Patti "Green" Brown

talks about SimPilot Forum being interviewed by Trev "DC-3" Morson

TM: We at simflight.com thought it would be interesting to grab an interview with the Chief Sysop of CompuServe’s "SimPilot" forum. Patti Brown, known simply as "Green", She has been involved with helping run a Flight Simulation forum for many years and being a female, her answers may help give us an insight as to her opinions of the Flightsim hobby.

TM:1. When did you first become involved with the on-line scene and what were your interests at that time?

PB: I started working in the PCW Entertainment forum in the fall of 1995, as a result of looking for tips to the game MYST. I became friends with Rudy Stubbs, who was at the time, involved in the opening of SIMGAMES, a sister forum. My gaming interests were Role-playing games.... no thoughts of flight sims at all <G>.

TM: 2. How did you become involved with the Flightsim Community ?

PB: Rudy recruited me to run the chat section there, so I started as a peon here <G>. I was a tag-along to SIMGAMES. Our flight sim section boomed when Simon Hradecky joined us and introduced SIMGAMES into the flight simulation world. I got to know the flight simmers as they got to be active in SIMGAMES.

TM: 3.When you became involved in this hobby, what were your first impressions ?

PB: I thought you were all nuts <G>. Actually, it was fun to see everyone getting into their "hobby" so whole-heartedly.

TM: 4.Which flightsim software have you personally used and which aircraft do you fly ?

PB: I started with MS FS 5, and upgraded to 5.1, then eventually to FS98. I fly the Cessna, but I recently have flown the DC3 <VBG>, and I also demo'd the upcoming AS2.

TM: 5.You were once involved in scenery design, can you tell us more about that ?

PB: In the early days of Simgames, Daniel Waskie and Rafael Sanchez started a project called "PC World Resort". Members were encouraged to use Rafael's VOD program to design their own houses on the "base resort", on which we all had lots. Pete Stepanoff (whom I just met at MicroWings!) made a great steakhouse there! I made a neat little house which Rafael liked very much. I liked it too. It was my favorite place to fly. I still use it every once in awhile!

TM: 6.What changes have been made in the last 6 months with CompuServe’s "Simgames" forum ?

PB: There have been lots of changes! Most importantly, we aren't SIMGAMES any more. We are now SIMPILOT FORUM on Compuserve. Its very exciting - we just celebrated our grand opening!

TM: 7. What are your primary goals for 'Sim Pilot' forum and what would you like to see for it's future ?

PB: We have lots of plans for SimPilot Forum... I'd like to see it continue to grow and develop, as it has Been, into a comprehensive resource for flight simmers of all varieties! I am very proud of the progress we have made despite many obstacles we have had to overcome.

TM: 8. A lot of new Flight Simulation titles are to be released shortly, TRI's "FLY", Sierra's Pro Pilot 99, Flight Unlimited 3, Airline Simulator 2 and Microsoft's Combat Simulator. Do you envisage extra traffic in "Sim Pilot" forum and what preparations in your forum are being made for these ?

PB: We have already seen a lot of growth in SimPilot forum, and we hope this trend continues. Our plans are to meet the needs of our forum members, and if there is a demand for a flight simulation product, to support it! This should be an exciting season with so many new products coming out. Our forum, of course, is especially excited with the impending release of AS2, slated to come out this fall.

TM: 9.Flight Simulation (as we know it) versus Combat Simulation, what are your opinions here and, where do you think Microsoft's Combat sim fits in ?

PB: Not being a fan of any type of combat, I have a hard time debating this issue. I did see a demonstration of the MS Combat sim at Microwings Conference, and I can see why it is attractive to members! I thought the scenery in it was marvelous !

TM: 10.What are your experiences with conferences, I know you hold one of your own each week.

PB: I have done conferences regularly on Compuserve for almost three years now... it all started in the Gaming forum with the Friday Night Pizza Parlor Conference. (That ended years ago though.) In Simgames/SimPilot Forum, I have been hosting the Monday night Chat con for almost two years as well. Its a lot of fun, and a great way to get to know people online. Anyone is welcome to come and hang out with us, and get to meet the SimPilot members!

TM: 11.Did you enjoy the MicroWings conference ?

PB: I loved it! After chatting with so many SimPilot members online for years now, it was GREAT to put faces with some of these names. I think Rob MacKay did a terrific job with the location and the presentations were terrific! I would recommend it to all fellow flight simmers!

TM: 12.You flew some of the sims there, any favorites ?

PB: I did only fly two, and I did enjoy both the DC-3 and AS2 very much! Next time I hope to fly more, and better <g>.

TM: 13.What are your opinions about the Internet, specifically the Flightsim sites ?

PB: I don't use the internet much. But I do like to bop around and see what my flight sim friends are up to. Its fun to see so many familiar names, especially now that they have faces to put with them! I still, and probably always will, prefer the Flight Sim Community atmosphere we have made over in SimPilot forum!

TM: 14.If this is not too personal a question, what do you do for a living ?

PB: Well, it should be no surprise that I have nothing to do with flight simulation, being that I can't even fly <G>. I am a pediatric nurse, and I work with a pediatric neurologist. Its a great job, and I love working with the kids.

TM: 15.We have lots of real world 'female' aviation pilots, but not it seems, female flightsimmers. Why do you think that is ?

PB: I am not so sure, Trev. Maybe because it is an area that men get very serious about, like football, and it is very technical in a lot of aspects. That could take some of the fun out of it for us women <g>.

TM:16.Being a female and being as involved as you have with the hobby of Flight Simulation, from your own experience, do you think it has it's advantages or disadvantages ?

PB: A little of both, I would say. Its a great way to meet people and make friends with folks around the world. But I can tell there are a lot of "flight simulation widows" around...<G>.

TM: 17.Almost forgot this one <g>, How did you earn the nickname of Green ?

PB: I am Green because of my first few experiences online... Being just "Patti" in a forum where there were lots of immature teenage males around, even just having a female name added to my getting IM'd constantly with silly questions about my age, and marital status. My dear friend Rudy recommended I try to use a nickname that was ambiguous - so I picked Green, being that I was so new to the online experience... and it stuck. It’s also my son's favorite color.

TM: 18.Have you any future ambitions within the hobby of Flightsimming ?

PB: I hope to be able to make it off the runway in something other than a Cessna soon <G>.

TM: Green, thanks so much for your time and we at simflight.com wish you all the best for your future.

PB: Trev, thanks very much for honoring me with an interview, and also for your good wishes! I look forward to seeing you again soon, and you know you can always find me over in SimPilot Forum!! : )