My friends in the RWFF Community,
I want to apologize for my outbust a couple days back. I wrote out of anger and frustration over what I felt were personal attacks against my friends here that have dedicated hundreds of hours of their personal time to making this community what it is today.
I think that there is some confusion about the relationship between the Real World Fly Fishing computer game and the RWFF Clubhouse and RWFF Contests. They are completely seperate entities. They are tied together in many ways, but are not part of the same company, employee base, etc. etc.
The game is developed, maintained and marketed by Paul. He is the genious behind it and as far as I am aware, the sole proprietor. He hosts this forum and allows for discussions about the game. He has also provided the users with tools for creating outings and species to add to the game.
The RWFF Clubhouse, Contests, Library, Fly Displays, Medal and Cups, etc. etc. were created by Peter (Pitti) and is maintained and hosted on his personal web space. Peter has created tools that are used in conjuction with the game (chat, color picker for rods and lines, indicator options, etc. etc.) - these items are free of charge to users of the game. On Peter's site, he also provides lists and links to other downloads and addons - custom flys, fly boxes, fly tying materials, etc. that either he has made or orther users have made. He also hosts the Club Library that contains river guides, member profiles, and other reference books. Again, these items are free to other users of the game.
Keep in mind, these two things are completely seperate entities! A person can utilize the Clubhouse without owning the RWFF computer game. They can browse the Fly Room, the Library, etc. etc. Same goes in reverse - A person can own the RWFF game and never take advantage of the resources at the Clubhouse. Buying the game does not entitile you to ownership of the Clubhouse, just as browsing the clubhouse does not give you ownership of a copy of the RWFF game. There is also no requirement that a person download all the new outings, species, flies etc. created by other users. That is a personal decision. A person is not required, nor are they given special entitlement to participate in any contest or competition put on by the Clubhouse.
Conversely, there is no restriction on any user that would prohibit them from hosting and creating their own contests or competitions as they see fit. And if they were to do so, they would have the ability to create the rules as they see fit, choose what species and outings to include and even find space on the web to post thier scores, winner lists, etc. etc. They could choose to make their contests exclusive, by invitation only, or open it to all users of the game. In reality, we could have hundreds of different "clubhouses".
Personally, I love what Peter has created. I am honored to have been asked to help and be a part of it and contribute in my way. I thoroughly enjoy my firendship with him and the other people who contribute to HIS clubhouse that he built for all of US. I enjoy our "administrator" meetings on Sunday afternoons using the chat program that HE made. I appreciate discussing with Massimo his ideas for contests and competitions, and am always surprised by his amazing ideas for the future. He has some great stuff coming folks! Stay tuned! I have enjoyed being involved in the Prize Pool that Bobcat John got started. And although he has become too busy to continue in that capacity, he will still be a big part of the Clubhouse organization. Peter and I will be each taking on a portion of that job now. Peter will handle European prize distribution and I will handle the North American side of things. We've split that up to cut down on the expenses of shipping prizes overseas - which by the way, Bobcat was paying for all along! And his stable of talented tyers that have been sending him flies at their own expense - Carolmo, Fishinmusician, Taupo, and others (I'm sorry if I missed anyone) - Thank you Bobcat and crew!
There are numerous contributors that are part of this community that volunteer their time, their talent and thier help and advice. In reality, I'm pretty new around here and there are probably more people doing things for the community than I realize. It's a great organization to be a part of.
I guess that's the long winded version of what some of the "old timers" around here are saying - the Clubhouse is a voluteer outfit! And as a user of the game you are neither entitled, nor are you required to participate in it's activities.
If you'd like the short - Readers Digest condensed version of this post, please see Cutch's response above.............
Again, I apologize for my earlier outburst and will take Cutch's and other's advice and just "simmer down".
DCarp (Dave)
