SimHQ.com - The Simulation Community's = Headquarters


Book Review: = Chuck=20 "Magnum" Ankenbauer reviews "Dslyecxi=92s" = Tactics,=20 Techniques, and Procedures Guide for Armed = Assault here.	Feature: Jens=20 "McGonigle" Lindblad puts the Porsches of GTR2 = and=20 rFactor head-to-head. Read Jens report here.

Review: Chris "Beach = AV8R"=20 Frishmuth looks at Enemy = Engaged=20 2. Part 1 is here, Part 2 is here, Part 3 is here, Part 4 is here.	Feature Redux: = Vince=20 "Beer Camel" Putze educates us on the military = brevity=20 code. What's that you say? Read here.

Community News for Friday, July = 13,=20 2007

Happy Triskaidekaphobia Day!

Aviation & Air = Combat=20 News

News Contributors: Doug "Uther" = Lawrence=20 and Ivan Jozic.

Aviation Photos:

Great photos from the = Thunder over=20 Michigan airshow can be found here.

FS2002 / FS2004 / = FSX:

Microsoft Announces the=20 Acceleration Expansion Pack featuring F/A-18A, P-51D = and=20 EH-101. More details here at CombatSim.

General News:

RAF Typhoons take on = their=20 operational duties. Read more here.=20
First Eurofighter Typhoon = delivered=20 to Austria. Read more here.=20
MV-22 Osprey makes a = landing on a=20 Royal Navy carrier. Read more here.=20
Cobra Unmanned Aircraft = System=20 makes it's first flights. Read more here.

Land & Armor Combat = News

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

Announcements:

UK Game Academy Created = (Thanks to=20 The Wargamer for the news.). Read = more about=20 it here.=20
Weekend land and = armored=20 events.
Friday night a number of guys get = together=20 for Joint Operations. Saturday is the Evolution = mission on=20 our Armed Assault server. Saturday is also when a = number of=20 SimHQ members with an Xbox 360 get together for = tactical=20 play. Look for us on XBL. Sunday night around 8 PM = Eastern=20 We have the SimHQ training session for Armed = Assault, and=20 the SimHQ squad missions on the main server. Monday = night is=20 "Military Monday" for our SimHQ Armed Assault = Server.=20

PC Game News:

GameSpot=20 has a E3 preview of BioShock.=20
GameSpot=20 has a E3 preview of Crysis.=20
GameSpot=20 has a E3 preview of FEAR 2. (Working Title.)=20
GameSpot=20 has a E3 preview of TimeShift.=20
'S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky' = Announced=20 (Thanks to Worthplaying for the news.) =
'Combat Mission: Shock Force' = Goes Gold=20 (Thanks to Worthplaying for the news.)=20
Worthplaying has a preview of Medal of Honor: Airborne.=20
The Wargamer=20 has a artillery video of Lordz Napoleonic.=20
The final version of the = GRAW 2 Tweak Guide has been = released on TweakGuides.com.

Console Game News: =

GameSpot=20 has a E3 preview of KillZone 2 for the PS3.=20
GameSpot=20 has a E3 preview of Halo 3 for the Xbox 360.
GameSpot=20 has a E3 preview of Medal of Honor: Airborne.=20
Worthplaying has a preview of Army of Two for both the 360 and = PS3.=20
'Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare' = (X360) MP=20 Beta Coming This August (Thanks to Worthplaying for the news.) =
'F.E.A.R. Files' (X360) and 'F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate' = Revealed=20 (Thanks to Worthplaying for the news.) =

Naval Combat=20 News

News Contributor: = Tom=20 "NightCrawler" Mauk.

Pirates of the Burning = Sea:

VoodooExtreme has = posted up=20 their first impressions of this Pirate MMO. =

Silent = Hunter:=20 Wolves of the Pacific:

The version 1.3 = patch is=20 finally out. To get yours please go directly = here=20 (direct link), or go to the web = site=20 for additional download sites. For the details on = what is=20 contained, please go to our=20 forums.

This = Day in US=20 Naval History - July 13:

1863 - USS Wyoming = battled=20 Japanese warlord's forces.=20
1939 - Appointment = of Rear=20 Adm. Richard Byrd as commanding officer of 1939-1941 = Antarctic Expedition.=20
1943 - During = Battle of=20 Kolombangara in Solomon Islands, U.S. lost USS Gwin = (DD=20 433), while Japanese lost light cruiser Jintsu. =

Motorsports=20 News

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

rFactor:

Technology=20 News

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

CNET covers E3 2007: Candid developer discussion = about=20 DirectX 10.=20
arstechnica=20 discusses Power Plays: How power consumption = will shape=20 the future of computing.

Community News=20 for Thursday, July 12, 2007

Aviation & Air = Combat=20 News

News Contributors: Doug "Uther" = Lawrence=20 and Ivan Jozic.

Aviation Video:

Thanks to Community = Member=20 "CV" for this news from Zeno's Warbird = Videos...

Build a P-47. This truly = remarkable=20 step-by-step training film shows how a ground = support crew=20 of fifty men could assemble a P-47 in a field using = nothing=20 more than muscle, unpowered hand tools, and pieces = of the=20 shipping crate it came in. We're talking nothing = more than=20 hammers, wrenches and bicycle pumps! You'll also get = a=20 unique look at the inner workings of the big Jug as = it is=20 literally bolted together by field personnel. A must = see for=20 P-47 fans and shade tree mechanics alike! =

EECH /=20 EEAH:

Version 1.90 Preview Video. =

European Air War:=20

EAW Skunk Works Project Update.=20
JIM Family Bugfix.=20
Missing Savedata Folder for Knug's = Poland '39.=20

F-22 Total = Air=20 War:=20

EF2000/TAW Hybrid. =

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

Bessarabia Map Project Update.=20
German Channelfront Campaign = Updated to=20 Vers. 1.2 "DDay."

Outer Space:=20

Tarr Chronicles Russian Demo. = Thanks=20 "Maya7."

Pit=20 Builders:=20

Home Built Cockpit WIP by = "rocky."=20
J35 Draken Simulator Project.=20

Screenshot = and Video=20 Gallery:=20

Su-27 vs. F-15 Movie: Duelality. =

Land & Armor Combat = News

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

Announcements:=20

Breaking News: Steel Beasts 2 Announced! =

Here's a few = links of=20 interest coming from E3:

FilePlanet has a = number of=20 newly released high definition trailers and videos = for games=20 like, Unreal Tournament 3, Halo 3, and Microsoft = Keynotes.=20
GameSpot has = multiple=20 articles, screens, and videos of things from Sony = and=20 Microsoft.=20
Worthplying has = there=20 collection of news, articles, screens, and video = clips of=20 upcoming games. 'F.E.A.R. Files' (X360) and = 'F.E.A.R.=20 Perseus Mandate' Revealed (Thanks to Worthplaying for the news.)=20
"Sierra = Entertainment today announced F.E.A.R. Perseus = Mandate, an=20 all-new standalone expansion pack for Windows PC and = F.E.A.R. Files, the complete stand-alone expansion = pack=20 series, for Xbox 360. Both products are scheduled to = ship=20 this fall."=20
'Gears of War' And 'Viva Pinata' Coming to PC = (Thanks to=20 Worthplaying for the news.) = "Microsoft=20 Game Studios unveiled plans to bring 2006 big seller = Gears=20 of War and Rare's Viva Pi=F1ata to Windows XP and = Vista this=20 year as Games for Windows-branded titles with LIVE=20 support."=20
'Killzone 2' (PS3) Announced (Thanks to Worthplaying for the news.) = "Sony=20 announced the 2008 release of Killzone 2, available=20 exclusively for the PlayStation 3. Killzone 2 throws = players=20 back into the midst of a hostile and dramatic = ongoing battle=20 between the ISA and Helghast army and follows the = events and=20 action from the original Killzone for the PS2." =

PC Game = News:

Worthplaying has a review of 1701 AD.=20
Quake Wars Ops has gone live and = starting=20 to share information and plans needed for the = scheduled=20 events.=20
GhostRecon.net is reporting that = some=20 people are already finding GRAW2 for the PC on store = shelves. The official release isn't suppose to be = till this=20 Friday, Friday the 13th.=20
The Wargamer=20 has a link to a World in Conflict video.=20
The Wargamer=20 also has screenshots of AOE3: The Asian Dynasties. =

Console = Game=20 News:

Team Xbox has there share of E3 = items, one=20 being a preview of Halo 3 single player. Totally360 has new screenshots = of an Army of Two.

Naval Combat=20 News

News Contributor: = Tom=20 "NightCrawler" Mauk.

Silent Hunter: Wolves of the=20 Pacific:

In the=20 forums there is a thread that = outlines what=20 to expect in the upcoming 1.3 patch. This item was=20 discovered on a Ubisoft German SH4 web = site.=20

Undertow:

Fragland=20 has news, along with the first screens, of this = upcoming=20 underwater game made solely for the Xbox Live = Arcade.=20

This Day in US=20 Naval History - July 12:

1836 - = Commissioning of=20 Charles H. Haswell as first regularly appointed = engineer=20 officer.=20
1916 - North = Carolina is=20 first Navy ship to carry and operate aircraft.=20
1921 - Congress = creates=20 Bureau of Aeronautics to be in charge of all matter=20 pertaining to naval aeronautics.=20
1951 - Ninth Naval = District=20 forces assist in flood relief work in Kansas City = through=20 July 20.=20
1953 - United = Nations Fleet=20 launches heavy air and sea attack on Wonsan; Marine = Maj.=20 John Bolt becomes first jet ace in Marine Corps.=20
1988 - SECDEF = approves=20 opening Navy's Underwater Construction Teams, fleet = oiler,=20 ammunition ships and combat stores ships to women.=20
1990 - Cmdr. = Rosemary=20 Mariner becomes first woman to command an = operational=20 aviation squadron (VAQ-34).

Motorsports=20 News

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

GTR2:

ALMS 2000 2001 and 2002 GT and GTS = Carset=20 v1.1.

Now you can study the = Speed=20 Secrets, as the Ross Bentley book "Professional Race Driving = Techniques" is=20 available as a free download.

Technology=20 News

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

10 Ways to Tick Off Your = I.T.=20 Department. Read here at PC Magazine.

Community News=20 for Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Aviation & Air = Combat=20 News

News Contributors: Doug "Uther" = Lawrence=20 and Ivan Jozic.

After=20 Action Reports:

Yankee Air Pirate AAR: #54 Brass = Balls by=20 Simon Read.

European=20 Air War:=20

Sandbagger's Latest News. =

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

Campaign Project Update: = Channel Front (Allied Version).=20
COOP Missions: VVS Ground = Attack.

Land & Armor Combat = News

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

PC = Games:

Gametrailers has a new E3 video = of Call of=20 Duty 4 here.=20
Gametrailers has a new E3 video = of SWAT:=20 Target Liberty here.

Naval Combat=20 News

News Contributor: = Tom=20 "NightCrawler" Mauk.

PT Boats: = Knights of the=20 Seas:

There's a new E3 trailer = out=20 showing the upcoming sim in split screen DX9 and = DX10 here.

Motorsports=20 News

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

rFactor:

The St. Petersburg track = has been=20 released.

Technology=20 News

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

Vista:

ExtremeTech has "Hacking Vista: = Optimize=20 Core OS Components" here.

Community News=20 for Tuesday, July 10, 2007

SimHQ=20 Deja News has more from the July 1998 SimHQ News=20 Archive.

Aviation & Air = Combat=20 News

News Contributors: Doug "Uther" = Lawrence=20 and Ivan Jozic.

After=20 Action Reports:

Yankee Air Pirate AAR: #52 The = Hunter by=20 Simon Read.=20
Yankee Air Pirate AAR: #53 Bed = Check by=20 Simon Read.

Aviation Photos:

Amazing photos from the = Duxford=20 Flying Legends 2007 air show can be found here.

EECH / EEAH: =

EECH Saitek X52 Beta 2 Profile. =

Event = Photography:=20

Duxford Static Photos by = "Yojimbo."=20
Duxford Airshow Photos by = "Yojimbo."=20
Legends Flightline Photos by = "hbxov."=20

F-22 Total = Air=20 War:=20

Sea.3 Project Update.

General News:

RAF Typhoons and India's = Su-30MKIs=20 test their strength in a combat exercise. Read more = here.=20
Taiwan plans to purchase = 30 Apache=20 attack helicopters. Read more here.=20
More details emerge on = the India's=20 competition for the new multi-role fighter. Read = more here.

Jet=20 Thunder:

Lateral Panels and Clickable = Switches a=20 Possibility.

Knights of the Sky:=20

Unofficial Fokker Dr.I Video.=20

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

Lancaster WIP.

Land & Armor Combat = News

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

Announcements:=20

Sony announces a = price drop=20 for the PlayStation 3 and a new, bigger, hard drive. = "The=20 rumors swirling around recently (backed by some = strong=20 retailer-based information) indicated that Sony = would be=20 dropping the PlayStation 3 price by $100, likely = announcing=20 it at this week's E3 Media and Business Summit in = Southern=20 California. Now the rumored changes have become fact = as Sony=20 has officially announced an immediate change to the = price of=20 the 60GB bundle down to $499 ($549 Canadian) =97 but = only in=20 North America. A Sony Computer Entertainment America = spokesperson stated that pricing in other = territories will=20 remain the same. Additionally, Sony added that it = will be=20 debuting an 80GB bundle in August, which will = include the=20 Motorstorm game as a free pack-in. The new offering = will=20 carry a $599 price tag ($659 Canadian) and, as with = the 60GB=20 price change, will only be offered in North America = for the=20 time being." Microsoft Prepping Revised, and = Cheaper,=20 Xbox 360? (Thanks to Worthplaying for the news.) = "Now=20 that Sony has officially announced its PS3 price = reduction,=20 Microsoft is expected to make its next move shortly. = By=20 switching from a 90 to 65-nanometer IBM CPU and = AMD/ATI=20 graphics chip, Microsoft will be able to reduce the = x360's=20 cost, size and heat, according to Mercury News' Dean = Takahashi. Codenamed Falcon, the revised X360 is = expected=20 later this fall, and could include an internal power = supply,=20 or make use of the new space to add more costly = things like=20 it did with the Elite's HMDI."

PC Game = News:

Fileplanet has the just released = patch for=20 Half-Life 2's new mod, Insurgency.=20
Worthplaying has word that 'Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Gold=20 Edition' has been officially announced.=20
GhostRecon.net has a new gameplay = video of=20 GRAW2 for the PC.=20
The Wargamer=20 has news that Shapnel Games has a sale on all = of there=20 games.

From the=20 Forums:

"Magnum" shares a few = group photos=20 of SimHQ members playing Armed Assault. Check them = out here.=20
"Razorback" and Magnum = share=20 screenshots of Armed Assault here and here.=20
"mdwa" has posted an AAR = of a=20 Vietnam mod for Operation Flashpoint. Check it out = here.

Naval Combat=20 News

News Contributor: = Tom=20 "NightCrawler" Mauk.

Tales of Pirates:

GamersHell reports = Internet=20 Gaming Gate has released a few details on the = upcoming=20 client which will be released this August. New = features=20 include slot machines, pet marriage, a black market = and a=20 melee system in Icicle Castle.

This = Day in US=20 Naval History - July 10:

1934 - USS Houston = takes=20 Franklin Delano Roosevelt on first visit of a U.S. = president=20 to South America.=20
1943 - Naval = gunfire help=20 Allied troops land on Sicily. It was first extensive = use of=20 LST's and smaller landing craft to deliver heavy = equipment=20 over the beach.=20
1945 - 14 carriers = from 3rd=20 Fleet carriers begin air strikes on Japanese Home = Islands=20 which end Aug. 15.

Motorsports=20 News

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

rFactor:

2005 & 2006 Champ Car World Series v1.0 by = iDT=20 Simulations released!=20
LMS Limited Edition v1.03 = released and=20 presently contains the AudiR8 and Lola.

Technology=20 News

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

E3 2007: =

The E3 Media and Business = Summit is=20 this week. We're just not sure we should care. Read = the=20 discussion thread here in the Community Hall. The = event's=20 "business" site is here,=20 the "glitz" site is here.=20

Community News=20 for Monday, July 9, 2007

SimHQ = Staff=20 Announcements

First, welcome Dan "Chipwich" Blake as our latest = Contributing Editor. Dan is well-known in the = Motorsports=20 Forums but is also a long-time flight sim enthusiast = and holds=20 a general aviation pilots license. With his profession = in=20 telecommunications, he provides SimHQ multiple areas = of=20 knowledge and expertise.

To facilitate the = upcoming=20 re-energized downloads area, a new admin position has = been=20 created, "SimHQ Downloads Manager". I would like to = welcome David "Stormtrooper" Tessier to = that new=20 role. David and I will be developing the area over the = following several weeks. There was a time when = downloads at=20 SimHQ was one of the best on the Internet. It will be = again=20 and probably carry even more emphasis than previously. = More=20 details to follow.

Our third admin position is = a=20 replacement for an existing position. Frank "Dart" Giger joins Chris "BeachAV8R" Frishmuth as = Co-Editors of=20 the Aviation and Air Combat Zone. With Chris and Frank = (or is=20 it Frank and Chris?) at the helm it may be hard to = tell=20 sometimes if we have a pair of writers who excel in = aviation=20 knowledge, or a comedy team! Look for these two = gentlemen to=20 bring us several new features and reviews on flight=20 simming.

Our current Aviation and Air Combat = Co-Editor,=20 Tom "WKLINK" Cofield will move to=20 Contributing Editor and provide his simming insight = when time=20 permits. Tom's 10-year old son is keeping the Captain = busy=20 enough he has to curtail activities outside of the = family. Any=20 of you with kids in that age group are probably now = nodding=20 your head!

We will be holding a welcoming party = soon as=20 we can determine where "20mm" hid the keys to the = SimHQ liquor=20 cabinet.

- guod

Aviation & Air = Combat=20 News

News Contributors: Doug "Uther" = Lawrence=20 and Ivan Jozic.

Aviation Photos:

A Tu-160 Blackjack = walkaround can=20 be found here.=20
Several AH-64D Apache = photos taken=20 on its stop to refuel are posted here.

EECH /=20 EEAH:

Combat Autopilot.=20
Ballistic Properties Project = Update.=20

European Air = War:=20

Sandbagger's Latest News. =

Event Photography:=20

RAF Lakenheath Photos by = "Yojimbo."=20
Duxford Airshow Photos by = "Yojimbo."=20
Rhode Island Airshow Photos by = "Top Gun."=20
A-10 Puzzle by "Top Gun." =

F-22 Total Air War:=20

Sea.3 Project Update. =

Falcon 4.0: Allied = Force:=20

After Action Report #10. =

FS2002 / FS2004 / = FSX:

Just Flight announces = Rescue Pilot=20 mission pack for FSX. More info here.

General News:=20

'Saviour of Stafford' WW2 pilot = Captain=20 Perrin.=20
U.S. Navy's next = generation patrol=20 aircraft, the P-8A Poseidon, successfully completes = its=20 Critical Design review. Read more here.=20
UH-60M Blackhawk = helicopter cleared=20 for full production for U.S. Army. Read more here.=20
Tiger ARH helicopter = program for=20 Australia failed to achieve the contracted Initial=20 Operational Capability milestone. Read more here.=20
No-confidence vote in = Austria over=20 the purchase of Eurofighter aircraft has failed. = Read more=20 here.

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

Russian Aerobatics Team "Fighting=20 Woodpeckers."

Jane's F/A-18:=20

Two New F-18 Campaigns in the Works. =

Jet = Thunder:=20

Current Hardware Requirements.=20

Knights of = the=20 Sky:=20

Unofficial Knights of the Sky = Video.=20

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

Tutorial Video: How to land a = jet using=20 the FPM by Remise des Gaz.

Outer Space:=20

Dark Trooper Phase III = Screenshots by=20 "PanzerMeyer."

Over=20 Flanders Fields:=20

New Recruitment OFF Posters.

Red Baron:=20

WFP FM by Greybeard. =

Screenshots and Video = Gallery:=20

Very Unusual Aircraft Spotted in = LOMAC.=20

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

Yankee Air Pirate to Add = Several Night Missions.=20
Video: TCHEPONE BARRACKS. =

Land & Armor Combat = News

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

Announcements:

'Gears of War' (X360) = Coming to PC=20 Announcement Soon? (Thanks to Worthplaying for the news.) = "Gears of=20 War blends tactical action with survival horror = titles,=20 thrusting gamer's into the harrowing story of = humankind's=20 battle for survival against the Locust Horde. It has = hinted=20 at, mentioned, denied, but now it seems leaked = footage from=20 1UP's GameVideos (which was removed shortly = thereafter)=20 confirms what we were all hoping for, Gears of War = coming to=20 PC. The trailer, probably meant to debut at E3, = shows=20 Windows Live achievements unlocked, and even new = content=20 (Brumak boss fight)."
'World in Conflict' = (X360/PC) Open=20 Beta Starts July 11 (Thanks to Worthplaying for the news.) = "World in=20 Conflict is a strategy game that delivers action and = coordinated team play amidst the war the world = feared most =96=20 a showdown between the Soviets and the US, with = destructible=20 3D battlefields, team-based multiplayer action and = fast,=20 hard-hitting battles. The open beta test will kick = off on=20 the first day of E3 (July 11), and run through the = end of=20 the month."
AGEOD's=20 Play-by-Web Portal (Thanks to The=20 Wargamer for the news.) "AGEOD will be = offering a=20 fully-featured web portal that will enable owners of = AGEOD=20 titles to easily participate in multiplayer games. = Beginning=20 with Birth of America and American Civil War, the = web portal=20 will most likely be available next spring and = provide a free=20 hosting service where players can create and = participate in=20 multiplayer games with just a few clicks. Games can = be=20 scheduled on a daily basis or the web site can host = a game=20 only when all players have finished their turn. It = will also=20 allow players to view all their current games on a = single=20 screen with their status and next host time = displayed as=20 well as receive mail alerts when new turns are = ready. The=20 service will be the starting point for additional = tools that=20 will fully automate the handling of game files and = ease the=20 everyday life of players involved in multiplayer=20 games."

PC Game = News:=20

Fileplanet, along with many other = game news=20 sites, has the single player demo for GRAW2.=20
Direct2Drive has a new, specially = priced=20 package of Dawn of War Platinum for digital = purchase.=20
GameSpot has new screenshots of = GRAW2.=20
Worthplaying has 24 new = screenshots of Half-Life 2: The Orange Box = edition.=20
GhostRecon.net has a collection = of comments=20 on the new GRAW2 demo, along with a nice comparison = video of=20 the PC version vs. the Xbox 360 version.

Console = Game=20 News:

Worthplaying has a review of The Darkness, for the Xbox 360. =

From the=20 Forums:

"Magnum" shares some = screenshots of=20 VBS2 / Armed Assault here.=20
"Magnum" also shares some = screenshots from the just released GRAW2 demo for = the PC.=20 Check them out here.

Naval Combat=20 News

News Contributor: = Tom=20 "NightCrawler" Mauk.

Pirates of the Caribbean = Online:

FiringSquad brings = news that=20 Disney Online has announced that after a = careful=20 internal assessment they have elected to spend = additional=20 development time and move to a fall launch somewhere = in the=20 September timeframe.

Voyage = Century=20 Online:

Gamespot=20 PC hosts 4 newly released = screenshots.=20

This Day in US Naval History - July=20 9:

1846 - Sailors and = Marines=20 from USS Portsmouth occupy and raise flag over San=20 Francisco.=20
1918 - Henry Ford = launches=20 first of 100 Eagle boats.=20
1944 - Organized = Japanese=20 resistance ceases on Saipan, Marianas.=20
1960 - USS Wasp = (CVA 18)=20 departs Guantanamo Bay to support United Nations = effort to=20 calm the newly independent Congo.

Motorsports=20 News

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

Live for = Speed:

New competitions at LFS: = Autocross competition and skinning competition. =

NASCAR Racing 2003 = Season:

Mexico City 2k7 is = available from=20 here.

Technology=20 News

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

Video = Cards:

Hardware Secrets reviews the ATI = Radeon HD=20 2600 XT here.

3D"SimHQ

Every Monday for the = remainder of=20 2007 we will take a walk back through the simulation = world=20 timeline. SimHQ Deja News will bring a laugh, a = surprise and=20 maybe a few tears at the way it was from 1997 on as = presented=20 by the best simulation news site on the = Internet.

More from the SimHQ News = Archive in=20 July 1998:

Dynamix / Sierra announces = Pro Pilot=20 '99. Here's the press release about it. This one is = going on=20 my list of sims to buy. :-)

PC Flight Simulator Is First = Title to=20 Receive Support
From National Association of Flight = Instructors

Poised to soar above the = competition,=20 Dynamix, part of Sierra=92s family of brands and = leading=20 developer of entertainment software, announced today = the=20 development of Pro Pilot '99, The Complete Flight = Simulator,=20 the second title in the company=92s general aviation = simulation=20 product line. Offering 3D graphic acceleration, visual = enhancements and a significant new set of features, = Pro Pilot=20 '99 is set to land at retail stores in October. It = will be=20 available for Windows 95 and Windows 98 PC CD-ROM at a = suggested retail price of $49.99.

For the first time in PC = flight=20 simulator history, the National Association of Flight=20 Instructors (NAFI) is working in cooperation with = Dynamix to=20 develop flight tutorials for Pro Pilot =9299. = Following the=20 Federal Aviation Regulations, these 48 text tutorials = provide=20 guidance to users regarding actual aviation procedures = and=20 instrumentation. In addition, NAFI assisted Dynamix = with the=20 accuracy of the simulator=92s aircraft models. These = tutorials=20 are instantly accessible to the simulator pilot in a = new,=20 exclusive Pop-up Operator=92s Handbook which can be = viewed on=20 screen while flying, even while in 3D accelerated = mode. The=20 Operator=92s Handbook will allow pilots access to = checklists,=20 tutorials, flight tours and personal notes -- ensuring = that=20 helpful and reliable flight information is available = at the=20 pilot=92s fingertips.

"The popularity of flight = simulators=20 in the home software arena continues to grow at a = remarkable=20 rate year after year," commented Mark Pechnick, = director and=20 designer, Dynamix. "With the release of Pro Pilot '99 = and the=20 strategic support of NAFI, we give both aspiring = pilots as=20 well as armchair pilots an intense, personalized, = realistic=20 flying experience from the safety of home."

In addition to NAFI=92s = consultation,=20 Dynamix is working with the Experimental Aircraft = Association=20 (EAA) and its Flying Start program, a national = outreach=20 organization to encourage people to learn to fly. As = part of=20 the agreement, EAA and Flying Start information will = be=20 included inside Pro Pilot =9299 packaging.

"Pro Pilot =9199 is a = excellent way to=20 advance a student's development of aviation procedural = skills," said Sean E. Elliott, NAFI executive = director. "This=20 PC flight simulator nicely supplements the flight = training=20 efforts in a manner that enhances the learning = process. In=20 addition, the Operator=92s Handbook will be a terrific = way to=20 facilitate learning."

Pro Pilot '99 is one of the = most=20 technologically advanced, realistic and complete = fixed-wing=20 aviation simulators on the market and features = unsurpassed=20 quality, accuracy and attention to detail. The title = was=20 designed to enhance the novice pilot's experience and = is an=20 excellent preparation and exercise utility for flight=20 enthusiasts, aviation students and professional = aviators. The=20 program allows beginners to become familiar with = aviation=20 procedures, flight maneuvers, cross-country flight = planning=20 and Air Traffic Control (ATC) communications.

In addition to the 3D video = graphic=20 acceleration upgrade, the simulator provides support = for=20 flight under instrument meteorological conditions = (IMC) and=20 enhanced gauge fidelity to make Pro Pilot =9299 a = better=20 instrument trainer. Visual enhancements such as = glowing runway=20 lights, sun glare, cloud layering, haze, fog and wind = gusts=20 help players handle a multitude of varying = weather.

Pro Pilot '99 introduces = players to=20 the fundamentals of flying a civilian aircraft. The = six=20 featured aircraft enable users to practice actual = flying=20 techniques in a progression of aircraft from a single = engine=20 trainer to a speedy multi-engine jet. The following = aircraft=20 are featured in Pro Pilot '99: the new 1997 Cessna = C172R=AE ,=20 the Cessna C172P=AE , the Beechcraft Bonanza V35=AE , = Beechcraft=20 Baron B58=AE , Beechcraft King Air B200=AE, and the = Cessna=20 CitationJet 525=AE . These aircraft provide players = with a full=20 spectrum of civilian flying experiences. In addition = to an=20 extensive Flight Companion manual, a detailed "How To = Fly Pro=20 Pilot" manual has also been added to help new = players/aviators=20 get off the ground with this comprehensive simulator. =

Pro Pilot '99 offers = realistic 3D=20 terrain representing the United States, Western Europe = and=20 Canada. Developed from a geological data base of over = 38=20 million elevation points, Pro Pilot =9299 shows = landmarks,=20 highways and rivers, ensuring geographical recognition = to=20 support the thrill of visual navigation. With 35 major = metropolitan areas highly detailed and over 3,500 = airports,=20 users can fly to just about any destination, all while = experiencing audio air traffic control.

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Microsoft to use worldwide = navigation=20 data from Jeppesen for future Flight Simulator = products.=20 Here's the press release:

Microsoft announced today = that it has=20 signed an exclusive agreement with Jeppesen, the = Denver-based=20 international aviation services company, which states = that=20 Jeppesen will supply navigational information for = future=20 versions of Microsoft Flight Simulator, the world's=20 top-selling PC flight simulator.

The most notable difference = in=20 Microsoft's Flight Simulator will be the introduction = of real=20 flight navigational information. The simulation = currently=20 supports over 3,000 airports. Jeppesen's worldwide = NavData=20 database will add to this information, providing = approaches=20 for over 12,500 airports. In addition, over 32,000 = runways and=20 70,000 navigation waypoints worldwide will be added to = Flight=20 Simulator. With this new data, Flight Simulator pilots = will be=20 able to fly virtually every approach in the world.

"Adding Jeppesen' NavData = information=20 to future versions of Flight Simulator will help us = further=20 our goal of delivering the most realistic flight = simulator=20 available on the PC," said Ed Fries, general manager = of=20 Microsoft's Games Group.

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Adrenaline Vault has a press = release=20 from Dynamix / Sierra about their new Red Baron 3D. = Here's=20 part of the press release:

Dynamix, part of the Sierra = family of=20 brands, today announced at the EAA AirVenture in = Oshkosh the=20 upcoming release of Red Baron 3D, featuring 3D = accelerated=20 graphics and massive multiplayer combat.

This new software title = allows players=20 to enter the cockpit of an authentic World War I = aircraft in a=20 3D experience more detailed and realistic than = anything=20 previously seen or imagined in a flight simulation = program.=20

Part of Sierra's award = winning ACES(R)=20 series of historical wartime simulation products, Red = Baron 3D=20 creates a dynamic virtual world with an awe-inspiring = sky in=20 which gamers will encounter realistic smoke, fog, = sun-glare,=20 explosions, anti-aircraft gunfire, buildings and = planes.=20 Bullets will riddle the side of their planes, = shattering wood=20 and shredding canvas. Distant sirens and church bells = will=20 echo through the air, warning the enemy of the planes' = approach.

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Game Tool Technologies has = released=20 Camo Commander for Jane's Combat Simulations' F-15. = Below is=20 the press release. BTW, PCM&E has a review of it. = Thanks=20 Eric.

GTT Introduces Camo = Commander for=20 Janes' F-15!

Game Tool Technologies' Camo = Commander=20 for Hornet Korea TM has been ahugely successful = utility=20 appreciated by gamers the world over. Camo Commander = allows a=20 player to quickly and seamlessly swap alternative 3dfx = textures into a game. Based on the popularity of Camo=20 Commander for H3K, we're pleased to introduce Camo = Commander=20 for Janes' F-15 TM.

F15CC is designed for = convenience. It=20 allows players to choose a camo scheme, see a sample = texture,=20 then apply it. Once a choice is made, a gamer may = launch F-15=20 straight from the user interface. Should you decide to = change=20 the texture again, or return to a native Janes livery, = simply=20 choose the scheme you wish and use Camo Commander = again.

F15 Camo Commander ships = with 10=20 different schemes designed by Michael Henze. Michaels = schemes=20 are well known all over the web! Camouflage schemes = cover a=20 range of textures from the standard USAF midnight blue = to the=20 new Israeli "Thunder" F-15I. Additional, accurate, MiG = 29 and=20 USAF F-16 textures have also been provided. However, = GTT=20 designed the Camo Commander shell to accept ANY 3rd = party camo=20 scheme if the textures are compiled according to an = open=20 standard published at the GTT web site.

Support SimHQ by = shopping at=20 Amazon.com!

For gift = ideas, check out=20 the SimHQ Library here.
The Library has just been = updated=20 with many new listings!

A percentage = of the sales=20 made through our Amazon.com links at SimHQ help to = keep the=20 doors open.

Check out the Amazon.com best = sellers in Electronics, TVs & HDTVs, Apple iPod & Accessories, DVDs, GPS, Cell Phones & Service, Cameras, Digital Photo Frames, Books, Gourmet Coffee & Food, Jewelry & Watches, Sweaters and Jackets, Fitness, Music, Toys, Home & Garden, Amazon.com Gift Certificates.