who gives a flying f? you're insulting our collective intelligence if you think we're incapable of researching things like this if we so desired.
I kind of agree with animl about your attempts advertising other games like this having no place here.
Which forum rule have I broken?
And who is forcing you to open the thread?
And this is the O'Club.
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: AKIron on May 27, 2025, 11:05:35 AM
MSFS 2020 and "Covid" kept people at home and drove the market for HOTAS and faster machines. The masses want it to look real but don't want to have to spend the time necessary to learn an actual simulator. There is a market for those that do though as is evident today and more powerful computers support that market.
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: CptTrips on May 27, 2025, 11:11:30 AM
MSFS 2020 and "Covid" kept people at home and drove the market for HOTAS and faster machines. The masses want it to look real but don't want to have to spend the time necessary to learn an actual simulator. There is a market for those that do though as is evident today and more powerful computers support that market.
COVID was certainly an accelerant.
Ironically, I think it was stuff like War Thunder World of Tanks or what ever those are called actually saved flightsim. They re-invigorated the popularity of combat vehicle simulation.
Before that, everything was just going FPS.
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: AKIron on May 27, 2025, 11:16:26 AM
Grandsons and I enjoyed many evenings together in PUBG and Fortnite, among others.
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: CptTrips on May 27, 2025, 11:21:53 AM
It may not be everyone's cup a tea, but I always thought that from a gameplay design point of view they were almost perfect.
Same. I loved BF 1942. But it I hate it's business model. Charge for the game, don't have company-provided multiplayer (leave it on shoulders of users), put out an expansion or two but then abandon it to move on to another game to sell. It leads games having a limited lifespan. And any great game, within another different release or two, whenever was special is lost as they change things to make a new game.
I quit playing BF 1942 a bit after it went out of support.
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: CptTrips on May 29, 2025, 04:50:14 PM
Same. I loved BF 1942. But it I hate it's business model. Charge for the game, don't have company-provided multiplayer (leave it on shoulders of users),
Different strokes.
I actually like that model. I like how players have to freedom to setup their own servers with whatever configurations they can concieve with as much capability as any other, and let the player marketplace decide who has the better design as opposed to one vision being forced on everyone by a single server only the company controls.
The way I prefer the States to be laboratories of Democracy. I don't trust anyone to have the monopoly of a good idea and I like the letting others try something.
HTC has custom arena, but limited to only a trivial coop count, too hard to keep up perpetually, not able to support any real base capture or anything that would actually make it valuable, unable to run sets of scheduled missions. Basically nothing but a moshpit furball capability.
DCS has even more flexibility with an extremely rich and powerful scripting API. Apparent, from those who know, dwarfs anything IL2 or ARMA have, that from experience IL2 and ARMA modders.
Different platforms different approaches.
Dang dude. I was still occasionally getting on full BF4 servers not too long ago and that was released what 2015? How long do you think you should be able to play a single MMO release? You ought to get out more. ;)
<Shrug> Different strokes. Pro's and con's to both models. It's good we have choices.
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: Dadtallica on May 29, 2025, 05:21:09 PM
Why is it taboo for a bunch of flight simmers to discuss flight sims in a flight sim forum?
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: Meatwad on May 29, 2025, 05:37:11 PM
Why is it taboo for a bunch of flight simmers to discuss flight sims in a flight sim forum?
From a marketing view they dont want anyone "selling" a different game on their boards. Hitech was never worried about that and has always allowed talk of other games, good or bad. DSC on the other hand doesnt allow any talk because they may be worried.
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: AKIron on May 29, 2025, 10:04:55 PM
No one who posts here works for Eagle Dynamics or profits from DCS sales, period. That's just stupid and irrational to imagine anyone here is trying to steal AH customers. I for one am a long time flight and flight sim enthusiast with a few long time friends that still visit here. Someone trying to run me off just makes me want to stick around.
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: CptTrips on May 29, 2025, 10:30:37 PM
No one who posts here works for Eagle Dynamics or profits from DCS sales, period. That's just stupid and irrational to imagine anyone here is trying to steal AH customers. I for one am a long time flight and flight sim enthusiast with a few long time friends that still visit here. Someone trying to run me off just makes me want to stick around.
Crabs in a bucket.
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: Brooke on May 29, 2025, 10:53:02 PM
I actually like that model. I like how players have to freedom to setup their own servers
Good point. I guess for me, it seemed too haphazard, not knowing which servers would be open, which would operate OK, etc.
Quote
Dang dude. I was still occasionally getting on full BF4 servers not too long ago and that was released what 2015? How long do you think you should be able to play a single MMO release? You ought to get out more. ;)
I hear you. I would still play BF 1942 if it weren't basically abandonware. It was so much fun (except for the planes, which I felt ruined the game play). But there were bugs, exploits (I had some 3rd party anti-cheating thing that cooperated with the game -- forget what it was called -- but that sort of thing should have been part of the game). Bugs never got fixed, as the company just moved on to the next thing, and eventually the game dies out.
I'd prefer BF 1942 v1, v2, . . .instead of BF 1942, then they abandon it and move on to a series of (from my perspective) inferior pieces of crap in comparison.
For example, if Aces High were shinkwrap, and HTC had WWII for a while, then abandoned it for Korea, then some years later abandon it for Vietnam, then Tomcats, then F-35's, then space madness or whatever crap -- when WWII is the golden age of air combat -- I wouldn't prefer that.
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: CptTrips on May 29, 2025, 11:11:24 PM
Good point. I guess for me, it seemed too haphazard, not knowing which servers would be open, which would operate OK, etc.
I hear you. I would still play BF 1942 if it weren't basically abandonware. It was so much fun (except for the planes, which I felt ruined the game play). But there were bugs, exploits (I had some 3rd party anti-cheating thing that cooperated with the game -- forget what it was called -- but that sort of thing should have been part of the game). Bugs never got fixed, as the company just moved on to the next thing, and eventually the game dies out.
I'd prefer BF 1942 v1, v2, . . .instead of BF 1942, then they abandon it and move on to a series of (from my perspective) inferior pieces of crap in comparison.
For example, if Aces High were shinkwrap, and HTC had WWII for a while, then abandoned it for Korea, then some years later abandon it for Vietnam, then Tomcats, then F-35's, then space madness or whatever crap -- when WWII is the golden age of air combat -- I wouldn't prefer that.
You think BF3 and 4 were inferior to 1942? Hmm different strokes.
IMHO, BF4 (eventually. Had a really rough launch) was probable one of the best gameplay balanced well designed dopamine generators I have ever plugged my brain into.
It was the perfect mix of complexity and simplicity and action with strategy I had played. The game cycles where just right length. Each match had a discernible beginning middle and end that I could satisfyingly accomplish within my gaming time so I could see the fruits of my labor lead to victory and defeat before my eye.
I could start and finish 2-3 full games in an evening and I saw the results of my efforts in a win or a loss. I got to be there for the end.
Instead a day of grinding only to have a handful of Euros wipe the map of everything I did in the middle of the night when I'm sleeping. Even if my side wins the map at 3am I didn't get to be there for that final thrill. For me it makes it harder to care.
Those cycles are too short for a flight sim, but I could see like 2 hours mini-wars working.
But only BF4 had "The Colenel Lvl 100"
And then they conned me into pre-purchasing 2042. Lost me forever. ;)
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: Brooke on May 30, 2025, 10:34:11 AM
I like ww2 the most. For game play, they could have kept improving bf1942. I dont get interested as much in modern stuff.
Not everyone shares my prefences, though.
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: CptTrips on May 30, 2025, 10:47:18 AM
I like ww2 the most. For game play, they could have kept improving bf1942. I dont get interested as much in modern stuff.
Not everyone shares my prefences, though.
Me too. I was hoping the BF 5 was just going to be a retooled 1942. That would have been awesome. I guess they added mods later to replay upgraded maps of those, but they had already lost me.
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: AKIron on May 31, 2025, 05:32:27 PM
Sometimes it's fun to be the bully.
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: shotgunneeley on June 01, 2025, 09:24:09 PM
The strategic bombing feature of AH would be what keeps me coming back. I’m a nut for both sides of the coin - flying tight formations to attack strats as well as flying fw-190s to defend against enemy buffs. I am not familiar with another combat flight sim that does that other than AH - I have never considered other stuff like IL2, DCS, World of Warplanes or War Thunder.
Like Brooke, I was a fanatic for BF1942 all the way up to BF2 before discovering AH and not pursuing any further BF installments. Unfortunately for me, I was limited to wireless sat internet with incredible lagg (talk about rage quitting when the length of time between me reacting to an enemy coming around a corner and my subsequent insta-death was measured in milliseconds. Conversely, I’d have to chase someone half-way across the map and expend all my ammo just to get a kill.) That poor internet was somehow made tolerable in AH flying bombers agains static targets.
Finally got cable hi-speed internet at the tail end of my gaming chapter, then I took on some brutal wife-ack keeping me grounded and re-prioritized (among other issues) - working myself up to initiate a “de-acking”.
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: Brooke on June 02, 2025, 12:50:21 PM
Shotgun! It is great to see you! :aok
Do you still do honey?
Also, can you join us in Lancasters for the October scenario? Going after the Tirpitz and uboat pens in the fjords of Norway?
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: AKIron on June 03, 2025, 12:32:54 PM
Ran across this today. One of the commenters father in this video. Interesting. A-6 takes off at about a minute in.
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: Mayhem on June 03, 2025, 02:31:43 PM
There has been some talk that EA is going to step away from IP that has expensive licensing agreements like Fifa and Star Wars. If EA wants to stick with IP they already own maybe the should resurrect some of those titles they murdered back in the late 1990s and Early 2000s. Janes (Technically they don't own the "Janes" title it belongs to Janes Information Services) , Wing Commander, Dungeon keeper, Sim City, Air Warrior and so forth.
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: Animl-AW on June 03, 2025, 04:18:21 PM
There has been some talk that EA is going to step away from IP that has expensive licensing agreements like Fifa and Star Wars. If EA wants to stick with IP they already own maybe the should resurrect some of those titles they murdered back in the late 1990s and Early 2000s. Janes (Technically they don't own the "Janes" title it belongs to Janes Information Services) , Wing Commander, Dungeon keeper, Sim City, Air Warrior and so forth.
I wouldn’t waste used toilet paper on anything EA does.
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: Animl-AW on June 03, 2025, 04:24:00 PM
Why is it taboo for a bunch of flight simmers to discuss flight sims in a flight sim forum?
Take a McDs bag into Burger King, let us know what you learn.
We’ll be into DCS soon enough, don’t worry
Worse yet, go to DCS board and try? It will a deleted within 5 min.
Oh, thats right, thats why they vomit here.
Come here, talk about DCS until ridiculed for being a mutt, come to Oclub, post worthless social post to wedge back in, talk about DCS until they’re ridiculed for being a mutt, rinse snd repeat.
Low class, low maturity
Some here enforced it not happening on AW boards, locking or deleting, I was tasked with reporting it by the same. Its ok now, its not their backyard, My first month here I mentioned AW and got punished. Lets not ACT like we don’t understand
Ya, I can’t figure out why either
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: RUSH1 on June 03, 2025, 08:16:54 PM
Take a McDs bag into Burger King, let us know what you learn.
We’ll be into DCS soon enough, don’t worry
Worse yet, go to DCS board and try? It will a deleted within 5 min.
Oh, thats right, thats why they vomit here.
Come here, talk about DCS until ridiculed for being a mutt, come to Oclub, post worthless social post to wedge back in, talk about DCS until they’re ridiculed for being a mutt, rinse snd repeat.
Low class, low maturity
Some here enforced it not happening on AW boards, locking or deleting, I was tasked with reporting it by the same. Its ok now, its not their backyard, My first month here I mentioned AW and got punished. Lets not ACT like we don’t understand
Ya, I can’t figure out why either
Is there anything AH can do for this guy?
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: Animl-AW on June 04, 2025, 05:43:44 AM
What do you contribute to the game? other sims and politics? When was the last time you played? Why do you guys think you're relevant here?
You talk like I’m the only one who says something. How many paying customers said the same? You’re outnumbered. Its not just me. What do you get 4-5 former players who go along with it? If its just me, why do most players ignore these two? Is that just me too?
This is trolling, no more, no less. HT allows you former players to spit in all of us. <shrug> don’t expect a red carpet, its not there.
If there was a vote ya wouldn’t be here. Its trolling more than providing info we care about.
I can’t imagine why we can’t retain players for our effort to bring numbers and revenue up. If HT doesn't want that then you win. Ya can’t have both allowing this and then wonder why players don’t stay. They are told to play elsewhere. Effort dropped, no worries. You guys own the damage.
Find a home
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: LCADolby on June 04, 2025, 07:12:54 AM
Animl will you for the love of Christ drop being such a clown when someone dare mention a different sim on the BBS than AcesHigh.
You are a constant annoyance and detraction from AcesHigh with your particular style of ineffective drunken uncle back seat moderation.
HiTech moderates what is acceptable for discussion on the BBS, not you. HiTech is clearly comfortable and confident in his product enough to allow these conversations, who gives a toejam what DCS do Eagle Dynamics can suck my balls.
Can no one person get it through to you that at least? You are not helping, being such an ass-hat and using terms such as "find a home" is clearly telling people to leave take their money away from AcesHigh.
Just stop being you for a month, for the love! Holy diddlying toejamballs!
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: Animl-AW on June 04, 2025, 09:06:30 AM
Animl will you for the love of Christ drop being such a clown when someone dare mention a different sim on the BBS than AcesHigh.
You are a constant annoyance and detraction from AcesHigh with your particular style of ineffective drunken uncle back seat moderation.
HiTech moderates what is acceptable for discussion on the BBS, not you. HiTech is clearly comfortable and confident in his product enough to allow these conversations, who gives a toejam what DCS do Eagle Dynamics can suck my balls.
Can no one person get it through to you that at least? You are not helping, being such an ass-hat and using terms such as "find a home" is clearly telling people to leave take their money away from AcesHigh.
Just stop being you for a month, for the love! Holy diddlying toejamballs!
I was not the first one, twit. You talk too much for a former player. Only non-playing non-paying former players condone it, you’re out numbered. Ma couple here feed stray dogs, thats it. Fool #7 OTW
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: CptTrips on June 04, 2025, 09:51:43 AM
Take a McDs bag into Burger King, let us know what you learn.
We’ll be into DCS soon enough, don’t worry
Worse yet, go to DCS board and try? It will a deleted within 5 min.
Oh, thats right, thats why they vomit here.
Come here, talk about DCS until ridiculed for being a mutt, come to Oclub, post worthless social post to wedge back in, talk about DCS until they’re ridiculed for being a mutt, rinse snd repeat.
Low class, low maturity
Some here enforced it not happening on AW boards, locking or deleting, I was tasked with reporting it by the same. Its ok now, its not their backyard, My first month here I mentioned AW and got punished. Lets not ACT like we don’t understand
Ya, I can’t figure out why either
Seek help.
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: Animl-AW on June 04, 2025, 11:34:26 AM
But yeah, it's a money hole and a hardware hog. Like MSFS.
[Edit] However, even with a cheap twisty joystick, the free A4 mod, and free SU-25, and the free Caucuses map will get you on several of the popular servers for nothin. Everyone seems to love the A4 and the SU-25 is supposed to be quite capable in it's time genre if you learn it. A good middling plane.
I'd make the I-16 free if I were in charge. lol
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: Animl-AW on June 08, 2025, 09:26:15 AM
.
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: Banshee7 on June 08, 2025, 09:31:07 AM
[Edit] However, even with a cheap twisty joystick, the free A4 mod, and free SU-25, and the free Caucuses map will get you on several of the popular servers for nothin. Everyone seems to love the A4 and the SU-25 is supposed to be quite capable in it's time genre if you learn it. A good middling plane.
I'm building a new PC next month, and I can't wait to dive back in. I tried learning on the A4 last summer, but the graphics I had to run pretty much was a buzz kill for me. Probably just gonna get Flaming Cliffs until I decide what kind of pilot I want to be :airplane:
In reality, from what I've gathered it winds up being cheaper than AH. $14.95 x 12 = $179.40 per year (which is already the equivalent of buying two of the latest releases every year). At least with DCS you get to choose what you spend your money on, so if you want to spend more/less you can. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong because I'm just stating what I've observed.
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: CptTrips on June 08, 2025, 09:45:33 AM
Probably just gonna get Flaming Cliffs until I decide what kind of pilot I want to be :airplane:
I don't own them, but people say the FC are a good deal and a good on-ramp to DCS.
A couple of years ago they upgraded them to use the full professional flight model so the only difference now is in the level of cockpit interactivity and the depth of the systems simulation. If you care more about the flying than the innards and electronics, they are probably the best bang for the buck.
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: Banshee7 on June 08, 2025, 09:58:31 AM
I don't own them, but people say the FC are a good deal and a good on-ramp to DCS.
A couple of years ago they upgraded them to use the full professional flight model so the only difference now is in the level of cockpit interactivity and the depth of the systems simulation. If you care more about the flying than the innards and electronics, they are probably the best bang for the buck.
And I don't expect to spend that much time on DCS. It'll just be another game I play when all my friends are not online, so I'll probably just spend my time fighting bots anyway :rofl I just want to scratch the itch I have to fly modern a/c. Also heard the F-16 is under-modeled, which is disappointing if true.
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: CptTrips on June 08, 2025, 10:06:57 AM
And I don't expect to spend that much time on DCS. It'll just be another game I play when all my friends are not online, so I'll probably just spend my time fighting bots anyway :rofl I just want to scratch the itch I have to fly modern a/c. Also heard the F-16 is under-modeled, which is disappointing if true.
I was refering to the I-16 some goofy russian plane: (https://vintageaviationnews.com/wp-content/uploads/Image00075.jpg)
No one but me is stupid enough to pay money for that so that should be one of the freebies. ;)
I haven't heard about any problems with the f-16 but it seems most prefer the f-18 because it is carrier based I guess.
For the occasional jet itch, I just stick with the free A4 though if you are going to spend money, the Flaming Cliffs 4 is your best deal I think.
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: Animl-AW on June 08, 2025, 12:38:19 PM
I’m so crazy to think it would evolve into you kniw what. All his post are vehickes.
With AH you can play the game and afford to play golf or boat.
No that sim is not cheaper if you have to upgrade your gear to fly with any real detail. Anyone who says diff is lying. And thats before you buy planes.
5h grade math, folks. Its just 5th grade math doesn’t have an obsessed grifter hiding major details in the equation, like gear and unsupported AC they sell anyway.
Ya those pesky details they don’t want to talk about. But wait, there’s more in the next click bait post from those who haven’t played AH in 11-12 yrs.
No batteries included.
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: CptTrips on June 08, 2025, 12:42:39 PM
I was replying to posts from Eagler and Banshee.
Should they have asked your permission first before posting?
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: Animl-AW on June 08, 2025, 01:00:40 PM
And I don't expect to spend that much time on DCS. It'll just be another game I play when all my friends are not online, so I'll probably just spend my time fighting bots anyway :rofl I just want to scratch the itch I have to fly modern a/c. Also heard the F-16 is under-modeled, which is disappointing if true.
Easier to jump in and fight with Flaming Cliffs though there is still a learning curve. Because the cockpit is not interactive you will need to map some controls and maybe print out a control cheat sheet. I've spent a goodly amount of time in the DCS F-16 and never thought it under-modeled. I've never flown a real F-16 but I have flown it in other sims including all the Falcon series. The F-15C, among others, is included in FC.
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: AKIron on June 08, 2025, 03:22:09 PM
You get a BRRRRT with FC though not this model.
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: Banshee7 on June 08, 2025, 04:42:26 PM
Easier to jump in and fight with Flaming Cliffs though there is still a learning curve. Because the cockpit is not interactive you will need to map some controls and maybe print out a control cheat sheet. I've spent a goodly amount of time in the DCS F-16 and never thought it under-modeled. I've never flown a real F-16 but I have flown it in other sims including all the Falcon series. The F-15C, among others, is included in FC.
What's funny is I've been watching FC A-10A videos :rofl
I knew there was a learning curve. I have made my own cheat sheet for the A4 last summer. Whenever I get settled in I'm sure I'll be looking for help mapping my X52 and whatnot. :salute
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: AKIron on June 08, 2025, 07:08:25 PM
I'll be glad to help ya out with whatever I can. Lemme know.
Title: Re: Top 2025 Combat Flight Simulators
Post by: AKIron on June 08, 2025, 09:48:40 PM
If we don't get blown away by this storm. Where'd I put those ruby slippers?