SimHQ.com - The Simulation Community's = Headquarters

SimHQ=20 Community News for June 2, = 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.

E3Expo 2006, One More=20 Time!
We = finally=20 got the time to go through our image and video = files=20 inventory and post them online. Take a look here. In case you missed our = Team=20 reports, they're here: Tuesday, Wednesday,=20 Thursday, Friday = and=20 Retrospective.

Driving=20 rFactor - A Fast Lap at Mills Metropark=20 Long
Jens = "McGonigle" Lindblad shows us the fast way = around one of=20 the most popular tracks in rFactor. Read Jens' = analysis=20 here.

Total Air War: Training = Mission #1=20 - Basic Aircraft Familiarization
Chris "BeachAV8R" = Frishmuth starts=20 a new training series on TAW. Take a look here=20 at Chris' first=20 installment.

Review: AMD and DDR2: The = AM2=20 Athlon 64s
How = well does=20 AMD's new AM2 socket processors fare in SimHQ's=20 benchmark suite? Is there a performance benefit = from the=20 new AM2s over the popular Socket 939? Read John = Reynolds=20 report here to find=20 out.

Review: Ghost Recon: = Advanced=20 Warfighter
Chuck = "Magnum"=20 Ankenbauer reviews the much anticipated Ubisoft = squad=20 tactical shooter in the PC version. Read his = comments here.

Preview: Air Ace: Birth = of a Flight=20 Sim - Part 1
Guest Writer=20 and Developer Phil "zoombapup" Carlisle = introduces us to=20 Air Ace, a new online multiplayer sim. Phil's = first=20 series article is here.

Interview: Oleg Maddox - = What's=20 Next?
Tom = "WKLINK" Cofield=20 asks Oleg about the just announced Storm of War: = The=20 Battle of Britain. Read here.

Community News for June 2, = 2006

Air Combat = News

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

EECH / EEAH:

"Maverick63" has posted = Puerto Rico screenshots.=20
"Maverick63" has posted a = fix for the Saudi Arabia Red Sea = error.=20

European = Air=20 War:=20

Sandbagger's latest news has been posted.=20
"Skylark" has announced = the release=20 of the June calendar.=20
"Col. Gibbon" has posted = a preview=20 of the HR Japanese A5M4 Claude carrier = fighter=20 project.=20
"Rotton50" has posted a = preview of=20 a Tri-Color Camo Hi-Res Hawk 75.=20
"Flying Tiger" has = released a Bf-109K-4 (XII./ JG27) skin. =

Event Photography:=20

"MADMARK_22" has posted = modern jet aircraft photos. =

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

"3dp" has announced the = release of=20 PlanePack 6.1, Legacy PlanePack = v. 3.=20

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

"Kristorf" has released a = Neville Duke Career skin pack.=20
"G=F6=F6dwood" has posted = a Fw-190D wallpaper - A View to a = Kill.=20
"WarWolfe_1" has released = a P-51D-10 ("Annie Mae", 503rd FS, = 339th FG,=20 Lt. Robert Ammon) skin.

Screenshots and Video = Gallery:=20

"nameless_one" has posted = an in-flight video of a light aircraft = flying=20 low.=20
"bisher" has posted a Corsair composite shot - = Corsair, part II.=20
Pablo Diez has released a = video - Fuerza A=E9rea = Argentina.=20

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

"Murphy'S" has posted a = link to a=20 preview of the upcoming F-15A.=20
"76.IAP-Blackbird" has = released the=20 F/A-18 w/ avionics.=20
"Dueces80th" has = announced the=20 release of the WOE Enhanced Terrain. =

Aviation World News:=20

Anti-Aircraft Gun Near Airport = Sparks=20 Concern.=20
Fire officials eye 747 aircraft to quell fires.=20
Navy Ex-Aircraft Carrier Sunk and = 'Reefed' Off=20 Pensacola.=20
Jet to include Airbus 330 in fleet.=20
Pathfinder explores national = route to UAV=20 approval.=20
Swiss business aircraft takes = off in the=20 US.=20
Raytheon completes Hawker 4000 function and = reliability=20 testing.=20
[China's] Self-developed jet to = fly maiden=20 trip.=20
Russia Tries to Sell Planes, Helicopters and Guns to = Canada.=20
Aero-News Alert: The D-Jet Is Coming To Oshkosh.=20
NASA engineers discuss efforts to reduce foam losses.=20
Competition Heats Up = for NASA's Space Cargo Contract.=20
NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status 1 = June=20 2006.

Land Combat

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

Panzer = Command:=20 Operation Winter Storm:

Matrix=20 Games has released a new gameplay movie for = the=20 upcoming World War II strategy title from Koios = Works,=20 Panzer Command: Operation Winter Storm. Koios Works = is known=20 for their work on the acclaimed Tin Soldiers series, = which=20 combined battles from ancient history with 3D = strategy=20 gaming. Panzer Command: Operation Winter Storm will = bring=20 the same quality of gameplay the Tin Soldiers series = was=20 known for, this time on a tactical scale with a = World War II=20 setting.

World at = War:

Matrix=20 Games has released a new update for their = World War=20 II grand strategy war game, Gary Grigsby's World at = War. The=20 new version 1.201 is now available from the Matrix = Games web=20 site. It is a minor update that fixes a few minor = issues=20 with the major v1.20 update released earlier this=20 month.

Naval Combat = News

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

Congrats to our = friends at=20 Subsim Review for their Radio=20 Room refit! ;)

Motorsports = News

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

NASCAR = Racing 2003=20 Season:

Simulated = Sports Car=20 Association presents the 12 hrs of the Glen, July = 8th using=20 Team Redline's GTP mod. Read more about this event, = the=20 coverage and how to register, here.

rFactor:

Coast 1.0 has = been=20 released for rFactor. This is a very long track, = letting you=20 do a bit of highway cruising or road racing in the = classical=20 sense. Get it from here.

Adelaide v. 1.0 = has just=20 been released. Rfactorcentral has the download = details as=20 well as a couple of screens here.

Technology News

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

Cases: =

Gamepyre=20 checks out the ICute 0508 Case here.

Legit=20 Reviews peeks inside the Antec P150 Quiet PC = Case here.

Cooling:

techPowerUp tests out the = Thermaltake=20 Symphony Mini Water Cooling Kit here.

MODTHEBOX.com checks out the = Thermalright=20 Ultra-90 K8 CPU Cooler here.

Graphics Cards: =

PC=20 Perspective checks out BFG's GeForce 7900 GT OC = Video=20 Card here.

bit-tech.net pairs a GeForce = 7900 GTX with=20 an Alienware Aurora System here.

Legion=20 Hardware compares NVIDIA's GeForce 6600GT vs. = the 7600GT=20 here.

Motherboards: =

Motherboards.org checks out the = ASUS=20 M2N232-SLI Deluxe Wi-Fi Edition Motherboard here.

VIA=20 Technologies announces their EPIA CN Mini-ITX=20 motherboards. Read more here.

Community News for June 1, = 2006

Air Combat = News

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

F-22 Total Air War: =

Training Mission #1 - Basic = Aircraft=20 Familiarization.

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

Scorched Earth: Kursk 1943 demo = campaign,=20 Second Mission Available.=20
UQMG Users - Please Re-download = Upgrade=20 0015 (Last Upgrade).

RC and Scale = Modeling:=20

"semmern" has posted 1/32 Hobbycraft Nieuport 17 = photos.=20

Screenshots = and Video=20 Gallery:=20

"bisher" has posted a Corsair composite shot. =

Strike Fighters / Wings Over = Vietnam:=20

"kreelin" has released EE lightning Fmk6 FM for SP4 / = WOE.=20
"MarcFighter" has posted = an AT-26A Impala project preview.=20
"damwaar" has released a = utility for terrain makers. =

General News:=20

"Vespa2" has posted a Target Tobruk update.

Land Combat

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

Announcements:

SteelSeries = announces=20 SteelSecurity - Protection for online gaming. = (Thanks to Combatsim.com for the news.)=20 SteelSeries, a leading manufacturer of innovative = professional gaming gear, announced today a new = partnership=20 with BullGuard, specialists in user-friendly PC = & Mobile=20 security solutions. The two brands, specialists in = their=20 respective areas of business, are together creating = the=20 world's first dedicated security solution for online = gamer's. The new product, named = SteelSecurity, is=20 specifically designed for online gamer's, and offers = complete anti-virus and firewall protection that has = been=20 enhanced with an advanced spamfilter and online = backup=20 system, ensuring that the user's online game = experience will=20 never be interrupted by malware or virus = attacks.=20

Game = News:

Matrix=20 Games has a new patch for Gary Grigsby=92s World at War = and a new=20 movie of Panzer Command: Operation Winter=20 Storm.

The=20 Wargamer has a preview of Battlefield 2142.

IGN = has a new=20 video of Hitman: Blood Money, displaying = the "Leave=20 no trace" mission.

Fileplanet has a new mod for = Battlefield 2=20 titled "US Intervention".

GameSpot=20 has a hands on with "Half-Life 2: Episode One", and = a review=20 of "Hitman: Blood Money".

GameSpot also has a Rise and Fall: Civilizations at = War=20 preview.

Worthplaying has new screens and = a trailer=20 for 'Half-Life 2: Episode One'.

10-David has a long discussion = going about=20 the future of the SWAT series.

GhostRecon.net has a new GR:AW SCAR-L Modification.

Soldner=20 has been patched again, bring all versions in sync = with each=20 other.

The official = web site for=20 the Total War series has new = information about=20 the upcoming Alexander add-on and the even later = Total War=20 Medieval 2.

From the=20 Forums:

Be sure to = share your own=20 AAR's (after action reviews), screenshots, and video = clips=20 in the appropriate forum. If you Land and Armor = gamer's=20 would be interested in a dedicated forum for = tactical and=20 strategic discussions, reply here.

Naval Combat = News

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

Navy = Training:

UNR team uses = technology=20 to improve Navy training. Read the USA Today report = here.

Motorsports = News

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

rFactor:

Preview = screenshots of=20 the Aston Martin DBR9 i the upcoming NAGT mod have = been=20 posted here.

New sounds for the = VW Lupo=20 and VW Gold GTI mods have been released. Learn more = in this thread.

Technology News

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

Cases/Enclosures: =

ThinkComputers peers into = Thermaltake's=20 Aguila PC Case here.

XSreviews.co.uk checks out the = Vizo Luxon=20 HDD Enclosure here.

Cooling:

PCApex=20 tests out Fluid XP's Extreme Performance Coolant here.

FrostyTech checks out the = Cooljag SFO-Q=20 Socket AM2 HSF here.

Graphics Cards: =

PC_Perspective checks out the = BFG GeForce=20 7900 GT OC card here.

Hardware=20 Zone tests out GeCube's Radeon X1900 GT here.

Motherboards: =

[H]=20 Enthusiast checks out DFI's LANParty UT RDX200 = CF-DR=20 mobo here.

HEXUS.net=20 tests MSI's 945GT Speedster-A4R motherboard here.

Community News for May 31, = 2006

Air Combat = News

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

Combat Flight Simulator = 3:

"BEAR - AvHistory" has = posted MAW preview shots. =

EECH / EEAH:=20

"Maverick63" has = announced the=20 release of Afognak winter textures.=20
"Maverick63" has = announced the=20 release of Saudi Arabia Red Sea.=20
"Mapi" has announced the = release of=20 Map 17 Afognak.=20
"Mapi" has released an updated Keyguide v1.5. =

European Air War:=20

Sandbagger's latest news has been posted.=20
"Flying Tiger" has = released a Bf-109K-4 (7./ JG27) skin. =

Event Photography:=20

"Sim" has posted in-flight shots from a Tiger light=20 aircraft.=20
"Thomas DW" has posted a = link to an=20 Israeli Air Force Photo site.=20
"Mishanya" has posted Jones Beach Airshow photos. =

Falcon 4.0: Allied = Force:=20

"Multiviper" has posted a = link to a=20 video Smooth Flying Ahead 1.0.7. =

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

"Major Hippie" has posted = a Berlin Winter terrain preview.=20

FS2002 /=20 FS2004:=20

"BeachAV8R" has posted a = link to a=20 AlphaSim Typhoon video. =

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

"Kristorf" has released a = Seafire Mk. LIII (Sub/Lt Richard = Reynolds,=20 HMS Indefatigable, Sakishima Islands 1945) skin.=20
"Kristorf" has released a = Spitfire Mk. VIII (American Ace = serving=20 with the RAF, Sqn L/dr Lance Wade) skin.=20
"Graf" has posted a Fw-190A wallpaper - A Test of = Courage.=20
"Monguse" has released a = P-47D-27 (350th, FG 347th FS, = "Mistress=20 Mary") skin.=20
"RONNCO" has released a = FM-2 Wildcat (VC-88, USS Saginaw = Bay 1945)=20 skin.=20
Scorched Earth: Kursk 1943 demo = campaign,=20 first mission available.

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

Remise des Gaz has posted = a FAC video.=20
"Glowing_Amraam" has = released a movie - The Chase. =

Over Flanders Fields: =

"Polovski" has posted two = movies -=20 Moving Damage! Fokker DVIIF. =

Screenshots and Video = Gallery:=20

"bisher" has posted a P-47 composite shot.=20
"BlackLion" has posted an = IL-2 Series night combat shot.=20
"EagleTalons" has posted = an IL-2=20 Series shot - Memoirs of a Ki-61 type 3 pilot. =

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

"USAFTML" has released a = WOE F-15A Skin Pack.=20
"ajunaidr" has announced = the=20 release of 8 models of the Canberra Family. =

General = News:=20

"Bunyap" has posted an A-10 Guide for LOMAC, Strike = Fighters:=20 Project 1, and Wings Over Europe.

Land Combat

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

Announcements:

"Halo 2" is = not cross=20 platform compatible and won't require a DX10 = graphics card=20 (thanks to Worthplaying for the news). = Bungie has=20 released some technical information about the = upcoming Halo=20 2 port for PC. While it will require Windows Vista, = it will=20 not be needed for player to have a DirectX 10 = compatible gfx=20 card, Halo 2 will work on DX9 boards as well. PC and = Xbox=20 gamer's will not be able to play against each other = as=20 Bungie thinks the 2 year timeframe between launches = would be=20 too big and not level the playing field, and also = pose a=20 technical problem as the PC version will have = exclusive=20 maps, and a map editor allowing the mod community to = make=20 their own material.

Game = News:

The=20 Wargamer has a preview of Joint Task Force.

Worthplaying has new screenshots = of 'Aggression: Europe 1914'.

Worthplaying has the just = released patch=20 for Birth of America.

Armed Assault Zone has a scan of = a new=20 magazine article about Armed Assault.

Hot=20 SWAT Mods has news that a map maker is looking = for beta=20 testers for his complete

15 map conversion from Raven = Shield maps=20 to SWAT 4 maps.

Hot=20 SWAT Mods also has news about a smash and grab map pack coming = soon.

Operation=20 Flashpoint Editing Center comes back online = after a few=20 months off air.

Armchair General has a review of = Steel=20 Beasts Pro PE here.

There's a = fantastic=20 article floating around cyberspace that is over = 22,000 words=20 long, along with real world screens and videos, = along side=20 gameplay screens and videos, all about "Tactical Gaming Done Right". = Check it=20 out, great work.

From the=20 Forums:

Magnum shares = another six=20 small video clips of SWAT action, and what can go = wrong.=20 Check them out here.

Naval Combat = News

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

Some nice = wallpaper here of the HMS Darling at Royal Navy = News.

Motorsports = News

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

rFactor:

The Amaroli = World Cup Mod=20 had been brought forward to v. 1.02. It can be = downloaded=20 from here.

Revvin has posted = some nice=20 screenshots from the Legends mod in the rFactor = forum. See=20 them here.

Technology News

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

ATi and = DX10:

3DVelocity = and UKGamer=20 have short articles posted covering ATi's DX10 = briefing in=20 London last Thursday. Read Flexible shading at = UKGamer here, and ATi tout DX10 talents = at=20 3DVelocity here.

Cases:

Dan's Data=20 checks out the iCute 0508 Case here.

Cooling:

Techgage=20 checks out the Spire VertiCool II CPU Cooler here.

Adrian's Rojak=20 Pot tests the Scythe Ninja Plus Heatpipe CPU = Cooler here.

Graphics Cards: =

PureOverclock tests Connect3D's = Radeon=20 X1900 GT Video Card here.

Neoseeker=20 checks out the Sapphire Radeon X1800 GTO card here.

Motherboards: =

TweakTown=20 checks out the MSI 915GM Speedster-FA4 Motherboard = here.

HardwareZone tests out the = Foxconn=20 C51XEM2AA(nForce 590 SLI) board here.

[H]=20 Enthusiast posts their evaluation of the ABIT = AN8 32x=20 Motherboard here.

Community News for May 30, = 2006

Air Combat = News

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

Blue = Angels:

There are = several new=20 video clips of the Blue Angels here at Navy = Newsstand.

Land Combat

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

Red Orchestra: Ostfront = 41-45:

Bold Games, a division of = Destineer=20 Publishing, has announced a distribution partnership = with=20 Excalibur, for Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 in the = UK.=20 Developed by Tripwire Interactive and based on the = most=20 highly-acclaimed Unreal mod ever made, Red = Orchestra:=20 Ostfront 41-45 is a full-featured, stand-alone World = War II=20 game that brings players to the frontlines of = Eastern=20 European combat during the height of World War II. = Players=20 choose from 28 infantry weapons or crew one of 14 = detailed=20 vehicles on the Russian Front between 1941-45. The=20 combination of roles across more than one dozen = maps, based=20 on real world locations and battles, allows Red = Orchestra to=20 finally achieve its goal of delivering a full = first-person,=20 World War II infantry and vehicle combat simulation. = Learn=20 more about Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 here at the Tripwire web=20 site.

Naval Combat = News

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

P.T. Boats: = Knights of=20 the Seas:

Gamershell has the E3 video of = P.T. Boats=20 here.

Motorsports = News

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

Farther than = the Wright=20 Brothers:

Up, up and = away. Take a=20 look here.

Real World = Racing:

Some links to = real racing=20 series web sites: PCC=20 Australia. F3=20 Euroseries, and Formula Nippon. Thanks "Chunx"=20

rFactor:

Official = physics update=20 for McLaren F1 Challenge has been released. Read the = release notes carefully before=20 applying.

The BMW M3 mod has been updated to = v. 1.1.=20 More information can be found here.

Technology News

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

Cases:

TechGage looks=20 into the Arctic Cooling Silentium T2 Case here.

Overclocker Cafe looks at Lian = Li's=20 PC-V800 here.

Cooling:

Pro-Clockers checks out the = AeroCool=20 PowerWatch and PowerPanel and PowerUSB (5v/12v) here.

Adrian's Rojak=20 Pot looks at the Scythe Ninja Plus Heatpipe CPU = Cooler=20 here.

Graphics Cards: =

Maxit=20 checks out the XFX GeForce 7900GT 256MB XXX Extreme = Edition=20 Video Card here.

Legion=20 Hardware tests out the Inno3D GeForce 7600GST = Video Card=20 here.

Motherboards: =

Overclockers Online checks out = the ECS=20 C19-A Motherboard here.

techFEAR=20 checks out the MSI RD480 Neo2-FI here.

Community News for May 26, = 2006

Air Combat = News

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

European Air War: =

"Flying Tiger" has = released a Spitfire Mk. IXe (Belgian Air = Force)=20 skin.=20
"PLR" has released a Spitfire Mk. V (No. 185 Sqn. = Sgt. Claude=20 Weaver, Malta 1942) skin.=20
"PLR" has released a Spitfire Mk. V (Sdn. Ldr. Joseph = Lynch,=20 No. 249 Sqn. Malta 1943) skin.

Event Photography:=20

"AV8R" has posted Planes of Fame Airshow 2006 = photos.=20

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

"Major Hippie" has posted = a SDOE WWII Install guide. =

Helicopter Sims:=20

"WB" has announced the = release of=20 the Chinook for Gunship. =

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

"Kristorf" has released a = Seafire Mk. IB (Hack of Spitfire = Mk.Vc,=20 885 NAS) skin.

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

"Jusas" has announced the = release=20 of a new F-15C campaign - Crimean Crisis. =
Caption this screenshot.=20
The European Operation Forces = Squadron is now=20 accepting new recruits.

Screenshots and Video = Gallery:=20

"EagleTalons" has posted = a Mustang vs. Fw-190 video. =

Strike Fighters / Wings Over = Vietnam:=20

"GoGamer.com - Jason" has = posted a=20 WOE shipping update.=20
"CowboyK" has posted a RF-4E preview.=20
"CowboyK" has announced = the release=20 of the A-7F Strikefighter.=20
"USAFTML" has announced = the release=20 of a updated OV-10A package.=20
"Chaser617" has posted a = Skyhawk FG.3a preview. =

Aviation World News:=20

Boeing bids to sell maritime aircraft to India.=20
SA gets its first two Hawk jet trainers.=20
WWII pilot 'Mamas' and their = warbirds=20 touch down at Napa Airport...=20
US Coast Guard's ICGS Deepwater Contract Extended to = 2011.=20
Yeager to get hangar.=20
Pakistan gives go ahead = to AWACS Purchase.=20
'UAV Development Will Drive Most = Advanced=20 Aerospace Technologies'.=20
Rolls plans supersonic business jet engine.=20
Change of wind for Czech aircraft industry.=20
Aircraft Carrier Sunk in Gulf of = Mexico. More photos here.=20
Saab's Gripen fighter aircraft = faces=20 crucial sales test in India.=20
Lockheed Martin Receives = Two Big MH-60R Production Contracts.=20
Moog flight simulator receives = top-level=20 status.=20
HoloDek in Hampton is Willy = Wonka's=20 Chocolate Factory for video gamers.=20
NASA Mars Rover Opportunity Status = 23 May=20 2006.=20
NASA Space Shuttle Processing Status = Report 24=20 May 2006.=20
NASA Space Station On-Orbit Status = 24 May=20 2006.

Land Combat

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

Screenshots:

Strategy First announces new = screenshots=20 from =91Alliance Future Combat=92 here.

Game=20 News: