by Leonard "Viking1" Hjalmarson

  Matt Wagner: Campaign operations will be concentrated in the central-Kola region, stretching the entire width of the Peninsula from the sub pens in the north around Polyarnny to manufacturing centers in the south around Kandalaksha. Between these areas are a dense and accurate portrayal of most every smoke stack, airbase, military logistics center, factory, powerstation, port, and population center that exists in the real world.

Defending this airspace are many enemy airbases, each consisting of specific fighter or bomber regiments assigned to them. As the player progresses through the campaign they will be confronted by new air threats as operations take them deeper and deeper into enemy territory.

Threats in the operations area also include an accurate portrayal of SAM regiment and AAA battalion order of battles, early warning radar battalions, and an integrated air defense system (IADS) with several levels of command centers. All of these air defenses are intertwined to form the most comprehensive portrayal of a modern air defense system in a civilian simulation.

Whether it's a factory, bridge, or radar site, F/A-18 also tracks the status of all possible targets during the campaign. If you destroy a runway in one mission, you can be assured it will still be destroyed in the next. However, objects can rebuild so don't expect that early warning site you destroyed to be down forever.

Q. The campaign is semi-dynamic but with a persistent environment. Will resource management be a consideration?

CJ Martin Says: Yes, resource management is a big part of the campaign, probably even more so than in F-15 because in F/A-18 you'll generally have less of everything to start with. This accurately reflects the real life limitations of shipboard operations. You'll be resupplied during the campaign, but you'll probably never have as many of the latest (and most expensive) weapons onboard as you'd like.

F/A 18 uses a much enhanced version of the campaign system from F15. The campaign is built in cells, composed of a group of missions that are related by the goal. As you progress through the campaign there are a number of pathways through the missions in a cell, and your particular path is decided by each mission you fly along with some random variables.

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Cells in turn are grouped into phases which have larger goals. An individual cell might contain three missions, such as escorting a strike force, laying mines, and knocking out a radar installation. The phase itself might have a goal like destroying a harbor and the supply route to an airbase. Each time the player encountered the same phase the goal would be the same, but the individual cells would vary considerably.

Mission types are also diverse, including CAP, Air Superiority, SAR, Interceptions and Scrambles, Strike Missions, Interdictions, support of amphibious operations, and CAS. You'll be working with allied forces, including the RAF. You'll also see carrier vs. carrier engagements.

Hornet Rockets

Q. Is multiplayer planned for both co-op and head to head? Will co-op be offered in campaign mode?

Scott Elson says: Yes and yes with up to 8 players in both cases. You'll also be able to create your own multiplayer missions with the mission builder so you could have one group working with AIs, on one side, and another group on the other working with "enemy" AIs.

Q. Will F/A 18 connect to Jane's World War?

Greg Kreafle says: No. Jane's will be Beta testing World War with USAF in a few months. We will not be patching products that ship before this occurs.

Go to Part VI