Michael F

I said it was simple, not quick. It's a simple matter of triage, they have better things to work on. The engine, the code, and the visual resources are in the game (shy the 3d models, but the exterior one is apparently finished) so it's a matter of doing the work and hunting the bugs. As someone who's done ballistic modeling and 3d terrain, those are some of the hardest parts. The fire control system would probably give me nightmares to make. Considering, as I said, every single part of the equation is in-game (except the interior) it's not starting from scratch, it's a matter of re-purposing. This is a ten year old project and a piece of art in functionality. Everything is smooth and slick. That doesn't happen my accident. Well organized code, which is obviously in place, saves a huge amount of work. Then again, this is an awful lot of conversation about someone asking if there was a 3d interior of the A2.

This is quickly spiraling off topic, and I'd be happy to discuss it elsewhere instead, but I was talking from a simulation standpoint. It's not hard to make another viewpoint (it's the same as a normal commander's view) and there's already a FLIR system in-game. Also the armor is already integrated with the new model, and the dual axis mirror is already modeled on the Leopard. The commander can already take control of the turret, although bearings would be nice sometimes to stop overcompensation. Everything except the modeling of the interior (and the C4 equipment) is a -relatively- simple change over from the standpoint of a sim. I'm personally pleased they're adding it at all, as it appears their primary American market is civilian fans (although I could be wrong). So I guess to get back to the original question I was weighing in on, while an M1A2 that's crewable could certainly be the case in the future (not that I'm speaking for eSim, I'm just a customer) I wouldn't expect a fully modeled interior any time soon. I'm actually impressed the M1A1 is 3D modeled as completely as it is. Again, I didn't think the US Army/USMC used the software, and the only other region I know using the M1A2 is Saudi Arabia. Seriously the knobs and lights work, I can't expect that to be anything but a high-end commission or a labor of love.

I'm not following. If you're discussing an integrated system that uses a network to display tactical information across the unit, then yes, that would take some doing (or simply have a visible-invisible toggle for the map), but as far as the sight itself, isn't it just a thermal vision system? The top of the Abrams is modeled, so it shouldn't be a problem to get the sight proper to work.

Well, fully modeled interior aside, wouldn't the M1A2, aside from slight armor differences (I know there's been some discussion here on that point) simply have the commander's thermals? I know it's a step back from the M1A1's pretty comprehensive commander's station, but the gunner station is nowhere near as modeled as the Leopard. It could be modeled identically to the commander's use of the GPS. Is that the right terminology? Is that an extension of the GPS, or a separate system? In any case, I'm verymuch looking forward to the upgrade, and since the cost is what I saved with the current ordering special, I'll probably do it just as a matter of course. Of course, all I ever use is the M1A1 anyway, but new vehicles are always nice.

Signed up, thank you. Looking forward to the update.

You have a newsletter? Do I get it from purchasing the program, or is it opt-in on the eSim web site?

Otto, don't get down about your comments. I'm having fun reading them. Come on, I taught myself tank gunnery in a simulator simply because I wanted to run in a tank. I'm always up for hearing more interesting things. I know you had a little bit of trouble getting everything up and running, and you're excited about it, and maybe being forced to run through the tutorials with no experience with the vehicle gave me a leg up for the program, but it's a very quick learning curve. I just wish my computer didn't eat that AAR with my 1600 meter no-FCS shot I did that one time. Yes, it was luck as much as skill. Anyway, this is easily my favorite purchase in many years, and I think you'll enjoy it as well, but just think of it like a new vehicle. You have to get used to this particular one.