From: Subject: SimHQ.com - The Simulation Community's Headquarters Date: Sun, 1 Jan 2006 19:33:39 -0600 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; type="text/html"; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0000_01C60F0A.43ECA670" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2670 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01C60F0A.43ECA670 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.simhq.com/ SimHQ.com - The Simulation Community's = Headquarters
Air Combat = Articles Land = Combat=20 Articles Naval = Combat=20 Articles Motorsports=20 Articles Technology=20 Articles Forums=20 =
 
  About SimHQ SimHQ=20 Staff  Downloads Library New=20 Releases Community=20 Links  

SimHQ=20 Community News for December 30, 2005=20     Recent=20 Articles    What's Hot in the Forums?
Google SimHQ = Search    Comments or Questions for SimHQ?=20 webmaster@simhq.com
Have News Items = to=20 Contribute? news@simhq.com    =  Looking for = Archived=20 News? Click here!

Our New Year's masthead = symbolizes the=20 "brand new day". Illustration by Dean "DeanH"=20 Hill.

Feature: "Second Look": = Total Air=20 War

"Cat" provides = the latest=20 "Second Look" Series article in Total Air War: A Brief=20 Retrospective. Read=20 about it here and learn why DIDs = WarGen engine=20 was so highly = regarded.

January 2006 Monthly = Calendars Now=20 Available

We're changing = how the=20 monthly=20 calendars = are=20 presented. There are so many excellent = photographers=20 among the community that we decided to feature = their=20 work each month in a mini gallery. For January = we have=20 the aviation images of Andrew "hbxov" Beaumont. = Take a=20 look here.

Best wishes = for a happy=20 and safe New Year from SimHQ!

Community News for=20 December 30, 2005

Air Combat News

News Contributor: Doug "Uther"=20 Lawrence.

European=20 Air War:

Fighter = Squadron:=20 Scream 'n Demons Over Europe:=20 FS2002 / FS2004:=20 IL-2 = Series:=20 Forgotten Battles, AEP, Pacific Fighters:=20 LOMAC / Flaming Cliffs / = Black=20 Shark:=20 Over Flanders=20 Fields:=20 Strike Fighters=20 / Wings Over Vietnam:=20
  • "USAFTML" has announced the = release of=20 the KA-6D Intruder.
  • "USAFTML" has posted shots of = Polak's Sky mod.
  • "kreelin" has released WovQmd 1.03.
  • "Saguanay" has posted shots = of the CP-140 Aurora in action.=20
General=20 News:=20

Land Combat News

News Contributor: Chuck = "Magnum"=20 Ankenbauer.

Screenshots=20 Gallery: Check these OFP: FFUR European mod shots. = Thanks=20 "Uther".

Naval Combat = News

News Contributor: = "Teddy=20 B=E4r".

The=20 War Plan Orange: Dreadnoughts in the Pacific 1922-1930 = update v1.15 = brings better=20 AI, balance changes and data dpdating. You can get it = at Matrix Games.

Australia's Navy News reports that = HMAS=20 Warrnambool = concluded her=20 proud and eventful career on November 29 with a = splendid but=20 solemn decommissioning ceremony held on the hard stand = at HMAS=20 Coonawarra. Full story here.

Screenshots Gallery: = "PanzerMeyer" has=20 posted a shots of a Chinese Han class SSN in action. = Thanks=20 "Uther".

Motorsports News

News Contributor: = Jens=20 "McGonigle" Lindblad.

"Harry-the-Ruskie" has=20 posted links to rFactor=20 tracks here.

Technology=20 News

News Contributor: = Bob=20 "KnightRyder" Nielsen.

X-bit Labs=20 checks out the ASUS = A8N32-SLI=20 Deluxe motherboard here.

Bjorn3D tests=20 the Enermax Liberty=20 ELT620AWT 620W PSU here.

PC = Mechanic=20 checks out the Icemat = Siberia=20 Multi headset here.

Bigbruin=20 tests the MGE XG = Dragon=20 gaming case here.

Pro-Clockers=20 reviews the OCZ EL = DDR=20 PC-3200 Dual Channel Platinum Rev 2 RAM here.

Legion=20 Hardware tests out the Thermalright V-1 = Ultra VGA=20 cooler here.

DesignTechnica looks at the Denon S-301 mini = system here.

HKEPC has some=20 "spy pics" of the ATI=20 R580 reference board here.

Community News=20 for December 29, 2005

Air Combat News

News Contributor: Doug "Uther"=20 Lawrence.

EECH /=20 EEAH:

European=20 Air War:

Falcon 4.0: Allied = Force:=20

FS2002 / = FS2004:

  • Junkers-52.de has announced = the release=20 of an improved Junkers Ju-52 = (civilian) for=20 FS2004.
  • "CoffeDrinker" has posted a = link to downloadable charts.
  • "SonicBoom" has posted a link = to Radar Contact, an Air Traffic = Control=20 (ATC) add-on for Microsoft Flight Simulator. =

Flight = Simulator..."X"?:

  • Take a look here at Neowin.=20 Hmmm. Thanks to "JC" for the news tip. =

IL-2 Series: = Forgotten=20 Battles, AEP, Pacific Fighters:

  • "Kristorf" has released a Spitfire IXc (Flt Lt Otto Smik, = 312 Sqdn,=20 Lympne, Sept 1944) skin.
  • "Extreme_One" has posted a = link to new beta DLL`s for ATi and = NVIDIA cards.=20
  • Scorched Earth: New Web site = Layout, and=20 New Features Announced.
  • Looking=20 for skins? Check out Helgs=20 skins.
  • "Cpt_Farrel" has released Bf-109, Fw-190, and Bf-110=20 skins.=20
Jane's=20 F/A-18:=20
  • "VCVW11_BonKeRS" has posted a = link to=20 the new CVW11 Recruit video.
  • From=20 Australia and fly online? Post here.
  • The=20 VMFA-323 will once again be hosting "Campaign Night" on Wednesday = nights,=20 8:30pm cst/2:30am GMT at Hyperfighter. =

Jane's Longbow = Series:=20

LOMAC / Flaming Cliffs / = Black=20 Shark:=20
  • "Shadow=3DASP=3D" has posted = a Cougar profile with extra = coding.=20

Over Flanders = Fields:=20

  • OFF=20 servers are requesting donations to cover their = expenses.=20

Pit = Builders:

Screentshots and Video=20 Gallery:=20
  • "Lemon"=20 has posted shots of Ju-87 Stukas on a convoy attack = mission.=20
  • "Big_Daddy" has posted a link = to the VMFA-323 video page.
  • "EagleTalons" has posted a = shot of a red Bf-109. =
Strike Fighters / Wings Over = Vietnam:=20

Land Combat News

News Contributor: Chuck = "Magnum"=20 Ankenbauer.

Worthplaying has=20 news of a new America's=20 Army game titled=20 "America's Army: Real Heroes", Read about it here. You=20 can also check out the official announcement here.

Battlefront just keeps on giving = for the=20 holidays. They have now released a Mission Pack for T-72: Balkans on = Fire. Read about it and download it = here.

SimHQ=20 community member "Rainer", the same member who first = brought=20 us the news about T-72:=20 Balkans on Fire, = has brought=20 us some new information on a yet to be announce WW2 = Tank=20 simulation/game. Read about it here.

There are=20 some screenshots of the recently released FFUR European = Mod here. Check out the OFP Forum for = more=20 information.

Naval Combat = News

News Contributor: = "Teddy=20 B=E4r".

Naval After Action Reports: = "Herman" has=20 posted a Harpoon Classic Scenario AAR - = Emerald=20 Action [Spoiler Alert] and a Harpoon 3 AAR - Malakka [Spoiler = Alert] -=20 Thailand.

Motorsports News

News Contributor: = Jens=20 "McGonigle" Lindblad.

Read about and = download the=20 McLaren Challenge = v1.2 here in the RSC=20 Forums.

Technology=20 News

News Contributor: = Bob=20 "KnightRyder" Nielsen.

TECHNIZ.CO.UK checks out the Chaintech GeForce = 6800GS 256MB=20 DDR3 SLI video card here.

3DGameMan=20 tests the Corsair=20 XMS-4000PT DDR500 2GB memory kit here.

GamerGod=20 tests the EVGA = 133-K8-NF41-AX=20 nForce 4 SLI motherboard here.

AMDZone=20 checks out the Foxconn = 6150K8MA-8EKRS motherboard here.

GamerGod=20 reviews the NVIDIA = GeForce=20 6600 256 DDR AGP8X video card here.

A1=20 Electronics tests the Sharkoon Red Shock AMD = Athlon=20 64, Intel = Pentium=20 4 heatsink here.

bit-tech=20 reviews Intel's = Pentium=20 Extreme Edition 955 and 975X chipset here.

Futurelooks tests out the Bluetake BT400 G5 = Bluetooth=20 headset here.

OCModShop=20 has a video overview of the Xbox=20 360 here.

HotHardware details the specifics = of Intel's=20 new Pentium Extreme = Edition=20 955 processor and 975X=20 Express chipset in their report here.

Techgage=20 reports: Half-Life 2:=20 64-bit - Reason to get excited? Read here.

CoolTechZone has an ASUS Extreme N7800GT = dual=20 graphics card review here.

Community News=20 for December 28, 2005

Air Combat News

News Contributor: Doug "Uther"=20 Lawrence.

European Air War:

  • The=20 first new EAW = EXE mod is out. = It's=20 called the EAW v1.26e=20 patch. It will replace the standard 1.2 patch. = Created by=20 the new Code Committee, EAW v1.26e makes = installation of EAW=20 more reliable and adds new features. You can grab it = from=20 here or here. It is 4.14MB. The discussion is here.=20
  • Some new scenarios to = check out at=20 Sandbaggers here.=20
  • In case you missed it, there are new contrails = for EAW.=20 Take a look here and here.

Land Combat News

News Contributor: Chuck = "Magnum"=20 Ankenbauer.

Worthplaying has 13 new = screenshots of Rainbow 6: Lockdown = here.

Blues News=20 has word that Sudden = Strike=20 3's web site has been remade with new = information, new=20 screens, and a new movie for the upcoming version. = Check out=20 the site here.

Gamespy has a=20 number of movies for viewing and download:

  • Check out the Lockdown video here.=20
  • The T-72 Balkans on = Fire video here.=20
  • The Splinter Cell: Double=20 Agent trailer here.

IGN = has a preview=20 of SWAT 4: The = Stetchkov=20 Syndicate here.

The FFUR = European=20 Pack mod for Operation=20 Flashpoint has been released. There's the main = (500MB)=20 download and a small patch. Get them both from the = FFUR web=20 site.

Naval Combat = News

News Contributor: = "Teddy=20 B=E4r".

UK = Navy=20 News has some HMS=20 Daring cutaway wallpapers and videos here.

Motorsports News

News Contributor: = Jens=20 "McGonigle" Lindblad.

The December = issue of AutoSimSport has been = released=20 here.

Technology=20 News

News Contributor: = Bob=20 "KnightRyder" Nielsen.

Wired has=20 released it's technology 2005=20 Foot-in-Mouth Awards here.

Tweakguides has updated their = ATI Catalyst guide here.

Virtual-Hideout tests out the = Antec PlusView II = SOHO case here.

Bjorn3D tests=20 out the Antec = TrueControl=20 II 550W PSU here.

techFEAR=20 tests out ECS' KN1 SLI = Extreme motherboard in a 30-day test drive here.

TweakTown=20 checks out the GeCube = Radeon=20 X1800XT video card here.

ThinkComputers reviews the Logitech G7 laser = cordless=20 mouse here.

X-bit Labs=20 reviews the LSI = MegaRAID SATA=20 300-8X controller here.

CaseModGod=20 checks out the OCZ = Rally=20 flash drive here.

Pro-Clockers reviews the Thermaltake Blue Orb = heatsink=20 here.

Community News=20 for December 27, 2005

Air Combat News

News Contributor: Doug "Uther"=20 Lawrence.

Battle=20 of Britain 2: Wings of Victory:

  • "hurricane hicken" has = announced the=20 release of new terrain.
  • "Blade124" has posted a dogfight video. =
Combat Flight Simulator = 3:=20
  • "Pooch"=20 has posted a procedure to use the P-55 = cockpit in the=20 P-47.
Falcon=20 4.0: Allied Force:=20
  • "OzCougar" has posted a = Nostromo N-52=20 profile here.
FS2002 / FS2004:=20
  • "Crop-Duster" has posted a = link to new=20 freeware Australia (Vista Australis = "VOZ") scenery.=20
IL-2 Series:=20 Forgotten Battles, AEP, Pacific Fighters:=20
  • "Hynkel"=20 has released an early war VVS pilot (black leather coat) = skin.=20
  • "RONNCO"=20 has released a FM-2 (VC-4, USS White Plains, = Central=20 Pacific, 1944) skin.
  • "UF_Zargos" has released two = P-47D-22 (RAF n=B0135 & = n=B0258 squadrons=20 located in Burma) skins.
  • "elephant_" has released a VVS pilot pack.
  • Ian Boys=20 has posted an Ostfront download update from = the=20 publisher.
  • "CanonUK" has released = several new Hungarian Bf-109 skins.
  • "kounchi" has released a = video of Japanese aircraft attacking a US = carrier.=20
Jane's=20 F/A-18:=20
  • "Big_Daddy" has posted a video.
  • "RCAF=20 ARROW CO" has posted link to the VF-102 50th Video.
  • "Bright_sky" has posted a = link to a free F/A-18E mouse pointer. =
  • "Ripcord" has released a campaign that combines all three = phases of=20 Operation Persian Freedom into one campaign.=20
LOMAC = / Flaming=20 Cliffs / Black Shark:=20
  • "ZoomBoy27" has tracked down = a LOMAC=20 date bug and has modified some affected missions.
Over Flanders Fields: =
  • "gambit_168" has released a = Fokker Dr.I skin.
  • "Polovski" has posted a link = to a OFF movie.
  • "bisher"=20 has posted a screenshot of trucks with working headlights.=20
Screentshots=20 and Video Gallery:=20
  • "Ace_Hyflyer" has posted a = series of IL2/Pacific Fighters shots. =
  • "BeachAV8R" has posted = numerous shots from various simulators. =
  • "JimK"=20 has released two X-Plane 8.21 scenery videos.=20
Strike Fighters=20 / Wings Over Vietnam:=20 General News:=20

Land Combat News

News Contributor: Chuck = "Magnum"=20 Ankenbauer.

GhostRecon.net has an = "Operation Save=20 Santa" mission to download here. Also, vote for your favorite = 2005=20 Ghost Recon mod here.

Naval Combat = News

News Contributor: = "Teddy=20 B=E4r".

Win an = autographed Silent Hunter III = Recognition=20 Manual or an autographed copy of Silent Hunter III. = Learn the=20 details here at Subsim.

Motorsports News

News Contributor: = Jens=20 "McGonigle" Lindblad.

There's a GT Legends review here at DriverHeaven.

RSDG = has a=20 couple of new screens for new=20 add-ons they're developing.

Technology=20 News

News Contributor: = Bob=20 "KnightRyder" Nielsen.

Anandtech=20 has a Radeon X800 GTO video card mini roundup here

MADSHRIMPS tests out some = GSKILL Extreme Series (HZ) = DDR I=20 PC4000 dual = channel RAM here.

Elite Bastards tests the = Club 3D GeForce 6600 256MB = Passive=20 Edition video card = here.

Legion Hardware checks out the = Corsair 4GB = Voyager flash drive here.

Pro-Clockers tests the = Zalman CNPS9500 LED heatsink here.

3DAvenue tests the HIS X1800 Series video card here.

Bjorn3D checks out the = PowerColor X800 GTO = 16 video card here.

Lost Circuits reviews the = Sapphire Pure Crossfire=20 A9RD480 video card = here.

Community News=20 for December 26, 2005

Air Combat News

News Contributor: Doug "Uther"=20 Lawrence.

Battle of=20 Britain 2: Wings of Victory:

EECH / EEAH:=20 European Air War:=20 Event=20 Photography:=20
  • "Top=20 Gun" has posted an A-10 photo.
  • "13sq*Axe" has posted a link = to Seattle Museum of Flight photos. =
Falcon 4.0:=20 Allied Force:=20
  • "The=20 Blackbird" has posted links to official F-16 MLU and = F-16=20 Combat Aircraft Fundamentals manuals.
FS2002 / FS2004:=20
  • "spitfire9" has posted a link = to a freeware BAC-111. =
IL-2 Series: Forgotten = Battles, AEP,=20 Pacific Fighters:=20
  • "Buglord" has released a Bf-109F-2 (III/JG54 "Grunherz") = skin.=20
  • "Desastersoft" has released = new campaigns and missions.
  • "Jarink"=20 has released a P-63 template and skins.
  • "Box-weasel" has released a = Genda's Eagles skin pack.=20
LOMAC = / Flaming=20 Cliffs / Black Shark:=20
  • Lock-On=20 Supports eMagin Z800 3DVisor. Thanks to = "Stonewall=20 Jackson" for the heads up.
Over Flanders Fields: = Pit Builders:=20
  • "Kimchoc1" has posted a photo = of a cockpit with fresnel lens.=20
RC = and Scale=20 Modeling:=20 Screentshots Gallery: = Strike Fighters / Wings Over = Vietnam:=20 General News:=20
  • "Dogsbd"=20 has posted a link to the free space simulator Project Mercury 5.0.
  • "RAF_Dumoulin" has posted a = link to a=20 free file hosting site - File=20 Factory.
  • "Crop-Duster" has posted a = link to a=20 Christmas Eve aviation story. =

Land Combat News

News Contributor: Chuck = "Magnum"=20 Ankenbauer.

Battleground=20 Europe is now = available in=20 North America. It is now available to North America = for the=20 first time via the Matrix=20 Games Online Store as a digital download, with = boxed=20 copies to follow next week. Take control of a soldier = fighting=20 in World War II in a persistent massive multiplayer = world of=20 first-person combat with infantry, tanks, planes and = ships.=20 This full release in North America provides the latest = version=20 and goodies that were included in the European release = last=20 month. Enjoy a variety of extras, such as a 150-page = game=20 manual in electronic form, a combat equipment guide,=20 wallpapers, game music, comics and more! Included is a = key for=20 30 days of FREE play. The Battleground Europe = web site=20 is here.

We received this press announcement from Battlefront.com:

Battlefront.com = and Dan=20 Verssen Games are happy to announce a large free = Christmas=20 update for their air combat strategy game = Down in = Flames!

We've saved up a few goodies/free updates in = order to=20 release them all in one go in a large Christmas bundle. Just = like the=20 regular bimonthly updates, this bundle is completely = free=20 and immediately available via the auto-update = feature of the=20 game. (requires the full version)

The Christmas bundle includes:

  • our (!) new campaigns (see below for = details)=20
  • one set of updated animations for the F4F=20 Wildcat=20
  • a WHOLE NEW PLANE: the Brewster Buffalo =
  • and new fatigue rules for pilots as well as = a few=20 small bug fixes, too.

The four campaigns are:

Greece - Operation Marita: the last part of = the German=20 offensive in the Balkans

Crete - Operation Merkur: Germany's biggest = and last=20 airborne operation of the war (includes the new = Buffalo=20 aircraft)

Malta - Operation Herkules: The German plan to = remove=20 the threat of British based fighter aircraft being = able to=20 hinder the supply of Rommel's Afrika Korps.

Leyte Gulf - Operation Sho-Go: one of the = greatest sea=20 battles to ever take place.

The Christmas bundle=20 is available immediately for those with the full = version of=20 the game.

The game web site = is here and the game = community/leader board=20 is here.

Here's a link to the = real time=20 strategy game Joint Task Force.

The Battlefield=20 2 Expansion Pack planned to be launched during = Spring 2006=20 is now replaced by two "booster" packs.

How about this idea for a land combat sim? = Thanks to=20 "CV" for the news item.

Naval Combat = News

News Contributor: = "Teddy=20 B=E4r".

Congratulations = to the ten=20 winners of our S.C.S.-Dangerous=20 Waters Contest: Arthur Chang, David Culos, Paul = Roberts, =C1ron D=F6ms=F6di, Steven Dickson, Alex = Donn, Herman Hum,=20 Staffan Juul, Jeff Butler, and Jochen Baur. Please = send guod the=20 address where you would like the DVD, "A Century of = Silent=20 Service" shipped.

Bill "SubGuru" = Nichols has=20 announced that SubGuru has=20 released a 14-mission campaign for S.C.S. - Dangerous = Waters based=20 on the Tom Clancy novel, Red Storm Rising.

Naval After Action Reports: = "Herman" has=20 posted a Harpoon 3 AAR - The Cyprus = Question 1966=20 [Spoiler Alert]. Thanks "Uther".

Motorsports News

News Contributor: = Jens=20 "McGonigle" Lindblad.

Big F1C news! The RH Season 2005 mod = has been=20 released! Read here at RaceSimCentral. Note: The = "readme"=20 for RH2005 = states that=20 the A1 Ring has been used as a surrogate track for = China,=20 Bahrain and Turkey. Info on downloading the Shanghai = Track=20 Beta is here, the Bahrain Track Beta is here and the graphic update is here, and the Turkey Track Beta is = here.

For all the = GPL and GTR Nurburgring fans: = Head on=20 over to BMW's = web site=20 and check out this Flash 7 streaming video. It = takes you=20 on a ride with Hans Stuck in the BMW GTR M3 during the = 'Ring's=20 24 Hour endurance race. It's quite a ride, along the = "long"=20 course as Hans works his way around slower cars.

Technology=20 News

News Contributor: = Bob=20 "KnightRyder" Nielsen.

Hardware=20 Secrets reports how FB-DIMM=20 memory works here.

The=20 Inquirer reports on the Steam powered 64-bit Half Life 2. Read here.

The NGO ATI Optimized = Driver is a=20 tweaked version of the ATI Catalyst driver (based on = v5.13).=20 It offers users better performance and image quality. = The=20 driver has support for all Radeon cards. You can grab = it from=20 here.

ExtremeTech reports on the "Top = 10 Things=20 You Don't Want to Forget before You Build" here.

Ars=20 Technica has the news item: "AMD announces = desktop=20 processor shortages" posted here.

Recent Air Combat=20 Articles
More = Air Combat=20 articles here and here.

Feature: Total Air War: A Brief=20 Retrospective
Preview: A-OK! - Wings Of=20 Mercury
Preview: The Black Sea=20 Operations
Feature: Casual Day
Feature: Flying the "Liberty = Belle"=20 B-17G
Review: Sim Cockpit Systems=20 SCS-F3
Feature: Jane's F/A-18 = Revisited
Review: Condor
Feature: The Evolution of = SF:P1
Review: Tom's HiTiles for Falcon = 4: Allied=20 Force
Interview: Tom's HiTiles for = Falcon=20 4
Review: Clark's Precision = Machine &=20 Tool's F/A-18 Cockpit
Review: Flight1 Pilatus PC-12 = and Misty=20 Fjords
Feature: The Circle of = Life
Review: Aeroworx X-treme = King Air=20 B200 v2.0
Review: Battle of Britain II: = Wings of=20 Victory
A New Pilots First Look at = F4:AF

Recent Land = Combat=20 Articles
More = Land Combat=20 articles here.

Review: F.E.A.R.
Feature: America's Army: Past, = Present,=20 and Future
Review: Civilization IV & = Shattered=20 Union
Feature: Ghost Recon, = Revisited
Feature: Operation Flashpoint,=20 Revisited
Review: Flashpoint = Germany
Editorial: SWAT 4 = "Ads"
Review: = Battlefield=20 2

Recent = Motorsports=20 Articles
More = Motorsports=20 articles here.=20

Preview: Behind the Scenes: The = GPL 1969=20 Mod
Review: = GT=20 Legends
Preview: netKar PRO
Book Review: Speed Secrets =
Review:=20 rFactor Part: 1 2 3