[irR4tiOn4L]

Originally Posted by drewpee

LOL. Sorry mate I was taking the piss.

No need to apologise, I appreciated the humour!

Originally Posted by drewpee

I think it's always helpful for people to state their experiences with the game.

Well exactly and I more or less wanted to point out all the 'issues' that multiplayer has - before you even start flying - but in a more entertaining and narrative form and without being too negative. Given the experience was a bit disastrous and comedic, I thought it was a great way to vent my dismay too.

This game definitely needs more players and frankly I just wonder how any new players are going to be attracted to this game if its so hard to even get into a server?

Originally Posted by drewpee

I play exclusively online now(under the name Headshot). Some nights can be pretty ordinary other times it's a blast. I'm in WA and it usually doesn't start to get busy until late. I fly blue as a preference but I'll fly red when teams are too uneven. I can get my bum whipped equally well flying any AC but I like blue due to the easy to read metric instruments.

I prefer blue as well

As you say, easier to read the cockpit instruments and the 109 is just so nice to fly. But like you, I feel compelled to hop in any aircraft if it will even the game because ultimately online play is about having a great matchup. I even tried to fly the G.50 but after yet another engine failure I felt it best to stick with something I have confidence will get me into the air and do it in less than 20 minutes

Originally Posted by drewpee

The track recording issue is a bug as far as I know and will be sorted in the future.

I thought so. Its things like this that are just killing the fun though.

Originally Posted by drewpee

The next patch will be a game changer and will take even the vets down a peg or two until we learn the new flight models.
Any how I hope to see you online. There are some great blokes online and more and more Aussies are taking the plunge.
S!

I too have big hopes for the patch although I have my opinions on the lack of 100 octane aircraft. Although I don't mind the vet's skills - its why I want to play online! Its the technical issues even connecting (and that crash when flying in formation) that I want fixed.

I look forward to better online flying next time and meeting you online!


EDIT: I should mention though, on the topic of ATAG, that theres a LOT of positive things about the game generally and the ATAG/mission structures and servers specifically that I liked but didn't mention.

I was mighty impressed overall with the way the server would send ships, vehicles and aircraft about the place and assign you missions. With the potential of the engine to simulate ground vehicles etc, the multiplayer has HUGE potential.

Originally Posted by ATAG_Snapper

You didn't mention if you were flying the ATAG Server, but it sounds like you may have been with the 300 ms ping -- our server is located in Chicago. A newcomer to the ATAG Server may well find the initial experience unfriendly -- even hostile.

I tried to get into a more local server first but it was locked out from having pressed 'break' so I went to ATAG and then Spits vs 109's. Servers themselves were great though (the ping was not an issue in practice), its the game generally that was the problem. I suspect the loss of connection wasnt the server's fault either.

Originally Posted by ATAG_Snapper

As you found out, it's "Full Realism" -- meaning no icons, no outside views, cockpit-only (no "Wonder Woman" unrestricted view), Complex Engine Management, etc. One exception: anthromorphic controls are disabled due to some inherent problems with it.

I knew to expect that and i'd been playing like that offline in any case so this was a plus. I'm glad servers are taking full advantage of the spotting and CEM possibilities in CoD.

Originally Posted by ATAG_Snapper

Another aspect to the ATAG Server that many newcomers with high hours in other game servers may find a little unsettling: very few rules. Obviously foul/obscene/abusive language or behaviour is not permitted over chat or the ATAG Teamspeak Server. Other than that, no deliberate shooting down of team mates (not to be confused with accidental friendly-fire incidents in the heat of combat). I think that's it.

Many servers have additional rules or understandings that there is to be no "vulching", shoulder shooting, no wheels-down shooting, team balancing expected, sportsmanlike behaviour expected, etc. etc. No such rules exist in the ATAG Server. If it could have happened in a real theatre of war -- so be it. Understandably, this can be a little unsettling (polite term for "pisser") for many coming from other servers -- so be it. . As a well known and much-loved (Cannes Festival -grade) video has said, "There's no licking in a dogfight!"

The lack of a tight mission structure and ability to just fly around is definitely a plus, as it allows you to jump in and learn online at your pace.

I also agree that having a 'whatever went in war' policy is great - I like the thrill of getting shot up anytime, anywhere like the real pilots and having to watch for strafing of my airfield, attacks on final etc. I don't mind having a good ol' force of numbers fight either with very unsportsmanlike odds.

But I do think that to get a good 'if it went in war' scenario you need plenty of players that are fairly well split, and I guess what concerned me was that the lack of 100 octane/high performing RAF planes seems to have resulted in unbalanced preferences for blue planes, leading to skewed teams. Fixing the underperforming RAF fighters would go a long way.

Originally Posted by ATAG_Snapper

Some quick tips:

1) The are other Aussie pilots who fly Red on ATAG. PM me and I can hook you up.
2) Grab Teamspeak 3 (you may have it already). As you found, the "unsporting" (I prefer "dastardly" myself) Blue 109 pilots use comms to advantage. So do Reds!
3) Avoid coastal airfields (Hawkinge, Lympne, Manston, Ramsgate) for the time being. Spawn further inland (Rochester, Maidstone) which gives you the chance to grab some altitude as you fly eastward towards the combat zone.
4) How did Clint put it? "You gotta get mean.....junkyard dog-mean!"

Looking forward to flying with you online. I'd be proud to fly as your wingman. We could do some serious damage and definitely even up the score for you. Guaranteed the Blue team will be very timid about taking off when they see "Irrational and Snapper" on the Netstats scoreboard. Terrified, even.

Great tips! I'm actually a bit of a blue flier (prefer 109) too but given so many are, I think i'll be flying red online.

In this case the blues were over my field so I couldn't pick the fight, although I still got up without being noticed and jumped the 109.

Having watched the replay, to be honest I actually can't see whether it was the one 109 or whether another 109 was involved - I couldn't see any other 109's or even bullet tracers flying past my plane. I just suddenly died. If it was just the one though that would be very strange and likely related to the loss of connection, because when I died I was on its tail and chasing. It would be great to have a working external view in the replay to be able to check what happened

I will definitely grab teamspeak and get to know a few regulars to get more structured experience happening once I have familiarised myself with online play a bit more

Originally Posted by ATAG_Snapper

Looking forward to flying with you online. I'd be proud to fly as your wingman. We could do some serious damage and definitely even up the score for you. Guaranteed the Blue team will be very timid about taking off when they see "Irrational and Snapper" on the Netstats scoreboard. Terrified, even.

I'd think at this point I would have to be the wingman Striking terror into the blue team sounds like a most entertaining activity for the evening. I need more gunnery practice (9% ave in offline) though.