look zupe
youve probably heard so many reasons to keep the game up but pkease just hear me out
im a 14 y/o freshman
i have NO FRIENDS
i know of no girl that likes me or would even go out with me for money
i downloaded this game because ive always wanted to be a fighter pilot and this is the closest i will ever get with my eyes
i haf alot of trouble my first night and got just WRECKED
usually at this point id just give up but because i want to fly i kept going and found the best game ive EVER played
i met some amazing people and i feel i finally made some friends
i consider the pilots here my only friends
my mother wont donate but if it was up to me id donate all 125000 and finish all this
zup
if you shut this game down i will go back to being that idiot in the corner with no friends and i will have to keep dreaming of flying instead of getting my lifes dream
if this is shut don i may just go batsh*t and do something i regret in he long run
thank you for reading this and please take it into consideration that there are others like ma and please keep the game open
lee

PLEASE DONT SHUT DOWN THIS GAME
the real pilots in this game will keep paying even after just to make sure this amazing wonderful game stays and elite gets finished
please consider this

Please zup youve done a great job im a 14 year old in 8th grade I play this game and go on forum everytime I get because iits the only plqce I feel like I fit in so please keep the game

lets hope zup sees this...

Kids, go talk with your parents about friends, please. They love you, and believe me, they know what is best for you.
They can help you make friends. Teen age is hard, confusing, torturing some times; but everybody goes through it. Go talk open-heart with your mom and dad about your feelings. Dont make this game the only thing in your lives, for God sake.
And dont worry about it: if everything goes wrong with dogfight, life goes on! Sorry to sound like a father...

Pedrinho wrote: Kids, go talk with your parents about friends, please. They love you, and believe me, they know what is best for you.
They can help you make friends. Teen age is hard, confusing, torturing some times; but everybody goes through it. Go talk open-heart with your mom and dad about your feelings. Dont make this game the only thing in your lives, for God sake.
And dont worry about it: if everything goes wrong with dogfight, life goes on! Sorry to sound like a father...

Exactly, just because dogfight will be over that doesn't mean it's the end of our lives.

Mine is lol

Well.... Number one. You are, I promise, very very important to more people than you will ever realize. I suffered from terrible depression as a young teenager, that I basically kept a secret. I came pretty close to ending it all a few times. I get where you are coming from. But, as Ped said, these are the kinds of things to talk about with someone you trust. If Mom and or Dad don't get it, find someone who does. Grandparents, and older people are a good place to start. Old people may seem out of touch, and god knows some of them are, but a large majority of them come from a world that was hard, but their edges have been softened by time. That hard world they came up in mixed with life experience usually gave them an abundance of common sense that is not shared by as many now. Call, or find someone to help you call your local VFW or American Legion. Chances are you will find a REAL military pilot who can teach you REAL things about your dream in life. If you make it as clear to them as you just did us about how serious you are... You will meet the right people. Another avenue might be a local Civil Air Patrol group. There is life out there beyond this game, and irregardless of the outcome of the current situation, I highly suggest making a real effort to find these people. It may seem monumental, but a little manufactured confidence, a willingness to listen, and some work will go a LONG way. That's the same recipe for girls too. With them, just talk to them. If you are not comfortable with girls your own age, talk to older ones. The simple ability to talk and laugh with them, while not acting like ass will get you pretty far. I was the proverbial fat kid, and although I slimmed up for a while, I'm certainly not much to look at in my adulthood either. But, I'm married to the woman of my dreams, and I have two beautiful daughters who I try to teach everyday to look at the character and actions of people, and not just their surface. It worked out for me. Give it time to work out for you too. My personal email is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Granted, I'm !!NOT!!the guy you need to be talking to about this stuff, but the tone of your post concerns me greatly. If no one else will hear you out, I guarantee you I will.

Pedrinho wrote: Kids, go talk with your parents about friends, please. They love you, and believe me, they know what is best for you.
They can help you make friends. Teen age is hard, confusing, torturing some times; but everybody goes through it. Go talk open-heart with your mom and dad about your feelings. Dont make this game the only thing in your lives, for God sake.
And dont worry about it: if everything goes wrong with dogfight, life goes on! Sorry to sound like a father...

Amen!!!

As far as you saying you have trouble with your eyes... Ok. That sucks, but have you considered unmanned drones? The game play experience that you are getting right now would certainly not hurt if that were to be a goal for you. Plus, with the crazy leap in technology that we've had over the last 20 years, the abilities of modern medicine have leaped too. Things that are considered incurable today, may very well be an easy fix in the future. Don't EVER give up on your dreams. But, be realistic about your obstacles. When you encounter them, find a way to go around them, or use them to your advantage. A man who is stubborn about his goals usually can find a path to success.

One last thing for tonight. Making Friends... Don't try to be who you think people want you to be. Learn to be happy with who YOU are, and make no apologies for who you are. It's hard at first, but over time it becomes easier. In the mean time, the golden rule applies. Treat others as you would have them treat you. Will that make you the most popular guy in your school? Doubtfully... But, it will win you some friends. Smiling and saying good morning to those around you may seem a bit weird, but wouldn't you enjoy it if people did that to you? Thats the kind of thing I'm talking about. And yes, it works.

Usually, your own worries about yourself are your worst enemy. If you can at least come to grips with who you are and learn to be happy with it, you will be amazed at how many people you will win over.

Those early teenage years are awful, but they pass. I'm just sharing with you what I know now, that I wish I knew then.

Like Jacklpe I have and still have, some 'issues', I also want to share me email adress with you because if you are as down as you sound, you really need to talk.

Firstly, as Ped a Jacklpe have said, please, please, PLEASE dont exclude your parents from whatever you are feeling or experiencing. They have an almighty love for you, that is unimaginable to anyone that isn't a parent and if they do not show it, it doesn't mean they do not feel it.

Secondly, please, please, please, find someone to be COMPLETELY honest with and I mean COMPLETELY honest with. Whether its, myself, Jacklpe, a relative, doctor or anyone else.

Please listen to what I have said and please take it seriously.

My story is similar to Jacklpe's and with a few extra problems which if I had spoken about at the time, I wouldn't be such a mess now.

My three year old Son is currently in a High Dependency Unit in hospital and I've barely slept in days, so if this doesn't make sense, I'm sorry.

Thanks Lee for posting this. I myself feel that this game brings happiness to many people and I think something could be done to support DF more and even get DF Elite in the air. I really do feel that DF Elite can happen but with such an aggressive goal it is so hard to reach with the timeline.

Zup, please do not shut down DF if DF Elite cannot succeed. I do feel it can succeed with more time and another way to fund, even through the existing DF game.

Please consider this as a begging to keep the existing game going and a way for us to keep donating to DF Elite.

Thanks,
Gordon aka GMoney

Guys, your 14 I know you don't see it now but these are the best years of your life. You will make friends and meet that girl and this game will become a distant memory before you know it. I don't beleave zup wants to end this game any more than we do, but it may very well be outta his controll. Don't think the end of this game is the end all just be thankful for what it is and will be.

Dr Dave wrote: Guys, your 14 I know you don't see it now but these are the best years of your life. You will make friends and meet that girl and this game will become a distant memory before you know it. I don't beleave zup wants to end this game any more than we do, but it may very well be outta his controll. Don't think the end of this game is the end all just be thankful for what it is and will be.

Those werent the best years of mine. So far, what I have right now are mine. But, from about 16-18 I did have me a time.


There's always something else to look forward to.

I have to say that, although I got this game when my life wasn't exactly at a high point, I had just started a new school and absolutely hated it. But since then I've got a close circle of friends, who will stick by me most of the time. All you have to do is open yourself up to people and they will like you for you. So If it worked for me, it can work for you. (If i'm honest I also got this game because of dreams of being a fighter pilot, but that won't happen because I have bad eyesight. Oh and because I like History.)

I really can not add anything more that what Jacklpe, Richie, and Ped have said other than you are not alone in the way you feel. Everyone has gone through it in their life and have found their way. I am positive that even in your school that at least half of them feel the way you do. I have a daughter your age and I make sure the friends(group) she has are the ones that are not the type to be, as I say it, put their best face forward. What I mean is that she is friends that are sincere, open, and honest with one another.

You also may want to explore joining an organization/ club in your area that shares the same things you are interested in. Like an avid aviation group or even an airplane/helicopter hobby flying group.

The most important thing to remember is to be yourself and to be sincere with your actions/ re-actions. Be who you are. You will find that finding friends by joining clubs that share the same interests is a great way to do this.

I also have no friends
Sorry, but I've no time for friends since I play Dogfight ......just kidding.

I'm really glad that my best friends play this game too. And I found new friends in real life like TinkerBelle and her daddy ceramic. Very nice people and we see us pretty often.

Hey lee,

My uncle has bad eyesight too and he wanted to be a fighter pilot but he couldn't. He found out you can fly helicopters in the army with bad eyesight. He flew the Kiowa warrior helicopter and went to Haiti, Somalia, and Iraq.
He retired but now he had the coolest and easiest job ever. He runs the flight simulator, its on hydraulics and is 3d out the window. It's linked to the troops in real time in Afghanistan. Maybe you should check that out. He met some friends that will last a lifetime.

To all,

Every age is as difficult as you let it be.
I can't add much to the wisdom that has been offered already.

I just want to make certain my young friends see this.
Watch it a few times. It's only 2 minutes long and may help you for all of the minutes left in your life.

When things get tough in life, think of this and you'll feel your inner strength grow.



Crazy Uncle Paul

Although I don't recommend a private flurry of PM's about these issues I realize there are some who truly can and are willing to help. I wish there was a parental permission type of rubber stamp. Sorry guys just being parental.

Kevy wrote: Although I don't recommend a private flurry of PM's about these issues I realize there are some who truly can and are willing to help. I wish there was a parental permission type of rubber stamp. Sorry guys just being parental.

I agree, but its not in me not to offer the best that I can. And yes, I prefer to do it very publicly. But, if Lee has NO other option, I will put myself out there and offer whatever I can. I seriously hope that he finds someone who knows and loves him to discuss this stuff with though.

Richyroo wrote: Like Jacklpe I have and still have, some 'issues', I also want to share me email adress with you because if you are as down as you sound, you really need to talk.

Firstly, as Ped a Jacklpe have said, please, please, PLEASE dont exclude your parents from whatever you are feeling or experiencing. They have an almighty love for you, that is unimaginable to anyone that isn't a parent and if they do not show it, it doesn't mean they do not feel it.

Secondly, please, please, please, find someone to be COMPLETELY honest with and I mean COMPLETELY honest with. Whether its, myself, Jacklpe, a relative, doctor or anyone else.

Please listen to what I have said and please take it seriously.

My story is similar to Jacklpe's and with a few extra problems which if I had spoken about at the time, I wouldn't be such a mess now.

My three year old Son is currently in a High Dependency Unit in hospital and I've barely slept in days, so if this doesn't make sense, I'm sorry.

Richie... Hoping for all of the best for you guys. Tell Mrs Roo that the Jolly Roger misses her and that we do pay sick time

Seriously though... (I'm not gonna start preaching on here) but your family will be in my prayers.

General Lee.

Thank you for reaching out. My period of social isolation lasted 1st through 7th grade. I feel your pain. There is a lot of good advise above. I wanted to give you some advice of getting into aviation. If your eyes are good enough to get a drivers license, you can get your pilots one too.

Is there an airstrip near your home that you can get a ride to on weekends? The idea is find a field with an FBO (fixed base operator) that is busy doing flight instruction or mechanical work.

Go in there and tell them you're airplane crazy. Offer to wash planes, clean up in the shop, mow grass, anything they need so you can get your foot in the door. Before you know it they might even pay you if they cant right away.

Several things will happen. People will start to offer you airplane rides. And more and more experience will come your way. Wiping wings turns into detailing cockpits turns into doing oil changes turns into more and more until suddenly you're a commercial pilot and aircraft mechanic, wondering why you're so lucky. Then its your turn to take the line crew kid up.

Making friends is and meeting girls is the same way. Gotta get your foot in the door. When someone is struggling and needs help, offer some. Also people are attracted to people with passion about their hobbies and interests. You are definately passionate about flying. Run with it and people will notice. Maybe you'll find an airplane crazy girl at school who melts when she sees your line crew t-shirt.

Also I want to add when I go through a period of depression it's usually multiple factors, but lack of excersise is always on my list. Just walking 30 minutes a day can do wonders for depression.

Chin up, good luck, and head on down to your local airfield!!

Thanks to all that have given a word of advise here. THANK GOD THIS GAME HAS A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE, ITS A BLESSING.

To my teenage brothers, please listen and give heed to what has been said here because that is exactly what my parents said to me when I was your age and if I go back to them now they will say to me exactly the same thing. I am a living example of the words of advice said here, I listened to my parents and still do and it will take volumes to explain the benefits of parental guidance.

Don't fight so hard to get friends or girls rather just be your best and all will come to you. I was a nerd at school and to me it was like everyone was looking down on me because I was not the cool popular guy. I had one or two friends and girls seem to avoid me but the truth is, as I found out later, that they were jealous because I was good at what I was doing. And now after I am happy with what I achieved through hard work friends and girls come to me!!! Isn't that cool?!

111th Mas