Chris "BeachAV8R" Frishmuth previews this soon to be released add-on for LOMAC/Flaming Cliffs. See what Chris has to say here:
http://www.simhq.com/_air5/air_173a.html

WOW, great read and beut-i-ful screens... can't wait for this one myself...

Very nice write up beach... any read that makes me want to boot up a certain game/sim is a good one.

I know why. The pilot was busy panning around the area checking out the action and taking screenshots.

How do I know this? Let's just say I have experience in these types of accidents, OK?

Great job Chris, I remember reading about this, but kind of lost track, and to be honest, I haven't been flying LockOn/FC very much lately. But this one may be what I need to get back into the sim.

I really like the look of the airbases with all the activity and obviously the skies are full!

And "situational awareness shot to heck" notwithstanding, those screenshots are wonderful.

Thanks much.

MMMM, air-to-air goodness. That is a side of LOMAC I really am unfamiliar with, as when I do have time to fire it up it was always in the A-10, and since FC came out it has always been in the Su-25T.

If anything will get me to learn the F-15C, this should be it. After Jane's F-18 it can't be too hard, right?

"Let's get this straight right off the bat and spare you the suspense. I suck at LOMAC. No really, I'm terrible. I'm new to the whole LOMAC/Flaming Cliffs scene and therefore I approach you (humbly) as a greenhorn. Be gentle with me".

Beach, you don't suck at LOMAC. There's not much left over, and you've covered it pretty exhaustingly. Let's get this straight: the game at this young stage (compared to the others) still sucks at the strategic/tactical/gaming part big time. Nice efforts from the campaign guys working to make it more playable ouside the code.

What is important is that ED guys are working very hard on LOCKON's derivative line and they deserve our accolade for what they have achived considering the resources that had been given to them.

Joe,as to A-A experience, after you'll learn 5-7 important tricks and maneuvres get online, that's were you'll find real fun with your attained skills. The best dogfight or formation flying you'll ever find. But not far beyond that, it is still somewhat of a Light version of online IL-2/FB/PF in a way. Not weapons wise of course, but from strategic and tactic options available.

But, I can only advise to start learning LOCKON line early, I'm sure it will be transformed into fully fledged hardcore simulator in a few years. Besides, Black Shark will give a whole new dimension (and world) to this sim, you'll see what I mean when you'll fly it.

Did I see a Phantom in there?

I'm jazzed - Bring it on!

Great pics, nice write up, really looking forward to BSO.

Joe,
Regarding a2a in LOMAC it's a different animal than JF18. Things seem to happen at a very fast pace in LOMAC. One minute you are on top of things and 2 seconds later it all goes to heck and you are a smoking hole. It's more "visceral".

Nice article. I visited the Black Sea Ops website, and it mentions several campaigns. One looks like it involves Iran and the other Turkey. You didn't mention this in your article. Will these campaigns be part of the Add-On?

Have to wait to look for Starforce...

This one?



Purty Phabulous Phlying Phantom

Wow, I want more. It reads like a book, I printed it out and read it sitting on my balcony. I was compleatly lost, when I finished reading I was shure to be floating in the sea. Feeling like "open water".

Thanks

I'm a freshman myself at LOMAC, I haven't Flaming Cliffs but I think I will have to spend a bit more time on it. And wait for Sanata to bring me a gift like the black sea.

sigh, if only my system had the cajones to run it. oh well, maybe in 2007

You won't find StarForce in Black Sea Ops, but that's because it's "just" a mission and art pack, not standalone software. BSO is designed to be used with Lock On 1.1 Flaming Cliffs, and FC has StarForce.

1. Is it available somewhere yet?
2. Is it gonna be payware?

Thanks guys..sorry for the late response..was out of town for a bit..

20mm - In my limited time with LOMAC, I find situational awareness to be a real challenge. The combined excellent AWACS capability and familiarity with Falcon 4's radar controls make keeping "SA" in that sim a fair bit easier for now. Hopefully I'll learn LOMAC/FC a lot better and things will improve..


Joe - Personally, I'm not a big fan of air-to-air. I've always been an attack weenie... Actually, I like the mixed role like in JF-18 and Falcon 4...clear a path in, drop the bombs, clear a path out. That is the complete package..

Dirk - Good comments. FC is definitely an evolution from LOMAC..the AFM of the Su-25 is awesome to experience. Takeoff and landings are so much fun in that aircraft.. I have a lot to learn about the combat capabilities too.

Chops - I think the Black Sea Ops will encompass several "phases"..thus the different regions. Perhaps one of the BSO guys can hop in and answer your questions more thoroughly.

Steel - Glad you enjoyed the read..it was fun to be part of the first look at BSO.

Chappy - Answers...no and no. I assume these guys are doing this add-on because they love combat flight sims (LOMAC & FC particularly) and they wanted to add some depth to the campaign by writing their own. In many ways I think that is why so many people volunteer to do things like writing missions, mission reports, FAQ's, make movies..etc..we all love sims and contribute what we can. The developers..well..they make a living doing it..but I think they love the genre too..

Thanks for all the comments guys..

BeachAV8R

There will be a total of 10 chapters, 10 missions each, coupled with in-game movies which i will be creating, intros-cutscenes-outros.

If he reads this, i'll let T-Bone explain more, as he is the main producer of BSO.