In late January Rowan released an incredible WWI simulation with a new graphics engine and some of the best force flight models yet designed. However, for some would be pilots with older equipment, the graphics engine was too demanding. Rowan is about to release an update for 3d hardware that INCLUDES Force FX support. For a hands-on review see FC 3d For info on FC Gold, see below.

Contrary to what you may have read in other places, the 3d patch has been delayed again, but this time its not under Rowan's or Empire's control. It seems that the new version of Direct X has caused chaos with the patch, and Rowan will require some time to see how to adjust for the new API.

In the meantime, here are some screen shots I took this morning.

Flying Corps Gold

Compared with FC V1.10 (3d patch), Flying Corps Gold will contain the following improvements:

• Mission Editor
• Multi-player
• More flyable aircraft
• "Views" reworked
• more farmyard trivia!

The mission editor will allow the player to build missions, campaigns and careers that can be played in Flying Corps. The editor will be Windows 95 only but the files produced will work in the DOS version of the game as well as the WIN95 version.

Events can also be assigned to 'hot spots' on the ground, so if you fly near an enemy base, aircraft will scramble and AAA will engage. The user will have access to Rowan's event system so that complex missions can built very quickly.

More ground items will be introduced, and the player will have access to these via the mission editor. Not all of these have been determined yet, but it will include some animals, and perhaps even some vehicles. If you've been a careful observer while flying low near trees, you may have already spotted the birds who scramble to get out of your way. Watch for an even more immersive experience in FC Gold.

As for graphics, there will be further graphics improvements like adding aircraft shadows and support for further 3d graphic cards. This MAY include light source shading.

The Multi-player option will allow modem, network and Wireplay connection. At this stage it looks like we will be limited to "death match" play, but at least we will be able to produce multiplay missions with the editor. Further mp upgrades will be available later, likely including coop play so that we can command an entire wing of human pilots.

New aircraft will include the Fokker DVII. Others have not been determined, though it at least one more allied airframe will be added for the Gold release, most likely a French aircraft. Others will follow later. Rowan also intend to provide the tools to allow the player to tweak the aircraft models. Does this mean a full scale design feature? Could be...

Flying Corps Gold will be published in the Autumn of 1997. The mechanism for upgrading existing users has not been agreed on yet.

The Thrustmaster files supplied with FC are weak... here are mine. These files are designed for use with the F22 Pro and the TQS, but can be easily modified for FLCS.