Hello,

I have the FB+Ace+PF trilogy and was wondering if I should get the 1946 game. I am about to re-install these games and noticed some development with the 1946 title.

Does this apply to the FBs games?
Is 1946 a better sim?
Would getting 1946 negate installing the FB titles?

Thanks for your input.

1946 has all the content of Pacific Fighters and IL-2 Sturmovik plus more. All mods require 1946 to work and the unmodded version of IL-2 1946 is still being supported with official patches. Patch version 4.11m is the next patch that is being worked on by the Daidalos Team. There is no official word on when v4.11m is going to be released.

You can buy IL-2 1946 on sale at Good Old Games (GoG) for $4.99 at the moment and if you would happen to miss the sale it has been selling for $9.99.
IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 at GoG: http://www.gog.com/en/gamecard/il_2_sturmovik_1946


The GoG version will work with Windows 7.
IL-2 1946 problem: http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/3464876/Re_IL_2_1946_problem.html#Post3464876
Read his first post in the thread where he mentions that he has Windows 7.

Since you can buy it dirt cheap and you get all the content of the prior versions I wouldn't see any reason to install any of the earlier versions except possibly for nostalgia reasons.


Mission 4 Today has several user made campaigns, missions, skins, and utilities that you can download to enhance the sim even more. All it costs is the time it takes to register and activate the confirming email.
Mission 4 Today: http://www.mission4today.com/index.php


IL-2 Sturmovik 1946's loading screen patched to the most current version of v4.10.1m.

Here is a Patching Guide at M4T to help you through the patching process.
IL-2 1946 Installation and Patching Guide: http://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=Knowledge_Base&op=show&kid=584

If you decide to install the older versions also we have a patching guide for them too.
1.0 - 4.04m Patching and Installation Guide: http://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=Knowledge_Base&op=show&kid=264


Wheels

Thank you very much wheelsup! I am downloading as I type this.

I have not read much about the Daidalos Team other than they have an agreement with the origial IL-2 makers. I have a couple of questions if you would help me:

Do I want to use all of the offical patches then install their latest mod?

Is the mod worth installing?

What improvements are they adding to the game?

Does installing their patch/mod nullify any offical function of the game?

Thanks again.

The Mods generally use a Switcher/ Mod Enabler like JSGME or JonesSoft Generic Mod Enabler and which Mod is a matter of choice, I would recommend that you copy your entire game folder to another location so you have a vanilla copy and a mod copy this way you will always have a back-up just in case.

Official Patches:
The Daidalos team are creating Official patches that have been authorized by the developer and the current version is v4.101m. If you notice in the loading screen I posted there is a version number on it. After you install the download that you just purchased when you run it for the first time you will see a version number in the same location as mine. That is the version that you currently are running. If it is not already patched to the current version of v4.10.1m then to get to the current version of v4.10.1m you will need to add any patches that are shown after your version on the patching guide that I linked earlier.

The first problem you will run into while patching is the default location that is used by the installer. The "Program Files" folder in Win 7 protects the install in ways that makes patching difficult and for some people next to impossible. The simplest way around this is to create a Games folder on your C drive and move your IL-2 1946 install to it. Since IL-2 1946 does not create any registry directories this will work.

Default Location: C:\Program Files\Ubisoft\IL-2 Sturmovik 1946
Modified Location: C:\Games\Ubisoft\IL-2 Sturmovik 1946

Since the Daidalos Team have been approved by the developer to create new content for the sim anything they add to the sim is considered an official update.

Mods:
There are some sites, I don't know them all, that are creating content that has not been approved by the developer and several people are using them.
Special Aircraft Service (SAS), and All Aircraft Simulations (AAS) are two of the best known. The content of the mods can run from really good to not so great but it is imperative that you follow the install instructions if you intend to use them. It is fairly easy to get things wrong and then it can be a pain in the behind to get things working right again.

You can create as many installs of IL-2 1946 as you want since there are no registy entries and this will allow you to mod and test all you want until you find the version that suits you best.

So far the mods will work with the sim and not cause any functions of the official game to stop working. Like anything it can always change but so far it is not a problem.

Before attempting anything I would make a full copy of the install so that if something goes wrong with patching or adding mods you will have a current working copy of the sim. It will save you a lot of time downloading it form GoG to start over.


Wheels

Some of the mods DO have pretty killer features, though.

From adding functioning catapults to all carriers, to having Korean War-era jets (F9F Panthers, F-86s Sabres, Mig-15s, etc). Not to mention the new maps.

It's nice to see the game still in 'somewhat active' development - although I do pretty often wish the various mod teams would all get together, the developer could get behind officially sanctioning them, and we could have one big, final, push to "finish" the game. (Some slight - slight - graphics updates wouldn't hurt, either. HDR/bloom and cockpit shadows being the two major things that jump to mind...)

The strange thing is that the mod teams are all together. They all have members in common, including TD, and share code and mods amongst themselves. The differences come purely from a handful of individuals selecting and packaging mods and code snippets together in different ways to produce release versions intended for different client markets.

This is actually a good thing, for the following reasons:

• It is easy to build a tailored game experience for specific game modes (DF, multiplayer campaign, offline etc)
• If code conflicts arise, it is easy to rule in favour of the one that best suits the intended application
• Since disk space is so cheap now, it is easy to have multiple game copies for different mod sets
• Time isn't wasted in shoe-horning incompatible code structures together and debugging them
• Freedom of expression increases creativity

The drawback is that the casual flyer can be overwhelmed with the options available and needs to take some time to choose. In the end, the casual flyer just gravitates to where most other casual flyers go, and that suits everyone anyway. People with specific interests can choose their own destination too.

Cheers,
4S

4Shades is on the money. Many people start off in the MOD world and start working their stuff up to TD release standards later. Or are still working up to that. There's lots of stuff that doesn't even go that far... but it's largely up to the guys making the content.

There's some great changes to the AI incoming for the next patch that I think will be great!

Get 1946 and then pop over to the SAS1946 page and start digging around in the mods. you will not be dissapointed.

Also get yourself on the Spits v 109s full real server. best fun you can have with your pants on.

Yes

Get 46. Patch it to 4.10.1 .. and then get one of the mod packs either UP 3.0 or HSFX 5.01. Start from there. Don't neglect to run the 4.10.1 stock option .. just to get a feel for the stock sim. That will give yo a greater appreciation for the mods. I hear there is a way to run either mod pack and the stock with the use of a switcher but I had a hard time getting it going.. so for now I prefer HSFX 5.01.

But I'd fly stock for a few weeks before jumping into mods.

You can't find out what's different unless you have a good baseline.

+10


Wheels

I cranked up Il-2, the UP 3.0 mod and discovered Aim-9 sidewinders on the Sabres...

woot!