hunt@dg-rtp.rtp.dg.com (Greg Hunt) (10/01/90)
In article <JKH.90Sep28154000@meepmeep.pcs.com>, jkh@meepmeep.pcs.com (Jordan K. Hubbard) writes: > Ok, I admit it, I'm stumped a bit early in the game, but.. > > Having finally gotten the hang of the controls (through no fault of > my documentation; it's all in German!) and whatnot, I managed to > qualify myself and do a reasonable job on the first couple of > missions. Then comes the "Stolen Aircraft" bit. I simply cannot > figure out a way to get the buggers to turn back, surrender, whatever! > It ain't easy, that's for sure. I launch, go to afterburners and race to where the MIGs are, and blow both of them out of the sky even if they don't attack me (I know it's against the rules of engagement, and I'd get courtmartialed in real life, but it's sooooo much fun!). This gives me enough time to get the stolen planes turned around before they are "beyond recovery" or whatever the message is that comes up if you take too long. Now the hard part. By now the F-16's are usually headed due west on course 270. I line up also on 270 and use afterburners until I'm about 5 miles from them. Get a missle radar lock on one of the planes to get flight information on them (course, speed, and altitude). Match course and altitude as close as you can. Use the + and - keys (I think that's right) to adjust your thrust in small increments until you have only a 30 to 40 knot speed advantage on them. Creep up on their tails. Once you have that done, use only the rudder (< and >) keys to position your plane directly between both of the stolen F-16's. You need to be real gentle here, because making changes too rapidly will send you off course. Make sure your altitude is the same as theirs within about 20 feet or so. They sometimes change altitude so stay sharp. Keep creeping up on them. Align your plane and then play with the thrust only. When you get close to them, decrease your thrust till you have only a 4 or 5 knot speed advantage. Then - fly right between them (try the outside view if your confident enough, it's neat!). You have to get ahead of them by a plane length or so, and BINGO! you get the CONGRATULATIONS! message. The stolen planes will climb and turn around (try the outside view backwards so you can see them turn). Go back to 100% thrust and fly back to the carrier. If you keep your radar lock on them and fly slowly back to the carrier, you'll notice the stolen F-16's turn back around to 270 after you leave the area. First time I saw that, I did a vertical half-loop, hit the afterburners, charged back at them, and blew them both up. Later, I realized the game isn't smart enough to land them. Oops. I took me several attempts to get them to turn around. I even smacked into one once when I hit the rudder too hard. I only got minor structural damage, but he crashed and burned. Ouch! If you're quick enough on the spot, you can get the stolen F-16's to turn around before the MIGs jump you. I've only gotten that to happen once in all the times I've tried. Sometimes I just line up on them and practice hitting them with the canon, which is fun too, and they just sit there. Except for once in a while after I've nailed one of the F-16's, the other one is declared "hostile", it turns red on the radar screen, and he turns to a new course and punches up the thrust. I got him with a missle. > > Also, what's that nifty little code wheel for? I've wanted to use it > but the game always prompts me for "Any countercode" and hasn't given > a hoot for what number I type in to it. Bear in mind that my docs are > in german, so if somebody knows of a special use for this little wheel, > I'd be glad to hear it. > Sounds like whoever sold you that game "fixed it" to remove the code validation. Before each mission you have to enter a code from the wheel where your game is saying "any countercode". The game gives you a four digit code, each digit of which you match up on one ring of the wheel. The final digit is matched against the windows in the center of the wheel. That indicates the window with the proper countercode, which you type in. > > It would also be nice to have more missions, esp in the air-to-ground role. > Russion tanks moving up from Mexico and going after Silicon Valley would be > something (still not sure whether I'd mind or not :-). Considering that > the missile object tracking stuff seems to be already well done, they could > also add a ground-to-air threat (SAMS) without too much extra effort. That > would add a lot! Helicopters, enemy missile boats, mumble mumble.. > I agree completely! I'd really like to see more missions. Fighter/bomber missions would be alot of fun. How about a NIGHT mission requiring a landing on the carrier (gives me the shivers just thinking about it)? I'd also like to see something cute when you blow up the EA headquarters. Lots of folks (like me) have spend lots of time doing all sorts of wierd things to the building, only to end up having a couple of craters in their parking lot to show for it. > Jordan > PCS Computer Systeme GmbH, Munich, West Germany -- Greg Hunt Internet: hunt@dg-rtp.rtp.dg.com DG/UX Kernel Development UUCP: {world}!mcnc!rti!dg-rtp!hunt Data General Corporation Research Triangle Park, NC These opinions are mine, not DG's.
jkh@meepmeep.pcs.com (Jordan K. Hubbard) (10/01/90)
Ok, I admit it, I'm stumped a bit early in the game, but.. Having finally gotten the hang of the controls (through no fault of my documentation; it's all in German!) and whatnot, I managed to qualify myself and do a reasonable job on the first couple of missions. Then comes the "Stolen Aircraft" bit. I simply cannot figure out a way to get the buggers to turn back, surrender, whatever! I've tried being "chummy" with them (I.E. not immediately knocking off the escorting MIGS and thus proving myself hostile) in an attempt to get close enough to fire a burst of cannon fire "across the bows" but they don't turn back, they just run for it. It's hard enough just keeping with the guys, much less trying to intimidate them. I've tried knocking the MIGS off right away, but that doesn't seem to affect the morale of the F-16 thieves either. I finally just said the hell with it and did this mission by going up and smoking all 4 aircraft without provocation. This "completed" the mission with congrats, but seems like a rather empty way of having done it. Now I'm trying to get the "feel" for just when to launch the rescue pod so that it doesn't land so far from the downed pilot, but that last mission still sticks in my craw and I'd rather go back and do it right. Any clues? Also, what's that nifty little code wheel for? I've wanted to use it but the game always prompts me for "Any countercode" and hasn't given a hoot for what number I type in to it. Bear in mind that my docs are in german, so if somebody knows of a special use for this little wheel, I'd be glad to hear it. Reading up on some of the tricks for this game (I.E. shooting the EA HQ in San Mateo, firing missles straight up at max altitude, cruising the freeways, F-16 carrier landings, etc) has really revealed it to be a piece of art. I really really wish that the original author would get off his butt and come up with a second, more fleshed out, version. Something with a bit more "role playing" inserted. For example, I'd like to see mission briefings, performance evaluations and just plain more realism in terms of actual missions. Right now, it feels more like a very nice flight simulator with the combat part sort of grafted on. I've violated every order they've given me (fired before fired upon, shot the carrier, destroyed air force 1!) but as long as I fulfilled the fuzzy mission guidelines I still got a pat on the back and a free reign for the next mission. The game also lacks continuity; I auger in, and it just gives me another plane without any indication as to whether my mission is still valid, or what exactly I should do (in the case of the Downed Pilot, you usually have to start over since the mission is blown, but it doesn't tell you that). It would also be nice to have more missions, esp in the air-to-ground role. Russion tanks moving up from Mexico and going after Silicon Valley would be something (still not sure whether I'd mind or not :-). Considering that the missile object tracking stuff seems to be already well done, they could also add a ground-to-air threat (SAMS) without too much extra effort. That would add a lot! Helicopters, enemy missile boats, mumble mumble.. Ahem. Well, sounds like I'm bitching and flaming about the game but I'm really not. It's just that so much is done so well, it would be Truly Fantastic if they'd just add that missing 30%. That would be a real classic. I'd buy it for sure. Jordan -- PCS Computer Systeme GmbH, Munich, West Germany UUCP: pyramid!pcsbst!jkh jkh@meepmeep.pcs.com EUNET: unido!pcsbst!jkh ARPA: jkh@violet.berkeley.edu or hubbard@decwrl.dec.com
scavanag@gara.une.oz.au (LIGHTCHILD) (10/03/90)
have you tried"fighter bomber" or "falcon" for the amiga? I think
(no flames please) that they're better than FA-18 interceptor and include
some of the things you want(SAMs, ground targets galore, etc.)
Lightchildferry@chorus.fr (Ferry de Jong) (10/03/90)
From article <JKH.90Oct1114935@meepmeep.pcs.com>, by jkh@meepmeep.pcs.com (Jordan K. Hubbard): > Ok, I admit it, I'm stumped a bit early in the game, but.. > > Having finally gotten the hang of the controls (through no fault of > my documentation; it's all in German!) and whatnot, I managed to > qualify myself and do a reasonable job on the first couple of > missions. Then comes the "Stolen Aircraft" bit. I simply cannot > figure out a way to get the buggers to turn back, surrender, whatever! > > Jordan The way I always make those F-16 stealers go back is: Shoot those MIG's to 1001 pieces, Follow the 2 F-16's, Fly between them, (Yes you can do that if you practice your flying- skills a bit.) /* Look to left and right, Say hello to them, */ Wait a minute or so and they will turn around straight away, The best part is to shoot them now, when they have surrendered... ;-) Sometimes I find them to get hostile and following my plane before I can get them to surrender, The best thing to do in this case is SHOOT TO KILL, Good luck, ___ ___ ___ ___ _ _ _ _ ( _)( _)( ,) ( ,)( \/ ) | ( \/\/ )riting software takes twice as long ) _) ) _) ) \ ) \ \ / | \ / as you expect it to take... (_) (___)(_)\_)(_)\_)(_/ | \/\/ Even if you keep this in mind! e-mail: ferry@chorus.fr
djh@neuromancer.metaphor.com (Dallas J. Hodgson) (10/04/90)
In article <JKH.90Oct1114935@meepmeep.pcs.com> jkh@meepmeep.pcs.com (Jordan K. Hubbard) writes: <stuff deleted> >Also, what's that nifty little code wheel for? I've wanted to use it >but the game always prompts me for "Any countercode" and hasn't given >a hoot for what number I type in to it. Bear in mind that my docs are >in german, so if somebody knows of a special use for this little wheel, >I'd be glad to hear it. ... You wouldn't perhaps be playing a PIRATED version, now would you? The U.S. version asks you for the @#$! "countercode" before EVERY mission. And you have to get it right or it won't work! Really overzealous CP'ing on EA's part... +----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Dallas J. Hodgson | "This here's the wattle, | | Metaphor Computer Systems | It's the emblem of our land. | | Mountain View, Ca. | You can put it in a bottle, | | USENET : djh@metaphor.com | You can hold it in your hand." | +============================================================================+ | "The views I express are my own, and not necessarily those of my employer" | +----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
jkh@meepmeep.pcs.com (Jordan K. Hubbard) (10/04/90)
In article <1990Oct1.011508.11649@dg-rtp.dg.com> hunt@dg-rtp.rtp.dg.com (Greg Hunt) writes: > Now the hard part. By now the F-16's are usually headed due west on > course 270. I line up also on 270 and use afterburners until I'm about > 5 miles from them. Get a missle radar lock on one of the planes to get > > [ lots of useful, detailed, tips deleted ] > Ah, great! I will definately try that. Kind of a pity that this kind of work gets the same "congradulations" as does simply shooting them down, though. Sure, there's the personal satisfaction of having done it right, but it would be nice if the game gave you a few extra bennies too! Ah well, I've already flamed on about that.. :-) >> Also, what's that nifty little code wheel for? I've wanted to use it >> but the game always prompts me for "Any countercode" and hasn't given >> a hoot for what number I type in to it. Bear in mind that my docs are > > Sounds like whoever sold you that game "fixed it" to remove the code > validation. Before each mission you have to enter a code from the > wheel where your game is saying "any countercode". The game gives you Really odd. I did buy this game from a certified dealer, and it came in a case with instructions, code wheel, and everything. Is somone professionally pirating EA's stuff or did they just decided to punt the copy protection at some point (maybe they'd sold enough copies) and release a non-protected version? >> It would also be nice to have more missions, esp in the air-to-ground >> role. Russion tanks moving up from Mexico and going after Silicon Valley >> would be something (still not sure whether I'd mind or not :-). Considering >> that the missile object tracking stuff seems to be already well done, they >> could also add a ground-to-air threat (SAMS) without too much extra effort. > > I agree completely! I'd really like to see more missions. > Fighter/bomber missions would be alot of fun. How about a NIGHT > mission requiring a landing on the carrier (gives me the shivers just > thinking about it)? Yes yes yes! So, let's get the straight scoop, is somone from EA reading this group? (and if not, *WHY* not?) I think F/A-18 interceptor is definately right up there with the best (if not THE best) flight games [I like it better than Falcon], so why not go through this extra trouble? I can almost guarantee that the everyone who has the original game would gladly fork out for a "game system" (ala Fighter Bomber or Falcon) that was faithful to the original F/A-18 game. Does anyone know how to contact the original author? Is he still doing these games? Considering that most of the hard stuff is already done, how hard would it be to repackage the flight system on one disk and put the scenery/mission/object parameters on a set of optional disks? F/A-18 Interceptor in the Gulf? F-16 anti-ground missions in major Saudi engagement? Precision strike missions in Bogota? The possibilities are endless! The flight action of F/A-18 Interceptor definately beats the others and it's a real shame that they haven't gone further with it.. Are you (EA) guys listening?? I'm willing to put my money where my mouth is! You guys have had two years since the original release! Get off the stick! :-) Jordan -- PCS Computer Systeme GmbH, Munich, West Germany UUCP: pyramid!pcsbst!jkh jkh@meepmeep.pcs.com EUNET: unido!pcsbst!jkh ARPA: jkh@violet.berkeley.edu or hubbard@decwrl.dec.com
liberato@dri.com (Jimmy Liberato) (10/05/90)
djh@neuromancer.metaphor.com (Dallas J. Hodgson) writes: >In article <JKH.90Oct1114935@meepmeep.pcs.com> jkh@meepmeep.pcs.com (Jordan K. Hubbard) writes: >>Also, what's that nifty little code wheel for? ... >... You wouldn't perhaps be playing a PIRATED version, now would you? The >U.S. version asks you for the @#$! "countercode" before EVERY mission. And >you have to get it right or it won't work! How noble of those pirates to include a pirated code wheel! :-) More likely it is a FIXED version. The hack to override the countercode appeared the same week as the original release of Interceptor. I thought this was general knowledge. Are there others who still use the code wheel? >Really overzealous CP'ing on EA's part... Agreed. I prefer that over the disk based kind, though (if I had to choose). -- Jimmy Liberato liberato@dri.com ...uunet!drivax!liberato
2flntopaz@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu (10/06/90)
> > Yes yes yes! So, let's get the straight scoop, is somone from EA reading > this group? (and if not, *WHY* not?) I think F/A-18 interceptor is definately > right up there with the best (if not THE best) flight games [I like it > better than Falcon], so why not go through this extra trouble? I can almost > guarantee that the everyone who has the original game would gladly fork > out for a "game system" (ala Fighter Bomber or Falcon) that was faithful > to the original F/A-18 game. Does anyone know how to contact the original > author? Is he still doing these games? Considering that most of the hard > stuff is already done, how hard would it be to repackage the flight > system on one disk and put the scenery/mission/object parameters on > a set of optional disks? F/A-18 Interceptor in the Gulf? F-16 anti-ground > missions in major Saudi engagement? Precision strike missions in Bogota? > The possibilities are endless! The flight action of F/A-18 Interceptor > definately beats the others and it's a real shame that they haven't gone > further with it.. > > Are you (EA) guys listening?? I'm willing to put my money where my mouth is! > You guys have had two years since the original release! Get off the > stick! :-) > > Jordan > -- > PCS Computer Systeme GmbH, Munich, West Germany > UUCP: pyramid!pcsbst!jkh jkh@meepmeep.pcs.com > EUNET: unido!pcsbst!jkh > ARPA: jkh@violet.berkeley.edu or hubbard@decwrl.dec.com I totally agree! I love F/A-18 and think its one of the best simulators out there. I would gladly shuck out some bucks for extra missions and different scenery. You have my vote EA! David Poland 2flntopaz@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
eeh@public.BTR.COM (Eduardo E. Horvath eeh@btr.com) (10/07/90)
In article <4079@gara.une.oz.au> scavanag@gara.une.oz.au (LIGHTCHILD) writes: > >have you tried"fighter bomber" or "falcon" for the amiga? I think >(no flames please) that they're better than FA-18 interceptor and include >some of the things you want(SAMs, ground targets galore, etc.) > Lightchild "Fighter Bomber" doesn't work on an '030 (damn damn damn!!!) and "Falcon" needs an upgrade to work on an '030. Any really good FS's that *do* work on '030s ? ========================================================================= Eduardo Horvath eeh@btr.com ..!{decwrl,mips,fernwood}!btr!eeh "Trust me, I know what I'm doing." - Sledge Hammer =========================================================================
greg@walt.cc.utexas.edu (Greg Harp) (10/07/90)
In article <578@public.BTR.COM> eeh@public.BTR.COM (Eduardo E. Horvath eeh@btr.com) writes: >In article <4079@gara.une.oz.au> scavanag@gara.une.oz.au (LIGHTCHILD) writes: >>have you tried"fighter bomber" or "falcon" for the amiga? I think >>(no flames please) that they're better than FA-18 interceptor and include >>some of the things you want(SAMs, ground targets galore, etc.) > > "Fighter Bomber" doesn't work on an '030 (damn damn damn!!!) and >"Falcon" needs an upgrade to work on an '030. Any really good FS's that >*do* work on '030s ? I've played F/A-18 on a GVP 3001-equipped A2000 and an A3000 with no hitches. Of course, you've got to be pretty good, because it runs pretty fast. Apparently they didn't wait on screen refreshes for timing. Oh well, I kinda like it that way... :-) >========================================================================= >Eduardo Horvath eeh@btr.com > ..!{decwrl,mips,fernwood}!btr!eeh > "Trust me, I know what I'm doing." - Sledge Hammer >========================================================================= Greg -- Disclaimer: "Who me? Surely you must be mistaken!" _ _ "The lunatic is in the hall. The lunatics are in my hall. AMIGA! //// The paper holds their folded faces to the floor, //// And every day the paperboy brings more." -- Pink Floyd _ _ //// \\\\//// Greg Harp greg@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu \\XX//
bscott@isis.cs.du.edu (Ben Scott) (10/08/90)
In article <JKH.90Sep28154000@meepmeep.pcs.com> jkh@meepmeep.pcs.com (Jordan K. Hubbard) writes: >missions. Then comes the "Stolen Aircraft" bit. I simply cannot >figure out a way to get the buggers to turn back, surrender, whatever! This is why you only get to fly F-18s in simulation... >I've tried being "chummy" with them (I.E. not immediately knocking off >the escorting MIGS and thus proving myself hostile) in an attempt to >get close enough to fire a burst of cannon fire "across the bows" >but they don't turn back, they just run for it. It's hard enough just keeping Why bother? They don't care what you do to the MIGs. Well, sometimes one decides to go after you. If one of the F-16s begins showing up as an enemy (red instead of green) on your radar, feel free to shoot it down. >the F-16 thieves either. I finally just said the hell with it and >did this mission by going up and smoking all 4 aircraft without One way to do it but I prefer my way. The only way I've found to do it (and I don't remember how I figured it out but I think it was just the way the docs were worded) is to fly up close to them and EXACTLY match speed, heading, and altitude for a while. After pacing them like this for a minute or so (can't tell if getting a weapons lock on them helps or not) they'll turn back and you'll get the congrats. It's not real easy but with practice it's not bad. The weird thing is this - once I decided to follow them back instead of going straight home. It took a long time but eventually they made it back to land and maneuvered for final approach to the airport. THEN, for no apparent reason, they veered off and headed back out to sea. Nothing I did thereafter would stop them, so I shot them down and went home. >"feel" for just when to launch the rescue pod so that it doesn't land >so far from the downed pilot, but that last mission still sticks in Easiest way is to fly about 30 feet off the ground at stall speed (I can get down to less than 130 knots and remain stable for a short time) and select an external view from behind, switching to a down view when he comes close. >Also, what's that nifty little code wheel for? I've wanted to use it >but the game always prompts me for "Any countercode" and hasn't given It's to enter a countercode in the protected version of the game. You must have a cracked copy. . <<<<Infinite K>>>> -- |Ben Scott, professional goof-off and consultant at The Raster Image, Denver| |FIDO point address 1:104/421.2, bscott@nyx.cs.du.edu, or BBS (303)424-9831 | |"Quantum Mechanics: The dreams that || The Raster Image IS responsible for| | stuff is made of..." - Michael Sinz || everything I say! ** Amiga Power**|
gordon@nomad.scg.hac.com (Gordon Barbay) (10/09/90)
A while back (year or year and a half) I asked my local dealer about a follow on to F/A 18. He said Robert Dinnerman had parted ways with EA and was working on an F14 simulator. Unfortunately I've heard nothing more since. Has anybody else got any info? -Gordon
stelmack@screamer.csee.usf.edu (Gregory M. Stelmack) (10/09/90)
In article <8@nomad.scg.hac.com> gordon@nomad.scg.hac.com (Gordon Barbay) writes: >A while back (year or year and a half) I asked my local dealer >about a follow on to F/A 18. He said Robert Dinnerman had parted >ways with EA and was working on an F14 simulator. Unfortunately >I've heard nothing more since. Has anybody else got any info? > > -Gordon I seem to remember seeing a demo of a game (Jet Fighter?) that was an F-14/F-18 simulator that looked exactly like F-18. Sorry, I don't remember the exact name, but it came in a weird-shaped box (normal box, triangle on top), with (of course) a fighter pictured on the front. This what you all are looking for? -- Greg Stelmack -- Email: stelmack@sol.csee.usf.edu -- USmail: USF Box 1510, Tampa, FL 33620-1510 -- Amiga: the only way to compute! -- IRAQNOPHOBIA: Nothing a little RAID wouldn't cure!
martijn@dnlunx.pttrnl.nl (Reinalda M.) (10/09/90)
gordon@nomad.scg.hac.com (Gordon Barbay) writes: >A while back (year or year and a half) I asked my local dealer >about a follow on to F/A 18. He said Robert Dinnerman had parted >ways with EA and was working on an F14 simulator. Unfortunately >I've heard nothing more since. Has anybody else got any info? > -Gordon About half a year ago, I saw some pictures of ECA's new flight sim 'HAWK' They said it would come out after the summer, but it hasn't. The picturesw looked real neat(real time hills & mountains etc.) This could be it. Anyone more info on HAWK ???? ECA ???
brad@nro.cs.athabascau.ca (10/12/90)
Well, the guys that did F-18 Interceptor for EA have since gone on and produced Jetfighter: The Adventure for the IBM world. That's the latest I've heard about their system. Check it out, and you will notice the similar graphics style..etc. The best thing (IMHO) is the new Falcon Mission Disk, Operation:Firefight. Offensive and Defensive missions, Hind attack helos, 2 new weapon systems, a slightly spiffed up F-16...lotsa fun! Brad