Hello,
here is my article which I wrote for the legendary Czech/Slovak gaming magazine Level in the later 2024. Enjoy it!
PS: It’s a New Year 2025 present for the flying community around the world. They provided me a limited space in the magazine to talk about combat flying simulators, so the article could not be the perfect as I would wish. Be aware that the main readers are not playing combat flying simulators, so I have had to make some corrections for the mainstream readers.
I used DeepL.com for translation this time (from Czech to English language), so sorry if this translation is not the perfect as could be.
==========================================================
LEVEL 338
GAMES | THEME
Author Pavel Ondruch
TITLE
STILL IN THE AIR
SUBTITLE
DESPITE THE APPARENT DOWNTURN, FLIGHT SIMS ARE HAVING A WORLD OF FUN WITH THE HELP OF THE COMMUNITY.
MAIN TEXT
The golden age of flight simulators dates back to 1990-2000. Many titles that we now consider classics were released during this period. These include EF2000, F-22 Total Air War, Falcon 4.0, and Enemy Engaged series, and many more. Their legendary status stems from taking full advantage of the burgeoning computing power of computers, but also from incorporating elements crucial to complex simulation. These included sophisticated avionics, weapons systems, wingman communications, AWACS (early warning systems), and air traffic controllers (ATC/Control Tower), as well as advanced artificial intelligence that supported dynamic campaigns. Most of these games are unsurpassed in many ways.
GENRE CLASSICS
In the following decade, 2001-2010, flight simulator developers were no longer successful. High development costs, low profits coupled with systematically declining sales figures, and competition between genre titles on the market caused the genre to recede into the background. It should be added that the flight simulator market has always been designed for a specific group of customers who are willing to spend a lot of money on highly specialized products.
Yet even from this era, we know of very high-quality series. The Strike Fighters 2 series, Lock On: Modern Air Combat (later DCS World), and IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 are worth mentioning. Although these are respectable titles the decline of flight simulators could not be stopped. Since then, the genre has survived much like the once very popular clicker adventure and dungeon crawlers - cared for by the community, and new titles rarely come out.
THOSE WHO FLY
Among the current simulators, we distinguish two categories. Firstly, there are the so-called study sims, which means that it is necessary to study the background before taking off. These include DCS World, X-Plane, or the more mainstream titles Microsoft Flight Simulator and IL-2 Sturmovik: Great Battles. Alongside these are pure arcade titles such as Tiny Combat Area and Thunder Helix, which rely on retro graphics. There’s also a possible glimpse into the future inspired by real-life designs: Nuclear Option and a VR title: VTOL VR with revolutionary aircraft control exclusively using VR controllers.
WE’RE MISSING PLANES HERE
There is a huge hole between these categories. There is a lack of flight simulators that have a comprehensive flight model, but somewhat simplified avionics and weapons systems controls. Arcade games like Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X/2, Project Wingman, and the Ace Combat series don’t come close to such an experience because they lack a reasonable portion of simulation, strategy, tactics, communication, and realistic flight models. They lack a dynamic real-time campaign as well as several hundred-page manuals that must be studied before the first flight. In the past, the same space has been defined by games from Digital Integration studios such as Tornado, Hind, Jane’s: Fighters Anthology, IAF, USAF, DID: EF 2000, ADF, TAW, and others.
This historically by far the most popular category of flight simulators is revived in part by Helicopter Gunship DEX and Stealth Fighter DEX and the ambitious Combat Air Patrol 2: Military Flight Simulator promising, among other things, a dynamic campaign. The latter has been in Early Access since 2016 and its development continues under the reborn MicroProse studio. MicroProse, which was one of the defining studios for quality flight sims of the past, promises the return of classics, i.e. most notably the B-17 The Mighty 8th Redux, and the newly announced Falcon 5.0.
Also interesting is the news that the creators of IL-2 Sturmovik: Great Battles from 1C Game Studios are returning in the Korea title. Then in the next Combat Pilot, the Barbedwire studio, led by Jason Williams, a former designer at 1CGS, is taking on the World War II era in the Pacific. Last but not least, studio Asobo has announced the new Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
The above and often old games were not mentioned casually. Their age-old qualities are confirmed by the following lines bringing a description of the most famous modifications. Indeed, these are where the real life of contemporary study sims is, as the modders fulfill the collective desire of the community around flight sims to fly in the most realistic aircraft possible. You can find all of these modifications with the help of Google.
EF2000 RELOADED & TAW 2.30
The golden mean of modern flight simulation is represented by Digital Image Design’s (DID) trio of EF 2000 titles with the TACTCOM upgrade (1995/6), F-22 Air Dominance Fighter (ADF, 1997) and F-22 Total Air War (TAW, 1998). The games are known for their slightly simplified but still realistic simulation of avionics and weapon systems, especially the dynamic WarGen campaign generator. The latter contains several layers of artificial intelligence responsible for strategy, tactics, and battlefield simulation. They also provide sophisticated communication with wingmen, squadrons, air traffic controllers (airfields), and AWACS. Community modifications have been released for the three games, known as EF2000 Reloaded and TAW 2.30.
The ADF and TAW feature a fairly realistic treatment of avionics and symbology on the displays, based on the F-22 fighter prototype. The pilot has a divine perfect view of the battlefield situation thanks to 3 large multifunction displays and datalink information from other sources on the battlefield, including AWACS (analyzes all movement in the air) and the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (monitors all movement on land and sea). There are EMCON modes responsible for the level of stealth depending on the on/off switching of a specific active element, e.g. radar, or the reduction/increase radio range, etc.
EF2000, ADF, and TAW were considered learning (a huge manual with many pages) simulators in the past. WarGen I in EF2000 evaluated mission outcome after landing, WarGen II in TAW could already do it during an ongoing mission. The undeniable advantage of the original 10 TAW campaigns is the clearly defined objectives. The player has total control over the action. Last but not least, ADF and TAW offer the possibility to play the whole game as a real-time strategy, i.e. to control the whole battlefield from the position of the AWACS commander without having to get into the cockpit of the F-22, although it is technically possible.
The EF2000 Reloaded modification package supports EF2000 with TACTCOM extension and 3Dfx capabilities. The TAW 2.30 package includes the original F-22 ADF and the Red Sea Operations dataset, F-22 TAW, and the sophisticated TAW Battle Commander (TAWBC) mission editor. There is also the option to play the game in enhanced or original graphics.
EF2000 Reloaded requires the installation of the original EF2000 or its versions V 2.0, Evolution, and Super EF2000. Modifications support head tracking devices (e.g. TrackIR) and multiplayer support is not missing. In EF2000 Reloaded you can fly the campaign cooperatively with up to 8 players, in TAW 2.30 you can fly all missions from the original ADF and missions generated by TAWBC in cooperation with other virtual wingmen.
In the original documentation for the real Eurofighter the picture was almost exactly like this (EF2000)
High-intensity night missions in the F-22, the key is to survive the flight to the target (TAW 2.30)
Under AAA fire, laser-guided bombs are designed for hardened airport hangars (TAW 2.30)
FALCON BMS
BMS is the direct successor to the original Falcon 4.0 (1998) and its equally successful evolution in the form of Lead Pursuit Falcon 4.0: Allied Force (2005). BMS has been improved by the community for 21 years. It is currently at version 4.37 and about 80% of the source code has been rewritten. In the next version, the developers promise a high-resolution photorealistic terrain that will finally replace the original terrain consisting of repeating tiles.
Falcon 4.0 was famous at the time of its release for its sophisticated avionics, and above all for its dynamic real-time campaign, which, unlike Total Air War, brought not only aerial but also ground warfare. In many ways, the dynamic campaigns of TAW and Falcon BMS are similar. It is the living world of Falcon BMS that makes the game so special. When the virtual pilot first crosses the front line, he sees the ground fire and explosions from the ongoing ground combat.
BMS is no longer just a faithful simulation of the F-16C Block 40-52/MLU. This year, the developers added the iconic F-15C with all-new avionics to match the real-life model. Also in development is the coveted MiG-29 for PvP scenarios. Of course, it is possible to fly other aircraft with authentic cockpits, but unfortunately with F-16 avionics. This is where the simulator differs from the competing DCS World, in which each aircraft has its a avionics.
In all respects, the improved BMS simulation tries to approach realism. You can expect ultra-realistic simulation of avionics, weapons systems, artificial intelligence, communications with air traffic controllers, wingmen, squadrons, AWACS, new Link 16 datalink (situation awareness), TACAN navigation, and many other very advanced systems including Air-to-Air and Air-to-Ground/Sea radar modes.
BMS falls into the study sim category and in many ways is a more faithful simulation than the current and directly competing professional DCS World F-16C from Eagle Dynamics. There are several 60-400 page manuals (avionics, training missions, weapon systems, communications, etc), and getting into war simulation requires many hours of training.
If you decide to become a virtual F-16 pilot, you literally will overwhelmed with information that you have to evaluate and process in a real-time. I highly recommend contacting the community, who are very willing to help. With the help of online instructors, you will learn to master the game significantly sooner than by self-study. However, if you can handle the initial onslaught, you need to persevere. You will be rewarded with the most realistic simulation of a contemporary combat aircraft in a dynamic war conflict on the PC.
Battlefield Taiwan, Chinese Sukhoi 27 shot down! (Falcon BMS)
Night SEAD mission in F-16, finding targets for HARM missile in Falcon BMS
Battlefield Taiwan, F-16s taxi to takeoff, airfield under fire in Falcon BMS
Author note: in reality, it was our pilot Kremik who during take-off crashed.
ENEMY ENGAGED COMANCHE HOKUM
The original Enemy Engaged: Apache vs. Havoc (EEAH, 1998) and RAH-66 Comanche vs. KA-52 Hokum (EECH, 2000) from Razorworks is a worthy successor to Jane’s AH-64D Longbow and Jane’s Longbow 2 helicopter simulators.
Enemy Engaged Comanche Hokum (EECH) is a modification based on the officially released source code of both Enemy Engaged episodes. As a result, the avionics have been (partially) improved, especially the ability to fly helicopters other than the AH-64 A/D Apache, Mil Mi-28 Havoc, RAH-66 Comanche and the two-seat Ka-52 Hokum. With the modification, it is possible to fly in the AH-1Z (currently in the Czech Army’s arsenal), the OH-58D Kiowa reconnaissance and combat aircraft, the single-seat Ka-50 “Black Shark” and finally the Mi-24V Hind (served in the Czech Army). Improvements have also been made to the flight models’, and weapons behaviour characteristics. Among helicopter simulators, this is the equivalent of the aircraft simulators from Digital Image Design.
The Enemy Engaged series is famous for its dynamic campaigns in different parts of the world, but they are more compact and less complex than those presented in TAW and Falcon BMS.
The EECH modification adds 16 more dynamic campaigns, a new photorealistic terrain textures, and requires the installation of the original EEAH and EECH (available on GOG), as well as TrackIR support. One of the game’s biggest strengths was the ability to link the two sims together when installed and fly multiplayer EEAH and EECH together. Each player had their a helicopter, so you couldn’t fly in two-player (pilot and gunner/copilot) as is now possible in DCS World’s helicopter modules.
Comanche on the warpath in EECH
Heliport with Ka-52 Hokum, Mi-24 in the background (mod EECH)
STRIKE FIGHTERS
Tsuyoshi Kawahito, nicknamed Third Wire, is the driving force behind the studio of the same name. He has previously worked on Jane’s AH-64D Longbow, Jane’s Longbow 2, and European Air War. He also signed on Strike Fighters: Project 1 and the popular Strike Fighters 2 series.
The main advantage of Strike Fighters is the ability to modify the game in almost any way. The modders have created practically everything imaginable: from planes, helicopters, ground equipment, objects, terrains, battlefields, campaigns, sounds, and complex modes (e.g. World War II, Korea) that make the original game almost new.
Strike Fighters has always been one of the mainstream flight sims, and the nod to the jet simulation of the 1950s-1980s still makes it very unique. Who wouldn’t want to pilot iconic machines such as the F-4 Phantom II, the Harrier, or the Soviet MiGs, Sukhoi, and French Mirage? They flew in a time when radar and missiles were not as reliable as they are today and fly-by-wire (purely electronic aircraft control) did not exist. Controlling the so-called “jets” of that era was like driving a Cadillac from the 1980s, pure brute force.
The handling of avionics is simplified in Strike Fighters, but not to the level of an arcade.
The flight model is quite realistic, elements of high piloting can be flown, and outside of the ability to modify the game, the dynamic campaigns are probably the biggest advantage, unsurprisingly. Although these are not the same high-level dynamic campaigns we know from TAW or Falcon BMS, and communication with wingmen, air traffic controllers, and AWACS is limited, mission variability is guaranteed here as well.
Unlike the competition, the length of the campaign can be selected, and there is ground combat between the parties to the conflict. Strike Fighters 2 handles popular Cold War battlefields, i.e. Vietnam, Israel, Europe (NATO vs. USSR), the North Atlantic (F-14A vs. Soviet Navy), and offers a variety of manned aircraft with custom cockpit and avionics. It’s worth noting that it’s possible to fly the campaign as mercenaries in the service of a fictional republic in the Middle East as well.
Worthy of your attention are the elaborate mods Yankee Air Pirate - Revamp Works (Vietnam War) and the comprehensive and unique Operation Desert Storm: 30th Anniversary Edition (1991 Gulf War).
Mirage III and F-4 Phantom II in the service of a fictional Middle Eastern state in Strike Fighters 2
F-4 Phantom II cockpit, IL-28 jet bomber shot down (Strike Fighters 2)
WHERE TO GO FOR ADVICE
International virtual aircraft pilots often meet in the forums at forums.mudspike.com. The Czech and Slovak fighter flying community (mainly IL-2 Sturmovik, IL-2 Sturmovik Great Battles, and DCS World) is concentrated at Svět Virtuálních Křídel (IL-2 Sturmovik 1946, Cliffs of Dover, Rise of Flight) - Novinky and in private Facebook groups.
For example, you can apply for membership in the DCS CZ/SK community, Falcon BMS CZ/SK community, and IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad CZ/SK groups. The community focused on civil machines is most active on the discussion forums www.flightsim.cz, cz.ivao.aero and in the Facebook group Virtual Flying CZ/SK.
=============================================================
Translated with DeepL.com (free version) + some corrections made by the author.
Level 338: Czech grants for game development, the return of flight simulators, and a game Martin hasn’t heard of - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtpWaIZ0H6E&t=570s
