[secretone]

Here is another possible area for fun/improvement: facelift for the aircraft carriers. Make them more realistic looking by including deck carts, personnel in appropriate uniforms, operating catapult and elevators. How about different paint schemes like dazzle? Real-life carriers were crowded places, unlike the way they seem to be in game. You could force returning planes to circle while other operations are taking place on the flight deck. We might also consider a more realistic damage model that includes holes in the wooden American decks, flames and explosions. Aircraft carriers were particularly vulnerable when fueled and armed aircraft were concentrated on the flight deck prior to launching a strike. How about a landing officer who waves planes off when approaches are not safe - he could be audio only if the animation of a human figure is not practical. How about a ship that turns into the wind for flight operations and escorts that actually follow it? How about more aircraft on deck than presently possible? How about an online aircraft carrier that models realistic procedures and stresses teamwork? You could model a battle like Midway online with the opposing ships searching for each other and launching strikes. How about orders that come through speakers like "pilots, man your planes"? How about a scramble mission for the carriers on QMB with the goal of stopping suicide planes or perhaps torpedo attacks.

I have had a lot of fun playing with the flattops and ships in general over the years! The guns and flak in particular are just great fun.

I seem to be just full of ideas tonight and I am actually sober, believe it or not! Sorry. Of course I realize that this would represent an awesome amount of work for someone who has far more computer knowledge than I do... In fact, I am now realizing that you could actually create/develop a whole new version of IL2 just focusing on carrier warfare alone if you had a team/budget/interest to do it. And since this is my fantasy, I could hire a star legal team to sue NG for interfering with my freedom of expression and tie them up in court for years and create bad PR for them to boot. Have I accidentally wandered way off topic? Perhaps, but I share these ideas here because, after all, this is a suggestions thread for individuals who have a passion for the game and its potential.