From: a2sim@napier.uwaterloo.ca (Andrew Sim)
Subject: Re: Flight sim news from CGW
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1992 04:12:54 GMT

In article <1992Aug14.141414.6534@newshost.lanl.gov> masten@beta.lanl.gov (David A. Masten) writes:
>In article (Phat H Tran) writes:
>>In article (David A. Masten) writes:
>>>In article (Phat H Tran) writes:
>   
>>>>The D patch is
>>>>almost perfect, and I can't really think of too much that the E patch
>>>>can improve.  They've done more than any other company would.
>  
>>>But "almost perfect"?  Sorry, no way.  I can list a hundred things that
>>>are still wrong or can be improved.  Wanna list? 
>  
>>I knew somebody was going to challenge me on that... Okay what's wrong
>>with D?  (I don't wanna know what can be improved, because Falcon has
>>so many facets that it's just asking for criticism from nitpickers.)
>>Phat.
>
>And I knew you would respond :-)
>Didn't quite make it to a hundred, but its pretty big.  Sorry, it also
>includes some suggestions, but they're at the end so you can ignore
>them.  Enjoy!  Now that I got this off my chest, I'll get a life :-)
>
>----------------------------------------------------------
>
>Here is my list of F3 problems, many of which you're probably tired of
>seeing.  I listed them where I saw them or where they have their most
>obvious effect.  Doesn't mean that's the only place they appear.  Has
>anyone got some others?
>

[A whole load of ANAL nits, interspersed with several good points]

>
>In final:
>
>Yep the game does a lot, and is probably still the best sim.  But SH is
>full of it with their flight model hype.  C'mon folks, you don't really
>buy into it do you?  The fuel management and load affects, identical (and
>inaccurate) modelling of enemies, and discrepancies between autopilot and
>manual performance detract from gameplay.  The many campaign nits, headed
>by bogey count, comprise my next major beef.  Red Flag could be great, but
>it takes me so many iterations to get it right (due to bugs) that I often
>lose interest.

Nice list, Dave!  Again, I repeat:  Falcon 3.0 has so many facets that it's
just asking for criticism from nitpickers.  You do have some good points,
and a few of which I never noticed.  Have you sent your gripes to SH?

As for the flight model, the game only applies physics rigorously to
YOUR jet, and just approximates the trajectory of computer controlled
vehicles.  I think a good flight model is more than just appropiate
turning radius and acceleration... Falcon models the nuances of flight
quite well, in my non-expert opinion.  All other sims I've tried felt
like you're flying a paper plane through molasses.  Falcon actually gives
the impression of mass behind the thing you're driving.  

I haven't encountered the fuel management problems, usually because I
either don't last long enough or I've selected unlimited fuel.  Yes,
I'm a pretty wimpy flyboy.  BTW, have you noticed that your wingies
don't eject when they flame out?  I've lost so many pilots this way,
hence... Unlimited Fuel.

The discrepancies between the autopilot and player controls is because
once you place your jet in the hands of the computer, it becomes just
like any other NPP (non-player plane).  That is, it is no longer 
subject to the flight model.

As for the identical behaviour of disparate planes, I hear the same about
missiles.  Hmm...

The campaigns I quite like, regardless of the whimsical mission
debriefing.  But you're right, they can definitely improve the post-
flight.

The Red Flag missions are a bit of a hassle, and the Nellis surrounds is
so uninteresting.  That's why I use F3Maps to train in Panama, or Israel,
or Kuwait, because there are REAL enemies in those theatres, even 
without you laying down the flights and ground routes.  F3Maps also has
a mission generator, so no more tedious mouse clicks before I'm in the
cockpit.

Falcon is still THE BEST simulator for the PC (not probably!).  Even if
the patches stop at D, I can live with it.  And I think so can you, Dave.
I have no idea what the E patch addresses, though it's been a long time
in the making.  So, just enjoy!  Most of the bugs hardly affect how 
quickly I get shot out of the blue, anyway.

Phat.  (Using Andy's account because his own is "no logged")