The Best Full Simulation

[Drewcifer]

What is the Best CURRENT full simulation game out today..

It could be anything from DCS or Silent Hunter itself.. but I'm just wondering what sort of simulations you guys are playing... and I know its not a technical term but what I meant by full is a complete study sim, for the most part ever little button works... etc like say DCS.. were the entire cockpit is REAL.

[Castout]

Well I like Falcon 4.0 or its reincernation Free Falcon 5. Free Falcon is current they have just released their newest patch for their 5.5 version this month

Study sim is extremely rare.

[Raptor1]

The most detailed commercial study sims I know are DCS: Black Shark and A-10C Warthog. Falcon is certainly very detailed (And has a far superior dynamic campaign), but I can't really think of anything that beats the DCS series when it comes to modeling a single platform.

[Spike88]

The most detailed commercial study sims I know are DCS: Black Shark and A-10C Warthog. Falcon is certainly very detailed (And has a far superior dynamic campaign), but I can't really think of anything that beats the DCS series when it comes to modeling a single platform.


What about PMDG for FSX, and Space Shuttle Simulator 2007?

[CCIP]

There's not really a 'best' since they do different things, and for some people certain things are preferable. You have to keep in mind that there is a difference between 'reality' and 'realism' - there are many different ways to model the real world in a game, and for some people one might feel closer than others. For example the difference between dynamic campaigns, immersion in an ongoing 'story' or war, atmosphere and graphics can be more important to realism to some than system simulations.

Anyway, if you're looking for a modern war simulation, the advanced versions of Falcon 4.0 are still the best. It has extremely high systems fidelity, and is still probably the only game to model a full-scale strategic war in the campaign that you can participate in as a single unit. Others might quote things like DCS, Steel Beasts Pro PE, or modded versions of Dangerous Waters for systems and tactics fidelity, or one of the Silent Hunter series (modded III/IV in particular) for immersion and atmosphere - but they all do some things well and miss other things. SBP is probably the most 'realistic' of the bunch, but in many ways it still works more like a training tool than a game.

But if you want my personal two cents - I think the best all-round (not just war) simulation you can buy is a custom setup of Flight Simulator, enhanced with a lot of add-ons. IMO nothing comes even close to the fidelity and depth you get from it. Unfortunately you should be prepared to spend at least $500 on software (payware addons) alone if you want to get it to really shine - the default games are woefully inadequate in a lot of areas, both in terms of atmosphere (graphics, weather, scenery, traffic) and in terms of systems (aircraft, ATC, operating procedures). You have to practically replace all of those things in the game, and then it really comes into its own.

[stabiz]

iracing (.com)

[Oberon]

Accu-sim B-17 is a beautiful bird and the crew is a nice touch. :up:

[kiwi_2005]

Lock on
Falcon 4
Flanker

all games mention were realistic in some case to realistic for this newb. When use to play Falcon 4 I dl this mod forgot the name of it but was very popular at the time that made the damn game even more realistic. Falcon 4 was impressive back in the days of Windows 95/98.

Before Lock on there was the Flanker sims Flanker 2.0 is what I played average graphics but best game play for a flight sim back then or on par with falcon 4.

I haven't tried another flight sim since. There is none that interest me.

[Weiss Pinguin]

I'd say the most overwhelmingly immersive sim I've tried is Falcon 4, hands down. I got it for my birthday a couple years ago, but I haven't ever set aside the 3-4 months it would take me to learn it :yep: I still think each copy F4 should come with a flight instructor :haha:

The most realistic sims I do play are Il2 and a little bit of M$ flight sim. And then some mechwarrior for my future fix :smug:

[Egan]

Falcon is amazing even if it is showing it's age a little bit. Don't know about the current Free Falcon because the four times I tried it it crashed four times. I can't wait to try the new A-10 sim as it looks superb.

[Castout]

Free Falcon is fantastic! :03:

[Drewcifer]

The only falcon I can find to pick up is Allied Falcon, which you can't use Free Falcon with it correct? And further more will it even run on my win 7 64 bit?

[Eugene]

Falcon 4/AF/FF5.54/OF, hands down. Everything from the primary simulated platform to the unfolding larger war in the theater of operations. An amazing array of carefully crafted other platforms - and the jet versions can be flown with reasonably accurate flight models, loadouts and cockpits (if not avionics).

Yes FF5 it runs on machines with Allied Force installed. It is a separate sim and separate install based on Falcon 4, not AF. Many people run it on Win 7 but others report issues. Best to try and then check with other users if you have problems.

[Castout]

The only falcon I can find to pick up is Allied Falcon, which you can't use Free Falcon with it correct? And further more will it even run on my win 7 64 bit?

Free Falcon is waaaay better than Falcon AF and it's free!

I play it on Windows 7 x64 with NVidia card and newest driver so no problem

[Skybird]

What is a "full simulation game"? :06:

I can only tell you what I consider to be more simulation than game and what I like to use (usually the more complex stuff).

- Falcon 4
- certain Airliners for FS9 (PMDG 747, Level-D 767), and the Digital Aviation Piper Cheyenne,
- Steel Beasts Pro
- Battle of Britain II

But racers, although no longer one of my favourite genres, also can be simulations, so:
- GTR 2
- NASCAR season 2003

Some strategy titles also include simulation elements, and very much so, on the operational command-level:
- Conquest of the Aegean

Even round-based cosims sometimes cannot hide their competence in simulating certain operational features, so:
- The Operational Art of War III

- Dangerous Waters
also had a strict simulation character (and a lovely thick manual!)

Migrating to a new system this week, I am also receiving Black Shark, which I expect to add to the above list, and Rise of Flight ICE, which I also have high hopes for. Once it is patched in a year, I will set my eyes on A-10, too.

[Pisces]

Don't forget Orbiter for a realistic space sim.

http://orbit.medphys.ucl.ac.uk/home.php

[Elemental]

Try SU27 Flanker, old SSI game. I used to play it with a joystick on a Pentium 133Mhz :D

[CCIP]

Try SU27 Flanker, old SSI game. I used to play it with a joystick on a Pentium 133Mhz :D

Well, the LO:MAC/DCS series is technically a direct descendant of the Flanker games. Built by the same people (Eagle Dynamics) on a highly updated version of the same technology.

[Skybird]

I remember Flanker, and the 2.5 version with the Mig-29 as well. Very good flight dynamics - the one superior feature in comparison to its all-time rival Falcon 4.0.

I just wish the Russians and Eastern developers would finally, finally learn to set up better mission and overall atmosphere. They are technically splendid, and even study sims (Ka-50), but the atmosphere, from IL-2 on, always sucks, the tank stuff, the flight stuff they do: in SP, it is always lifeless and sterile.

Dan't get me wrong, technically some of the Easternm sims are great stuff. I enjoy digging myself into the Ka-50, I really do. But it is the kind of interest I have in complex modules for FS. The kind of narration telling you get from SH3, F4 or in long missions with ArmA or long battles with SBP, I do not get from any of the Eastern sims I had.

ArmA is the one exception from the rule - they are Czech, if I remember correctly.

[Iron Budokan]

Orbiter.

[Falkirion]

In terms of space shuttle functionality and actual commands used SSM2007 ranks up amongst the top. Has a fair chunk of the real shuttle simulated now.