BMS Community size: just how big is our community anyways?
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May I ask why u ask?
Στάλθηκε από το MI 5 μου χρησιμοποιώντας Tapatalk
You may indeed Arty. Keep in mind this is water cooler talk…
Every hobby seems to follow a life cycle, and few flightsims have enjoyed the reincarnations and fan loyalty that the Falcon evolution tree has been enjoyed, due to the relentless support from the fan community.
Due to the high amount of learning curve and inertia required to get a first tier commercial combat simulation going, from hardware to software to MP to training, it seems to me our community is both aging and the next gen isn’t interested, willing or able to join our ranks. Consoles and easy to learn shooters are mega hits. So for these observations and other sim competition, I suspect our ranks are either holding or folding. It also makes me wonder how Thrustmaster makes profit with its hotas offerings.
Interested in others perspective is all
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Thrustmaster is just fine thnx to elite and star wherisen. But considering that I joined in on falcon 4 when I was 16 and I am 33 now and that u don’t see many 15-20 year old around the Siming community I am curious as to what will happen. Perhaps space simmers will also develop a taste for study simms? Who knows
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Honestly I think that there would be many more BMSers if graphics fidelity had a way to increase.
Really gameplay wise there is nothing like BMS.Oh and if like i have stated before in order for BMS to go to that next level of adoption two things are more realism in the avionics of aircraft other than the F-16.
Graphics. Than step up realism of weapons system simulation. Its already at an acceptable level.
Over the next ten years those things would keep BMS on the rise in my opinion.I see new people joining here and there perhaps we would be surprised if we measured it.
To be honest I feel like there are more Falconeers now than whan I started 15 years ago.
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The FB group has 1436 members https://www.facebook.com/groups/Falcon4BMS/
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Well seems so.
I would say due to the crisis free time is reduced.
Money for new rigs is also the same.
But youngsters keep coming.
The flaw is there. Have in mind that new games ask for monthly fees which comes to ouch.
The learning got more serious along with the sim.
Youngsters don’t like it but the few have more quality, and to tell you the truth to waste time on guys that just flee after a few flights were you spend much time ain’t the best. So better few than more.Στάλθηκε από το MI 5 μου χρησιμοποιώντας Tapatalk
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Well, if i might add something into this…
I am not only from the younger generation (born in ´93) but also work in the gaming industry. And well, sims don´t pay out anymore. It´s quite the same with tactical shooters. Yes you see players that are craving for new sims like the Janes series, Falcon, or shooters like SWAT 3 or the good ol´ Rainbow Six and Ghost Recon. But these are not trendy, nor flashy, nor user friendly. Most companies, including the one i work in, do what they love, sure. Games… but… the situation is difficult. The market is oversaturated, trends come and go, and every developer needs money. To pay your people, to pay for the development, and to exist in a market that is as hostile as any other open market… but the majority of players, casuals to regular players to the hardcore, just don´t seem to be interested, and modern developers don´t take ANY risks, and do only what is trendy and what will work. Open World games, survival games, and the cover/First Person shooters. Simulations are not dead, sure they are not, but are niche games just like point-and-click adventures, which too, are not dead. Its just that they are niche games… games evolved, people changed, trends are different…
There is a buttload of “shovelware” simulators for mundane things like Forklifts and Police sims, made in germany most of the time, since the market there is different…
I grew up with simulation games. I loved them since the first i ever played. But the learning curve might kill anyone, who expects a reward for every little thing they do. Which is what those kids, MY generation, grew up with. Games then rewarded you for every little thing, which is psychologically great, you feel exited, and it is simple enough to win. Schools, movies, ale do the same. Rewards for everything, lens flares and flashy visuals, everything stimulating your brain to consume.
Take BMS, you get smacked in the face with data, books, research material, need a flightstick, and in the first hours you will want to tear your face down with rusty nails. But… then you come back from your first mission… and wow, that feeling ? that is addictive.
So, my generation has the attention span of a goldfish, is egocentric, and dumb as bread left to mold. Do you want these players ? No. You want the dedicated ones. Those that invest time to learn how to fly this monstrosity.
Less is more my friends!
Enough rambling anyways. Sorry for the wall of text. And sorry for my english, again… im doing my best.
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To be honest I feel like there are more Falconeers now than whan I started 15 years ago.
Correct , we have new comers every day, just look at the forum welcome !!!
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well Mav this is not a very good measurement as you don’t have those that stop.
in welcome section there are 2.592 threads since feb 2013 this means 518 per year.
Buh too few, I believe it’s more. many don’t say hello just post in the zero post thread.On the other hand we don’t have those that stop from BMS and believe me they are many.
In the old days from my squad ppl was coming and going like crazy now the flow is reduced and we also wanted this cause toooo much wasted time to train ppl that flee after a while. So why bother?
Many ppl are here just for the DF and only that, in our squad we don’t consider them Falconiers, just shoot em uppers on a different platform and we reject them.What surprises me is that still there are guys that used to enjoy F4 or AF and by luck they discover BMS. Sure we don’t have paid marketing but there are many FB YT forums sites teamspeak and still the word doesn’t reach the ears and eyes of those from the old days.
On the other hand new blood comes in to contribute in the community… I don’t know the ratio of it but since volunteers raise then members are even more… in the measure of hundreds.
Another example in our FB channel we have thousands of ppl but very few want to get in deeper. some just fool around by them selfs, but they don’t even scratch the surface.
One major issue I believe is that many understand what it’s about, they are serious, but consider us top notch and they fear they will embarrass them selfs so they don’t dare to join active squads. -
well Mav this is not a very good measurement as you don’t have those that stop.
in welcome section there are 2.592 threads since feb 2013 this means 518 per year.
Buh too few, I believe it’s more. many don’t say hello just post in the zero post thread.On the other hand we don’t have those that stop from BMS and believe me they are many.
In the old days from my squad ppl was coming and going like crazy now the flow is reduced and we also wanted this cause toooo much wasted time to train ppl that flee after a while. So why bother?
Many ppl are here just for the DF and only that, in our squad we don’t consider them Falconiers, just shoot em uppers on a different platform and we reject them.What surprises me is that still there are guys that used to enjoy F4 or AF and by luck they discover BMS. Sure we don’t have paid marketing but there are many FB YT forums sites teamspeak and still the word doesn’t reach the ears and eyes of those from the old days.
On the other hand new blood comes in to contribute in the community… I don’t know the ratio of it but since volunteers raise then members are even more… in the measure of hundreds.
Another example in our FB channel we have thousands of ppl but very few want to get in deeper. some just fool around by them selfs, but they don’t even scratch the surface.
One major issue I believe is that many understand what it’s about, they are serious, but consider us top notch and they fear they will embarrass them selfs so they don’t dare to join active squads.dont worry , DCS will be burried before we die
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Dong!
Where did DCS came in?Στάλθηκε από το MI 5 μου χρησιμοποιώντας Tapatalk
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Well, if i might add something into this…
I am not only from the younger generation (born in ´93) but also work in the gaming industry. And well, sims don´t pay out anymore. It´s quite the same with tactical shooters. Yes you see players that are craving for new sims like the Janes series, Falcon, or shooters like SWAT 3 or the good ol´ Rainbow Six and Ghost Recon. But these are not trendy, nor flashy, nor user friendly. Most companies, including the one i work in, do what they love, sure. Games… but… the situation is difficult. The market is oversaturated, trends come and go, and every developer needs money. To pay your people, to pay for the development, and to exist in a market that is as hostile as any other open market… but the majority of players, casuals to regular players to the hardcore, just don´t seem to be interested, and modern developers don´t take ANY risks, and do only what is trendy and what will work. Open World games, survival games, and the cover/First Person shooters. Simulations are not dead, sure they are not, but are niche games just like point-and-click adventures, which too, are not dead. Its just that they are niche games… games evolved, people changed, trends are different…
There is a buttload of “shovelware” simulators for mundane things like Forklifts and Police sims, made in germany most of the time, since the market there is different…
I grew up with simulation games. I loved them since the first i ever played. But the learning curve might kill anyone, who expects a reward for every little thing they do. Which is what those kids, MY generation, grew up with. Games then rewarded you for every little thing, which is psychologically great, you feel exited, and it is simple enough to win. Schools, movies, ale do the same. Rewards for everything, lens flares and flashy visuals, everything stimulating your brain to consume.
Take BMS, you get smacked in the face with data, books, research material, need a flightstick, and in the first hours you will want to tear your face down with rusty nails. But… then you come back from your first mission… and wow, that feeling ? that is addictive.
So, my generation has the attention span of a goldfish, is egocentric, and dumb as bread left to mold. Do you want these players ? No. You want the dedicated ones. Those that invest time to learn how to fly this monstrosity.
Less is more my friends!
Enough rambling anyways. Sorry for the wall of text. And sorry for my english, again… im doing my best.
You know, as an employer, I would think that BMS players might be a good place to look for talent as it takes a certain level of commitment and dedication to play this game, something severely lacking in today’s snowflake-driven environment.
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@Cloud:
Just before your Dong!!!
C9
:rofl:
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You know, as an employer, I would think that BMS players might be a good place to look for talent as it takes a certain level of commitment and dedication to play this game, something severely lacking in today’s snowflake-driven environment.
He said game and play.
//it’s not me someone else pointed it out… :lol:
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VR devices spreading could be key to attract new players.
Flight sims could benefit from this devices cause immersion become almost real.Once VR prices will go lower and considering BMS as lot less hardware-requiring software , you will have a boom.
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Dong!
Where did DCS came in?Στάλθηκε από το MI 5 μου χρησιμοποιώντας Tapatalk
Well for people that want military sims they have only two choices
As you are questioning abut BMS dying soon , I just say that we will not and might bring back the DCS players that have shamingly moves from BMS
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VR devices spreading could be key to attract new players.
Flight sims could benefit from this devices cause immersion become almost real.Once VR prices will go lower and considering BMS as lot less hardware-requiring software , you will have a boom.
HUD display is still an issue for VR I believe
MFD resolution as well
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VR could be the future, probably even is, but it will take a few years untill they are avaliable for common folk, and will work properly, without giving you a headache after a few minutes. I am really looking forward to them… had the pleasure to use some, and it was a pretty cool experience.
On the other hand… can you imagine having a home made pit, VR googles AND direct hand movement in the game ? Sure you would have to sell a kidney for that kind of stuff but i mean… you have two, right ?!
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Well for people that want military sims they have only two choices
As you are questioning abut BMS dying soon , I just say that we will not and might bring back the DCS players that have shamingly moves from BMS
errr where did I questioned that Mav?
Please don’t put words in my mouth.
I didn’t even imply such thing. You said look at the welcome and I said I believe they are more than what is depicted in the welcome threads.
I don’t imply that stopping bms means they go to dcs.
Example I stopped bms but I don’t fly anything else, I just develop for bms theaters and in general.
Others just stop cause of family, or work, or interest, or free time, or zilion other reasons.Is dcs haunting u or u see it in a manner of competition?
if yes u shouldn’t.
BMS is fine, competition is just not there.
It’s a different path.
One is religion the other is money. -
You guys need to at the stats for Falcon 4.0 sales per year believe me FALCON is doing juuuuuuuust fine.
They get their updates for free from BMS (damn near criminal but thank god we get it).
Basically Falcon4.0 on steam alone is making about a mil a year in sales alone. So the player base is there.
Some things that would help a bigger community is if the game had an internal way of connecting say like BMS hosted official server for dogfights that had leaderboards at different simulation levels. BVR WVR TE competitions.
You know like E-Sports. You could even do cool things like the best E-Sports team versus the real thing as a promotion.I have though about starting something like this but as I research it really needs to be done in game out of game ways dont catch on enough to drive any sponsors or business. Too much friction.