Features
Q: And Pe-2 will be included on the DVD?
A: Yes.
Q: Which countries and areas will be represented in the 1946 and Manchuria add-ons?
A: New — just a few. For “IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946″ it is the Kiev region (USSR) which is possible to use also for other than 1946 year action. In “Sturmoviks over Manchuria” there are two new maps — Manchuria itself (China) and a special map of Nomonhan / Khalhin-Gol (Mongolia). The last one is for modeling the Soviet vs. Japan conflict and because we have added many early-war Japanese planes. This map we are giving as a bonus for online gameplay. However in both add-ons, the action in campaigns and single missions is way wider because of other maps presenting in a sim. Action takes place both on old and new maps.
Q: How many new maps are in these add-ons?
A: Three.
Q: Does the 1946 expansion have global improvements (such as Pacific Fighters did) to the simulation itself that will enhance even the Eastern Front and early war aspects of the series?
A: There are several changes in the code. The most important — we changed the code of the joystick control that makes the feeling of flight even better. This work took a lot of time and was tested with real pilots. You know, short stick doesn’t give the same feel of control with long control column in real aircraft. There we tried to make special module that will make the difference minimal.
The simulation has gone from what was to be a study sim involving one aircraft to a real monster anthology of WWII aviation. The engine has been stretched to fit multi-engined bombers, aircraft that are linked (such as the Mistel and the TB-3/I-16 combinations), aircraft carriers, runway cratering, working searchlights, etc.
SimHQ Exclusive: Images from the new ” IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946″ add-on
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Ar-234B
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Ar-234B Cockpit
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Do-335V-13
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He-162C&He-162D
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He-162C
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He-162D
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Q: Is the software engine as stretched as it can be, or will we see a few more tricks coaxed out of it?
A: The engine is still possible to modify and use for the other products, including development of new sims. However, there are some limits that we already won’t expand and modify ourselves. We decided to make an advanced next-gen engine for SoW:BoB that we can expand and modify also for a very long time. Let’s say for the next 7 years and to make a new series of sims that also will cover even more areas than it was done in IL-2 series.
Q: What is one of them that might not be noticed or was your personal favorite?
A: My personal favorite is the change of joystick control and feel of flight with it. It’s in general. Also with the 1946 add-on we added a lot of new coding such as German wire guided rockets, Soviet mixed engines (Piston + turbojet or piston + rocket engine), or 3 types of gun and bombsights in one plane. For example, one the gunsights on the Arado Ar-234 is a rear-facing periscope linked to twin 20mm cannon!
We have a brand new video Oleg has produced especially for this interview of the Pe-2. The file size is 96.4MB. You can download the zipped file from here. Please right click on the link and select “Save Target As…” to download.
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You can read our previous interviews with Oleg here and here.
Our preview of Pe-2 and Pe-3 for IL-2 Forgotten Battles by Guest Writer Ian Boys is here.
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