Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: dBeav on April 01, 2018, 07:50:42 AM

Title: A new showcase for Aces High?
Post by: dBeav on April 01, 2018, 07:50:42 AM
Hey kids. I need your help. I have been given the task of putting together some interactive stuff for a display at a local air museum. We recently got an airframe that was recovered from the bottom of lake Michigan. One of the things they want to have for the display is a section with 6 or 7 screens with a flight sim allowing visitors to try taking off and landing from a carrier.
So who has some ideas about how to do this? Could I use Aces High in practice mode? How can I get it to default to that specific scenario? Is there another, better option? What about hardware. Is anybody still in the business of making a joystick that could handle the abuse? What haven't I thought of? Should I just run away now?
Title: Re: A new showcase for Aces High?
Post by: Nefarious on April 01, 2018, 09:43:34 AM
You could use the HERVE terrain and place the Carrier near the 1K air starts. Place the CV a mile or two from the spawn and in a race track pattern so it would be an easy approach.

Aces High is probably the easiest game to land a plane on a CV in, as long as it's not turning.

You could probably get a used joystick, pedals and throttle on ebay for cheaper than new.
Title: Re: A new showcase for Aces High?
Post by: icepac on April 01, 2018, 10:03:30 AM
Totally great idea which benefits all in attendance and all who love the game.
Title: Re: A new showcase for Aces High?
Post by: dBeav on April 01, 2018, 12:07:56 PM
Is there a configuration file that holds all the setup information so I could have each machine set the same right from the get go?
Title: Re: A new showcase for Aces High?
Post by: Nefarious on April 01, 2018, 12:54:24 PM
Is there a configuration file that holds all the setup information so I could have each machine set the same right from the get go?

What you could do is create 1 H2H arena and log all the computers into it. Password protect it so you wouldn't have players coming in and shooting others down.

That way all the players are in the same arena and could even fight each other.
Title: Re: A new showcase for Aces High?
Post by: dBeav on April 01, 2018, 01:09:48 PM
Great idea but I think we're looking more for something lasting 10 or 15 minutes so we don't get too bottle necked going through the display. We often get large groups of scouts or school field trips coming through so getting kids through in a timely manner is important but I also want this part of the display to be memorable.
Title: Re: A new showcase for Aces High?
Post by: Nefarious on April 01, 2018, 01:27:04 PM
Great idea but I think we're looking more for something lasting 10 or 15 minutes so we don't get too bottle necked going through the display. We often get large groups of scouts or school field trips coming through so getting kids through in a timely manner is important but I also want this part of the display to be memorable.

That makes it a little difficult certainly. The H2H arena would certainly save time, you could always turn off ammo multiplier so they can't shoot each other.

It would be difficult to explain everything needed to be done like Landing Gear, Hooks, Flaps as AH won't start them in a landing config.
Title: Re: A new showcase for Aces High?
Post by: The Fugitive on April 01, 2018, 04:22:05 PM
You could build a mission like you want ,but Im not sure how you could lock it in, maybe a macro to run the right keystrokes to run ONLY that mission start.
Title: Re: A new showcase for Aces High?
Post by: SIM on April 02, 2018, 10:54:42 AM
You could use microsoft FSX or Prepar3d by Lockheed. There are some pretty good add ons available that simulate aircraft launches from a carrier, be it a modern day or vintage aircraft.
Title: Re: A new showcase for Aces High?
Post by: Ciaphas on April 02, 2018, 12:00:39 PM
What is the date you need this by?

I would email Hitech personally and ask him if he has a method to do this and if not if he would be interested in creating something to showcase this.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: A new showcase for Aces High?
Post by: Easyscor on April 02, 2018, 12:43:50 PM
Stated wish list:
Water terrain with Carrier for simulation
Aircraft takeoffs and landings on a carrier (no active fields or airspawns)
Combat discouraged
Offline 'practice mode'
Configured to run the same on multiple machines

I'd recommend the following:
Offline, no interruptions or distractions, avoids update interruptions & maintenance.
Custom 512 water terrain, contact the AvA Staff (PM me) or SEA team (2-3 hours total work, max.)
One Carrier group
Two waypoints 420 miles apart, Carrier repeats track every 24 hours if left unattended.
Settings file to disable ammo in guns, bombs & rockets. Only active field to be one CV.

Did I miss anything?

Getting funds for the hardware will be your biggest problem. Manufactures might participate. They've been know to donate prizes to player conventions.
Title: Re: A new showcase for Aces High?
Post by: Easyscor on April 02, 2018, 12:56:41 PM
BTW, later if you decide to expand the effort to include combat, a H2H room could be created with a high fuel burn rate & limited fuel on board to set max sortie time. There are several small terrains to choose from for that scenario. If you like the idea, look into Match Play and/or call Hitech Creations for more information.
Title: Re: A new showcase for Aces High?
Post by: EskimoJoe on April 03, 2018, 06:55:05 AM
It might not hurt to send HTC an email to see if they will 1) allow it and 2) help you out
Title: Re: A new showcase for Aces High?
Post by: dBeav on April 05, 2018, 04:28:35 PM
Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I have about 6 months to come up with something and lots of great ideas here.
Title: Re: A new showcase for Aces High?
Post by: JOACH1M on April 05, 2018, 05:13:27 PM
Dont cheap out on a PC. Make sure it can run this game full detail to attract more people.
Title: Re: A new showcase for Aces High?
Post by: Traveler on April 07, 2018, 09:47:17 AM
Hey kids. I need your help. I have been given the task of putting together some interactive stuff for a display at a local air museum. We recently got an airframe that was recovered from the bottom of lake Michigan. One of the things they want to have for the display is a section with 6 or 7 screens with a flight sim allowing visitors to try taking off and landing from a carrier.
So who has some ideas about how to do this? Could I use Aces High in practice mode? How can I get it to default to that specific scenario? Is there another, better option? What about hardware. Is anybody still in the business of making a joystick that could handle the abuse? What haven't I thought of? Should I just run away now?

What is the name and location of this local air museum?
Title: Re: A new showcase for Aces High?
Post by: dBeav on April 24, 2018, 08:05:49 AM
Yankee Air Museum
Located at historic Willow Run Airport.
http://yankeeairmuseum.org
Title: Re: A new showcase for Aces High?
Post by: Shuffler on April 28, 2018, 10:21:33 AM
For such a short presentation it may be better to just air launch and let them fly.
Title: Re: A new showcase for Aces High?
Post by: Nefarious on April 28, 2018, 06:23:17 PM
For such a short presentation it may be better to just air launch and let them fly.

That's why I suggested the Herve Map. Air Spawns from 1K to 20K along with regular fields and a few Task Forces.
Title: Re: A new showcase for Aces High?
Post by: Shuffler on April 28, 2018, 09:22:43 PM
That's why I suggested the Herve Map. Air Spawns from 1K to 20K along with regular fields and a few Task Forces.

A fine suggestion. I was just throwing my herd in with yours.
Title: Re: A new showcase for Aces High?
Post by: Brooke on April 29, 2018, 03:38:58 AM
Yankee Air Museum
Located at historic Willow Run Airport.
http://yankeeairmuseum.org

<S> to a Michigander.  I grew up in Troy.
Title: Re: A new showcase for Aces High?
Post by: Brooke on April 29, 2018, 03:44:04 AM
By the way, for hardware, you can a setup that runs AH just fine for $297 for the computer, $98 for Windows, and $150 for graphics card as described here:
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,392522.0.html

Best stick for the money is Thrustmaster T.16000M for about $50.  It's a twisty stick.

Best pedals for the money (in my opinion) are CH Products pedals for about $130.
Title: Re: A new showcase for Aces High?
Post by: Brooke on April 29, 2018, 03:45:53 AM
I've thought about doing something similar for Seattle's Museum of Flight or Flying Heritage Museum if they are interested in it, or maybe a class on on-line flying at one of those if they are interested (but that would take either more computers or people bringing in their own).
Title: Re: A new showcase for Aces High?
Post by: dBeav on May 01, 2018, 01:43:59 PM
We already have a couple of "sims" setup using Microsoft Flight Sim in custom built boxes that visitors climb into. They are very popular but require constant attention.

I never got a response back from the folks at Hitech so I guess I just start playing around with some options, starting some of the great one presented here. Hopefully I can come up with something presentable.

PS
<S> fellow Michigander!  :)
Title: Re: A new showcase for Aces High?
Post by: dBeav on June 06, 2018, 04:41:32 AM
The decision has been made to go with Aces High. We can get visitors to "take off" pretty quickly and the graphics are great. I picked up a VKB Gladiator Mark II which looks like it will work great and hold up to some abuse.  Now to start putting together a PC. Once I have it all figured out I'll build 4 more (or so).
Another fun part of this is that the AF museum down in Dayton is building a new flight sim as well. Not that we're officially in competition but... my sim will win.  :)
Title: Re: A new showcase for Aces High?
Post by: Brooke on June 06, 2018, 10:05:38 PM
Way to go!  Awesome!  :aok

In case it is of any use, here's some info on what I think is the cheapest computer setup that will run AH at 60 fps with slider set to "none".

I've done 3 of them so far -- working great.

The one quoted below, I bought the parts and put it together.  However, if you want the machine assembled for you and with a 1 year warranty, you can select all the stuff from superbiiz.com, and they will assemble, install the OS, and give you a 1-year warranty all for a $50 fee.

computer system was $266; GTX 1050 graphics card was $150; Windows 10 was $103.

From Superbiiz.com:
1    Crucial DDR4-2400 4GB/512Mx64 CL17 Memory    CTD424UA4G    $44.99   
   1    Intel Pentium G4400 Dual-Core Skylake Processor 3.3GHz 8.0GT/s 3MB LGA 1151 CPU, Retail    G4400BOX    $51.79
   1    Microsoft Windows 10 Home Operating System 64-bit English (1-Pack), OEM    MSKW900140    $103.49
GIGABYTE GA-H110M-A LGA1151/ Intel H110/ DDR4/ SATA3&USB3.0/ A&GbE/ MicroATX Motherboard   $48.49

From Amazon:
APEVIA X-QTIS-BK Micro ATX Gaming/HTPC Case, 1 x 120mm Blue LED fan, $34.99
 EVGA 500 W1, 80+ WHITE 500W, 3 Year Warranty, Power Supply 100-W1-0500-KR, Black, $39.99
 WD Blue 1TB Desktop Hard Disk Drive - SATA 6 Gb/s 64MB Cache 3.5 Inch - WD10EZRZ, $45.90
Gigabyte Geforce GTX 1050 2GB GDDR5 128 Bit PCI-E Graphic Card (GV-N1050OC-2GD) $149.99 
Sceptre E248W-1920R 24 Inch Ultra Thin 1080p 75Hz LED Monitor HDMI VGA, Metal Black 2018, $99.53

Miscellaneous stuff that folks often already have:
1    Logitech K120 Wired USB Keyboard for Business (Black)    KB-K120    $11.29 <--- suberbiiz.com
   1    Kensington K72356US Wired USB Optical Mouse (Black)    KS-K72356U    $6.29  <--- suberbiiz.com
 Koss CS100 Speech Recognition Computer Headset, $14.40  <--- amazon.com
 CH Products Pro Pedals USB Flight Simulator Pedals ( 300-111 ), $120.99  <--- amazon.com
CH Products Flightstick Pro USB 4-Button Joystick 8-Way Hatswitch, $82.86 <--- amazon.com
 Belkin 7-Port Plug-and-Play Powered Desktop Hub with USB-A Ports, $22.32 <--- amazon.com

Although if want a twisty stick instead, I'd remove the CH stick and pedals and substitute Thrustmaster T.16000M.  That would also be a savings of about $140.
Title: Re: A new showcase for Aces High?
Post by: 1ijac on June 07, 2018, 12:09:52 AM
You could always have two CV task groups, one following the other, with a little distance between them.  They take off from the following CV and land on the leading CV.  Zeros or FM2s lift very easily.

One-eye
Title: Re: A new showcase for Aces High?
Post by: dBeav on June 12, 2018, 11:24:57 AM
I've put some numbers together and sent it off to the higher ups. Brooke, I've been looking at your specs and using them as a baseline for the build. I started high so I have some wiggle room as they ask me to spend less. I'm looking at 3 27" curved monitors at each station. That should provide a fair amount of "immersion".  :)

One-eye, that's a good idea! Thanks