Dear friends,
Just so you know, ho, ho, ho: we are in our virtual VAB, preparing for our own "Return to Flight #2"
. Here is the latest report:
1. The ISS you all know from SSMS1 is all but gone. The new SSMS2 ISS is growing. We are currently working our rear burners off on improving the ISS model and adding all sorts of cool stuff to it - including the interior
That takes a lot of time, attention to detail, information gathering, modeling and energy.
2. Although we already released some sneak previews of the new, high resolution Earth engine, we still have a lot to add to it to make it even more realistic, so bear with us.
3. The 3D cockpit is fully operational and the very few bugs reported by the Alpha Team have been fixed. That very complex and critical part of SSMS2 is behind us already 99%.
4. Same goes for the new 3D MCC: we have no bugs reported on that section, but there is additional functionality that we plan to implement there, so that part of the project is still open.
Add to all the above the tons of new "things" that we have in store: more and surprising missions, new comunications, improved mathematical models, etc. and you'll become very realistic about the chances of seeing SSMS2 on the shelves this Christmas.
On the other hand, when SSMS2 does arrive, we don't want any of you to have the slightest feeling that you've wasted your hard-earned money on a pathetic sequel. We want us to be rightfully proud of SSMS2, just as we are of "SSMS1".
We also want you to be as engrossed by, supportive of, and enthusiastic about SSMS2 as you've been of SSMS1. We want SSMS2 to be - as the late Steve Jobs would have put it - "insanely great"
So for now, MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HANNUKA and HAPPY NEW 2012 (in 10 days from now <g>)
/Admin