Fly in one of the special events that features no enemy icons, or when they occasionally run a no-icons week in AvA. The principle result is that you don't begin shooting at the fantasy ranges available when the distance is calculated for you. Instead you hold your fire until you're much closer, as was true in real life.
It's fairly easy to tell whether the enemy plane is getting closer or farther away.
- oldman
The above post from OM is a very accurate observation.
Further I would add that the "gang effect" is also greatly reduced the shorter the icon ranges... The less the icon range the less you will see the "gang effect".. For obvious reasons.
To truly understand why many enjoy shorter icon ranges or zero icons it has to be experienced first hand and the player needs to dedicate and put enough time into developing a new set of skills assimilate to the new experience. it doesn’t take long to figure it out after a bit of time it becomes very simple to id friend from foe it is very intuitive..
Fortunately I have had the opportunity to log in countless hours
dedicated to both styles of play. My opinion is not based on "trying" the no icon settings a few times, but rather living with them for years.
I don’t understand why there is so much opposition to folks enjoying an alterative style of play or wanting a change of pace or why folks take sides. Both settings, icon and no icon are fun.
One isn’t better or more elite than the other. Its simply a mater of
personal taste. Some folks like dark beer, others like light beer...
For me personally short or no icons.. espesialy Zero Icons both sides reinvigorated my passion for flight simming. Things were becoming the same old same old.
Now days with large monitors becoming very affordable great video hardware and tools like Track ir 5, flying no icon settings are becoming very popular,and have been in
many other Sims. Its clearly the wave of the future
