posted 01-25- 12:00 PM            

I understand MH and others at inertia are doing work on the side while they are chugging along on projects x and y. My point is their success is, in large part, hinges on the success of SDOE. Most of us in here have stuck with this sim and understand the ongoing improvements and what is to come. I don't think I'd be going too far out on a limb to say there is a substantial number of SDOE owners out there who are unaware of this board and even more who have long removed it from their HD after being sorely disappointed upon it's release. Any release from people who are seen as the ones who gave them SDOE would not give them that urge to run out and buy their new release. Yes, I know it was Activision who was responsible for the state of SDOE when it was released but I doubt any gaming mag or consumer will bother seperating that issue. The fact of the matter is when MH stepped up to the plate and did the right thing he pretty much made himself the frontman for SDOE.

I have directed alot of people here from WB and AH after seeing SDOE slammed for all of it's bugs. From what I gather in discussions I've had with other players any release from inertia will be judged on the state of SDOE. I hope it's demons are exercised by the time a new release comes out so we can spread the word that even though SDOE stumbled out of the box, they got it right and to prove it go download the patch(s) and the add-ons from the player community.

Now, to prove the value of this opinion. Print it out, take it, and 89 cents to your local McDonalds. Give them the 89 cents and the printed copy of this post and they will give you a cup of coffee

posted 01-25- 01:21 PM               

I would disagree here. SDOE will continue to gain popularity, as nothing comes along to replace it, but it will never be a runaway hit like EAW... it's too late for that, even if it were patched to perfection. It's very hard to get people excited about a sim that is old and getting older. There is, however, a big chance that the next Openplane based sim will be a big hit as long as it doesn't have big controversies like SDOE did when it came out. I think a brand new sim is exactly what Openplane needs to gain critical mass. Naturally, SDOE will benefit from the work that's being done on the next Openplane sim since it's cut from the same cloth, but I don't think SDOE should be the priority.

posted 01-25- 02:11 PM            

Good points, however I'm not trying to re-establish SDOE as a "new" sim nor am I trying to get SDOE bumped up to number one on the priority list, just a notch or two. I believe the reputation of SDOE will linger and have an effect on future developments unless it's bugs are addressed. Hence the Edsel reference, they sold a lemon and no matter what they tried to do, people were to gunshy to try it again. To continue the automobile analogy: I drive a Nissan Pathfinder, it has been recalled a couple of times. If I had to pay for the repairs it would easily cost me over a grand. If I had to shell out that kind of money I would not even consider buying another Nissan product, however, being they admitted there were defects and made it right I have a different attitude.

The readers of this board understand that inertia is in the process of recalling and repairing SDOE but the vast majority needed to bring openplane to critical mass never recieved their recall notice. They are still out there feeling they got hosed for 50 bucks. Before you ask them for another 50 it sure would be nice to have something to fall back on ie. fixing the original.

posted 01-25- 04:28 PM               

All I can say is the state of SDOE at release and the state of SDOE at the time of inertias next release will have a direct impact on the success and excitement of the next game.

If the fundemental problems of SDOE are not fixed then the next game won't have an easy time in this harsh world.

posted 01-25- 04:38 PM               

K I found it

It wasn't my topic so it would have been hard to find.

posted 01-25- 06:57 PM               

I have a rather disturbing image in my mind of a Clive Barker creation doing aerobics in a leotard.

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Yardstick painted this

posted 02-12- 06:58 PM               

Open Plane was only a saviour to this game in our eyes i.e. the ppl on this board, because I and many others don't have a clue about Open Plane, can't build addons etc, so effectivley it was useless having it, so what happend, ppl bought the game, fly it for a week or so, decided that that was all there was to it and deleted it and put it on the shelf, all because SDOE wasn't fully finished to the best of the games ability.

In some way I have to agree that the nest games success will hinge (or has hinged) on SDOE, but on the other hand, good game reviews on the TV etc really do play a big part.. for instance UnReal, well it looked great in reviews etc, but to be honest, I aint all tha happy with it, to me Doom was far more fun, and much more difficult, and Quake 1 & 2 looked better.

The reviews will count ultimately I think, I just hope the reviews truely show us the game or what to expect.

posted 02-12- 11:59 PM               

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Mirthain=FC=

posted 02-13- 03:26 AM               

I feel like I should tell you guys to break down and get a Sidewinder, but heck, play with whatever floats yer boat and have fun. The little amount of money this stick would cost sounds like it might save you fellas a bunch of frustration, which IMO is well worth it.