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#2839534 - 08/12/09 08:06 AM READ FIRST - Which version of F4 do you recommend? ****  
Joined: Jul 2005
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Panther Offline
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Panther  Offline
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The below information is a quote from another post that I read at Frugals World. It is definitely a great summary of all flavors of Falcon 4.0 and isn't biased to one flavor over the other.

"This question is asked almost once a week at one of the F4 forums or PM'd to me, so in an effort to save time and flame wars, here's the basic differences between each F4 version. Keep in mind that everything below is subjective regardless of how unbiased I try to be. If you ask 5 different F4 pilots the "Which F4 version is better?" question, you'll get 5 different answers. The real answer to the question is whatever version you prefer coupled with whatever version runs best on your PC. And unfortunately the only way to figure that out is to try them all. If you're brand new to F4, I recommend you start with Allied Force (AF) and then try OF/FF/RV after you've learned the basics. I will do my best to keep this thread updated.

Differences:

BMS
  • Requires the original Falcon 4.0 CD to be installed
  • One-click installation
  • Win7 compatibility
  • Lots of Virtual Fighter Wings support and fly Open Falcon because of its online stability / very active multiplayer community
  • DX9 graphics
  • new terrain code
  • new multi-player code
  • new flight model
  • new clickable 3D cockpit,
  • some new avionics
  • Dynamic Weather
  • New avionics
  • campaign control equal to or better than AF
  • myriads of bug fixes from OF



Open Falcon (OF)
  • Not user friendly for those new to the F4 sim (more steps to install, more steps to configure and use, and less instructions and documentation covering the basics)
  • Requires the original Falcon 4.0 CD to be installed
  • Hardest F4 version to install when compared to other F4 versions (because there's more requirements and steps to install OF, but it's still not hard to install)
  • Realistic F4 version for the F-16 (F4 is an F-16 sim after all), because it has the most realistic avionics suite for F-16 in comparison to other F4 versions
  • Hardest on your PC (FPS) / Minimum PC requirements are high / Hardware compatibility issues
  • Best implementation of the TWS radar submode of all F4 versions
  • Comes with the Rapace Launcher, which makes it easy to check and configure multiplayer settings to fly online. Also very useful for configuring your install and checking other pilot's installs.
  • Fully 'clickable' 3D cockpit and 6 degrees of freedom (6DOF) capable for the F-16 and Mirage 2000
  • You actually use the radios in the jet to communicate (IVC) w/ other human pilots, and you can manually tune the radios to different UHF/VHF frequencies
  • Only F4 version where you can set up your own Data Cartridge, customize it, and use realistic features of Data Link (Improved Data Modem) like real life Viper pilots
  • Only version where you can create preplanned threat steerpoints and additional steerpoint lines. You also can create precision steerpoints via the UI and recon screen
  • You can send target (A-A and A-G) and navigation data to pilots in your package, (not available in AF or FF5)
  • Comes with the Sniper Advanced targeting pod
  • Weather is NOT dynamic, you can only choose between Sunny, Fair, Poor, and Inclement weather (weather gfx is better then AF but not better then FF5)
  • Lots of training material is available for OF
  • Comes w/ cockpits for other aircraft, such as A-10, Mirage (2D and 6DOF 3D), F/A-18, and F-15. Lots of add-on cockpits available for OF
  • Realistic flight models, aircraft models/skins, and modern weapons
  • Least options and controls for Campaigns and Mission Builder in comparison to AF and FF/RV
  • Great graphics (for F4). Much better then AF, comparable with FF5/RV
  • Doesn't run well (sometimes not at all) on Vista
  • Best modeling of F-16 ILS system
  • Has great terrain lighting at night (lights in the ground)
  • Very stable multiplayer if configured correctly
  • Lots of Virtual Fighter Wings support and fly Open Falcon because of its online stability / very active multiplayer community
  • Current development is cosmetic improvements only by the community here. Original OF dev team is no longer and we can't edit the exe to make significant changes, but development continues. OF is supported here at Global Falcon http://www.f4support.com/forums/index.php


Allied Force (AF)
  • Most user friendly and best User Interface
  • Easiest to install and can be bought at retail stores or via download online
  • Does not require the original Falcon 4.0 CD to be installed
  • Easiest to learn / Less steep learning curve / Lots of documentation for new F4 pilots
  • Doesn't have IVC, Data Cartridge (DTC), Data Link, and lots of cockpit buttons/switches are not implemented
  • Dynamic Weather (something OF/FF/RV don't have), but poor weather gfx (clouds are ugly)
  • You can't create preplanned threat steerpoints, additional steerpoint lines, or precision steerpoints via the UI
  • Limited options to configure/customize your install / very limited community mods for AF
  • Decent ground war. Better then OF, but not as good as FF5. However, the AF ground units can easily be controlled and don't have issues moving across the map, and destroyed bridges can prevent them from traveling over water (other F4 versions will just drive over the water if the bridge is down)
  • Simplified/Not realistic ILS system
  • Easiest on your PC (best FPS, and low minimum requirements)
  • No cockpits for other aircraft come w/ AF, no add-on cockpits for other (non-F16) aircraft are available, and no 6DOF or 'clickable' 3D cockpits (worst 2D and 3D cockpits of all F4 versions)
  • Runs great on Vista
  • Best Campaign and Mission Builder compared to OF/FF/RV because you have lots of control over the campaign or mission development
  • Worst Graphics of all F4 versions
  • Rock solid multiplayer. Easy to connect w/ other pilots. But close formation flying can cause warping (not an issue w/ OF)
  • Poor special effects, smoke, fire, and explosions
  • Limited weapons, doesn't have modern weapons available (no JDAMs, JSOWs, etc...), and some weapons systems are simplified (HARM, Mavericks, LGBs, and threat circles)
  • Lots of Virtual Fighter Wings (VFWs) support and fly AF / active multiplayer community
  • Very poor terrain lighting
  • Development has been finished for a long time. 13 patches were released for AF, with 1.0.13 being the most current (available at the Lead Pursuit website). Nothing new will come out for AF. And Lead Pursuit doesn't offer any support outside the patches that were released. Only support available is over at SimHQ Falcon 4.0 & Frugals World Falcon Allied Force

Free Falcon 5 (FF5)

  • Newest release from the F4 community (much hyped). But like all new F4 releases, it has some bugs in its current state. Dev team is working to resolve the issues.
  • Not user friendly (for noobs), and difficult to navigate UI
  • Easier to install then OF, but still harder to install and set up then AF (just barely).
  • Doesn't require the original Falcon 4.0 CD
  • Comes with far more 2D/3D cockpits for other (non-F16) aircraft then any other F4 version, such as the F-4, Tornado, F-15, F/A-18, F-117, EA-6B Prowler, MIG-25 and A-6 Intruder
  • Most realistic red air aircraft, and most cockpits for red air aircraft (Eastern Europe A/Cs)
  • Doesn't have dynamic weather, but the weather gfx are outstanding
  • Comes w/ hires/realistic (terrain) tiles in Korea and for airbases
  • A little bit harder on your PC then AF but better then OF (also more compatible then OF / lower minimum requirements / runs ok w/ Vista)
  • Fully functional Carrier Ops, which is very cool (not avail in RV, OF, or AF)
  • Best ground war / Also claimed to have smarter, more aggressive ground units
  • Has a cool feature where the aircraft shakes in hard turns (under high G) and speedbrakes are extended (not avail in OF or AF)
  • Simplified ILS system
  • Only F4 version that allows you change your target for JDAMs (GPS guide munitions) en route to target (not available in any other F4 version). You can enter the target GPS coordinates into the JDAM using the targeting pod like real life
  • Better Campaign and Mission Builder then OF but not as good as AF, but currently has issues with 'un-win-able' campaigns or CTDs past the first 48hrs.
  • Comes w/ 'clickable' 6DOF capable 3D cockpit for the F-16 (like OF)
  • Great graphics, the best graphics of all F4 versions
  • No Rapace Launcher 'like' tool which makes it easy to check compatibility for multiplayer flights and configuring installs
  • Best sound engine and default sounds
  • Locked database makes 3rd party modifications difficult, and thus limited user submitted mods are available
  • Best modeling of the HARM HTS targeting system
  • Limited training material available for FF5 compared to AF and OF
  • Best special effects, smoke, explosions, flares, etc...
  • Horizon line is much closer then OF
  • Comes with terrain lighting (lights in the ground at night)
  • Constant AI comms can get annoying (ie Guns, Guns, Guns or Mud 12 o'clock)
  • Best lighting of all F4 versions (light years ahead of other F4 versions)
  • Unstable multiplayer (for the vast majority of users). Same issues for MP as FF4/RV had. However, some have seen improvements since the Hotfix was released. If installs are configured identically MP is allegedly somewhat stable.
  • Almost no Virtual Fighter Wings support or fly FF5 (because of instability issues). There's a couple of public Teamspeak servers where FF5 guys fly together, but the FF5 multiplayer community is pretty much inactive.
  • Development team is still together and making improvements. A Hotfix was recently released for FF5 that fixed a lot of bugs/issues. FF5 is heavily supported by the dev team and FF5 community at http://freefalcon.com/forum/index.php


FF4/RV
  • FF5 lite - FF4 (Free Falcon4) and RV (Red Viper) are the same thing because it was created by the Free Falcon and Red Viper development teams. It's very similar to FF5 since it's the predecessor to FF5.
  • Has great lighting like FF5
  • Unstable multiplayer code
  • Not supported by RV dev team or FF dev team / Development has stopped



Coming Soon/Hype
Frugals World lives!


Rumors/Buzz


Dead/RIP
  • The original OF dev team (no longer working on OF)
  • SAAFOPS
  • The Free Falcon/Red Viper joint dev team (they split into 2 separate groups)"
  • Fighter Ops:

Inline advert (2nd and 3rd post)

#3265372 - 04/09/11 10:15 PM Re: READ FIRST - Which version of F4 do you recommend? [Re: Panther]  
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Hammer_RLG Offline
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Any chance for a 2011 update on this? smile


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#3268305 - 04/13/11 12:34 AM Re: READ FIRST - Which version of F4 do you recommend? [Re: Panther]  
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Taris Offline
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Taris  Offline
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Posts: 27
Canada
I... guess not. Community developed Falcon hadn't made prominent advances in releases since mid 2010. It's still the same OF 4.7, FF 5.5(with minor fixes) and still the same AF. Even newly introduced technology, such as Windows 7!, is pushing them into history AFAIK. I'm still hoping OF 4.8 will be released in this year.


[img]http://cl.ly/55kt/oops_small.jpg[/img]
Ah, failed again...
#3296822 - 05/17/11 03:05 AM Re: READ FIRST - Which version of F4 do you recommend? [Re: Panther]  
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Leoa Offline
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Leoa  Offline
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If not this year then would to be in next year the release of OF 4.8. Internet changes pretty fast, updated version is certain good.

#3385318 - 09/08/11 06:58 AM Re: READ FIRST - Which version of F4 do you recommend? [Re: Panther]  
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Zero Niner Offline
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Zero Niner  Offline
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Where does Benchmark Sims (BMS) version of F4 fit into this?

#3385620 - 09/08/11 05:41 PM Re: READ FIRST - Which version of F4 do you recommend? [Re: Panther]  
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Panther Offline
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Panther  Offline
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Not sure, haven't had the chance to get in the air with BMS.


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#3386354 - 09/09/11 01:58 PM Re: READ FIRST - Which version of F4 do you recommend? [Re: Panther]  
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Weaponz248 Offline
Hail To The King Baby!!
Weaponz248  Offline
Hail To The King Baby!!
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Posts: 2,764
Statesboro GA USA
Originally Posted By: *Panther*
Not sure, haven't had the chance to get in the air with BMS.


Its a completely different game!


As for install its a breeze, All you need is the original falcon disc in the drive and at the start of the install it will ask you to point to the disc drive and than bam its installed on its own. As for the rest I am still learning as I go


XBOX Live Tag/Steam/PSN: Weaponz248

#3391352 - 09/16/11 02:53 PM Re: READ FIRST - Which version of F4 do you recommend? [Re: Panther]  
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n4p0l3onic Offline
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I'm interested to see the newest BMS comparison with other versions like in the 1st post, what does BMS have that others do not?

#3391440 - 09/16/11 05:22 PM Re: READ FIRST - Which version of F4 do you recommend? [Re: Panther]  
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Kosmo. Offline
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Kosmo.  Offline
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Greece
Well in short it's evolved from OF with the addition of DX9 graphics, new terrain code, new MP code, new FM, new clickable 3D pit, new dynamic weather, some new avionics, myriads of bug fixes from OF, campaign control equal to or better than AF, one-click install, Win7 compatibility... And a bunch of other stuff.

#3510806 - 02/04/12 02:05 AM Re: READ FIRST - Which version of F4 do you recommend? [Re: Panther]  
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tagTaken2 Offline
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tagTaken2  Offline
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Gone
No-one added BMS to this yet?

I'm not greatly experienced yet, but it's starting to look like the best all-round version.

#3706372 - 12/25/12 08:44 PM Re: READ FIRST - Which version of F4 do you recommend? [Re: Panther]  
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Gigolety Offline
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Gigolety  Offline
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Lugano
If you care about the graphic I would suggest BMS. Realism is really great too!


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