COMBATSIM.COM: The Ultimate Combat Simulation and Strategy Gamers' Resource.
 
Red Baron II Pt.II
by Leonard (Viking1) Hjalmarson

A Taste of the Action...

Attention to detail often translates into atmosphere, and with period photographs, 16 mm film style briefings, period maps and excellent sound, RB2 will have atmosphere in spades!


Hauptmann Sottlemyer's Flight Plan..

I got into a furball on my third foray in the sim and barely managed to hold my own. Mind you, I'm not sure what type of aircraft I was up against, having let Flying Corps sit on the shelf a bit too long...I also have no idea where the difficulty level is set since the option is unavailable in this beta. I took some hits but took out my man and then went on to strafe his airfield. I almost fell out of the airplane when I heard the air raid siren! Geez, what next? When I took a hit from ground fire my view got increasingly red and the groans and labored breathing of my virtual pilot increased until I was ready to call my wife at work and ask for advice (she's an RN...)

In a similar mission later I flew as escort for a bomber group targetting an allied supply dump. I let the AI do the flying til we got near to the dump and then took over. I was just scanning the sky for air cover when I was jumped by a pair of Nieuports just past the dump so my wingman and I kept them busy while the bombers did their dirty work. My wingman (in a Fokker DVII) proved to be a good shot and took out one Nieuport promptly. The other one (I later learned) had landed with engine problems...

Fine, I thought, I'll cruise around and see what targets of opportunity present themselves. I noticed a river and a bridge in the distance and took a peek at my lap map to see what might be nearby.

Ah ha! thought I, an Allied aerodrome! Going back to heads up my companion and I surged closer, with the sun off our rear quarter. Perfect! As we came within visual range I noticed a number of aircraft on the ground. Unfortunately, we were spotted and the alarm claxon began to sound. Suddenly ground fire erupted from two directions and as the fire increased my wingman took a hit and and I lost track of him. With black clouds of flak bursting around me I began to feel nervous...Everytime it was a bit too close my Fokker would shake about like a reed in the wind.

I began strafing as soon as possible and came in fast and low. I pulled up steep and into an uneven turn, the canvas complaining all the way. I was well past the Allied base when I felt my aircraft lurch sideways with a major impact. I still had control, however, and thought I could fly it home. However, my engine began to lose power and I realized something else was wrong... I could smell oil. Worse, my vision was beginning to dim...

I prepared to set down, now almost a mile from the base. My engine sputtered to a halt and the ringing from the air raid siren filled my ears, but a new sound began just as I rolled to a stop. I could hear a bell clanging from the direction of the base, and the sound began to grow in intensity. As I panned my view around I spotted a small truck coming my way, and as it drew nearer I realized it was a Red Cross vehicle, delight to the eye of a wounded Luftwaffe officer! Here is a shot of the truck just as it pulled up:

Good grief! Air raid sirens, Red Cross trucks.... My empty Fokker sat on the ground looking lonely. The pilot graphic was now missing! THIS is "attention to detail."

Some of the factors that really help with immersion is all sounds, like the bell of the truck, DO have a directional component, and if you glance left from the cockpit the sound stays oriented appropriately. The increasing intensity as the truck pulls up is also a factor. I can't recall now if I could hear the motor as it pulled up, but I do think this is also modelled. The second time I crashed near a base instead of landing and my Fokker was on fire. The Red Cross truck pulled up a couple of minutes later and a door opened and an animated figure stepped out and PUT OUT THE FIRE! I know what you are thinking, but this is NOT a joke!

The feel of flight is not unlike Flying Corps. The Spad I flew in two missions wasn't too difficult to stall and once stalled could be dangerous. Planes in Red Baron II will be individually modelled with their own flight characteristics. A Sopwith Camel will have a different center of gravity, roll rate, and lift qualities than a Fokker DR VII. Climbing ability, engine power and other differences will likewise be in place.

Sierra has also included Force feedback support in this pre-beta and I will gas up my CH stick in the next day or two to check it out. I'm not certain if all effects are in place but I'll report on the properties as they exist at present.

The digitized sound seems impeccable, from the creaking of canvas under stress to the turning pages of the record books. Engines sound great, from startup to rev variation. On my fourth mission I took three hits from AAA and the violent lurch of my aircraft combined with the sounds of the flak bursts nearby were quite terrifying! (Sierra has modelled turbulence from forces such as explosions, but there are no plans for a wind model).

Sound modelling will be detailed enough that different types of guns (Lewis vs. Vickers etc) will be unique and 3d effects are in place. If I look left I suddenly hear the engine on my right, and if I glance right I suddenly hear the engine on my left.

Go to Red Baron II Preview Part III

RB Part I
Main    Back


© 1997 - 2000 COMBATSIM.COM, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Last Updated September 3rd, 1997

© 2014 COMBATSIM.COM - All Rights Reserved