Open Falcon vs. Free Falcon vs. Allied Force?

[Alexrey]

Are those the 3 main Falcon 4 big mods? Are there others? If those are all of them then I'd like to ask the question: which one would you say is the best, or if there isn't an outright winnner then what is each ones strengths and weaknesses?

[v1per]

Pretty sure Open Falcon was the original...then Allied Force came around....and Free Falcon is Red Viper.

 

And Red Viper/Free Falcon comes out on top....especially with FF5.0 coming out soon. :D

[Boberro]

I think it was Falcon 4 after Falcon 4 AF, then mods from oryginal Falcon 4...

[A.S]

 

Right now its Lead Pursiut AF and OF 4.6(5) played....FF5 (or Redviper2) is in making

 

FALCONHISTORY TIMELINE:

 

http://213.132.164.58/falconhistory/timeline.html

 

 

OpenFalcon:

 

http://www.f4forums.com/forums/

http://www.grovdaltech.com/of/

 

FreeFalcon:

 

http://www.freefalcon.com/forum/

 

Allied Forces:

 

http://www.lead-pursuit.com/

 

last but not least the mighty frugals forums:

 

http://forums.frugalsworld.com/vbb/index.php?

Edited June 24, 2008 by A.S

[Boberro]

Jesus how it is complicated :D

[Pilotasso]

LOL funky flowchart there LMAO :D

[VMFA117_Poko]

:lol: I like the background

 

I didn't know there was so many versions. AF, BMS, OF, SP, FF, RV - all remembered. But first time hear about Cobra...

[A.S]

:lol: I like the background

 

I didn't know there was so many versions. AF, BMS, OF, SP, FF, RV - all remembered. But first time hear about Cobra...

 

m 2

 

 

 

 

:smilewink:

Edited June 24, 2008 by A.S

[mvsgas]

Are those the 3 main Falcon 4 big mods? Are there others? If those are all of them then I'd like to ask the question: which one would you say is the best, or if there isn't an outright winnner then what is each ones strengths and weaknesses?

I don't think there is a clear winner. All the mods got their pro and cons and most people got different experience with each.

 

--Allied Force is the last and only official patch since Micropose went down. It is (comparative speaking) easier to connect on line but 10 year behind any other game (big surprise coming from a 10 year old game :D ). It is easier to access and more available since it is still in stores. Graphics are awful and so are the avionics compare to other mods.

-- Open Falcon is the avionics mod. Some people have been successful using this mod on line. I have problems with the program that lunches it online ( repace luncher). The avionics are very complicated, to the point that the game comes with a avionics manual (BMS-34, same format as the real aircraft) Radios have to be working properly to fly online ( or so I hear).

You can set it to have maintenance fault so many flying hours and the faults would be randomize. You control your data link and even have to set up your DTC like the real jet (to a point of course).

-- Red viper strong point is the graphics. Great effects (I know, It can not compare to other game, blah, blah) and cool features like 6DOF HUD and really cool JADAM utilization. You can lunch them to coordinates and the bomb will tell you when in range. Very hard to play online and again some other problems.

 

Both OF and RV require original Falcon 4.0 CD which is kind of hard to find now a day. Some people have been successful installing them over allied force but not sure if it is true. A lot of people had very different experiences with the mods. Some run RV because it runs better on their comp, some prefer OF.

 

There are many other mods but are older, I like them to but I have been playing Falcon 4.0 on and of for almost 10 years now. There is:

Supper Pack

BMS

Unified Teams

Many more I can't remember, I doubt you could find any of this do. There where fun at one point. I will PM you A web site with many Falcon download.

I think you should try them and see what you think. :D

[SUBS17]

Both RV and OF have quite good 3d models and skins are dds, with AF though its more stable less ctds and works very well online. OF is good online when it works the data link works in mp allowing you to send and receive air and ground tgt data to other players. The IVC(In game Voice Comms) is optional in MP but if you setup your data cartridge right it doesn't become much of an issue.

Inflight refuelling is good in AF you can refuel as a package and also the AI will refuel in sequence they are also good for missions. Quite reliable to hit tgts and fly back to base only drawback is a lack of detailed tgt assignment and popup execution. Another good thing for AF is dynamic weather where you can take off and the weather can be worse or better over the tgt area.

[FAFGargoll]

Pretty good post. I'll try to add a few things

I don't think there is a clear winner. All the mods got their pro and cons and most people got different experience with each.

That's the main point. For anyone who would like to know what version is the best, just try it by yourself.

 

--Allied Force is the last and only official patch since Micropose went down. It is (comparative speaking) easier to connect on line but 10 year behind any other game (big surprise coming from a 10 year old game :D ). It is easier to access and more available since it is still in stores. Graphics are awful and so are the avionics compare to other mods.

AF is the only legal version. And it's the whole sim. You don't need the original F4.0 CD. Just buy F4 Allied Force, install it, patch it, configure it and play.

 

-- Open Falcon is the avionics mod. Some people have been successful using this mod on line. I have problems with the program that lunches it online ( repace luncher).

Squadron have been able to fly a multiplayer mission with 20 people with no problem.

Last year, an international exercise took place with simmers from all over the world. No big issues have been reported.

For any problem, you can go to F4forums.com and ask for help.

 

The avionics are very complicated, to the point that the game comes with a avionics manual (BMS-34, same format as the real aircraft) Radios have to be working properly to fly online ( or so I hear).

OF includes IVC (Internal Voice Communication. Basically, you have to manually tune your VHF and UHF radio to be able to talk to the tower and hear your package. Same when you fly between humans. If you're not on the same frequency, you won't hear your buddy. It works like in real life. The Dash34 is well made and it's easy to understand and very immersive.

 

You control your data link and even have to set up your DTC like the real jet (to a point of course).

That's right, during the briefing, you can build up your Data Transfert Cartridge which will display on your HSD the informations that you want. You can place threat circles (yellow circles), HSD lines to square a zone or a no-flight zone. You can set some radio frequencies and set default pres-elections (so you don't have to manually tune the frequency but just choose the preset, which is quicker, you can also build your counter measure system (#chaff drop, interval, repeat ; same with flares). This again is well explained in the Dash34.

 

Also you can manually control the Datalink, you can send your wingman (human or AI) a bandit position on the air, on the ground, you can see where your package is. You can add a max number of 8 planes to send and receive informations from. Same, read Dash34.

 

You have also the advanced targeting pod (sniper pod), the HAD (for HARM missile) better moddeled, etc...

 

OF is clearly avionics oriented.

 

-- Red viper strong point is the graphics. Great effects (I know, It can not compare to other game, blah, blah) and cool features like 6DOF HUD and really cool JADAM utilization. You can lunch them to coordinates and the bomb will tell you when in range. Very hard to play online and again some other problems.

Red Viper, aka Free Falcon 4 is also FPS friendly. Free Falcon 5 is on its way. Progress can be seen on the freefalcon forums, in Aragorn's FF5 preview thread.

 

Both OF and RV require original Falcon 4.0 CD which is kind of hard to find now a day. Some people have been successful installing them over allied force but not sure if it is true.

You can NOT install Open Falcon over Allied Force. Over F4.0 only.

You CAN install Free Falcon over Allied Force. It has been designed for that. Over F4.0 of F4AF, you will have the exact same result.

 

There are many other mods but are older, I like them to but I have been playing Falcon 4.0 on and of for almost 10 years now. There is:

Supper Pack

BMS

Unified Teams

Many more I can't remember, I doubt you could find any of this do. There where fun at one point. I will PM you A web site with many Falcon download.

Any other version that OF, FF (RV) or AF is obsolete and not supported any more by the community.

To be up to date, you must install one of the three sims (or the three of them!).

 

I personally fly Open Falcon. I look for an advanced avionics. I'm impressed by this sim everytime I fly it. The realism provided by the ability to set your DTC before flying, change frequencies in multiplayer, control the datalink and so on is really amazing.

 

I've flown the three latest versions.

OF is my thing.

RV is great but lacks too much avionics compared to OF.

AF is totally outdated : ugly, poor avionics

 

Then again, you're the only judge of your tastes. So don't hesitate to try rather than being told.

[SUBS17]

I think there maybe a BMS 3 in development as well.:thumbup:

[A.S]

I think there maybe a BMS 3 in development as well.:thumbup:

 

rumors bout something i heard too :music_whistling:

[FAFGargoll]

ahhh rumors (and videos) ......

It's too bad the development is underground!

I'd love to see the progress and read developers comments...

FF is better on that point.

[Alexrey]

FF4/RV is amazing! The graphics are SOOO much better than AF!

[Teapot]

... I personally fly Open Falcon. I look for an advanced avionics. I'm impressed by this sim everytime I fly it. The realism provided by the ability to set your DTC before flying, change frequencies in multiplayer, control the datalink and so on is really amazing.

 

I purchased Falcon 4.0 when it first came out; but @ the time couldn't play the sim with any decent frame rates. Same too with Flanker 2.

So my F4 and my F2 have been sitting in packing for the best part of a decade. Recently I upgraded LOMAC FC and have quite enjoyed the immersion, however after seeing persistent accolades of Open Falcon, I downloaded 4.5 and installed it.

 

I can unequivocally state that I'm now (again) experiencing the immersion I haven't felt since flying D.I.'s Tornado and ED's Flanker 1.5.; and I thought I was over American planes :music_whistling:!

IMO Falcon 4 with it's ascendancy to Open Falcon is THE masterpiece of flight simulation, that turns out to be the greatest there ever was ... I sincerely hope the DCS experience will continue along that vein.

 

Cheers.

Edited November 22, 2008 by Teapot

[Vekkinho]

It's OF for realism in avionics, systems and weapons!

 

RV/FF for eye candy and making movies,

 

AF for MP stability!

[Squid]

m 2

 

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc258/derstef1986/2008-03-02_213619.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v40/i_hawk/2008-06-10_003445.jpg

 

 

:smilewink:

 

which mod are these screens from?

[SuperKungFu]

Free Falcon

[con3para]

i am flying free falcon 5.5 at the moment..its very good... install on to XP.. thou ..as it crashes some time with win7..ff5..is getting better, you can almost fly any aircraft ..graphics are good to ..

[thinkr]

Yes its an old thread... thank you to all for giving input. I always played Longbow 2 during 1998 I heard of falcon 4 but never got to try it. I Just bought it online amazon. Allied Force. I will try open falcon soon. I'm sure plenty has changed since these last 2 years an this discussion. But I really want to see what this falcon is all about:)

[pepe]

To get IMO the best Falcon experience until now go to benchmarksims.org , grab BMS 4.32, update 1,2,3 and you are on for a BIG surpirse. If you need help getting your hands on an original CD contact me over on the BMS forums...my username is mykinge

[JCook]

Pepe is right Falcon 4 BMS is a big improvement over Allied Force. You should be able to find a used original Falcon 4 disk online - you'll need that to install the BMS version.

[tobaschi]

Pepe is right Falcon 4 BMS is a big improvement over Allied Force. You should be able to find a used original Falcon 4 disk online - you'll need that to install the BMS version.

 

if iam not wrong you can find on benchmarksims forum also a guide how you can use it with a allied force disk.

[cichlidfan]

if iam not wrong you can find on benchmarksims forum also a guide how you can use it with a allied force disk.

 

I am afraid you are wrong. From the BMS FAQ:

 

Q: What software do I need to install BMS? The installer is asking for the location of the original Falcon CD. What if I have Falcon 4.0: Allied Force? Will that work?

 

A: You need the original Falcon 4.0 and the BMS installer. F4:AF will not work.