SimHQ.com - The Simulation Community's = Headquarters

SimHQ=20 Community News for June 23, = 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=20 June 2006 are here.=20     Masthead Illustration by Dean = "DeanH"=20 Hill.

	The=20 SimHQ 2.4 Hours of Le Mans What = happens when=20 you mix rFactor, a new game server and several = Staffers=20 on the most famous road racing track in history? = Chris=20 "BeachAV8R" Frishmuth reports here.
	After Action Report: = Operation Persian Freedom Phase 3 Mission 17: = Munitions=20 Factory at Aghar "Cat" and "boNes" team-up = to bring=20 you part one of the campaign finale. Read it here.
	Armed Assault: = Capture the=20 Flag - AAR #2 Chuck=20 "Magnum" Ankenbauer returns with his second = After Action=20 Report of the highly anticipated title. Chuck's = AAR is=20 based on the E3Expo press demo. Read it here.
	Total Air War: Training = Mission #2 -=20 Basic Navigation & Aircraft=20 Performance Chris "BeachAV8R" = Frishmuth=20 returns for the second lesson in Total Air War. = Read here.
	"Real" = Simulation "While computer flight = simulations=20 are fun and entertaining, I=92m convinced they = also have=20 the additional benefit of keeping my real life = flying=20 skills sharp. Nowhere does this become more = evident than=20 when I attend my required annual simulator = training in=20 Dallas." Chris "BeachAV8R" Frishmuth takes you = along for=20 some "real" simulation. Read here.
	Armed Assault: Seize the = Base - AAR=20 #1 Chuck = "Magnum"=20 Ankenbauer presents his first After Action = Report of the=20 highly anticipated title. Chuck's first AAR is = based on=20 the E3Expo press demo. Read it here.

Community News for June 23, = 2006

Air Combat = News

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

After Action Reports: =

"KingAlbert" has posted a = Falcon AAR - Charging Dragon Day = 1 20:00.=20

EECH / = EEAH:=20

Members are posting flight schedules for online = meets.=20

European Air = War:=20

"Flying Tiger" has = released a Bf-109G (2. Lovacko Jato, 1. = Zrakoplovna=20 Skupina) skin.

F-22=20 Total Air War:=20

Krus' new TAW Extractor is available for = download.=20
"MGonzales" has posted a = preview of=20 the TAW Configurator project. =

FS2002 / FS2004:=20

"2005AD" has released a = repaint of=20 the Wings of Power Fw-190D-9.

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

IL-2 Shturmovik Stab: Version = 6.1 has been=20 released.=20
"Shadow_12TFS" has posted = a P-40 composite - Scotty's First. =
"BlackLion" has posted a = Bf-109 shot - Black Tulip over = Stalingrad=20 Pt. 2.

Strike Fighters=20 / Wings Over Vietnam:=20

"donovan" has released a = F-15A skin.

Land Combat

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

Announcements:

BI=20 Studio has a new 5th anniversary press release. = You can=20 read it here. You can download the press = kit with=20 new screens and a video here. If you prefer it directly, = I've=20 uploaded them here for you already.

A new update for Steel=20 Beasts Pro PE has been released. It goes over = the=20 install of the major release a few months ago. Get = the 4 mb=20 update here.

Game News:

The WarGamer has new screenshots = of Panzer Command, which just went = gold a few=20 days ago.

Blues News has word of a Empire Earth 2 Platinum Edition = coming=20 soon.

FilePlanet has a behind the = scenes video=20 of Joint Task Force. GameSpot=20 has new screenshots of Great Invasions.

Worthplaying has news of a new = game with=20 screenshots titled, World War II Combat: Iwo Jima.=20

From the Forums: =

Magnum shares a small OFP video of Javelin = Missile in=20 action. Check it out here.

Naval Combat = News

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

Check it: The = Silent=20 Hunter IV wish list here at Subsim = Review.

Motorsports = News

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

GTL:

Master = of Sounds;=20 MethylEthyl is back with "Sounds of GTL "Mustang = Sally", a=20 total sound mod for the following GTLegends cars, = TC-65 Ford=20 Mustang #809 and the GTC-65 Shelby GT350 #807. Cars, = roadnoise, tires, damage and more. Read ME's message = in the=20 Motorsports Forum, here.

Technology News

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

Cases:

A1=20 Electronics checks out the Spire PALU-S Silver = Computer=20 Case here.

Modders-Inc=20 checks out Thermaltake's Tenor Case here.

Cooling:

BCCHardware tests some of = Zalman's STG1=20 Thermal Paste here.

Tweak3D=20 checks out the Scythe Samurai Z Cooler here.

Graphics Cards: =

MBReview=20 tests out Diablotek's 6600GT 256MB Video Card here.

Rage3D gives=20 the GeForce 7950 GX2 their evaluation here.

Motherboards: =

PCStats=20 tests out the ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe board here.

SilentPC=20 Review checks out AOpen's Core Duo Flagship = i975Xa-YDG=20 motherboard here.

Community = News for June=20 22, 2006

Air Combat = News

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

European Air War: =

"VonBeerhofen" has = released a P-51D reticule for FXEXE and stock = EXE.=20

Event=20 Photography:=20

"hbxov" has posted an APC photo tour of Lossie and = Leuchars.=20

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

"MGonzales" has posted a = procedure=20 for removing weapons during training = missions.=20

FS2002 /=20 FS2004:=20

"Para_Bellum" has posted = a shot of=20 a Junkers passenger liner over = mountains.=20

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

"Cpt_Farrel" has posted a = preview=20 of a new Me-262 skin pack. =

Strike Fighters / Wings Over = Vietnam:=20

"Digital-Overload" has = posted a F-4 Phantom shot.=20
"The Wrench" has posted a = preview=20 of European camouflaged SAM's. =

Land Combat

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

Announcements:

Ghost Recon Advance Warfighter = has been=20 patched to v1.16. Please note: this is one large = patch for=20 both download and box versions. It will ask you what = version=20 you have when you install.

A new Red=20 Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 patch is due to be = released=20 today via Steam. The patch (1007) combines bug = fixes,=20 performance enhancements, updates requested by the = community=20 and 2 new weapons. Here is a quick summary of the=20 content:

Game = News:

GameSpot=20 has uploaded new screenshots of GRAW, post patch.

Worthplaying has new screenshots = of Panzer Command: Operation Winter = Storm.=20

From the=20 Forums:

Wicked shares = even more=20 Steel Beasts Pro PE screenshots. Check them out here.

Wicked shares = even more=20 VBS1 screenshots. Check them out here.

Naval Combat = News

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

Motorsports = News

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

rFactor:

The latest = track release=20 for rFactor is Crystal Palace = 1967.

NASCAR Racing 2003 = Season:

The 1983 = season set has=20 been released for the AeroWar Mod. The season set is = available here.

Hardware:

VirtualMotorsports=20 launches an introductory promotion discount of 5% on = VPP=20 equipment. Shipping to North America and Mexico, = their web site is now open for = business.=20

Technology News

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

Cases:

Tweaknews.net checks into the = Thermaltake=20 Armor Jr. Aluminum Case here.

PCApex=20 checks out the Zalman HD160 HTPC Case here.

Cooling:

A True=20 Review checks out the BlueGears b-Cool and b-ICE = Computer fans here.

A1=20 Electronics tests the Thermaltake TR2-R1 Ultra = Silent=20 AMD Athlon & Sempron Heatsink here.

Graphics = Cards:

HotHardware checks out MSI's = NX7600GT=20 VT2D256E card here.

Hardware Secrets tests out the = XFX=20 Overclocked GeForce 7600 GT here.

Motherboards:

SilentPC=20 Review checks out the AOpen i975Xa-YDG board here.

OS Tweaks:

PCStats has=20 a guide to understanding and tweaking all of Windows = XP's=20 services here.

Community News for June 21, = 2006

Air Combat = News

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

European Air War: =

"Pobs" has posted shots = of a Pe-2 over a Berlin rail yard.=20
"Skylark" has released a = P-51C-10-Nt (20th FG, 79th FS, = Cpt. James=20 N. Reichard, 1944) skin.

Event Photography:=20

"Top Gun" has posted Thunderbird photos. =

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

"3dp" has announced the = release of=20 the German Expansion Plane pack. =

FS2002 / FS2004:=20

Wings of Power: P-51 "Mustang" = update v.1.2=20 has been released.

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

"Kalaluth" has announced = the=20 release of the Sky Fighters V campaign = extension.=20
"Kristorf" has released a = Hurricane Mk. IIc (Air Vice = Marshal Sir=20 Keith Park, Malta 1942) skin.=20
"bisher" has posted a Fw-190A composite. =

Jet Thunder:=20

"Dante-JT" has posted = shots of shoreline effects. =

Strike Fighters / Wings Over = Vietnam:=20

Bombing Competition #5.=20
"donovan" has released a = F-15 skin.

Land Combat

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

Announcements:=20

Matrix=20 Games announces that Panzer Command: Operation Winter = Storm has=20 gone gold.

IGN = has word=20 that Cossacks II: Battle for Europe = has shipped=20 to stores.

Game = News:

Worthplaying has the just = released patch=20 for Cossacks II: Napoleonic Wars. =

GhostRecon.net shares word about = the=20 upcoming Ghost Recon Advance Warfighter = PC patch.=20

WarGames v5 modification for = Operation=20 Flashpoint has been released.

From the = Forums:=20

Wicked shares = even more=20 screenshots from the VBS1 simulation. Check it out = here.

BetaMO shares = a small=20 clip of GRAW heavy action. Check it out here.

Listen up = folks,=20 Thanks for sharing the many screenshots and video = clips of=20 game action (keep them coming), but I'd like to = request you=20 land combat gamers to try your hand at After Action = Reviews,=20 then share them in our AAR Forum. Thanks! =

Naval Combat = News

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

Navy=20 Newsstand video reports on the Navy testing for = vision=20 problems. See it here.

Motorsports = News

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

GP500:

A British = Superbike Full=20 Game Mod for GP500 has been released. Details = available from=20 here.

rFactor:

The updated = Le Mans=20 Sarthe Circuit released by Frank.f55 has received = another=20 update. The version number is still 1.0 but make = sure to get=20 the updated version here.

NASCAR = Racing 2003=20 Season:

An update for = Cleveland=20 for NR 2003 has been released. Download links are = provided=20 in this thread.

Technology News

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

Cases:

Techgage=20 checks out the NZXT Apollo Orange Case here.

Cooling:

Frostytech checks out the Verax = Quattro 1=20 CPU Cooler here.

ProClockers checks out the = Cooljag AMA-H=20 AM2 Cooler here.

Rbmods=20 checks out the Silverstone Nitrogon NT06 CPU Cooler = here.

Graphics Cards: =

nV = News=20 tests out the XFX 7600GT XXX Edition Video Card here.

GDHardware looks at the Leadtek = GeForce=20 7950GX2 card here.

Elite=20 Bastards checks out the Galaxy GeForce 7300 GT = GDDR3 here.

Motherboards: =

TweakTown=20 tests out Foxconn's WinFast 6150K8MD Motherboard here.

Motherboards.org checks out the = Foxconn=20 NF4SLI7AA-8EKRS2 Motherboard here.

Power Supplies: =

PCStats=20 tests out the Mushkin Enhanced XP-650 PSU here.

Community News for June 20, = 2006

Air Combat = News

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

SimHQ Game Server = Testing:

The SimHQ Game Server is = up and=20 running for testing this week until Friday. If you = fly F4:AF=20 online, check out the log-in thread here.

EECH / EEAH:

"arneh" has posted a movie preview of an improved HUD for = Apache=20 and Comanche.

European Air War:=20

"Col. Gibbon" has posted = a tutorial for making cockpit = canopies.=20

Event=20 Photography:=20

"Mud Hen" has posted a = shot of F-15C's deploying flares.=20
"Wired" has posted Willow = Grove NAS=20 Airshow 2006 photos: part 1, part 2, part 3.=20
"HarryR" has posted Berlin Luftwaffe Museum photos.=20

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

Training Mission #2 - Basic = Navigation=20 & Aircraft Performance.=20
"MGonzales" has posted = links to F-22 videos.

Falcon 4.0: Allied = Force:

The Falcon 4.0: Allied = Force 1 vs 1 Dogfight Ladder Season II = is about=20 to begin.=20
The 504th TFW Europe Wing is = accepting new=20 pilots.

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

"JG52Helgstrand" has = released a Bf-109F-2 (II/JG54, Hans = Phillip, Summer=20 1942) skin.=20
"Hammerd" has released a = P-47D (345th FG, 353rd FS, Glenn = Eagleston) skin.

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

"Glowing_Amraam" has = released a MiG-29 movie - Hot Zone. =

Screenshots and Video = Gallery:=20

"Tango-Five7" has posted = a shot of=20 a Super Sabre firing missiles.=20
"Wicked" has posted an Apache shot.

Strike Fighters / Wings Over = Vietnam:=20

"JSF_Aggie" has announced = the=20 release of the WOE Highway Airfield Mod.=20
"Dels" has released Australian C-130J-30 skins.=20
"allenjb422" has posted a = preview=20 of A-26B skins.=20
"The Wrench" has posted a = procedure=20 for new voice warnings.

Land Combat

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

Announcements:

Sega = announces the=20 digital release of Rome: Total War-Alexander. = "Rome: Total=20 War - Alexander is the second official expansion = pack to=20 Rome: Total War. It will offer all the content and = new=20 features that Total War players have come to expect = from=20 their expansion packs, but for the first time ever, = it will=20 be available exclusively for quick and easy = download."=20

Worthplaying has news that Cossacks II: Battle for Europe = has shipped=20 to stores.

Game = News:

Worthplaying has a preview of 'Warhammer Online: Age of = Reckoning'.

IGN = has new info=20 and screenshots for the upcoming Quake Wars.

GameTrailers has a video review = of Battlefield 2: Armored=20 Fury.

From the=20 Forums:

"Magnum" = shares an AAR of=20 the battle of Chaeronea, from the just released = Rome: Total=20 War-Alexander add-on. Check it out here.

"Shadow" has = a new=20 version, and possibly is final version, of the GRAW = clean=20 HUD mod. Read about it here.

Naval Combat = News

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

Silent = Hunter III:

Read here in the Subsim Review Radio = Room about=20 "real" TDC.

Motorsports = News

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

SimHQ Game = Server=20 Testing:

The SimHQ = Game Server is=20 up and running for testing this week until Friday. = If you=20 race rFactor online, check out the log-in thread here.

FlatOut = 2:

Blackhole=20 Motorsports has new screens for FlatOut 2 here.

Technology News

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

Cooling:

Bjorn3D=20 checks out the Swiftech MCX159-CU here.

BCC=20 Hardware checks out Zalman's Reserator 1 Plus, = RF1 Kit,=20 and more here.

Graphics Cards: =

Driver=20 Heaven gives their take on NVIDIA's GeForce = 7950GX2 here.

Legion=20 Hardware checks out the Gigabyte GeForce 7300GT = Turbo=20 Force Video Card here.

3DAvenue=20 tests the ASUS Radeon X1900XTX Crossfire here.

Motherboards: =

Hardware=20 Zone tests ECS' KA3 MVP Crossfire Xpress 3200 = (Socket=20 AM2) board here.

Legit=20 Reviews tests the Abit AT8 32X Crossfire Xpress = 3200=20 board here.

HEXUS checks=20 out DFI's LANParty nForce 590 SLI Intel Edition = board here.

Storage:

XYZ=20 Computing checks out the OCZ Mini-Kart USB Flash = Drive=20 here.

SPCR=20 tests out the Western Digital Caviar SE16 500GB Hard = Disk.=20 Is it the "Big Low-Noise Champ?" Read here.

Community News for June 19, = 2006

Air Combat = News

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

After Action Reports: =

"KingAlbert" has posted a = Falcon AAR - Charging Dragon Day = 1 19:30.=20

EECH / = EEAH:=20

The Gotcha web page has moved.=20

European Air = War:=20

"Flying Tiger" has posted = a series=20 of screenshots - EAW Birds in Action: Part I, Part II, Part III.=20
"Flying Tiger" has = released a Fw-190A-7 (White 14 +, = Sturmstaffel 1,=20 Uffz. Oskar B=F6sch, Germany 1944) skin. =

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

"UF_Josse" has released = an IAR 81 full template.=20
"Kristorf" has released a = Mosquito Mk. VI (Mk40) (486 Sqn, = RAF,=20 Cocos Islands 1945) skin.=20
"Kristorf" has released a = Mosquito Mk 40 (87 Sqn, RAAF, = Coomalee=20 Creek 1944) skin.=20
"bisher" has posted a Fw-190 composite shot.=20
"Graf" has posted a P-51D wallpaper - Taking the = Lead.=20
"96th_Nightshifter" has = released a=20 Spitfire Mk. XIV skin.=20
"96th_Nightshifter" has = released a=20 Spitfire Mk. XIV skin.=20
"96th_Nightshifter" has = released a=20 Seafire FR.45 (771 NAS, FAA) = skin.=20
Ian Boys has announced = the release=20 of a Burma skin pack and FAQ.=20
"BlackLion" has posted = a Bf-109 shot - Black Tulip Over=20 Stalingrad.=20
"Hammerd" has released a = P-47D ('Black Panther', Robert F = (Speedy)=20 Bealle, 506FS, 404FG) skin.

RC and Scale = Modeling:=20

"EAF92 Cop" has posted = shots of a=20 Tamiya 1/32 F-16. =

Screenshots and Video = Gallery:=20

"allenjb422" has posted = Strike Fighters Gold shots. =

Strike Fighters / Wings Over = Vietnam:=20

"RussoUK2002" has = released an updated Fmk6 package. =

Land Combat

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

Announcements:=20

The 5th 'WWII = Online'=20 Anniversary Welcomes Back Veterans (Thanks to Worthplaying for the news.) = "The=20 largest promotion in the 5-year history of the = PvP-based=20 MMOG, WWII Online, is set to begin June 22nd to = celebrate=20 the game's evolution. The =93Welcome Back Soldier=94 = promotion=20 will activate accounts of approximately 300,000 = players for=20 14 days between June 22nd and July 6th."

Ubisoft = launches the=20 official Splinter Cell: Double Agent web = site.

Ghost Recon: = Advanced=20 Warfighter Gets New DeathMatch Maps (Thanks to Worthplaying for the news). = "Ubisoft=20 announced that it will soon release the very first=20 Multiplayer Pack for GRIN's Ghost Recon Advanced = Warfighter=20 on PC. To support the influx of people flocking to = the new=20 maps, Ubisoft will launch no less than 20 new = dedicated=20 servers at the same time, so you'll have even more = places=20 for you and your friends to play." =

Game = News:

GameSpot=20 has a review of the recent Battlefield 2 booster = pack, Armored Fury.

GameSpot=20 also has a game guide for Half Life 2: Episode One.

Worthplaying has a movie link to = a Armed Assault video that uses = the=20 NaturalPoint TrackIR.

Worthplaying also has the new = patch for Birth of America.

Fileplanet has a new SWAT 4 = download=20 titled SWAT 4 Level 13.

GameSpot=20 has the new Battlefield 2 v1.3 Mod Kit.

Worthplaying has a preview of Spartan Ancient Wars. =

From the = Forums:=20

"Sim" shares = a video of=20 Steel Beasts Pro PE which he made by mixing gameplay = video=20 and real footage. Check it out here.

"Wicked" = shares a=20 screenshot from VBS1. Check it out here.

"Heinzi" = shares some=20 screenshots of Steel Beasts Pro PE. Check them out = here.

"Heinzi" = shares more=20 screens from SB Pro PE, this one showing how NOT to = dodge a=20 missile. Check it out here.

Naval Combat = News

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

Lost = Submarine?

Gulf of = Thailand wreck=20 may be U.S. WWII submarine. Read here.

Motorsports = News

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

rFactor:

The NASCAR = Acceleration=20 RC2 mod has been released. The download link for = this=20 stand-alone mod (do not install to rFactor = directory)=20 is available from rFactor Central.

Some = new tracks=20 for rFactor have been released: Spa 67, Monthlery 1966, Hungaroring GP4, and Silverstone GP4.

An = updated Le Mans=20 track for rFactor is now avialable at rFactor = Central here.

If you = haven't seen it,=20 check out the Virtua_LM Le Mans add-on for rFactor = that's in=20 development here in the RSC Forums. Be sure = and=20 enlarge the thumbnails!

Look for a = feature soon=20 about the staff running the SimHQ "2.4" Hours of Le=20 Mans.

TOCA Race = Driver 3:

TRD 3 is = reviewed by Driver = Heaven.

WorthPlaying reviews=20 World Racing 2 here.

NASCAR = HEAT:

The Mod Squad = have=20 released the 1991 season for the Aero HEAT mod. = Download=20 this installment from their web site here.

NASCAR = Racing 2002=20 Season:

A 2005 Season = add-on for=20 NASCAR Racing 2002 Season has been released and can = be=20 downloaded via this link.

Le Mans = 2006:

Congratulations to Audi=20 for the first win at Le Mans with a diesel-engine, = and=20 congratulations to the class winners in LMP2, GT1 = and GT2.=20 Corvette won GT1 and Panoz GT2. The full results can = be=20 found here.

Technology News

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

Cases:

TECHGAGE=20 checks out the Silverstone TJ08 case here.

BigBruin=20 peers into the Thermaltake Eureka Aluminum Full = Tower Case=20 here.

Cooling:

ReviewDesk checks out the = G-Cooler LC478K8=20 Water Cooling Kit here.

PC Modding=20 Malaysia tests the Thermaltake Silent Water = Cooling Kit=20 here.

Graphics Cards: =

PCStats=20 checks out the Asus EN7900GT-TOP GeForce 7900GT here.

GDHardware tests the Leadtek = GeForce=20 7950GX2 here.

Motherboards: =

PC=20 Perspective looks at the motherboards (and = graphics=20 cards) from CompuTex 2006 here.

Neoseeker=20 checks out the Gigabyte GA-M59SLI-S5 here.

Operating System = News:

Information Week reminds any XP = SP1 users=20 that Microsoft's support of SP1 ends on 10/10/2006.=20 Stragglers need to update to SP2. Read more here.