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Chat with CFS2 Game Designer Rob Brown
When: December 15, 6pm PDST
Where: Internet Gaming Zone
Our series of Combat Flight Simulator 2 chat room discussions continued on the 15th with Game Designer Rob Brown.
Prior to working at Microsoft, Rob spent 11 years at Boeing as a lead design engineer. A former art lead at Microsoft, he subsequently served as the lead designer for CFS2, designed missions for Combat Flight Simulator, and is currently involved in design work for Fighter Ace, Crimson Skies 2 and CFS3. As a game designer, he led the overall design of CFS2 as well as designing the Mission Builder that was used to create all the missions and campaigns that shipped with the game.
Once again, the conversations were spirited and the questions flew fast and furious. The following is the transcript of the online chat; Mariah moderated.
Moira@FA> Tonight we welcome Combat Flight Simulator 2 Game Designer Rob Brown. In order to ensure that we get the greatest number of people through the chat, we ask that you limit your questions and comments to how Rob went about designing and making CFS2.
As his background isn't Multiplayer, we will not be dealing with any MP questions. We can talk about how things were done in CFS2 and discuss ideas for the future, but we will not be talking about patches and modifications to the current program.
OK guys, here we go!
AoA_WindDancer> Just wanted to welcome you and tell you that you guys did a great job on CFS2. Looking forward to more from you guys in the future, mate. Thank you for giving us a great game. Sure is a lot better than CFS was. What was the best thing about CFS2, IYHO?
Robb@MS> Thanks for the welcome. Planes, campaign, mission builder?hard to pick just one.
AoA_WindDancer> What about the carrier?
Robb@MS> Carrier ops were cool.
AoA_WindDancer> OK, thanks.
Robb@MS> They were a real challenge to work in.
AoA_WindDancer> Would like to see them in FA3.
Robb@MS> Lol. We will work on that.
Moira@FA> Thanks WindDancer! Moving on now!
AoA_WindDancer> Thanks, Rob! Next!
Shadow_Bshwackr> I'm in charge of the Annual CFS Convention this year, are you or any of the CFS staff wanting to or would like to attend? AND, in the CFS2 game, when you open the chat box you loose control of the plane (probably like a real one...lol), any idea why?
Robb@MS> Hmm, I think I talked to you last year about the CFS Convention.
Shadow_Bshwackr> Not me but close,lol.
Robb@MS> We all wanted to come, but were very busy with CFS2 development. Why don't you mail us at cfsideas and tell us about it.
Shadow_Bshwackr> Rgr...I can do that.
Robb@MS> Chat box - it is a know issue. I have seen this myself and it is a bother.
Shadow_Bshwackr> Are there going to be any plans to fix it in the future?
Robb@MS> We never say never ;-)
Shadow_Bshwackr> Lol...Ok thanks guys.... and I love the CFS2 game, BTW.
Moira@FA> Thank you Shadow! Let's take the next one!
HA_needacar1> How come that in CFS2 the .air,.cfg,.dp files are so much easier to change?
Robb@MS> Well, as the game becomes more complex those files get more complex. There is about a ton of new data in those files to control the way the game plays.
HA_needacar1> But wouldn't they be harder to change then?
Robb@MS> You want them harder? Ah, I see; you mean CFS2 is easier?
HA_needacar1> Yeah.
Robb@MS> Well, speaking from creating those files myself, I'd say they are harder--lol--but money can do wonders.
HA_needacar1> OK, just most pass through restrict,,It was a multi-player question I tried to change around.
Robb@MS> Good try.
Moira@FA> OK, Bart Simpson, go ahead please!
Bart_Simpson455> How did you estimate the maneuverability for the CFS2 planes? Did you just read books or have a pilot fly some old warbirds?
Robb@MS> Hey Bart.
Bart_Simpson455> Hey Rob.
Robb@MS> We did consult with many real WWII pilots and pilots of warbirds. We also used a lot of book data and made our fight models match those as best we could.
It's really a subjective exercise. No matter who you try to please someone will think its wrong
Bart_Simpson455> Well, I heard all of the planes in CFS2 but the Zero are bricks with wings. Wouldn't know myself cause I'm poor and the comp can't handle it, lol.
The Hawker in CFS1 was a major screw up...the 190 was rather poorly done as well, except the dp.
Robb@MS> We have an extremely talented team of people that create and test those flight models.
Moira@FA> At the end of tonight's chat, Rob will present autographed copies of CFS2 to three lucky--if random--participants. Stay tuned!
Moira@FA> Badjoints! Go ahead please!
BadJoints> CFS1 had no support, fixes or patches from MS. CFS2 could have fixed some issues from CFS1 but did the reverse. Also, no support, fixes or patches. Now we hear of CFS3.Is this too a "buyer beware" CFS? The "fix it yourself" that Tucker told us to do with CFS2? (NOTE: Program Manager Tucker Hatfield's chat of November 29th).
Robb@MS> Hmm, not exactly the topic of tonight's chat.
BadJoints> OK, LOL...I'll come back.
Moira@FA> HA 2112, your turn!
HA_2112> Why make it so easy to change aircraft.cfg in a restricted game?????
Robb@MS> I take it you mean multiplayer?
HA_2112> Yes.
Robb@MS> I'm not the expert on multiplayer, but everyone wants to hack it. We hope that the community will police itself a bit also, fly with people you know.
HA_2112> You made it easier. Why?
Robb@MS> Actually, we didn't. We went a long ways to check some other stuff.
Moira@FA> Rifleman! Go ahead please!
SK_Rifle_Man> 'Sup?
Robb@MS> Chill'n
SK_Rifle_Man> First off I want to compliment you on CFS1. It was a team effort. Who do I talk to about MW4?
Robb@MS> That's another chat I think.
SK_Rifle_Man> I entered the wrong room.
Robb@MS> No problem.
Moira@FA> Luke, welcome! Your turn!
LukeFFC> How were the campaign mission goals created? It seems quite burdensome to me that one player has to shoot down 4+ enemies single-handedly in order to complete certain missions. Shouldn't there be more focus on team tactics?
Robb@MS> Well, that's just it, you were never meant to shoot them all down yourself. That's why we included wingman commands.
LukeFFC> I understand, but if I don't meet a personal quota, I will get a "Mission Failed," even though all the enemies were shot down.
Robb@MS> That could be. I'm not sure which mission you're talking about, but if you check the advanced briefing it should tell you. Also, it's important to remember that you can fail a mission and keep on playing, just as in real life. Just don't die.
Moira@FA> K32_Terror...fire away!
K32_Terror> Hi there (sorry, lost my text).
Robb@MS> No problem.
K32_Terror> Is it possible for two people to work with each other against a common enemy?
Robb@MS> Only in multiplayer as a team.
K32_Terror> Ah!
Robb@MS> That is something we are looking at for a future version.
K32_Terror> Well, that answered that one. Thanks for your time:-)
Moira@FA> VMF124_Flack, take your turn at bat please!
VMF124_Flack_CO> AHH! I lost my text! I hit enter too early. Sorry!
Robb@MS> It's OK.
VMF124_Flack_CO> My question was how long was CFS2 in development and what is the basis of the next CFS?
Robb@MS> First part, about two years. Last part, they would shoot me and you if I told you. ;-)
VMF124_Flack_CO> Rgr.
Moira@FA> Oooooooookay! On to the next one! Kondor, go ahead please!
KG200_Kondor> Hi Robb, I wanna compliment you on a great job with these games. But now, here is a question that I know it may not be your field, the MP is really messed up, like maybe co-op missions and droppable bombs in MP and such would be nice.
Robb@MS> Yes, I agree that they would be really nice.
KG200_Kondor> Is there a way you could convince your fellow mates to think about this more wisely?
Moira@FA> Off topic for this chat Kondor, sorry.
KG200_Kondor> Sorry.
Moira@FA> Wolf? Go ahead please. :)
VMF124_Wolf> My question is--sorry, I know this is CFS2--but why didn't you guys program it so we could use torpedoes and bombs In Multi?
Robb@MS> Hi Wolf.
VMF124_Wolf> Hi. Nice Job on CFS1 by the way. Was that question like Kondor's?
Moira@FA> OK, Wolf, we have to move on. Sorry, off topic.
_Conscript__> First off, great game! Now my question: what does easy, medium, hard flight mode mean? Also, how did a Zero gets it's name, if you know? Thank you for your time :)
Robb@MS> I am not sure what you mean.
_Conscript__> You have easy, medium and hard flight modes. What do they mean?
Robb@MS> They change how hard it is for you to fly the plane. Check the manual; it has a really good section on this. Or the web page.
BTW, Zero is short for the "Type O" fighter. The allies stuck the "Zero" name on as the official nickname.
_Conscript__> OK, thanks.
Robb@MS> Welcome!
General_Rahl> Hello Rob, I am currently the owner of CFS1, and I'm considering purchasing CFS2. I've heard it's VERY well done. This may be wasting your time, but what are some of the major differences between 1 and 2? Thanks a lot. Keep up the phenomenal work!
Robb@MS> Mission Builder, much better campaign, wingman commands, much better art and audio
General_Rahl> Wow, thanks! Lol.
Robb@MS> Check it out. I don't think you will be disappointed.
Moira@FA> Hiya GregoryP!
_714_gregoryp> Thank you for fixing the drag bug in CFS2, it's made the flight models much better. You have a bug in the program you use to create the flight models since CFS1. We've tried to tell you but you don't want to listen, why? Is there an Email contact point?
Robb@MS> Send your info to cfsideas on the web site. I promise I read every one of them. Tell us what you think, give us your reasons why and we will look into it.
Moira@FA> Luke, go ahead please :)
LukeFFC> Why was it decided not to make the Oscar and the dive and torpedo bombers not player-flyable? And the P-40 is strangely missing.
Robb@MS> Well, we can only do so much in two years, we have to pick and choose. Believe it or not we have to show a profit if we want to keep making CFS, so it has to fit in the schedule. We can't do them all as player flyables.
Moira@FA> Rmagddon, your turn!
FT_Rmagddon> Hi, I only have one question and it is a gen CFS2. Is a patch in the works for CFS2 in gen. that you know of, and/or will it be called CFS3?
BTW, the things MS does with CFS2 will determine how many people buy CFS3.
Robb@MS> Check the SDK's that are coming out for some fixes.
Moira@FA> Friendly reminder folks, we can't talk patches tonight. Rob is a mission designer, not a software person responsible for patches.
FT_Rmagddon> OK, TY.
Robb@MS> Sorry, guys.
Moira@FA> Twisted Oak, your question please :)
_TWISTEDOAK> The gun sight is off, it's really annoying. Am I missing something, was this on purpose? It's on at a higher zoom
Robb@MS> Not sure what you are referring to; what plane?
_TWISTEDOAK> The tracers all fire low on the gunsight.
Robb@MS> Ah, it's just an optical illusion. They are really going right through the death dot; if you increase the zoom they become right on.
_TWISTEDOAK> So it's supposed to shoot off and the crosshairs mean nothing?
Robb@MS> Exactly. It's a resolution problem.
VMF124_Flack_CO> Will there be a manual out for the Mission Builder? It's quite complicated and I can't seem to figure it out...nothing much about it in the included game manual. It's a nice feature but HOW DO I USE IT?
Robb@MS> We are doing several articles that will be on the web site to show you how to use it.
VMF124_REAPER> Why the lacking of USAAF planes?
Robb@MS> We were going for the Navy this time around, but the P-38 is in there.
Moira@FA> Luke, go ahead please :)
LukeFFC> Damage modeling...it seems that very few bullet or cannon hits to the nose, wingtip, or oil reservoir will throw the roll rate out the window. Is this an anomaly? Or is it just me?
Robb@MS> Ok, we found this one too. It's a problem with flak, actually. We are in the process of putting up a fix for this-not a PATCH-it's in the SDK.
LukeFFC> The current SDK on the site? Or one to be released in the future?
Robb@MS> One TBD. Look for it shortly.
LukeFFC> Good to hear. Thanks!
Moira@FA> Blizard.. please post your question!
EURO_COLBlizard> Even though there are some problems in this game, I still love it to death! Keep on producing more of them!
P.S. Be nice guys or he'll put a bug in the next version, lol.
Robb@MS> Thank you for saying so. It's a blast to make.
Moira@FA> Hiya gregoryp~!
_714_gregoryp> Will there be an AIR file SDK? And when could we expect it?
Robb@MS> First, check the current Flight Sim SDK. Then check the CFS2 SDK part one that just came out.
_714_gregoryp> It doesn't address AIR files.
Robb@MS> Then watch for more info on the CFS2 web site.
_714_gregoryp> Tanks.
Moira@FA> Kaos, you're up at bat. Go ahead please. :)
VMF124_Kaos> Why is it that you collide so easily with other aircraft even though you are over 30 feet away, is it a bug or glitch?? (I know you are not a software designer). Also, is there a feature where you can also start AI planes on an aircraft? What is SDK?
Robb@MS> Hi Kaos.
VMF124_Kaos> Hi.
Robb@MS> SDK=Software Development Kit.
VMF124_Kaos> Sorry...on aircraft carriers?
Robb@MS> Nothing to start AI on an aircraft carrier. Collide is in multiplayer or in single play. Multi is a lag issue.
VMF124_Kaos> OK, but will there be an improvement so you can start aircraft on carriers?
Robb@MS> I am sure that someone may yet come up with a way to get AI on a carrier, I don't think from us. That's another version feature.
_Conscript__> What mission for you was the most fun to design. and which mission was the hardest for you to design?
Robb@MS> All of them were fun, I enjoyed the ground attack stuff the best.
_Conscript__> Cool! What was the hardest one to design?
Robb@MS> Some of the hardest to play balance were the carrier vs carrier ones.
_Conscript__> Next person!
Moira@FA> TY, Conscript!
jalsina> Hey Rob! Nice chatting with you here. What are your latest plans with a more universal country.cfg and the non-stock allegiances (related with radio messages)? What is your SDK schedule? How many? And tools content?
Robb@MS> We will be posting one in the coming days; there will be an article addressing the radio messages.
jalsina> Finally, you are going up with a new country.cfg?
Robb@MS> SDK schedule is as soon as we can get it done, there are many other projects competing for our limited resources.
jalsina> Are you planning to release some information on the events/triggers language?
Robb@MS> Yes, there will be a series of articles on this as well. Take care Jorge.
jalsina> You too!
Moira@FA> Thank you for attending tonight! And thank you Rob for joining us!
Robb@MS> My pleasure,
Moira@FA> Thank you to everyone for participating, and congratulations to our three winners tonight: Gen. Rahl, Euro_ColBlizzard and Conscript. They get the signed copy of CFS2. Congrats guys!!!
Robb@MS> Enjoy!
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