by Dan "Crash" Crenshaw

Q. The original SU-27 was very user friendly to 3rd party utilities, will 2.0 be the same?

CN - We've tried to make it that way but it is all new code and I'm sure we'll be adjusting things for months after the release to make things more accessible to the Third Party utility guys.

Q. What add-ons or enhancements do you see in the future of the SU series and will it directly interface with the current game, or be a whole new product with 2.0 incorporated?

CN - Our next product is going to be Su-39 (which I'd like to call "Su-39 Shturmovik", we'll see.) This simulation of the Sukhoi ground attack aircraft, the Su-25 and the Su-39. The Su-39 is the naval aviation variant of the Su-25 Frogfoot ground attack aircraft.

We will be finalizing the design for Su-39 in the weeks following the release of Flanker 2.0. The plan is to have these two products capable of working together. We are still working out the details. Regardless, our current plans are to continue to support the Flanker 2.0 product with patches and upgrades are required.

We also have plans for another product that is in the early planning stages so I don't want to go into further details except to say that like Su-39, it will be compatible with Flanker 2.0 and will feature more aircraft for the user to fly in the Flanker universe.

Q. Can you tell us when we can expect to see FLANKER 2.0 on the shelves?

CN - We plan to have this product on the shelves sometime in mid to late October 1999. We are currently in final Beta and things are looking very good for an October release. We still have some technical challenges, and we need to finish and polish the content portions (scenarios and campaign).

Q.Is there anything you would like to add? Expectations our readers may have that will not be included? Items that we do not know about yet?

Moscow and Flanker 2

CN - I'd like share a little about my recent trip to Moscow. I was in Moscow working with the Flanker Development Team from August 13 to August 22.

This was my fourth trip to Moscow. The trip was very productive and we were able to get much accomplished as we near the final days of Flanker 2.0 development. I worked very closely with many members of the Team and enjoyed the experience very much.

Artsts at work in Moscow

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Flanker 2 Team

This is a dedicated and talented group of people who have really put a lot of effort and care into the Flanker 2.0 product. They are very proud of their work and that pride can be seen in the final product. Things are tough in Russia these days and these people work very hard in an unpredictable economic situation.

The Development Group is part of The Fighter Collection organization and has offices in the northwestern part of Moscow. The Team regularly puts in 12-hour days, 6 times per week. While I was there we worked even longer hours on several of the major components of the simulation.

In particular, I was working with the various HUD modes, the view system, and the key command set up. Much work was also done on coordinating information for the final documentation for Flanker 2.0.

The office environment is very professional with a good-natured feeling. Humor is not lost between languages and there were a few moments for laughter mixed into the daily grind to finish the product.

Nick Grey with Igor Tishin

There is a full-time cook that provides the Team with the mid-day meal. The fare is typical Russian, starting with soup, bread, cheese, vegetables, and a main course that varied between meat and fish. The food is outstanding and was a welcome part of each day. I found that it was a great team building method having everyone eat together in a family style setting.

Mid-day Meal

I am very pleased to be working with such a group of talented professionals who have a real passion for the work. I've been fortunate to have made new friends in Russia; particularly the Team's Managing Director, Igor Anatoliovich Tishin, a professional whom I look forward to working with again soon.

Igor has had to put up with my attempts at speaking Russian. I drive him crazy by attempting to read all the signs and billboards as we are driving through Moscow. I look forward to the day I can take him to a Baseball game here in the USA so he can be the one that is confused!

Go to Part VII