Wilco Airbus A380 V2 Review

[flightman]

I'm puzzled why someone who is "Airbus phobic", "FMC phobic" and "not a big jet person" is writing a review of this simulation of the A380. None of the things which might make this simulation attractive are of any interest to him, and are all dismissed in a few short sentences. Another lightweight review from Mr Glover, which really does little more than summarise the features of the sim you could find by visiting the Wilco website. It only gets into any detail over the external texturing. Important, but not the whole story by any means.

The reviewer criticises the "unusually large squarish pedals" (Airbus aircraft typically have very large, square pedals) yet misses the most glaring modelling error (the A380 does not have thrust reversers on the outboard engines yet the Wilco A380 sim does).

Reviews on a flightsim website as prestigious as flightsim.com really ought to have more depth. Compare this to a typical Andrew Herd review and you will see what I mean.

Kevin

[boxcar]

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As recipient of the FlightSim.com Worst Review Ever award, am just wanting to add that, as owner of a copy of the Wilco A380 simulation, few would like to see a thorough review more than yours truly. Kevin wrote a review, nicely illustrated, & is painfully honest about what he likes & what he doesn't like as well as doesn't do, imo, albeit nice were it otherwise & more would be shared about "meat" of this simulation. Judging by the many texture flaws in it coupled with the fact that no support forum exists @ Wilco (at least, not when my copy was purchased), am hoping to learn more about it, seeing my time is relegated to other projects at present..

Perhaps it's your turn, flightman, to write us a review & round out Kevin's review? It would be mighty welcome, you know, Nels gives a lot of us a shot at it, at great personal risk of becoming a target of nasty criticism... as he well did after publishing my "review" back in 2002. No, your criticism is not nasty, flightman, though please consider the following:

A minscule amount of background may help others to understand the point that is trying to be made here. Back in 2002, had fairly recently been discharged from over 4 years in a state veteran's home after sustaining a near-fatal brain injury. FS 2002 was almost like an epiphany to me, as the last FS experienced to that point was FS 98. Was stoked & not a little manic at times, mind you... a residual effect of deep brain injury after not being expected to live. A long recovery process that continues to this day.

What my thought is dancing around my widdle bwain in the moment is the truth that Nels Anderson gave me an opportunity to publish my article. He must have known the fallout that would happen after doing so, as the "review" really sucked, imo, but nevertheless- it was sincere. Highly lacking & naive, but genuine at the time. The shot that he gave me helped at the time more than can be easily expressed here now. Let's just say that there is nearly nothing better than someone can do for another than to make them feel useful after being not much so for so long. Nels does this for a lot of us.

Anyhoo, 12 years+ after surviving & continuing my personal road to recovery, am always going to be thankful to Nels Anderson for helping me to feel useful at the time.

The 2002 "review": http://www.flightsim.com/cgi/kds?$=main/review/crater.htm Exuberant sim-dork. :o :D Still am, mostly. :) Thanks...
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[flightman]

Hi boxcar,

The link to your "Worst Review Ever" (what a claim to fame!) didn't work but I found the review by searching chronologically. Not really a review at all, but an interesting piece nonetheless about an apparent FS2002 easter egg. Better than most articles which appear on the site these days. :)

I'm glad you continue to recover and I'm also glad Nels Anderson gives people such as yourself the opportunity to publish articles on this site. I emailed Nels some while ago about submitting articles and he was most encouraging. I haven't written anything yet, but you never know I might get round to it eventually.

As a result, I wouldn't dream of suggesting Kevin Glover should stop submitting reviews, but surely wouldn't it make sense for him to review products which he has an interest in? Some constructive criticism is necessary to ensure the quality improves.

Sadly I don't have the time or the inclination to write my own alternative review of the Wilco A380 V2. The "no negative comments" rule would make that difficult in any case. ;) The best you can say about it is that it is the best A380 flightsim currently available for FSX. It is certainly a great improvement on their A380 V1 for FS9, but is still full of errors. As you say, there's minimal support from Wilco, so little chance of these flaws being corrected.

Kevin

[boxcar]

The link to your "Worst Review Ever" (what a claim to fame!) didn't work but I found the review by searching chronologically.
Well gosh darnit, son-of-a-buck... :o how this link be: http://www.flightsim.com/main/review/crater.htm That should work alrighty then. In the event it does not then:
"Crater Field" A Great Default FS2002 Anomaly by David Walker (23 September 2002)" & a bit of searching will get you there easier, man. Apologies for you having to dig it out of the archives.



Not really a review at all, but an interesting piece nonetheless about an apparent FS2002 easter egg. Better than most articles which appear on the site these days. :)
Thanks. It really wasn't an Easter Egg, but just a sunken airfield, mesh vs. MS airstrip elevation data. By ACOF you'd have thought they'd have fixed it, but no... as well as many others. ~sigh~ You are too kind about the article, Kevin, though your remark is appreciated. True, not a review. Was surprised it ended up that way, actually. Had envisioned a "Featured Article" or "Special Report" when submitting it over 6 years ago. 6 years ago. Wow... seems like 2. Before you know it the groundhogs'll be bringin' my mail. :D



...Sadly I don't have the time or the inclination to write my own alternative review of the Wilco A380 V2. The "no negative comments" rule would make that difficult in any case. ;) The best you can say about it is that it is the best A380 flightsim currently available for FSX. It is certainly a great improvement on their A380 V1 for FS9, but is still full of errors. As you say, there's minimal support from Wilco, so little chance of these flaws being corrected.
Yeah, am hearing you, guy. Difficult to allow criticisms of products of paying advertizers. Positive criticism should be encouraged, imo. Careful readings of Andrew's reviews & you'll find plenty. He just had the talent & determination to word-smith them in. ~Artiste~ :cool: The Wilco A380 ... frustrating in many ways, but actually a fine simulation. Takes a lot of study to do it right, just as with other complex programs like the Flight1 Mustang. Homework to pass the tests, you know what I mean? http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/cool/cool-smiley-021.gif Just would be nice to see a real support forum at the least, imo. They've been around long enough for one. Wilco, that is.

Take care, dude, & thanks.
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