VBS2 Tools and Hello Again!

Well guys, I'm back, I've just had my third and hopefully final operation to fix my right knee up, I'm in recovery mode at the moment. Sorry I haven't updated in a while, I was kind of rushed into surgery sooner than expected, I literally thought I'd be waiting two weeks, I was in after 3 days.

I've read contradicting statements on the VBS2 tools as of 1.3 lately, where I had once been told that non-commercial users of VBS2 would receive all tools and updates for free including Visitor 4. Now recent information suggests that as of 1.3 there will be two different streams in regards to tools, literally the haves and have nots. All those new tools you've seen or heard about such as the face editor, FSM editor (much talked about for quite a few point versions) and now Visitor 4, seem to be part of a premium package yet to be announced.

The original information I had read had said that these tools would be provided to all commercial users on the condition a valid maintenance/support contract was in place at the time of release. As for PE users it had been suggested that as they are operating under non-commercial licenses that free distribution to them as individuals would not be out of the question. As far as the FSM editor goes it has been previously stated by BIA/BISim that the FSM Editor would be one tool freely released as part of a tools update in 2009. Information suggests at this stage that the 1.3 tools will include the FSM editor but given the suggestion V4 and the face editor will require users to fork out more hard earned, has the free status of the FSM editor changed?

One could argue that at any rate FSM is not an entirely essential part of VBS2 development as similar effects can be achieved through SQF.  As for the face editor, how many people will actually use it over current methods that involve a quick bit of face manipulation in photoshop? With regards to content creation on the new and improved engine coming with ArmA2 we may see a point where V3 becomes obsolete, but until then it is still a valid and useful terrain tool, V4 may introduce some new things and potentially remove the need for VLB and its modules. At the end of the day the terrain developer will work with what he's got to develop the playbox, regardless of the tools used, the limiting factor is more than likely the game engine itself.

As for ArmA2, be sure to keep an eye out for it in the next month, scheduled release dates for most of the globe fall around the release date for the UK and EU of June 19th. For those of us in AU/NZ we will be apparently waiting a few more weeks for our copies, Australia could find itself in the unfortunate position of a ban if the level of violence in the game is too excessive for a MA15+ rating. Of course this wont likely stop imports by dedicated ArmA/OFP fans, just the fact we could be the only country in the world to ban a title is cause for concern.

Jamie.