How to start: LOMAC or Falcon 4.0:AF?

[mart]

I would be grateful for the advice of actual users of these sims, and I have posted the same query both at Frugal’s and at lockon.ru. I have made some individual enquiries, and Lead Pursuit were helpful, but a user comparison would help me.

 

I have not been doing any serious flight simming for some while. My last real jaunt was EF2000 which I really enjoyed. I would like to get back into a serious sim and, from what I can see; the choice is between F4 and LOMAC. In time, I would like to be able to fly both. I know people have their favourite sims, but I’d ask for some help that could put individual preferences aside for a moment.

 

Following an accident (about which, enough said) I now find it harder to integrate information coming at me thick and fast, and tend to be intimidated by it. When I look at both sims, I see a shiny glass vertical cliff. Either way it will be a struggle, but I’ll be OK after the first hurdle. Putting aside the relative loyalties people have to each sim, and their feelings about the history of their development, I would be grateful for any opinions about which would be the easiest way “back” into the flight sim world. I know this may seem a strange question for many, but from where I’m standing, it’s a problem.

 

I am not overly worried by the arguments over eye candy versus campaign structure.

 

If it helps my system specs are

Athlon 64 3000+ (939 pin)

ATI X600XT (256MB) pci-express graphics card

1GB of DDR 400 main memory

7200 rpm hard drive

 

Both sims seem to work ok on my system, as far as I can tell.

 

Any assistance would be helpful. I really don’t want to start some sort of flame war either at me, each other, or each sim. I know both communities are usually very helpful to new people.

 

Thanks,

 

Martin :icon_wink

[h.kan]

Start with both!

You will be flying missions and campaigns in no time in lockon, while learning the ropes of F4 takes some time.

[Dusty Rhodes]

I agree with H.kan. Get em both. Allied Force can take some time to learn. LOMAC can too. But they will offer a break from each other.

[ZoomBoy27]

From what I've played of Falcon4.0 and LOMAC, LOMAC is good to start learning with. The training missions are much superior with in-game text - especially in the add-on pack with voice-over.

And I would suggest the A-10 because of its smoother easier responses without having to worry about the radar. But you can still have lots of stuff happen.

In your case I really suggest my Up-to-Speed Guide to the A10

Then you can step up to radar management for F15 and the Russian Su-27 and

 

The learning curve on Falcon is steep because that model is much deeper. I'd suggest that you'd start with Air 2 Air only and get a lot of fun out of that by flying only those missions first - preferably on an easier campaign.

What I usually do is staple some blank pages together and go through 2 or 3 training missions descriptions in the Manual and record the Highlighted keys. I then fly the training missions.

 

Don't hesitate to ask

[mart]

Thanks everyone. You'll be pleasantly surprised to know that both communities have similar advice i.e. try both. The other helpful suggestion was to ask "what sim do you want to end up flying" and then plod on with that one and it'll be worth the effort. Forgot to mention Alfa in the llist of people whose advice has been appreciated. There's also this question about which forums you feel most comfortable in. Much room for thought.

[mart]

Thanks ZoomBoy. I'll get onto those guides pronto. I have a tendency to want to bite of more than I can chew, and suddenly realize I can't chew it. Well life is long (I hope) so it seems that "nibbling" is the answer. You're all being very kind

Martin

[mart]

Anyway, thanks for your help everyone. You'll be pleased to know that the Falcon crowd were kindly to LOMAC. You were, as I expected from watching the forum over time, equally kind. So, I hope you'll forgive me if I disappear for my scheduled nervous breakdown!!

Take care all, Martin

[Dark_Sceptre]

Get both, definitely. Lomac is a fantastic simulator which will bring you hours of enjoyment, and Falcon4:AF is without a doubt the most complex simulator ever made (well some BMS fans might disagree hehe).

 

Since the sims are so different in terms of scope and what is modeled well, you really should aim to keep playing both. There's no question that dogfights and combat air support missions are a lot more fun in Lomac than in Falcon4 due to both the higher degree of FM fidelity and the higher detail in the visuals. And on the opposite side of the coin, flying a campaign mission in Falcon4 with a massive scale war going on everywhere around you has an incredible pucker factor.

 

If you really must concentrate on just one of them.. well frankly I can't say which one, that'll have to be your choice. The good thing is that both Eagle Dynamics and Lead Pursuit are dedicated to keep improving their simulators, so the future holds even more goodness for both sims. Maybe Falcon will one day get a visual facelift to the level of Lomac - and maybe Lomac will get that fabled online dynamic campaign one day. Or maybe they will always be different beasts - we'll see in a year or two.