rabu

Yep, and unfortunately they took the animated soldiers, how ever crudely done, out when the 3d version came out.

OFF Between Heaven & Hell is my top choice over any WWI sim that has ever been done. It is the most well rounded with a dynamic campaign, history based, including the weather and battles going on around you along with a full roster of planes to fly and thousands of authentic skins. The flight model may not be as good as ROF, but it's still excellent and the AI is much better and more challenging. I'm already hearing many players on the ROF forum bragging about shooting down 8 planes, etc., in one mission.. in OFF that's almost impossible, though I have heard one ROF fanatic earlier brag about how OFF was too easy, since the other recent ROF arcade boasts, that poster has suddenly been quiet. In OFF, on full real settings, you are lucky if you survive a few hours of flight time. But, I also am enjoying ROF, The most impressive thing is the flight modeling, and also the use of lighting in the sim to create a believable environment. The cockpits are excellent, hi res, and are animated, as is the pilot from the outside views. The terrain looks rather cartoonish, and there are repeating patterns visible, especially at the front. The rivers, especially at lower altitude are way to pristine and blue, but the reflections and animated surfaces are great. Other areas, like the towns are really well done. There are no seasons yet.. seems like everything is "coming later." I was worried about the DRM but have found it to not be a problem and the updates given are automatic, fast and require no user input. I too worry about what happens if they go under, I will loose all use of the game, but maybe, if that happened they would give some sort of crack to those who bought it. Haven't heard anything about it though, and probably won't. One thing I don't like is you can not resell the game to any one, that seems really unfair and unnecessary and if you buy it and don't like it there is no refund either. The small number of included planes, now four, is really lean, but the add on planes are apparently going to sell for only about $7.50 each. ROF feels sort of empty when flying, even over the front, with the explosions all around, it just isn't done very well. I think it's because all of it is scripted, triggered actions around you as you fly, and if you don't follow a flight plan of the mission, you don't see much going on. It comes down to, I am happy to have both OFF and ROF to fly and am looking forward to adding FE in and CK when it comes out as well, but OFF BHH gives me the most enjoyment so far. ROF seems like more of a fm sim exercise then a all around WWI flight sim experience. Incidentally, if you are going to compare OFF, bite the bullet and get phase 3 BHH.. Phase 2 is no comparison.

Are you kidding... if I asked over there they would jump on me tooth and nail!

Really enjoying seeing your home turf, everyone. Some beautiful places you live in, Thanks!

Ya all really need to do somin about that roof.

Yes, I would love to visit there, was just kidding about "your town" photo.

We live in a very small house, cottage, in Carmel, California, I'm an artist and recently went back to work as a designer at a local company. Our front yard.. my wife is a obsessed gardner Raul, our Whippet and the house entry Beach Neighborhood -Piscadero St with Raul In Point Lobos park

What a charming town.

My parents ancestors were Scottish and Irish. They settled as first imigrants back when the colonies were being created. They then migrated West to Texas and then to Montana and to California where I now live. One of them, John Witherspoon, a minister, signed the declaration of independence. Another, Jackson Rusk was a defender of the Alamo in Texas. Have many of you have tried to trace out your family backgrounds?

OFF will give you a real work out, believe me.. it's the most immersive sim I've ever flown. ROF has a lot going for it, but it lacks that spark of being there, it just doesn't have that, "You are there" feeling. It will undoubtadely get better as they slowely add more planes, improve the cartoony and often repetitive terrain, add seasons, etc., but I just don't see they have the options of OFF's game engine when it comes to dynamic campaign historical enrichment.. maybe I'm wrong though. I think the main problem, and something that they are on a dead end with is the data base.. the campaigns are scripted missions and activity is only set up for key points on your path. This keeps CPU usage down so that they can put all the energy into extremly complicated flight model and very high res, animated, 3d models and graphics in game. I think it would be interesting to see how much a data base is part of the game cpu usage. Some one tell me if I am completely wrong on this, I'm not a tech expert, it's more of a guess, but Iv'e heard comments on the ROF forum that members have no problem playing single missions, but get bogged down with jerky movements in campaign mode and this would seem to support my theory that as more data base info is added, along with triggered objects in game, it starts taking it's toll on the system?

Thanks guys; of all the things in OFF this seemed to be the only big, irritating, problem that frequently ruined a career prematurely, but you solved it! Cheers! & Hip-Hip-Hoorah!!!

OK, thanks all, really appreciate your input. Looks like the 260 is the way to go, not more mid week lunches at work for awhile.

I'm about ready to update by 8800gts 320mg card and am considering a Gforce 9800 GT 1024mb DDR3 for about $130 (click here) or, for about $149 a Geforce GTS 250 1GB DDR3 card (click here) Or, should I spend more for a GTX 260 core 216 898MB for About $180? (click here) This has received a lot of good reviews and would keep me updated for a few more years, I guess? It has much wider buss width at 448 over the others above at 256 but am not sure of the other advantages or if the difference is worth $30-$50 difference? Any advice appreciated.. Windows XP Pro SP3 Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4ghz 2gb DDR2 800 SDRAM GeForce 8800GTS 320mb w/22" LCD 1680x1050 32x dpi96 SB Audigy 2 ZS

Great story, thanks!

Old Rhinebeck antique airfield in New York would be a nice stop.. I haven't been myself but would love to see it. http://www.oldrhinebeck.org/about.htm

I agree completely, don't know why they haven't put us in the main slot since OFF is almost full degrees compatible with TrackIR and we have plenty of videos they can use. I too have brought this up in the past yet nothing has happened.

Probably the most fun/fastest thing would could ever drive.. sort of like a dune buggy with muscle and agility. You're right, I would say it is sort of a cross between the open feeling of a bike, but with the four wheel sliding ability of a sports car. Did you watch the driving video of it?.. pretty amazing. Why out of my price league though.. a toy for the rich. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfdYr71zSdM...feature=related

Can't believe it.. no comments?

This Lotus/Honda 340R would be fun, as long as you have another car for comfortable driving.. 0-60mph in about 4 seconds. This film will give you an idea.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfdYr71zSdM&feature=fvw It's my old VW dune buggy on steroids:

Beautiful work, guys, and I'm really glad the pilots appendages are in this. I think adding the arms and legs is a huge improvement to the pits and would like to see it in all the planes.

Thanks, UKWM, most of us are hidden in the game, but we love crating this stuff and it really means a lot to get some feedback and see others enjoying it.

There are so many skins in OFF you could fly one each day and never fly them all! I did the several hundred early N11-N17 skins, Sandbagger is doing the later ones right now, like the N24

I think we all understood that, we just went OFF on a blond tangent. Oops.

Yes, I learned that at an early age.. don't knock up dumb blonds.. glad you've come to your senses.

Thanks, HS, should be getting mine and will compare notes. It's just about what I speculated though.. a dumb blond who will hopefully grow up.