Post by Galland on May 24, 2005 5:07:28 GMT -5
I haven't posted for several weeks because I've been hard at work wasting many hours buzzing around and getting shot out of the sky on IL-2:FB+AEP+PF flight simulation servers. The original IL-2 Sturmovik came with my CH joystick. I liked it, but almost nobody plays the original version of the game online these days. So I ordered IL-2: Forgotten Battles Gold Edition which comes with the Ace Expansion Pack. Then I ordered Pacific Fighters, which also merges into the game, though it can be installed as a standalone program. But most people play with all three things merged into one giant program.
I find servers with a small program called HyperLobby. It is freeware, though some sort of license agreement must be clicked through in order to install it. It has it's own custom GUI that works well enough. There are all kinds of servers available- from arcade settings to full realism. I personally like to fly on servers with icons, as this makes of up for the fact that computer graphics are not sharp as real eyeballs in the real world.
Some servers do a better job of rotating maps and configuring the available aicraft choices than others. Some admins restrict the list too much and others restrict almost nothing. Some have even figured out how to make "AI only" planes flyable, though you can only do this from the 3rd person perspective as there is no cockpit.
Bombing enemy runways is fun, though most servers don't give credits for killing a plane that hasn't started to taxi yet. Some servers only allow ground attack with bombs, while most allow bombs and rockets. Very few servers allow one to strafe with guns. This is for the best, as it gives folks a chance to take off. Of course there are maps where "vulching" with guns would be fun and wouldn't hurt playablility, but apparently most folks don't like the idea of having to fight off strafing enemy aircraft.
Dogfighting is another matter. I'm just starting to get the hang of boom and zoom. I rarely make it out alive if I get in a turning fight with any sort of aircraft. Speed is your best friend.
I find servers with a small program called HyperLobby. It is freeware, though some sort of license agreement must be clicked through in order to install it. It has it's own custom GUI that works well enough. There are all kinds of servers available- from arcade settings to full realism. I personally like to fly on servers with icons, as this makes of up for the fact that computer graphics are not sharp as real eyeballs in the real world.
Some servers do a better job of rotating maps and configuring the available aicraft choices than others. Some admins restrict the list too much and others restrict almost nothing. Some have even figured out how to make "AI only" planes flyable, though you can only do this from the 3rd person perspective as there is no cockpit.
Bombing enemy runways is fun, though most servers don't give credits for killing a plane that hasn't started to taxi yet. Some servers only allow ground attack with bombs, while most allow bombs and rockets. Very few servers allow one to strafe with guns. This is for the best, as it gives folks a chance to take off. Of course there are maps where "vulching" with guns would be fun and wouldn't hurt playablility, but apparently most folks don't like the idea of having to fight off strafing enemy aircraft.
Dogfighting is another matter. I'm just starting to get the hang of boom and zoom. I rarely make it out alive if I get in a turning fight with any sort of aircraft. Speed is your best friend.