Salvation,
You are certainly correct in saying that TGC have tight control over the product and in that way they keep its commercial value to them intact. That is a business decision on the part of TGC and there are many reasons for that decision which there aint enough space here to encompass but in short the product obviously needs to return a profit on their investment which has been quite considerable - At the reatil sale price of FPSC TGC wont see any profit for some time to come I would think and so the sale of additionl media in the form of content packs helps sustain them and this particular product now and perhaps in aid of further development - without commercial viability there simply wont be an FPSC V2.
FPSC is a product specifically designed for a mass audience of the general population who want to make a game without the need to become involved with making their own content and not for ardent gamemakers as any kind of priority - so TGC are actually meeting the need of their inetnded market which in commercial terms in theory at least is likely to be a successful strategy.
You are also correct in saying that this and other factors are from a dedicated forum users gamemakiing point of view, somewhat restrictive.
I dont dispute these findings - just understand the TGC reasons even if I may not agree with all of them, in fact I dont and would like some others at least see the product encompass more of the needs of the gamemaking community here - but thats not where it stands and may not change at any time in the future.
I see no reason why FPSC could not develop to accommodate the forum type user need more closely - other than doing so would cost TGC time and money which currently the product itslef alone does not generate at least I would be surprised if it does.
Currently I am not sure that TGC could viably invest whats needed to develop the product in major way whilst its sale numbers are relatively low - this situation probably improves on a daily basis and may eventually reach a stage where this situation changes and TGC can say to themselves - "this is a good product for us - lets make it better" - lets hope so.
No commercial company can sustain a profit loss indefinately - the outlay investment in R&D of a new product like FPSC needs to show a return before more is invested - that just good commercial sense.
