[Mazz]

Då har även jag gjort Microsoft glada med mitt engagemang i ACES studio. Dom kommer säkert att kontakta mig omgående... Eller inte...


***********

Dear Microsoft,

I am writing this due to the knowledge that Microsoft has decided to close down the ACES studio. Whit all respect of the current bad financial climate worldwide, I would despite to that recommend that Microsoft should reconsider that decision of the closure of the ACES studio. I will try to explain why this would be reasonable;

·The FS-franchise has proven to be a successor in many years. Now, when the world experience bad times, people needs to have something that does not cost a fortune but gives many hours of entertainment. In that matter, FS will continue to be sold in many copies.

·The TS-franchise does not have the same age and releases behind as the FS has. I believe that very few people at Microsoft believed that Microsoft Train Simulator back in 1999 / 2000 should be such successor as it turned out to be. Today, 8 years after its release, people still asks where they could by MSTS! MSTS and other TS vendors has proven that Train simulators IS a new and very high market potential for a new title, especially when the new title has so solid and powerful profile as TS-2 has.

·I can’t see any reason why a TS franchise should not become as strong as the FS franchise is today. Since TS as a young feature, it has not got the time yet to proven it market potential. Many people do not even be aware of that there is Train Simulators, but MSTS and others have created the base so a good marketing for a TS-2 would pay back, I believe. To be honest, if I think of my colleagues, friends etc excluding the train enthusiasts, I think that trains is of more interest for the average people, than airplanes. It just needs to be visible for the average people. I think that TS-3 could be a bigger title than FS, just continue to establish the base thru TS-2… Remember, MSTS-1 is still selling…

·I think that building several simulator titles on one platform, as the ACES team does, is just brilliant. Not just from technical and reusable issues, but also from market perspective. Since the customer base is already familiar with one discipline, the knowledge of one of the titles makes the step to purchase another title from the same platform would be more natural than if it was from a complete different vendor.

·Other titles have proven that an easy way of building things in the game is something that many people do care about. Take the Sims series as an example, where the player creates different things for the people and environments. I believe that a TS title that appeal to that aspect has the possibility to gain similar success, IF it is marketed as a natural part of the game AND that it is very easy to use. People want to create things to the games these days, not just play. TS has many possibilities to create things in the game, both with easy and more complicated challenges.

·Also other titles has proved that multi-player feature is what the market are interested of, I think a TS title is very suitable for that feature as well. While I think that TS-2 is wise to specify that it should not be included, I think that TS-3 should have it. An online multiplayer in a TS title has many challenges to be solved, but I think that this would also be the strengths in the long run. A well structured online multiplayer TS environment would attract many people, if it is well packaged and logical / easy to play. World of Warcraft has proven this statement.

·With an background as an employee in another large American company here in Sweden between 2000 and 2003, I am well aware of the “power” in the American style to shut down projects if any doubts, no matter of how much that is invested or the marketing potential. I did disagree to that philosophy in that company as well; a shut down must be taking into account what the project will cost from this date compared to the market potential. In some way, the cost already taking was in the cancellation decision already accepted to loose, therefore would this business calculation be reasonable.

·At last but not least, I want to send my best wishes to the TS-2 team at ACES and specially Rick Selby, Steve Heijster, Mike Porter for their appearance on the different TS communities. They have been acting very professional but in the same time with a large portion of enthusiasm. I think most of the community’s members have a very good feeling for how the ACES TS team where running the TS-2 project.

So, with above sentences, I would really hope that Microsoft is powerful enough to reconsider the decision to cut off the ACES studio.

Kindest Regards
jag


*******
Mycket bla bla, men nu har jag skrivit av mig i alla fall...