505 Games released IL2 Strumovik: Birds of Prey for the Xbox 360 early, it's a good thing since 3 other games are getting released on the old release date (09/08/09) also...

A few of us got together, before most could even finish the tutorials and unlock new planes, for a few dogfighting sessions...

Here's a few screens from the action... first impressions are very positive, some minor issues here and there, and a couple of major ones (like no cockpits in German planes)... but over all a good flight sim for our console system... maybe not as simulation as it could be, but moving in the right direction. JMO.

BTW, we played in realistic mode, which is between arcade and simulation... the flying is simulation, but labels and compass are on... sue us, were still learning, lol.



















































































more later... more players, more modes.

First thing that sprang to mind: bloom

Nice pics. Sorry I couldn't make it.

I played earlier today and got OWNED. I only had 1 kill and got shot down 6 times. Ugh.

I'll need to buy a 3rd party headset for my AV8R stick cuz the MS one doesn't fit. Bummer.

I've been waiting for some screenies from you Magnum, thanks.

Can one of you confirm that simulation mode is indeed available for online multiplay? Is there team co-op available in ATA or ATG missions?

Simulation works online. You can search games by difficulty (arcade, realistic, sim) and gametype.

No co-op but 4 adversarial modes. Dogfight, Team Dogfight, Capture the airfield (clear away flak then land on enemy fields to capture) and Strike (each team has ground units they must defend while the trying to destroy the other team's. "Tickets" like BF2 count down for kills.).

Very good. The dev said at E3 they were unsure of sim mode online -- they might not have the time to complete it.

Thanks for the update Jeevz.

There's enough stuff missing already, the uproar over that not making it would be out of control.

lol, looks like I spent most of the time crashing. It was fun though, with some more people, and some more planes unlocked it will be a blast.

I can't wait to join in, I just hope that you guys will still be playing when it finally becomes available in Canada!