Changes to CA Downloads

[+Erik 1,886]

This is the topic to discuss any questions you may have about the upcoming changes to our download section. Before the complaints start, we are changing our download section as the announcement says. Free downloads will be disabled at midnight tonight 27 December 2024. Our paid subscription accounts will not be affected. Please pardon our dust while we make some changes and thank you in advance for understanding.

Erik

[+Gepard 11,580]

Are modders also affected? Downloads? Uploads?

[+Erik 1,886]

Modders will not be affected by any of the changes.

Erik

[+Muesli 2,193]

Because I think the financial support matters, I just took a 2 year subscription.
Although I am labeled a modder, these days are way behind me because Real life (tm) creates a lot of "bumps in the road".
Hopefully the money helps a little bit, if I can spare a little bit more I will try to support some more, but Military Disability Pensions here are not big money.

We'll make the best of 2025! Together! 

[sukhoy34 1,611]

I have been in this group for over 15 years, I have uploaded many mods and skins to the page, 
I had the title of modder but I had to open a new account because I forgot the password of my old account, my old friend's name is emresukhoi, I can't download it with my current name, isn't it a bit unfair?

This situation really upset me

These may be small figures for you, but the dollar exchange rate is very high in my country.

[+Muesli 2,193]

1 hour ago, sukhoy34 said:

I have been in this group for over 15 years, I have uploaded many mods and skins to the page, 
I had the title of modder but I had to open a new account because I forgot the password of my old account, my old friend's name is emresukhoi, I can't download it with my current name, isn't it a bit unfair?

This situation really upset me

These may be small figures for you, but the dollar exchange rate is very high in my country.

Just contact one of the CA gurus and explain the situation... there's nothing that can't be explained and worked out!

;-)

[sukhoy34 1,611]

9 minutes ago, Muesli said:

Just contact one of the CA gurus and explain the situation... there's nothing that can't be explained and worked out!

;-)

Thank you bro

[+ravenclaw_007 7,649]

from time to time i uploaded some weapons on the Weaponspack 3 thread , can i still do that or would that go against the new rules  ????

[mono27 85]

Free downloads are going to be back or they are gone forever?

I ask because I don't know if this is a temporary "off" due to maintenance on the web site.

[darkman 0]

4 hours ago, mono27 said:

Free downloads are going to be back or they are gone forever?

I ask because I don't know if this is a temporary "off" due to maintenance on the web site.

Yeah it's a good question.

[Stratos 3,211]

No manteinance, but a definitve measure to stop people from creating multiple accounts just to download mods, and to make the economical burden of Erik a bit more tolerable.

[mono27 85]

So, they are not freeware anymore.

Edited December 28, 2024 by mono27

[SgtSaunders 43]

In my humble opinion it would be better to still keep the 5 file download limit per day as it was before, it would be for users with more than 2 or 3 years and active in the forum and for accounts less than 1 or 2 years and as the new accounts, start using the file download subscriptions.

[+Erik 1,886]

8 hours ago, ravenclaw_007 said:

from time to time i uploaded some weapons on the Weaponspack 3 thread , can i still do that or would that go against the new rules  ????

I think we should discuss this in the Modder's forum where everyone can have some input. Can you post your question in the topic over there where we're discussing the download changes?

Thank you,

Erik

 

[+Erik 1,886]

10 hours ago, sukhoy34 said:

Thank you bro

Next time send a PM, posting email accounts and such in a public viewable space isn't the best option. Thank you.

[+Erik 1,886]

7 hours ago, mono27 said:

Free downloads are going to be back or they are gone forever?

I ask because I don't know if this is a temporary "off" due to maintenance on the web site.

This is a permanent change. All the options aren't rolled out yet so this is by no means a finished product.

[+Erik 1,886]

1 hour ago, SgtSaunders said:

In my humble opinion it would be better to still keep the 5 file download limit per day as it was before, it would be for users with more than 2 or 3 years and active in the forum and for accounts less than 1 or 2 years and as the new accounts, start using the file download subscriptions.

I appreciate your input, and I understand your concern. Here's the problem more directly so hopefully everyone can understand it.

The 5-file download limit per day does not work. Because free email accounts exist people go to the furthest extremes possible to beat a system put there to prevent unlimited free downloads. There are no options for us. We either switch to fully free downloads which is financially destructive, or we go to a pay for content model. It will not matter if we put an age restriction on the accounts, we'll end up with the same burden just one or two years down the road.

I have believed in the honesty and integrity of people for over 23 years doing this. I have supported them financially and I have believed that they would get their fill and things would calm down. Today CA delivers over three terabytes of data every month and that number continues to climb. Then there's the other side to managing the multitude of accounts people create to download, it takes me hours every single day to weed through them, 365 days per year no breaks or no time away. I pay to work here. To make things worse it's only making those people mad when their accounts get suspended. They go out onto the internet and talk trash about what we do and how horrible we are, but they never once look at it from our perspective. I challenge each of those people to make a luxury sized car payment, a mortgage payment for some, every single month to work at a place where you're the enemy while you're paying for their download content.

The change is here.

[Wrench 9,923]

What Erik said.

Don't you all think for a minuite, that this descision was made lightly or out of spite. Its a simple fact of life, that is stated pretty sucinctly above. There are literaly dozens and dozens of people that have multiple accounts, download to their hearts content, and NEVER EVER GIVE BACK TO THIS COMMUNITY IN ANY SINGLE WAY.

There was not other choice to make.

[+Viggen 650]

I don't download all that often, but this did just help remind me that I needed to re-up my subscription. Been here what, 17 years now? It's the least I can do.

Erik, for all your hard work, thank you.

[Tsqif_Ivan 2]

but erik i just got onto this thing pls give me some alternative

[Tsqif_Ivan 2]

i also new player of strike fighter 2 in pc, i played strike fighter in mobile and discover the pc version just bought it several weeks ago pls give me on chance to try some mod

[TheStig 43]

Been here for a very long time.  I eventually knew this would happen after all these years.  CA has done so much for the sim community.  I've used this site to build both SF1 and SF2 up.  The latter for my 7 year old son who is nearly an expert at SF2.  I don't play it much anymore, but will keep an eye out for anything that he might like and pay for a month or two as needed.  I'm a paid member of several other forums these days related to cars as that is my current hobby so another yearly subscription to another place is out of budget currently and would be minimally used.

For those who are looking for the change to pay, there may be members who are generous enough to donate a couple bucks to get you a month of downloads.  Best of luck to ya'll and please continue to enjoy CA like I do and my son too.

[+Muesli 2,193]

4 hours ago, Tsqif_Ivan said:

i also new player of strike fighter 2 in pc, i played strike fighter in mobile and discover the pc version just bought it several weeks ago pls give me on chance to try some mod

Welcome to the CA clan,

That's unfortunate timing... but you can probably figure out by yourself that there will be no exceptions to the (new) rules. It has been a long time coming, and 'labour of love' doesn't pay bills... You can still do a 1 month subscription to give it a try. It doesn't break the bank and gives you the trial you want, and also you add a bit of moolah to the piggy bank.  Enjoy your stay and enjoy your game.
 

[+Erik 1,886]

18 hours ago, Wrench said:

There are literaly dozens and dozens of people that have multiple accounts

The current count is: 3,631 accounts on this site have more than one account. 715 of those accounts have more than 5 accounts associated to them. Our top offender has 44 accounts associated to them.

[Wrench 9,923]

54 minutes ago, Erik said:

The current count is: 3,631 accounts on this site have more than one account. 715 of those accounts have more than 5 accounts associated to them. Our top offender has 44 accounts associated to them.

Holy Shit!!! I knew it was bad, but NOT that bad!! Cheapass leeches ...