hi black cat, welcome to AH.
for starters, the game is a free download from the HTC website itself. you get a two week free trial with no credit card info or any important details, so you can just jump in and see how you like it. most of us play on HTC's online arenas, which can hold hundreds of people. it is also possible to host your own 8 player room in the free multiplayer mode (which is always free, even after the free 2 week trial ends, but is limited by the low arena numbers, and a lot of the young kids with no CC hang out there).
the game itself is quite simply the best flight sim out there. the graphics aren't quite as good as the IL2 series, but are always being updated, new planes and things added etc. the graphics aren't BAD though.
the flight model is unequalled, it's all made to be as accurate as possible. the gunnery and physics models are also top notch.
it's not as pretty as some game, but the gameplay is the best in any flightsim, civil or combat.
good luck! it's a fun game and you've got nothing to lose/pay for to download and even play it for 2 weeks. only cost is the $15 a month subscription, which is for the HTC maintained large online servers. free multiplayer (8 player head to head mode) as well as offline play are always free.
and again, welcome to the addiction
