Combat Flight Sim

Sim155 Ltd, developer of the flight and naval combat simulator Combat Air Patrol 2, has announced that the TrackIR support has now been completed. To celebrate the announcement, Sim155 Ltd has released the first “TrackIR Flight” video! Stay tuned for more videos from Combat Air Patrol 2!

Combat Air Patrol 2 (CAP2) is a flight and naval combat simulator game for PC (Steam/Windows) where you pilot the AV8B Harrier II. After initial flight and tactical training you will be pitched into an immersive scenario against aggressive ground, sea and air based enemies. Use your skill as a pilot and your tactical awareness to engage in dogfights, carry out ground attacks and command your fleet to ultimately ensure the safety of your comrades and the final capitulation of the enemy. Strategic decisions such as commanding your fleet on the tactical map and your performance in the air will affect the final outcome: Go ‘gung ho’ with a full out assault and the outcome will be in the balance or plan ahead and the end result will be your ultimate victory.

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.

Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China gets Steam Trading Cards, 2K/4K Aviation Art Wallpapers Available for Download

Today Ace Maddox Games made Steam Trading Cards available for Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China for everyone! Steam Trading Cards are virtual cards earned just by playing, and can be turned into game badges and tradable Steam community items.

In addition, three high-end aviation art wallpapers have been released on the game’s official website, motifs include the American-built P-51D (flying nationalist China insignia) and the Japanese amphibious fighter A6M2-N “Rufe”. Both aircraft will be flyable in the game soon.

Watch the Steam Trading Cards Teaser Trailer here.

Get Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China available via the Steam Store.

Visit the Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China Official Website.

Currently in Steam Early Access, Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China is an air-combat action game based on the historical 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 in 1941, the Flying Tigers were officially known as the “American Volunteer Group”. The clandestine unit was commanded by Claire Lee Chennault, a resigned US military-aviator and an advisor to Chinese Air Force.

Sim155 Ltd, developer of the flight and naval combat simulator Combat Air Patrol 2, has announced that the DX11 C++ conversion is complete and they are now moving on to steam integration, TrackIR support and gameplay polishing and tweaking. Faye Scio of Sim155 Ltd said the conversion has increased performance noticeably and the development team has it running well on there in house testing laptop. “We are confident it’s going to be a smooth experience, even if you don’t have a top end gaming machine” Faye Scio reported.

Combat Air Patrol 2 (CAP2) is a flight and naval combat simulator game for PC (Steam/Windows) where you pilot the AV8B Harrier II. After initial flight and tactical training you will be pitched into an immersive scenario against aggressive ground, sea and air based enemies. Use your skill as a pilot and your tactical awareness to engage in dogfights, carry out ground attacks and command your fleet to ultimately ensure the safety of your comrades and the final capitulation of the enemy. Strategic decisions such as commanding your fleet on the tactical map and your performance in the air will affect the final outcome: Go ‘gung ho’ with a full out assault and the outcome will be in the balance or plan ahead and the end result will be your ultimate victory.

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

Specialist wargaming developer The Lordz Games Studio and Check Your 6! board game developer Scott Fisher are happy to announce an exclusive licence deal to bring the multiple award winning and popular set of WWII air combat rules and scenario books to the digital gaming arena.

Check Your 6! was designed to reflect the realities of air combat with the simplest wargame mechanics possible. The CY6! game series will closely reflect the realities of WWII and Modern air combat while allowing for a playable game. Combat is reflected in 3D and the game is the result of years of research into Air-to-Air, Air-to-Ground and Ground-to-air weapons, combat manoeuvres, aircraft statistics and the influence of pilot skill on combat. Statistical analysis was extensively used to find the most efficient game systems. In addition, former US Air Force and US Marine Corps pilots were a part of the design team from the start, greatly influencing the design and playtesting.

“We are extremely proud Scott has trusted us with the task to bring, in my mind the best air combat game board and tabletop game series, to the digital market.“, said Rudolf-Tim van der Moer, CEO of The Lordz Games Studio. “We have been a long-time fan of Scott`s specialist team and their excellent game design. Playing CY6! on digital devices will make a lot of wargamers, air combat fans and armchair generals happy and excited.”

Scott Fisher, CY6! main designer, said: “After eight incredible years as a board/miniatures game, we’re excited to extend CY6 into the digital world. Bringing CY6 to this new domain will further our commitment to not only provide a great game but also allow players worldwide to learn the lessons of real air-combat campaigns. With CY6, it was always our goal to put players in the cockpit, compelling them to deal with the same issues and decisions of historical pilots. What maneuver do I do? Should I shoot? Do I attack the bombers or fighters? How good is my opponent? Do I risk it!?“

“In the digital version of CY6, players will focus even more on the combat situation rather than rule mechanics and, of course, will be surrounded by our trademark historical accuracy. We plan to bring not only a great game system to the digital medium, but also plan to convert our signature air campaigns books to be part of the system. We are very proud of the research that went into these books, in many cases they provide information never before published.“

“I am glad to be working with the Lordz development team on this project. The Lordz team has shown the same commitment to excellence and historical accuracy that we prided ourselves on in developing the original CY6 board/miniatures game. In addition to the dedicated Lordz team, all members of the original CY6 Design Team (including several combat veteran pilots) have agreed to help with this effort. All of us are thrilled to bring the entire CY6 line of rules and scenario books to the digital customer!“

The first game is already well under development at The Lordz Games Studio. The complete current range of rules and scenario books, including any future editions, will be brought to a wide variety of digital game platforms to form a complete digital CY6! game series.

Source: Steam

Developer Ace Maddox has announced its air-combat action game Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China the control-system has been overhauled and upgraded! Meet the ICARUS patch. Many new options, including sim-style PITCH, ROLL and YAW controls have been implemented. In addition, we’ve added a few more features such horizontal and vertical “auto-stabilizators” to further improve the original ARCADE flying style. A free-roaming “Panoramic Camera” feature has also been implemented, so if you play on mouse you can simply hold MMB to look around (and if you’re playing on KEYBOARD, just move the mouse to activate the Panoramic Camera).

Please note that ICARUS may still have some issues, mainly with Saitek flightsticks on Windows 10. We’re working on it though, and are planning to release the full controls update shortly.

Here’s the shortlist:

• Implemented optional PITCH/ROLL and rudder (YAW) controls.
• Added “Panoramic Camera” feature that lets players look around freely.
• Rebuilt the SETTINGS/SETUP CONTROLS GUI for better overview and improved navigation.
• New gameplay cameras. Press “V” to toggle NORMAL/FAR/NEAR.
• Game Balancing: Made several adjustments to difficulty and AI.

Back to work, and oh, we’ve got Trading Cards nearly done too, they should release in less than a week. Get more information about the game at the official Flying Tigers: Shadows Over China website.

Texas-based game studio HiTech Creations have announced they have opened a free public beta of their next generation online combat simulation multiplayer game for the PC, Aces High.

Aces High is a versatile multiplayer World War 2 simulation game which combines hard core combat flight simulation elements with ground-wars and naval battles. With vast amounts of user generated content, a vibrant community and regular free updates, this is an addictive game for anyone who likes intense dogfights and beyond.

The free open beta version adds many major new elements to the long-running game. A completely new graphics engine and a new sound engine headline the new version. New features of these engines include:

• Continuous Level-of-Detail shift
• Real-time environment mapping
• Atmospheric light scattering with realistic haze effects
• Award-winning SpeedTree® vegetation rendering system on an unprecedented scale.
• Terrains as that can exceed a quarter-million square miles.
• Large-scale terrain smooth self-shadowing gives life-like vistas
• Upgraded DirectX 12 compatible shaders
• Completely new ships, airfields and ground objects
• New high resolution terrain mapping
• FMOD® Sound System
• Completely new sounds including multi-channel recordings of real World War 2 aircraft
• New environmental background sounds
• Greater sound realism using new blending, cross-fading, and filter effects

In addition to large-scale open arena play and historical re-enactment scenarios, a new mission system can put players right into the start of air battles ranging in size from 1v1’s to huge air battles with hundreds of planes in either player-vs-player, or player-vs-AI configurations. New alternate game play modes such as Capture-the-Flat and Last-Man-Standing are also supported. The open beta can be downloaded for free from the official Aces High website.

About Aces High
Aces High was released in the last quarter of 1999. Since its initial release it has been continuously updated and maintained. Now the best supported game just got better. Through all the major revisions of the game, continuity has been maintained. Adding new features, augmenting others, adding and updating content has kept the game fresh for the thousands of players who play Aces High.

Source: Blue’s News

A post to the Eagle Dynamics forums has word that version 1.5.0 of DCS World is now available in open beta, offering the chance to test fly updates to this combat flight simulation that includes a graphics revamp. They also announce that open beta testing is underway for their L-39 Albatros module that adds this light jet to the game. This page is where to find the downloads along with details on testing, and this video shows off the L-39 Albatros.

iEntertainment Network’s acclaimed World War II simulation WarBirds 2016 has landed on Steam!

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, WarBirds 2016 is loaded with a wide range of improvements and brand new content – including new geographical terrains, airplanes, online modes, and flight models by veteran fighter pilots and engineers. All WarBirds 2015 owners will automatically be upgraded to WarBirds 2016.

WarBirds is the longest running online combat flight simulation in the world. Hundreds of thousands of WarBirds veterans have flown, won, died, and celebrated the Greatest Generation’s fighter and bomber pilots of World War II. WarBirds takes dedicated learning and lots of practice to survive and win.

“WarBirds 2016 rewards attention to detail, teamwork, and courage under fire above all else,” says iEntertainment Network’s CEO, ‘Wild Bill’ Stealey Lt. Colonel, USAF Retired, Command Pilot. “These are the same qualities you were expected to have if you sought to survive the deadliest air battles of World War II.”

Source: Blue’s News

iEntertainment Network announces Warbirds 2016 will take flight on September 28th, offering the newest installment in their World War II combat flight simulator series. This will add a bunch of new content to the game, and will be an automatic free update for owners of Warbirds 2015. They also announce the next installment in their squad select series is this Sunday. Here’s a new trailer and here’s word on new features in the new version.

11 new geographical air-to-air competition terrains:

Pearl Harbor, Japan Islands, Korea, Solomon Islands, Greece, North Sea, New Guinea, Truk, Sicily, Marstown

6 new aircraft:

P36, MC200, P-38G, Japanese N1K1-J fighter, Nakajima L2d Troop Transport, and British Spitfire 9b

22 new flight models:

P-40 (E and N models), WarHawk, F4U-1A (both flown by legendary WW II Ace, Pappy Boyington with 25 Recorded Kills — featured in the 1970s TV series, *Baa Baa Black Sheep*), A6M5 Japanese Zero, and more

Flight Model updates:

Improved torque effects, realistic fuel burn modeling, engine overheat damage models, adjusted turn, roll, and climb rates, more accurate gun ballistics — along with a new, more capable autopilot feature

The Fighter Collection with Eagle Dynamics are happy to announce that DCS: NEVADA Test and Training Range Map is available for pre-purchase from the DCS e-shop! DCS: NEVADA Test and Training Range Map will sell for $49.99 in November 2015. Pre-purchase now for $39.99 and save 20%!

The Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) has the largest contiguous air and ground space available for peacetime military operations in the free world. The NTTR land area includes simulated air defense systems, mock airbases, and several target ranges. The NTTR was also used for nuclear testing. Today, it is home to RED FLAG and other military exercises that include countries from around the world. The NTTR map for DCS World 2 includes Nellis AFB, Creech AFB and the infamous Groom Lake AFB (aka Area 51). This map also includes the city of Las Vegas, McCarran International Airport, and Hoover Dam.

Check out the teaser video here.

Key Features of DCS: NEVADA Test and Training Range Map:

• 366,000 sq. kilometres that covers portions of Nevada, Utah, Arizona and California.
• Highly detailed modelling of Nellis Air Force Base, Creech Air Force Base, McCarran International Airport, and the Area 51 facility.
• Hoover Dam and Lake Meade.
• All VOR and VORTAC radio navigation beacons.
• High resolution mesh and textures around the detailed airbases.
• The entire NTTR airspace as well indication of all sub-ranges.
• Las Vegas, Pahrump, Mesquite, Moapa, Indian Springs, Boulder City and other cities and towns in and nearby the NTTR. This also includes all major roads, railways, and power lines.

For those that pre-purchase prior to October 1st, 2015, you will receive a 20% discount and two free Red Flag campaigns (one for the F-15C and one for the A-10C). For those that pre-purchase between October 1st and the Open Alpha release in late November, you will receive a 20% discount and one free Red Flag campaign. Both of these options also include a 20% bonus savings on future purchases at full price.

Visit the Digital Combat Simulator website for more information.