I would agree with you Stalkervision but up to a point. There is still a prerequisite:
Oleg or whatever company who has the rights of the software should at least take a formal position by saying that the software is not any more supported, that there will be no more patches and that it is allowed for those who are willing to spend effort to improve the game like: sounds, new objects, new maps or new flyble aircrafts or making some aircraft systems work or behave correctly, iron bugs etc. All these "improvements" being non supported and at the entire risk of those who would install them.
Without this kind of statement any modification of the core engine (i understand that the sound mods imply this is what has been done) is pure hacking and pure stealing of rights. And there is no obligation for those detaining the rights to IL-2 to make such a statement. It is a pure economical/marketing decision.
From the marketing point of view, once SOB is out it would make some sense to open some functionality as long as the addendums or mods are to be added to a legitimate acquisition of the IL2 game. This will probably will benefit Oleg as IL2 copies of the game will continue to be sold (at a lower price for sure).
If we look at the example of the airplane skins. That issue was never regarded as hacking because it was an opening well planned and structured from the beginning to allow for such improvements. It is unfortunate that the sounds and objects were not also designed this way.
What has made this game so longlasting?
At the base is the excellence of the product and the unique immersivity as well as the continous support and improvements from Oleg. Then come two other factors:
1) The online gaming capability. I am not a specialist on this functionality though.
2) The possibility that has been given to all of us through the FMB (that could also be much improved) and Skins to create our own scenarios. On this issue I am an expert. Like the addition of skins, sounds and objects should also have been part of items allowed for the simmers to play with. Once you finished the campaigns it is the only way to go on, and possibilities become infinite.
So let's see how things will evolve in future, but believe me we are all supporters of Oleg, even if I really miss him. One small topic from him, here and there should really not be an issue during a full days work. It takes a minute and would please so much all of his supporters.
I really miss the times when after the first IL2 release when Oleg was more present and answered some of our remarks.
Gold
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