I am so sick and tired of the online-offline debate. If everyone has not noticed games are changing. When Il2 came out most people were lucky if they had 56k modems (dial-up-connections).
The only way to make a sim was offline with a few dogfight maps for online stuff.
The world has changed and broadband is here.
I am sure the offline experience is going to be awesome. But in the same breath one has to realise that new player (not us old farts) will be attracted to the genre only if it is a very good online experience.
Rise of Flight has realised this and my guess is so has Oleg.
Lets face it, for sales of SOW to rival Il2 sales Oleg has to cater for the growing online community.
Those without internet are fast becoming the minority. Now before some moron throws a book of stats they just googled at me showing how important offline play is lets look at game consoles (yes I hate them).
But even they have embraced a fast growing online community. Hardly any latest generation consoles do not basically require online connectivity to get the best experience.
For me online play needs – good coms.
To be able to land, rearm and refuel.
Moving ground items such as ships etc and a refined program such as SEOW to handle the other elements, land sea and air in co-ops and maybe and increase in mission times.
Dogfight maps with moving items and multi seats in planes even on dogfight maps.
For offline play it needs a gripping story-line, dynamic and historical campaigns and the ability to make a difference.
I firmly believe we will get most of what we want and as later incarnations of the engine are released it will just get better.
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