From: sathomas@athena.mit.edu (Stephen A Thomas)
Subject: Falcon MC vs Hellcats & Falcon 3.0 (IBM)
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 21:26:15 GMT

I think trying to compare Falcon MC to Falcon 3.0 is ridiculous.  If I had the
money, I'd have a MAC to don word processing, graphics stuff, desktop publishing,
etc (all the stuff that MACs kick IBM butt at) and I'd have an IBM to play flight
simulators like Falcon 3.0, Yeager's Air Combat, Red Baron, etc. on.  But I
don't, and I think most people out there don't either, so you have to choose the
computer that meets your needs and buy the software that is available for it. 

Yes certainly you can influence what software is written for you computer by
griping to the software manufacturers and by presenting the interests of a large
number of people (like in this group) to those manufacturers, but if the software
manufacturer doesn't feel that they can turn a profit on something, they're not
going to produce it (and they shouldn't - that's how the economy stays healthy).

It's up to those out there that have a strong voice to persuade the
manufacturers to take us MAC users seriously and produce quality games for the
MAC market because there are a lot of us out there who will buy them.  Yes I'd
like to see Falcon MC look and act more like Falcon 3.0, but when most people out
there who would buy the games (students) are still using SEs how does Holobyte
expect to make a profit on a color only game unless it keeps the production 
costs down?


Comparing Hellcats to Falcon MC is a more worthwhile endeavor.  The two planes are
totally dissimilar, the eras in which they fly/flew are totally different, and
the difference in technologies is like the difference between a digital watch and
a cuckoo clock.  But nonetheless we can compare smoothness, detail, mission
challenge, and realism.

Hellcats seems a little smoother to me than Falcon MC, but consider that the top
speed represented in Hellcats is just a little above the takeoff speed of an F-16.
I admit I don't know much about such things as frame rate, but it seems that if
you try to make something appear to move faster at the same frame rate, it should
appear "choppy".  Falcon MC isn't choppy.

Which has more detail?  I like the detail on the hovercraft, MiGs, bridges, SAM
sites, and other targets in Falcon MC, I hate the mountains, but who shoots at
mountains?  I like the little moving jeeps in Hellcats(Leyte), the debris that 
flys up when you shoot something, and the guys that bail out of the plane (wish 
you could strafe them - yes I'm a sicko).  Which is better?  I don't know, they
both seem good to me so why gripe?

Which missions are more challenging?  I sometimes feel that I can breeze
through the Hellcats missions.  Maybe I haven't gotten to a high enough rank
yet.  I've been having a hard time keeping up with the enemy in Falcon MC at
almost the lowest level.  I find it more challenging and so I'm playing it more.

Realism - Ha!  I've never flown either an F6F or an F-16 so how should I know -
how many of us have?  I know this:  Hellcats couldn't lift torpedos, only
"pathfinder" Hellcats had radar (and could never stand up to an non-radar
equipped fighter in terms of speed or maneuverability), and would never dogfight
with a Zero with a bomb load.  I won't even talk about the rudder.  I also doubt 
that they would use flaps in a dogfight, unless to slow down a lot and gain 
altitude.  I think a lot of people get fooled by the multi-role capability of 
today's planes, they think that any fighter-bomber can cruise around shooting down
enemies and then go back to bombing.  From what I understand a plane that has 
anything more than the minimal external stores (Air to air missiles) will handle 
like a dog compared to one that only has the minimal (fighter) configuration - 
read NO DOGFIGHTING WITH BOMBS.  I don't think Hellcats is realistic, but it is
fun.  I also get the impression from my Air Force friends that Falcon isn't bad
in the realism department - and it is fun.

Flame me if you want, but those are my opinions.

STEVE THOMAS

MIT Aero/Astro