| EF2000 v.2.0 by Leonard "Viking1" Hjalmarson |
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EF2000 V2.0 is out! V2.0 contains the following items:
Test SystemSystem one:
System two:
In November of 1996 Digital Image Design released their second TFX, titled EF2000. It was obvious that something unusual had happened. A few months later version two broke out, and who wants to even think about the limitations of the first release? Since then the TactCom upgrade has been released in Europe and the 3d patch for Rendition and 3dfx is complete, soon to be released in a new package with both DOS and WIN95 versions. Icing on the cake for this sim!
EF2000: the EvolutionEF2 v.2 is the best all-around modern military jet sim out there, and will probably age very well. Sure, SU27 has a fabulous flight model, and B2B has some awesome avionics, but who else puts it together with a dynamic campaign, a decent wingman command structure for good tactical play, and incredible graphics? And the avionics in EF2000 can stand on their own, requiring dedication to learning the systems. The flight model may not be QUITE state of the art, but its damn good. And the campaign mode with its unpredictability and progressive nature truly shines. For a discussion of the value of dynamic campaigns, see the March Editorial. For a discussion on what makes up the best elements in a military flight sim experience, see the Quest for the Grail. A few months ago, the Tactical Communications upgrade was released in Europe. To the dismay of North American fans, problems with the NA distributor has meant a LONG delay in release. Those who have been lucky or determined have purchased via mail order from Sim Tech and the like. But the 3dfx version has only been in the hands of lucky testers so far. Version Two is Tactical Communications for DOS and WIN95 with the Graphics Plus version also. If you have 3dfx or Rendition hardware, you can run in a DOS box. The version that I have in hand is the final release version for 3dfx and Rendition. It is the entire simulation, and not only partial as was the demo released with the Monster 3d. |
InstallationThere are separate installs for the G+ (3d hardware) and WIN95 versions. Since the 3d upgrade runs in a WIN95 DOS session, be careful to follow instructions carefully. I had no difficulty with joystick configuration, now thats a blessing! If you don't have 3d hardware, you will need a P133 and 16 meg of Ram to properly enjoy this sim at its highest resolution, and at that rate you may want to select the medium detail setting. You can run it at low res on a slower machine or 486, but this is far from ideal. On the other hand, if you have a moderate Pentium (P90) and 3d hardware and 32 meg, you are in for a treat! A HOTAS setup is also highly desirable, and if programmable, so much the better! I have tried EF2000 v.2 with both CH and TM gear and also with SUNCOM. Now where is that SUNCOM split throttle? Anyway, all worked beautifully. If you have TM gear, check out my alternate config files: TM Config. When I first loaded v.2 for 3dfx, I noticed that my load time had doubled over TactCom. I promptly engaged a 2 meg Smartdrv cache which brought load time back to normal. But when I first hit the runway, I could see that the world would never be the same.... Going Vertical!!The basic v.2 interface runs under standard SVGA parameters. But when you finally click to begin your mission, you will see a new world unfolding. When I first took to the virtual skies, frame rate had entered a new dimension! The difference is so substantial that I could not see any effect on frame rate despite the number of missiles or bandits in the air. In fact, flight now feels fluid and I have to change the way I fly and fight!
Go to Part II
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