VapoR

I don't know what's used IRL, but for me I usually ingress at 4-5000m and make my attack runs from there. It's alot easier to meet weapons release parameters and you get a longer reaction time against AA. I also usually approach the target with it at my 10 or 2 oclock and dry to draw out IR SAM launches--once spotted, just turn away from the missile to defeat it. Now with a visual reference to go by, I turn back in and fire a Kh-25ML or S-25L at the launcher.

Great thread!! Rep inbound . . . We at the 504th constantly struggle with this issue. There is not much we have found that answers your questions decisively (at least that is written in English). I think the assumptions you made are pretty good. The 504th bases most of our missions around the one-pass idea you mention. Of course, the Su-25 is capable of more (at least in the Lo-mac world) and you will see us fly multiple-pass CAS type missions in our server online.

Anyone else notice there are 8 new screens on lockon.ru? Some show the side-mounted cannon, which is very strange in that looks like it can point up/down and outward. Why would they design it like that? Seems like a chin or nose mount like on the Apache and Cobra would be a more efficient method.

The download link mentions that it overwrites an existing skin. With the 25T you can add new skins in the list. Any chance of a version that will do so?

Well, it just takes a group of guys to get it started, afterall that's what BSO has done.

Amen!!! SECONDED!!! These 2 planes would be a PERFECT fit for Lock-on. Also, I guess it wouldn't be that hard to do the MiG-23 if the 27 is being done . . .

And what is wrong with the plane selection screen that it won't give you this info:

Will it be possible for 1.12 or 1.2 to have the following: --When you select your plane, the waypoint lines and icons turn yellow (like in sp and the ME) to know which flight you have chosen? --When your plane is chosen, be able to click on the waypoints to view assigned speed, altitude, task, etc . . . --PLEASE give points for military buildings placed in the editor, this will open up much more options for online mixed missions I am one of the mission designers for the 504 server. We want to start building more complex missions with more varied stuff happening throughout the action area. The more flights you scatter around, the more confusing it is for a person joining to know what it is they are supposed to do. And with the scoring system as it is now, the a2g guys will only get points for ground vehicles or ships (unless they get a lucky a2a kill :D).

Now that's just flat-out MEAN right there!!

About time!! Welcome to the bright and shiny world of Lo-mac 1.11!!

The experience gets even better when most of the people get on our TS!! The IP is listed in the server description in HL. Just join then choose the red or blue room, you will meet some cool people from all over the world. It's much cooler when you can coordinate with others by voice rather than chatting by text. Also if you are still learning, most players will be glad to lend a hand teaching you the ropes.

Ok, so say I want to get a new person into Lock-on, they will only have to buy Lock-on and then Black Shark?? Now also, will the cd version of BS be available at the same time as the download version? Cause it would suck to wait a month or two extra to get a copy while people who buy the download version are having a blast in HL!! Man it still cracks me up that the abbreviation for 1.2 is BS!! :D

There is a pretty heavy marketing campaign for F4: AF as well, there are nice monthly ads running in PC Gamer. I just wonder how effective these are, being that probably 98% of their readers are into FPS, RTS, and RPG type games. Still, if you build an engaging enough product you can likely convert some of those gamers to the dark side . . . Also, I wonder how effective games like the Battlefield series is at introducing new players to our genre. Take this for example: I wonder how many BF 1942 players got hooked on dogfighting with the planes and decided to give a sim like IL2 a try? Or more recently, BF2--maybe some will be enticed over to Lock-on for the same reason. Just something to think about.

There is an interesting article in the new issue of PC Gamer by Andy Mahood about sales of sims in the US. In it he lists some recent sims and the units sold and the dollar amount they raked in: FS 2004....................units 677,300.....$28,400,000 Lock-on....................units 51,000........$1,500,000 Pacific Fighters..........units 41,100........$1,500,000 Wings Over Vietnam....units 29,300..........$823,300 Falcon 4.0: AF...........units 19,500..........$574,400 Some interesting numbers here, for sure. So 51,000 people bought Lock-on in the US. For a sim with little single-player value (ie: no DC and not-so-hot mission editor and AI), where are all these people at online? HL averages about 50 players online at any one time, and most seem to be from outside of the US. This brings more questions than answers really. From what I'm able to tell, most of the community seems to be European, so judging by that I would assume that the biggest chunk of sales happened to be there. I know that ED states that its largest audience (units sold I would imagine) is in the CIS. They also don't seem to be online as much either, probably mostly due to a lack of broadband. Judging from the numbers above and some broad assumptions, if I was ED I would be focusing on making the single-player experience top priority and give those players the tools to make it the best it can be. DC, better editor, better AI, and very immersive comms. Also, I wouldn't neglect the European community and maybe give them a flyable of their own.

For me 1.2 won't offer much except for the technology that it will make possible for later development. Clickable pits with 6DOF support combined with AFM--if we can eventually get these things back-ported to the existing flyables and throw in a SEAD-capable NATO plane, dynamic campaign/dedicated server, much improved comms--then my friends we will have the ultimate dream-sim!!

For me the biggest difference is that F4: AF offers the vaulted dynamic campaign with the comms and AI to support it. Lomac offers a great multiplayer environment with the ability to fly from both sides of the fence, as well as a great CAS experience.

I would pay $100 for that, and then another $50 for the add-on DC.

LOL!! I guess to my wife . . .

Damn my year-old TIR3!!! I just can't justify the cost to upgrade . . .

The current way training tracks are done is a horrible mess. Every time they make a patch they have to either fix the tracks or leave them broken. If they fix the tracks there will be a big delay (remember the 1.02 wait??). If they don't, then people that need the training get mad (as well they should). The tracks themselves don't need to be fixed IMO, the whole training system needs to be fixed.

Now more than ever we will need to be able to have profiles for each flyable!! All there needs to be in the input options screen is a drop-down list of the planes, just like there is for the different combat modes.

It's my understanding that ED has no desire to EVER build a DC. Which is an absolute shame. The crown for "King of all Sims" is currently up in the air (pitiful pun there :D)--I think the first company to build a sim with multiple flyables and a DC will be the new champion. Since ED probably doesn't want to tackle the DC, then the only hope is what Lead-pursuit does post-F4:AF or Fighter Ops.

Ok I've changed my mind considering your newest bit of info: get the trackIR AND the HOTAS, but ditch the fiancee!! DON'T DO IT MAN, IT'S A TRAP!!! I know you will be stupid and marry her anyway--hell we all do it!! Just don't say I didn't warn ya . . . :D

TrackIR first, DEFINETELY.

This whole thread is ridiculous. The rest of world's generalizations are SOOO far off from how it truly is here. Jealousy maybe?