Originally Posted by Necrobaron (Post 198136)

However if SoW, or whatever it's called now, is going to ship with missing aircraft markings, I'd at least like to keep the avenue open for 3rd parties to add the correct markings for those that can legally view historical correctness.

Originally Posted by Splitter (Post 198143)

The ability for a third party to add them should not be curtailed.

But maybe even having that ability is a violation of the law in some countries. I suspect that is the case and why the developer will not allow such third party skins.

Originally Posted by Jaguar (Post 198163)

The choice is not really ours. It belongs to Mr Maddox himself. If he choses not to then there is nothing that anyone would be able to do about it. Voice your opinion and move on to the next topic. I would not want Oleg to interfere with my potentiall earnings or make me lose my income.

Originally Posted by Necrobaron (Post 198136)

This isn't directed at you specifically Foo'bar and I'll probably regret even making this point since it'll probably make me a "bad guy" but...

That'd be too bad if markings are not editable. In the case of WWII-era German planes specifically, it bugs me when history takes a backseat to censorship and political correctness. As much as I disagree with it, I accept that some countries like to whitewash history by making some symbols illegal. That's their perogative and I understand that Maddox Games doesn't want to open themselves up for litigation (though I think it's ludicrous to think a flight sim would be a lightning rod for Neo-Nazis). However if SoW, or whatever it's called now, is going to ship with missing aircraft markings, I'd at least like to keep the avenue open for 3rd parties to add the correct markings for those that can legally view historical correctness.

I'm certainly no Nazi sympathizer but for all the nitpicking about inconsequential details, it's surprising to me that more people aren't bugged by the lack of historically correct markings on German planes. Like it or not, the swastika was there. To me, leaving it off is tantamount to leaving the fin flashes or roundels off RAF planes, tantamount of course not in idealogy but in historical correctness.

Ok, rant over. Sorry for veering off on a controversial tangent so...flame away!:)

Originally Posted by brando (Post 198161)

I don't think that the Germans banned the swastika emblem for reasons of "...... censorship and political correctness." I believe they did it as a reaction to one of the worst things that can happen to a nation state; namely allowing itself to be taken over by a totalitarian dictatorship and ending up being humiliated by the atrocities that were carried out in its name.
I also don't believe it's a whitewash of history. It comes across as a total rejection of the Nazi dogma and a solid declaration of German unwillingness to allow the same mistakes to be made again. It was the right decision and I for one applaud it.

Originally Posted by Dano (Post 198168)

It's not really a choice is it though, Oleg is in the business to sell his sim, being unable to sell it at all in those countries that have laws against it will only result in a far bigger loss than the few who'll decide to not buy it because they aren't included. The only real choice he has is whether he leaves a way of the end user adding them post purchase or not and that will depend on how liable he is for the addition even if he is not responsible for it.

Originally Posted by Skoshi Tiger (Post 198170)

I understand what you???re saying and agree with you, BUT I don't think these laws are not designed to "white wash" history but to remove the symbol from use by hate groups most of whom have no direct link to the Nazi movement.

I live in a sleepy little back water of a city on the opposite side of the world to where most of the suffering and destruction occurred. I have NEVER seen a Christian church with graffiti or desecrated with anti-Christian symbols or slogans. But I have seen Mosques, Synagogues, and even a small corner shops owned by non-European owners, tagged with swastikas, messages of hate and neo-Nazi diatribe. It is something defective in the minds of these people.

The laws are created to be able to punish these people.

As a good, honest, law abiding citizens of my country (where these laws are not in place by the way) and of our world community, I have accepted that the loss of historical accuracy in a computer game is one of the prices that I have to pay because of these idiot???s. Just as I accept it doesn???t matter what your race, creed, religion or cultural background there???s still going to be a percentage of any group of people that are complete a***holes, unfortunately, at the moment, a good percentage of them seem to think that being filled with hate is cool.

Sorry for going off-topic.

Originally Posted by Necrobaron (Post 198171)

However, if they banned the swastika to prevent the same mistakes from being made again, they have bigger problems to worry about.

Originally Posted by Triggaaar (Post 198167)

... There’s no reason why the publishers can’t produce the game with historical markings, but only sell censored copies in countries with a ban on Nazi symbols....