[Radoye]

... for this GAME (and some people seem to forget that IL-2 is still a game too) to advance, a common standard is the best way ...

Common standard is an absolute must!!!

But now, as we are about to get that common standard with the apparent unification effort that is going on (not so smoothly but still going), this is the perfect opportunity to decide what exactly should this common standard be.

Do we want to have the so-called "Oleg's World" reality fixed and bring closer to "Real World" reality (or at least try to do so) or is "Oleg's World" good enough and all new content added in the future should be made to conform to it?

The decision can be to attempt to make a full modification of all content, FM/DM/WM and all including the stock flyables, or just a partial one (FM or WM only), or just stick with what we have now. Because the new "Unified Pack" will defacto set a new standard for online play it will be the "new stock". As long as everyone online is running with the same package it does not matter if the original stock flyables are still in it or not - what is important is that everyone has the exactly same planes.

The debate we have now is not unlike the debate that was going on at the Ubizoo back when first mods started to appear. There was one camp that believed all mods are bad and that modding will destroy the gameplay, while the other believed modding is the way to go and to make the IL-2 community even stronger. We can see now which one was right, because this game is today stronger than ever, and it has lasted us much longer than it would if there were no mods.

This is a big decision, one that is not to be taken lightly, but it needs to be taken quick or otherwise the opportunity will pass us by. Whatever is the decision, we all need to stick with it.

The sniping and jabbing that is going on between AAA and UP/SAS (and to make matters worse, this seems to be fuelled and encouraged by some high ranking members of BOTH these communities) does not help the situation one bit. You know who you are - SHAME ON YOU!

The modder community has proven it once before that it is capable of making the right decision and preserve the integrity of the game making it possible to survive and thrive so long. Now it's the time to show this maturity and integrity once again and work together. If we do, the possibilities are limitless. If we don't - it all dies here and now.

That's my $0.02 worth.