I'd like to raise the concern that ground combat is getting out of control given that this is a space game and you still haven't gotten a complete version out.
Not trying to tell you your business, just wanted to specifically attract your attention to this in particular.
It's not that the code is running off without me
. Where we are now with the ground combat is pretty much where I wanted to be when I started on this on this area a year ago. There is still some coding to do but the framework is firmly in place. It is has taken a while to build the complexity I wanted and to integrate that with an already complex game, although I have added a lot of other areas in the last year and had several months without much free time, so hasn't just been ground combat.
I accept ground combat has probably added at least six months to development time. However, I don't have a deadline to work to, or any time pressure beyond my own great desire to play the game (I haven't played Aurora in the last 2.5 years) and I believe it is worth spending the time to get this right. Besides, my sales numbers will be unaffected by any delay
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I don't want to place arbitrary boundaries on myself regarding what the game should or should not cover. Personally I am going to have great fun designing and employing the various ground forces that Aurora will now support, plus naval forces will be faced with entirely new missions added to those that exist in VB6 Aurora.