SimHQ.com - The Simulation Community's = Headquarters

SimHQ=20 Community News for July 21, = 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!
Monthly = Calendars for July=20 2006 are here.     Masthead=20 Illustration by Dean "DeanH" Hill.

	Review: Z Fang=20 Gamepad Chuck=20 "Magnum" Ankenbauer test drives the Z Fang = Gamepad and=20 says to try it out "...especially if you=92re = a fellow=20 left handed gamer like me." Read here.
	Feature: My Mind's = Racing=20 (or I=92m Driving Myself = Crazy) Tom "20mm" Hayden = says thoughts "... = literally=20 race through my mind like Steve McQueen=92s = Porsche 917=20 when I am in the midst of running an auto racing = simulation". Read what's on his mind here.
	Review: Wings Over=20 Europe Chuck=20 "PFunk" Bellows reports on the latest version of = the=20 Third Wire series. What's new in this latest = offering?=20 Read 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.

Community News for July 21, = 2006

Air Combat = News

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

IFC Europe = 2006:

Learn more here about the largest Flight = simulation=20 convention in the world. Ever.

Knights of = the Sky:

There's a new = development=20 update "Knights of the Sky" here at=20 the Gennadich web site. The movie uses the = XVid-codec=20 (40MB).

Event = Photography:

=93Legend=94 has posted Farnborough 2006 photos.

=93hbxov=94 shares Camera FAQ & Useful Links. =

=93RSColonel_131st=94 has posted a link to his latest article online - in = German.=20

=93Yojimbo=94 Adobe releases Lightroom Beta for Windows. = Thanks,=20 =93Yojimbo=94.

Real World:

PRNewswire: Yesterday at the Farnborough Air = Show, CAE=20 introduced the CAE Global Academy, a new training = alliance=20 intended to address the global shortage of = pilots. Read=20 here.

PRNewswire: CAE wins order for two A380 = simulators and=20 associated training devices from FedEx. Read here.

TouchBuddy:

"ruggbutt" posts information on = Touchbuddy=20 clickable cockpits and has news of a contest here.

Land Combat

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

America's = Army:

A new video = is available=20 here.

Faces of = War:

A Faces of War Demo has been = released at the=20 official site.

Red = Orchestra:

Gamepyre = reviews Red=20 Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 here.

Announcement = from Trip Wire Interactive:

"Tripwire = is happy to=20 announce our next free update for Red Orchestra: = Ostfront=20 41-45, due out next Thursday, July 27th, to be = downloaded=20 automatically off Steam. This is the next in our = planned=20 series of free content updates for the game. A quick = summary=20 of the new content:

Brand new = map: "Lyes=20 Krovy". This is a brutal close-quarters fight for a = German=20 trench-and-bunker position in a forest in northern = Russia ,=20 in the summer of 1944. The Soviet forces get to = assault into=20 and through a strongly-fortified position, while the = Germans=20 fight hard to hold them off. This one has rapidly = become a=20 firm favourite with the test team!

Brand new = weapon=20 system: smoke grenades. We've teased about this one = on the=20 forums... on some maps, infantry commanders will now = have=20 smoke instead of explosive grenades, which can be = used to=20 create quick cover for assault routes, or to = momentarily=20 blind the defenders. We're finding that clever use = of smoke=20 can change tactical stalemates at a stroke!

Tank = reloading: we've=20 listened to the requests and we have changed the = tank=20 reloading so that you now choose the next round to = load,=20 without having to unload first. Quicker, more = realistic,=20 more intuitive.

Victory = conditions=20 changed so round can no longer end in stalemate "No = Decisive=20 Victory" situations.

Multiple = fixes,=20 including a fix from Creative Labs for choppy VOIP = with EAX,=20 no more players "bouncing" off prone players and no = more=20 "telefragging" when players change=20 stance."

War Plan = Orange:

War Plan Orange has = been=20 updated. The new version 1.205 Improves realism and = further=20 improves the AI. Available at Matrix=20 Games.

WWII War Games:

WWII shows no battle fatigue feature at USAToday including a list of = War Games=20 in the Works.

Naval Combat = News

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:

Harewood = Hilclimb by=20 Madcowie is go. For a completely different = experience, go here.

The Factor = Newsroom has a=20 (long) list of what will be included in the soon to = be=20 released update for rFactor here. Thanks, "195th_Moses".=20

GTR2:

Autosimsport = report that=20 according to reliable sources, StarForce will not be = used=20 for GTR2, neither the demo which is to be released = this=20 Friday, nor the complete game will have SF. Speaking = of the=20 demo, look here at = Gamespot.

IHRA Drag = Racing:

Gamespot = reviews IHRA=20 Drag Racing: Sportsman Edition for PC here.

GPL:

Just when you = thought=20 you'd seen it all... GPL is the first sim to expand = it's=20 activities to other worlds. Get ready for a luna-tic race.

Technology = News

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

Cases:

3DGameMan=20 checks out the Enermax Chakra ATX Case here.

Cooling:

DriverHeaven.net checks out the = Zalman=20 CNPS8000 and CNPS9500 Coolers here.

Overclock=20 Intelligence Agency tests the Zalman ZM-RF1 = Reserator=20 Fan Kit here.

Graphics Cards:

TweakTown=20 checks out the HIS Radeon X1900XTX IceQ 3 Turbo = Graphics=20 Card here.

Hardware=20 Zone tests out MSI's NX7900GT-VT2D256E-HD = (GeForce 7900=20 GT 256MB) here.

Motherboards: =

Hardware Secrets tests out the = ECS RS482-M=20 Motherboard here.

Motherboards.org checks out the = Foxconn=20 C51XEM2AA AM2 board here.

Community News for July 20, = 2006

Air Combat = News

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

Space:

Apollo 11 Anniversary: Heroes, Quests and Space = By Buzz=20 Aldrin and Rick Tumlinson. Read here.

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

"Blade124" has news of the Battle of Britain II = 2.04=20 Update release. Read here.

Land Combat

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

Game News:

Fileplanet has the new demo = for Faces of War.

Fileplanet also has the new Team Fortress 2 trailer.

GameSpot has new images of Officer.

Worthplaying has the new mod = tools for Take Command: 2nd Manassas.

Armed Assault Zone has new = information on=20 FlashNews 100th Edition, and a = BIS=20 contest.

GhostRecon.net has news of a singles tournament competition = this=20 week-end for GRAW.

From the Forums:

Magnum shares his first AAR for the first = mission, Spec=20 Ops 01 in VBS1. Check it out here.

Naval Combat = News

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:

Word on "the net" has the GTR2 demo to be ready = for=20 download by this friday. There's a thread to keep = you up to=20 date with developments here.

Nascar:

Gamespy preview: EA releases = their first=20 handheld version of NASCAR. Read here. Who cares? =

Technology = News

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

Cooling:

Guru3D=20 checks out the Asetek VapoChill LS Cooler here.

Overclocker Caf=E9 checks out = the=20 Thermaltake Mini Typhoon Cooler here.

Graphics Cards: =

HEXUS.net=20 checks out the Sapphire Technology Radeon X1600 Pro = HDMI=20 Video Card here.

Motherboards: =

Virtual-Hideout.net tests out = the ECS=20 KA3-MVP AM2 board here.

The = Tech=20 Report tells how Abit & Foxconn take = opposing=20 approaches to the nForce 590 SLI here.

Processors:

Legit=20 Reviews compares AMD's 5000+ and Intel's E6600 = here.

Legion=20 Hardware looks at the Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 = CPU's=20 overclocking performance here.

Motherboards.org checks out the = Intel Core=20 2 Extreme /Duo processors here.

Community = News for July=20 19, 2006

Air Combat = News

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

Combat = Flight=20 Simulator 3:

"BEAR - AvHistory " reports here that Hs-123 for CFS3 has = been=20 released.

EECH / EEAH:

New screens have been added here by several of the members.=20
"gotcha" reports on the Updater download here.

Event Photography:

"hbxov" has posted Lossie & Kinloss =97 Canberra = Farewell=20 photos.=20
"goon" has posted Waddington show and Canberra = prints.=20
Pablo Diez has posted photos of 3 series of = Mirages here.

F4:AF:

"Rhino" has announced here that The Falcon 4 Allied Force Virtual=20 Thunderbird's website is now officially public. =

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

"Major Hippie" has posted a preview of Flying = over=20 Albert (Big Pics) here and War over Albert! here.=20
"Major Hippie" has posted pics of the new ships = included=20 in SDOE Static Ground Unit Pack V3.0 here.=20
"Argon" has announced the release of the Fully = Decked=20 U.S.S Langley here.

FS2002 / FS2004:

Members have posted information and links to = FS2004=20 vintage planes w/ most realistic FMs here.

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

"l450l Vex " has posted a Skin: RAAF 78Sqn WO = Len=20 Waters. P-40N here.=20
pc.gamespy.com previews Pacific Storm here.=20

LOMAC / Flaming Cliffs / = Black=20 Shark:

"Colt40Five" posts a link to a new F-15C Mission = Pack here.

Screenshots

"Deacon211" has posted a screenshot from the = latest=20 version of Orbiter Orion Final Approach.=20
"Stormtrooper" has posted Wings over Vietnam shots.=20
"Magnum" has posted screenshots from a SB Pro PE co-op game.=20
"Shadow_12TFS " has posted Ace on the Run.=20
"312_Jura " has posted an announcement for ScreenshotPrints MSFS WWII = Competition.=20
"Radooh" has posted F16 screens From Falcon 4.0 = Allied Force.=20
"ArgonV" has posted Over Somme in the Pfalz D.XII = screens.=20

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

"20mm " has posted a link to OT: Tomcat Tribute = at=20 Military.com here.=20
"MigBuster30 " has posted alternative loading = screens here.=20
"soulfreak" has posted F-5E FAB & TF-104G = AMI Skins=20 here.

Land Combat

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

Announcements:

Matrix Games announce a second update for The = Operational=20 Art of War; the new v3.0.0.17 patch can be = downloaded from=20 the Matrix Games website at www.matrixgames.com.

This major update includes fourteen changes, = among=20 them a speed improvement for supply calculations = which=20 allows large scenarios to play more quickly and = additional=20 improvements to the computer opponent. Also included = is a=20 new scenario and updated briefings for the existing=20 scenarios to note their suitability for PBEM or AI = play.=20 Fixes include an adjustment to Anti-Aircraft fire, a = reduction in rout and reorganization frequency, = additional=20 sound-related fixes and a fix for event upgrade = issues. It=20 is recommended that all players upgrade to = v3.0.0.17. The=20 v3.0.0.17 update is
a comprehensive update and = will work=20 on all previous versions of Norm Koger's Operational = Art of=20 War III.

Matrix Games and 2by3 Games announce the = sequel to=20 Gary Grisby=92s World at War.

This new sequel, Gary Grigsby=92s World At = War: A World=20 Divided, adds a host of new features to grow the = engine well=20 beyond the original game in terms of grand = strategy. A=20 World Divided includes spies, neutral country = diplomacy,=20 variable political events, unit experience and = scenarios=20 that occur after the war as well as starting earlier = than=20 the original. Read more here. =

Naval Combat = News

"Herman" = posts AAR:=20 Pacific, the sixth scenario of the 21st Century = Ocean Wars=20 Battleset
here [Spoiler Alert].

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.

iRacing:

The iRacing website has recieved a = major=20 update with new content.

rFactor:

The excellent Renault 8 Gordini mod is now = offcially=20 released in v. 1.1. Make sure to download this mod = here.

Kart Champions:

Screenshot Magazine, an online = magazine=20 from SE Games has been launched. The = first=20 issue takes a closer look at the upcoming Kart = Champions=20 Kart sim. Also check out who's listed under credits = for=20 graphics!

Technology = News

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

Cases:

GotFrag=20 Hardware checks out the Cooler Master Ammo 533 = Case here.

3DGameMan=20 looks inside another Cooler Master offering, the = Mystique=20 631 Case, here.

Fragtopia=20 peeks inside the Thermaltake Matrix VX Case here.

Cooling:

TechPowerUp checks out the = Thermaltake=20 Aquabay M6 Water Cooling System here.

BigBruin=20 checks out the Enermax UC-12EB 120mm Enlobal Case = Fan here.

Motherboards: =

[H]=20 Enthusiast tests out ECS' KA3 MVP Extreme = Motherboard here.

OCWorkbench gives the Abit = FATAL1TY AN9=20 32x motherboard a shakedown here.

LostCircuits tests out the = Foxconn=20 C51XEM2AA Motherboard here.

Community News for = July 18,=20 2006

Air Combat = News

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

EAW:

Sandbagger's latest news has been posted.

EECH / EEAH: =

"arneh" reports here that EECH version 1.6.2 = W4T3 has been=20 released.

Event Photography:

"Saint Viper" has posted Milwaukee air show photos.=20
Walt has posted B17 Sentimental Journey tour = photos.=20
"Flat Eric" has posted Duxford Flying Legends photos.=20
Newbie "artangel" has posted Duxford Flying Legends photos. = This thread=20 also includes photography tips and equipment = information=20 from other members.

F4:AF:

"Ejected" posts a link seen at Frugal's to a CBS = News=20 video clip featuring Lead Pursuit at E3 here.

FS2002 / FS2004:

"CoffeeDrinker" posts a link to the FSX Preview = at Avsim=20 here.

Pit Builders:

"Sokol1" posts a link to a tutorial (in Spanish) = Build your own 109/190 pedals for IL2. Read = here.

General:

"Enforcer" posts a link here to a photo tribute to a = great=20 aviator, his father, which includes mainly military = aviation=20 related photos taken from 1946 occupation of Japan = to the=20 mid 90s.=20
"LukeFF" posts a photo taken when he shared the = stage with=20 President Bush when he spoke on July 4th at Ft. = Bragg.=20

Land Combat

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

Announcements:

Battlefield 2142' Gets a Release Date (Thanks to = Worthplaying for the news):

"While it isn't really an official = announcement, the=20 latest Battlefield newsletter reveals that, if it = stays on=20 schedule, DICE's newest Battlefield 2142 is = currently slated=20 for release October 2006. 'DICE is pleased that to = announce=20 we will be rewarding our loyal BF2 community by = giving them=20 exclusive benefits for enlisting with Battlefield = 2142 when=20 it comes out this October.'"

Game News:

Worthplaying has five new Battlefield 2142 = screenshots.

GameSpot has a new image and a = few of the=20 lost images from Team Fortress 2.

The=20 Wargamer has a review of The Operational Art of War 3.=20

From the Forums:

Magnum shares a number of screenshots from Sunday = nights=20 SB Pro PE co-op game. Check them out here.

Naval Combat = News

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.

Events:

F1RST3 event 9! GP2 @ Spa 1967: There is less = than a week=20 to go! Read it here.

US GP:

Saint Viper has posted a picture from the US GP = in this thread, and has several = more=20 published on his site.

IRL:

Latest rumors mention a possible = Andretti-Green=20 drive for Danica Patrick in 2007.

Technology = News

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

CPU's:

GamePC tests=20 out Intel's Xeon 5150 & 5160 CPU's here.

TechSpot=20 checks out the "overclockability" of AMD's Athlon 64 = 3000+=20 (AM2) Processor here.

Cooling:

Techdomain tests out the Jetart = Aluminum=20 HD Cooler here.

Motherboards.org checks out = Corsair's=20 Nautilus 500 Water Cooler here.

Graphics Cards: =

TweakTown=20 checks out the Sapphire TOXIC Radeon X1900XTX here.

DriverHeaven tests out MSI's = GeForce=20 7900GT, Powercolor's X1900GT & Connect3D's = X1900GT here.

Motherboards: =

Tech ARP=20 checks out the EPoX EP-9U1697 GLI Motherboard here.

Tech = Report=20 tests the ASUS & Foxconn nForce 590 SLI = Motherboards here.

Community News for = July 17,=20 2006

Air Combat = News

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

From = Eurogamer: IL-2=20 Sturmovik Complete Edition Review, PC here.

"CV" has = found a very=20 nice site all about the Hawker Tempest here.

Land Combat

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

Announcements:

Las Vegas = Mayor Wants=20 To Stop 'Rainbow Six Vegas' (Thanks to Worthplaying for the news) Las = Vegas Mayor=20 Oscar Goodman is not happy with the latest Rainbow = Six title=20 set in Las Vegas, saying it is harmful for what = federal and=20 state leaders have repeatedly assured him is "the = safest=20 place imaginable" after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror = attacks.=20 The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is = reviewing=20 whether the game infringes on any Las Vegas = trademarks.=20 Others think it might not affect the city but rather = reflect=20 poorly on Ubisoft, while yet others claim it will = backlash=20 on the developer like Hot Coffee did on = Rockstar.

'Half-Life 2: = Episode 2'=20 Details Revealed (Thanks again to Worthplaying for the news.)

Valve = unveiled Team=20 Fortress 2 and Portal, two new games to be included = in its=20 next release, Half-Life 2: Episode Two. In addition, = the=20 studio announced its plans to deliver these = products, plus=20 enhanced versions of Half-Life 2 and Episode One, in = one=20 tremendous package for the PC, Xbox 360 and PS3. =

Live Chat = with=20 Creators of The Operational Art Of War III. Matrix Games is pleased to = announce a live=20 chat with the men behind the revamped Operational = Art of War=20 series. The chat will take place at 10:00 PM Eastern = US time=20 on July 19th 2006 from The Matrix Games chat room. = The chat=20 is open to members of the general public and press = and=20 offers players a unique opportunity to ask = developers any=20 questions they have concerning The Operational Art = of War,=20 Matrix Games, and game development in general.=20

Game News: =

Worthplaying has five new = screenshots of=20 Battlefield 2142.

Worthplaying also has news that = Battlefield 2 has been patched = again, and=20 also Quake 4's upcoming patch.

GameSpot=20 has a new trailer of Medieval 2: Total War. =

From the = Forums:

"Ssnake" = shares news of=20 the CodeMeter update for Steel Beasts Pro PE. Read = about it=20 here.

Naval Combat = News

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:

More new mods = for=20 rFactor. This week-end has seen the release of the = BMW M3 CSL Cup and a very fine = Beetle Race mod.

A link = to a site=20 offering rFactor skins has been posted in this thread.

Skins for = rFactor=20 Demon cars can be obtained from the download = location in this thread.

The very = beautiful=20 Oulton Park circuit has been updated to v. 3.0. You = can view=20 the screenshots, and download it here.

Technology = News

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

Cases:

Bjorn3D=20 checks out Antec's SOLO Case here.

ExtremeTech looks at a = Plexiglass Case Mod=20 here.

Cooling:

hi-tech=20 reviews checks out the Aerocool Power Watch here.

ThinkComputers.org tests out = Revoltec's=20 ThermoEye here.

Graphics Cards: =

ComputerBase tests out the = Inno3D GeForce=20 7600 GST (SLI) here.

Motherboards: =

Motherboards.org tests out the = ECS KA3-MVP=20 Extreme motherboard here.

OCIA tests out=20 the Biostar TForce 6100 Motherboard here.

GamePyre=20 checks out the ECS 945G-M3 board here.