Rickitycrate

Mr. Lucky, Firstly I don't understand much technical talk but I will try to tell you what I have. Medion Akoya P6611 16", 1366x768 pixels , Vista 32 ,Intel Centrino Core2 Duo T5800 (2GHz 2MB L2 Cache 800 MHz FSB), 3 GB DDR2 SDRAM, Nvidea GeForce 9300M w/256 MB GDDR3 memory, 320 gig hard drive. On the laptop I get very good performance everything looks and works great. Sliders at 4,2,2,4,1. Running TIR3 and Fraps. I also use an external monitor setup KDS CRT 18" resolution 1600x1200 Sliders at 4,3,3,4,1. My frame rates vary in either setup from 30 to high 50's depending on the situation. Always very flyable and no stutters. Although I am extremely pleased with my laptop at some point I hope to have a dedicated pc tower and not use my laptop for flight simming.

Just some things, most are silly. People. Ground crew. Mechanics. Some ability to move around the aerodrome in first person and enter various buildings and have things to see and do in there. A bunkhouse with some personal effects you took as trophies from downed planes. A journal by your bed where you can make entries or view your record. Flesh out the hangars with paraphenalia. Have a canteen/mess where we can meetup like an online waiting room. I always thought that if I could design a WWI flying game I would include the aspect of breaking out of prison and making your way back to friendly territory. That would include being brought down in enemy territory or noman's land. All in first person perspective. Trench and shell hole jumping. Things like funerals and award cerimonies. I quess you might tell that I like first person roleplaying games. Imagine a marriage of OFF and Oblivion. Imagine the years of high paid developement team and million dollar budget too I suppose.

I bought my Xbox so I could play Wings of War. How I fondly remember jumping from my beautiful crate into another pilotless crate while in mid-air. Shame really the game had so much going for it but going the arcade route was unfortunate. Another missed opportunity.

No surprise but Uncleal is right, the Logitech Wingman Force 3D is FFB and I find it works very well. I paid 99 cents before tax for mine at the Goodwill. I see joysticks there all the time. Look at second hand shops if money is tight.

I almost have a game museum here including my Amiga 500 programming manuals and that portable Commodore 64 computer. All my old Atari, Colecovision ..... my how things have changed. I actually have Wings for the Nintendo Advance.

Good for you. You're gonna love it. And welcome to the forum. Let us know what you think of BH&H when you get the chance. Thanks for sparking happy memories of Wings and the other old games.

Well for what it's worth I've always voted Gotha on any wish list.

Sounds like you are getting things sorted out and good to go. Have a great time.

Kelly, some might say that Lone Wolf missions are a waste of time. I take them for the fun and adventure of checking things out. Nothing is scripted so you do not need to fly the waypoints for any reason. You may while flying low see all kinds of things happening in the war and targets of opportunity. You are out hunting on your own and may find an easy target or you may fly into a flight of 6 enemy aircraft. It can be exciting or it can be dry. If you find that's dry you can land at any friendly field. You could land anyplace you pick and have a look see. Land by some tanks and watch them, an army camp and check things out, the train depot and watch the trains pull through. You have the freedom. I say enjoy.

I think he likes OFF BH&H just a little bit. Can't blame him.

Pol, it might sell well. I had some more nonsense to add but thought better. I am just trying to get my mind around the idea of a P4. Such a happy thought in troubled times.

Over Flander's Fields: Rickitycrate's Fate OFF: The Killer Kites OFF: Better Than Sex nah

See ya!

Okay, I've been away for awhile so I'll chip in my ROF 2 cents. I just watched the vid WF2 posted, not the first ROF vid I've watched, and I would be sick to my stomach after seeing this and then finding out my computer would not run it properly. Lucky me I have OFF BH&H. They share a lot in common I think. Some differences I noticed were that the engine sound seemed like it was at near stall rpms, that single player might mean that there is one E/A in the air with you, there was no checking the 6, seemed like a turkey shoot each time. It looks good indeed. I cannot judge from the videos so my thoughts are not worth much. Right now with this computer I have my WWI air sim needs met. Long live WWI flight sims.

And so I wonder and almost hate to bring it up, but... what game engine might you be using for P4? I love BH&H! I thank the dev's everyday that I have it and no one can take it away. It's mine for good. I treasure it. All you guys have good points for improvement and inclusion. Seems to me CFS3 is just not up to what we might want. The devs have worked miracles for us thus far. A new game engine and losing the CFS3 stigma seems to be something to hope for, as long as it runs on my machine, that is there, 2 cents for ya.

I miss GWB. Obama has a soft time of things... he said there are 57 states in the US. Wow! Had that been a Bushism we would never hear the end of it. But Obama slids by as he can do no wrong. Third world here we come.

Thanks guys. You all had good points to consider. Ive looked at this thing any way you might imagine. My thought is that it is unique. But that's what I want to think. It is signed in black felt tip so he would not have pressed down so hard as with a foutain or ballpoint pen. He had the elder shakes clearly and there are little bits and dots that were not cleaned up as might have been done for a mass printing. The inscription does seem more intensely black than any other part of the print. If only the inscription was in blue ink I'ld know for sure. I honor the pice regardless and may never know for sure. I just thought a master collector of WWI inscriptions like MK2 may have been familiar with this piece.

It's actually a trilogy. To be shot Ala The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy. In succession with all the same cast crew and sets etc. The First story would involve the Lafayette Esc. and focus on the exploits of Raoul Lufbery. The second chapter would involve the U.S. First Pursuit Squadron and highlight Rickenbacker and especially Frank Luke. The finale chapter would center on Captain Eddie, the close of the war and his amazing post war experiences to some extent. My heroes, my fantasy, Yanks. Do you long for certain story to be told? Faithfully, historically and accurately.

Dear Ovs, I am rather glad you made your initial post now, grin. It made me question my perceptions and understandings about Lt. Luke and Wehner. I had referenced Hartney's book and account although I was loathe to depend on my memory of a book I read 20 years previous. I determined to locate my Hartney book and to check my facts. I was right with the exception of some facts. The bringing down of the 2 sausage's was predicted to the minute by Luke not only to Hartney but to General Billy Mitchell who was visiting the 27th Aerosquad at the time. The feat was accomplished to the minute to the astonishment of all. Being based 4 miles from the front the deed was plain to see in the early evening light and Mitchell was minding the time on his watch. My summary does not do justice of course. The book for reference is "Up And At 'Em" Harold E. Hartney Commander of the First Pursuit Squadron. In terms of baseball heroes makes one remember the occasion when Babe Ruth pointed to the outfield stands and indicated he was going to hit a home run and did. Cheers!

There is an aspect of this thread that is coming around to the question of motivations. In particular the need to get confirmations. It may have stemmed for a need for recognition or validation. Let's not forget that for many of the U.S. pilots they had german speaking parents back home. A man was judged by the spelling of his name at the time. Many of them were not so far removed from the enemy and came under suspicion. Rickenbacker was a man of great determination and provided for his family from an early age, worked late into life as well. He also had the stigma of being an "old man" that had fanaggled his way into the Signal Corps. He was by nature a competitor ie. racecar driver. When you fight hard and have something to prove you want/need the credit for it. There is thread now discussing the Bruno Stachel character from the The Blue Max. He was of the wrong class, beneath his jasta mates and he felt it to his core. It drove most of his actions. Always something to prove so he needed his proof. Joe Wehner and Frank Luke naturally teamed up for the reasons of their heritage and being outsiders for that fact. Who wants to be thought of as a lesser man when they are putting their life on the line like all the rest? Something to prove I'ld say. Raoul Lufbery, bless him, had his French heritage to his advantage. He was not to be suspected in his motives. He fit in with French and the Yanks. It was easy to understand why he was there putting his life on the line. I do not say he had no inner demons. He unfortunately met his end in the way he feared most. Well anyway thanks for considering these thoughts.

MK2 or anyone else. I have a large photo and rightup about EVR and it seems to be signed. I got it at a National Guard Armory that was getting rid of things. I also got a large print of "Two Down To Glory" a painting by William S. Phillips. It depicts Reed Chambers In Spad XIII bringing down 2 Fokker D7's. Any way the EVR piece seems to be signed. My question to anyone that might know is, is this signed by the man himself or was this printed along with the rest of the piece. The inscription reads "Best Wishes to the friends og the Air Force Museum Captain Eddie Rickenbacker" any help would be appreciated. I highly value the piece regardless. The latest date in the print is 1964 so I figure the piece was printed mid to late '60's. The print being mass printed was it uniquely inscribed?

Yes Rabu, very interesting.

My 2 cents. I read Harold Hartney's book "Up and AT 'em" some years ago, can't place my hands on my copy right now, and I seem to recall how Hartney personally sent Luke and Joe Wehner out to get two balloons and since they were based near the front Hartney was able to visually see the gasbags when they lit up. How's that for confirmation? If my memory of this event is incorrect I beg all your pardons. Me I fly a sim, that I love, I have fun. All the participants of WWI were really in it and paid dearly. For me to disparrage any of them is just not something I'll do. Opinions are fine. Facts may be disputed. We may have favorites and heroes. They all deserve respect IMHO.

See..... and then there's the Aviatik Berg D.I. Perfect for flying in the alps.

Stump, I'm not suprised one bit, haha! Next I know you'll pull a Lohner flying boat out of the air.