From: adam@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Adam)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
Subject: Re: More Falcon Questions
Keywords: Falcon, Flight Sim
Date: 14 Aug 92 18:58:21 GMT
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center

In article <1992Aug14.174553.7953@ists.ists.ca> joseph@gkcl.ists.ca (Joseph A. Beernink) writes:
>A couple of requests actually,
>
>1.  I would still like a list of the changes from patch c to d


I've seen a lot of people ask for this, so I dug my D patch docs out and
figured I'd post them.  I'm posting the  rest of the changes (for patches
A and C) as well, for anyone curious...  I don't claim these changes
are 100% effective, this is just the file that came with the patch:

 
                        **************************
                        *                        *
                        *       FALCON 3.0       *
                        *      version 3.0d      *
                        *                        *
                        *        05-06-92        *
                        *                        *
                        **************************
 
 
Following is a list of the changes for version 3.0d:
 
-  On the title screen, at the bottom right you will see "V 3.0D" indicating
   that you are running is version 3.0d.
 
-  Incoming missiles are tracked in Padlock and Track Views. Now, when a
   missile is fired at you, you can track its progress with these two views.
   When the missile gets close to you, bank hard and drop flares or chaff to
   avoid the missile.
 
-  A-A missiles and SAMs are more realistic. They can acquire you much easier
   and ECM is no longer a foolproof method of defeating them. In addition,
   proximity hits from missiles are now accounted for--a missile may detonate
   when it comes close to your F-16, causing minor damage from fragmentation.
 
-  Flares and chaff are now more effective against missiles.
 
-  ECM now works against all aircraft and radar-guided missiles, not just 
   ground units and SAMs.
 
-  Computer-controlled aircraft (both friendly and enemy) will use ECM pods
   with more intelligence.
 
-  Enemy aircraft that are randomly given ECM pods will use them according
   to their skill level.
 
-  Weapons effectiveness (the High/Medium/Low settings) is more realistic.
 
-  Enemies will use ECM to break a radar lock.
 
-  Computer-controlled aircraft (both friendly and enemy) will fly with
   greater skill.
 
-  Jettison controls have changed:
   CTRL-K jettisons all stores except for wingtip missiles and the ECM
          pod (if you loaded one prior to takeoff)
   CTRL-F jettisons all additional fuel tanks (both centerline and wing).
   CTRL-C jettisons your ECM pod -only-. This is the only way to jettison
          your ECM pod.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Following is a list of the changes for version 3.0c:
 
-  There is now an option in Communications mode to enter modem commands 
   up to 60 characters directly. Simply select the "NO" option when you are
   asked if you want to use the default Hayes commands. This enables you
   to bypass the default Hayes AT modem setup string and use your own if 
   you are having difficulty establishing a connection.
 
-  The mission criteria for Escort Bomber missions has been changed from
   requiring that the B-52s hit their primary target to requiring that your 
   aircraft reach their target site.
 
-  You can now calibrate correctly for setups containing joystick,
   ThrustMaster WCS and MAXX pedals if you choose "Joystick" instead of
   "ThrustMaster" on the Configuration screen.
 
-  Mission debriefing is more coherent, more accurate and better organized.
   New information is given about allied aircraft losses, and both allied
   and enemy ground unit losses. The post-mission status of all involved
   F-16 pilots is also given.
 
-  Digitized radio messages on the Thunderboard and Sound Blaster now work
   more reliably on fast machines such as 33MHz 486s and with a bus speed 
   faster than 8MHz.
 
-  ACMI replays are more accurate.
 
-  GBU-15s in autopilot mode behave correctly now, instead of behaving like 
   Mavericks.
 
-  The autopilot now realizes when it has gone winchester.
 
-  The autopilot's bombing accuracy has been improved.
 
-  Computer-controlled planes now jettison stores based on skill level.
   Also, heavy bombers will not jettison stores under any circumstance.
 
-  In all flight models, airspeed will increase during dives.
 
-  In head-to-head mode, shutting off one player's radar will remove blips
   from the other player's Threat Warning Indicator.
 
-  Video palette problems caused by bus speeds faster than 8MHz have been
   corrected.
 
-  The low fuel HUD readout will appear over the Master Arm Indicator rather
   than over the AGL Indicator.
 
-  The air-to-ground M16A1 pipper in strafing mode is now easier to use.
 
-  The CCIP bombing mechanism is more reliable and more accurate.
 
-  In head-to-head mode, new squadrons now connect more reliably.
 
-  Multiplayer network mode now works with more than two players.
 
-  In Communications campaign mode, the problem with the slave system not
   being able to catch up with the master in the briefing screens has been
   fixed.
 
-  Aborting missions will no longer consume supplies or add to the mission
   count.
 
-  Unused stores at the end of a mission are now restored to your inventory.
 
-  The bug which gave certain systems erroneous "Player disconnected" messages
   when exiting to DOS has been fixed.
 
-  Pilots involved in a campaign can no longer recover fatigue by flying in
   Red Flag missions.
 
-  Wingmen now receive their assigned weapons load when the Limited Weapons
   option is set to "OFF."
 
-  Enemy aircraft can no longer detect a Sidewinder lock-on.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Following is a list of the changes for version 3.0a:
 
-  The problem with the keyboard not responding on certain systems has
   been fixed.
 
-  The joystick calibration has been rewritten. Users of joysticks with a 
   throttle now have the option of turning off the joystick's throttle 
   control wheel and using the "+" and "-" keys on the keyboard instead.
 
   If you are going to use the throttle wheel for throttle control, you
   must first advance the throttle several clicks, then press the "+" key
   on the keyboard to start the engine. You will then be able to control
   the throttle with the throttle wheel on the joystick.
 
-  All the Realism Values on the Difficulty Levels area in the Configuration
   screen now add up correctly.
 
-  All Communications modes (direct connect, modem and Novell network) work
   more reliably.
 
-  Sound glitches, including the missing IFF squawk, have been corrected.
 
-  ECM pod, chaff and flares have greater effectiveness.
 
-  The Threat Warning Indicator reliablity has been corrected.
 
-  The artificial intelligence has been improved to allow for autopilot 
   bombing and landing (however, if you are damaged, there are no
   guarantees). Enemy pilot logic has also been improved--enemy aircraft
   are now more aggressive at higher logic levels.
  
-  Glare caused by the sun now occurs at the appropriate climb and heading.
 
-  In the Red Flag training mission LESSON 4, the F-16 now faces the correct
   direction at the beginning of the lesson.
  
-  The appropriate pilot skills will now increase upon completion of a
   successful Red Flag mission.
 
-  External fuel tanks added by the user are now loaded correctly.
 
-  Anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) effectiveness is now greatly increased. The
   amount and type of damage depends on factors such as airspeed, altitude
   and distance from the artillery.
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
OTHER NOTES:
 
-  Systems with only 1MB of total RAM and no sound card need to set Sound 
   and Music to PC Speaker in the Configuration screen. This will allow you 
   to hear guns, lock-on tones, enemy lock and launch warnings, stall 
   warnings and a caution tone. Digitized voices are not supported on 
   machines without expanded memory (EMS).
 
-  The radio message ("Waypoint x at xxx - Angels xx - xxx miles") from
   your AWACS plane describes the direction to your next waypoint: the
   number of the waypoint, the compass direction you should take, the
   altitude you should be at ("Angels"), and how many miles away the 
   waypoint is.
 
-  .VCR files created using the ACMI feature are not compatible between
   release version 3.0, 3.0a, 3.0c and 3.0d.
 
-  .VCR files created in High Fidelity flight mode can be viewed only on
   machines that are equipped with a math coprocessor.
 
-  When playing FALCON 3.0 in Communications mode, be certain that all the
   players are running version 3.0d and not version 3.0, 3.0a or 3.0c. In 
   Duel mode, turn off all SAMs/AAA. Even though the Master has an ECM pod, 
   it is not effective in Duel Communications mode.
    
-  If the connection is broken in head-to-head mode, there is a possibility
   that squadron data will get corrupted. For best results, create a brand-
   new squadron when entering head-to-head mode. This will provide the most
   reliable results in head-to-head mode, as well as protect existing 
   squadrons that are involved in a single player campaign.
        
-  If you are using QEMM and a Logitech mouse, you may experience some
   problems with moving the pointer. The pointer may move sluggishly and
   draw multiple images of itself on the screen. If that is the case,
   this can be corrected by entering your CMOS setup and turning off the
   BIOS Shadow RAM. Consult the manual for your computer to see how to
   shut off BIOS Shadow RAM.
 
-  FALCON 3.0 works with STACKER, but STACKER must be loaded into high
   memory. If you are using EMM386 as your DOS 5.0 high memory manager,
   replace the DEVICE command that loads STACKER with DEVICEHIGH in your
   CONFIG.SYS file. On the line that loads STACKER, simply add the four
   letters HIGH after the word DEVICE. If you are using another memory
   manager, read the manual to learn how to load device drivers high.