I suppose some work could be done by the community now, but it would have to be selective, as easily portable to the Sequel. If the game engine is fixed and the Sequel is successful, most people will moved on to fly the Channel map with the improved features, most important of which is the improved AI. The Sequel should also include the SDK.

Anyway it will probably be a year or two to make these improvements before the Sequel has to be released.

So far they've rewritten the sound and graphic engine, and are currently working on a new GUI, SDK, and improved AI etc. These will be critical to the success of the Sequel and necessary for further improvements to the Channel Map by the devs and community.

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*SNORT*!

Yeah, like when? In the year 3518 when all the flamefests, personal feuds and FM-related slugging matches between the descendants of current FM-board inhabitants end because noone wants to bother anymore? This community couldn't decide on the actual shade of a colour in one of the textures, let alone on FM issues. Not that I'd want some people to have any influence on FM matters because I can't see them as objective and unbiased. Naw, if "the community" got its hands on the FM part we'd end up like in EAW - three to four "FM packs" whose fans fight each other tooth and nail with the intensity of religious fanatics fighting other religious fanatics. Thanks, I'll pass.

Might happen but in a choice between a poor final version FM and 3 better ones being constantly tweaked I know which one I'd choose.

well if it's frustration you're looking for then CoD is your Mecca.

If it's LOADS of new maps, aircraft, effects. sounds, improved textures and much more that you like, pay a visit to sas1946.

S!

Maybe they could open up things like effects, maps, objects and such but keep the FM/DM closed for now to prevent whatever versions as making a FM is damn hard and making it unbiased next to impossible. But for tweaking stuff outside FM/FM with some tools would be nice.

the risk will that is that it will kill online compatibility. I think they'll just follow the same approach they had with IL-2.

S!

Very true as there would be a dozen of different packs that are not compatible with eachoter etc. That is the only downside of modding I can think of, too many diverse packs and hard to keep track on them.

+1000