Strike Fighters 2 North Atlantic

[republic]

New screenshots posted again today, is anyone else excited about this game?  I can't wait!

[republic]

Just found out they post additional photos on their Google+ site

[Grim.Reaper]

Looks nice, didn't know this was on the way.  Any eta?

[TheCommandTent]

Hadn't heard about this game but some nice looking screenshots.

[Jarhead0331]

Wow...I hadn't seen this coming either.

In doing some research on this project, I came across this post by TK in the thirdwire forum:

So if you're expecting SF2NA to somehow change all that, you're going to be disappointed. It won't have taxiing, or air-refueling, or complex engine management, or advanced avionics that require more button pushing. (and again, its not because I don't want to, or I don't like to, or anything personal like that, its simply because we don't have the time/money to do them). If anything, we need to be going in the opposite direction, we feel our games are still way too hard to play and have way too many key commands, we need to be spending a lot more time/resources making it easier and more intuitive. We probably won't do too much of that until we go to another platform (and start fresh in terms of expectation) because I know there is a lot of resistance from existing users about things like reducing command keys, but thats a topic for another discussion...

Can't say I'm thrilled with the prospects. 

[jomni]

It's basically the same as any SF2 game.   Since I'm a fan, I'm ok with it. 
This is not a study sim but a light sim.  Though it is not arcarde and is still quite realistic.

[Jarhead0331]

It's basically the same as any SF2 game.   Since I'm a fan, I'm ok with it. 
This is not a study sim but a light sim.  Though it is not arcarde and is still quite realistic.

I like them the way they are too.  I have all the original SF sims and I have 3 out of 5 of the SF2 sims.  I believe they strike a perfect balance between authenticity and fun...my point is, based upon the comments above, TK seems to believe the games, as is, are too complex, and even he seems to be alluding that he wants to simplify future games to appeal to wider audiences.

[Nefaro]

That would be unfortunate.

I see how he thinks dumbing it down might help his bottom line, but we see arcade-ish flying games coming out all the time and I don't ever see much mention of them or any indication they're making more sales than sims.

[jomni]

Yeah hope he doesn't really want to make his series into something like HAWX.  >:(

[republic]

I agree, as a working adult/parent/husband, the Thirdwire games are about as realistic as I have time for.  I'm not sure what key commands could be eliminated without oversimplifying the game really :\

There are commands novices wouldn't really need to use, but no need to remove them.  For example, setting salvo and ripple timings.

[Toonces]

This is disappointing news (again Jarhead, can you please post something positive about the games I'm looking forward to soon?).

Strike Fighters is already pretty simple by simulator standards; much more dumbing down and it really would be an arcade game.

First, King Arthur 2, and now this.  What a bummer this year is becoming for me!

[republic]

I just read this post by TK over at the Thirdwire forum:

The best source of new customers for us has been Facebook. We spend minimal amount of ads there ($600-1000 a month), and almost all the new customers we get are from there.

And I really don't think reviews on sim-related sites help all that much when you're talking about bringing in new customers, they're read largely by the "same crowds" that already know about us. And their reviews are always based on what they *want* the game to be, and not what the game actually is, so its already clear that our review won't be positive. Look at the review of Janes Advanced Strike Fighters on SimHQ, it contains zero information on the actual game - it doesn't say anything about what kind of planes you get to fly, how the interface is, how the missions are, how the campaign is, etc. It doesn't have any information new players may need to decided if they would like it or not, like what kind of game it is and how fun it is. It assumes every flight sim has to be the same as every other flight sim, so all you need to know is that its not as realistic as others.

And I should also caution everyone that attracting more players means getting less flight-sim crowds and more facebook crowds. Which means we can't be spending more on making the game more realistic and more detailed, we need to be spending more on making our games easier and more accessible and more fun.

I understand that that's not what some of you want, so its always going to be a balancing act. We won't be making any big changes on SF2 anytime soon, so if you like our games now, you don't have to worry too much, and any big changes may come if and when we jump to a new series (most likely on tablets and phones). There, we'll be able to start fresh and re-think the balancing point - we'll be starting with a lot more asset already developed, so new series doesn't necessary have to use sandbox style and be moddable, we don't have to spend anything on graphics, it certainly needs an easier UI (with no mouse or joystick), it may even have better networking base, and hard-core simmers who poo-poo's these gameplay ideas won't play on small screen anyway ;), etc etc, so we'll have a lot more to room to maneuver there and hopefully be able to focus more on gameplay.

I didn't see this coming.  For me the Thirdwire sims have always been the best flightsims for me.  Light enough to get in and get out, but sim enough to make each airframe feel different.  I had always hoped TK would take the Thirdwire engine into an Aces High style MMO Flight sim for early jets.  I'm going to be an optimist though, so maybe I can look forward to stopping the Russian bear on my iPad in the future.

[Jarhead0331]

To me it seems almost like a slap in the face to his fan base and most devoted of followers.  Like, none of you matter, my focus is on attracting new customers.  Wow.  Well, at least he is honest about being more concerned about making money than staying true to his loyal fans.  Honestly, I may just choose to skip out on this new release simply because his attitude sucks.

[jomni]

Tablets and phones?  So SF2 will be last of the series?  No SF3, etc.   :'(

[Nefaro]

Tablets and phones?  So SF2 will be last of the series?  No SF3, etc.   :'(

Agreed.  Sad days when some of our favorite sim & wargaming companies switch to making the next Plants vs Zombies for iPhones to make some quick bucks.   :(

The ADD crowd will always outnumber us.