I'm sure I will at some point, if I live long enough.
Cool. I'd be curious to hear what one of you guys think of it. I don't really trust generic reviews by people I don't know.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: CptTrips on December 17, 2025, 12:01:58 PM
Well, I don't pre-order anything anymore. ;)
I will watch it's progress with interest. I too am interested in real reviews.
It will be interesting to see what percentage of their WWII base are going to shell out for the "Forgotten War" jet game.
If I were them I would have done BoB (CloD is never going to be good enough) or Pac (Shore up against CP taking your abandoned WWII customers) instead.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Shuffler on December 17, 2025, 02:29:09 PM
Interesting.... locking all the discussions so we can talk about another game. LOL
I might have to check out their WWII stuff. I have not even been flying anywhere.... not even MSFS.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: AKIron on December 17, 2025, 03:10:42 PM
The F-86 vs Mig-15 is a good match and fun. Just need some missiles.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Meatwad on December 17, 2025, 03:18:43 PM
Ive started back on WW2OL. Nice thing about that game is that they actually have a free to play option
Aye. It's the thing that keeps the numbers up. How is it these days?
I pretty much play all VR games these days so I'm not sure I could be competitive in WWII online especially after somebody posted an ESP hack for the game on youtube ad instead of addressing the problem the convinced the guy to take down the video.
Most of the games that have been around for a while (including this one) have hacks and without anticheat you're going to have a hard time busting the cheaters. I must say that WT seems to have a decent anticheat because even though I've seen it from time to time, it appears that they go away right quick.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Meatwad on December 19, 2025, 06:07:52 AM
Numbers are down like a lot of the older games but its still active. It has different tiers of sub models that the cheapest gives you more then what free to play offers but doesn't unlock everything, all the way up to full unlocking of everything at the max monthly sub. Free to play is just infantry only and no vehicles/ships/planes but its enough to keep you engaged. If they would remove free to play it would likely kill off half the numbers and make the game a ghost town. Another valid reason that free to play will increase the number of active players in a game even though it appears that dale is too scared to try it
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: CptTrips on December 19, 2025, 08:56:41 AM
Numbers are down like a lot of the older games but its still active. It has different tiers of sub models that the cheapest gives you more then what free to play offers but doesn't unlock everything, all the way up to full unlocking of everything at the max monthly sub. Free to play is just infantry only and no vehicles/ships/planes but its enough to keep you engaged. If they would remove free to play it would likely kill off half the numbers and make the game a ghost town. Another valid reason that free to play will increase the number of active players in a game even though it appears that dale is too scared to try it
Seems to me a little F2p is the best filler AI you will ever write, and the best advertising you could ever buy.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Animl-AW on December 19, 2025, 08:59:13 AM
Korea, as popular as junk mail.
AW Korea arena population 0-3, other arenas 90-200. About 1-3% interest. Players may try it and that will be the peak.
No, AH does not have a lot of hacks. Just like mods don’t target you for fun either.
Mya know who diesn’t advertise other games here? The actual players.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Spikes on December 19, 2025, 10:32:52 AM
Numbers are down like a lot of the older games but its still active. It has different tiers of sub models that the cheapest gives you more then what free to play offers but doesn't unlock everything, all the way up to full unlocking of everything at the max monthly sub. Free to play is just infantry only and no vehicles/ships/planes but its enough to keep you engaged. If they would remove free to play it would likely kill off half the numbers and make the game a ghost town. Another valid reason that free to play will increase the number of active players in a game even though it appears that dale is too scared to try it
I dont think he is "scared to try it", I think he is too busy to spend the time it would take for the coading to set it up.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Animl-AW on December 19, 2025, 12:10:18 PM
I think if hitech thought it would increase the sub count if the free period was a month he would have already done it...
I thought it was stated most don't stick around for the entire 2 weeks free as it is now so why extend it...
They don't appreciate the complexity and won't stick around like most of us here have to learn to be decent at some part of the game..
I bet most don't try half of what's available now between the different planes and gv's to carriers and pt boats..resupply/capture.. fighter/bombers..
Most probably see how tiny everything looks and logs into something easier to play..
That's exactly what I did 25 years ago when I had the fighter ace option..
Eagler
I dont think "extending it" is what we were talking about. I think it needs a "Free to Play" subscription. Limited planes set, limited GVs, the goon and M3 to help in captures but thats about it. Extending it most likely would be changing a couple numbers in the coad, making a limited set of planes and GVs would take some coading I would think.
F2P with a limited plane set is less off putting than F2P.... for 2 weeks only. Will players stay longer? Dont know, but having the option to "play for free" forever psychologically eases a players mind and I think they would stop in more often. If they stop in more often they will see how players work together, how battles last hours sometimes and hopefully join the full subscription.
I have been chatting with a guy asking all kinds of questions about the game and flying in general on Discord. He sounds very interested, and I hooked him up with SIK1 as well. Would a F2P limited set help get him on? Don't know, but I dont think it would hurt.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Animl-AW on December 19, 2025, 02:18:20 PM
Well, just devil’s advocate here. When free players use up more bandwidth than paying players.
Careful what you wish for, you could get a influx of leap frog uber dweeby gamers, breaking a game is their goal, like 30 YKW.
Careful in giving then taking away, IF it wasn’t worth it.
I still see average 2 new/return players daily. The genre as a whole is having issues.
Things like WT are just easier to play and graphics.
There is a LOT more to learn than flying. There is a lot that goes with the game, like how things work and how to find things. Things that are intuitive to a programmer not so much for the user. AHFV and making videos is one good example.
Quite a few who come here have probably flown another sim and have a clue how to fly. Flying is not the only part of the learning curve.
Frankly, some think everything should be free, how convenient. No matter what you prove they are right in their head everywhere they go. No former player is going to say its worth paying for or they’d shut it a fly it. They aren’t devoted anymore. Common logic.
What you’re looking for is the devoted long term player like us, not everyone is us. So out of say 50 you may end up with one of those. Ya really have to dedicate yourself to get good at it. Just think if ya had to learn engine management too.
Say I get 100 out of 10,000 viewers of vids to try it, we don’t get 100, we might get 2-3 devoted. This is why promotions can never ever stop. Every scenario should be promoted like a grand opening.
The game has aging graphics but otherwise its just fine.
If the answer was clear they would have done it.
Don’t look now, we just hijacked a post
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: The Fugitive on December 19, 2025, 03:41:56 PM
Most probably see how tiny everything looks and logs into something easier to play..
I find it interesting that many people seem to find AH3 so challenging. I've played IL2 CLOD and GB, WT Sim Battles and DCS. I find all of their flight models to be more challenging then AH3. They don't have AWACs style radar, most don't even have icons. They don't have auto trim and the planes don't fly on rails like AH3. Personally I find the AH3 flight model to be the most forgiving of all of those that I listed. The only of the game that I can think of that might be "easier to play" would be WT arcade battles as WT realistic battles is very close in game play to AH3.
I think that the game play in AH3 is one of it's biggest challenges. I don't know anybody who enjoys fighting 2 countries with 15 players each vs a country with 7 players total. I used to get a 262 and usually did ok in such situations but that gets boring pretty quick.
It seems to me that with the new competitors coming out like Combat Pilot, IL2 Korea, and Aces of Thunder that things will most likely not improve unless something changes. I was thinking about coming back for a bit during the holidays to see how things were these days, but then WT dropped their 1/2 off Christmas sale so now I'm tied up with trying to research some new planes for 1/2 off. (not that I get to fly all the ones I already have) lolz
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: LCADolby on December 19, 2025, 09:59:37 PM
Quote from: hazmatt link=topic=411920.msg5462960#msg5462960 date=17661987 with the new competitors coming out like Combat Pilot, IL2 Korea, and Aces of Thunder [/quote
I wouldn't call them competitors, just new entries into the space. :old:
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: CptTrips on December 19, 2025, 10:06:24 PM
I wouldn't call them competitors, just new entries into the space. :old:
CP is years away from MP. And I expect it to be more similar to IL2 lobbies than AH. Not saying good or bad, that's just what I expect.
Agreed
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Animl-AW on December 19, 2025, 10:51:49 PM
I think by now most know AH is my only game.
MA is an intense environment, my guess more so than other sims. If you get good in AH you’re probably ready to light em up in other sims. We’re not talking about certified pilots, just the average player, which I think AH produces the best.
Its not just the FM for new simmers, as I said, there us a lot more to learn than that. IMO the FM is the easy part.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Spikes on December 19, 2025, 10:56:04 PM
even though it appears that dale is too scared to try it
Hello, troll, you're lingering. Source?
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Animl-AW on December 20, 2025, 01:35:14 AM
Flight Models vary from sim to sim. There are several levels of FM. Many are proprietary, I think AH is, and CP is going that route too. Some, if not all, of DCS is probably one of the most realistic to a trained pilot. The ordinary person really has no clue what is right or wrong, the illusion of does it feel realistic plays. Some real pilots think AH is a good FM,...It's not a fly-by-rail FM, I have no clue where that is born. Someone has weed. Just looking at WT FM in vids makes me vomit.
You can compare FMs until the world goes flat. That's not really the subject matter it should be based on. That's up to the individual player what they think is most realistic. Too many variables in that convo to get to the present convo, that's an off-shoot.
IMO, Game-play and intuitive GUI is more at play here with retaining interest. How fast can they feel "comfortable".
Using myself as example. Ya I played for decades, but I went through way too much crap for my brain to retain "needless data" during a 10 yr break, out it went. I forgot so damn much I used to do subconsciously. So, kinda like a new player of sorts. I'm still asking where to find this and that, and how the arena settings work. Had I not been here before I may not have lasted. Ya can just pop into the arcade world of WT.
Lets face some simple basic facts of life here, I would not bet on getting a GUI or info reorganized. We are a biosphere, we make it what it is with what we have in a terrarium. And like it or not, that is a fantastic freedom as a whole. But what we do with it as a whole decides that.
When I snivel about game-play it's not as much about me as what I think how a new player may see in it....like full country hordes at 7-1 and just getting smacked around. It's just not fun on the receiving end, if you're new and on the receiving end,... bu-bye. It's just a mention, not a new subject.
I will say, 200 has drastically changed for the better since I've been back. Players actually have a good healthy competitive time on it now days.
Also, I wish some would consider, just out of basic moral respect, what it takes us to draw new players in and retain them when other games are thrown in their face at the door. it's a disrespect to everyone who works on numbers. So if ya get clubbed for it that's on "you". A lot of people put time and effort into it. It's like spitting on the meal they just made for you.
It comes down to, how fast can we make a new player "comfortable".
I'm not sure this ship can be turned around, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. It only cost us time. 200 made a turn-around, which helps.
>IMO< Will it go Free? nope. forget it, just stop. Will it go 2 countries? nope. forget it, just stop. These subjects have become intensely annoying.
It's possible tweaking ENY could help adjust game-play and the cryin about ENY.
Most of all, IMO, none of that above matters one bit if there is no promotion to draw with. So if I had to make a list that's #1. I'm sure someone can come up with better ads that I have. I just fill a hole. I tried to have the community contribute to the approach but even that turned into a cesspool of disagreements. I was better off guessing my way through it.
That's my opinion. 1 cent.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: hazmatt on December 20, 2025, 03:59:35 AM
I didn't make a note of who said it exactly but it has been said. It's it's usually the same people who say WTs flight model is so arcade like when they're watching videos of "arcade" battles. Go figure.
An example of what I was talking is in WT sim battles, the early model F4Us can stall and drop the right wing and if you don't catch it quickly it can develop into an unrecoverable spin. Or in DCS trying to take off in a 109K without the rudder assist. I just never felt the flight modeling was the challenging part of AH3. The thing I enjoyed the most back in the day was the furballs. I remember one mission I was able to rack up 9 kills in a 190 diving in and out of a furball. Good times!
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: RichardDarkwood on December 20, 2025, 06:22:14 AM
IL2 Korea is not full fidelity which sucks.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: CptTrips on December 20, 2025, 08:24:54 AM
.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: LCADolby on December 20, 2025, 08:42:27 AM
I find AcesHigh more realistic than DCS. Especially post stall.
Not challenging you, but in what way?
I don't know what it is about the DCS warbird FM that hooked me. It's just the feel.
I know AH, IL2, hell even WT have better "gameplay", but I just wouldn't enjoy the ride as much. And now that I've gotten used to it, I don't mind the engine mgt. It just increases the levels of complexity deliciously. It doesn't need clicky cockpit, but be mappable and have an effect you have to consider.
I'm hoping CP will match the feel. I'm happy to give my money to any company that can match that.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: AKIron on December 20, 2025, 10:39:50 AM
In the prop planes you will drop a wing without much warning in DCS. Recover and gain speed before pulling again or it will fall again immediately. Other sims I've played seem more forgiving in this aspect.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Animl-AW on December 20, 2025, 11:47:38 AM
Morning coffee rant
Hmmm “Forgiving”
It may be that making the plane mire realistic with things like engine management, or “clicky cockpits” may in fact harming the young crowd to take our place in the genre and keep it thriving.
I think this is where AH did it right in the game part to not over-complicate to be more forgiving to new players who aren’t as knowledgeable in flight and management.
I’m curious if when things got more complicated is when our younger generation and replacements started dropping across the board of the genre.
Go from sim to sim and look at the most common age. My guess is the drop coincides with the growing complexity.
Compare sims like DCS with WT which is more inclusive to the younger crowd who have interest yet little experience. My guess is WT probably has the younger crowd we all need to continue the genre.
I think the neat complexity of some sims has run its route.
My guess, while DCS SEEMS to appeal to the older crowd its not producing our younger replacements.
I think AH biggest road block is promotions, it has become a hidden secrete. It could play a bigger role in helping preserve the genre if they knew it was here. Subs is an offset compared new games. But, I don’t see these free type games making any major advancements either, besides the modern 3D engines.
It could be IL-2 Korea was more an act of desperation. I don’t think it will appeal much to non-Russian players. It may be their big mistake and waste of resources.
DCS desperation was rushing planes off the production line before they were done and they could afford them. Which IMO exposed more bugs to players and a turn-off on top of complexity.
Now that those other sims have run their course and their peak is over and could be a good window to push AH really hard. Its such a stable sim. The list of bugs is very short. Wuth all its claimed drudgery and nit picking we have the best community.Almost everyone is willing to help new players.
One of those I watch and observe is 14 yr old ceevee. I want to know what drives him to be with us old timers. I want to capitalize on what draws players like him. We have others recently in their 20s and 30s. I don’t want to know what we want, that is established. IMO our focus should study what drives the younger crowd. We need to close that generation gap.
Is being “more forgiving” the key to focus on?
It may be forming a promotional round table group in a private forum could get us all on the same page to define one voice one easy message.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: LCADolby on December 21, 2025, 12:04:40 AM
In AH if the same aircraft was modeled I could almost 100% guarantee I could fly it the same way.
If it was in DCS or IL2 I would expect it to take me time to adjust to it stalling a wing mis-timed, vague controls and a pig to recover.
The aircraft handling like a " bigtoe" slow doesn't make it real..
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: AKIron on December 21, 2025, 09:27:20 AM
I've flown single engine Cessnas and Pipers but not anything else. Those planes are designed to be forgiving. High performance fighters are not. Of course you get a lot of feedback flying a real plane that you don't get in a sim. I may have felt that departure from flight approaching and not been surprised when a wing dropped irl.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: hazmatt on December 21, 2025, 01:13:38 PM
I'm pretty sure comparing the flight models of most of the planes flying today would not give somebody the ability determine the accuracy of the flight model of these planes as they were a very different kind of bird. I've ready many books written by world war II fighter pilots and I base the flight modeling of a sim on what they have said about the performance of the actual planes.
Examples: The wing drop, unrecoverable spin of early F4U models. Early spitfires aileron reversal at high speeds. Early hurricanes wooden propeller disintegration at high speed. (I read an interesting book where the pilot talked about this happening while fighting the Germans over France) Early FW190s with aileron flutter with the high speed snap like roll. Most of the 109 models would overheat right quick on the ground at normal outside temps. You couldn't just sit there idling. Many of the engines of the era that didn't have the automatic controls could be damaged right quick if you firewalled the throttles while the mixture was still lean. The early 262s would flame out or worse if you moved the throttle too quickly. Many weapons were prone to jamming under certain circumstances.
I enjoy these kinds of challenges as I feel it to be more immersive and lets me feel the frustration of guns jamming when you're on about about to dispatch some enemy.
I also like the games without the icons. The other night I was knocking down plane after plane in WT Sim Battles by flowing low on the deck so I wouldn't be silhouetted against the sky and zooming up from the low 6 on enemy planes I saw silhouetted against the sky. I was also flying without tracers and flying like Hartmann. I did run into some trouble one time when I got a spit and his two buddies that I didn't see got me.
I've been surprised at the detail in some sims and the lack in others. WWII online for example modeled the aileron reversal on the spitfires back in the day. I'm not sure if they still do because they nerfed a bunch of the modeling due to complains by people who couldn't manage it.
That said each sim has it's plusses and minuses. To me the giant furalls in AH3 back in the day was some of the most fun I've ever had. I guess that was the golden age as I've not seen it replicated yet.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Animl-AW on December 21, 2025, 02:03:36 PM
Thats fine.
Remember, every written word is subject to interpretation.
Unless one has actually done it, it’s suggestive imagination.
In my former occupation, before it was a college course, you sank or swam based on experience and your end product.
Now days we have green horns coming into the live sound world, who just graduated a Audio college course. They read every book, great grades on test, yet not one minute of experience. They come under the notion that they are instantly top shelf because they passed a college course and we didn’t. They think they will soon be on the cover of Live Sound magazine next month. Typical charged green horn. He read it, therefore he knows it.
They have zero experience how to work as a sound crew as a team, no experience behind a massive console.yet they get assigned to my crew, start talking component model numbers and book theories, don’t know how to cable a system, don’t know hiw to hang 5k-8klbs of speakers on chain motors, cannot fix a cable gone bad, never properly packed a semi-truck, don’t kniw how to properly distribute 220v AC, and telling us vets how it should be. By god they read it in a book.
This is when I pull them aside and say “what do you have for experience?”. They proudly say “2-4 yrs college”. And my always return is “you go to that window, open it, and throw that book as hard as you can, because that does not apply here in live sound, here is where you learn, right now you just have an idea”.
Worse, some chief puts him behind a console and we find out the hard way he can’t mix a milkshake.
Reading is good Learning interest is good Know all you can is great
It will never ever beat experience. And I mean that with good intent.
My dad was WWII AF I flew as passenger in many jets As a kid who spent time on a farm ROAD in a crop duster several times My dad took us to the local airport every Sunday after church. Getting a failed grade in HS I ruined my parents getting me a pilot’s license at 17.
There is zero chance I would ever lecture what is the realistic FM. Only a pilot can tell me and thats up to interpretation.
Same boat WITH you and most.
So for me, its what has convinced me its right and “game-play”.
It was GREAT to have WWII pilots help them/us with AW FM. But even more better, a pilot from the same group wrote this one :).
As long as it doesn’t feel wonky I’m good with it. “Forgiving” is for the inexperienced in a game.
I think longevity comes down to game-play, and driving interest in the younger crowd to sustain it.
It’s all good. We just look at things differently, for some, many things.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: DmonSlyr on December 21, 2025, 02:13:45 PM
I'm pretty sure comparing the flight models of most of the planes flying today would not give somebody the ability determine the accuracy of the flight model of these planes as they were a very different kind of bird. I've ready many books written by world war II fighter pilots and I base the flight modeling of a sim on what they have said about the performance of the actual planes.
Examples: The wing drop, unrecoverable spin of early F4U models. Early spitfires aileron reversal at high speeds. Early hurricanes wooden propeller disintegration at high speed. (I read an interesting book where the pilot talked about this happening while fighting the Germans over France) Early FW190s with aileron flutter with the high speed snap like roll. Most of the 109 models would overheat right quick on the ground at normal outside temps. You couldn't just sit there idling. Many of the engines of the era that didn't have the automatic controls could be damaged right quick if you firewalled the throttles while the mixture was still lean. The early 262s would flame out or worse if you moved the throttle too quickly. Many weapons were prone to jamming under certain circumstances.
I enjoy these kinds of challenges as I feel it to be more immersive and lets me feel the frustration of guns jamming when you're on about about to dispatch some enemy.
I also like the games without the icons. The other night I was knocking down plane after plane in WT Sim Battles by flowing low on the deck so I wouldn't be silhouetted against the sky and zooming up from the low 6 on enemy planes I saw silhouetted against the sky. I was also flying without tracers and flying like Hartmann. I did run into some trouble one time when I got a spit and his two buddies that I didn't see got me.
I've been surprised at the detail in some sims and the lack in others. WWII online for example modeled the aileron reversal on the spitfires back in the day. I'm not sure if they still do because they nerfed a bunch of the modeling due to complains by people who couldn't manage it.
That said each sim has it's plusses and minuses. To me the giant furalls in AH3 back in the day was some of the most fun I've ever had. I guess that was the golden age as I've not seen it replicated yet.
No other game out there currently can mimic ww2 scenario air battles like AH can. FSO and scenarios are a gem. While the flight model is easier than say DCS, you have to be even more aware of ACM since planes dont have as many factors like RPMs and throttle control not to over heat. The early F4U1 in AH can get into unrecoverable stall if you do the roll over too slow with flaps out. Thats its major weakness in 1v1 stall fight. Im glad I dont have to worry about my plane ruining me in flight, its all about time and fun for me and that would be such a waste. I think DCS is the best for realism and is the future but still doesnt have the best multi-player experience yet. Gh0st has a really good ww2 furball server now though. I wish more folks would give AH a chance but the subscription model really holds a lot of folks back from popping in from time to time.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Oldman731 on December 21, 2025, 02:21:05 PM
I'm pretty sure comparing the flight models of most of the planes flying today would not give somebody the ability determine the accuracy of the flight model of these planes
Both HT and our Puma44 have flown a P-51. Can't remember the name of the one, somewhere in the southeast. Possibly we can hear from one of them?
-oldman
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: hazmatt on December 21, 2025, 02:41:05 PM
No other game out there currently can mimic ww2 scenario air battles like AH can.
subscription model really holds a lot of folks back from popping in from time to time.
I agree with both of these.
FSO back in the day was great fun, the best. I didn't play the scenarios much for some reason. Maybe it was my scheduling. From what I recall when I did it was a lot of fun too.
I for sure would pop in from time to time with my kids like we do in other sims but all the stuff I play currently has 4 accounts, 1 for me and one for each of my kids. 4 accounts in AH3 would cost me like $60 a month or around $718 a year. Not worth it for me to play together with my kids a couple times a week. That's why my kids won't be the next Ceevee. My eldest daughter does love to fly what she calls the "purple plane" (Fokker D.VII), and my son is pretty good at blasting me when he's flying bombers and I attack him in a fighter (we used to do back in the day by setting up a player arena) For now we play together on WT, WoW or any of those other games that have FTP options and once in a great while in the western front arena but that's mostly only with my eldest daughter as my son thinks it's boring and my youngest is only intersted in driving tanks.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: hazmatt on December 21, 2025, 02:43:48 PM
Chances are no one fully qualified in P-51 attempted to turn fight in it at 150kts.
Pull any significant Gs at less than 250kts good luck keeping both wings flying.
True, no doubt. But it can be compared to how it responds to an FM. Does the 51 feel like it did when I flew it, at least getting the basics “right”.
Back in the day Earl, a WWII pilot and test pilot, who tested several planes, but mostly flew the P-47s, P-40s and I think the P-38, could at least tell use if we’re in the ballpark on the feel of it. Every plane flies different, yet same FM. Is not an exact science, but it can help at times.
Its just an add-in subject. I don’t think anyone sees it as some breakthrough.
One can go to things like Fighter Pilot USA and fly a plane in a dogfight situation to get the feel of real flight.
I just think there are a lot of pros and cons comparing FMs by those who never did it. Opinions snd misconceptions abound. I think a player just either likes it or they don’t. Some also confuse FM with Damage Model. <shrug>
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: hazmatt on December 23, 2025, 12:19:42 AM
Don't think there was much turn fights in rl in ww2...
B&z to live was more important than winning a t&b...
Eagler
Hartmann was pretty clear that if you ended up in a dogfight that you had made a mistake in his opinion.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: icepac on December 23, 2025, 02:49:24 AM
I just don’t want to depart flying with realism in order to be successful.
If your GoTo move depends on a hole in the flight model, it will be tough goings at a different sim……or your having gotten used to a flight model error will have you dissatisfied with how airplanes fly anywhere else.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: The Fugitive on December 23, 2025, 08:26:50 AM
Hartmann was pretty clear that if you ended up in a dogfight that you had made a mistake in his opinion.
Why do people always try to compare WWII with a game? The whole point of Aces High IS to get in a dogfight, be it "turn and burn" (my favorite) or "Boom and Zoom". The added capture base for the "Win the War" is there to GENERATE dogfights. If you dont want to fight, why are you here??
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: icepac on December 23, 2025, 11:44:19 AM
I like taking a rook C47 to the bishop/knight front and stealing a field from both of them.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Animl-AW on December 23, 2025, 01:03:07 PM
Why do people always try to compare WWII with a game? The whole point of Aces High IS to get in a dogfight, be it "turn and burn" (my favorite) or "Boom and Zoom". The added capture base for the "Win the War" is there to GENERATE dogfights. If you dont want to fight, why are you here??
This^^
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Dadtallica on December 23, 2025, 03:17:31 PM
Why do people always try to compare WWII with a game? The whole point of Aces High IS to get in a dogfight, be it "turn and burn" (my favorite) or "Boom and Zoom". The added capture base for the "Win the War" is there to GENERATE dogfights. If you dont want to fight, why are you here??
I think you know that’s not the only reason people play this game.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Shuffler on December 26, 2025, 03:55:59 PM
My reason for flying is to completely cover the ground on every map.... with 38 parts are tree limbs. OH... and broken crystal beer mugs that smell of margaritas.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Meatwad on December 29, 2025, 08:16:49 PM
Ive started back on WW2OL. Nice thing about that game is that they actually have a free to play option
A quick note on WW2OL, I was reading the credits on closing the game and it has hitechs cpid along with his first and last name listed as a senior programmer for that game. Didnt know he would sell his services to a competitor
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Animl-AW on December 30, 2025, 10:02:47 AM
The game is commonly recognized as the first MMOFPS.[4] Following the purchase of Interactive Creations of Grapevine's WarBirds by IEntertainment Network in 1999, several of the developers departed the company and formed new gaming companies. Some went to form Hitech Creations, while others went with John "Killer" MacQueen, Jonathon "Hoof" Hoof, Chris "Mo" Sherland[5] to leverage their experience on WarBirds and Raider Wars to develop[6] an online gaming network (G2 Network)[7] with a massively-multiplayer first-person WWII simulation[8] for both PC and Mac[9] as the showpiece.[10] After a lengthy closed beta stage, WWII Online went live on June 6, 2001 under the campaign title Blitzkrieg. The release was timed to coincide with the anniversary of the D-Day.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_Online
Also RUMORED Work was done at DCS, rumored.
I’d be seriously pssssed if others get work and we don’t.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: knorB on December 30, 2025, 01:05:10 PM
A quick note on WW2OL, I was reading the credits on closing the game and it has hitechs cpid along with his first and last name listed as a senior programmer for that game. Didnt know he would sell his services to a competitor
Bills gotta be paid my guy.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: icepac on December 30, 2025, 01:21:33 PM
Anyone flew Targetware?
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Tumor on December 31, 2025, 02:12:11 AM
I keep looking at it... but as soon as I do, I feel like I need a shower.
I just don't know about this one. My experience with the Korea Theater scene has been less than stellar.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Eagler on December 31, 2025, 07:06:46 AM
Early jets running from late prop planes...t&b gone, early crappy missiles and dar..
Not to mention it's a war we that cost plenty in lives and $$$ and we're not victorious in the end like the two world wars before it...
Kinda set the stage for a similar time in Vietnam..
No thanks..
Eagler
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: AKIron on December 31, 2025, 07:21:13 AM
Our purpose for being in South Korea was to defend it from communist aggression. In that we were successful. The Koreas serve as an excellent comparison of free enterprise vs communism today.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Eagler on December 31, 2025, 08:01:24 AM
Our purpose for being in South Korea was to defend it from communist aggression. In that we were successful. The Koreas serve as an excellent comparison of free enterprise vs communism today.
The war was never declared over..we are just in a cease fire...
I guess it ended better than the majority of conflicts that followed..
Still it doesn't sound like good fun a2a game to me :joystick:
Eagler
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: hazmatt on December 31, 2025, 09:26:45 AM
If anybody does try it I would love to hear their opinion of it. I'll sit here on the fence and watch for now.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: AKIron on December 31, 2025, 09:30:00 AM
The war was never declared over..we are just in a cease fire...
I guess it ended better than the majority of conflicts that followed..
Still it doesn't sound like good fun a2a game to me :joystick:
Eagler
I know. Was there three times, 2 TDYs and a year PCS. Doesn't change the vast difference between the two countries. One of which we are largely responsible for.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: AKIron on December 31, 2025, 09:35:15 AM
I'll eventually get the game and of course there'd better be bridges at Toko-Ri.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: CptTrips on December 31, 2025, 09:41:32 AM
I know. Was there three times, 2 TDYs and a year PCS. Doesn't change the vast difference between the two countries. One of which we are largely responsible for.
How much you figure you spent on O.B.?
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: AKIron on January 03, 2026, 09:38:28 PM
A little but I wasn't much of a drinker then. A little soju too. Some fried who knows what from the street vendors a few times. In paper cones made from computer printout sheets discarded by the base. I was there last in Feb '94.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: AKIron on January 04, 2026, 09:54:43 AM
I did do the snake shot at the little bar just outside Osan. Boogie House? I didn't get the t-shirt.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: hazmatt on January 04, 2026, 12:19:23 PM
I remember spending some time at Pusan. We got of the ship early and like any good sailors in port, we had beers in our hands before noon. We were out somewhere on the base somewhere drinking our beers when an older guy out for is morning jog in his PT gear passed by. He looked at us and said: "don't be throwing your trash on my lawn" My buddies and I looked at each other but didn't respond to this guy calling the base his lawn because we weren't sure who he was. We later learned that he was the CSM for Camp Hialeah so I guess it really was "his lawn".
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: CAV on January 04, 2026, 01:35:04 PM
Went into Dongducheon.... Just outside of Camp Casey almost every weekend for a year.
I have the Full Flaming Cliffs 2024 for DCS World which has an F86F and a Mig15. I also have the full fidelity F86F. I'm not a Korea fan. I prefer WWII and Late Cold War/Modern. I also want full fidelity which IL2 Lacks. I already have IL2 Great Battles and most of the mods for it and I rarely play it.
I think IL2 Korea will mostly appease Korean Conflict fans that want an Actual Korean Map (DCS does not have a Korea Map) and Large Plane sets (DCS only has a handful of Korean Era Aircraft) and don't need or want full fidelity.
I rarely If ever Pre-Order games and I Despise FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) tactics some developers use.
That being wrote I would say your safe with 1C Company and Eagle Dynamics and they are probably the only 2 game developers I would pre-order from.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: AKIron on June 23, 2026, 03:10:34 PM
There are many reviews on youtube.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: CptTrips on June 23, 2026, 04:04:41 PM
I rarely If ever Pre-Order games and I Despise FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) tactics some developers use.
Yes. Pre-Ordering is generally dumb.
In this case I had already seen enough to think it would be fun to try out. I've been wanting to dabble in the IL2 world, but GB is pretty long in the tooth. I'll give their new model a try instead. I had pretty much decided to get it no matter what because I just wanted to test it and test the FM of matching jets against DCS. Since I was going to get it regardless, it made sense to save a few bucks.
The main difference from my past lapses, I have no expectations either way. I'm not an IL2 fanboi holding my breath for this release, but what I've seen looks interesting. This is purely scientific curiosity. I have no high hopes to dash.
The sting is always the disappointment more than the money. But the money too. ;)
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: icepac on June 24, 2026, 01:56:48 PM
Tomorrow is the Grand Theft Auto 6 preorder for a november release date.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: xanax on June 25, 2026, 08:02:44 PM
I was watching a Youtube Live video today from one of the bigger flightsim content creators, Wolfpack345. He along with many other flightsim vloggers were flying against each other on an IL-2 Korea server and it looked amazing. Then Wolfpack345 says " Krupinski (Krups) just came onto the server, he's gonna kill us all."
I thought that was pretty cool that an old AH ace elicits such a response from those guys.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Tumor on June 27, 2026, 08:26:01 AM
I was watching a Youtube Live video today from one of the bigger flightsim content creators, Wolfpack345. He along with many other flightsim vloggers were flying against each other on an IL-2 Korea server and it looked amazing. Then Wolfpack345 says " Krupinski (Krups) just came onto the server, he's gonna kill us all."
I thought that was pretty cool that an old AH ace elicits such a response from those guys.
He's been doing his magic act in IL-2 for ages.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: CptTrips on June 27, 2026, 09:02:34 AM
I think it will be fun eventually when it is fleshed out. I agree with Enigma when he said it had "good bones".
The graphics and sound of course are fantastic. I was even running "balanced" mode on a spare machine (not a hardcore game machine) and it still looked great.
Mapping controls was a little odd but that might be an IL2 thing (hint: axes scaling and assignment are under “Key” bindings). Once I figured it out it is very well done.
Overall the UI is very nice and clean and well thought out.
The FM felt really good. Spins felt a little forgiving but they were there and realistic feeling. I did get into a couple of unrecoverable spins, but only when I tried force it. It felt better than I remember IL2 GB feeling but I don’t still have that installed to compare.
Was having some TrackIR glitching. I think that is a known issue.
Had a couple of program crashes. It really seems to be sensitive to tabbing out to do something. Getting back in can cause mouse problems and at least one crash.
Overall feels good so far. You might want to wait until full release. There is nothing I don't think will get polished up. I just hope they do a good job on the career mode. That is not there yet.
I didn't really test the AI much but I assume like all games it needs improvement. With AI available to assist coding, these companies are running out of excuses for producing betting AI behavior.
This guys pretty much mirrors and sums up my views on the FM:
[Edit] I forgot to note, I don't have any problem at all with a non-clicky cockpit (but I fly pancake not VR). The thing that IS important to me is that the cockpit is historically accurate, and when I do activate something with a key or button binding that it is shown in the cockpit state. I do want to see the levers thrown and in the proper position because I at least want to know how the cockpit was laid out and how it looked. I think this is a good compromise.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Animl-AW on June 27, 2026, 09:27:50 AM
Looks and sounds are all good.
The real test is how many players join it. Otherwise no fights you just have DCS, pretty planes with nothing to do.
It would be a first for any Korea war to take hold. The history part is skimpy, the plane set is skimpy, the enthusiasm has never been there. A lot if prop pets, the core of sims, usually don’t care for jets or jets vs props.
We’ll see when the honeymoon is over.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: CptTrips on June 30, 2026, 07:42:52 AM
This guys does a great and very fair comparison:
In fairness, IL2K is only a couple of days out of early access. DCS revamped their gear\suspension physics about a year ago.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: AKIron on June 30, 2026, 12:28:36 PM
Both companies been at it for a long time now. Eagle Dynamics in '91 and I think IL-2 in 2001. I still remember how IL-2 first did their trees back then. Looked good from the air and little performance impact. Get on the ground and you could see they were stacked paper thin discs.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Animl-AW on June 30, 2026, 12:55:54 PM
Any pre-order is a financial red flag. Evidently investors probably have backed off or left. Nick at ED pulled the same thing, the results were predictable. CP is still having issues just getting off the ground.
This sounds like a last ditch effort. Under all the pretty there still needs to be a game. Neither game play intrigues me. I’d rather suffer old graphics for a better game play. If I think this way you can bet some others will too. These other two games have limits. If all you want is eye candy then you found your game.
The game play is the draw here, despite older graphics. If you still play here you’re the dedicated type. These guys will play til the last day.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Spikes on June 30, 2026, 02:13:37 PM
What? Pre-ordering of things has been around for decades.
Some time ago it was usually legit. Like pre-ordering a doll or Star Trek toy for your kid, because of stock issues and manufacturing time. Same with Harleys in early 90s. It was to get dibs before they ran out again.
It’s not the same case in games. In games its a single object dowloaded copy millions of times. You’re not waiting on limited production stock. So there it makes no sense.
The impression I get from sim pre-orders is you’re helping pay for production sight unseen. That didn’t go well for ED, it was exactly my take on it. It gives me the impression of some form of affordability struggle. I can’t be right 100% if the time, its the impression I get.
As mention 1-2 yrs ago, they are spending profit to build the product. Ya can’t sell it twice. So now they have a product where a lot of profit was spent already. This starts a negative cycle. Not a good place to be. IlL-2 was/is dropping in numbers, from what I read.
That’s my personal impression. I was right about the pit Nick at ED dug himself into. They still have not fully recovered from that.
CP is struggling with investors too. Pre-order is needed.
So, while it has become a norm for ultra enthuisist, its really not a good pattern. IMO
Look at CptTrips and AKIron, when they were pushing everyone here to do it sight unseen, then they got burned by it and won’t do that again. I told them for a whole year where that was heading, they called me stupid. Over and over. Then my prediction came true. And now crickets. Who was stupid? People who think they know everything, don’t. They paid fir bugs that won’t be fixed, the devs scattered from the company because they were not paid.
To each their own. But in my head, there is no logical reason to pre-pay for any computer generated object, That’s just the way I roll. I don’t push everyone to do what I do or don’t. You be you.
i also won’t pre-pay for a car. I’ll buy it after I test drive it.
What I may be wrong about is the boost they get may be short lived. If it fails they are in big trouble. I’m ok with being wrong.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Animl-AW on June 30, 2026, 05:42:25 PM
That isn't his point, he is attempting to detract you(and other readers) from playing/buying that game by sowing doubt it'll be populated. :old:
I know you find it shocking that anyone disagrees with you or thinks for themselves and have their own opinion. But toughen up god boy, its a big tough world out there.
The original timeline of the post here was his normal stirring the pot. AKIron re-lit for the same reason. It was already over-talked. Its just repeat dialog. Thats what trolls do.
Last thing I’m worried about is a long time failed concept hurting us long term. Basically the whole game is a Russian POV of their history, not interested.
At this point, Even IF iI liked it, no Russian is getting a dime from me.
I’ve hated little player servers since Counter Strike in the 80s-90s. Can’t stand em. Its cheap crap >IMO<
What The Damned did is not the norm, or I wouldn’t hate them so much.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: CptTrips on June 30, 2026, 05:52:18 PM
Krupinski in Beast Mode:
I did more testing with the AI today. Yeah. As usual, the AI needs work. The MP only crowd might not care (even then AI is being used more to flesh out MP experience), but like DCS, and confirmed by Williams, the majority of their paying customers are SP only or primarily. I'd put it at near equal priority with graphics nowadays.
I'm not an IL2 fanboi. This is the first IL2 product I've spent more than an hour with. My impressions are favorable. Better than I expected this early. They have the sound and graphics and UI nailed. FM is 90% there and we haven't even had the first patch. From a DCS user point of view, I almost cried with joy at having a unified control mapping across planes. It does have a great immersion feel.
They really need to make AI improvements and nail the career mode.
But it's still another month from launch.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Animl-AW on June 30, 2026, 06:16:06 PM
I think these SP games or arenas can pull better graphics as its a single data flow. The visuals and data if ither players just isn’t there.
I din’t think these high-end graphics would be so smooth with 100-500 players in the same arena.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Spikes on June 30, 2026, 07:49:08 PM
To each their own. But in my head, there is no logical reason to pre-pay for any computer generated object, That’s just the way I roll.
No doubt. But that's not what you said. You said companies offering pre-ordering is a financial red flag, as a blanket statement. Call of Duty releases a new game every year with pre-ordering as an option. I don't think they are in any financial trouble.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Meatwad on June 30, 2026, 08:08:07 PM
Nintendo offers pre ordering on their newest switch 2 games, and they are not by any means in financial peril.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Oldman731 on June 30, 2026, 08:17:15 PM
the majority of their paying customers are SP only or primarily.
I have no doubt this is true. Heck, we've always had the sneak-the-base takeovers in AH. I just don't understand why someone would rather play against AI than against a thinking human.
(OK, I hear your comments about me being a thinking human. It bounces off, I've heard it before.)
- oldman
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: AKIron on June 30, 2026, 09:26:56 PM
I have no doubt this is true. Heck, we've always had the sneak-the-base takeovers in AH. I just don't understand why someone would rather play against AI than against a thinking human.
The point wasn't about what you should prefer, but what 1C should be careful to optimize to maximize their earning potential. SP pays the bills. It's just fact.
The GB series did a pretty good job of catering to that.
That is why they have resources to continue developing this new engine.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: LCADolby on June 30, 2026, 09:37:56 PM
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: AKIron on June 30, 2026, 09:38:15 PM
I'm assuming IL-2 Korea supports multiplayer as past versions did, users hosting their own servers. Years ago limits were set like 32 players max due to computer power and Internet speeds. Both of those have changed dramatically in the last 25 years.
I see it's limited to 64 players per server. Might be a dedicated server planned for the future accommodating more players.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: AKIron on June 30, 2026, 09:43:45 PM
I have no doubt this is true. Heck, we've always had the sneak-the-base takeovers in AH. I just don't understand why someone would rather play against AI than against a thinking human.
(OK, I hear your comments about me being a thinking human. It bounces off, I've heard it before.)
- oldman
Many have limited time to play or other things competing for their attention and there's no commitment to AI. Or drama. But multiplayer war games do engage millions around the world.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: CptTrips on June 30, 2026, 09:58:17 PM
I'm assuming IL-2 Korea supports multiplayer as past versions did, users hosting their own servers. Years ago limits were set like 32 players max due to computer power and Internet speeds. Both of those have changed dramatically in the last 25 years.
I see it's limited to 64 players per server. Might be a dedicated server planned for the future accommodating more players.
I read or heard in an interview 84 being a goal.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: AKIron on June 30, 2026, 09:58:26 PM
I'm seeing conflicting info on multiplayer so know nothing definitive on numbers.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: CptTrips on June 30, 2026, 10:02:58 PM
The dude is bona fide. Check his vids where he's flying the 152 or P-39 like a Spit. He's damn stingy with the ammo expenditure as well. He puts his vids together pretty good too.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: CptTrips on July 01, 2026, 08:30:47 AM
So it appears they realize the AI needs more work and combined with career mode will be one of the main focuses for the next sprint to release.
No doubt. But that's not what you said. You said companies offering pre-ordering is a financial red flag, as a blanket statement. Call of Duty releases a new game every year with pre-ordering as an option. I don't think they are in any financial trouble.
Poorly worded. But you get what I mean now
They are a red flag to me. The inly real gain besides pre-paid profit is keeping you locked into the game.
Its a marketing the player doesn’t actually gain much, if anything. IMO.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Animl-AW on July 02, 2026, 06:08:47 PM
Nintendo offers pre ordering on their newest switch 2 games, and they are not by any means in financial peril.
I keeps the player locked into game, but what do they benefit from it? It’s mental IMO. Thats how marketing works. As long as you veleivd you gained something from it.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Animl-AW on July 02, 2026, 06:47:23 PM
I have no doubt this is true. Heck, we've always had the sneak-the-base takeovers in AH. I just don't understand why someone would rather play against AI than against a thinking human.
(OK, I hear your comments about me being a thinking human. It bounces off, I've heard it before.)
- oldman
Agreed, I don’t get it.
Only thing I can think of is the SP player grew up on a SP box game. Dunno, not my circus, not my monkeys.
There is no comradery nor rivalry or tight community with AI. Stale bread. Icky
No wonder they hang here
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: AKIron on July 02, 2026, 09:08:44 PM
Likely because I have been watching related IL-2 videos but I'm seeing a lot of them from different folks on youtube.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: Animl-AW on July 02, 2026, 10:06:21 PM
All I can say is they better hope it doesn't fail,... Korea is a big gamble.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: hazmatt on July 07, 2026, 01:58:30 AM
Likely because I have been watching related IL-2 videos but I'm seeing a lot of them from different folks on youtube.
That was cool. Thanks for sharing.
I haven't played IL2 in a couple years but that reminded me a little of the fun stuff. In my experience they would have gotten intercepted right quick on a live server. I remember I would try to only make one pass and it would be in the direction I was leaving lolz.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: 800nate800 on July 08, 2026, 09:21:11 PM
i can back it up, i do remember at one point it was consistent of people saying it.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: CptTrips on July 08, 2026, 10:09:25 PM
I think they got a winner on their hands.
I came with skepticism mainly to test and show how the IL2K FM wasn't as good as DCS, but I just really like the feel of everything. There was always something a little "on-rails" about other FM that made me fall in love with DCS. I think IL2K Is right up there with DCS and feels better than I remembered GB. There are some tweaks needed to the FM and AI needs work and the career mode is not in yet, but it is only a week into Early Access and a month before launch.
The biggest thing is it just feel cohesive. Everything fits. World building. I feel like I am in 1950's Korea.
My beef with jets in DCS isn't the jet engine. I lose interest once you get to missiles, and computer screens and fly-by-wire.
ILK2 jets are all analog and it feels it. They feel like flying a ME-262 more than a F-16.
Early Access is always a coin toss, but I don't regret my purchase so far.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: hazmatt on July 09, 2026, 02:51:58 PM
There was always something a little "on-rails" about other FM that made me fall in love with DCS.
The biggest thing is it just feel cohesive. Everything fits. World building. I feel like I am in 1950's Korea.
I agree. Il2 is good about that feeling of cohesion. I remember flying down train tracks looking for supply trains to shoot up or following the tracks to rail yards to bomb. It really felt like I was "contributing to the war effort"
The only "on-rails" flight model I recall is AH3 but even some of the planes in AH3 like the F4U don't feel on rails as much as others to me.
I might have to to break down and buy it but I'll probably have to wait until it's on sale as I can't justify it with the amount of time I have right now and I'm spending most of it in WT.
Speaking of that, the other day I we had a match and it got down to one bomber left on my team and me in a Yak3 and one guy left on the other team in a 109G who had already killed 4 or 5 of our team. We had both just refueled/repaired and rearmed when we met. We were between 7 and 10k with him being a little higher when we merged with around 6 minutes left in the match (which we were going to lose because their attack aircraft had done a bunch of damage already).
Of course he starting using the veridical and climbing spirals but I think we were at high enough alt for him to really have the climb advantage over the Yak3. I was pulling lag pursuit and trying to keep my speed up as much as possible. I'd pull up as he was coming over the top with just enough speed to spoil his shot and maybe get a snap shot myself. I got a lucky shot in and damaged his aileron but this guy wouldn't give up. We had a fight that went on for like 2 more minutes before I was able to finally win with like 45 seconds left in the match.
No matter what sim you're playing I think it's stuff like those kind of fights that we all play for.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: AKIron on July 10, 2026, 11:46:28 AM
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: CptTrips on July 10, 2026, 12:08:04 PM
I love his reviews. It helps cut through all the opinions. At least he has extensive experience with high performance planes.
I agree with his overall impression from a layman's view.
The FM feels a little more forgiving than DCS in stalls and spins. But close. Not enough difference to bother me. shocks seem a bit too bouncy. But overall they did a much better job than GB. It has "that feel" that DCS broke me for other sims. DCS had great feel but marginal gameplay. I have had a blast even just flying the limited content of the Early Access. The gunnery feels awesome, and the 50's shred like they are supposed to.
I still have hopes for Combat Pilot one day, but they are several years off. Williams is gone. A lot an happen to kill a new sim over years of development. IL2K is drawing from a GB revenue base so they are able to fund development. No bucks, no Buck Rogers.
I always heard GB had great gameplay, but it just didn't have "the feel" I wanted. This version comes very close. I think it good that DCS get some serious competition. Best thing for both companies. DCS has gotten a little complacent. IL2K is the only thing I see at the moment that can give them serious competition.
But sadly they don't have helo. DCS will be my rotary wing sim.
Man I'd love to see them use this engine for a Battle of Britain remake. The Fusion guys did what they could with what they had, but this is clearly a superior engine.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: hazmatt on July 10, 2026, 12:58:43 PM
I still have hopes for Combat Pilot one day, but they are several years off. Williams is gone. A lot an happen to kill a new sim over years of development. IL2K is drawing from a GB revenue base so they are able to fund development.
Man I'd love to see them use this engine for a Battle of Britain remake. The Fusion guys did what they could with what they had, but this is clearly a superior engine.
You mean Williams is gone from IL2 or Combat pilot? I haven't been following since he took his big ego and left IL2?
Is the Battle of Britain the one where they were supposed to have VR working a long time ago? What ever happened with that? I bought it to support them but it seems to be turning into vaporware.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: CptTrips on July 10, 2026, 01:06:36 PM
You mean Williams is gone from IL2 or Combat pilot? I haven't been following since he took his big ego and left IL2?
Is the Battle of Britain the one where they were supposed to have VR working a long time ago? What ever happened with that? I bought it to support them but it seems to be turning into vaporware.
Yep. He resigned from Combat Pilot. https://forum.il2-series.com/topic/3008-jason-williams-has-left-the-combat-pilot-team/ (https://forum.il2-series.com/topic/3008-jason-williams-has-left-the-combat-pilot-team/)
Yeah, I bought that Dover Blitz whatever back a couple of years ago. It was a good effort, but no VR, too ganky, low FPS in large action. It looked beautiful at the time but too many problems. it would be SO much better with this new engine.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: hazmatt on July 10, 2026, 04:20:54 PM
Ah. I wasn't aware. Thanks for the update. Heh. Looks like his ego got in the way again: "I can’t say much about why this has happened other than to say there are differences that cannot be overcome. We have all experienced this in our lives at some point."
I never did understand people with the big egos. No matter how good you are at something, there's a pretty good chance there's somebody better then you no matter how much you pound your chest...
Even the old Il2 stuff is pretty good. I just have become so dependent on VR to compensate for my poor gunnery in flat screen games that I don't think I could compete.
I've also gone to no tracers on everything as of late. Seems I do better when I'm not spraying obvious tracers all around them.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: CptTrips on July 10, 2026, 05:03:47 PM
Ah. I wasn't aware. Thanks for the update. Heh. Looks like his ego got in the way again: "I can’t say much about why this has happened other than to say there are differences that cannot be overcome. We have all experienced this in our lives at some point."
Yeah. Some people tend to experience it more than others. ;)
I only had a few dealing with him in DM. He was obviously dedicated and intensely focused. He struck me as little overly reactive.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: AKIron on July 10, 2026, 10:18:52 PM
It does look like there's fun to be had. I'll probably buy it sooner rather than later.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: CptTrips on July 10, 2026, 10:24:10 PM
It does look like there's fun to be had. I'll probably buy it sooner rather than later.
If you think you will get it anyway, consider if the early access is worth getting the F-84E getting thrown in. Not sure what the price for it would be separately but I think it would be extra. You would like it.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: hazmatt on July 11, 2026, 08:39:42 AM
bah. I wanted to see the part where he got shot up by the F80 but he didn't show that part. Go figure.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: LCADolby on July 11, 2026, 08:49:04 AM
From a DCS player's point of view, that is one plane.
AI still needs work, but I have never played a sim where it didn't. People say BMS has the greatest AI known to man, but I don't like fly-by-wire planes and missiles.
I think overall, they have a winner here. Time will tell.
I still cheer for Combat Pilot, but they are years, years away from a finished product. A lot can kill a small project over time like that. And with Williams gone, I have to lower the odds a bit.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: hazmatt on August 05, 2026, 09:35:52 AM
Of course all planes in a simulator are technically fly-by-wire but yeah.
Never the less, you can feel the difference.
If you can't, then the developer didn't do a good job.
Title: Re: IL2 Korea pre-release
Post by: AKIron on August 05, 2026, 10:03:47 AM
I read that they added a little movement to the F-16 stick which originally had none. They did this because the pilots were breaking the stick applying too much pressure.