The science fiction movie (classic?) "When Worlds Collide" was released in 1951.  A rouge star named Bellus, was on a collision course with Earth.  The source of Earth's destruction also provided its salvation.   The plan was to launch a spaceship to Zyra, a lone Eden-like planet orbiting Bellus, and re-establish the human race.  The challenge was to complete the construction of the spaceship before Bellus annihilated the Earth.  (There were the usual subplots of who goes and who stays and who gets to hook up with the chief scientist's pretty daughter.)

Except for the subplots, the Red Baron game is staring down it's own Bellus and it has many faces.  As Microsoft moves inexorably on with developing new operating systems, complete incompatibility with Red Baron is probably only just a matter of time.   3dfx, the only manufacturer of Glide-capable graphics hardware, is gone.  We must now resort to e-Bay and other sources for old stock or used hardware in order to enjoy the game to its fullest.  Access to our homegrown upgrades continues to shift and move as inexpensive website hosts continue to disappear.

So where is our Zyra?  We take consolation in that add-ons continue to be created, albeit at a tricking rate.  Hopefully, WOV is also contributing to our near term survival.  The efforts of Flybert in coordinating and maintaining the massive volume of paints is also a major factor.  Unfortunately, these factors may just be rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.  It makes us feel good but may prove to do little to alter the outcome.

Our Zyra can come in one of two forms but only one is in our hands.  We must grow our community.  We can probably be measured in the hundred at best but preferrably, we should be in the thousands.  We must make it easy for newcomers to enjoy the capabilities made possible by patches and add-ons.  Most will be young and with modest computer skills.  Squadrons can help grow our numbers but there are few that are strong and stable.  Many are struggling to hold on to their present members.   There is not yet enough unity in the squadron community to recognize that our differences pale in comparison to the looming obliteration from the approaching Bellus.

When it comes to the solutions that we can implement, in summary they are:

Remove the dependency on Glide

We must move to OpenGL or some other 3D format so that as we move to more modern graphics cards, we can take Red Baron with us.

Operating System Compatibility

We need to be fully compatible with Windows2000 and XP.   New computers are being shipped with these operating systems.  This is where our new members will come from.

Easy Access to Upgrades and Add-ons

Wings of Valor does not have to be the centerpiece of this issue but something has to.  There needs to be one place where just about everything is available.  Plenty of accurate and simple to understand information must be available so that an increasing number of new players are not intimidated by the process of improving their Red Baron experience.

Better Organization of Patches and Add-ons

The very thing that we enjoy about all the add-ons may actually hurt us in the long run.  There is a large degree of incompatibility with all the patches and add-ons.  There are multiple flight modes, terrain files, sound patches, plane designs and at best, it is a tricky business to get them all to behave in a stable installation.  Instructions range from adequate through spotty to non-existent.   Maybe some consolidation is in order.

A Shift from a Communal Organization to a Republic

We operate in a communal fashion and it has served us well.   It has resulted in a highly configurable and customizable game with many options for the individual but is that good for our long term survival?  Should we move to a Republic where representatives act in our larger best interests to assure our survival?   This is a very difficult thing to even contemplate much less implement but remember, Bellus is coming.

The above items have a debatable possibility of assuring our survival.  Our ultimate Zyra could come from the professionals.  The game manufacturers.  With their teams of programmers, graphic artists and mainframe computers, they could rockets us to salvation.

But how likely is this solution?  There are no WWI sims in even the planning stages by major game manufacturers.  Several efforts by smaller players have been started and some have collapsed.  Even if a new WWI sim is released, will it have the features that Red Baron has that contributed to its astonishing survival to date?

There is a way to meld these two Zyras.  If we can put our own house in order and grow our community into the thousands, the software houses must take notice.  We would be an instant marketing source.  Projected sales numbers based on our input would be much more accurate.  Input from such a savvy group would be invaluable to the designing process.  If we demonstrate a commercially viable need by the strength of our community, then it is much more likely that a software company will provide our Eden-like Zyra, a place where we can all go and not leave anyone behind.

Salute
Chevelle
WOV Administrator
Chevelle@Wings-of-Valor.net