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Battlefield 1942 [ISR] INTERSTATE RACING - IS82 FOR BF1942 - INTERSTATE 82 MOD :: Forums :: Other Games

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Flight Sims & DCS A10C Warthog

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Hitch

[ 21:25 ] [ 24 Feb 2011 ]

Registered Member #2396
Joined: [ 18:47 ] [ 21 Nov 2010 ]
Posts: 231

So since some of you expressed a bit of interest in combat flight sims I decided to start a topic. I should start out that I love aviation and when I first got into PC gaming almost 20 yrs ago flight sims were the be all end all of PC gaming. Nowadays sims are a almost a dying breed and quite a niche market and genre. The biz model of games today is mass market appeal and high sales. The good news is the handful of developers still making sims are great at what they do and make them more real than ever before.

Next I'll point out that I'm a 100% into and have a of gear as well have built a generic mock cockpit with a HD projector for display. I use the following gear (over explained in case you've never heard of the stuff lol):

Saitek X-52 HOTAS (stick/throttle combo)
Saitek Pro Flight Rudder Pedals
Saitek Pro Command Unit
Saitek Aviator (modded into a helocopter collective control)
Logitech Wingman (modded into a home built switch panel)
Contour Shuttle Pro (Audio/Video editing controller modded into custom built switch panel)
TrackIR (an infrared camera that tracks head movements and controls in game camera movements with your head with 6 degrees of tracking no less)
Playseat (a racing seat modded for flight sims the original version by the company)

And some pics (or it didn't happen lol):

Don't wanna forget the Buttkicker Gamer

The original version

This an old pic from our last house but gives an idea.

Yeah I'm a nutball............

I recommend at least owning a joystick pref. a HOTAS type to fly any sim. You don't need all the crap I have to enjoy it and like I mentioned this is a big hobby for me and that won't change.

So I fly these sims:
And forget about Ace Combat/Birds Of Prey/Hawx

Il2 1946 - This is a complete version of a series of WWII sims in one package, you can find it for about $9.99 most places. It boast pretty decent graphics (its a ten yr old engine), pretty good flight/engine modeling, 200+ flyable WWII aircraft to try out (300+ AI planes) & virtually every theater of WWII (including carrier ops). It has multiplayer (very stable), singleplayer campaigns, and a powerful mission editor. You can't get a more complete package for a WWII sim and its the common one most simmers fly. Its also not hard to learn and a point and shoot type of sim, its also not easy to master.

Lock On Platinum - This is the recently updated version of Lock On Modern Air Combat a mild jet combat sim that features the Su-33, Mig-29, Su-27, Su-25, F-15 & A-10A. Its considered a survey sim because it mainly focuses on weapon systems and flying, not on complex engine and systems management. The sim uses a 225,000sqkm map based on the Black Sea Region. It has multiplayer (very stable) singleplayer campaigns. It runs about $20 most stores or online. Its not a simple sim to master though and comes with a 300+ PDF manual. Planes like the A10A aren't hard to learn but the SU-25 and fighter planes take a lot of effort to learn radar systems and how locking weapons work. Very cool sim with decent graphics.

DCS KA50 Black Shark - A Russian attack helo sim based on a desktop trainer used to train real pilots. This one is also made by the same dev as Lock On Plat. and is considered to be the most complex consumer helo sim ever made. Every system is modeled 100% save a handful of non essential or classified components and sports a 100% mouse clickable cockpit. It's not for beginners and I only recommend it if you want a challenge. It's extremely satisfying to learn though and a deadly attack helo with impressive weapons and systems. Uses the the same map as Lock On Plat. but an expanded version.

DCS A10C Warthog - The next plane in the DCS series is based on the USAF/ANG ground attack plane and modeled to the same complexity and fidelity as Black Shark above. This carries the title of most complex combat flight sim ever made. Expect the same features as Black Shark with an updated engine, slightly expanded map and all of this will be patched into Black Shark minus the plane of course. If you have both titles you'll be able to fly Black Shark and Warthog alongside eachother in multiplayer. Again not for someone whos easily overwhelmed. It was just released this week and is the pinnacle in modern combat jet sims (until they release the next plane in the series lol)

Rise Of Flight - Recent WWI sim. Only comes with a handful of planes (additional can be purchased about $10 a pc), sports stunning visuals and the best flight/damage/weapon modeling of any WWI sim to date. Its a system hog and takes a little time to learn and a longtime to master. I like this one because its man/machine vs man/machine, slow paced and the feeling of flight is awesome. I haven't had a lot of stick time with it though.

I want to point out that all the above sims tax your system hardware to the max C2D proc./3+gigram/512mb+ gc card are recommended for low to medium settings. These things are a beast.

The WWII sim 1946 isn't so bad on the system the above specs I mentioned would probably run it at high or perfect.

www.digitalcombatsimulator.com - DCS site A10C and Black Shark can be purchased there.

You can most on Steam or Direct2Drive, some stores or online in general.

I also fly with an online squadron www.DCS-Mercs.com all adults, with varying degrees of sim experience. A couple of us have built simpits but we just like to fly, blow sh!t up and have a good time. We're not a wannabe military group who act accordingly just casual. If any of you guys are interested you're more than welcome to join us to fly, we have a TS3 server and host regular games but I've been swamped with work and a newborn baby since July so my flight time has been limited. Now that A10C is here (my favorite combat jet ever BTW) I'm getting back in full swing, time to go print another 500+ page manual like Black Shark...... oh yeah did I mention the textbook.

Last but not least, Lock on, Black Shark and Warthog all sport scalable difficulty settings and can be played in arcade modes with an Xbox 360 controller ala Ace Combat mode. To me thats blasphemy but my interest in these sims is the complexity and learning curve to me its the closest thing to I'll ever get to the real thing!

Hope you enjoy the write up! (arrggghh my eyes!!!!!!!!!)

Hitch

velocity

[ 21:50 ] [ 24 Feb 2011 ]

Registered Member #2032
Joined: [ 17:00 ] [ 13 Feb 2008 ]

nice!

Hitch

[ 23:27 ] [ 24 Feb 2011 ]

Registered Member #2396
Joined: [ 18:47 ] [ 21 Nov 2010 ]

LOL Holy crap you read all that?!

KaHuNa

[ 10:57 ] [ 25 Feb 2011 ]

Registered Member #988
Joined: [ 21:41 ] [ 30 Mar 2005 ]

I've read about half of it lol i have to go somewhere, but holy jeezus man! thats the most awesome set up i've ever seen! It looks intense, i shall have something like that someday when i am older and have money lol

Hitch

[ 12:55 ] [ 25 Feb 2011 ]

Registered Member #2396
Joined: [ 18:47 ] [ 21 Nov 2010 ]

Thanks, mine setup is based mostly on off the shelf items with a couple custom projects. Check out a replica simpit of a 737 cockpit (probably in a spare bedroom):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJpt6JC4Qks

Some cool military pits out there but they take skill to build and lots of time & money. I'm seriously considering building an A10C cockpit right now but might go with a Cessna 172 pit instead since I want to get my pilots license and a Cessna pit would really help in learning procedures.

mistamontiel

[ 13:04 ] [ 25 Feb 2011 ]

Joined: [ 02:43 ] [ 14 Apr 2009 ]

Holy crud. That guy's screen is EN0RM0. Must have a killer rig to power all that..man awesome shit

Hitch

[ 13:42 ] [ 25 Feb 2011 ]

Registered Member #2396
Joined: [ 18:47 ] [ 21 Nov 2010 ]

That guy probably makes six figures and is using two or three projectors for visual. The guys that make commercial aircraft pits (airliners) are a different breed than combat simmers and usually have a lot of spare income to throw on their projects. Me not so much lol, lots of spare income doesn't exist in our house!

The proj. in my pic was a old one not in use anymore, res. maxxed out at 1024x768 but got the job done for gaming and movies. We'd play Guitar Hero and I remember getting vertigo after every song because of the scrolling nature of the game lol!

Now I have a HD proj. 720P with a max res of 1600x1200. I d/l blu rays.

My current sim rig has C2D E8400 2.8ghz/4gig ram/XFi sound blah blah blah...... My second oldest bro builds new game PCs all the time and gives me the old one. So I'm pretty lucky on that front, everything else was acquired pc by pc over the last few years.

I have an XKeys 128 input controller card for my next big simpit project. Basically its a card that allows you to interface toggle switches and push buttons and then shows up on the PC as game controller.

I wouldn't even consider myself a great virtual pilot and none of the gear I have makes me any better, for me its all about immersion and enjoyment. And home simpits are really becoming a big hobby. In the past only sims like MS Flight really embraced the pit builder crowd but now more and more combat sims have the capability to interface components and this could turn into a business venture if I can get my sh!t together. A lot of people are starting to pop up with specialty controllers blank control panels and even pre-built cockpit sections and people will pay good money for it vs. trying to build it themselves. The greatest thing about this hobby is watching other people make their own pits and seeing their projects come alive. Everyone takes a unique approach to what works for them.

mistamontiel

[ 13:59 ] [ 25 Feb 2011 ]

Joined: [ 02:43 ] [ 14 Apr 2009 ]

Most def man. Wicked as heck.

XKeys 128 input controller card = seems real convenient, best of luck to your next project !!

Hitch

[ 21:29 ] [ 26 Feb 2011 ]

Registered Member #2396
Joined: [ 18:47 ] [ 21 Nov 2010 ]

I'm getting a custom input board for the X-Keys tomorrow from a friend. Basically wiring up switches and buttons will be similar to connecting speakers to a stereo. Now I just need a couple hundred various switches/buttons! Whatever simpit I build it will be a long process but worth it. Wife gets the house I get my mancave and garage!

Shrooms

[ 06:09 ] [ 28 Feb 2011 ]

Guest

Damn that's expensive and incredibly awesome lol. Now all ya need is the seat to move too!

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