How does one get started in sims?

[stevedrew]

Originally Posted by sightreader

Ooh, cool... except that my nightmare is that the add-on pack will have planes I already bought separately!

PS: it sounds like you're a bit disillusioned with NeoQB?

Sightreader,

I'm not disillusioned with neoqb at all. I don't own Rise Of Flight...and probably won't for a long while. I was only going on complaints I've read on other sites about problems people have had, and their frustration at not being provided with any information at all. I do know for a fact that the OBD Software guys visit CombatAce Forum daily, and actually post there, and answer all questions promptly.

Winder (OBD Software) posted this on CombatAce regarding the add-on pack...

"The first addon pack for OFF will be quite extensive and will include:

1) Nieuport N28
2) Nieuport N24 (Brit and French versions)
3) Nieuport N24 Bis (Brit and French Versions)
4) Nieuport N17 Bis
5) Fokker EV
6) Airco DH5
7) Extra squads and amended squads to take the above craft into account for full campaign immersion for all craft - American squads are a key point!
8) Comprehensive skin set for the above craft for full immersion in the campaigns
9) Personalised skin functionality - player can now fly with his own unique custom skin.
10) Actual Wind Buffeting effect as you fly - gets worse with the weather conditions (configurable as off or on in workshops)
11) Wind noise in every craft - speed dependent - increases with speed
12) Revised Railyards - all are now co-incident with railway tracks and with switchbacks and revised textures
13) Overhauled hi res airfield textures and revised airfield tree models
14) Revised forest and woods layouts
15) Revised autogen tree models (only when set to high terrain detail)
16) Improved mobile ground unit deployment in theater
17) Manager main menu picture now changes according to players pilot nationality.

And many minor tweaks."

[sightreader]

Originally Posted by stevedrew

I'm not disillusioned with neoqb at all.

Ah... whew... I was getting worried that the one completely new sim - a rare bird these days - was not being received well, which wouldn't bode well for what may be a dying genre!

[AustralianAce]

Another question on this. I got hooked on RB II a long time purely because I enjoyed the whole flying career during the war more so than the actual flying. In the games all mentioned above which offers the best simulation through the progression of the war.

Anything such as promotions, ace lists, squadrons transfers etc.

Thanks.

[ArgonV]

If you don't mind something a little older (And dated looking - But the upside is the system requirements are lower) than OFF or RoF and free at that, you can give this a shot:

FS-WWI Plane Pack 5 All-In-One EXE Installer download - Fighter Squadron - World War One Mod for Fighter Squadron: Screamin' Demons Over Europe - Mod DB

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by ArgonV

If you don't mind something a little older (And dated looking - But the upside is the system requirements are lower) than OFF or RoF and free at that, you can give this a shot:

I think ArgonV has a point inhere, start first the free FS-WW1 and take a look if you like the WW1 flying scene.

Keep in mind that CanvasEagles is about to be released in 2010, I hope . It is also free and base on the IL-2 engine which is better then the CFS3 engine on OFF3. The first impressions are a little bit comicbook but like in OFF1, this game will be improved to something good.

On the payware games, I would skip FirstEagles and go for OFF3 or RoF.

Keep in mind that for RoF, all the payware planes are in RoF, only you can not fly them as a pilot, but they can be your opponent. All the improvements, corrections and updates are still free.

OFF3 add-on has to be paid, not only for few extra planes and the US-campaign mode, but also to get all the new improvements.

[stevedrew]

Originally Posted by AustralianAce

Another question on this. I got hooked on RB II a long time purely because I enjoyed the whole flying career during the war more so than the actual flying. In the games all mentioned above which offers the best simulation through the progression of the war.

Anything such as promotions, ace lists, squadrons transfers etc.

Thanks.

I spent a long time answering this. Very detailed (and with a few distractions to do work [inconsiderate b*****s]), and when I returned, it refused to let me post it, so you'll have to get the shortened version...

As a flight simulator, I'm told RoF has a better flight model, and better damage model. If you want a WW1 aviation simulator, the clear choice is OFF.

OFF is historically accurate...the front lines move as they did historically (RoF is static apparently), OFF has historically correct weather, with flights grounded in the sim if it snowed on that day in history. The squadron you enlist in will fly the aircraft they were using at that time in history, and be at the airfields they were at.

OFF takes you from 1916 through 1918. RoF is just a few months (maybe a year)

RoF has (I believe) less than 10 flyable aircraft. OFF has 39, with more coming in the expansion pack [$US20]. You can fly for any service, any squadron, any aircraft, as it was historically.

OFF has the better immersion factor, Rof is a better flight simulator of WW1 aircraft apparently.

[Dutch]

I can not put in the link [I'm new here] but you can download a RoF demo. Maybe somebody can put in the link from RoF Neoqb site.

BTW. nothing wrong in getting RB3 at madotter's site, despite having OFF3 & RoF I still like this game.
Dutch

[JFM]

Generally, what Steve wrote is accurate, but if you can afford both, why not? Many guys have an emotional sim "allegiance" which IMO is ridiculous. I own RoF, OFF, FE. I like all three for different reasons. It's kind of like pizza. It's my favorite food, but I don't avoid other food because of that.

ROF link. Navigate to demo from there. Rise Of Flight

[Dutch]

Originally Posted by JFM

ROF link. Navigate to demo from there.

Thanks for adding the RoF link!!!

Keep also in your mind RoF will be in the future open for 3rd party add-ons, like the new mission generator from GabiLaser or the Campaign add-on from PatWilson even new 3prt plane can be installed when they release the mod tool, like in FirstEagles.

OFF3 is complete closed on that point They even do not like ad-on planes in Quick mission. But indeed a very good Campaign mode.

FirstEagles I think this game is complete out of its lifetime, still can remember when I get this game in jan 2007, I was very disappointed to the old graphics and bad campaigns.

Prices
OFF3 looks cheap but you need a CFS3 disk and for the game and the add-on get another $50,-- extra, So this will be $60,-- not mention here the shipping cost

RoF can be expensive because not all the rigs can handle the RoF game, so you have to upgrade your rig.

But right now despite ,old game engine and never get the optimum graphic adjustments due CFS3config, OFF3 is THE game but RoF is the future in WW1 combat fly sims.

Forget something went today to the German Mediamarket and I noticed that there is a WW1 add-on pack for MS-flightsimulator. Its containing only a couple of missions no campaign and only 4 planes. It appears to me that you can gun-out your opponent.

[MiG-77]

Originally Posted by stevedrew

RoF has (I believe) less than 10 flyable aircraft.

Currently 12 flyable aircraft:

• Nieuport 17
  Nieuport 28
  Albatros D.III
  Albatros D.Va
  SPAD 13C1
  Fokker D.VII
  Fokker Dr.I
  SE5a
  Pfalz D.IIIa
  Pfalz D.XII
  Sopwith Dolphin
  Sopwith Camel