From: primus@netcom.com (Robert keng)
Subject: Re: F15III Playable demo uploaded to wuarchive
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 02:42:07 GMT

Hi all:

		Yuck. VERY disappointing. I really hope the reason why this
demo stinks is because MPS is saving the best for last. I really hope the game
itself is alot cleaner (free of bugs) and more realistic than this. Some gripes
I have with the demo:

1. It crashes too much. It doesn't necessary lock up my system but everytime I
   run it it ends up throwing me out to dos because of the Integer divide by
   0 error.
2. Joystick calibration is very strange. Thank god that you can't die in this 
   demo, or I would of crashed the F-15 everytime.
3. Frame rate is way too slow. On my 486/33 with a Genoa 7900 (which is pretty 
   fast, considering...) this really sucks....
4. The F-15 flys like a paper airplane. The flight model is very inaccurate
   (well, I shouldn't of expected too much from a demo)
5. The thrustmaster option DOES NOT WORK!!!! I had to resort to the joystick 
   option.....
6. The options and numerous command keys does not work. I couldn't get the AB
   to turn off. The only thing that really works is the brakes and guns....
   (I destroyed an oil refinery with the guns.... What in the world is the 
    F-15 armed with, the Avenger?!?)
7. Enemy flight logic is non-existant. Feels like Wing Commander in this aspect
   (in other words, like a shoot'em up....).

Some gripes I have with the fundamentals (initial impressions...)

1. This demo seems to imply that this is another "one plane Vs the world" type
   of combat flight sim. Yuck... Falcon blows it away in this aspect...
2. The radar readouts are VERY small. Way too small, IMHO. Sorry, but I could
   only afford an 14 inch SVGA monitor. Can't afford them 18 inch, multisynch
   monsters (hell, what do you expect from a college student?).
3. The different views really doesn't help much. "Loose sight, loose the fight."   the only view that I really liked is the full front view and the slot view.
   The rest are virtually useless because the plane takes up much of the space
   in the other views. I couldn't even find a way to look up. (I miss the ol'
   padlock view in Falcon 3. They should've standardized that view....)

Some pluses

1. Great graphics. The terrain is a nice touch, and so is the city (Kuwait
   City?).
2. Good sound effects with the ADlib option.


		I know, I know, this is just a demo. But If demos are supposed
to be a preview of the real thing, then I'd say F-15III is another BOMB. Sure,
the graphics are nice, but what about the rest of the game/demo?!? Boy, talk
about a rush job...

		All in all, this is about THE worst demo I have ever seen. I 
got the feeling that the demo was hacked. I really, REALLY hope the game is
much better than this (Well, partially because I've already pre-ordered it...).
If not, well, I'll just continue playing OFT a while longer and see what Strike
Commander has to offer....

		Anyone know if SH is working on another Combat Flight Sim?

Happy gaming!

Note: The above article are just my opinions, nothing more. It is not intended 
to be a flame. If it offended anyone, then I hereby apologize. If the
reader feels that he/she must flame the author (moi), then please, do everyone
a favor, flame me by e-mail. Thank you...
primus

Xref: sparky comp.sys.ibm.pc.games:21009 comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard:3587