good flight sims of the past 5 years?

[Beeblequix]

Yes, I'm back playing Crimson Skies. Bought me a nice shiny new logitec joystick so now I HAVE TO find more flight sims to play.

Is X2 any good? Does it have muliplayer?

I haven't played M$ Flight Sim 2004, but 2002 was so-so to me. I was mainly interested in finding the 'high desert' where Art Bell lives...

Someone plz post with some good flight sims. thx

ß

[JediOfDarkness]

X2: The Threat is a pretty fun game, lots of depth in the storyline and hundreds of things that you can do. But, no multiplayer. I was really disapointed with this myself. There might be a mod out there to make it multiplayer, but I kinda doubt it.
As for a good one, Microsoft Flight Simulator has always been good, and 2004 is suppose to be great. I've also heard that X-Plane is pretty fun too.

[MJCfromCT]

Lock On Modern Air Combat is fun, but be prepared to learn a lot of commands.

[Magua]

Flight Sim 2004 is a great flight simulator, but I can't imagine too many non-pilots can appreciate it or enjoy it very much.

[missiveusa]

The best combat flight sim since CFS2 is Il-2 Sturmovik by 1C Maddox/Ubisoft. Get the later release Forgotten Battles, which includes the original Il-2, plus 40 more planes. Ace Expansion Pack (AEP) was the final release, an add-on to FB that was patched twice with some nice add-ons too. Go here (http://www.il2sturmovik.com/) for the official page, descriptions, etc.

Il-2 does not follow the open code model of M'soft's CFS series. There are 3rd party developers, folks write missions, and there are a wealth of skins here (http://www.il2skins.com/) most of them excellent work. But the game developers just didn't want sloppy or inaccurate cockpits and flight models cluttering up the game, so all 3rd party a/c are officially released in patches or add-ons. Good quality control.

Next promising release from Oleg Maddox is due this Fall, called Pacific Fighters, which will model carrier war in the Pacific. After that, the Battle of Britain will be moddled.

These are not arcade style games, although they can be played that way. A lot of attention is given to historical accuracy and flight moddling details. The learning curve can be steep, but it's worth it. And there's plenty of opportunity to go up against other pilots online:r

[Rabbitrunner51]

Ths is my next big leap into the gaming rhealm as I have played games like crimson skiies and a few others that were not vry good....

IL2 Sturmovik is by most accounts just about the best simualtor and game out there....and Forgotten battles is a big plus for this...

I keep buying games and have littlle money ..but I need to get a flightstick and the setup so I can play these games...

Planes and jets are one of my passions ....and ever since I was a kid I always was interested in flight and its histroical aircraft.

[missiveusa]

RR51: If jets are your thing, Lock On, also from Ubisoft, will probably be more what you're looking for instead of Il-2, which has only 3 jets (Me-262-1A; He-162; YB-80 Lockheed Shooting Star) and 2 rocket planes, the Me-163 Komet; little known Russian B-1 rocket plane), the rest are prop a/c dating back to the 1930's.

I can't speak for LockOn, but Ive heard it's a quality game. Il-2 AEP is the definitive combat flight sim.

For equipment, get rudder pedals ($100 by CH Products [USB]). For sticks, it depends on what you can spend. Cougar HOTAS is considered the best, so is Microsoft's FF2 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005NIMB/qid=1095425161/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl147/104-0357020-7920768?v=glance&s=pc&n=507846) no longer sold retail. Saitek and CH (http://www.chproducts.com/retail/index.html) are other popular brands.

When you get into flying, there are plenty of people in the community willing to help you along in your training. And you'll find other devices like Track IR3 (http://www.naturalpoint.com/trackir/) that will add to your immersion.

[Beeblequix]

Okay, *SOLD AMERICAN*. I'll go pick up the Il2 Forgotten Battles this weekend.

Does this game have the ability for my two gaming pc's to run a multiplayer server and add AI controlled planes for more targets? Like can my bro & I stay offline, play together on the LAN against the whole German Luftwaffe? :) That was one reason I like Unreal Tourney & QIII -- whenever we needed a bad mutha for a challenge we'd toss in a totally leet bot (meaning when we felt like getting fragged). I always had fun against the ai in Star Wars Xwing vs Tie Fighter. Multiplayer + bots is what I'm in the market for.

[missiveusa]

Yup, FB includes Quick and Full Mission Builders. Another freeware program by Uberdemon (http://www.uberdemon.com/index2.html) is a great addition to FB/AEP. Also d/l the server patches (http://www.3dgamers.com/games/il2sturmovik2/) if you want to host coop missions.

Horrido!

[Beeblequix]

I downloaded the Lockon demo from fileplanet a couple of nights ago. Nice graphics. I cranked up the details ingame and maxxed out my eye candy (16x aniosotropic filtering, 6x antialiasing, high quality textures, high mipmap detail). The machine actually had a hard time rendering it all -- little choppy. This on my P42.8GHz northy, 512 MB DDR and Radeon 9800 pro. Not bad. I can't fly worth S but that's due to change.

I also grabbed the IL2 demo. I'll likely go down in flames but I want to see the detail.

[Beeblequix]

mmmmkay.

I grabbed IL2 Forgotten Battles Ace Expansion.

:)

WAY fun. I admit that I've made quite a number of craters in the earth. I finally know how to land and perform routine combat. The whole environment looks fantastic. The water is perfect. I turned it down to easy mode so I don't have to worry about stalling it (again, and again....). Thx for the recommend.

ß

[pootietang]

Originally posted by Beeblequix
Yes, I'm back playing Crimson Skies. Bought me a nice shiny new logitec joystick so now I HAVE TO find more flight sims to play.

Someone plz post with some good flight sims. thxß

More of an arcade but its really fun multiplayer online is
'Wings Of War' for the PC. Only $20! :t

Reviews/preview pics;
http://pc.ign.com/articles/546/546832p1.html?fromint=1
http://reviews.cnet.com/Wings_of_War__PC_/4505-9490_7-31006686.html

Buy online;
http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/244684.asp

[missiveusa]

Beeblequix

Glad to hear you're flying. My advice is to keep stalls and spins ON. You'll only have to unlearn bad habits you pick up flying in easy mode. The La-5FN, a Russian radial engine a/c is one of the best all-around planes available. Easy to fly and tough, a good a/c to train in. Just remember your energy management. Keep your altitude and speed against an opponent. When turning, you'll turn tighter at reduced speed (use flaps). Plenty of good tutorials at the Il-2 website.

Once you feel bold enough to fight against human pilots, the Ubisoft game lobby has easier games than Hyperlobbly, where most of the veteran pilots fly.

Happy skies! Horrido!

[Magua]

Curious...Any of you pilots?