One of the first things I always look for in a combat simulation is a realistic and immersive digital environment. Flight model and avionics are also important aspects of a simulator, there is no doubt about that, but if you put them in a non-realistic conflict they will not be enough to keep you immersed. They contribuite to the realism but they don’t define it. In order for them to work they need to be the components of a bigger system that takes place in a believable scenario.

Too often it seems that some developers focus only on the technicalities of a particular machine. They spend all their resources in this aspect and then, when they inevitably run out of time and money, all the other components are forgotten or quickly scripted in limited and non-dynamic ways. The truth is that if you don’t plan a bigger virtual battleground earlier in the development then it will be very hard (if not impossible) to create it later. And this is what separates an average simulator from a great one.

The choice of the scenario is also very important. Simply put, it has to make sense in order to be believable. And, in some cases, it also needs to be future-proof. Choosing a conflict that is only characteristic of a specific timeframe or era only works if you are creating an historical simulation. But if you are building a modern simulator for the next ten years then you have be smart, study all the possible war zones and bet on the right one.

This is why I love the Korean campaign in Falcon. The conflict between north and south is still going now. Just recently they exchanged artillery fire around Yeonpeyong island and a carrier force led by the U.S.S. George Washington is currently patrolling the Yellow Sea. And who knows what is going to happen in the ongoing drama surrounding the Kim line of succession.

This conflict is not going to end soon and, after all, it turns out that Microprose won that bet.

Some time ago I visited the Museum of Flight in Seattle and I was able to find the only (autographed) copy of this rare book while browsing their library. “Angels Three Six” is the fascinating story of Colonel Charles (Chuck) Lehman and the Cold War Air Defense Command.

He is the author of this book and writes in first person about flying F-102 and (nuclear armed) F-106 during the Cold War and the Cuban missile crisis. Chuck and the other pilots were dedicated to protect the United States from the horrors of a successful strike by the (at that time) huge Soviet Air Force. They also had to be ready to accept a final attack on an invading bomber. Final means that if the missiles and rockets failed to stop the threat they had to take the bomber out by ramming it with their own aircraft. Here’s an excerpt from the book introducion.

“The stories are confessions, not exposes. Some of these stories are hairy. Others are humorous. A few are zany. One or two fit more aptly into the How could I Have Been so Stupid category. In most cases, the events are so burned into my memory that I can still feel the G forces, the vibrations and the flow of oxygen in my mask. I can smell the smells, hear the sounds, feel the sweat and the indescribable exhilation of flying a high performace fighter on the deck. Six hundred knots at 40,000 feet is mundane. The same speed at 400 feet is exciting. At 40 feet it’s mind-blowing.”

This book is so captivating that you will probably read the 200 pages within a night and then feel sad because you can’t have more. I could write forever about how good it is so do yourself a favor and buy it. But it’s not easy to find. There must be a reason for it.

GAMES ON NET: Anything else you’d like to add?

JIM MACKONOCHIE: Coding has already started on the next aircraft in the DCS series. All I can say is that it will be a USA fixed wing aircraft!

(Source: Games On Net)

Looks like it will be the Super Hornet, according to the results of their forum poll. It’s not a F-16 (no luck for cockpit builders) but it’s a carrier based multi-role fighter and it’s a much more interesting choice than the (mission limited) A-10 which I will have to skip completely.

Carrier operations are fun and I still remember the good times with Jane’s F/A-18. If this turns out to be true I may even start liking DCS!

A few more screenshots for this month’s update. You can see from one of the images how the color of the river blends naturally with the the color of the sea and how the coast tiles use a gradient.

Ice Pilots NWT is a documentary series on History Television about Buffalo Airways and their pilots. They are based in Yellowknife (Northwest Territories, Canada) and they fly vintage WWII-era propeller planes (DC-3, DC-4, C-46, Electra) in the Canadian North. You can check their website here: www.icepilots.com

This is a great TV shows and I am completely addicted to it. Seriously, if you haven’t seen it yet you are really missing something. If you don’t have this History Television you can still see the episodes online. I haven’t seen such a good reality series since Jetstream.

Season 2 is currently airing and a third one is being filmed. But do the right thing and start from Season 1. You won’t regret it.