Sites like COMBATSIM.COM have spent many years dissecting and evaluating the sims we all love to play. But what about those tireless, private individuals who spend countless hours extending the playability of our beloved simulation titles with their tweaks, hacks, skins, mods, utitlities and add-ons?

This three part series by Aaron "Spectre" Watson is a tribute to those people who extend the longevity of combat flight simulators. As well, as a result of this series, we will be wanting your input for a new category of awards for these unsung heroes.

Feature: Unsung Heroes Part I

We need the following for the awards.

1. A name for the awards
2. Categories of awards
3. Nominees for each category of awards

This should be fun, so don't be shy and get in here and make some suggestions.

Although I know why, it's such a shame that the codes for most combat sims are not released to the public. These games would be so extra cool then.

LD.

I appreciate the input.
You are correct, it is long overdue. I just hope that Doug's idea of awards takes off,
as these folks I'm mentioning deserve some kind of acclaim.

I think you should have categories sorted by game. I'd suggest EAW, F4, RB3D, and SH to start off with.

As to what to call the awards... I don't know about the other sims, but EAWers are partial to teapots and tarts. It would be fun if each sim's award had a unique name.

As to the nominees, for EAW the natural choice for the inaugural teapot is Sir Charles Gunst.

Here are my suggestions to get things rolling:

1. Name for awards = The Simmies

2. Award Categories:

• Skin
• Terrain
• Sky
• Special FX (explosions, etc.)
• Add-on
• Modification
• Utility
  

Now, unlike the Oscars, Emmys, etc., I would like to see three winners in each category---first place, second, third. There should probably also be an Irving Thalberg-like award for lifetime achievement

I also think it might be a good idea to go backwards in time and give out awards for titles as far back as the C64 days. That'd be very cool.

And remember, winning is great, but it's an honor just to be nominated

Utility-Joel Bierling for F4Patch.

Skin-Xis for his cockpits.

Terrain-Paul Wilson for any of his EAW terrains.

Sky-Byoung-Hoon Moon for his "moonfix" for Falcon 4.0.

Special FX-Meatwater for his soundpack.

Add-on-The Falcon 4.0 Balkans Team

Modification-Sylvain Gagnon for almost anything he's done AND eRazor for his eFalcon work.

If I need to add more detail or whatever to my nominations lemme know!

Have fun

Sites like COMBATSIM.COM have spent many years dissecting and evaluating the sims we all love to play. But what about those tireless, private individuals who spend countless hours extending the playability of our beloved simulation titles with their tweaks, hacks, skins, mods, utitlities and add-ons?

This three part series by Aaron "Spectre" Watson is a tribute to those people who extend the longevity of combat flight simulators. In Part II, Aaron takes a look at the unsung heroes of Fighter Squadron: Screamin' Demons Over Europe and European Air War.

Feature: Unsung Heroes Part II - FS:SDOE & EAW

Utility-Joel Bierling for F4Patch. No doubt about that.

Skin-Xis (but I'd put Paul Wilson for a tie here.) for his cockpits.

Terrain-Paul Wilson for any of his EAW terrains.

Sky-Byoung-Hoon Moon for his "moonfix" for Falcon 4.0.

Special FX-Meatwater for his soundpack.

Add-on-The Falcon 4.0 Balkans Team

Modification-Sylvain Gagnon for almost anything he's done and the Realism Patch Group; since their efforts are the premier stand-alone modification for Falon, and the benchmark for simulation modifications. Not only is the "Readme" file for RP 4.x unparalleled, it is their modifications that can be run alone, without any other executables needed. All due respect to eRazor and where he is going, but his mods run better along side of RP Groups, not without.

Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum

This three part series by Aaron "Spectre" Watson is a tribute to those people who extend the longevity of combat simulations through their tireless work and skillful creations of skins, mods, utilities, and tweaks from which we all may benefit.

quote:

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Originally posted by Editor:

This three part series by Aaron "Spectre" Watson is a tribute to those people who extend the longevity of combat simulations through their tireless work and skillful creations of skins, mods, utilities, and tweaks from which we all may benefit.

Feature: Unsung Heroes, Part III - Eight Titles

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Just wanted to thank Spectre for mentioning my woefully-neglected-by-its-owner M1TP2 site. It was a fun game for its time, and I've met some great people through the years by running it.

I should defer much of the credit, though, since, besides some early hacking of the data files, I've always just been more of the librarian for the M1TP2 community than anything else. The REAL credit goes to Larry Hookins, Eric Myers, and the other tread-heads who kept my site stocked.

Anyway, I ramble. Thanks again for the plug. Pleasant surprise.

You are very welcome! This is what I wanted to do in this series, highlight the great
things folks like yourself are doing to help us all. My deepest appreciation to you,
and all the folks mentioned therein...

*>BIMP<*

Hey, I was one away from a flaming folder on this lively discussion about my series of articles!