Played my first SIM game Sunday night!
 

Quite accidently. I was looking for any game and this one popped up. It was a dogfight. I had ideas on what to do thanks to you guys on this forum. I chose the I-16 because I thought it would be easiest to fly my first time. I didn't want to worry too much about actually flying it so I could search for the other planes unhindered. It didn't quite pan out that way! I stalled the engine within 30 seconds. It wouldn't restart. Crashed (3 times). I thought I was WEPPING too much (arcade habit) and burning up the engine. Not so. It must be too many G's on the gravity fed carbs. Yep. I reduced sensitivity and got it under control. Couldn't see much from the cockpit but it kept me oriented. The virtual view did not. I need more practise with it. Like you guys said, the fighting was really low. I found them but had a real difficult time manuvering my plane with the others. One was a Spit MkIX the other a 109G-6. I managed once to get on the tail of the 109 and got some deflection shots off with no effect (I obviously missed). Got killed 3 times, 6 with the crashes. I need a stick. I'm waiting for the update cuz of the problems the sticks have. I noted rudder input will sling the plane around badly (arcade habit). I was happy to keep the plane flying, find the opponents, and at least keep up with them. Not bad for the first time out. I'll try a 109 next time because of fuel injection.

Wow, you're lucky you can find a game. I'm in Australia and as much as I try I can never find a game during the week, and very rarely on weekends. I'd play matches every night if I could find them :(

Yeah, I was quite surprised!! It wasn't the first time I stumbled into a sim game, but it was the first I played. I gather that sim games are getting very rare judging by the comments in this forum. I'd be up to setting dates if possible. I am in Texas USA and am on central time. I work 2nd shift and get online around 11pm each weekday night and play till ???. Right now it is 6:15 pm. I don't know the time difference. If you r still reading, answer this.

I saw you in one of those matches, I think it was one of tommykocher's retro-1942 spitfire melees.

The best way to get online matches in sim is to add the people on the leaderboards, just go through them and add them... that way you'll know if someone's on, even if they're not in the match lobby. The matches last 10 to 20 minutes and the pre-match lobby about 1 or 2 minutes, and it will say there's nothing going on if there's no open lobby.

The I-16 is a good defensive plane as long as you remember to avoid negative g. To get a few kills try the hurricane, you don't have to aim too great, it's like flying around with a shotgun.

add AR_Kozz

LOL nice :)

Wow...I feel so stupid. Just realized why the I-16 engine was dying on me...negative G's! Duh! Been awhile since I played a real man's sim and that was something I had forgot about. WWIIONLINE when I played taught me that problem in the early spitfires. Completely forgot about that issue.

Thanks for the info!

Thanks for the suggestion!! Next time, flying shotgun it is!

Got in 3 more games last night! Took the advise and used the Hurri. I got my first kill!!!!!!! A 109G! But that was it. I'm using a controller and cannot see crap around me with R3 look around. The Hurri was real stable and I enjoyed flyng it. Perfect plane for a beginner. The last match was a 1 on 1 and I was helpless. We each had the 153 (OhhhhhNoooo!) He shot me down like 12 times and I augered in another 6 (18 deaths). I felt like he coulda takin it a bit more classy but he chose not to. No fun! I didn't quit out so he could have his win but that was it for Sim last night. I need a stick. Lots to learn and practise but I was thrilled with my first blood!!!!

PS: A question. If you have to purposely crash to re-arm, why not just use infinite ammo?

Cause if you use infinite ammo and you're on someone's six, you can just keep on spraying. If you do that with limited ammo and you run out, you'll have to crash and your opponent is in the clear.

Ahhh I remember my first sim kill too...its a sweet, sweet moment. You feel much more like an accomplished hunter than when you've basically got big arrows lighting the way.

I applaud you, though, for achieving any kills with the default controller layout. Many accomplished sim pilots use the controller and use it well, but the secret is the aviator configuration. (Go to options, press square, then go right once). The controls aren't listed, so I'll put them here to save you a few crashes while you figure them out:

Left stick - pitch and roll as usual
Right stick - look around (no R3 required!)

L3 - flaps
R3 - view

L1/R1 - rudder
L2/R2 - throttle

Circle - guns
Triangle - bombs?
Square - rockets?
X - trim?

Start - map
Select - undercarriage

Start+Select - in-game menu


Note - landing is really difficult in this configuration, because its hard to rudder and throttle (btw, the throttle sits at 55% unless you are holding L2 or R2). Also, trying to use the gun turret on a bomber is hard because you need the right stick and circle (while still flying with the left stick). But if you are only interested in dogfighting, this is definitely worth a shot.

A good question that I asked myself, and a couple of guys here pointed out to me that a) it takes more skill because you can't just hose the target from 1 klick away - it makes you more inclined to get up close and personal, and b) if you have someone on your 6 that you can't shake it gives you another option for survival - make him use all his ammo :)