In one of my replies I think I was vague. I made it seem as if when you don't pay Steam each month, they turn off the service. There's no fee structure like that, I worded that poorly.

You mentioned GOG,,I had a bad original IL-2 1946 cd GOG had a sale and got it for $ 4 now never a problem i need to get it,,like when I replaced two hard drives lasyt year went to GOG and steam and re down loaded my games and I was up and flying in no time,,Just had to throw my mods in..

I wanted to clarify something...

The reason I choose GOG over Steam (besides being a retro gamer) is that my primary working PC (also my gaming PC) has no online (nor even wireless) capability, removed during a streamlining/protection process. With GOG, once I download a game (I don't use their installer, I simply download the Setup package) using my online Linux laptop, I can transfer it to my Windows PC that never goes online. My requirement for software without an online umbilical cord is unique, I know.

As long as you remain strictly a retro gamer then you won't have any issues.

Yeah, like with most things (including cars, missing my '99 Civic Si coupe [purchased new and still looked that way 10+ years later]), my cutoff is post-Y2K. Most things 2001+ don't appeal to me.

With retro gaming, the relatively smaller sizes (even with IL-2 1946 [2006] mentioned above, probably my most current GOG purchase) means that I can archive my GOG library onto DVDs and flashdrives in triplicate. If GOG were to crash and burn tomorrow, never to be seen again, what would I care? I've lost nothing except for the ability to buy more games from them.

Quick Status Report From The Newbie!!

I have purchased an original copy of MS Flight Simulator 2, WWII Pacific Theater. It came with 2 books. The rather large book that came in the original box and a smaller book, Th MS Pilot's Manual No. 2, apparently written as a extra resource for this game.

My Controller, Saitek, now Logitech , Pro X-56 Rhino H.O.T.A.S. Video Game Flight Controller for PC, is in transit. Both books have maps of keyboard commands that I plan to map certain commands to buttons on the controller. Am I to assume that this chart(s) apply to all of the aircraft note as "player flyable" use these same commands. If so I can set up the same buttons for this game.

Waiting to get into the air,
Henry

There is always EAW (European Air War) if you get bored with that.

There are various EAW versions. The version I most recommend is to try is EAW 1.28e Full Version.
Just visit links in my signature for details or the SimHQ EAW Forum.

Cheers!

Hello Russ,

I have been investigating a couple of choices for a simulator. I have installed EAW and have it up on my system thanks to Mr. Jelly, who has been extremely helpful. Before I get into combat, I need to know how to fly a plane. I am looking at X Plane and have installed the demos for version 10 and 11. X Plane has basic aircraft that I can use to more easily learn to fly. It turns out the my graphics card can't handle the minimum required frame rates for rendering even at the lowest settings for version 11. I then version 10 demo which does work with my system and I will buy it if I can work out the interface between the controller and the simulator. My system is as follows:

• Intel Xtreme I9, 6 dual 3.47 GHZ Processors 12 individual
• Logitech X56 rhino HOTAS stick and throttle
• Windows 7 Pro, 64 bit, SP1
• Direct X 11
• 12 GB Memory
• ATI FirePro V5800 V graphics card, Driver Date 1/18/2017, Version 15.201.2401.1009
• 2 solid state disks, 120GB, 240GB
• 2 Dell 27" Monitors DVI attached, resolution, 2560x1440, Dell-U2700
• 12 USB 2.0 ports

Right now I am confused about mapping. If I use the Logitech configuration software that comes with the drivers it has a method that requires me to know the keyboard entries necessary for given aircraft functions. However, the Logitech manual is of little help and technical support at Logitech is not helpful. They cannot even explain to me the functions of the various switches, etc.

The X Plane 10 manual has a mapping process of its own.

I just cannot figure out which process to use or how to integrate them into a working system. What would be ideal would be to find a member of our group that has installed X Plane 10 and the x56 controller and could give me some tips.

I would be grateful for any help

Semper FI
Otrman USMC 56-62

Hi otrman. I have neither X Plane nor a X56. But I want to help you.

With the fact that I have no experience with either as a qualifier, I would recommend instead of attempting to map everything yourself, that you use a pre-made file to do this for you. Since I don't fly this sim or use that stick I cannot say which files would be best. But I googled and the first link that popped up was this one

X56 Profile for X Plane 11

I don't even know if this is the latest version. Regardless, I would at least consider using one someone else has already made. Then you can just get after it without fussing with the mapping.

Of course you may prefer a custom one. That's normal. At your stage I would recommend finding one that works well, and then as you spend time with it you can tweak bits here and there to flavor to taste. Good luck!

The user comments point to a problem. Perhaps this will not work?

So I tried to find another, but like hen's teeth. If you start flying Falcon 4 I can be a little more help

Besides a joystick, I'd say that TrackIR is probably the single piece of hardware that will improve flight sims.

It's a little widget that sits on top of the monitor, and along with a IR LED dealie bob that goes on a headset follows one's head to change the view. It's incredibly intuitive.

https://www.naturalpoint.com/trackir/

Agreed, for me TrackIR is as important to flight sims as the monitor itself. It adds incredible immersion without the high cost and frustration of VR.