Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: AKS\/\/ulfe on March 04, 2004, 02:40:51 AM
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My experiences after giving it a few hours of play...
First of all, the install is a piece of ****. It didn't work at all for me. It didn't work at all for several other people either. The series of vulgarities and descriptions of incompetence I could come up with would still not suffice when it comes to describing UBI. They created an installation package that could not find the FB installation unless you registered FB online when it was originally installed AND used a CD-ROM (non-RW) to install AEP. They suck dog ass.
Well, after dealing with the most complicated and asinine update procedure in the world - I finally got the ****ing thing installed over a clean installation of FB.
From there it ran great, all on behalf of 1C/Maddox... if UBI had their hands on the game's source code - it'd be just like WWIIOl was out of the box. Now for what I've tested...
System specs:
GeForce 4 Ti4200 64MB - Omega 14345 drivers.
Athlon XP 2000+ (FSB 270Mhz)
512MB PC133 SDRAM (o/c to 135)
SB Live! Value
Windows 98
DirectX9.0 (required for the add on)
The upgraded FB (Aces Expansion Pack/AEP) runs just as good as, if not better than, FB on the same settings - max all over except terrain is Excellent not Perfect.
The flyable planes I've tested:
Me 163 - That is fun to fly around. Performs about the same as in AH - but has a way more detailed 3D model, and the internal cockpit model has some cool damage effects. For example, the armored glass in front of the gunsight will spider web if hit and the wooden instrument panel will look like bullet holes in wood. Its also downright deadly to B17s.
He162 - It is very fast, very manuverable and looks very cool. Its just under the 163's deadliness to bombers, but the engine is very vulnerable. The pilot will eject out of the plane as it should happen. Its an interesting plane if you are into some of Germany's very late war jet/rocket projects.
Go229 - Interesting plane to me as I saw its center section at the Garber Restoration Facility some years back and also bought the book detailing its development. Watching a flight of things attack B17s in AEP is something completely different. Since its simply a wing with no horizontal stabilizer, it can lose altitude fairly quickly when the wings are at a 90 degree angle to the ground and it uses airbrakes on either end of the wing to control yaw. Since it has no horizontal stabilizer, its controls are identical to the 163's for elevator and aileron control. Its also deadly to bombers, but the engines are EXTREMELY vulnerable and get damaged badly pretty easy. Spinning in this plane is easy at low speeds... and if that happens you will not recover - ever.
Bf110G2 - A great bomber destroyer with a wide variety of load outs. Its also pretty responsive, and the rear gunner definitely helps with taking down bombers after you've passed them. Its not a night fighter version, but it is a bomber destroyer with load outs for that and a destroyer/bomber with bomb load outs. Pretty fun plane to fly, but easy meat for most of the fighters in the game.
P38J and L - Despite what I've read over on the UBI forums (retardville), I've found them to be excellent planes when flown in their historical envelope. Really isn't much more to say on either models, they behave how I'd expect them to. Plus they look great in the game.
Finnish Gloster Gladiator (J8A) - For those not in the know, its a bi-plane that had a huge role in defending the island of Malta off of Italy. In the game, it is extremely manuverable but loses engine power in neg G manuvers due to fuel starvation. Its also highly detailed in the 3D model and the in-cockpit view. I think its the best in details.
Fiat Cr.42 - Italian bi-plane. It only has two low calibre guns compared to the J8A, but its very manuverable. It suffers the same carb flooding as well. Still, it performs within its envelope and is very well detailed in cockpit and in external.
IAR80 - Its a Romanian fighter. I'm pissed that they had this thing ready for about 7 months as a flyable... but they did NOT update the external 3D model at all in that time period. Its an all right plane, but has four low calibre guns and pretty good low speed capabilities.
YP-80 - Its a pretty cool "What if" plane, and has some pretty good performance. Compared to the Go229, however, its easy meat. The throttle, like the other jets, can't be thrown around like the prop planes - otherwise the engine will flame out (unlike the Jumo engines in the German jets, which typically catch fire if you do that). The 6 x .50s shred any German jet apart.
Finally the Spitfires. There's four versions, all MkVbs. One is the original 1941 type, the second is the clipped wing version - 1942, the third is the 1943 LF (low altitude tweaked) type, and the final is the 1944 clipped wing version of the LF type.
The original type performs the same as the one in AH, and naturally has the same armament. The view is the same from the cockpit, but unfortunately not adjustable. Kicks bellybutton in its envelope, and can dive at high speeds.
The clipped wing is the same as the above, but rolls a lot faster. FWs will be having a helluva time winning scissor fights against a well flown clipped wing Spit.
The LFs are quite a bit faster than the above type. The full wing is like the 1941 full wing type, but is a good deal faster. The clipped wing will roll faster than the full wing, but is otherwise identical.
The cockpit and the 3D model are extremely nice looking.
Here's the full list of the flyable new planes, I haven't given them all a run since theres a lot.
P-51B
P-51C
P-51D (N-9 gunsight)
P-51D K-14 gunsight)
P-63C
P-38L
P-38J
YP-80 Shooting Star
Me-163B
He-162A-2
Ta-152H-1
Mistel
Bf-109Z
Ju-87D-5
Ho-229
Bf-110G-2
SPB (Tb-3 with two flyable I-16s under wings)
IAR-80A
IAR-81C
Fiat CR.42
Fiat G.50
Ki-84-1a
Ki-84-1b
Ki-84-1c
A6M2
A6M5a
J8A – (Sweden Gloster Gladiator)
Spitfire Mk.Vb (Merlin 45) 1941
Spitfire Mk.Vb (Merlin 46) 1942 clipped wings
Spitfire LF.Mk.Vb (Merlin 50) 1943
Spitfire LF.Mk.Vb (Merlin 50) 1944 clipped wings
The pilot wounding has also been adjusted, so that if you get wounded you don't stay at that level of wound the whole time. You get seriously wounded, you progressively get worse at a rapid rate. You get lightly you get worse but at a much slower rate.
-SW
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Originally posted by AKS\/\/ulfe
Go229 -
Spinning in this plane is easy at low speeds... and if that happens you will not recover - ever.
-SW
Would differential throttle help ?
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clipped wing spitfires....L.F. Spitfires...
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TY for review
Very interesting to hear AH pilot opinion.
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Nice Review, I agree with your evaluations of the Aircraft. As far as the install goes maybe I just was lucky, but it went flawlessly for me.
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Well now I really am getting interested in the IL2:FB addons. Since I haven't installed IL2:FB, should I just wait for the full thing to be released in the same package and do it all at once?
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is there a "no cd needed" hack yet?
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yup, you just replace the rts.dll thats available aroundandabout
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Do the planes all still try to roll wings level when you let go of the stick?
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Originally posted by Gryffin
Do the planes all still try to roll wings level when you let go of the stick?
??? Played Il2 since it came out and this was never the case in that sim.
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Good point Hristo, I didn't try that. I'll give it a shot. Its a very quirky aircraft when it comes to yawing though, its just not the same as a plane with a vertical stabilizer since the aircraft sort of just points the direction the rudder is being applied to and then begins to move that way after a few seconds.
Gofaster, if you have Il2:FB - it's $30 for AEP, and goes right over a fresh install of Il2:FB. If you get the Gold pack, which I guess features Il2:FB and AEP already in the same installation routine - it's going to cost you a little over $50 I believe. Its really up to you, but the consensus on why AEP won't find the Il2:FB installation seems to have come down to needing a fresh install of Il2:FB which you register with UBI at the end of the installation, and and installing AEP from a non-RW CD-ROM.
Casca, it worked for a lot of people... while there were quite a few threads on various forums about AEP not finding Il2:FB on the hard drive even though it was there. I knew I hadn't registered Il2:FB through UBI, and since I know UBI is like the RIAA when it comes to pirating I figured they'd throw a bunch of monkey wrenches into AEP's install routine. After freshly installing Il2:FB and registering it through UBI online, AEP found the installation right away. They messed up the Il2:FB install routine for quite a few people way back when it was released last year.
Gryffin, I recall that being the case in the original Il2 program... but I believe that was fixed in one of its patches. I'll check it out, but I'm pretty sure it hasn't been in Il2:FB.
Eagler, I don't think there is a no-CD crack specific for AEP. The one for Il2:FB works, BUT its not the same one so you will run into some problems online - like timeouts - so unless you find a no-CD crack thats the exact same size and stated to be for AEP, keep the CD in.
-SW
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Originally posted by AKS\/\/ulfe
Gofaster, if you have Il2:FB - it's $30 for AEP, and goes right over a fresh install of Il2:FB. If you get the Gold pack, which I guess features Il2:FB and AEP already in the same installation routine - it's going to cost you a little over $50 I believe. Its really up to you, but the consensus on why AEP won't find the Il2:FB installation seems to have come down to needing a fresh install of Il2:FB which you register with UBI at the end of the installation, and and installing AEP from a non-RW CD-ROM.
I don't have IL2:FB, just IL2. I'll pick up the Gold Pack next chance I get just so I'll have all of IL2:FB in one handy cd case.
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Originally posted by AKS\/\/ulfe
Gryffin, I recall that being the case in the original Il2 program... but I believe that was fixed in one of its patches. I'll check it out, but I'm pretty sure it hasn't been in Il2:FB.
-SW
Sweet! I only ever played the original, I never got FB because this aspect of the flight model was just too weird. Looks like it is time to pick up a copy. Thanks AKS\/\/ulfe!
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ill keep an eye on the stores here can't wait to fly that P38
:)
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Gryffin, I went ahead and checked it out - a plane will stay in a bank without holding the stick there.
BUG - The P38 is quite something, especially in the vertical. Its somewhat slow in responses, but it has one helluva zoom climb. Just gotta watch the airspeed in the J model, otherwise you won't get out of a dive. The L has the dive flaps though, so it can pull out.
-SW
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finally paid attention to your avatar..
sick man.. truly sick :aok
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Mine installed easy. increadable game. Biplanes and jet fighers..
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So how about setting up an AH "room" on one of the server sites and agreeing a time for being online for say USA and Europe?
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Damn straight Wlfgng, it's been way overused by the "sniper" on this board and became downright annoying. So my cat had to take the bastard out.
Pongo, you're no different than a lot of people out there... but there were a bunch of people that had installation problems. You're absolutely right though, after dealing with the install from hell, the game is downright amazing. Its far better than Il2 and FB put together. Its finally becoming almost complete, compared to some of the past games (Red Baron 2/3D, PAW, EAW).
Tried it online today in a full real server... that P38 is damn fun. Was in a looping fight with a 109G2, it ended when he sput out in a vertical manuever and my right wing clipped him. The whole fight is way too long to describe, but it went from 4km to 100m.
-SW
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I have to say I'm really impressed with the AEP expansion. It's one of the most beautiful and magnificient pieces of code I ever had the chance to get my nerdie hands on.
The feel of the planes ,the Ta 152 :D and the P-38 are just awesome. Especially the P-38 the Lightning drivers would drool over this modeling it's truly something. and of courser the finally fixed the revis on the FWs you can actually do snapshots now that to me is the most significant update in the XP pack.
Damnit I just love it so go out and buy it :D
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wuhaaaa p38 p38 when it's in store here find me on the hyperlobby untill ah2 comes out.
just can't wait especially since i hear positive sounds on the lightning.
wuhaaaaa!!!
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i've got it yet but given the gunnery of IL2 and FB, one would think a huge target such as a P38 would be toast
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i've got it yet but given the gunnery of IL2 and FB, one would think a huge target such as a P38 would be toast
that's not very different in AH.
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sigh.. I see I'm gonna' have to go pick up the expansion pack..
and get my joystick fixed...
It sounds like they finally put all the things in a sim that I've been looking for. now if they could just go mmpg
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This release is incredible. The P-38, B-110 and J8A are worth the price alone.
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Originally posted by AKS\/\/ulfe
Gryffin, I went ahead and checked it out - a plane will stay in a bank without holding the stick there.
-SW
excellent
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Flew last night
Installed first time no issues at all.
Very cool early war med matchups.
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grabbed it at lunch, installed without problem - upped a p38, shot down a zero and had to rush back to work
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Originally posted by SunKing
This release is incredible. The P-38, B-110 and J8A are worth the price alone.
So you like it eh?
If you LAN with other poeple I'll join in. I'm 30 minutes from you.
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Hey that is highly possible. I have two local friends that might do that. I'll msg you on the Mongrel forum.
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I've cancelled my AH account, and have been tinkering with IL-2 FB forthe last month, or so. What a great game! As soon as I can I'm gonna order the Expansion pack. Sounds really sweet, judging from your posts, guys.
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Ah man, this sounds really cool, anyone got a price est. or a guess as to what i need to spend on it all, i dont have Il2 at all so, id be goin from the start.
Also if anyone could post some more pics hint He-162 hint :D thatd be cool!
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Originally posted by LWACE
Ah man, this sounds really cool, anyone got a price est. or a guess as to what i need to spend on it all, i dont have Il2 at all so, id be goin from the start.
Also if anyone could post some more pics hint He-162 hint :D thatd be cool!
Price is 29.99 but soon UBI is going to release IL2FB “GOLD” which will include IL2FB and Aces add-on.
Regarding wanting more screenies…..I bring you my 2 threads in SimHQ
http://www.simhq.com/simhq3/sims/boards/bbs/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=001937
http://www.simhq.com/simhq3/sims/boards/bbs/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=001936
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Thanks Russian!:)
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Originally posted by LWACE
Also if anyone could post some more pics hint He-162 hint :D thatd be cool!
Enjoy....
(http://pages.sbcglobal.net/simfreak/pics/il2fbace30.jpg)
(http://pages.sbcglobal.net/simfreak/pics/il2fbace31.jpg)
(http://pages.sbcglobal.net/simfreak/pics/il2fbace32.jpg)
(http://pages.sbcglobal.net/simfreak/pics/il2fbace33.jpg)
(http://pages.sbcglobal.net/simfreak/pics/il2fbace34.jpg)
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yeeeep definetly gonna get this game! Thanks again:)
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Oh, and btw, the Spit without the Hizooka capability, is definately not the 'dweeb plane' as recognized and loved in AH.
It does everything it could do in AH, except kill stuff easily at 450~600 yards.
The first time I recognized that fact on-line, and suddenly, I came to understand why the Fw190A-3 and A-4 was suched a feared enemy in 1942.
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And of course, the clipped wing Spitfire, the LF variant ! Something AH misses all these years.
Not being a Spit type myself, I still like to have decent opposition to my 190.
Russian, can you put more pics ? The clipped wing Spit, the CR.42 and Gladiator ? Thanks
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ok I'm sold am reloading FB and placing my order today....
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Here's me and a wingman climbing to alt just outside Berlin:
(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/ah_52_1078564368.jpg)
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mmm need some help - trying to load IL2 FB and doing the patch thing - problem is the puter does not seem to recognise the autorun in FB - there's no setup file that I can see, how do I get around this problem?
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ignore sorted it out