JimMack

Standard procedure for a helo pilot when he/she is alerted that there is an enemy fixed wing aircraft around. Hide in a hole. Drop down to a valley, and stay stationary. Even land. There was an interesting documentary on UK TV about training Royal Navy helo pilots, and what do to do when the enemy (in this case RAF hawks) were trying to track them. If the terrain is appropriate, it is very difficult for a fixed wing to get a helo, except if you are over a flat terrain, such as a desert, then you are dead meat.

See http://pc.ign.com/articles/982/982542p1.html

There may be a delay of 5 days due to time to ship to distributor.

Black Shark will be released into retail stores on 18th May.

To quote from Ed Macy's book APACHE. " It took six months just to learn how to fly the machine, another six to know how to fight in it, and a final six to be passed combat ready. And that was as if you were already a fully qualified, combat-trained army helicopter pilot"!

Regret still trying to find a distributor. If you have any suggestions, please pm me.

Black Shark was released to retail stores in Hong Kong and Taiwan on Saturday 9th May.

The printed manual is just the Flight Manual.

Mindscape

Suggest "Frazer Demo" is added to the list. It is very instructive to watch the movement of cyclic,collective and rudders duing the various manoeuvres.

Product has arrived at TCMWarehouse and should be in stores within 10 days.

Yes - Take2 have been alerted. They ran out of stock and they are re-manufacturing.

The manuals have been printed and are on their way to warehouses in the the USA, UK, and Australia. Given shipping time to each country, and shipping within a country, expect availability in Amazon etc in 2 weeks.

We have alerted Take2 Distribution that they need to put pressure on Canadian chains to take Black Shark.

Video of Black Shark with Matrox TripleHead2GO - http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/ad/gxm/th2go/blackshark2/

Video of Black Shark with Matrox TripleHead2GO - http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/ad/gxm/th2go/blackshark2/

This ex-fish head loved it as well! (non UK military will not know what terms we are using!)

Was this in the UK?

Here is an update for UK GAME stores. They have recalled Black Shark, and are going to relaunch in all stores, and get it back on their website (where it is "currently unavailable"). This exercise will probably take 2 weeks. I will post when GAME have confirmed to me that it is in all stores.

TFC/ED are looking at the collidable tree issue, but it could be a catastrophic frame rate hit, even using a bubble system over forests. There are many millions of trees in DSC. Nevertheless, in real life, a surprise stinger coming out of a heavily wooded area is a realistic threat. A stinger (MANPAD) would place himself in a clearing in a forest that had a reasonable field of view. Admittedly, he might wait a long time in the hope that a target would fly overhead! Conversely, if an attack helicopter knew that a forest was in enemy territory, it would be prudent not to fly over it at a height within MANPAD range.

I can assure you, at TFC/ED, we do not think that you are second class customers. You are one side of a two headed coin, and a coin that must have two heads.

We expect the printed manual to be in stock in 2 weeks time.

Thanks - on the case - sent message to GAME, awaiting their reply.

I have been informed by our Australian Distrbutor (Mindscape Australia), that shipping into the Australian retail channels will start on Friday. So depending where you are, it will probably take a week to be on the shelves. The warehouse is in Sydney, so those in that city will get it first.

To all in the forum. It is indeed an honour to have Ed Macy on this forum. Please respect his wishes and not send him messages and posts requesting advice on tactics etc for the moment. Let him finish his next book and then buy it! Also, if you have not already bought APACHE, then I suggest you do, it is full of fascinating information. At TFC/ED we have read our copies many times and learnt a lot.