Zephyr Net

Can anyone let me know how they feel FA (as it is now...with all the updates and what not...I haven't played it in 2 years)....how does it compare with Jane's FA-18 super hornet...

I currently have Janes FA-18 on my system...I enjoy it...obviously the graphics are pretty sharp...and the game play is very real.....that is for flight dynamics of the FA-18....

However, I think the AI is awful in Jane's FA-18....Friendly AI that is...I also hate how there isn't many options for MAPS or enemies....ALways going up agaisnt Russinas....

Also, I really like to fly the F-14....and obvioulsy with Jane's FA-18 this isn't an option....


Any thoughts would be great...

This is how I see FA.
When I was doing the online squadron thing (back in the hay-days of the USVN) I used tell people trying to learn Falcon 4.0 and JANE's F/A-18 to get FA.
I see FA as the T-38 of Jet flight sims.
It's a great way to get the basics of simulated combat down, and a good place to start to form the ground work for a good well rounded HOTAS (hands on throttle and stick) settings that will carry over some what to the other simulations.
Although each simulation has different keys for simular functions, you can set all your simulations to use the same HOTAS buttons to do simular things.
I.E. all my sims use the same HOTAS buttons to do simular functions in that particular simulation.
FA is a fun and an easy way to learn, where as Falcon and F/A-18 have a steeper learning curve.

F/A-18E is my personal favorite bar none.
But no simulation I have ever ran comes close to the fun I have had with FA.
Anybody can master it quickly and it runs great on almost any computer.
And lets not forget that it is also a great way to start learning the fundamentals of mission building.

P.S.
A good if not great way to simulate flying an F-14 is to get the
Team Super Hornet (TSH) Add-On. . Yes I know the flight model is unchanged, but at least you get a good (although not perfect) working F-14 cockpit, and the carrier ops that are JANEs F/A-18.
And there's the IRAQ-PAK add-on that adds the Persian Gulf Theatre also, so you can simulate operations there.
Please go here for some of the best JANE's F/A-18E goings on, you also can talk directly to the guys that MADE the JANE's F/A-18E simulation.
http://www.simhq.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb ... forum;f=32

but don't mention my name .... LOL, it's an inside joke

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"cool beanz"
D. "FETCH" Jordan

F-18 is simply too complicated. I have it and can't get anything to work properly. Go Falcon4 when it comes to high-edge sims.

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Centurian

Well it's like this ....
You can't learn how to fly the real F/A-18 in 2 hours, so for me JANE's F/A-18E is the amphetamine of why I got into simulations to begin with, and have a HOTAS to add realism and functionality, it (next to Falcon) was the answer to mine and a lot of simmers prayers. And it looks like those two sims may for quite some time stand apart from all others, because the potential profits do not justify the cost to develop simulations like Falcon and F/A-18E.

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"cool beanz"
D. "FETCH" Jordan

Fetch,

I agree with you...and I have been over to SIM HQ quite often...great resource....that and Ziant tacops is another....

I agree with you 100% on FA-18 being the better "sim"...I just feel it is lacking...because of how soon after Jane's went belly-up and we had no offical add-on's or source codes......I have downloaded TSH F-14 version....but while nice...It just doesn't do it...without getting to use the AGP-9 Radar of the Real Tomcat....that is one of its big advantages....that and fuel...and PHX....

I also think the friendly AI is very lacking in FA-18....Never understood why they don't have the same options in FA-18 as they do with Fighters Anthology....that being "SET SKILL LEVEL for friendly AI fighters"........Besides in quick mission..... I just think most of the American Aircraft well under-perform in FA-18....but I love the flight dyamics and cockpit realism of the FA-18 itself in the game...


I also agree that when I did play FA years back...I really enjoyed this game....loved being able to fly different aircraft...that all had differences to them ......differences you could notice when you flew EACH seperate aircraft.....I'm really looking forward to getting that copy of the CD in the mail....

Thanks again!

TOUCHE



All valid points meade95, can't dispute any of em.
Your gonna fit right in here.
Welcome aboard.

but you have yet to venture over to the general subject board and meet da_big, CAG, and leo, and the rest of the "crew". Regardless of what you read here (things can get pretty lively over there) we're all friends, and knowledgeable people with opinions is what makes this board such a cool place to hang out. Not to mention our host ZEPHYR who is one "cool beanz" guy. I hope you'll stick around and and not limit yourself to just the FA section which is what brought all of us together in the first place.

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"cool beanz"
D. "FETCH" Jordan

Fetch,

What wouldlike to see in FA-2 in regards to what you like in JF-18? What would you like to see in FA-2 that is in that sim? Specificially, I mean!

Thanks!

CAG out...

I am humbled .....
I will reply CAG, I just want to think about this before I answer.
You have done so much to improve FA, I'm not sure there is much I can suggest that you have not already addressed .... but I will add my thoughts if I can think of anything you have not already addressed.
I am not worthy

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"cool beanz"
D. "FETCH" Jordan

Geeze give me a break...

Why are you always busting my balls?

CAG what are yiu talking about ?
Heck I kinda thought I was paying you a compliment.
I mean .... you've done so much with FA it's hard to think of any way to make it any better.
About the only thing I can think of is the Carrier ops and the comms with the Tower and marshall callouts.
You've already fixed the FMs so landings aren't so easy.
And I wasn't going to mention the internal cockpit ops I.E. the manual operation of the radar to search for targets since it seems unpractical with the insturmentation avaible in FA.

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"cool beanz"
D. "FETCH" Jordan

Ahhh... I see, thought you were setting me up... heh... You have taught me in the past to stay on my toes...

Anyways... FA-2 will indeed have full avionics and cockpit functionality, but not until Stage - 4 implementation with all new graphics engine and updated game code...

I was thinking that the other F/A-18 Superhornet (by DI?) has great carrier opps, the deck is full of red shirts, purples, browns, and greens, I think even the LSOs are there in their pretty little whites (lol, that LSO stand is a great target on approach!)...

I wias thinking of combining the two...

And I have regreted that, it was uncalled for (on my part) regardless of what I thought or how I felt. I am only human. And this is just a message board not some sort of competition, or litmus test of any individual.

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"cool beanz"
D. "FETCH" Jordan