Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: Randy1 on August 05, 2013, 11:31:54 AM

Title: Game or Simulation?
Post by: Randy1 on August 05, 2013, 11:31:54 AM
I have noticed that my greatest enjoyment in AH comes when I am more involved in the simulation side of AH  rather than the game side.  I find this especially true when their is a team effort going to defend or capture a base or one of Earl's pickup missions.

I do like the game side so if I get blasted out of the air, I just reup but the addiction I think comes from the simulation side of AH.

Do you see AH as more game than simulation or more simulation than game?
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: Karnak on August 05, 2013, 11:34:43 AM
I believe HiTech said something like it was a game using a simulation.
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: titanic3 on August 05, 2013, 11:41:09 AM
Game.

Simulation is DCS. Game is AH.
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: Skyguns MKII on August 05, 2013, 11:49:47 AM
What HTC supposedly said, a game using simulations. simulation would be even more realistic though as far as aircraft modeling and tank modeling we aren't so bad.
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: earl1937 on August 05, 2013, 11:59:25 AM
I have noticed that my greatest enjoyment in AH comes when I am more involved in the simulation side of AH  rather than the game side.  I find this especially true when their is a team effort going to defend or capture a base or one of Earl's pickup missions.

I do like the game side so if I get blasted out of the air, I just reup but the addiction I think comes from the simulation side of AH.

Do you see AH as more game than simulation or more simulation than game?
:airplane: I had it explained to me this way: Hi Tech wanted an on-line flight simulator, based on WW2 aircraft, with the goal of having "stick and Rudder" air to air combat! Then as time passed, other things and goals were established to please the never ending new guys, hence you have what you see today.
I do enjoy the re-enactment missions, sometimes we have a "dialog" between crew members and air traffic control, just to add some atmosphere to the mission. Occsionally I add some kind of sound effects to go along with the mish, such as air raid sirens, general alarm calls when doing Navy mish's and sometimes, let the guys actually hear "Axis Sally" and Tokyo Rose spilling their vile BS.
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: Paladin3 on August 05, 2013, 12:35:27 PM
I enjoy t quite a bit when we fly within my squad because we use terminology and tactics as opposed to just trying to fight and survive. Part of it is because the terminology is really good for short comms discipline and part of it is just the immersion into the simulation. I wish there was more of a push for realistic additions to the game and integrity.
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: Slate on August 05, 2013, 02:58:56 PM

   Early on I called it a Simulation (It felt like one when  I was a noob) and was verbally smacked down by HT informing me it was a game.
   Now it feels more like a game, throw the dice , move , repeat.
          Everything was new like a new love but now more like a 20 year marriage to your best friend but you still love her and can't think of leaving remembering all the good times.  :D
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: Babalonian on August 05, 2013, 03:19:53 PM
I think game that uses simulation is very accurate.  Without delving into the offline options, the online play offers the MAs and DAs as a part of the sandbox game aspect, and for more simulated or historicaly accurate play you have the AvA, FSOs and Scenarios.

Probabley why so much reliance in the MA-sandbox is on the individual maps, as they ultimatley determine what you'll (individual or organised group) use and how you aproach a given situation or objective (which depend on the map or it's current state).  This also relates to side switching too, which I'm not argueing against, since being stuck on one (loosing or winning) side/situation can severely limit your freedom of choices.
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: Randy1 on August 05, 2013, 04:03:01 PM
I had not considered the point of view of it being a game that uses simulation.  That does seem to blanket most of AH.  It may well be that AH's build philosophy is what holds players year after year.

I appreciate the replies.
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: deadstikmac on August 05, 2013, 04:07:17 PM
Simulation dumbed down too make a game?
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: Babalonian on August 05, 2013, 04:40:30 PM
Simulation dumbed down too make a game?

I think it has only been dumbed down to fit your computer (2D screen, keyboard+mouse+joystick input, the ability to answer the door or go to the bathroom without crashing) or to help the new/inexperienced.
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: coombz on August 05, 2013, 04:46:35 PM
I have had the most fun in the scenario events that I've flown, so closer to the simulation side of gameplay I think  :airplane:
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: Ack-Ack on August 05, 2013, 05:39:00 PM
It's a game.

ack-ack
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: uptown on August 05, 2013, 07:02:32 PM
Hop in a simulator one time and you'll have your answer.  ;)
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: guncrasher on August 05, 2013, 08:16:33 PM
I look at this game as sitting in a bar drinking a couple with a few friends bs'ing about this awesome fifth you got into and barely came out alive.


semp
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: Fruda on August 05, 2013, 08:42:20 PM
The flight physics feel quite a bit more realistic than FS9/FSX, but there isn't as much that has been modeled.

I imagine thinking of it as a game that uses aspects of a simulation (namely, the flight models) is the most accurate.
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: FLS on August 05, 2013, 10:43:35 PM
Game.

Simulation is DCS. Game is AH.

AH is a better WW2 air combat simulator than DCS. DCS fails to give any cues for G load. You have to look at the G gauge in DCS. You don't dogfight looking at gauges. DCS is a better cockpit simulator but that's not what AH is trying to do. DCS does best with modern aircraft where your key data is on the HUD. For large scale simulation like the BOB scenario there is nothing like AH.
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: Mongoose on August 05, 2013, 10:58:04 PM
  To me it is a chance to climb into one of my favorite airplanes and play tag with a bunch of other airplane lovers.
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: titanic3 on August 05, 2013, 11:46:41 PM
AH is a better WW2 air combat simulator than DCS. DCS fails to give any cues for G load. You have to look at the G gauge in DCS. You don't dogfight looking at gauges. DCS is a better cockpit simulator but that's not what AH is trying to do. DCS does best with modern aircraft where your key data is on the HUD. For large scale simulation like the BOB scenario there is nothing like AH.

Eh, simulation for me is where everything is sacrificed for the sake of realism, including gameplay. DCS might not have the best gameplay but it's as close the real thing as you can get without flying a real A10/P51/Ka50/Su-25. The four biggest sims I can think of is DCS for planes, Arma 3 for infantry, Silent Hunter for subs, and iRacing for cars.

AH to me is a game with sim-level flight models. Most realism factors are taken out for gameplay reasons.

Il-2 Cliffs of Dover and Rise of Flight are what I call in betweens. Il-2 has the cockpit accuracy of DCS, and all the engine management configurations, but their flight model feels like crap. Rise of Flight flight model seems to strive to be as accurate as possible, yet everything is simple to configure that I can't really even name it as a sim. Whether it's simple because the planes themselves are simple (hell, some of them don't even have a speedometer), or the developers dumbed it down, I don't know, but it's extremely easy to jump into Rise of Flight compared to DCS even though they both strive for as much realism as possible.
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: muzik on August 06, 2013, 12:42:02 AM
simulation would be even more realistic though

Simulation dumbed down too make a game?

Hop in a simulator one time and you'll have your answer.  ;)

   verbally smacked down by HT informing me it was a game.

Y'all can call it whatever you want to, but you can't change Websters.

In ww2 they put pilots in a wooden box with a few gauges and a teeter totter underneath and called it a simulation.

There is no definition of simulation that says what features are required.

Does anyone know how detailed the first 3D simulation the US air force used was? I'll wager it wasn't as complex as AH.

It's a fun frkn simulation!!!
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: Ack-Ack on August 06, 2013, 02:03:18 AM
AH is a better WW2 air combat simulator than DCS. DCS fails to give any cues for G load. You have to look at the G gauge in DCS. You don't dogfight looking at gauges. DCS is a better cockpit simulator but that's not what AH is trying to do. DCS does best with modern aircraft where your key data is on the HUD. For large scale simulation like the BOB scenario there is nothing like AH.

I consider DCS to be more of a 'study' sim, like Falcon 4.0 and Jane's F-15.

ack-ack
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: Daddkev on August 06, 2013, 02:07:04 AM
 :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:  It is truly is a stimulation !!!  :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :neener: :neener: :banana: :banana: :banana: :neener: :neener: :x :x :x :x
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: hitech on August 06, 2013, 10:00:10 AM
Y'all can call it whatever you want to, but you can't change Websters.

In ww2 they put pilots in a wooden box with a few gauges and a teeter totter underneath and called it a simulation.

There is no definition of simulation that says what features are required.

Does anyone know how detailed the first 3D simulation the US air force used was? I'll wager it wasn't as complex as AH.

It's a fun frkn simulation!!!

I agree with what you are saying. Along with your statement what many people miss , is that the word simulation by it's self is meaningless. Because the would simulator, must be accompanied by a classification.

Obviously AH is not a dish water simulator. Also the next question is what is a product trying to simulate, and why. Many simulators are made simply to learn system management.  The feel of flight, and the edges of the flight envelope are completely irreverent. An IFR simulator would not need much world detail, but the gauge placement would be incredibly important.

You can also not just assume recreating all details will make an accurate simulation. Many times an overall effect must bee looked at, as an example there we people during the war dedicated to provide intercept information to pilots, so some way must be found provide the information those people provided.

And also it must never be forgotten that AH is a game. It's primary purpose is to provide entertainment. At some times adding extreme simulation detail & accuracy to part of the game provides entertainment. Other times adding things do nothing be detract from fun, (example having to wait for oil temp to reach temp before take off, I.E. wait 5 mins on the run way). I do this on cold days in my RV, I don't find it enjoyable in the RV either.

Adjustments must be made for the equipment you a using. The lack of tactile feed back on a computer makes some things much more difficult then real airplanes. The joy stick alone works nothing like a real plane stick. Hence trimming a computer is far more difficult then trimming a real plane.

HiTech


Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: waystin2 on August 06, 2013, 01:02:02 PM
Wait.?!?  AH is not real.... :uhoh
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: GhostCDB on August 06, 2013, 01:03:16 PM
Neither, this game is reality !  :noid
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: Brooke on August 06, 2013, 01:45:40 PM
Folks, if you'd like to try out something that is much closer to simulation of WWII battles, please join us for the upcoming "Battle of Britain" scenario.

Scenarios are events that are based on historical battles.  If you haven't already, you should try at least one to see another aspect of game play.

Battle of Britain runs for four Saturdays in September, starting Sept 7, with start times of 3 pm Eastern.

Here is a pictorial after-action report from one of the days of a past scenario:

http://electraforge.com/brooke/flightsims/scenarios/201102_battleOverGermany/aar_frame1.htm

Also, there are other events between MA and scenarios.  "This Day in WWII", SEC, and Snapshots are events also based on WWII battles, but less structure and realism than scenarios; and there are FSO's for squads.  The calendar shows you when they run:

http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?action=calendar
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: muzik on August 06, 2013, 11:48:51 PM
I agree with what you are saying. Along with your statement what many people miss , is that the word simulation by it's self is meaningless. Because the would simulator, must be accompanied by a classification.

Obviously AH is not a dish water simulator. Also the next question is what is a product trying to simulate, and why. Many simulators are made simply to learn system management.  The feel of flight, and the edges of the flight envelope are completely irreverent. An IFR simulator would not need much world detail, but the gauge placement would be incredibly important.

You can also not just assume recreating all details will make an accurate simulation. Many times an overall effect must bee looked at, as an example there we people during the war dedicated to provide intercept information to pilots, so some way must be found provide the information those people provided.

And also it must never be forgotten that AH is a game. It's primary purpose is to provide entertainment. At some times adding extreme simulation detail & accuracy to part of the game provides entertainment. Other times adding things do nothing be detract from fun, (example having to wait for oil temp to reach temp before take off, I.E. wait 5 mins on the run way). I do this on cold days in my RV, I don't find it enjoyable in the RV either.

Adjustments must be made for the equipment you a using. The lack of tactile feed back on a computer makes some things much more difficult then real airplanes. The joy stick alone works nothing like a real plane stick. Hence trimming a computer is far more difficult then trimming a real plane.

HiTech





Aside from all the ceaseless echoing of "Hitech said it's a game," there are plenty of clues in the game design that demonstrate you get the difference and what your goal was from the start.

I'm just tired of the "it's not a simulator" spaz attacks. I am not even close to the type that takes the simulation aspect to it's full stride. But if I ever do feel the need, Brooke has plenty of garage sale signs to point me in the right direction.

I do have an appreciation for his effort and believe it's an undeveloped aspect of the game. I didn't participate in scenarios mostly because of the scheduling and inconvenience of it. If it was a integral aspect of the MA, I might participate half the time.

Those types of players should not be excluded from the MA because players without enough foresight to imagine that a more realistic representation of warfare could coincide with a free for all type game play and even benefit the game.

Take the new formation command for example. I've heard folks enjoy it. I've also seen someone suggest that it makes the game too easy or gamey because it takes the "skill" out of the game. And I agree to a point, but just like your engine warm up example, it's a relatively unimportant shortcut.

It is exactly like things I see in your design to make the game more enjoyable and less tedious yet it is indicative of the desire for more "simulation" type features. My definition of simulation being something that mimics all or some of the experience of the air war; and I don't believe that excludes the possibility of fun for the less enthusiastic crowd.



Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: FLOOB on August 07, 2013, 07:17:34 AM
Trick question. Simulation is a genre of video GAME
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: Flifast on August 07, 2013, 09:37:47 AM
Don't laugh...but I think it makes me a better pilot!  I'm listed as one of the smoothest landing pilots verified by FOQA!

Flifast
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: captain1ma on August 07, 2013, 10:10:55 AM
this is a game??? :huh  i thought it was real life!!
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: madrid311 on August 07, 2013, 10:27:57 AM
Don't laugh...but I think it makes me a better pilot!  I'm listed as one of the smoothest landing pilots verified by FOQA!

Flifast


I believe that is true sir. I read somewhere video games make your senses tuned. Something like that. Very cool indeed if so.
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: Randy1 on August 07, 2013, 11:40:07 AM
Don't laugh...but I think it makes me a better pilot!  I'm listed as one of the smoothest landing pilots verified by FOQA!

Flifast

It does help driving too.  Friday I was hit in the bed of my truck by a woman under the influence of something.  She ran a red light as I was turning.  In that moment I caught her speeding pickup coming to me, I knew I had to clear her path  much the same as a 262 attack so I went heavy on the gas.  i didn't clear her speeding truck but I did get my cab out of her way.  She crashed into the bed between the two gas tanks.  The bed crushing absorbed a lot of the energy making it less of  an accident than if she hit the cab of my truck.  Her problem is she fled the accident scene but she could not out run a fine young man on a motorcycle.  The police caught up to her just as she crossed into the next county.

The downside was I just had picked up a new dishwasher from Lowes.  it went up out of the holding straps and took a hard hit when it landed.
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: doright on August 07, 2013, 12:38:42 PM
Wait.?!?  AH is not real.... :uhoh

Real enough as long as you stay ported into HiTech's Matrix.
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: Skyguns MKII on August 07, 2013, 01:46:22 PM
this isn't real life? I was hiding in a barn for days waiting for cons to leave! I DONT WANNA DIE!!!!  :cry
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: guncrasher on August 07, 2013, 05:00:14 PM
I work at a steel mill and when I go into the slab yards full of 20 and 30 ton steel slabs sometimes I'll look up to see the over head crane and think to myself "careful he might vulch you".



semp
Title: Re: Game or Simulation?
Post by: muzik on August 07, 2013, 07:11:47 PM
Trick question. Simulation is a genre of video GAME

 :huh   When you can properly classify a question, you might be qualified to classify Aces High....


But probably not.  You helped prove my unstated point though, thanks :D