I know it sounds strange, but stop and think about it. One goes to a forum to share ideas and know what others think. Right now, what one may find in a forum is a lot of people complaining about an add-on that they don't like, sometimes of minimum flaws (once someone complained because a plane's fuel flow was a few pounds above normal!) and others who attack the people that share their efforts for the tiny price of your appreciation. Even though it sounds exaggerated, it's happening within the whole community.
So, with these aggressions, what motivation would an outsider have to join the community? Not too much, I'm afraid. I joined the community about 4 years ago, and have enjoyed it a lot. There are very nice people in this hobby. Though, a minority of rotten apples start contaminating the whole tree. Groups like Project Freeware and Freeware Flight Group have shut doors, leaving us good simmers in the dark. But I don't blame them, really. Because flightsimming should be a temporary escape to the world, like any other game. But, as many say "flightsimming is beyond a game, it's a simulation". Well, let me tell you this simulation is getting so close to reality it scares me.
Maybe most of you understand my point of view. So, if us simmers had to write a book called "Flightsimming For Dummies", what would we tell non-experienced simmers? I'd write that flightsimming is no longer a "Pleasantville" experience, but it's becoming so close to reality, it should no longer be considered a game.
Daniel Pimentel
yoyoto@telcel.net.ve
