Basic Flight Sim Equipment?

[Chock]

OFF runs pretty well on even a fairly oldish computer (i.e. single core CPUs with first generation PCI-X graphics cards). The reason I know that is because when it originally came out, I made this video with OFF on just such a computer:

YouTube - Dicta Boelcke Air Combat Training film

YouTube - Dicta Boelcke Air Combat Training film

Of course you do need CFS3 to run OFF, since it is basically a 'mission disk' for CFS, although in practice it is more in the nature of a total revamp of the thing. That is in fact why OFF runs well, since it is tied to the older programming architecture limitations of CFS3, which means you can get away with cranking the details up quite high on a decent computer.

Al

[stevedrew]

Originally Posted by Tom_Cervo

"Over Flanders Fields: Between Heaven and Hell."

You make a very good case, but . . .
what's the spec--processor, video card, HD space to run it--and I don't mean the "lies on the box", we've all been burned that way--what works for you?

Do you need CFS3?

Can you get it in one install, or does it need multiple downloads/patches to get it to optimal state?

Tom,

Over Flanders Fields: Between Heaven and Hell does require a pretty good machine to run it, though Chock seems to think it worked OK on a lower spec machine. I'm no computer Geek, so I'll have to just refer you to the OFF:BHaH requirements page here:

System Requirements

It's laid out fairly well what the minimum and desired specifications for a computer. If you have any sort of "savvy" about these things, you should be able to work it out. There is no "lies on the box"...just artwork.

The DVD is a zipped file and actually works out to be something like 15GB when unzipped. The installation is very simple...

Place the OFF DVD in your drive, it runs automatically. After a few seconds it asks you how you will provide the necessary M$ CFS3 files...is it installed on your hard drive or will you put in a CD/DVD to provide them? Then you put in your CFS3, it downloads a few files, then asks you to re-insert OFF. Then it continues for a little while until the download is complete.

There has been a recent flurry of activity on the "patch" front. Please do not read into this that the game is flawed or buggy, because that is not the case at all. OBD Software are BY FAR the best after-market supporters of any product of any type anywhere that I have ever seen. If you visit their Forum at:

CombatACE Forum -> Over Flanders Fields

you can read it for yourself. If you have ANY trouble...any trouble at all, no matter what...the helpful forum users will assist you in (for instance) your installation problems, tweaking to optimise the graphics, down to "how do I fight a Camel...theyre just so much better than the Fokker I'm in".."which climbs faster, a Dr.1 or a Sopwith Tripe?" EVERY DAY the GAME DEVELOPERS visit that site and chat with users, answer their queries, LISTEN TO THEIR COMPLAINTS/SUGGESTIONS. (They also visit here to see whether anyone has any questions they could answer).

The patches that have come out (three or four in the same number of weeks) are enhancements, not "fixes". I recently asked if the AA known as "Flaming Onions" was available in the game. One of the developers started working on it immediately, a week later posting a YouTube video asking forum users if that looked like they imagined it would.

Last week the head of OBD software ran a poll askiing whether there was sufficient control over the AA fire in the sim. Can you turn it up/turn it down sufficiently to your satisfaction? Is the AA too heavy/too light etc. As a result of that poll, a new "patch" was released this week with improved AA capabilites. The developers are now taking a well earned rest and then will concentrate on developing Phase 4 (BHaH is Phase 3 of the sim). If you read the "General Discussion" forum on the link I posted, you will see users telling the devs to go and take their holiday, have a rest, they are WELL satisfied with the support they have (and still do) provided. Everyone is salivating at the thought of Phase 4 and what it will bring.

Which brings me to my next point. There are always only two patches to OFF. A recent so-called "Super Patch", which brings the game to Version 1.32 standard. This "Super Patch" incorporated all the previous patches in one package. Now whenever another "patch" is released, it incorpates all patches or improvements between Super Patch and current version (currently 1.32e).

So after your installation, all you need to do is download the "Super Patch", unzip that (all automatic), then download the latest "Mini Patch" (1.32e) and also unzip that, and you're up to latest standard.

The last part of your query, "do you need CFS 3?". The answer is yes, you need to provide some files from the CD/DVD of that game, or provide the necessary files from the game already installed on your hard drive (but you don't need to install CFS 3 to run OFF). What you do need to understand is that CFS must be version 3.1 (don't worry, just insert the disc when OFF Install Wizard requests it - if CFS3 isn't up to version 3.1 standard, it will inform you. If that's the case, you'll need to install CFS3, upgrade it to V3.1, then tell OFF you wish to provide the files from your hard drive). While flying in OFF, you need to have the CFS 3 disc inserted, or else it won't work (unless you have the Ubisoft DVD version of CFS3, in which case the disc does not need to be in your drawer to fly OFF).

Whew!

Sorry for the long-winded reply, but I'm keen to get as many people as possible to try this sim out. Sure, I'm a "fan boy"...unashamedly so. I LOVE this sim. When I'm not flying, I'm in the Forum helping out others with their problems if I can, advice, assistance.

No, I don't work for OBD. Just a fan of this sim. Buy it and you will be too.

CAUTION: OFF is completely addictive!