This is a snippet from Thomas AV8R Spann at combatsims Janes F18 forum ( http://www.combatsim.com/ubb/Forum31/HTML/002355.html ).

quote:

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"Or to rephrase, I dont think our hobby is over, nor is it the end of hardcore simming. We just need to be patient and be POSITIVELY vocal in our support of our hobby. The money is there for the taking.

I will say this, all you have to do is read the forums here and at other sites and you can see so much negativism that is enough to scare away anyone but the hardest core personality. I do think we are getting what we deserve. Its high time we clean up our act and help our selves by being slower to complain and longer in patience.

Denny Akins can be qouted as saying:
"The hardcore simmers worst enemy are themselves". Truer words were never said.

So while it is true we are headed for the dry season (bye bye DiD, Janes/EA, CK, MP-Hasbro, and on and on); I do believe there will be brighter days ahead. But lets do what we can, and be more attractive to those that would consider investing into us."

AND

"When I wrote the Flanker2 review, I got lambasted for being positive in my writing approach. Hopefully now in retrospect, you will see the balance that is necessary in bringing out the good in a sim, while also showing its warts. But not just looking to lambaste a product for teething pains. We should be very supportive of Nick Grey in that he is still willing at his own risk to keep hardcore simming alive. Viva la Flanker2 and the rest of whats left."

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Damn.. wise words..

To Nick and Carl and the whole developing team (there are sure alot of names ending in -ov's, -ev's and -ski's in there ), it seems you are carying the weight of keeping the study sim alive.

[Sentimental bit]

Viva Flanker, Flanker Forever!

[/Sentimental Bit]

Cheers

Flanker2, Falcon4, Janes FA18 are all great sims. ALOT of so called simulation fans out there need to start seeing the positives in these hardcore simulations, instead of comparing and blasting any off them. The guys and gals who make them for a living do tremendous work for their love of combat simulations, not just for the almighty $$.

It is ok to say what you like and dislike, but these forums especially, have seen really immature negative and sometimes insulting posts that make just give me a headache.

If you have nothing to contribute in a good manner, stay off the boards and give the few constructive, and "flight sim community" oriented a place to meet, discuss tactics, new missions and addons, and to ENJOY this hobby. If these crappy posters are here all the time spouting off garbage, they are obviously missing the point of enjoying this pass time.

"I asked Matt Wagner about this personally. He said that although EA plays its plans close to the vest....this is nothing but PURE rumor, and news to him. That is straight from the horses mouth so I wouldn't worry too much. They are working on something new and Matt would not even tell ME! He did say i would like it though

Hornit"

I'm not gonna believe anything until I hear it from the developers themselves.

Come on guys -- loosen up.

Carl and Nick are trying to produce a marketable and profitable product. I think they would need to have as much feedback as possible to understand the markets needs and wishes. They don't know everything I want unless I tell them. It may not always be what they would like to hear, but surely it fits into the big picture if enough people feel the same way. These things need to be talked about -- the good and the bad. And remember -- not everyone is capable of expressing themselves as well as some others.
It would be nice if every complaint were expressed in a gentlemanly way, but this is the real world and I don't expect it will happen. I am sure that Carl and Nick get a little tired of some of the most severe gripping -- they are only human. But some of it can have value as well as the praise. This forums value would be deminished if it were used primarily for general discussion amoung F2 simmers and/or just for praising the product.

If someone hates F2, they want hang around here very long. Keep an open mind about it. Everybody wants different things from F2, and sometimes it just isn't right for some.

Remember to ---

I posted the quote above cuz I thought (although dramatic) there was alot of truth to it. I hope some Flanker Bashers (and the Falcon and JF18 bashers) realize the difference and what impact it relatively can have.

I find myself not too serious about this all (I always sleep well, that is when I didn't flew the flanker just before bedtime... ahh the adrenaline!), but this time I thought it was worth posting.