Combat Flight Sim

Some people say that World War II started in China when the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out in 1937, a full two years before German aggression seized Europe. Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China, a historical air-combat action game currently in Steam Early Access, is based on the true events of covert American WW2 fighter pilots who flew combat for the Chinese Nationalist Party under Chiang Kai-shek, more commonly referred to as the Republic of China or the Kuomintang aka KMT (the Kuomintang were forced to retreat to Taiwan in 1949 after being defeated by the Communist Party of China during the Chinese Civil War).

The “Kipling” Steam update introduces the first set of hand-painted illustrations that strives to capture the mood, look and feel of aerial warfare in 1940s South-East Asia theatre of World War II, more commonly known as the CBI (China-Burma-India).

Watch the Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China - “Kipling” Aviation Art Steam Update Video here.

About the Kuomintang of China (KMT)
The Kuomintang of China, often translated as the Nationalist Party of China or Chinese Nationalist Party, was the ruling party in mainland China from 1928 until its retreat to Taiwan in 1949 after being defeated by the Communist Party of China (CPC) during the Chinese Civil War. Together with the People First Party and New Party, the KMT forms what is known as the Taiwanese Pan-Blue Coalition, which supports eventual unification with the mainland. However, the KMT has been forced to moderate its stance by advocating the political and legal status quo of modern Taiwan. The KMT accepts a “One China Principle” – it officially considers that there is only one China, but that the Republic of China rather than the People’s Republic of China is its legitimate government. In 1930, large-scale civil war broke out between warlords who had fought in alliance with the Kuomintang during the Northern Expedition and the central government. In addition, the Chinese Communists (CPC, or Communist Party of China) revolted against the central government following a purge of its members by the KMT in 1927. The Chinese government diverted much attention into fighting these civil wars, following a policy of “first internal pacification, then external resistance”.

About The Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War (July 7, 1937 – September 9, 1945) was a military conflict fought primarily between the nationalist Republic of China and the Empire of Japan from 1937 to 1945 (the First Sino-Japanese War happened in 1894–95).

Get more information about the game at the official Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China website.

Air-combat action game developer Ace Maddox is pleased to announce the “Touchdown” Steam Update is live for Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China. The single player campaign has been completed and full voice over has been implemented to all 12 missions, there are new cockpits added for the B-25B bomber and the A6M2 Zero and P-51D Mustang fighters. There’s also a new option that lets aspiring multiplayer pilots restrict/set the control-style for online matches. Furthermore, rendering has been improved (again!) so aircraft, landscape and weather look vividly lit and more authentic. There’s also been a multiplayer menu refresh, now match modes are clarified/renamed to DOGFIGHT VS, TEAM DOGFIGHT, ROCKET MATCH VS, TEAM ROCKET MATCH, and FLY THE FLAG.

Check out the narrated YouTube video for details or skim through the changelog below for a quick overview.

Update History/Changelog:

• Single player campaign mode completed, full with 12 voiced missions.
• All campaign aircraft have cockpits implemented, including the B-25B bomber in the FINAL FLIGHT mission.Cockpits were also added for two non-campaign fighters, the Japanese A6M2 Zero and the P-51D Mustang.
• Rendering has been improved once again so now aircraft, landscape and weather look richer and more vividly lit, especially if you’re running the game on the CINEMATIC graphics setting.
• There’s also a new multiplayer setting that lets hosts restrict control-style for matches, so if you want to go head to head in an online game with players flying EXCLUSIVELY with the more advanced PITCH & ROLL setting, log into Steam, grab this update, get airborne and knock yourself out!
• Match modes have been renamed for clarification, so for example, the MASTER OF THE SKIES multiplayer mode is now called DOGFIGHT VERSUS, and we’ve got ROCKET MATCH VERSUS and TEAM ROCKET MATCH, and so on.
• Cockpits added for Japanese A6M2 Zero and the P-51D Mustang.

Get more information about the game at the official Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China website.

Sim155 Ltd. has announced that Combat Air Patrol 2 (CAP2) V809.1 is currently live in the Steam client’s Beta and VR Beta channels. As well a couple of crash fixes, general bug squashing and copious minor improvements, the following are present in this build:

• Steam launch options for 2D, OpenVR & Oculus.
• New carrier with animated elevators, deck crane and deck tugs.
• Air to Air refuelling – KC767 tanker with realistic hose physics. Check out the video here.

You can check out the full details over at the CAP2 Dev Blog.

Several new screenshots and videos have been added to the CAP2 website.

Further v809 updates will include populated target ranges, updated MFD & radar displays together with RCS (Radar Cross Section) logic. Cockpit updates are progressing well. Aside from modelling one of the major updates will be the mirror reflections. You’ll be able to specify varying levels of reflection fidelity plus we’re considering adding adjustable mirrors. Automatic support for Thrustmaster MFD Cougar panels is also on the way.

Combat Air Patrol 2 is available on Steam for $29.99.

Independent air-combat action game developer Ace Maddox is pleased to announce that its latest Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China Steam update has gone live. New features include ROCKET MATCH, a fresh multiplayer mode that lets 2-16 players go head-to-head over the Chinese-Mongolian Gobi desert in a variety of fighter-jets, including the American P-80A “Shooting Star” and the Japanese Ki-201 “Fire Dragon” (Me-262a). Check out the narrated YouTube video for details.

Update History/Changelog:

• ROCKET MATCH multiplayer mode. This new mode lets 2-16 players fly head-to-head in rocket-equipped fighter planes. Aircraft include the P-80A “Shooting Star”, the P-38L Lightning, the Ki-201 “Fire Dragon”, the Mizuno II “Divine Dragon”, the I-16 Polikarpov and the P-51D Mustang.
• Campaign VO. Recorded and implemented complete American & British voice over dialogue for East of Martaban campaign mission.
• New fighter-jets (with cockpits). Added the USAAF P-80A “Shooting Star” with cockpit and four skins. Japanese Ki-201 “Fire Dragon” with cockpit (and four skins) also implemented. Finally, Japan’s unusual/experimental Mizuno Shinryu II “Divine Dragon” made available too, also with four skins.
• Retrofitted Vildebeest cockpit. The RAF bi-plane torpedo fighter Vickers Vildebeest Mk. III finally has a (semi-open) cockpit view.
• Field of View. Added and adjusted FoV (Field of View) for gameplay and cockpit cameras for improved visibility. Use (default) C / V keys to cycle back and forth to set/try the improved WIDE cameras.
• BRIGHTNESS option. Not entirely unlike GAMMA control, the new brightness option lets players adjust screen visibility (via DISPLAY SETTINGS).
• ENEMY CROSSHAIR option. Let’s you adjust the size of the red sub-crosshair to improve enemy target visibility (via HUD settings).

Get more information about the game at the official Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China website.

Narrated YouTube video tells it all!

As the big things of this world – governments, corporations, institutions – are losing traction, independent air-combat action game Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China (FTSOC) grinds along like an old river barge up Burma’s Salween gorge, fending off Japanese assaults on the left while expecting Allied reinforcements from the right. It’s been quite some time since you’ve heard from us gamedev-mechanics here at Ace Maddox, so hopefully today’s additions will make you all pleased.

Live on Steam now, this straight-forward update adds a good amount of content and bugfixes, and we’ve simply decided to call it “COCKPIT/CAMPAIGN”. Check out the voiced YouTube video for a thorough overview, or scour the changelog below for a quick rundown.

Update History/Changelog:

• Four new cockpits and “wide” interior camera added. Hop inside the P-40E, Buffalo Mk. I, Lysander Mk. II or the Japanese Ki-43 fighter! If you’re playing on keyboard and/or mouse, just press the V key to check out the newly added cockpit “wide” camera. And, there’s also a refurbished bomb-targeting system for when you’re seated in cockpit mode.
• Voice actors exhausted as Campaign nears competion. Development of FTSOC’s historical single player campaign is almost complete. We’ve updated some of the older voices, while a multitude of actors have been working around the clock to record the remainder of the Campaign mission’s screenplay in proper. We suggest you give the Campaign a full playthrough, so you can hear for yourselves.
• Controller vibration. For those of you who prefer to play/fly with a gamepad, there’s now controller rumble for stronger “immersion”.
• Improved rendering. Shadows and reflections look sharper and are more stable now, this specially noticeable when you’re seated inside.
• Toggle HUD elements on the fly. Press the H key while flying to control displaymode of the various HUD elements (handy feature when recording video or FRAPSing stills).
• Ship models. We’ve updated most of the game’s warship models, plus added a typical Southeast Asian wooden cargo ship, namely the Malayan Bedar (which, incidentally, does not look entirely unrelated to the Chinese junk).
• More Challenges. We’ve added two new mini-missions in the form of challenges, so go ahead and take that dusty old Vildebeest for a bit of tinfish-safari off the Akyab coast in the new TORPEDOGS challenge, or try out the bombs and machine guns of the Allied P-43A fighter in GROUND ATTACK.
• Added captured Japanese fighter. We’ve implemented a captured P-40E fighter, bombs included, to spice up multiplayer cockpit-dogfighting a little. Enjoy the flight!

About Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China:

Currently in Steam Early Access, Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China (FTSOC) is a historical air-combat action game based on the true events of America’s secret volunteer squadrons that flew against Japan in the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theatre of World War 2. Secretly recruited under President Roosevelt’s authority, the Flying Tigers were officially known as the “American Volunteer Group”.

Get more information about the game at the official Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China website.

Sim155 Ltd. has announced that Combat Air Patrol 2 (CAP2) VR Beta 1 is available now in the Steam client’s ‘BETAS’ tab. Here’s the news release by Ed Scio at developer Sim155:

I’ve got to admit VR in CAP2 is now pretty damn cool! With the first implementation I was slightly skeptical of the experience, feeling nauseous etc but with ‘Cinema Mode’ implemented for non pilot views there’s no longer a bucket by my desk.

There’s a lot of minor updates/fixes to come for VR, including:

• Allow MSAA rendering
• UI currently not shown in pilot view (after pressing ‘ESC’)
• Mission planner not shown in VR (enable 2D Mirror to view it if required)
• Radio commands input method
• Update VR during loading screens
• Add an Oculus API option

Also, in VR obviously can’t see your keyboard for input so I’ll add a method for highlighting cockpit controls by looking at them then selecting via a new control input. This will let you manage MFD’s, flaps, water injection, counter measures, canopy latch, eject handle, upfront controls etc using the headset and one button. This method will also be implemented in non VR mode to work with gamepad right stick cockpit view.

Right, back to finishing v808 with a new carrier and in-flight refueling!

For more detail on previous updates check out the dev blog.

Find out more about Combat Air Patrol 2 at the games official website.

1C Game Studios is excited to announce that IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Moscow is available digitally starting from today. The game can be purchased at our website in two editions, Standard and Premium, for the price of $49.99 and $79.99 correspondingly. For additional information on both editions please visit www.il2sturmovik.com.

The game is also available via Steam as DLC for the previous title IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad.

IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Moscow is a combat flight simulation dedicated to the Battle of Moscow, one of the most decisive battles on the Eastern Front in WWII. This new project from 1С Game Studios continues the next generation of combat flight simulations with the latest development technologies – from a new higher level of physics modeling, damage modeling and aerodynamics to modern modes of gameplay with detailed, immersive environments.

Sim155 Ltd. has announced that Combat Air Patrol 2 (CAP2) will be updated to version v806. Its the most extensive update so far and will go live this week. One of the major features of v806 is radio comms. Radio exchanges and background chatter really improve simulation immersion. It also enables commands to aircraft within your section such as:

• Formation control
• Target assignment (A-A & A-G)
• Report State
• Navigation
• Mission abort
• Return to base
• Recover/land on carrier
• Emcon (Emissions Control)
• Lights state

You also have RT to the carrier/fleet such as:

• Request takeoff
• Request land
• Request position check
• FAC assign fire mission to fleet

Target assignment is done by locking up an air target, surface target or locking a point with your Lantirn pod then commanding a wingman to attack your target.

Formation control is fun to use, you have standard mission formations such as combat spread, echelon etc. You also have the close formation ‘parade’ which is great for photo opportunities, not so great for sudden maneuvers!

Fleet FAC (Forward Air Controller) allows you create a fire mission for the fleet main guns, initiating a barrage at your Lantirn pod lock point.

Radio comms will continue to evolve throughout ‘Early Access’ with extra commands, associated AI logic and UI updates.

You can follow the development of Combat Air Patrol 2 via its Steam Community Hub. Find out more about Combat Air Patrol 2 at the games official website.

Nothing quite shocks the senses like the chilly winds and intense air-battles of 1940s southeast Asia. Today’s summery Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China Steam update not only improves multiplayer features, but also retrofits cockpit view/support, starting with a functional inside rendition of the RAF’s tropical Spitfire Mk. V. Furthermore, a pair of new fighters have been made available namely the Allied P-47D “Thunderbolt” and the Japanese Ki-44 Shoki “Toji”, each with a decent selection of skins and over-the-radio voice shouts in American, Chinese, Russian and Japanese languages.

“Cockpit/Contender” Update Overview:

• Added support for cockpit view. Just getting started on fighter interiors. Buckle up in the Spitfire Mk. V fighter in the Multiplayer, Dogfight or Free Flight modes (press “V” to cycle cameras/cockpit).
• Online features improved. Collapsed multiplayer JOIN/HOST menus for better overview and accessibility, improved lobby/match views, added Steam invites (via lobby and pause screens), Leaderboards readily accessible, Steam profile avatars used for both multiplayer games and match stats, adjusted formatting/layout to make native chat more pleasant (use RETURN/ENTER to toggle chat).
• Multiplayer modes. Flying below 200 ft partially hides you allowing for interesting escapes and sudden “jumps” on opponents. Player health for all multiplayer modes now displayed in the match stats/overview.
• Visuals. Improved scene rendering for increased shadow and tree stability on (resulting in a less distractive landscape view).
• Just for fun. Implemented real-time “documentary” color modes; sepia, black & white and vintage filters (available via the DISPLAY SETTINGS menu).
• Two new fighter aircraft. P-47D “Thunderbolt” and Ki-44 Shōki “Toji” fighters with multiple skins and voice shouts.

Watch the “Cockpit/Contender” Steam Update Gameplay Trailer here.

You can purchase Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China via Steam.

Get more information about the game at the official Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China website.

Sim155 Ltd. has announced that Combat Air Patrol 2 (CAP2) will launch today via Steam Early Access at (6pm GMT/12:00 PM Eastern USA). Check out what veteran programmer Ed Scio at Sim155 had to say about today’s release:

Well, this is early access launch day so I thought it’d be good to explain what to expect over the coming days, weeks and months. I have to admit its been a scramble to get ready for the launch though without a deadline I’d probably never get around to releasing CAP2. I’m looking forward to getting feedback, both good and bad. Bear in mind this is an Early Access title. For instance, the main strategic feature of CAP2, the dynamic campaign, is approximately 75% complete. There are lots of minor items on my release list which won’t make the 6pm (UK) release build so expect a stream of updates over the next few days. All elements will likely evolve with your feedback.

After the initial flurry of updates this week, we’ll run a general beta build for those of you who want to try new features/bug fixes as soon as they are available. Based on feedback we’ll then transition them to the main build. There may be several beta builds per week so only subscribe to those if you are OK with that. I’ll be primarily using this blog to keep you up to date with development.

Here are our main areas of upcoming development:

• Dynamic Campaign. We’ll be improving the dynamic campaign by adding more targets, enemy capabilities such as mine laying, offensive capabilities such as integrating Tomahawk strikes into a mission package.
• VR. Its been difficult to hold off starting on this, especially with all the recent buzz around the official launches but we managed to show some restraint. We’ve got the Rift kit, Vive is on the way so we should start on this next week. We’ll create a VR build which anyone can opt into. Initial builds will be a simple implementation followed by UI upgrades.
• Multiplayer. As described in previous posts.
• Rendering. Expect to see graphical improvements such as SSAO, DOF, self shadowing terrain, shadow casting vegetation.
• Carrier. We’ll create a fully populated deck and also have animated lifts, defenses and radars.
• Aircraft. Expect graphical updates to the AV8B cockpit together with increased control functionality.
• In Flight refueling. We have the animated refuel probe in game already, just waiting for drogue logic/physics implemented.
• Scenery. A high priority feature to be added is OSM (Open Street Map) data for accurate road and building generation.
• 3D Models. In addition to generated OSM scenery models we’ll be adding custom models not adequately described in OSM,
• Map Areas. We plan to add Yuma and well known training areas such as the ‘Mach Loop’ and the ‘Jedi Transition’.
• Satellite Imagery. We’ll begin sourcing satellite imagery to apply to the terrain.
• 32/64 bit build. We have both builds running now though as they are functionally identical only the 32bit is published. We’ll make the 64bit build available together with larger terrain cache sizes.

You can follow the development of Combat Air Patrol 2 on Facebook. Find out more about Combat Air Patrol 2 at the games official website.