SimHQ.com - The Simulation Community's = Headquarters

SimHQ=20 Community News for July 14, = 2006    Recent=20 Articles    What's Hot in the Forums?
Google SimHQ = Search    Comments or Questions for SimHQ? = webmaster@simhq.com
Have News Items to Contribute? news@simhq.com    = Looking=20 for Archived News? Click here!
Masthead = Illustration by=20 Dean "DeanH" Hill.

Monthly Calendars=20 for July 2006 = are=20 here.

	Review: Intel Core 2 = CPUs Intel's=20 Pentium processors have for years taken a = backseat to=20 AMD's Athlon 64, but does that change today with = the=20 launch of the new Intel Core 2 CPUs? Read = SimHQ's review=20 here and find = out.
	Preview: Air Ace: = Birth of a=20 Flight Sim Part 2 Flight Sim = DIY Guest Writer Phil = "zoombapup"=20 Carlisle asks =93Why spend all of your time = modding=20 what is essentially a "dead" sim, when for a = little more=20 time and effort, you can develop (and sell) your = OWN=20 flight sim?=94 Read here.
	Interview: Lt. Col. = John=20 Halliday (USAFR, Ret.) Author, Flying Through=20 Midnight John=20 Sponauer interviews Lt. Col. Halliday about his=20 training, the nature of his flying over Laos, = and the=20 tactics used by =93Candlestick=94 crews. Read here.
	Oleg Discusses = What's Next:=20 Part 2 We = continue=20 our discussion with Oleg Maddox on the upcoming = Storm of=20 War: The Battle of Britain. Read here.
	International = Flightsim=20 Convention - Denver 2006 Chuck =93PFunk=94 Bellows = visits the=20 high country to see the newest way to = fly. Can you=20 say "FSX"? Read his report here.

Community News for July 14, = 2006

Air Combat = News

News Contributor: = Doug "Uther"=20 Lawrence.

Battle of Britain 2: Wings = of=20 Victory:

"HeinKill" has posted a = patch v 2.04 test report. =

European Air War:=20

"VonBeerhofen" has posted = a preview=20 of new bridges.

Event Photography:=20

"hbxov" has posted LPG Open Day photos.=20
"vektor_gt" has posted STS-121 launch photos. =

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

"Graf" has posted a P-51D wallpaper - Taking the = Lead.=20

Jet = Thunder:=20

"Dante-JT" has posted a = preview of=20 the A-4B Skyhawk cockpit. =

RC and Scale = Modeling:=20

"TBird66" has posted a RC flying video.

Strike Fighters / Wings Over = Vietnam /=20 Wings Over Europe:=20

"RussoUK2002" has posted = Buccaneer cockpit shots.=20
"USAFTML" has posted a patching procedure. =

General News:=20

USVN (Janes F/A-18 and FS2004 = squadrons)=20 is accepting new pilots.

Land Combat

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

Announcements:

The Wargamer has a copy of the = press=20 release for America's Army. Here's a = snippet about=20 the advanced AI America's Army is expected to bring: = We=20 recognized the need for an AI that is unpredictable = and=20 gameplay that warrants replay. Therefore we could = not employ=20 the usual trappings of magically spawning enemies, = triggered=20 sequences or scripted events. All of our AI is = dynamic and=20 emergent and will react to players based on = situation and=20 circumstance. The first time you see a Commando = sneaking up=20 on a unwitting player you'll be convinced this is = something=20 different. Just a few examples of the various things = you can=20 expect: AI can spawn in random locations, can be = suppressed,=20 will react to overwhelming fire, will react = aggressively to=20 grenades, can engage with a variety of weapons = (AK-47,=20 AK74su, VSS, Smoke/frag grenades, RPG and RPK) = against U.S.=20 vehicles/soldiers, set random ambushes, call for = mortar=20 support and request reinforcements via BTR-80.=20

Game News:

GameSpot has some new = screenshots of Total War: Era.

Worthplaying has new trailers = for Medieval 2: Total War and Joint Task Force. =

From the Forums:

Share your screenshots, videos, and AAR's in our = forums.=20

Naval Combat = News

News = Contributor:

We're looking = for a=20 newshound for Naval Combat. If you'd like to help = out,=20 please contact "guod".

Motorsports = News

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

GTR2:

Developer Simbin Development Team and Publisher = 10TACLE=20 STUDIOS AG present the first circuit teaser on the = website for =93GTR 2 =96 FIA GT = Racing=20 Game=94.

The first trailer of the series = features the=20 Grand Prix circuit Zhuhai in China, in a Maserati = MC12=20 during a practice round from a co-driver=92s and a=20 helicopter=92s perspective.

Official release is expected in = September=20 2006, until then, further FIA-licensed Grand Prix = circuits=20 will be featured within this = format.

rFactor:

"Frank.f55" has released a Renault R8 Gordini Mod featuring = the=20 classic French famlily saloon.

Champ = R-esult, a=20 management tool directed towards league = administrators has=20 been released. Further information and download = location is=20 provided in this thread.

LFS RX for = rFactor has=20 been released by "Madcowie". Behind the cryptic = track name=20 is a scratch built version of Blackwood of Live for = Speed=20 fame. Images of this track including the off-road = portion of=20 the track as well as the download, can be found here.

Interesting = development in=20 the quest to bring telemetry to rFactor. In this thread an early version of = a plug-in=20 for the MoTec interpreter is available for Alpha=20 testing.

Miscellaneous:

The classic racing movie "Grand Prix" has finally been = released on=20 DVD.

Technology = News

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

Cases and Cooling: =

TweakPC=20 checks out Thermaltake's Tuba BTX Case here.

Dan's Data=20 peeks inside Lian Li's PC-S80 PC Case here.

Hi-Tech=20 Reviews looks at the AeroCool PowerWatch Front = Panel here.

FrostyTech tests out Zalman's = ZM-STG1=20 Thermal Grease here

Memory:

Overclocker's Club tests out = some G.Skill=20 DDR 500 F1-4000USU2-2GBHZ 2x1GB RAM here.

Motherboards: =

Gamepyre=20 tests out the ECS 945G-M3 Motherboard here.

Community = News for July=20 13, 2006

Air Combat = News

News Contributor: = Doug "Uther"=20 Lawrence.

After Action Reports: =

"KingAlbert" has posted a = Falcon AAR - Charging Dragon Day = 2 01:30.=20

European = Air=20 War:=20

Sandbagger's latest news has been posted.=20
"J.Tuma" has announced = the release=20 of a new Hi-Res Bi-plane model: Heinkel He-45C.=20
"Flying Tiger" has = released a Ju-87 (1./StG2) skin.=20
"Skylark" has posted a Hi-Res Model List update. =

Event Photography:=20

"BlackLion" has posted Duxford Airshow photos. =

F-22 Total Air War:=20

"Polak" has posted a = preview of new=20 tents.

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

"Kristorf" has released a = Spitfire Mk.Vb (JH-C, Historic = Aircraft=20 Collection) skin.

Jane's F/A-18:=20

"Major Dragon" has made = the Operation Falling Star campaign = available.=20

Pit = Builders:=20

"Bandit Bill" has posted = photos of=20 a generic simpit.

Strike Fighters / Wings Over = Vietnam /=20 Wings Over Europe:=20

Third Wire has released = new patches.

Land Combat

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

Game News:

Fileplanet has the Company of Heroes multiplayer = beta. It's=20 currently for subscribers only, but as usual should = open up=20 to all in a few days.

The Wargamer has an after action = review=20 article on Take Command.

Worthplaying has 7 new = screenshots of Medieval 2: Total War.

Worthplaying has a new trailer = and=20 screenshots of HistWar: Les Grognards. =

From the Forums:

Share your screenshots, videos, and AAR's in our = forums.=20

Naval Combat = News

News = Contributor:

We're looking = for a=20 newshound for Naval Combat. If you'd like to help = out,=20 please contact "guod".

Motorsports = News

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

NASCAR:

There is speculation that America's top = female=20 driver, Danica Patrick, may be considering a move to = NASCAR.=20 Read it here at FoxSports.com. =

Technology = News

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

Cases:

Virtual-Hideout.net checks out = the Enermax=20 Chakra Mid-Tower ATX Case here.

XYZ=20 Computing checks out the CoolerMaster Mystique = Case here.

Cooling:

TechGage=20 checks out Thermalright's HR-01-K8 CPU Cooler here.

Graphics Cards: =

PCStats=20 tests out MSI's NX7600GT-VT2D256E Video Card here.

Hardware Secrets gives = Sapphire's Radeon=20 X1600 XT Ultimate Video Card a shakedown here.

Legit=20 Reviews has an article comparing Integrated = graphics vs.=20 ATi & NVIDIA budget graphics cards here.

Memory:

BigBruin=20 checks out OCZ Technology's PC3200 DDR Special Ops = Edition=20 2048 RAM Kit here.

CPU3D checks=20 out Crucial Ballistix DDR2

Community = News for July=20 12, 2006

Air Combat = News

News Contributor: = Doug "Uther"=20 Lawrence.

After Action Reports: =

"Herman" has posted an AAR - Battle of Britain II. =

European Air War:=20

"VonBeerhofen" has posted = a preview=20 of a Reichenberg hangar screen.=20
"Shreck" has posted shots = of satellite imaging converted to = tiles.=20

Event=20 Photography:=20

"No1_Reggie" has posted = Duxford Flying Legends photos.=20

Fighter = Squadron:=20 Scream 'n Demons Over Europe:=20

"Major Hippie" has posted = a preview=20 of a WWI Aircraft Carrier. =

Red Baron:=20

Still play Red baron? Post here.

RC and Scale = Modeling:=20

"Radar" has posted photos = and video=20 of a Ikarus ECO7 Jet Ranger carrying a=20 camcorder.

Strike=20 Fighters / Wings Over Vietnam:=20

"veltro2k" is looking for = help with the Avro Vulcan B2 = project.=20
"Kesselbrut" has posted a = preview=20 of a Ju-87 and Bf-109 cockpit.=20
"MigBuster30" has posted = a WOV pictorial tribute. =

General News:=20

"ukSleek" has posted a = link to a=20 video of an Apache on a live fire exercise. =

Land Combat

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

Announcements:

Battlefront has a new newsletter that shares alot of = good=20 information, some on the upcoming Shock=20 Force.

Game News:

Worthplaying has new screenshots = and a new=20 trailer of Call of Duty 3.

Worthplaying also has the 'Gary Grigsby=92s World at War' = - v1.202=20 Patch.

GameSpot has a new preview of Age of Empires 3: WarChiefs. =

Fileplanet has a new Battlefield = 2 mod=20 titled, Allied Intent.

ArmedAssault.eu has a new = preview of Armed Assault posted.

The Armchair General has a = review of Rush for Berlin.

The Wargamer has new screenshots = of WW2 Battle = Tanks.

From the Forums:

"Magnum" shares more screenhots from a mission in = SB Pro=20 PE, along with a great reply from "Ssnake". Check it = out here.

"Wicked" posted some wicked screenshots of SB Pro = PE=20 skins. Check them out here.

Naval Combat = News

News = Contributor:

We're looking = for a=20 newshound for Naval Combat. If you'd like to help = out,=20 please contact "guod".

Motorsports = News

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

rFactor:

Magny Cours is the latest track mod that has been = added=20 to rFactor Central.

Release = candidate=20 1 of the Saleen S7 Twin Turbo mod is available for = download=20 at rFactor Central. If you download = this,=20 remember it is not the finished mod. =

Technology = News

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

Cases:

OCModShop=20 looks into the Antec P180 Case here.

MADSHRIMPS checks out the = Silverstone TJ08=20 Mini-ITX Case here.

Cooling:

Technic3D=20 checks out the Thermaltake Kandalf LCS here.

PCApex=20 tests out the CoolerMaster Hyper L3 Socket 775 CPU = Cooler here.

Graphics Cards: =

Legion=20 Hardware looks at NVIDIA's GeForce 7300GT's SLI=20 Performance here.

Hardware Secrets checks out the = PowerColor=20 Radeon X1600 Pro 512MB Video Card here.

Motherboards /=20 Processors:

Bjorn3D and NVIDIA are going to have an open chat = on=20 nForce and the soon to be released Conroe CPU from = Intel.=20 Details can be found here.

Community = News for July=20 11, 2006

Air Combat = News

News Contributor: = Doug "Uther"=20 Lawrence.

European Air War: =

Sandbagger's latest news has been posted.=20
"Nico." has released Spitfire Mk.Ia and Mk.IIa skins. =
"Shreck" has posted a = preview of a=20 flag mod.

Fighter Squadron: Scream 'n = Demons=20 Over Europe:=20

"ArgonV" has announced = the release=20 of the Ilya A Floatplane [Alpha].=20
"ArgonV" has announced = the release=20 of the Pfalz D.XII Beta 1. =

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

Rudi Jaeger has released = a Piaggio P108B skin.=20
"RONNCO" has released a = Corsair II (1836 Sqn, HMS = Victorious 1944)=20 skin.

Storm of War:=20 The Battle of Britain:=20

Oleg Discusses What's Next: Part = 2.=20

Screenshots = and Video=20 Gallery:=20

Members have posted links = to=20 several Shuttle launch videos.=20
"Boandlgramer" has = released a Manching Airshow [Bavaria] = video.=20

Strike = Fighters /=20 Wings Over Vietnam / Wings Over Europe:=20

"Gepard" has released a = new Deutschland terrain Beta. =

Land Combat

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

Game News:

TankSim.com has a developer = interview with=20 the makers of T34 vs Tiger.

Hot=20 SWAT Mods has the recently released map, Art Center.

From the Forums:

"Devil M" shares some screenshots of a HIND = attack in SB=20 Pro PE. Check them out here.

Naval Combat = News

News = Contributor:

We're looking = for a=20 newshound for Naval Combat. If you'd like to help = out,=20 please contact "guod".

Motorsports = News

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

Richard Burns Rally:

RSRBR3, = the=20 front-end that lets you switch mods in and out = seamlessly=20 has been released in v. 3. The 677 Mb mod is = available from=20 this location.

GTR:

GIA GT 2005 Mod v. 2.0 has been released. See this release thread for more=20 information.

Technology = News

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

Cases:

Virtual-Hideout checks out the = Antec=20 NSK2400 Micro-ATX Case here.

Hardware-Review.net looks inside = Asys'=20 Freedom Super Tower Case here.

Cooling:

Overclocker's Club checks out = Asetek's=20 Waterchill Extreme Water Cooling Kit here.

Frostytech checks out Zalman's = VF700-AlCU=20 LED VideoCard Processor Heatsink here.

Graphics Cards: =

Motherboards.org tests out the = EVGA=20 e-GeForce 7900GTX 512MB SLI Video Card here.

Legion=20 Hardware checks out NVIDIA GeForce 7300GT Video = Cards in=20 SLI here.

Motherboards: =

ViperLair=20 checks out Foxconn's 975X7AA-8EKRS2H Motherboard here.

Processors:

CPU3D checks=20 out the AMD Athlon FX62 CPU here.

Community = News for July=20 10, 2006

Air Combat = News

News Contributor: = Doug "Uther"=20 Lawrence.

After Action Reports: =

"KingAlbert" has posted a = Falcon AAR - Charging Dragon Day = 2 00:45.=20

EECH / = EEAH:=20

"arneh" has posted a more realistic engines and startup=20 procedure.=20
The Opium War [online = campaign]- Sign up here.

European Air War:=20

Sandbagger's latest news has been posted.=20
"J.Tuma" has announced = the release=20 of the Hi-Res Polikarpov R-Z series.=20
"Flying Tiger" has = released a Ju-87B-8 (3./ = Nachtschlachtgruppe.8,=20 Czechia 1945) skin.=20
"Rotton50" has announced = the=20 release of the de Havilland DH 103 Hornet.=20
"Col. Gibbon" has posted = a preview=20 of two new trains.=20
"MrJelly" has announced = the release=20 of Slotswitcher.

Event Photography:=20

"Jedi Master" has posted = a link to=20 a photo of the Shuttle launching.=20
"Kristorf" has posted Flying Legends Airshow (Duxford) = photos.=20

Falcon 4.0 = Series:=20

"Falcas" has announced = the release=20 of Weapon Delivery Planner v 1.2.=20

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

"Simplex" has posted a P-51B wallpaper.=20
"Tromplamort" has = released a Fw-190F-8 (Luftwaffe) skin.=20
"Kristorf" has released a = Spitfire Mk.VIII ('Ace of = Spades', 81 Sqn.=20 Imphal Main, July 1944) skin.=20
"Kristorf" has released a = Spitfire Mk.Vc (WC Peter Prosser = Hanks,=20 Luqa Wing, Malta 1942) skin.=20
"Buglord" has released a = Pe-2 (VVS 12th GvBAP & Pe-2 = of Finnish=20 2/PLeLv 48) skin pack.=20
Scorched Earth: 2.0 beta(J5) has = been=20 released.=20
Col. Douglas King has = released a P-38 ('Shady Lady', night = scheme) skin.=20
"sparty72" has released a = Fw-190A-8 skin.=20
"96th_Nightshifter" has = released a=20 Spitfire PR Mk.XI skin pack.=20
"96th_Nightshifter" has = released a=20 Spitfire PR Mk.XIX "Flying = Spyglass" skin.=20
"96th_Nightshifter" has = released a=20 Spitfire PR Mk.XIX (2 Sqn, 2nd = TAF, RAF=20 Furstenfeldbuck, South Germany 1946) skin. =

LOMAC / Flaming Cliffs / = Black=20 Shark:=20

"Thomas DW" has announced = the=20 release of new Eagle Missions: DoGFight Mission Pack 4.1. =

Pit Builders:=20

CH Products announce the = Rocca Forte Command Centre Desk. = Thanks=20 "531 Ghost" for the heads up.

Screenshots and Video = Gallery:=20

"Crop-Duster" has posted = a link to=20 a video of a Soviet test of a captured JG 54 = Fw-190A-4.=20

Storm of = War: The=20 Battle of Britain:=20

Ship Date Scuttlebutt. =

Strike Fighters / Wings Over = Vietnam:=20

"Mike1" has released a = large number=20 of F-5E skins.=20
"dfang" has released camouflaged F-100D tanks.=20
"Cat" has announced the = release of=20 a MiG-21F13 "Supersonics" skin.=20
"Kazama Shin" has = released a re-painted F-15A cockpit.=20
"RussoUK2002" has posted = a preview=20 of the Buccaneer cockpit project. =

General News:=20

"Vespa2" has posted a = preview of=20 the Fw-190F-8 in Target Tobruk.=20
USAF names Lockheed Martin's F-35 = JSF the=20 Lightning II. Thanks "Thomas DW".

Land Combat

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

Announcements:

There is a new game from the US Army, free and = for=20 downloading. It's =93Future Combat=20 Systems=94, the download is just under 700 MB's. = (Thanks=20 to =93PvtKramer=94 for the news.) Here's information = about the=20 game aspect. Here are a couple = of screenshots.

Game News:

Worthplaying has 16 new = screenshots of =93WW2 Battle Tanks: T34 vs = Tiger=94.

Worthplaying also has 14 new = screenshots=20 of CivCity Rome.

Fileplanet opens the War Front beta to all. =

From the Forums:

=93Stormtrooper=94 has started a thread in the = General Land=20 forum for sharing of your best ever land based = screens.=20 Check some out and share your own here.

Naval Combat = News

News = Contributor:

Lieutenant = Frank Ogden=20 was the diver of the midget submarine X-24. Read = about the=20 X-24 Bergen raid in 1944 here and see the X-24 on = display at the=20 RN Submarine Museum here.

We're looking = for a=20 newshound for Naval Combat. If you'd like to help = out,=20 please contact "guod".

Motorsports = News

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

netKar PRO:

A UK Renault skinpack has been released by Liquid = Squid.=20 Download it from here.

NASCAR Nextel Cup:

It has been announced that Juan-Pablo Montoya = will be=20 driving the 42 car in the 2007 NNC. =

Technology = News

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

Cases:

Virtual-Hideout checks out the = Tuniq 2 PC=20 Case here.

Overclock=20 Intelligence Agency tests the ASYS Freedom = CK-1022-6=20 Tower Case here.

Cooling:

techPowerUp tests out the = Thermalright=20 XP90-C Cooler here.

GideonTech checks out the = Sunbeam Silent=20 Whisper here.

Graphics Cards: =

PureOverclock tests out a Galaxy = GeForce=20 7900 GT here.

Motherboards.org checks out the = EVGA=20 7900GTX 512MB SLI Video Card here.

Motherboards: =

ByteSizedReviews checks out = Abit's AT8 32X=20 Motherboard here.

Phoronix=20 checks out the Tyan Tiger i7520SD S5365 here.