Falcon 4.0: The greatest, and last, of the combat flight sims. - Games

[IMG]http://www.lead-pursuit.com/imagesgallery2/gallerypic08.jpg[/IMG] Long live Falcon 4.0: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6k2cfk1A58[/media] Now we need thread music: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lz4mQUozTdI[/media] Essential Links: Lead Pursuit, where you can purchase get the latest version of Falcon 4.0: Allied Force: [url]http://www.lead-pursuit.com/[/url] Open Falcon forum. Open Falcon is a community made update of Falcon 4.0: [url]http://www.f4support.com/forums/index.php[/url] FreeFalcon website, yet another community made update of Falcon 4.0: [url]http://www.freefalcon.com/[/url] Somehow lost your manual? You can download the Falcon 4.0 manual here: [url]http://www.f-16.net/downloads_file19.html[/url] (though I can't imagine how the heck you'd lose track of this manual) If you don't know what Falcon 4.0 is: [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_4.0[/url] Falcon 4.0 was a combat flight sim released by Microprose in 1998, and was probably the last big-budget combat flight sim to be made before the genre more or less faded into obscurity. Falcon 4.0 featured a realistic simulation of an F-16 fighter. In addition to an accurate flight model, it simulated nearly every system in F-16 in some way. Need a gunsight? You had the classic versatile EEGS funnel sight, the more precise LCOS sight, and the barebones Snapshoot line. Need to drop a bomb? Falcon 4.0 featured a working CCRP (continuously computed release point) blind bombing mode, CCIP (continuously computed impact point) bombsight mode, and even the DTOS "dive toss" mode for tossing unpropelled bombs over obstacles. Got some other planes to kill? You can radar lock and launch an AIM-120 from miles away or enjoy the high pitched tone of the AIM-9 sidewinder as it picks up the heat of your target at close range. These are just a few of the many features of the F-16 simulated in Falcon 4.0. Falcon 4.0 was considered very advanced for its time not only for its realistic simulation of the F-16 and other aircraft, but for it's dynamic single-player campaign simulation as well, which could be thought of as an RTS-like simulation running in the background. Missions did not take place on a set game path and were affected partly by the players actions as well as many random factors. This also added a lot to immersion in-game as you would see not only what was happening in your mission, but other flights of friendly and enemy aircraft carrying out their own assignments as well. Falcon 4.0 also featured smaller self-contained "Tactical Engagement" missions that are not part of a larger campaign, allowing for a number of more specific playable scenarios. Also included was a "Instant Action" mode where the player was given and infinite amount of munitions to fight for as long as possible against an infinite number of enemy aircraft. Falcon 4.0's design allowed for a further content to be added, but due to unforseen circumstances the original development team was never able expand the game the way they intended. This modular design was later used by the modding community to update and optimize the game and add a variety of new content. The company Lead Pursuit was formed by many members of the Falcon 4.0 modding community and gained the rights to continue development of Falcon 4.0. This lead to the 2005 release of Falcon 4.0: Allied Force which included many of the fan-made improvements that have been done over the years as well as several new features and updated graphics.

"Last combat flight-sim"? Aren't you forgetting IL-2?

[QUOTE=killa47;16552296]"Last combat flight-sim"? Aren't you forgetting IL-2?[/QUOTE] IL-2 is not a sim. Neither is LockOn. At least not by the same standards.

[url]http://www.fun-motion.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3774[/url] Sounds like a Combat Flight Simulator to me. But hey, what do I know?

To put it into perspective. IL-2 and LockOn are like CoD 4 while Falcon 4.0 and others like it are like Operation Flashpoint. Yes, they're called sims, but the definition of "sims" has changed.

[QUOTE=paul1290;16552405]To put it into perspective. IL-2 and LockOn are like CoD 4 while Falcon 4.0 and others like it are like Operation Flashpoint. Yes, they're called sims, but the definition of "sim" has changed.[/QUOTE] Um, if that comparison is true, then I don't think I'd want to play F4. Unless, of course, I spent a couple thousand on a full fledged cockpit. But either way, I think you're just nostalgia bombing. LOMAC and others out there are fine.

The games not really that hard to learn, took me a few hours before I was flying around gunning down other planes. Getting your plane smashed up is kind of fun too in a ADHD kind of way

I was barely a teenager when I first got my hands on this. I agree that the learning curve is not quite as bad as it seems. The game is "good at making you good at it" for lack of a better phrase. The tutorials are very well made and the manual is more of a part manual, part tactics part, strategy guide thing that pretty much has all the information you could want right there.

[QUOTE=Saxon;16552590]The games not really that hard to learn, took me a few hours before I was flying around gunning down other planes. Getting your plane smashed up is kind of fun too in a ADHD kind of way[/QUOTE] Most of FP doesn't have that large of an attention span.

I have the CD somewhere within 0.2 metres away from me :D. The old game though. The graphics bugs out and creates artifact-like things on the screen. Might concider purchasing this + a joystick.

IL-2 is a simulator, where are you getting your definitions from?

IL-2 is a perfectly credible simulator. Comparing it to Call of Duty is like saying ARMA II's tactical depth rivals that of Halo's. All the planes' flight models are spot on the their real life counterparts. That being said, I have played both F4 and IL-2 and consider them to be roughly equivalent. F4 is much more detailed with the actual in cockpit simulation (granted, you really only do fly 1 plane plus its variations) while both are perfect when flying.

[QUOTE=paul1290;16552405]To put it into perspective. IL-2 and LockOn are like CoD 4 while Falcon 4.0 and others like it are like Operation Flashpoint. Yes, they're called sims, but the definition of "sims" has changed.[/QUOTE] Falcon 4.0 is a study sim while IL-2 and LOMAC are survey sims. Trying to compare the two are like apples and oranges. I wouldn't compare Age of Empires III with Empire: Total War.

Oh jesus Falcon 4.0 MASSIVE NOSTALGIABOMB

[I]Sentry 1, Cowboy 1-1, cleared for departure [/I]

[QUOTE=paul1290;16552345][B]IL-2 is not a sim[/B]. Neither is LockOn. At least not by the same standards.[/QUOTE] You are so wrong, so dreadfully wrong. come back and say that after you play it with all the options turned on.

[QUOTE=Themage;16555386]You are so wrong, so dreadfully wrong. come back and say that after you play it with all the options turned on.[/QUOTE] I came. [b] IL-2 is not a sim [/b]

How the fuck is IL-2 not a sim?

[QUOTE=Themage;16555386]You are so wrong, so dreadfully wrong. come back and say that after you play it with all the options turned on.[/QUOTE] But.....with all the options turned on it makes it more realistic.... IL-2 IS a sim.

[QUOTE=Uberman77883;16552868]IL-2 is a simulator, where are you getting your definitions from?[/QUOTE] Elitist land evidently.

Il-2 is a nightmare to play with all the realism settings turned up, just like all other sims are! Frustrating and nearly impossible to play = fun?

IL-2 is definitely a sim. Just because it doesn't accurately portray the procedures of USAF operations doesn't mean that it isn't a sim. That being said, Falcon 4.0 is probably much more in depth than IL-2 will ever go with the dynamic campaign and those aforementioned procedures, as well as all of the systems on board the F-16 being fully functional.

So I'm confused on the third-party development of Falcon 4.0 - I have AF, should I install FreeFalcon/RedVIPER over it, OpenFalcon over it, or none?

Ok, you IL-2 diehards need to get something straight, these guys aren't, for the most part anyway, bashing IL-2. They are saying the F4 is even more realistic, even more tactical game in the genre. There is no denying that IL-2 is not as accurate as F4 is. That doesn't discredit IL-2 or mean it's not fun. F4 just better portrays the physics, cockpit, etc. Now, for some disclaimers. I own IL-2 and Pacific Fighters and love them. I haven't tried LockOn yet and I probably never will. When I say F4 is more realistic, I am not saying it's the better game. I'm just saying it's more realistic. There is a difference.

Aww YEAH! Falcon 4.0 FTW! I have Open Falcon 4.7 installed. I wish someone had a server to mess around, and dogfight maybe? :) Long live the Falcon, and i hope there comes a Falcon 5.0 <3

[QUOTE=VistaWiz;37388651]Aww YEAH! Falcon 4.0 FTW! I have Open Falcon 4.7 installed. I wish someone had a server to mess around, and dogfight maybe? :) Long live the Falcon, and i hope there comes a Falcon 5.0 <3[/QUOTE] I hope there comes a time where you read post dates.

Way to necromance bro