IL2 Normandy

[Bruv119]

In my few week soiree into online IL2 play, the numbers are probably comparable to primetime Eastern Aces High. The difference is IL2 is spread out over 3 or 4 servers over 10-15 players. Combat Box alone is usually has 50-60-70 players, One or two other servers have 10-20-30 players.  The remaining servers that actually have people in them are under 5 players.

FSO attracts 40-50 more players every Friday night with 110-120 total in SEA1. FSO has sides (Allied and Axis) as big as the largest IL-2 Server most evenings for me personally (10PM-1AM EST)

PS. I have yet to start a pilot career. Have only played quick missions and online.

Your results agree with my findings.  It's like IL2 needs to sort out their netcode and get everyone in the same arena on the same page it works for them though smaller scale fights but with better visuals. IL2 Tobruk will be out soon and the TFS guys pay much more attention to the historical and realism aspects without the need for "battle rounds".  Will be cool to finally fly some unique aircraft like the D520 Dewoitine over North Africa.  These guys do alot of sales in the Offline market but that is an alien concept to most of us.  So doing offline campaigns and having believable AI takes some time.

HT is doing the Multiplayer right IMO.

In the meantime DCS just announced a new WW2 europe map the P47D and a Mossie.  Plus a Marianas free map that looks 

Competition is good.  Just sucks for us who need to choose or just have them all.   

[Brooke]

It is much more difficult to pick out another plane when you don't know where he is, particularly if it's a mile or more away. 

I totally agree, but that is icon distance, in my opinion, not no icons.  Folks can play with icon distance to replicate what they think is most realistic.  But with no icons even at close range, you can lose a plane when you are on it and focusing your attention on it, and that is totally unrealistic.

[CptTrips]

These guys do alot of sales in the Offline market but that is an alien concept to most of us.  So doing offline campaigns and having believable AI takes some time.

I really enjoys offline campaigns.  I guess all those years playing Red Baron, Falcon 3.0, Aces of the Pacific, Aces over Europe, Red Baron II, etc, etc.  Always loved tending my pilot career through the war.  Kind of like playing through a novel.

I agree that HT seems to have the better multiplayer experience.  Well, certainly the Scenario experience anyway.

Competition is good.  Just sucks for us who need to choose or just have them all.   

I'll keep AH for the Scenarios, and BoX for the offline play.  Although, just for scenarios, AH starts to feel a little expensive.

DAMN.  Wish Team Fusion guys would add VR to Cliffs of Dover like they said they'd be doing.  I could go drop a year on that.

[CptTrips]

These guys do alot of sales in the Offline market but that is an alien concept to most of us.

I will say this about the offline market as opposed to the online only market...

They make enough money on sales to maintain a development team that can produce regular new content of AAA quality.   

Don't knock revenue until you've tried it.

[Shuffler]

Jesus.  You are so insecure.

The funny thing is that you think anyone at HiTech cares what you think..... or that anyone else here does for that matter.

You are sure wrong about me.

[Bruv119]

I totally agree, but that is icon distance, in my opinion, not no icons.  Folks can play with icon distance to replicate what they think is most realistic.  But with no icons even at close range, you can lose a plane when you are on it and focusing your attention on it, and that is totally unrealistic.

It's like everything else you adjust, you get better at it.  Maybe my video didn't show him as much as I could see him on my screen in game but everything close in can be tracked as you describe.  It's when closure rates are high from above or below that things get really difficult and I would imagine it was near impossible for say a P51D pilot to see and react to a ME 262 hedge hopping or coming head on.  With Late war rides speeds are way up flying in slow rides would be much easier.   

Spotting requires using the zoom alot and you could argue the pilot didn't use a set of binoculars whilst looking about but it makes up for the lack of icons in a gameplay sense. 

I do like the aircraft recognition aspect but with only 6 planes it is not a big deal when they add more shapes and sizes it will get worse. 

In my 200 hours or so of multiplayer action without icons in DCS I've only blasted 1 plane incorrectly and been fired upon maybe 5 times, most have stopped once realizing their mistake and apologized.   Of course this is also an SA fail on my part as I too did not spot them in time to take evasives.  You also have to factor in not everyone is an experten and cut them some slack.  After all Bader got shot down by one of his own.   

[Bruv119]

I really enjoys offline campaigns.  I guess all those years playing Red Baron, Falcon 3.0, Aces of the Pacific, Aces over Europe, Red Baron II, etc, etc.  Always loved tending my pilot career through the war.  Kind of like playing through a novel.

I agree that HT seems to have the better multiplayer experience.  Well, certainly the Scenario experience anyway.

I'll keep AH for the Scenarios, and BoX for the offline play.  Although, just for scenarios, AH starts to feel a little expensive.

DAMN.  Wish Team Fusion guys would add VR to Cliffs of Dover like they said they'd be doing.  I could go drop a year on that.

They said it would be their top priority after release.  With VR enabled it will pose a problem for some as they flip between the two.

[CptTrips]

They said it would be their top priority after release.  With VR enabled it will pose a problem for some as they flip between the two.

Oh man, if they get VR working with CloD, I'll be in hog heaven.  It was a beautiful sim, I just can't stomach non-VR again. 
The TF mission editor is also very impressive.
The AI?  Well, I hear they are making improvements for Tobruk.

 

[Bruv119]

I think the N.Africa planeset lends itself very well to early-mid war dogfighting.

D520, martlet/F4F, P40, 109f, c202, spit 5, hurri 2ABCD, Beaufighter with torps/bombs, gladiators, cr42s, wellington bomber.  Getting the Americans involved may increase it's appeal as CLOD was/is purely a Battle of Britain focused game.  Having some 50cals and cannon will be a treat for sure.

Squeezing Malta on the map and adding a British carrier would have been awesome but the scale of the desert map is vast. 

[Bruv119]

Oh man, if they get VR working with CloD, I'll be in hog heaven.  It was a beautiful sim, I just can't stomach non-VR again. 
The TF mission editor is also very impressive.
The AI?  Well, I hear they are making improvements for Tobruk.

 

CLOD was before it's time, it still looks decent, the icons / spotting arrangement the best of all 3.  TFS strike me as old men working away tirelessly in their garden sheds and when its done its DONE and we can just say well done old chap and enjoy their labors of love.

[TheBug]

IL2 Tobruk will be out soon...

   Oh man I love North Africa.  Will have to keep an eye out for that.

[Nefarious]

I doubt it is a structured as FSO is it?  Is there any thing like the planning and coordination of the FSO?  Or is it more like the AvA, except populated?

I haven't seen any planning personally, but there are squads and players cooperating with each other. FSO and Scenarios are much more coordinated from what I can tell.

[CptTrips]

I haven't seen any planning personally, but there are squads and players cooperating with each other. FSO and Scenarios are much more coordinated from what I can tell.

I didn't think so.  It must take a ton of work to run those.  I really think the curated experience of the Scenarios are Aces High most unique feature.  It can't be matched anywhere I know of.  If there is another as good I'd be interested in hearing about it. 

It's the only reason I pay a subscription. 

[fd ski]

I didn't think so.  It must take a ton of work to run those.  I really think the curated experience of the Scenarios are Aces High most unique feature.  It can't be matched anywhere I know of.  If there is another as good I'd be interested in hearing about it. 

It's the only reason I pay a subscription.

FSO is based on S3s - and those date back to 1990s

http://www.squadselectseries.com/

Not many people there now, but back in the days it would pull 300+ people per event every week.
Key is squad organization.

[Nefarious]

FSO is based on S3s - and those date back to 1990s

http://www.squadselectseries.com/

Not many people there now, but back in the days it would pull 300+ people per event every week.
Key is squad organization.

Oh, as a long time FSO CM, I am fully aware.

FSO in its prime was hosting 250+ pilots per side. 500 player FSOs were incredible, today we're at 110-120 pilots.