Author Topic: Sometimes, you can really stir up the hornets nest  (Read 4772 times)

Offline Wolfala

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Re: Sometimes, you can really stir up the hornets nest
« Reply #15 on: December 03, 2008, 10:36:01 AM »
Excellent write up Wolfala.  Brings back memories of my F-16 armchair fighter pilot days! 

I got it on Dec 12th '98 and logged about 1300 hours in it over a few years flying the various patches/mods that came along the way.  The last time I flew it online with a squadron was years ago.  I've flown about 30 hrs in Open Falcon just messing around, it's amazing how far that sim has progressed and how realistic it is in most every aspect - I love it. 

It's a shame I can't fly it with this new PC - my GTX 280 card / drivers don't like anti alaising, and screws up the TacRef/loadout/GUI page.  I may try some really old drivers that I heard worked, and give it a shot.  I'd love to fly online with ya sometime.

I had read all the material I could get my hands on about flying/fighting in the F-16.  Printed and bound the MCH-11-F16-v5 manual, lots of good info in there about tactics/procedures/BFM and brevity.  The squad I flew with tried to make it as realistic as possible, had all the radio calls/brevity down, it sounded cool.  The CO was an ex-F16 pilot so he helped us out.  Those were good times, getting together with those guys and flying a late night TE or two.

I've actually never played it in multiplayer before. Would be interesting to give that a go. What would really kickass is a dedicated human AWACS.


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Offline Cobra516

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Re: Sometimes, you can really stir up the hornets nest
« Reply #16 on: December 03, 2008, 06:13:55 PM »
I've actually never played it in multiplayer before. Would be interesting to give that a go. What would really kickass is a dedicated human AWACS.
Yeah we had one of the guys play AWACS a few times, was pretty slick.  The map screen was able to show the bandit position/heading/alt/speed on the bullseye ring as well as display us - so he could give us BRA vectors or bullseye.  I think they've got the built in radio working very well online now - and supposedly they're tweaking the sound so it sounds authentic.
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Offline Toof

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Re: Sometimes, you can really stir up the hornets nest
« Reply #17 on: December 03, 2008, 11:08:39 PM »
I kicked up my old F4 disc, installed it and OF 4.5. However when I go to start her up, I get a black screen. I can still hear the audio in the background, and see my F-16 mouse cursor, but I can't get any farther than that. I have a 9800GT with Forceware 180.48....think that the drivers may be an issue?

Offline Wolfala

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Re: Sometimes, you can really stir up the hornets nest
« Reply #18 on: December 04, 2008, 08:02:22 AM »
Sounds like the drivers. The general consensus is 169.21 was the most stable of the bunch. Roll back to those and report back.

Start with AA and everything turned off - then progressively turn features on and see if anything makes it puke.

Ahh never mind - I saw your post and you turned AA off and got the GUI.

« Last Edit: December 04, 2008, 08:04:45 AM by Wolfala »


the best cure for "wife ack" is to deploy chaff:    $...$$....$....$$$.....$ .....$$$.....$ ....$$

Offline Wolfala

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Re: Sometimes, you can really stir up the hornets nest
« Reply #19 on: December 09, 2008, 08:40:46 PM »
Yeah we had one of the guys play AWACS a few times, was pretty slick.  The map screen was able to show the bandit position/heading/alt/speed on the bullseye ring as well as display us - so he could give us BRA vectors or bullseye.  I think they've got the built in radio working very well online now - and supposedly they're tweaking the sound so it sounds authentic.

Cobra,

Another guy and I are going completely batshit trying to setup the multi. Any chance we can do a king size squeak session on team speak with u?


the best cure for "wife ack" is to deploy chaff:    $...$$....$....$$$.....$ .....$$$.....$ ....$$

Offline Hoffman

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Re: Sometimes, you can really stir up the hornets nest
« Reply #20 on: December 09, 2008, 11:21:02 PM »
I have Falcon 4.0 AF and have been trying like crazy to figure out how to play the damned thing.  It works and all its just... so annoying flying with missiles that kill things 20 miles away. (too damned used to flying a 109 with taters.)

Against the computer I never have a chance to figure out if my missile is even locked.  (Or what each of those stupid sounds mean, the manual doesn't tell you which sound means what so I'm generally sitting there listening to something warning me about something until I get a missile up me arse.)

I finally figured out how to track and designate a target with the radar, the only problem is I can't translate the radar screen to what I can actually see visually.  Flying dogfights with IR only missiles I get a vague sense of how it works, but when I see a dot on the radar screen and point the nose to where I think that translates in r/l there's nothing there.  And they usually end up being somewhere that makes absolutely no sense to me.  My only solace with this game is that when I turn missiles off the computer can't beat me in a guns-only dogfight.


I was wondering if anyone could help me figure out how to use the radar system, the manual doesn't help at all.  All it tells me is a bunch of acronyms I don't understand for situations I have no clue about.  I understand how to set range, elevation, move the cursor and tell it to lock target but beyond that... I don't know where the target is in relation to my aircraft, I can't tell what direction it is going even though the manual says I should be able to deduce that, and most importantly I don't know when my missile is locked or even if its awake or armed, or even actually targeting what I think it should be targeting.
I mean... seriously could it really be so much damned trouble for the Airforce to have a sound that says :Your missile is locked instead of some buzzing sound?

I like the thought of playing a modern jet simulator... but this thing is somewhat beyond me... and yet I really want to play it.

Offline Chalenge

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Re: Sometimes, you can really stir up the hornets nest
« Reply #21 on: December 10, 2008, 01:14:39 AM »
Hoffman read each training exercise and also read up on every system the exercise employs. Fly all the exercises. Learn not only how to fly and land but how to use all the radar modes and every weapon system (dont forget the navigation). Know your airplane like its your own muscles. Fly dogfights against AI where you can setup engagements with every plane in the game. Use guns only and then rear aspect missiles later and then progress to greater technologies after that and when you can beat every plane (and know the tones) setup differential fights two against one and three against one until you feel confident and then maybe introduce a wingman for you. If you do it that way eventually you will be ready for campaign and it wont be so hard. Going straight into campaign mode is a big confidence killer.

Sorry but the only way I know is from the beginning and through all the training. The game is fantastic but you have to put in the time.



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Offline Wolfala

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Re: Sometimes, you can really stir up the hornets nest
« Reply #22 on: December 14, 2008, 11:04:29 PM »
OK so we figured out the multi-play setup and got it running without issue.

I was the guy inverted kicking out flares all over the place. And of course it wouldn't be complete without the failed refueling attempts which ended with both of us taking out our tanker with AIM-'9s after we wasted 4000 lbs of gas trying to get gas.





the best cure for "wife ack" is to deploy chaff:    $...$$....$....$$$.....$ .....$$$.....$ ....$$

Offline Cobra516

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Re: Sometimes, you can really stir up the hornets nest
« Reply #23 on: December 15, 2008, 01:03:13 AM »
Haha awesome man, glad you finally got it figured out.  I didn't see the thread until now, but I wouldn't have been able to help anyway as I haven't flown it online in years.  I've skimmed over the connection guide for OF 4.5 and it seems a lot more complex than it used to be.  I'm tempted to try those 169.20 drivers and give it a shot - just sucks to downgrade to play one sim.
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Offline RTHolmes

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Offline DustyR

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Re: Sometimes, you can really stir up the hornets nest
« Reply #25 on: December 15, 2008, 05:58:30 AM »
truly a beautiful aircraft :aok
<S> I haven't flown any modern AC Sims since F-15 Strike Eagle, sort of dates me.  Looking at the cockpit I would probably get really hooked.  Looks like that could be another addiction! :rock :salute
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Offline Gaidin

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Re: Sometimes, you can really stir up the hornets nest
« Reply #26 on: December 15, 2008, 07:14:54 PM »
Is it still possible to get a copy of the origional Falcon 4.0??  I have been unable to find one online or anywhere local.  I don't really want the allied force one.  I would like to find the origional and get the open falcon mod for it.

If anybody knows where I can find one, please let me know.
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Offline Buzzard7

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Re: Sometimes, you can really stir up the hornets nest
« Reply #27 on: December 15, 2008, 07:26:06 PM »
Hoffman the sidewinder growl will chnage pitch to higher when you have it looking at a solid lock. If you can see your bad guy hit D to go into dogfight mode then U to uncage the seeker head and point your jet at the bad guy. It should lock rather quick then. Once locked you can see on the left side of the HUD if you are within a high PK shot.

Gaidin I got my original from ebay.

Wolf when you go to refuel make sure you use the radio commands. Refuel usually happens at 20,000 feet. When your getting close use very small power or position adjustments. You should be flying at about 19,950 feet to hook up with a KC-10 the KC-135 is ten feet longer or shorter I can't remember. What pisses me off is I always hook up when the damn tanker wants to turn.
« Last Edit: December 15, 2008, 07:30:07 PM by Buzzard7 »

Offline Chalenge

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Re: Sometimes, you can really stir up the hornets nest
« Reply #28 on: December 16, 2008, 02:57:52 AM »
Is it still possible to get a copy of the origional Falcon 4.0??  I have been unable to find one online or anywhere local.  I don't really want the allied force one.  I would like to find the origional and get the open falcon mod for it.

If anybody knows where I can find one, please let me know.

Here is the original... you can also find F4AF there which I recommend.

http://www.amazon.com/Falcon-4-0-Pc/dp/B00000K4KF/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1229417761&sr=8-16
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Offline Sundowner

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Re: Sometimes, you can really stir up the hornets nest
« Reply #29 on: December 16, 2008, 05:06:37 AM »
Here is the original... you can also find F4AF there which I recommend.

http://www.amazon.com/Falcon-4-0-Pc/dp/B00000K4KF/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1229417761&sr=8-16

Thanks for the Amazon link, Chalenge. I've also been looking to explore Open Falcon and needed a copy of 4.0. Got it.  :)

Great thread, guys.  :salute

Regards,
Sun

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