Check Six

sitting_duck, Thanks for simply answering the questions I had without going into some tirade about how those who use such devices are cheats and just not playing cricket. Like I said, I only just got this sim and once I'm more confident I can remove the "cheats" one by one. Barkhorn1x, I understand about the learning of bad habits, and I know I have the best tool already...the TrackIR is really the best "padlock" you can get. I just thought I'd take a quick look at padlock and how it looks, what I can learn from it etc. Roopod, beg, borrow, steal...go hungry for a week, sell a kidney. Whatever it takes, get TrackIR. You will love it and swear by it.

UncleAl, I understand where you're coming from. Hopefully one day I will also be flying with 100% realism. I'm learning. I only got the sim a little over a week ago. Once I learn to scan the skies like a pro, and to scoff at Archie and the like, I can GRADUALLY make it as realistic as I can, by getting a FF joystick and not rely on my F-18 joystick (Saitek X-52 FCS). Once I learn how to fly and fight properly, rest assured I will remove these historically incorrect "assistances", but I need them now. I'm fine-tuning my game, getting the settings the way I like them. I'm sorry if I don't adopt the DID mentality yet. I might one day. Now, I'm just a greenie. I have lost many pilots already in my first week due to ignorance, warping into clouds, mid-air collisions etc. I just want to get a feel for it first, then I might become as good as you guys. I just need more than a week. Oh, and I didn't use the word "immersion" at all, whether in the same sentence as "Padlocking" or otherwise. Can anyone help me with the answers?

DukeIronHand, Whilst I was waiting for my copy of OFF, I read every thread I could hoping to get helpful tips, hints, and learn a few things that might be helpful to me. Don't know if you saw this one, but here is a Command Key card that you can print up and keep at hand. (Thanks Mark. An excellent job!) http://snomhf.exofire.net/data/OFFcommandkeys.jpg Happy flying. Remember to conduct a few trial flights on home territory to familiarise yourself with your machine, and when you venture over the lines, follow Dicta Boelke and you'll do fine. We all lost a lot of good pilots during the learning curve. Hope you have a great experience. You will LOVE this sim!

I became interested in this sim after reading a thread on "The Aerodrome" Forum, and checked out some YouTube footage etc and was amazed at the eye candy. I joined this Forum and read as many threads as I could to get a "feel" for it. (I do my "homework" thoroughly). ROF does look good, I must admit, but it's the sheer depth of OFF that made the decision a no-brainer. Thousands of skins, realistic historical situations, excellent scenery, realistic flight models all made OFF a must-get for me (and i'm SOOOOOO glad I did) To be honest, I was never aware of the problems the online gaming community attributed to CFS3. As for ROF, I myself have never played a game online and always play against AI (good thing too, 'cos I think I'd be PWNED too often by the online vultures waiting to pounce on noobs to increase their "score"), so the lack of a single player game just made me think this game was not for me. With only a few aircraft now, who is to say that they will provide more? and how many? and how often will they arrive? As they require connection to the internet to play, will they automatically search for, retrieve, and install updates (possibly with an essential reboot) EVERY time you log on, making it a 5-10 minute wait to play? OFF is far better for MY needs/wants and I doubt I will get ROF despite the eye candy mainly for the online only reason, but the lack of numbers of aircraft now is another reason. If the company goes bust, you're stuck. My two cents worth

Or choose time acceleration / deceleration and choose the rate at which time passes, avoiding clouds as you approach them, then reapplying acceleration when it is clear to do so.

Wolfar, You could also not use warp at all and just accelerate time (Ctrl+Shift+E). One application doubles time, hitting the same key combination doubles it again etc, and to decelerate time, use Ctrl+Shift+R, and it works in the same fashion. Then you can regulate how fast time is passing. Warp seems just like that...(warp factor 10 Scotty!...OCH! if I give 'er any more Cap'n, she'll BLOW!)...that you can and will enter huge thunderheads which will toss you about and you'll exit from warp with a red screen and plummeting ever earthwards with the inevitable result. With accelerated time (say.. 4X or 8X) you can easily see your craft approaching an ugly looking cloud and avoid it, then rejoin your comrades on the other side by following your waypoint line on the TAC (if you use it), then accelerating time again. At this time acceleration, given most flights seem to take about between 30 and 60 minutes flight to your target, it's only a short wait until you reach your destination. Much safer and also travels at a speed that allows you to sight-see if you so desire. I have exited from warp on many occasions pointing towards the earth and rapidly gaining speed, and was only just able to correct my attitude. On a few occasions, I also lost a valued pilot.

Thanks DukeIronHand. We are a smallish (about 180 members) but very dedicated Society. Not really "my" website, my co-author's work. Andrew and myself are researching Australians who served in the RNAS during the war. This is another website he made, a work in progress. http://www.ozrnas.org.au/ This is our research. Not much there, we are adding guys a few at a time, but you'll get a small idea of my (our) research. Hope you enjoy. Good luck DukeIronHand. You will LOVE this sim, and know it was so worth the wait. I'm sure you will see it in a day or two.

DukeIronHand, I ordered my copy on 27th May and received it on 3rd June...7 days... TO AUSTRALIA! I know I started a similar thread titled "HURRY UP", but I was just sweating on playing as I had received my copy of CFS3 and my TrackIR5. More patience is obviously needed. You'll need it to play OFF, as unlike other simulators, you get killed , you can't just not save the mission and go back and try again. This is a good thing. It convinces you to be conservative, to stick to your flight and not scoot off to take on that lone Eindecker. Mine came actually on 2nd June, and as they attempted delivery to the upstairs part of the house (I live at the rear), I didn't receive it. A note left in the mailbox, so I called UPS and they said they'll try again tomorrow. This time I put a note on the door they were trying to deliver to telling them to try the back of the house, and it arrived no problem. Your patience will be rewarded. It's worth the wait.

I received my TrackIR5 that came boxed with the clip-on set for your headphones. I have seen on other threads about how converting a cap to be a receiver for TrackIR can be achieved by utilising the stickers supplied in the kit. I didn't receive any stickers with my TrackIR (I'm guessing because I ordered the set co-incidentally and the manufacturers/suppliers guessed I wouldn't require them). I have also got on order a Plantronics GameCon 777 surround sound gaming headset, which while looking very comfortably padded for long hours of gameplay, may not be a suitable mount for the clip-on set. This is not big deal, because you can buy a cheap headset that is of a thinner design and will still have good sound and possibly a microphone. What I wanted to know is...IF I decide that I want freedom of movement or just dont want to wear a headset, what type of stickers/decals will work as suitable reflectors? In the YouTube video I have seen showing the modification, it appears as if they are hologrammatic. What am I looking for? Anyone got this system up and running?

Just quietly, I tend to like the cap clip better at this early stage. I'll keep seeing the advantages/disadvantages of both and report back.

I just spent my first day playing OFF. WOW! Can I repeat that? WOW!! The depth of this simulation is incredible, and I haven't even looked at aircraft skins or mission building. I am also running TrackIR. A very good tool. It takes a little getting used to I suppose, but invaluable in aerial combat. Just an initial thought that may change with experience, but I kinda like the hat clip rather than the pro clip set. No cables hanging off, and I don't need to wear headphones. I have a surround sound headset with a microphone on order, so I think that'll get a bit of use soon, so I reckon I'll go back and re-visit the pro clip set. Also have a Logitech G-19 gaming keyboard on order, and I think the ability to program macros is going to be useful, though I can only see a couple of commands that have "complex" key combinations that scream for a single key stroke (auto pilot, auto trim etc). In conclusion, if you're thinking of buying this game, think no longer...DO IT!!! This is unbelievably good. I was reticent at first, being a little technologically challenged, but it's pretty easy to download required files and patches and how to add them. I cannot recommend this game enough!

That is precisely what is required uncleal. Thanks. I too don't like to be tied down, and cable etc running across your body or even over your shoulder, but the only cordless headsets I've seen don't look suitable to my needs.

I'm quite lucky (though I didn't feel happy at first) to have one and a half copies of MS-CFS3. When I decided that I had read/seen enough about OFF to want to get it (correct that - NEED!) I knew I still had a working copy of MS-CFS3 on my hard drive, but that it had been readdressed onto another drive. I figured out that all I'd have to do is (possibly) re-install it to C drive. But this is on my "old" computer, and my "new" one is on order. I checked it out anywway, and was horrified to learn that I only had disc 1 of 2, the other one went MIA. Determined to make OFF happen, I ordered a second copy of MS-CFS3 for $US10 from Amazon (though it cost me about $AUS65 with exchange rates and postage and handling. But now I can still run MS-CFS3 on my old computer and it works just fine with Disc 1 only (after the original installation of course), and I have a new copy to install to my new computer. I understand that if you have a newer version of MS-CFS3 (the DVD version), you don't require the install disc to play (which will save on wear, 'cos I'm gonna play this incessantly, I just know). But if I do require the disc to play, I now have TWO, so if one wears out...I'm laughing.

My copy of OFF BH&H arrived yesterday. I will be messing around with it over the weekend (also have the weekend off - a double YAY!). After I get it up and running to my satisfaction (yes, I know fine tuning of all the realism tweaks can be time consuming, but I guess I'll actually enjoy that), I will get around to adding TrackIR5 with the clipset. Can't wait. Thank you game developers and all you helpful people here. I hope I won't be plaguing you too much with noobie questions.

Thanks Sitting Duck. I think I'll add those kinds of things slowly, one at a time, to make sure they don't affect anything else. Then maybe a few missions (flying under London's Tower Bridge after having a look around seems like a good idea), and then I might start to paint a personal aircraft for my "pet" pilot. The concept in another post of "dead is dead"...total realism, no radars, hard to kill etc and once you CFIT (controlled flight into terrain) you really are dead, not "do you wish to save this mission?" seems a bit far from my skill level at this stage, but I'm sure I'll try it for a few pilots (perhaps starting off early in the war with less opponents might give me more flying hours before I have to fight for my life). I am planning on keeping full log books with hours on type flown, individual mission narratives, and Service Record for my chaps. We'll see how long that lasts.

UncleAl, I don't have the G-19 as yet, it's still on order, but this is what Logitech has to say: <LI>Twelve fully programmable G-keys with three macros per key: Program up to 36 single keypresses or complex macros; use the MR key to record new macros on-the-fly. As for the X-52...I bought that some years ago for MS FSX, and not for OFF BH&H, so it was a good choice for me at that time for that purpose. Sure, I see your point entirely. What would be more ideal would be a long throw type of control column that extends from the floor, so you can get the whole feel of the movement, and I think you'd be less inclined to "yank and bank" in a dogfight like one might in a jet fighter. I may get a FF joystick for the very reasons you mentioned earlier. It appears as if you have put some thought/experience into your choice. The Logitech Force 3D might be my next purchase. (I too have seen the Cyborg and think it looks strange...maybe suitable for Mr Sulu's chair on the flightdeck of the Enterprise, but hardly fitting for a WW1 sim. Then again, like you suggested, my X-52 hardly seems suitable for that purpose either). I will be flying MS FSX again (and IL-2) now that I have dug it out and now I'm getting a faster machine with better monitor and the proper equipment (the rudder pedals will make a huge difference - really feels strange to apply rudder by twisting our wrist).

Well, to be fair sitting duck, the freight to post it to Australia was actually more than the cost of the game (got it US$10 IIRC). The worst part of it is where I mentioned my 2nd copy of MS-CFS in my original post. I have this game at home, and decided to re-install it to get used to keystrokes etc, but when it came to asking me for disc no 2, I looked in the case and it was missing! So I had to get another copy. Also, how do I ascertain the version I have bought? I know it boils down to who manufactured the game as to what version it is, but I couldn't find any reference to the maker on the case. I suppose I'll have to install the game to find out. Where do I get the patches that upgrade to the version required to run OFF? MS site? Here? Also, I've looked at the patches available on this site to update OFF. It looks like some patches only upgrade from the earlier version...eg "This will update v1.30 or higher of BH&H to V1.30c" as opposed to "This will update any version of BH&H to V1.28." Seems as if I'll have to study this a bit further but there isn't ONE patch to bring any version up to the latest build standard. (Please don't get me wrong. I'm VERY impressed with the developers of thsi game, reading all the fixes they put in place...some of which are Microsoft's fault, others are patches to give greater realism suggested by Beta testers or forum members. And the fact that they come to the Forum regularly AND answer posts. I can't praise them enough) Can I install MS-CFS3 on more than one machine (my present one and my new one)? If so, I'll get some practice up on it. Can I also install OFF on both my machines? How about TrackIR? I don't want to install thm on my "old" computer only to find out it will violate copyright to install it on the new one when it arrives. In conclusion, I seriously want to thank the members at this Forum for all the help they so willingly provide. To be honest, the depth and clarity of the game was it's main selling point to me, and the second highest selling point was the helpfullness of members of this Forum. Rest assured, when I become more experienced on this game, I will not forsake everyone, and will return here to post screenshots, YouTube films and skins, and to help newbies. You guys are the best.

I have another request about the X-52 Saitek. I've lost my software disc. Anyone know where I could get a replacement disc or download the software?

I don't own that particular joystick, but I'd like the same sort of thing for a Saitek X-52 FCS joystick, and if anyone can help with some keyboard mapping macros etc for a Logitech G-19 Gamer Keyboard, I'd be very appreciative.

RCAF Dudley, There are a few artifacts from MvR's triplane in the Australian War Museum (IIRC the largest collection in the world - well, us Aussies salvaged the aircraft - and shot it down BTW). Whilst doing some research in the Museum's reading room, I happened across the diary and personal photo album of an AFC (Aust Flying Corps) pilot and was marvelling at his pics when I was surprised to see a pic of the pallbearers carrying the coffin at MVR's funeral and an inked in arrow with the caption "ME" attached. I stared at this for some time and my attention was drawn to the top of the next page where there was a strip of cloth from the Fokker about 4 inches by 1 1/2 inches, completely unprotected, but had been unexposed to light for many decades. Of course, I reported the "find" to a friend who was an employee at the museum and it has since been covered over with a thin piece of plastic. Apparently, genuine pieces of cloth from THAT plane are quite hard to get a hold of, and expensive. Apparently, there is enough "blood red" cloth from MvR's plane around the globe to cover about 5 triplanes.

Hello everyone, New member. I have just ordered OFF Phase 3 today and also CFS3 (as my old copy had disc 2 missing :fuk: ). I am ordering my new computer next week to get OFF up and running and just can't wait. I am also planning on ordering TrackIR as it seems as if this is perfect for OFF. I have seen some videos on YouTube that look just brilliant. I spoke to the computer guy that I'm asking to build my new computer to enquire about using multiple monitors (as I've seen a few vids of three (and even 8!) monitors running flight sims) and wondered what sort of software and hardware I'd require to run three monitors. Would I need to have the same type of monitors, or could I get away with smaller monitors on each side of my 24" Benq HDMI monitor? Do I need to buy two more of the same monitor (which would be good, but might put the whole project back a month or so)? Any assistance would be appreciated. Steve Drew

Sitting Duck, You didn't steer me away from the idea. It's there for the future I suppose. But like I said, I put aside my next major purchase, a large screen TV, so I could afford this set-up, and this looks to be a good win-win result if I buy a HD TV capable of replacing a monitor. I think I'll be suitably impressed enough with my rig and this brilliant (so it looks) game that I can put off a three monitor setup temporarily...and make my next purchase of the HD TV, then set my goals on buying another two HD monitors.

Sitting Duck, Thanks for the reply. I had a look at the link you posted and that got me thinking. I have had trouble running a few games where if I increase the resolution, the screen shifts to the right (too far to be corrected by the screen menu) and only displays 2/3 of the game screen and a black band. I think if I'm having trouble with a few of these (admittedly older) games (dug them out and dusted off a few old favourites to play on the HD Wide screen), I might strike a bit of strife running three monitors. Also, my computer geek guy didn't know what to make of the idea, so he might have struck trouble setting it up, and I do think that I'd need three identical monitors (and the one I got is $AUS550 for a Benq 24" HD monitor - so add another $AUS1100 to the project). As it is, I am getting a new computer for this sim ($AUS 2800), I've ordered MS-CFS 3, OFF BH&H, and TrackIR 5 with the clipon set up. So about $AUS 3500-3800. I put off buying a big screen TV so I could buy this setup, and I DID think about purchasing one that could double as a monitor, so that is the way I'll go I think.