=P Programming a mission "on the fly" to do what you want isn't hard - even in WCP Pascal. Especially with the addition of the simulator.
It's the complex campaign missions that are difficult to learn.
I have to disagree with most of what's been said in this thread - on both sides of the issue.
There is nothing wrong with the Vision Engine, it's HARDLY outdated with the new modifications that come out everytime another mod (Standoff and UE) are released. Those mods have done MUCH to improve the game and bring it up to "modern" terms.
I think the Vision Engine is near-perfect for a Wing Commander Mod, and I would know (I'm up to my elbows in it's wonderful guts modding it right now).
Nexus, from what I've been reading here, isn't a fighter based game. Which means a WC mod would never work. Now granted, you could change it to be fighter based, but then are you really remaining true to the Nexus Engine, or just re-inventing it to get what you want? And, if you have to re-invent an Engine to get what you want, how can it be perfect?
The Vision Engine doesn't require re-invention, just re-application of old techniques and it performs perfectly. It's cheap because it's free, AND Because it doesn't require people to upgrade their computer to play it (Another reason I will never play Nexus).
IMO the Mods made for the Vision Engine are even better then having another WC Game, they represent dedication on the part of the creators who have a genuine love of Wing Commander. They recreat the original feel better then something like Prophecy (Not that I didn't like Prophecy, mind you, but it sure was a stretch from WC1).
And they're far prettier then Prophecy and SO Ships. If you don't believe me - wait for the upcoming episodes of Standoff.
You can't match any of that with your re-invented Nexus engine.