For the past few weeks speculation has run rampant about Digital Image Design's Total Air War, originally planned as a dynamic campaign and mission builder expansion for F-22 Air Dominance Fighter, released in January. However, according to a statement made by DID, Total Air War has evolved into a stand-alone product instead.

　　Here's the text of the statement:

　　Digital Image Design (DID) would like to respond to recent misrepresentations of its position with regard to the forthcoming release of Total Air War (TAW), later this year.

　　Following so soon after the recent release of our free patch for ADF, we were not prepared to announce any details regarding TAW until they had been finalised globally. However, we now recognize a real need to put an end to the pointless, and often misinformed speculation to be found across the Flight Sim Forums. It has snowballed out of all proportion in relation to what DID might be expected to have, at this stage, finalised or announced, regarding dates, prices and possible upgrade paths worldwide.

　　We can assure the many dedicated users of F-22 ADF that they have been neither forgotten nor ignored. On the contrary, we have been and continue to rigorously pursue ways to meet and exceed their expectations; both in terms of TAW's content and by establishing a satisfactory upgrade path from ADF.

　　We do all live in a fiercely competitive commercial environment. The very survival of DID must ultimately depend upon our maintaining the delicate balance between both commercial reality and our vision. We know that any reasonable person will appreciate this. We were faced with a dilemma. Certainly, it was clear to us that TAW should be a stand-alone product. At the same time, DID does have a long and clearly demonstrable tradition of both welcoming, respecting, and taking on board reasoned and rational suggestions for our products (the rest we ignore).

　　If DID is guilty, then it is guilty of allowing TAW to evolve and grow into a stand-alone product: beyond expectation or recognition. As ADF grew, so did TAW. We asked ourselves, "Why restrict ourselves to just another add-on; let's push back the boundaries." TAW is more strategy than simulation, we hope it will be recognised as a milestone product in its own right.

　　Having said all that, the current status for the release of TAW is as follows:

　　Launch Date scheduled for Q3, 1998, Worldwide.

　　For existing ADF owners in North America, DID and Ocean will set up a rebate system (similar to F-22 ADF for EF2000 V2) and/or an electronic ordering system; providing a reduced price mail-order upgrade path for our existing ADF owners.

　　For Europe and rest of the world, similar plans are progressing.

　　Further product and upgrade details and prices will be made available in the near future on our web site at www.did.com.

　　Thank you for your continuing support.

　　Martin Kenwright,DID Founder & Chairman.