Not the typical game I see enthusiasm for in these parts, but if you have any interest in realistic flight combat simulations with dynamic campaign, you should check this out, if you haven't already. Lots of reading, better with a Joystick (minimum) and best with a H.O.T.A.S setup. On the video link below you can check out the features. Other than the F-16, fly many others like Harrier, Tornado, F-15 (C, E) and F-18 (including carrier ops). Release trailer: https://youtu.be/QcMOOOulhME Install Requirements: - A copy of the Falcon 4.0 game (GOG.com has the whole Falcon collection now available). http://www.gog.com/game/falcon_collection - Download the installer from http://www.bmsforum.org/forum/showthread.php?23313-Falcon-BMS-4-33 You will need to register on the forum to get the Torrent link.
Well I got about 300 hours in w/ ver. 4.33 and it is the most fun u can have on a PC. It was cool enough to get a Warthog HOTAS setup and Rudder pedals a mic & the head thingy for viewing is on the list also 2 more 1080 monitors. I had made it to Capt & then had to reinstall & start at 0. I am still working on A2A radar so I dont do any sead or CAS just Escort or BARCAP types. As soon as I got a decent HOTAS it made thing a lot easier to deal with.
They modded falcon 4.0 to look like that 0.o? Gods if someone would do that for the longbow games.....
Wow...old thread. So, since then, a new owner-publisher for the Falcon IP (Tommo) showed up and an agreement was reached with the developers of the mod to produce it legally under their license. Basically, instead of just an EXE check for the original Falcon 4.0, it requires the whole original program to be installed in order to allow the mod to be installed, which is only 600MB fully installed. The mod is still self-contained and does not require to be installed over the old Falcon program. Kind of renamed to Falcon 4.33 U (https://www.bmsforum.org/forum/showthread.php?26567-Falcon-BMS-4-33-U1-Full-Installer), it has now 4 additional updates since that happened, and it is on version 4.33 U4. Still the most realistic, full-featured, dynamic battlefield jet fighter simulator on the market for the best price. (https://www.gog.com/game/falcon_collection - only requires Falcon 4.0 install).
I had that game on my first pc, along with IAF, F15 strike eagle, longbow 1 and 2, I might have to check this out.
How hard is this game? I remember buying the original game on disc a long time ago and still have the big binder menu but after reading a few page of the menu, I shelved the game. I remember playing old sims like F15 Eagles III, Aces of Pacific, etc... and they're so much easier to learn back in the days. The last sim I brought was F18 Super Hornet from the Janes series... again, too tough to play back then and didn't have the patience to learn. If I can find the disc, I will give it a try. Probably drop by Microcenter and pickup a new joystick too. I used to have a few Logitech joysticks but they never stay true to the center and always drift off so another reason I kinda dropped the whole genre. Thanks.
"Hard" is relative, but if you mean non interactive training missions, big(er) manuals, unforgiving realistic flight model, complex flight systems, and tough AI, all those check. The BMS mod is intended to make the original more realistic in every way. The old manual is basically no longer applicable and new documentation is included with the mod (more extensive than the original manual). It takes a lot of reading and a lot of practice to get proficient in it. You do not need a H.O.T.A.S setup, but it will make the learning easier. You can also fly other fighters, with more or less cockpit detail than the F-16, so there are a few topics about that too (flying the Tornado at 300 ft for a bomb run is a blast). EDIT: You can also find many fan made instructional videos on Youtube. Best way to learn though, is to join a virtual online squadron. A TrackIR is also very recommended: https://www.naturalpoint.com/trackir/ , but again, not required. If you get overwhelmed by the complexity, I would recommend Falcon 4: Allied Force (if you can find it). It has a friendlier manual and it is an updated older version that you still can learn with the original manual (for the most part). The BMS mod does NOT work with F4:AF.
Wow, the TrackIR certain does add another level of realism to the game but I probably don't need it. I will read up on the mod. As far as joystick goes, I have been thinking about getting this mainly for the price plus it does come with a throttle.
That Hotas has a nice price but not nearly enough switches. Check out a graphic of what a the switches do on a F-16 Stick and u will see it will take a lot of keyboard action and some additional hardware like a MS game controller for instant access to important Hardware/switches during combat. A problem I had with too much Keyboard was during combat I am trying to do something QUICK and I have turned off my RADAR & HUD. As I struggle to get systems working I hit the wrong button & now all my trims are locked to one side & will not center. 150 miles home w/20 lbs of pressure on stick to fly strait???? Time to restart the mission again!!!!!!!! I had a TM PS/4-PC HOTAS looks like yours and it did not have enough inputs. I strapped an additional throttle from an X-52 but it was too beat up and none of the dials were smooth in any way. I got a new TM warthog w/ throttle and in Falcon, it made all the difference in the world. In IL-2 Cliffs of dover or any WW2 sim the Cheaper sticks are nicer cause of the twist for rudder but in Falcon the expense is worth it and u do not need a rudder as much in a F16 compared to a F4U or P47. The game it self is way harder than it was in 1998. All the new weapons developed for the F-16 since then are in there, so there are way more A2G weapon systems and everything is way more complex too. I am gonna ad 2 monitors to my 1080i display, get foot rudders, a mic for F4 online & maybe a TrackIR. I never used one but they do not seem that important in F4 as it would be useful in the ww2 sims. My Experience flying P-47s online was takeoff to 35k feet involved being a nervous sweating wreck. Once I was 35k it was fast enuff to outrun anything. It was a lot different than this sim. On the other hand if you select Korea's well armed theater & enemy aces and crap hits the fan very quickly. I was unable to get past day 1 I lost so many planes. I have like 400 hours of A2A and still cant handle the enemy aces let alone going online against the folks with 20 years of non stop experience ought to be very educational. Anyway I had taken a 15 year break from Falcon & now, It is good enuff too provide years of fun ! Here is the stick I would have bought if I knew about it.... https://www.bugeyetech.com/f-16-grip-and-throttle I may get the throttle & use is w/ the warthog. The F16 controls are just too handy. Also there are a bunch of flyable planes beside the F-16, like the AV-8A/B Harrier F15 FA18 Tornado, Mirage 2000, A-10, JA-37 Viggen. These all have real nice FM and there are a buch considered lower quality FM like the F-14 F-4 & MiG29. Over at SimHQ.com the have Falcon archives going back to 2000 and even now here is a great thread showing alot of what needs done to succeed in a campaign. http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/4332736/falcon-4-campaigns#Post4332736
