has expanded to some of those whom I am a big fan of, that why this is addressed to you all. I LOVE the work you are all doing. I myself is a computer idiot, who would never be able to create such wonderful things myself, and given the very fact that CFS2 (though being still the very best) IS a bit dated there are very few worthwhile things out there to buy - something my wife keeps telling me is very good (lol) so only by the works of you geniusses we lesser beings will still be able to fly our preferred sim at all. Thus in a nutshell YOU guys keep this thing going and avoid it being a thing of the past.

And yes, there ARE things that annoys me, but since I am not able to do things better myself I feel ashamed to point it out. If held at gunpoint Rami I would mention in your BOB missions I feel a bit annoyed that I can fly for literally hours and the very second I hit the next point, WHAM I am in the middle of a swarm of enemies. In real situations one would have seen them in the distance, but still: I cannot do anything even coming close to it, and I remain one of your biggest fans. I still haven't installed your latest one, but hope to find time for it this weekend.
In short: THANK YOU to you guys for doing this wonderful work for us lesser beings.:salute::salute::salute:

Finn,

That campaign is on my hit list for updating.
 
Hey Rohan, please dont get too dispirited about some of the people here. Most of us are very appreciative and "regular Guys". Your program sounds fascinating and quite a tease. The rest of us are in awe of anyone that can improve this sim which has become part of our lives. And thanks for helping with the restorstion, I lost a lot of stuff when I could not access TWO (!!!) of my Maxtor external hard drives,
Cheers
 
Rami,

Your work on The Mosquito Squadron missions was fantastic. I used the updates that I wanted and everything is perfect. MW's utility was of great help. Thanks again and ATTA BOY!:salute:
 
rohan, I can understand how you feel.I uploaded some training missions about a year and a halt ago and I didn`t get any feedback at all untill about a month ago. This was the only feedback I have received that i can remember.The only way I could tell if it had done anything was to see how many times the training missions had been downloaded.In the pack are Navy bases and NOLFs from DC to Key West FL along with one on the west coast.I have also asked for help with trying to get the AI to land on a moving carrier but all I get is it can`t be done.Well I have an idea about how it could be done , I have asked but received no help.Another thing is that the CFS2 AI are not very good because the player can`t controll them.One reason is people don`t take the time to find out what type of tactics were used durring WWII and they fail to observe the AI in CFS2 flying on there own.MS came closer than anyother sim to getting it right. Alittle history here,less than 10 precent of all the pilots that flew in WWII became aces.Here is another thing I have posted more than once and that is how to correct the airbase data files so that the AI aircraft will land and takeoff in the same direction, but I don`t even know if anyone has tried it .When I upload the Guadalcanal missions you are going to have to use my airbase data file inorder to fly the missions I am sure I will get some feedback then.CFS2 is like the B52 it is old but still flying.How many sims are still being flown that are 10+ years old ,I can`t think of any.Why CFS2, because of you and CFS2s open structure.When people take the time to, resurch missions , scenery or dig into CFS2 to correct or improve CFS2, let them know what you think or atleast post a thank you for the work they have done.Am I guilty,yes, more so then most because I have been here at SOH from day one.The only way to keep CFS2 flying is through all of us.If you have an idea on how to improve ,correct , do scenery or missions post it.I don`t think anyone cares how far out of the box it may be it might work.One suggestion is to set up a section so that we can upload old post inorder to help the new or old timers or new old timers. The only way we are going to keep CFS2 flying is to help each other. Togeather we can turn this sim into one of the hottest new old sim around.Well I am finished and I am sure most are sying well it is about time.
 
bobh and rohan, another observation here. Most of us here are fairly new at this. There are actually only a few Cody's, Talons, Ramis, SopwithCs, and MaskRiders around CFS2 these days. Just scan the forum. SdC is gone. Netwings had some regular contributors from the UK, that are now all gone. SOH, Simviation and some Japanese websites are pretty much all that are left. CFS2 is shrinking in knowledge base by numbers, though those with the knowledge here and the sites named above are growing with the new technology that is becoming available.

I plan on being here for the long haul. Unless some computer programer comes up with a CFS2 worthy upgrade, IMO, it is the premiere CFS out here. MS failed, IMO, with CFS3. Yeah, I know, there are those who absolutely enjoy it the way we all enjoy 2. So be it. I will not debate nor contrast the two here. I do think that MS is missing out by not taking CFS2 to the next level and bringing out a newer version while keeping CFS2's strengths.

In the mean time, guys like you both, and those mentioned above and more unmentioned guru's are keeping CFS2 alive and well. Once one of you really smart guys cracks the 0s and 1s of MS CFS2 and the secondary copyright owned now by whomever owns it expires, we will have access to a really great combat flight sim again, like this one was in the beginning.

I am trying to remember which combat flight sim I used to own that had commands for wingmen to land. It also had the ability to change flight formations in flight. This was back in the days of DOS 6.0 and Windows 3.11, so I know it can be done. The technology is there, it is just locked away from us for monetary gain reasons. Not that they want to use it for gain, but they do not want anyone else to use it either, especially for freeware.
 
I'm going to reply and I don't think you guys are going to like what I have to say. I volunteered to help as a beta tester on a campaign,when I ask a simple question or make a suggestion I got my head bit off.

I spent a lot of time to save and upload files lost in the crash and even offered to back up library files for the site as I have 3+ TBs of storage available. I was meet with disdain and silence.

I was traveling in CO when the site desperately needed files stored on a computer there that the late gentleman's children were having trouble accessing.

I offered to stop with my laptop and 500 gig external drive to save the files and was soundly rebuffed. So I gave up.

I don't need adulation from others to feel complete ,but why try to help if I'm going to get that kind of response, some will disagree with me and that's your right but there you go. I truly appreciate all of the hard work that everyone has put into CFS2, you have made it a great program.
 
This being summer or at least the end of summer many take a vacation from CFS2. When it turns cold and wet you will see others of the old crew return to CFS2. Me being almost 65 years old and living where it has been 98 to 100* as well as humid I don`t spend a lot of time outside. Now when the temp goes down some I will be out more. True there are not as many as there once was but we still have a lot of people here.I am sure that there are those that have cracked to the CFS2 codes and corrected this old sim about as much as it can be corrected but because of issues being what they are were not able to post said corrections.We can`t blame SOH or the admin for not allowing these types of post because they don`t want problems, and I agree with them. As for the command to land on land that is not much of a problem the AI do a good job it is in parking that is the problem but I don`t think the correction is in the .dll file but in the aircraft folder which we can play with.Using the mission builder you can make the AI look like the are changing formation it is just a matter of adjusting the the flight of aircraft. I have made missions that have 16 AI aircraft taking off at the same time from the same runway. Using CFO Weather I can change the weather on the fly with no problems.You can add wind to a mission by doing an edit to the mission file as well as a few other things. The big problem I have is in the MB. It won`t allow the person building the mission to control the the AI aircraft speed or altitude accept above a certain point.This limits the things you can do in a mission. Like I said I don`t think the answer is in the .dll files but in the airfiles and DP files in the aircraft folders of the aircraft.I have tried but with limited success.I was able to get the AI down to 50FT and 100KTS in the MB but that is all. If we could control the AI we could get them to land and takeoff from a moving carrier. The only other way is to take an AI aircraft MDL and mate it with a ship file. This way we can not only control the speed up to a point but group the AI aircraft together and at the same speed as the ship they will stay parked on the carrier deck. With a little work you can have deck ops as well as AI landing on the carrier. Well I have done it again, I have said to much.

REMEMBER WHEN PEOPLE WANT TO HELP BE NICE AND THANK THEM.
 
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