NAVData, a crucial service for all MS Flight Simulator users who fly airliners and aircraft with a Flight Management Computer, and the commercial developers who design them, is closing. Richard Stefan, author of the service, issued a statement on his site. Here's a brief excerpt:
Hi all, during the last 3 days i have received over 2.200 mails from user of all over the world, from children to adults, from flightsim-gurus to beginners. I would say thanks, thanks a lot for all these mails. I have read it all, but i´m not in the situation to answer each mail personal, sorry! Many of you had asked me why? Many of you had asked me to reconsider my decision once again!
Now, my decision is the same and my reasons too, but i have seen how much user needs, no wanted a central platform for their navigation-updates. I have seen that the NAVData homepage was every time the first adress for such updates. I had never thought, that the navdata service is so popular and a fix component in the world of on- and offline flying. Therefor, i have reopend my good old NAVData-Homepage to help all to use these central platform for the next time ... It´s the old version and i don´t investigate any work in it, it runs with all functions as in the past and the site will be available during my break, but without any support!
I would like to welcome our 2 new News Editors to the team at Frugal's World. Wolverine joins as Combat Sim News Editor and lukexcom joins as our new Civ Sim News Editor. Their bios will soon be added to the staff bios page but these guys will probably already be known to the regulars on the forum.
If you contacted me to apply for either of these positions and have not heard back yet, don't worry, I haven't forgotten you, willing news hounds are hard to find and so I will be in touch with you in the near future.
LONDON, UK (November 28, 2003) - GMX Media today announced that it has secured the worldwide rights to publish - Combat Over Europe. Combat Over Europe is an add-on for IL2 Sturmovik: The Forgotten Battles.
Combat Over Europe for IL-2 Sturmovik: Forgotten Battles features eight new campaigns, special training features, online cooperative missions, a speech pack to convert Russian and German to English, and a skin pack with ten new skins.
Luftwaffe campaigns include the following:
Berlin 1944-1945 Campaign for the Bf 109 - 100 missions
JV44 1945 Campaign for the Me262 - 40 missions
Poland 1939 Campaign for the Ju87 Stuka - 30 missions
Crimea 1942 Campaign for the Bf 109 - 70 missions
A "what if?" Campaign for the I-153 or I-16 set in 1940 - 100 missions
USAAF and RAF campaigns include the following:
D-Day Tactical campaign flying the P-47D. A retired USAAF P-47 pilot is acting as technical advisor.
Strategic campaign April 15 - June 5, 1944 flying the P51-D in escort for B-17s and B-26s
Battle of Britain (using a non British map) with the Hurricane, Spitfire, 109-E4 , Ju-87B Stuka and Me-110 Zerstorer.
A selection of online cooperative missions include a range of aircraft in both summer and winter conditions. Four dogfight maps are also included, allowing you to host an ongoing Battle of Britain scenario online, a D-Day scenario, and others.
Skin sets allow you to fly with historically correct squadron markings. You may choose the 354th Fighter Group for the P-51D, the 404th Fighter Group for the P47-D, or JV44 for the Me262. Additional skins are available for immediate download via the Skin Library feature.
To set the tone, video footage includes historical newsreels from WWII, including Battle of Britain and D-Day footage. Fifteen training tracks provide instruction on air to air gunnery, with eight training tracks for pilots of the tricky Me 262 jet fighter. Single training missions allow you to test your own skills in the German jet. A separate twelve page PDF document provides classroom style instruction in air to air combat for budding aces.
Further documents include A Short History of JV44, Development of the Me262, Flying the Me262 in FB and Allied Aircraft of D-Day. Cockpit guides are included for the Bf 109, the P47D, the P51D, Ju-87B and the Me 262, as well as takeoff and climb performance charts for the P47-D and P51-D. A German and Russian command chart round out the package.
GamesDomain have posted a review of lomac. Here's a snippet:
The one compromise Eagle seems to have made is in the use of a static/pre-determined campaign. As a result, the campaign feels exactly like what it is - a collection of missions with a coherent vision and limited tracking of damage. Players cannot affect substantial changes in future missions based on outcomes of earlier ones. Novice sim fans expecting cutscenes, a strong storyline and a pantheon of characters won't find it here - nor should they expect it in any flight sim. Still, a narrative would have been nice and bit more engaging.
The ECV 56th Condor have released their 4th video of Falcon 4. Here's what they had to say about it:
Mission 18 is next. Allied troops have met furious opposition form DPRK ground forces and are in desperate need of Air Support. The 56th is tasked to fly CAS missions to aid the ground troops. The most effective weapon to do so is the 56-2 , an A-10 derivate of the 56th.
How the flight went, you may see in this 4th video ( 10,02Mb ( ZIP file ), 1m:50s )
First,some words about this video: We would like to dedicate this video to the memory of Nicole Hammer, fellow dutch pilot, who passed away the 15th May 2003. I knew Nicole from the F4Community Forum and she also payed us a visit a couple of times at our site. Reading her posts and from the few mails we exchanged, she seemed like a creative, full of life, gentle and positive person. Her death came as a shock to all of us. The original post regarding her tragic accident is here: http://www.f4community.com/forum/index.php?act=ST&f=3&t=8541&hl=&
We, the ECV 56th Condor, wish that you enjoy this 4th video and at the same time give Nicole and life itself some thoughts while you watch this video, featuring her favorite plane.
If I may, I'll use Lt.Col. Mark "Boomer" Welsh's, as quoted from VITS, with a slight modification :
On Behalf of the ECV 56th Condor and myself :
Nicole :
We wish you clear skies and tail winds. We wish you a pipper jet and a ten-meter bull. We wish you a MIG at twelve and your best friend's hat on the bar. But, most of all.. must of all, Nicole, we wish you peace.
SAN FRANCISCO - November 26, 2003 - Ubisoft(tm), one of the world's largest videogame publishers, today announced that it has officially ceased production on Harpoon IV and has chosen not to release the title.
"Ubisoft is committed to making the best military simulation games possible, and unfortunately, the Harpoon IV project wasn't meeting this goal. In our judgment, the product quality could never reach a level that meets or exceeds consumer expectations," said Tony Kee, vice president of marketing, Ubisoft. "We will never intentionally ship a product that is sure to disappoint our discerning customer base."
While the game will not be finished or published by Ubisoft, discussions are underway to license the source code to a third-party group within the community in order to finish the game. Information regarding this development will be available soon at the game's community website
HERE
BBall has updated his column with a piece entitled Can you say "LO:MAC LAN-a-thon" ?. Here's a snippet:
We bought their entire stock of LO:MAC (this amounted to two…TBob bought the other two from the same store the night before), and rushed out the door. After finding the new venue for today’s fun, our first time at the American Legion Hall in Forrest Lake, we unloaded and began the ritual of the setup. This LAN would be small potatoes by our standards, the usual nine would be whittled down to just four to include: Myself, Terry “TBob” Keesee, Bert “Doc” Slade, and Chad “Cat” Borsheim. We would be accompanied by TBob’s son Tyler and my son Jimmy, but they weren’t there to fly (“that’s for old farts”). They showed up to give us a lesson in some Call of Duty later in the day
HotDogOne has had to retire as News Editor due to time constraints of his new job. So I'm looking for 2 News Editors, one covering Combat Sims and one covering Civil Aviation sims. No knowledge of html is required but you do need time and a good knowledge of sims and the sim community. There's no pay for the job but you do get a sixth star on the forums :)
If you would like either of the positions send me a pm via the forums telling me why you would be the right person for the job.
I received the following from Manuel at RealSimulator
Dear Realsimulator users,
The ICP is now ready. It is completely functional, all switches work like the real stuff, with the exact same functions, the Drift/Warn switch and the 4-way Data Command Switch included. The four rotating knobs are also entirely functional thanks to their high precision pots. The ICP’s PCB has four A/D converters, which send the information to the FCenter. For example, it can be used to control the level of brightness, just like in the real thing. The ICP also controls the indexer lights and the refuelling and gear indicators.
On November 22 and 23, the ICP was presented to the public during the LAN organized by the Spanish pilots Skorp, Bucks and Monchu in Madrid. Pilots from all over Spain attended this special presentation.
After successful tests and trials, we have the pleasure to open the preorders for the ICP. The preorder conditions are the following:
a. Who can purchase a Realsimulator ICP? - The Realsimulator ICP’s are only available for the owners of a cockpit control module, the CCD, which is necessary to operate the ICP. The ICP cannot be sold separately.
b. Minimum production run : 20 units (the units will be manufactured when the preorders reach 20 units).
c. Price : EUR 350.00 for the first production run. This price might not stay the same for the subsequent production runs if an increase appears necessary after the first production run.
d. Preorder amount : in order to confirm the purchase, EUR 100.00 will be transferred to Realsimulator when preordering. Please contact our sales department to know about the payment methods.
A lot of people regret that only Realsimulator users can purchase ICP. Please understand that this kind of equipment is manufactured in very small numbers and we’ve had to limit the number of manufactured CCD’s to the number of MFD’s. Therefore, if we’d accept to sell an ICP with its CCD without the MFD’s, we wouldn’t have enough CCD’s left to go with the remaining MFD’s. In order to sell the ICP’s separately, we would need an order for at least 50 ICP’s with CCD’s to be able to start another run of CCDs.
Bedford, TX, November 25th, 2003: World War II Online™ is now available in a special game bundle from Matrix Games and TriSynergy Inc. shipping to games retailers in time for the holidays.
World War II Online™ is provided as a special game bonus included in the retail release of Highway to the Reich™ a real-time strategy wargame from Panther Games. Included in the box is a full version of World War II Online™ including a registration key providing a 30-day FREE trial of the award winning massively multiplayer game.
Highway to the Reich™ is a new RTS wargame from Panther Games, published by Matrix Games and distributed by TriSynergy Inc. It is is based on the critically acclaimed Airborne Assault® engine and covers the entire Market Garden operation, from the three separate landing zones to the drive by XXX Corps to unify them all before the German counterattack could succeed. Command like a real General, under real time pressures to achieve real objectives on a real map all within the fog of war. Issue orders to your powerful AI controlled subordinates or take total control of every unit. Fight the worlds most advanced AI opponent or match wits against your friends online or over a LAN. Lead Parachute Regiments in daring assaults to seize vital bridges, send mighty Armored Divisions into the attack and wield entire Infantry Corps in a race against time. Reshape history in one of the many historical battles covering all major actions of the Market Garden operation or salvage victory from disaster in one of the hypothetical "what-if" encounters.
"We are really excited to have World War II Online™ included with such a great new title like Highway to the Reich™", said Playnet Marketing Manager Al Corey. "Matrix Games put out some of the best wargames available and Highway to the Reich™ is no exception. We know that many players will enjoy both of these games."
"Matrix Games is very happy to offer our customers a way to try out Playnet's World War II Online™. The game is a new and exciting experience as the result of many updates and enhancements," said David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games.
Gamers Hell have posted a review of Jetfighter V. Here's a snippet:
Flight simulators and air combat games are notoriously difficult to master, and many tire of the difficult learning curve well before they tire of the gameplay itself. That’s not the case with Global Star Software’s Jetfighter 5: Homeland Defender, which focuses on gameplay, more than on details. Hardcore flight sim fanatics will not get their fix with this game, but it’s a good bet that this game will be fun for almost anyone who isn’t a twitch fiend, doesn’t hold a PhD in aerodynamics, and just wants to get up in the air and shoot things down.
GamesDomain have posted a review of SWON. Here's a snippet:
While the aircraft involved all look pleasingly realistic, they can perform some maneuvers that would give an aerial historian or simulator-technician an apoplectic fit... but trust us, you'll never notice unless you have all the wrong kinds of time on your hands. The abilities of aircraft to execute radical turns, ascents and dives are decidedly and obviously exaggerated, yes, but also nicely devoid of the sterner restrictions of real air combat, like frustrating stalls, blackouts, hostile instrumentation, and fatal disorientation.
In case you have been hiding under a rock for the last few days, Lomac was released in the US on Friday. Here's the press release.
Ubisoft(tm), one of the world's largest video game publishers announced that Lock On(tm): Modern Air Combat, the highly-anticipated flight simulation game has shipped to retailers nationwide. Developed by The Fighter Collection, Lock On features today's most modern, technically advanced military aircraft in the most graphically rich, audio-intense game environment ever created for a combat flight simulation. Lock On: Modern Air Combat is rated "E" for Everyone and is available for a suggest retail price of $39.99.
Lock On is the only modern day flight simulation game to combine high fidelity with a broad choice of aircraft. The game is filled with action-packed missions, realistic flight modeling and flexible game options that provide unlimited game play action to both beginner and veteran flight simulation fans. The game's blend of high-powered aircraft and various fighting styles combine for the most realistic flight sim featuring today's most advanced military aircraft.
About Lock On: Modern Air Combat: Lock On allows players to fly eight different combat jets in a conflict over the Black Sea region. The Crimean peninsula and western Caucus Mountains are the setting for a hypothetical, present-day air conflict. Available to the player are ground attack and air superiority fighters, including the American-made A-10 "tank killer," the Russian Su-27 and the German MiG-29A.
Lock On: Modern Air Combat Features:
Eight flyable modern jets, including 3 from NATO (A-10A Thunderbolt II, F-15C Eagle, and German MiG-29 Fulcrum A) and 5 Russian jets (Su-27 Flanker B, Su-25, Su-33 Flanker D, MiG-29 Fulcrum C, and MiG-29 Fulcrum A).
20 single missions, four campaigns and 10 multiplayer missions, each with its own background and story.
Options for action-oriented gameplay, such as the Fast Battle Planner, simplified radar, and scalable AI.
Accurate flight dynamics, high-fidelity weapon systems, and realistic radio communications.
Stunning 3D terrain and spectacular lighting effects.
Realism and difficulty levels for both the beginner and expert pilot.
10 multiplayer missions for head-to-head or cooperative multiplayer action.
Engaging campaigns and powerful mission builder.
Single or multiplayer with 1-8 players and up to 32 on LAN.
Simmersworld have posted a preview of OIR. Here's a snippet:
What we do know however is that Falcon OIR will have turbulence added to the flight model. The turbulence level can be set with a slider where the maximum amount of turbulence is 5. According to Pacman the turbulence is really too much if you set the slider to “5” and it is (nearly) impossible to land at that setting. I got a chance to do a landing with an F-16 with a turbulence level set to “2”. When I started my approach the turbulence was not very heavy but it was certainly noticeable. I did not fly on rails anymore and slight corrections had to be made to stay on course. When my speed dropped and I got lower to the ground the turbulence started to get heavier like it should be.
SimHQ have posted a review of Red Baron 3D: Full Canvas Jacket. Here's a snippet:
The campaign mode appears to be unchanged from the original game, which of course was one of the highlights of Red Baron II/3D. I am seriously enjoying getting back into the campaign, particularly since the game looks in general very good. The feeling of being a cog in a much bigger machine is absolutely present in campaign mode. There is no telling what you will run into when you are out flying. Of course the missions are randomly generated so no campaign feels quite the same. In addition you have selection of preset missions, you can download custom missions (not sure about how some non-FCJ missions will work with the update), there is an instant fly button that has easily reconfigured setting in the FCJ configuration utility (easier than in game). Given the age of the game the options available still amaze me.
Puma has updated his log with a new combat story, this time using FreeFalcon. Here's a snippet:
I look around to ensure the plane is clear and make eye contact with the crew chief. With thumbs up from the chief, I commence the engine start up procedure. The engine whines to life and the needles and gauges in the cockpit respond appropriately. Continuing down check list I ensure that everything is in the green. With the canopy up, I look over to my left and give the crew chief a salute. He returns my salute and gestures my attention forward. I have been handed over to the Yellow shirts (plane handlers) following the direction of the handlers I push forward on the throttle. The engine whine becomes more intense as my plane lurches forward. The plane captain directs me as I drop the canopy on my plane. Once the canopy is down the salty smell is replaced by that of air conditioned, filtered air. I am number one for take off, my radio is tuned to the tower frequency. To my front, an F-8 Crusader is slung off the deck by the powerful catapult. Once clear, the blast screen comes down and the yellow shirt directs me to forward. I inch forward and bring my plane to a stop. Once in position the Green shirts (catapult personnel) take over and hook me up.
World War II, the largest and most authoritative magazine devoted to the Second World War, presents the stories of the men and their missions, the commanders and their strategies, the great battles and little-known aspects of the 20th century's defining conflict. The magazine and its unmatched content that so vividly brings history to life is a perfect complement for the first and only massively multiplayer WWII simulation. Readers of the magazine can now log on and fight with the weapons and equipment of the period and battle over the same territory online with and against thousands of others players at the same time.
"We are thrilled to connect World War II readers with our online simulation", said Playnet Marketing Manager Al Corey. "We have thousands of players who are already amateur historians but we also see young people wanting to learn more about the history of the Second World War after playing our game. 'World War II Online' is not a shoot 'em up game but closer to a simulation of the era with military-grade physics, damage and ballistics applied to realistic weapon and vehicle models providing players a challenging gameplay experience found nowhere else."
"We know many of our more than 150,000 readers enjoy strategy and simulation games, utilizing the knowledge of the true history gained by reading our magazine in their game playing," said Primedia History Group Editorial Director Roger L. Vance. "We are delighted to work with one of the most authentic and accurate game makers and introduce our readers to this product."
This exclusive World War II Magazine offer provides everyone a free download of the game client and unrestricted access to the virtual battlefield of 'World War II Online' for a 14-day FREE trial.
Novalogic has announced Black Hawk Down: Team Sabre.
Delta Force - Black Hawk Down: Team Sabre is a highly anticipated addition to the franchise and builds on the exciting game play features that proved such a success in the first game.
Set in the treacherous South American jungle terrain and the most remote islands in the Persian Gulf, experience life as a daring member of the Delta Force Team. Your objectives will include: attempting to destroy an underground drug refinery while rescuing hostage villagers, taking out a mountain stronghold, infiltrating enemy oilfields, and capturing a chemical weapons convoy and more.
In the game players assume the role of Delta Force, a US Ranger and for the first time, can play as a member of the British SAS. It also introduces: new weapons, new vehicles, new terrains, 2 new single player campaigns and, 30 new multiplayer maps which can be played via NovaWorld or LAN. Mod support for building unique multiplayer battlefields is also featured.
Key Features
2 all new single player campaigns set in Columbian jungle terrain and the most remote islands in the Persian Gulf take you through 10 new single player missions including: destroying an underground drug refinery while rescuing hostage villagers, taking out a mountain stronghold, infiltrating enemy oilfields, capturing a chemical weapons convoy and more.
New weapons including: H&K G3A3, H&K G36E and the H&K PSG1 Sniper rifle.
New modes of transport include the MH-53M PaveLow IV helicopter and the RHIB Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat.
For the first time ever play selected missions as British SAS soldier.
Sound effects from NovaLogic’s award winning Delta Force Black Hawk Down sound design team.
30 new multiplayer maps via NovaWorld
Mod support for building unique multiplayer battlefields.
For more info keep an eye on the Novalogic site
HERE
Raimondo Taburet, owner and webmaster of FSfreeware.com and famous in the Flight Simulator world for his many terrain mesh products, has now started to release a new series of European terrain mesh for FS2002 and FS2004, based on the SRTM data from NIMA/NASA. The mesh is of a 76.4 meter resolution, which makes it a lot more detailed than the default mesh provided by Microsoft for this region.
The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) obtained elevation data on a near-global scale to generate the most complete high-resolution digital topographic database of Earth. SRTM consisted of a specially modified radar system that flew onboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour during an 11-day mission in February of 2000. SRTM is an international project spearheaded by the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Raimondo's new series is called SRTM Terrain Environment (STE) and will include all of the European countries. It is a very priceworthy product, at Euros 8.99 per country, allowing most flightsimmers to obtain all of Europe for a reasonable price. Titles so far released are STE Germany, STE France, STE Iberia and STE Italy, all on SimMarket (http://www.simmarket.com) of course.
After Europe Raimondo will continue his series moving east, covering all of Eurasia by the time he is finished. More information can also be found on the FSFreeware website
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GameSpot have posted a LO:MAC Preview. Here's a snip:
Clearly, Lock On is an ambitious project. Ubisoft and Russian-based developer Eagle Dynamics have taken on a wide variety of issues with the game, not the least of which is the purported death of the genre. The cost of producing a quality air combat sim, it has been said, is too steep given its limited appeal. Furthermore, there is a question as to whether Eagle can successfully merge the best elements of a "survey" and "study" sim in one neat package. Can a game that offers six unique aircraft really do an authoritative and authentic job of each? And lastly, can a game that promises ultrarealism also deliver on its guarantee of scalability? Will a bright-eyed rookie feel just as comfortable as a studied veteran?
ECV 56th Condor have released their Operation Red Hot 3rd video. Here's what they had to say about it.
Mission 16 has just been flown, and the sun is finally comming up after a long night. After our morning jogging around the base, we're contacted by the maintenance personnel and join them to the hangar, where 2 Vipers are just ready after some minor repairs. One of them, belongs to the 56-0, a SEAD an A-G specialized section of our squad. With its caracteristic colourful skin. The other, belonging to the 56-1 an A-A specialized section of our squad, with its low visibility "Raptor" skin. Joyride and I are asked to do some testing before they are return to full service. Joyride climbes in the 560 and I do the same in the 561. How the flight went, you may see in this 3rd video ( 11.37 Mb, 1m:11s )
WorthPlaying have posted a preview of LOMAC. Here's a snippet:
If you are looking for arcade action, then look some where else because this is about as real as its gets, except maybe signing up for the military and taking a tour of duty. The game play in Lock On is cumbersome at first, especially if you’re a newbie. My fingers danced across the keyboard in order to just maintain air speed and operate the flaps and other doohickeys required for flight. Dog fighting is also far more complex than I have experienced till now; you can’t just slam your flight stick back and to the left and expect to bank at mach 1. If you choose to do the above, you will undoubtedly throw yourself into an uncontrollable spin and launch yourself into the ground. G-Force effects and blackouts are common occurrences, and you really have to think if you want to keep that enemy off your six.
November 3rd 2003. eDimensional, the industry leader in virtual simulation game control systems announces the release of the next generation game controller, the Trackir2™. With the award-winning TrackIR2™ head tracking system, gamers use natural head motion to look around their virtual environment without ever looking away from the screen, freeing up precious joystick buttons and mouse axes for other uses.
The Trackir2™ at a blazingly fast 100 frames per second has almost twice the frame rate and 4x the data throughput of the previous model, the TrackIR. This means greater accuracy and smoother movement in-game, and makes the Trackir2™ more compatible with the high refresh rates and resolutions of state-of-the-art computer monitors.
Jim Richardson, Trackir2’s creator says, “Now, with the Trackir2’s blistering speed and razor-sharp accuracy, Trackir2™ can bring new levels of immersion and excitement to the premier flight simulators as well as a much wider variety of games.”
Trackir2’s new features include:
Full USB hot plug capability
USB suspend mode compatible
New image display system with colored objects
Cool new case
Upgradeable system for future enhancements (such as multi-TrackIR displays)
Improvements over the current generation system include:
High speed digital imager (100 FP/S) a full 66% increase
I have posted an article by Dan "CRASH" Crenshaw about his day at Air Combat USA. Here's a snippet:
We went out and got our pilots assigned. When you tell someone you flew in a fighter trainer, they look at you a little skeptically at first. So it is important to explain how this works. Air Combat USA uses The SIAI Marchetti SF-260 aircraft. This is a side by side propeller driven aircraft capable of +6 Gs to -3 Gs. You get to fly on the left side of the aircraft and a real fighter pilot (or former fighter pilot) sits next to you. He has all the gauges and does take offs, landings and is there to keep you from doing anything stupid. He also gives you training, advice, and is an extra set of eyes. You are suited up with a full flight suit and helmet as well as a parachute. You are given basic instructions on how to operate it and how to get out of the harness and plane fast if you need too. I am not embarrassed to tell you I suddenly became a bit uncomfortable. I was not nervous at all ... but this little speech sort of brought it all home. WTF WAS I DOING????
Ubisoft UK and Digital Aspirin Ltd have joined forces to provide an enhanced manual and game guide for the upcoming Lock On: Modern Air Combat, which is slated for a Winter 2003 release.
Flight simulation fans are a demanding crowd. Immersion is the key to their world of high powered jets and mid air dueling. They want outstanding Artificial Intelligence, true-to-life physics, immersive missions all wrapped up in beautiful dynamic graphics and sound. Lock On: Modern Air Combat will deliver all of these over a large dynamic theatre with 7 flyable jets. With this in mind, Ubisoft are supporting a 3rd party production of a manual created for the ‘hard core’ simulation fan.
Digital Aspirin are producing ‘leather type’ triple fold ring binder with over 300 pages of information for the Lock On: Modern Air Combat fan. In addition to the 136 page full colour manual that will be shipped with the game, the paper manual will also contain a 70 page additional training section, plus 120 pages of technical data concerning each of the air, ground and naval units in the game. On top of these a section will be created with quick reference in mind, such as a key reference guide, landing / take-off and engagement checklists and mission planning sheets.
Digital Aspirin also plan to produce a large fold out map that the virtual pilots can use to plan and execute missions.
The manual (photos are available on the website) is A5 is size and will contain
A debossed logo on the front.
A CD Sleeve in the back to store the LOMAC CD.
A magnetic enclosure.
Each manual is numbered and a few will be signed by the development team.
The manual is available to ship worldwide from Early December 2003.
The finished manual can be furnished to interested parties by late November 2003.
Got this from Ervani about the 2003 Lowland Tiger Meet
14,15 & 16 November 2003, the LowLand Tiger Meet 2003 (LAN-party). This will be the 5th edition of this event. Competitors from: Russia, Germany, Belgium, France, England, Austria, Sweden & The Netherlands will enter the virtual sky for the ultimate V-pilot challenge. The official IL2FB European Championship (supported by Ubi-soft), The Dutch open Falcon4 championship, LockOn demo, Pitbuilders and plenty free flights.
We're proud to announche we've a new location for this event. The editions before we've used the Military Aviation Museum, this time we've transfered the whole event to a brand new (and larger) location: The Aviodrome Aviation Theme Park, a new aviation museum in The Netherlands. That means we can reopen the signup forms (we don't have to act with a signup stop at 125 competitors). This is great news for all people that want to join this event. Check the official website at www.lastresort.nu and go to the signup form. Remind this is a LAN-event, so no internet-connections to share the fun.
Cees Melieste, aka KL 204 in the AI Aardvark world, has recently put his new website online. Database driven, powered by Movabletype, he now has a great repository of the repaints he created so far for MS Flight Simulator. Most of his planes fly in both FS 2002/2004.
He has so far created about 150 repaints from many countries and airlines, for models created by AI Aardvark, PAI, FS Painter en also for the default models shipped with Flight Simulator itself. Think about almost all Boeing models, MacDonnell-Douglas, Fokker, Airbus in all their varieties. He also takes on paint requests. Het gets them from all over the world and his repaints are greatly appreciated by many.
All the aircraft are neatly categorized by model and country. The site has a searchengine as well, but the dropdownlists should take you to your favourite airplane within seconds. If you have a question about a certain plane or about a post he wrote, no problem: there is a comment-link under each repaint or post. The site is fast and a pleasure to look at.
New ATF game announcement: Thunder and Lightning! ProSIM's shock and awe campaign continues!
Cary, NC, 28 October 2003
Not long ago Shrapnel Games and Patrick Proctor's ProSIM Company announced that next year they would be putting gamers on the front lines of a future war on the Korean peninsula in Raging Tiger: The Second Korean War. Today we'd like to report that once more gamers will go into the breach, this time traveling back in time to the first Gulf War, Desert Storm, to refight some of the most brutal battles of the conflict and explore several what-if situations.
Currently in development by ProSIM, Thunder and Lightning: The Battles of Operation Desert Storm, is another standalone title in the distinguished ATF: Armored Task Force line. As the name suggests Thunder and Lightning will cover the war between Coalition forces and the Iraqis after the latter's invasion of Kuwait. Playable from both sides for a truly in-depth examination of the war, the majority of scenarios are historically based. Most wargamers will probably recognize names like Al Khafji, 73 Easting, and Medinah Ridge, all of which are but a sample of the scenarios to expect. Additionally, Thunder and Lightning explores many hypothetical situations, such as an early thrust into Saudi Arabia by Iraqi forces when only lightly equipped U.S. airborne forces were on the ground.
Built on the same improved ATF engine that Raging Tiger will use, Thunder and Lightning boasts its own set of unique improvements to better game the war in the desert. For example, players will have to deal with the brutal desert climate, and the poor visibility rendered by the burning oil fires. Probably the most interesting modification to the award-winning ATF system though is the addition of radically different training levels.
The combatants of Desert Storm were a mixed lot. From poorly trained Iraqi conscripts to highly specialized American forces (and everything in between) fought in the war. Thunder and Lightning manages to realistically portray the disparate training levels by examining each forces capabilities. Units are rated in several different training levels to reflect their real world knowledge, as opposed to one global stat that represents their game level. So, the player could control in a scenario three different nationalities, and each nationality may be rated across the board in something like indirect fire capability, but all score the same in electronic warfare. The player would then have to make intelligent decisions with this knowledge, as obviously relying on a force to call in an artillery strike when they've never used anything larger than a 81mm mortar would be a bad idea.
Thunder and Lightning will feature all the bells and whistles that one expects from an ATF product. Multiplayer is fully support, and you can play head to head or team to team over the 'net, LAN, modem, or even a serial connection. A scenario builder will be included, and the Power Toolkit will make an appearance once more, allowing would-be scenario crafters to make their own maps and databases. Like Raging Tiger the game will be told in storyboard mode, allowing gamers to jump into any scenario at any point. Following the full scope of the war (players will command various force make ups), and full of historical detail, gamers will walk away with a better understanding of the conflict when all is said and done.
The project leader for Thunder and Lighting: The Battles of Operation Desert Storm is a new member of the ProSIM team, Del Shand, formerly of the Canadian Army. A retired artillery officer, Del has spent his life as a professional soldier and in his spare time a devotee of wargaming, having amassed over 250 titles since beginning the hobby in 1973. With his professional experience and long time gaming knowledge Del is a welcome addition to the ProSIM Company.
Keep up with all that is happening with ATF and its future titles
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v1.10 of WWII Online SLATED FOR RELEASE- TONS OF NEW FEATURES INCLUDED From an already extensive list of updates delivered to the soldiers and airman of "WWII Online", Playnet and Cornered Rat Software are ready to introduce another round of major gameplay enhancements to their MMOG.
LIGHT MACHINE GUNS APPEAR ON THE BATTLEFIELD One of the most anticipated additions to the game has been the introduction of light machine guns. With the release of v1.10 three LMGs will be available: - Bren MkI (British) - Fusil Mitrailleur Model 1924/29 (French) - MG34 (German) LMGs will be a rank-limited weapon with historically accurate ammunition supplies. This created the need for new infantry loadout features providing players the opportunity to resupply in the field. Now a player can pass ammunition to any other friendly infantry in need of ammunition. Other features include reduced stamina while carrying an LMG, recoil effects, and deployed mode with a bipod kit. These new weapons will bring a new, deadly direct-fire weapon to infantry players and will have an immediate impact on gameplay.
NEW NAVAL VESSEL DELIVER ANOTHER MMOG FIRST V1.10 introduces another ship class to the naval vehicles in "WWII Online" and with it comes ground-breaking features allowing ground troops to board, attack and defend as well as for the ships to carry all types of ground vehicles including tanks and trucks. Player-operated shipboard cranes will do the loading and unloading. These new transport ships now allow players to stage troops and assault vehicles for coastal attacks and provide new resupply options for troop/vehicle depleted areas of combat. This new feature delivered into a massively multiplayer environment is another first for "WWII Online".
NEW VEHICLES, TERRAIN, SPECIAL EFFECTS AND MORE v1.10 also introduces several new combat vehicles including: - SdKfz 251C Halftrack with machine gun(German) - Added Stuart M3A3 tank (French) Tons of new special effects have been added including all new muzzle flashes for aircraft guns, new explosion effects and tread/wheel dirt/dust for all ground vehicles. The already huge playable map of "WWII Online" has been further built out with the addition of dozens of new towns/cities. The gameworld of "WWII Online" is built as a half-scale historical representation of western Europe and is approximately 900x900Km (SWG is approximately 45x45Km).
Closed Beta testing of v1.10 continues with the final few features close to completion. For a full feature list of what's coming visit the official website
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SimHQ have posted episode 2 or Mark Dorans Harpoon3 Battleset Diary. Here's a snippet:
Norwegian early warning stations to the North are reporting MiG-25 Foxbats and MiG-23 Floggers on the leading edge of the raid coming inbound from Soviet land bases. The Norwegians don’t have much that can compete with that action: a few F-16A models with sidewinders and a handful or two of P-3 patrol planes. The Orions scramble out of Andoya and are dispatched to take a closer look at the two invasion fleets. Four of their squadron mates already made one raid on the fleet heading for the coast near Bodo; they are rearming with more Harpoons but it will be another hour or so before they can launch. At this point, all hell breaks loose.
