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Monday, December 6, 1999

Swat 3 Demo SWAT 3 is a first-person tactical police simulation where players assume the role of LAPD SWAT element leader. You command a five-man team throughout the chaos of hostage rescues, high-risk warrants, barricaded suspects and dignitary protection. Venture into the depths of Los Angeles in pursuit of dangerous AI-driven suspects who range from international terrorists to disgruntled citizens. More than 150 dynamic motion-captured characters react to your every move. Click here to download from 3DFiles.com Aces High Demo V0.40 HiTech Creations has updated their online WWII simulator to version 4.0. Click here to download from 3DFiles.com Voodoo2 Beta Win9X DX7 Drivers 3DFx has released beta drivers for Voodoo2 cards with DirectX 7.0. Click here to download. New @ Rogue Spear Database Pie's Tactics has re-released it's Rogue Spear mission plans. All 18 missions are covered and are designed to allow the AI to do as much work as possible, including taking down terrorists and rescuing hostages. Click here to download.

Sunday, December 5, 1999

DI Ships F18 Super Hornet Digital Integration has shipped F18 Super Hornet in the UK. DI will eventually be releasing three products in all the markets worldwide from the Super Hornet brand... F/A-18E Super Hornet, Super Hornet Mission Disc and F/A-18E Super Hornet GOLD. Spec Ops II Patch Ripcord Games has released patch 1.1.1 for Spec Ops II. Patch 1.1.1 adds several new features to the Spec Ops II game and upgrade some existing items. Included in patch 1.1.1 are the following intelligent improvements: Thailand combative missions Adds Stealth mode - restrains "buddies" from engaging enemies unless attacked Fine-tunes AI commands (F1 - F4 keys) Fixes team friendly fire in group death match games Inverts mouse - add line to level .mrf in "common" section (case sensitive) InvertMouse Removes time limit in Antarctica Click here to download from COMBATSIM.COM or here from 3DFiles.com

Friday, December 3, 1999

New @ COMBATSIM.COM JANE'S F/A 18: More screens This time we get into the interface. Here are screens from the campaign interface and single mission interface. Training: F4 Tricks of the Trade This series of articles is discussing three things: 1) Building missions the right way the first time; 2) Fixing busted missions; 3) Mission building tricks to add excitement and uniqueness to your missions. Flanker 2.0 Patch Available SSI has offically released the Flanker 2.0 patch. This patch fixes problems associated with Voodoo video cards and other small issues. Click here to download or from various locations at 3DFiles.com New @ RogueSpear Database Digital Mod v3.3 Beta - Includes new weapons, weapon pics, sounds, textures and more. The final version of the mod is set to be released on December 9th. New @ 3DFiles.com Panzer General 3D 1.01 Patch - Fixes the crash to the desktop when the computer AI was ambushed by a player, Paratroopers can now airmobile to any other friendly controlled airfield regardless of distance, several firing and shadow graphics have been fixed and the crash to desktop by using CTRL-I or CTRL-J when no unit was selected. Delta Force 2 Patch - you can use your internal updater or download from the site. iEN & AOL Launch Fighters OPs at AOL Games Channel iEntertainment Network announced yesterday that their World War II simulation Fighter Ops launched at America Online. Fighter Ops is the first of two pay-for-play games iEN is creating for the AOL's Games Channel. Fighter Ops is the mass market version of WarBirds, a WWII air combat simulation. CH looks for Input CH is asking for your input on their new products, in particlar their USB variants of the Fighterstick and the Pro Throttle. Here are your choices: Figherstick 8 way hats. The Larger Fighterstick base used. The lower profile Combatstick base used. Heavy springs. Smoothest springs. Under $100.00 with less features Over $100.00 with more features Pro Throttle 8 way hats. Mouse pointer 2 way mode switch 3 way mode switch "Blinky" mode LED lights Detents in throttle movements Under $100.00 with less features Over $100.00 with more features Upgrade for current Pro Throttle users Discount if purchased in a bundle. Send all your suggestions to CH Products

Thursday, December 2, 1999

World War II Online Playnet Inc. and Cornered Rat Software have announced the start of the in-house ALPHA phase of their upcoming title, ‘World War II Online™’. Cornered Rat Software this weekend began ALPHA testing the development of their upcoming title, ‘World War II Online™’. With ALPHA underway, the development pace will pick up rapidly and closed BETA testing should begin sometime around the first of the new millennium. Click here to view the company web page. LRSD/SOFG On-line The LRSD/SOFG group is again opening its doors to new members. Currently the LRSD/SOFG is 23 members strong and active in Rogue Spear, Jane's USAF, Rainbow Six, Jane's WWII Fighters, and a host of other sims. Anyone interested in joining, is strongly encouraged to fill out an application at their web site. Kesami Launches Airwarrior.com Kesmai Corporation's online games network, GameStorm, has launched airwarrior.com, a site dedicated to Air Warrior. Airwarrior.com features game play of Air Warrior III and Air Warrior Classic, player-generated content, missions and scenarios, chat, message boards, ladders and rankings, free game software, and a free flight school for new pilots. Click here to view. New @ COMBATSIM.COM Exclusive: JANE'S F/A 18 Screens Twenty-six new shots from JANE'S F/A 18 including never before seen GUI shots. Check em out! Interview: B17 II Update Following our last interview, we fly in formation with the boys from Wayward and pummel them with more questions from short range. Here also is the link to our complete index of B17 Flying Fortress coverage. Rogue Spear Database News The Rogue Spear Database has moved to a new location. Click on the URL above to bookmark. They have also posted new information on the very popular Nato mod for Rainbow6 by ARMM. The new variant, Nato3, is due out soon. Click here for more details. New @ 3DFiles.com Voodoo3 3500 Drivers - power management, screensaver fixes. Updated OpenGL support. DirectX 7 Runtime finally, and Win95/Win98 support is now in the same driver download. These are for the 3500TV only, not the 2000/3000. Fighter Ace II Beta - Microsoft's Fighter Ace II beta is available for download. Microsoft is offering a free 3 day trial to try out Fighter Ace II beta online.

Wednesday, December 1, 1999

December COMBATSIM.COM Calendar The December COMBATSIM.COM Calendar is now available. Click here to download. New @ COMBATSIM.COM Feature: F18 Simulations A quick tour of configuration options in JANE'S F/A 18, and a quick tour through the recent history of F18 simulations. Review Final: Flanker 2.0 In this final of his exhaustive review, we award Flanker 2.0 our Top Pick. Not since the unveiling of Falcon 4.0 has the combat flight sim community witnessed such a quantum leap in technology and excellence. Feature: Sim Survey Results Last week we asked you what you would like to see from Rowan next year: a revisitation of WWI, or a Battle of Britain simulation. When I checked the next day more than 2/3 of almost 2900 respondents stated clearly that they would prefer a WWII simulation. Rogue Spear Mod Patch Frisk's Mod 2.0 Patch - Frisk has released a patch for his mod, Frisk's Mod 2.0, which fixes a problem with the weapons not showing up in mutliplayer. Download the patch here from Rogue Spear Database. Video Card Driver Updates @ 3DFiles.com Creative nVIDIA Drivers - This is the lastest BETA built of TNT-TNT2-GeForce generic driver. Graphics Blaster RIVA TNT, 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 3D Blaster RIVA TNT2 Ultra Graphics Blaster RIVA TNT2 Value (32Mb) 3D Blaster GeForce are the cards supported in this release. Creative Labs MiniGL - This is a beta release of an optimized mini-GL driver for both the 3D Blaster Banshee and the 3D Blaster Voodoo2. This release adds support for Quake 3 Test version 1.09. New Matrox G400 Drivers - Matrox has released new Windows 9x(v5.41.008) and Windows NT4 (v4.34.015) drivers for their Millennium G400 powered board(s). Voodoo3 2000/3000 Drivers - AGP/PCI Version 1.03.04 - Includes DirectX 7 runtime, updated OpenGL support, fixed desktop corruption issues and fixed power management and screensaver issues. Elsa Erazor III Drivers - This driver set includes support for video-in and video-out for ELSA ERAZOR III video and ELSA ERAZOR III Pro video. The included version of ELSA VideoControl for Windows 98 is 1.01.00. The new ELSA VideoControl solves the error, that an error message occurs "Startime before endtime" while trying to capture a video. This driver based on NVIDIA reference release 353 supports DirectX 7. Thanks, MyDrivers. Jane's Defence Weekly for 1 December 1999 Type 45 programme steams ahead Marconi Electronic Systems was last week confirmed as prime contractor for the UK Royal Navy's Type-45 anti-air warfare destroyer programme, just days before the company was due to be merged with British Aerospace. Pressure for EU rapid reaction force gains new momentum French President Jacques Chirac and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair have urged the European Union (EU) to develop the capability to rapidlydeploy and sustain a combat force of up to 60,000 personnel for crisis management operations. AESA contract is 'critical win' for Raytheon Boeing's selection of the Raytheon Company to develop an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) fire-control radar for the US Navy's future fleet of F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters could generate sales worth up to $1 billion, according to Raytheon officials. JASSM passes key phase with first powered flight Despite recently suffering from some development problems, the Lockheed Martin Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM)successfully passed a key milestone on 23 November with its first powered test flight. US Army battles to get better intelligence flow The US Army is battling for more direct access to space-based, airborne and other national intelligence to ensure tactical commanders can react to targets of opportunity. UK future carrier studies get under way The UK's £2.2 billion ($3.5 billion) Future Aircraft Carrier programme has taken its next step forward with the award of initial assessment phase contracts to rival industry teams led by British Aerospace and Thomson-CSF. USN to modernise Dutch Orions The Royal Netherlands Navy will implement its P-3C Orion Capability Update Programme through two US Navy (USN) programmes. Australia boosts battalions Mounting costs and manpower shortages following the Australian Army's involvement in East Timor have forced the Australian government to increase the number of full readiness battalions from four to six, adding 3,000 troops at a cost of A$3 billion ($1.95 billion) over the next three years. Chinese self-propelled anti-tank gun unveiled The Chinese People' Liberation Army has shown publicly for the first time its Type 89 120mm self-propelled anti-tank gun. Israel warned of dangers in low R&D funding Israel's Defence Ministry has received a recommendation from a Defence Ministry Committee to sharply increase funding in research anddevelopment (R&D) in the areas of satellite reconnaissance, information technology, precision-guided weapons and unmanned air vehicles. Egypt seeks to recreate its aerospace industry Egyptian government officials are planning the re-emergence of the Arab Organisation for Industrialisation as a major aerospace equipment provider in the Middle East. Jane's Navy International for December 1999 Malaysian Frigate 2000 in home waters KD Lekiu, the first of two new 2,270-ton frigates, ordered from GEC Naval Systems in March 1992 under a £400 million (US$657m) deal, began its delivery voyage to the Royal Malaysian Navy from Marconi Marine's Glasgow shipyard in mid-October. US Navy studies replacement for old Landing Craft Utility force The US Navy (USN) has embarked on a programme to replace its ageing Landing Craft Utility force, some of which are 40 years old. Next-generation AIP for Swedish subs The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration has signed a SKr600 million (US$73m) contract with Kockums Naval Systems for the installation of the next-generation Stirling Mk 3 air-independent propulsion (AIP) system aboard the Vastergötland-class submarines Södermanland and Östergötland. Italian combat system upgrade on track Installation of the first STN Atlas Elektronik ISUS 90-20 integrated sonar, command and combat system aboard the Italian Navy's Improved Sauro-class patrol submarines will begin at Fincantieri's Muggiano shipyard, Italy, in the second quarter of 2000. Factory acceptance tests of the 'wet end' of the system were carried out in October and the 'dry end' tests are due for completion at the end of December. US Navy seeks lightweight machine gun for special warfare operations The US Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division has announced an intended procurement of a new '5.56mm Lightweight Machine Gun' for use by elements of the United States Special Operations Command. UK-Argentina 'warming' continues Exercising together for the first time since the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) conflict in 1982, UK armed forces and those of Argentina last month took part in four days of joint search and rescue exercises nearly 400km south west of the Islands and about 800km east of Ushuia. Canada cross-decks FCS and considers AIP Canada is going ahead with plans to replace the fire control system (FCS) on board its Victoria-class submarines. The upgrade will allow the navy to deploy existing stocks of Mk 84 Mod 4 heavyweight torpedoes instead of the Tigerfish torpedoes designed to interface with the current system. Indian maritime patrol radar upgrades imminent Russian arms export company Rosvoorouzhenie is reported to be in the final stages of negotiations with the Indian Navy for the modernisation of the Sea Dragon common mission suite fitted to eight Tu-142MK 'Bear F' Mod 3, and five I1-38 'May' maritime patrol aircraft and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, as well as 14 Ka-28 'Helix'helicopters. The new system will increase the detection and intercept envelope of surface vessels and submarines to 150km. Baltic mine clearance Ten NATO and Partnership for Peace nations participated in a largemine clearance operation in the Baltic Sea, involving 19 ships and 530 men, between 18 October and 2 November. Thirty five mines and other ordnance were located and destroyed.