Planning to join

[diskoerekto]

Hi all,

I am thinking of joining the game as it looks fantastic. On the other hand, due to RL related issues I cannot spare enough time so it seems I will be able to play in 6 weeks time. That means I can probably be ready for the next Beginner's world. After that, I plan to join the modern times (though it seems joining so late may mean big companies will crush me, is that so?). On second thought, if I feel OK about getting crushed, I may directly start in the modern times.

My issue is, before starting to actually play I would like to be able to see the statistics of airplanes and airports and whatnots to contemplate me a strategy. Is it possible to see basic information (price, range, capacity, speed, turnaround times, year introduced) of airplanes in the gameworld I am interested in?

Thanks all in advance for your time.
Regards,

Emrah (future CEO of IPW (intra-planetary ways))

[Sami]

Have you used the demo first?

[diskoerekto]

I did not play the demo. When I first saw this game, demo was already full. Now I see it has space but I cannot dedicate myself to playing the game at the moment so I do not want to fill up the space which may be utilized more for somebody else. I was just after some statistics to put in an excel sheet and play around in my coffee breaks before serious game play.

Now I looked at it again and I saw there is plenty space in the demo game. If no stats for my excel is around, I may just join there for the time being. How limited is the demo game in terms of features and aircraft? Does it taking place in 1987 mean I will only access aircraft data of airplanes that flow that year?

Other than that, kudos for creating this great game. I look forward the day I'll participate.

Cheers,

[Sami]

The demo is always the same time frame and only North America. And each player can play demo only once..

Aircraft are also limited, all models for that time period are not available there. But for those that are all data is of course available (apart for some data presentations like payload/range charts, range maps and so on).

[diskoerekto]

for people who are playing the game at the moment, in the beginning of the scenario (for instance 1992), what is the source for used aircraft? Since the game is not started then, players will not be selling any aircraft. I think AI controlled companies will be selling aircraft then. What is the diversity of the aircraft that can be found on day zero of the game? Is it possible to buy less common aircraft like the 747SP or Il-86 or Fokker 100 on second hand market on day zero?

Also, how are the scenarios determined? I mean, will there be another "the modern times" after this one is finished? Do we expect to have a new long scenario start in the following months?

Lastly, is there a "freeze time" before the game starts? It would be great for less experienced players who will have to check lots of airports to choose a central hub and find a profitable route and decent aircraft. When the time starts to tick right away, players who already know what to do gain a huge advantage. If there was a freeze time of let's say 1 real day, other players would have a little chance to ponder what to do before time starts ticking and money flowing out.

[Sami]

For year 1992 as an example, you can buy any NEW plane that is available by that year. And for USED planes there will be a collection of models that have been available approx between years 1972-1990. (there are some 5000-7000 planes generated to the system when world is created, which are then coming to the market little by little .. and later planes that players have bought as new and are selling, or after they have gone bust).

The next opening world will be a modern era too, it's been requested quite much. And it's due to start this week probably (end of week). It won't be a 6 month long but something around 3-4 mnth.

When new world starts the initial 1st day is always 24hrs (realtime).

[diskoerekto]

Great to know those Sami (especially the real-time first day), and your concern to your customers is really unbelievable. I wish the new world would start in 1 month rather than 1 week but c'est la vie. Thank you once more for your quick reply. Lastly, great game going there, as a computer engineer I must say that you created yourself my dream job.

[Sami]

I am soon starting the work with the next game engine version (after the website's new layout work is done) and those updated games will then go live somewhere in Jan-Feb timescale, but that's a bit longer than 1 month from now then... The next opening game this week will be probably the last before those ones (though no promises).

[diskoerekto]

It seems I am going to stroll around the forums and try to learn by reading people. I may try any demo or beginners games in december and wait for the new games in jan/feb. Thank you once again for your help. If you need a freelance software engineer one day I can help free of charge .