Want to get started with IL2 for PC.....

[Factor]

but, do not know where to start.


Hi, i just recently purchased Birds of Prey, first flight game ever. I have been into the submarine sims for years on the PC. After playing BoP, i am ready for a new direction.

Anyway, just what do i need to do to get started playing IL2 on the PC. Do i need to purchase all 4 of the IL2 games, or is there one i can purchase that has all previous titles and content included. Im thinking of buying the game through Direct 2 Drive. (Just do not know which one to purchase, there are 4 different titles.)

I really am interested in simming a campaign in the Battle of Britain, and/or, flying and fighting and hopefully surviving my way across Europe in a B-17 bomber. So in that respect, can anyone suggest a good modification site to download mods that would allow me to do so. Just like in the sub simulations, i would love to travel a while before getting into combat. Just adds to the immersion.

I need a suggestion for a flight stick as well.

Thanks for any advice i may receive from you guys. The submarine crowd out there is a very helpful and respectable bunch, and i am sure that, that is the case here.

[Letum]

You only need the "IL2 1946" DVD. It contains all previous IL2 games.
You will need the 4.08m patch too.

If you want to play online, you will need "Hyperlobby" or a similar program.

If you want to be part of a community of online fliers, there are many places to
go, but I highly recommend http://www.battle-fields.com. they run 3
excellent servers and there are a top bunch of chaps on there (mostly in European time zones).

What is your flight stick budget?

[Factor]

I would say 100 dollars.

As long as my wife does not see the receipt. lol.

[Letum]

Stick choice is a little limited at the moment. There are many low quality sticks about.
Many sticks, even the expensive ones, suffer from sensor problems after a while. These
kind of issues are rampant in Logitech sticks.

For that money you might (if you are lucky) get a "Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2".
They don't make them anymore, but they are still one of the best until the new generation
of FFB joysticks arrive this winter. Any USB microsoft stick is likely to be problem free, but
avoid the old gameport sticks.

The X52 (and X52 pro) is a popular non-FFB stick, but it too has been know to suffer from
sensor problems in some cases after a year or less of use. It's narrow base may be a
problem for some as well, but it does have a nice throttle unit.
Be sure to buy a twist/z-axis stick if you don't want to buy rudder pedals.

It might not be a bad idea to buy a cheep stick and wait until after winter to see if you want one of the new FFB sticks.

[Factor]

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it.

Ideally i would want a good one, as well as compatible for a PS3.

Is there such a thing?

[fuzzychickens]

For a stick and throttle, I can only recommend the CH fighter stick USB on their throttle unit. I prefer the fighter stick over other sticks because the X and Y axis are on SEPRATE physical gimbals - so it is easy to avoid unintended X or Y axis input. Make precision flying easier.

It is also accurate, reliable, and programmable.

As for rudder pedals - they ALL suck except for a german unit that runs around 200 dollars. Everything else has either quality or ergonomics issues. The german simpeds can be found here.

http://www.dhs-electronic.de/index2.php?id=211&lng=en

You can get these with or without toe brakes and also in f16 style - all are available in usb version (which is what you want). They all use a hall sensor and have quick adjust exponential/linear response settings.

[Letum]

The CH Fighter stick doesn't ahve a high volume of reported problems, but you
will need to buy rudder pedals with it and that will throw you way over budget.

I have no idea about PS3 compatibility.
If I where you I wouldn't buy a poor stick just because of cross compatibility.

[Aeropush]

Originally Posted by Letum

You only need the "IL2 1946" DVD. It contains all previous IL2 games.
You will need the 4.08m patch too.

Just bought a copy of 1946 and what an awesome, awesome game.

Do I have to install the 4.08m patch before installing the 4.09m? Thanks.

Edit: Ooops, found the answer in another thread.

[hiro]

CH is awesome.

I bought a logitech extreme pro 3d stick, after 4 months the twist kept engaging and when left in neutral (hands off) it would register pulling up and to the left. You could move it around and then it would normalize, but it was funny online for airstarts as you'd see my p-39 buck like crazy, then go into a unforgivable stall and it'd be game over for the moment.

however I did love Il-2 so much and pretty much stopped playing all my other games so I got a CH set up (throttle, fighter stick, and pedals).


I'd follow the advice of one of previous posts, buy decent joystick and if you really love IL-2 later you can get a CH.

Or if you like flight sims in general get a CH fighter stick (you can use it for other games like DCS blackshark, Lock ON or MS Flight SIm X, Yankee Air Pirate 2,