Aces High III

[czpilot]

I used to fly Aces High very long time ago and though I am not active now, I still watch Aces High development news and run a local fan web page about online sims where I put some news for our readers. I am looking forward to new version Aces High III, but I cannot find any official announcement or interview with HiTech about the new version. Did I miss it somewhere?
I would like to write an article and make some summary of the new features of AHIII, perhaps you could help me to collect all the available informations I missed.
I noticed there will be new in AHIII:
- new graphic engine with more detailed terrain and trees, roads and rivers
- new lightning and shader effects
- new objects affecting strategy (bridges) and more new objects for towns, factories, airports etc.
- more detailed cockpits, skins, 3D shapes of airplanes

Anything more? Will there be
- new airplanes, vehicles?
- new gameplay features?
- new strategy features?
- new/improved damage models?
- new/improved flight models?
- more detailed engine management?
- anything else?

Thank you very much for any info

[lefty2]

"I cannot find any official announcement or interview with HiTech about the new version. Did I miss it somewhere?"

Announcement, interview, promotion lololol naaaa oh no no no why would you do that? You didn't miss anything, its not there. why would anybody want to know? Its all smoke and magic you know.

[The Fugitive]

Anything more? Will there be....

There is nothing "official" nor will there likely be before it is released. You can email HTC direct and ask for an interview. As for speculation......


- new airplanes, vehicles? Most likely not. With the big upgrade to the graphics engine and all that doesn't leave a lot of time for add ons (each taking several months to build out) there is how ever a new battle ship. http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,374889.msg5001222.html#msg5001222

- new gameplay features? Many players hope so but again, no official word. You mentioned the bridges, and the layouts of the new bases/town will add their challenges.

- new strategy features? HQ looks like it may be changed due to some adjustments they have made in game.

- new/improved damage models? The WWI planes had a new damage model. It would be nice to see it move into the WWII arenas as well, but the time constraints may push that to the back burner as well.

- new/improved flight models? This game already has the best flight models in the flight game arena. All models are modeled after flight info from the original documentation.
 
- more detailed engine management? HTC has said they will not add button pushes just for the sake of pushing buttons. This is a game and people should find it fun to play, not have to work at pressing buttons all the time to manage engines, so I don't think we will ever see this.

- anything else? There seems to be big strides in both the skinning and terrain tools making both a bit more user friendly. This could mean more and more skins added as well as more and more maps.

Again, this is all speculation from a long time player who reads the boards alot.

[SFRT - Frenchy]

- new/improved damage models? The WWI planes had a new damage model. It would be nice to see it move into the WWII arenas as well, but the time constraints may push that to the back burner as well.[/i]

It would be nice, it might bring the 50cals back in the game to offset the canon supremacy we currently have.

- new/improved flight models? This game already has the best flight models in the flight game arena. All models are modeled after flight info from the original documentation.[/i]

Heu ... no. The performance data match real life, but the way the planes actually fly is at times unrealistic. The FM was the best by far 10 years ago. Since I've flew better as far as 'the feel of flying'.

- more detailed engine management? HTC has said they will not add button pushes just for the sake of pushing buttons. This is a game and people should find it fun to play, not have to work at pressing buttons all the time to manage engines, so I don't think we will ever see this.


I second that, I heard the same from HT himself. I thing it's a good decision and he has the right balance for fun/sim.

[Plazus]

You can email HTC direct and ask for an interview.

Very much this! I think this is probably the safest way to collect information from HTC that would be appropriate for sharing on your fan page. There has been a little bit of a run-in several months ago with some folks sharing links/information without HTC's consent.

Good luck!

[pembquist]

- new/improved damage models?

Heu ... no. The performance data match real life, but the way the planes actually fly is at times unrealistic. The FM was the best by far 10 years ago. Since I've flew better as far as 'the feel of flying'.

Frenchy are you saying you've flown better since 10 years ago. If so can you tell what? Cause if its available as a PC sim I'd like to try it.

[The Fugitive]

- new/improved flight models? This game already has the best flight models in the flight game arena. All models are modeled after flight info from the original documentation.[/i]

Heu ... no. The performance data match real life, but the way the planes actually fly is at times unrealistic. The FM was the best by far 10 years ago. Since I've flew better as far as 'the feel of flying'.

The difference isn't in the model, but in the pilot. We, playing a game don't feel nor are we subject to the G forces. The same goes for experience in the pilots. Where "real" pilots had hundreds of hours in combat we, have thousands upon thousands of hour and so have a better understanding of how far WE can push it over what a "real" pilot had.

 

[Zoney]

The difference isn't in the model, but in the pilot. We, playing a game don't feel nor are we subject to the G forces. The same goes for experience in the pilots. Where "real" pilots had hundreds of hours in combat we, have thousands upon thousands of hour and so have a better understanding of how far WE can push it over what a "real" pilot had.

 

And, every time you roll a plane out of the hanger, it is brand new with everything working to maximum performance.  No metal fatigue, no engine leaks, cables and hydraulic controls with little resistance, along with perfect fuel and no reason not to fly it with the throttle firewalled everywhere you go.....................

[SFRT - Frenchy]

Frenchy are you saying you've flown better since 10 years ago. If so can you tell what? Cause if its available as a PC sim I'd like to try it.

The difference isn't in the model, but in the pilot. We, playing a game don't feel nor are we subject to the G forces. The same goes for experience in the pilots. Where "real" pilots had hundreds of hours in combat we, have thousands upon thousands of hour and so have a better understanding of how far WE can push it over what a "real" pilot had.

 

Define better. Better MMPO? Nope. Better performance accuracy? Nope (except the 262, it seems at idle coming to land you keep your speed for ever, feels to me some 'tuning' was done to the FM to match the performance data but hey I don't know better). Better flight experience? Yep, especially on the stall/deep stall.

You probably saw me mentioned it before, but tell me those stalls look/feel realistic ... like the one at 3:20 ... or like the Spit falling at 4000FPM idle, full back full rudder and still not entering a spin (The F4UD does a textbook stall/spin to the left in the same exercise):


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSzvthRnx8o


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=586lFSpIxsw

Fugitive, I don't think it's the virtual pilot experience. I fly a PC12 which is a prop roughly the power and weight of a P51 (1,600HP at 9000 lbs). Granted the PC12 is no where the same shape/wing profile but never ever did I do a deep stall in it and ended up like in Aces High's FM with the nose stuck upward wobbling over the horizon line while falling to the Earth. At max power the plane rolls to the left when you lose rudder input as the nose drops down. At idle, contrary to Aces High, the nose abruptly drops 20-25 degrees BUT you can still bank left OR right. In the P47M that I'm very familiar with, at or below the stall you cannot bank right, which makes me think that the left turning tendencies such as P factor are way overdone in Aces High. (Thus some shutting down the engine).

Anyway guys, I'm not God's gift to aviation and I know only what I've flown so yes I never did a spin or tail slide in a P47. P51 or Spitfire. I do have 7,000 hours of goofing around in about 30 different airframes and pushing them in stalls never gave me anything close to Aces High. (Except maybe the Metroliner, the thing went from stall warning right into a flat spin. You should believe the manufacturer when it says "Never try to stall" ).

[czpilot]

Hello. Thanks for all relevant answers. It seems I did not miss any important informations except new damage model in WWI arena. Where can I find some info about it?
As for AHIII I will try to ask HiTech.
Thanks all.

[morfiend]

Hello. Thanks for all relevant answers. It seems I did not miss any important informations except new damage model in WWI arena. Where can I find some info about it?
As for AHIII I will try to ask HiTech.
Thanks all.

  Not sure if you will find what you are looking for but this may help!!!

   http://www.hitechcreations.com/company-info/news/18-version-information


   All the updates should be listed,look around 2008/9 for WW1 addition.