Hard Core Simulation Roadmap by Leonard "Viking1" Hjalmarson
	1999 is a landmark year for obvious reasons. First, it's the final year before the Millenium. But second, and more important for COMBATSIM.COM™, it's the year that both Andy Hollis and Paul Grace left Janes Combat Simulations. The sooth sayers and prognosticators have been driven mad by lesser events. With these two stellar simulation producers moving on to other projects, who will carry the torch into the next Millenium? And with Gilman Louie no longer the head of Microprose, is hard core simulation gaming going the way of the Dodo? Signs of the Times I'm happy to say that E3 has quelled my fears that the end of the world was near. Hard core simulation gaming is alive and well, and I think the situation may actually be IMPROVING rather than deteriorating. Let me show you the signs of the times. The best way to do this is to simply list the military simulation products at E3 that can be classified as hard-core. But just what IS "hard core" in the simulation universe? I define "hard core" a simulation that realistically represents the weapons, platforms and environment of the actual world. "Realistic" does not entail that every individual system be represented, but that the challenges a player faces will be at a similar level to the challenge faced by an actual person in the real world environment. Naturally, this would entail in MOST cases that the actual systems are simulated. And it also entails that the reactions of AI are similar in sophistication to the reactions of their real world counterparts. Click to continue		Team Alligator From this perspective you can begin to see why I am so hopeful. How many simulations prior to 1998 actually modeled weather? In 1999 virtually every new simulation will do so, greatly increasing the level of challenge, in parallel to the real world of combat operations. Furthermore, as hardware capabilities increase, we are seeing more sophisticated AI and more powerful physics engines. Inevitably, it is becoming easier and easier for simulation developers to model real world interactions. Super Hornet The most obvious area of growth involves the graphical environment per se. The simulation engines I saw at E3 this year are nothing short of stunning. Some prime examples of this are DI's Super Hornet, SIMIS Ka52 Team Alligator, Microprose B17 II and Janes F18. A graphics engine is critical for establishing a real world environment, effective use of perspective and line of sight parameters, and accuracy and ease of realistic situational awareness. Go to Page Two
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