As an older and original backer I'm really loosing more and more hope that the game I envisioned ever was or still is the game Chris is dreaming of. People keep discussing about controllers. About real physics. About speeds. Realism. About TTK and all such stuff. And I keep wondering: Wasn't this supposed to be a modern version of games like Wing Commander, Privateer and X-Wing ? Wouldn't it be time to lean back and have a look at those games and carefully evaluate what key elements made them great and fun ? I'm quiet sure realism or real physics weren't one of those but yet I'm aware that real Newtonian physics was part of the campaign from the start. So I'm afraid we are in a situation already where we have a conflict of some things this game was announced to be. I really doubt that this game can be a Space Combat Sim (a genre defined by Wing Commander and X-Wing) and a Space Flight Sim at the same time. I really doubt this game can try to be both and fun... (I'm actually in doubt this game could be realistic a space flight sim and the combat could be still fun...) I'm quiet sure the fact that those games required a Joystick (or at least there never was a doubt that the ships were meant to be controlled with a joystick) was part of what made them feel the way they felt. But there is IM and it's going to stay ? And a personal message to Chris Roberts (if he ever gets it) I'd like to repeat: Interactive mouse mode KILLED the space combat sim genre with Freelancer ! There were things to like about it but that abomination just plain killed it... For me... And many many others... I'm sure of that... I have still some hope for SQ42 only but I doubt the flight model etc. will differ from SC... I really wonder how other older backers (people that played WC, X-Wing etc.) do feel about this... Update: With the latest RTV giving me hope that there might be a change of mind: I'd like to repeat it hoping it might be heard: Chris - I loved all your games... But mouse control killed the space sim genre... It never ever felt right... It was fun - but it was shallow... I do not see a way how mouse and joystick can ever be balanced while the mouse is able to steer aim and flight at the same time... without using "dirty tricks" and "band aids" which seem to be the approach taken... Space Ships are just not meant to be flown with mice... And real physics shouldn't trump fun...