General Info regarding IL2 Cliffs of Dover

[kopperdrake]

Hi chaps,

I have the urge to buy a decent flight sim, and came across IL2 CloD. I've read numerous reviews, most bad, some saying it's getting there. If I may, I'd like to abuse your collective wisdom regarding this version of the game, if it can offer what I am after, and if my current rig will let me get enough out of it to make it a worthwhile purchase.

I am after a flight sim that will give me the depth I will, hopefully, eventually need, but which will keep me entertained whilst getting to that level.

I would love a flight sim that looks gorgeous - shallow eh?

I would like a flight sim that will let me play online multiplayer - I crave online multiplayer and the depth it adds to a game that you can achieve no other way.

My current rig is an i7 2600k, 16Gb, 64bit Win7. The graphics card is an Nvidea GTX 5600 Ti with 2Gb of dedicated memory.

Apologies if this is in the wrong section, but any light you can shine on the matter is very much appreciated. Having seen the various youtube videos of the game I dearly want it to be the one I buy, but the reviews just don't seem to match the visual eye candy I have seen on there.

[ATAG_Septic]

Hi chaps,

I have the urge to buy a decent flight sim, and came across IL2 CloD. I've read numerous reviews, most bad, some saying it's getting there. If I may, I'd like to abuse your collective wisdom regarding this version of the game, if it can offer what I am after, and if my current rig will let me get enough out of it to make it a worthwhile purchase.

I am after a flight sim that will give me the depth I will, hopefully, eventually need, but which will keep me entertained whilst getting to that level.

I would love a flight sim that looks gorgeous - shallow eh?

I would like a flight sim that will let me play online multiplayer - I crave online multiplayer and the depth it adds to a game that you can achieve no other way.

My current rig is an i7 2600k, 16Gb, 64bit Win7. The graphics card is an Nvidea GTX 5600 Ti with 2Gb of dedicated memory.

Apologies if this is in the wrong section, but any light you can shine on the matter is very much appreciated. Having seen the various youtube videos of the game I dearly want it to be the one I buy, but the reviews just don't seem to match the visual eye candy I have seen on there.

Hi Kopperdrake and welcome to the forum.

I highly recommend the game for both its visuals and on-line game-play.

Whilst results seem varied with similar systems I expect you would be able to crank the graphics up quite well on your system.

Good luck!

Septic

[ATAG_Snapper]

I second Septic's welcome to the forum! :Grin:

I can understand your confusion about Cliffs of Dover from reading the reviews, many of which are quite scathing about many sub-par aspects of this sim. Unfortunately, some of the other flight sim forums likewise contain many derogatory posts about CoD from unhappy owners that understandably expect a finished, polished product for their hard-earned dollars.

The ATAG forum takes a somewhat different approach. Rather than dwell on what this sim CAN'T do, we focus our energies on what Cliffs of Dover CAN do. We explore the tremendous capabilities that we've found CoD delivers -- and have a ton of fun online flying it. Yes, there are glitches that arise, but we all work together here to find work arounds.

As Septic has said, your system should fly Cliffs of Dover very well with features cranked up. The Nvidia GTX 560 Ti card is incredible value and a solid performer. I liked it so much that I bought TWO of 'em. (Truth be told, SLI hasn't been optimized in CoD yet. One 560 Ti card actually works a little better (smoother) than two in SLI -- I'm just too stubborn to acknowledge it! LOL)

If you decide to purchase and install Cliffs of Dover, i cannot recommend strongly enough to download the free communication utility Teamspeak 3. Easy to set up, it works incredibly well. We're a friendly bunch on the ATAG server, and welcome all newcomers on Teamspeak. We're also very easygoing online, but you can't beat the immersion when working with your team mates to corner that elusive 109 or plan a strategy to take on the incoming Bleinhems with three escorting Hurris high above!

Hope you decide to fly Cliffs of Dover -- make sure you stop by here often!

Snapper :happy

[ATAG_Colander]

Hi Kopperdrake and welcome to the forum!.

I second all that has been said and, in addition to it, I would recomend you to look at the different videos posted online (there are several posted in this forum).
By looking at the videos you will get a clear idea of what the game is about and the huge amounts of fun you can get by spending hours flying online.

Salute,
ATAG_Colander.

[kopperdrake]

Cheers guys for the most hospitable welcome!

And thanks for the info - very useful, especially concerning the GTX 560 Ti - it was at the sweet-spot when I put this rig together, but I've yet to use it in anger. Info so useful that I'm about to pop off and download it from Steam! I don't have a joystick yet, are there any recommendations? I probably can't get anything too expensive, being so close to Christmas, or I could hold out and use a mouse until my birthday in March, if that's even doable.

Thanks for the headsup in TeamSpeak, I meant to ask about in-game comms and if there were any.

Look forward to getting stuck in, even it is probably quite clumsily...

[ATAG_Snapper]

One joystick I strongly recommend is the Thrustmaster TM16000

Cost: about $42

Pros: Very sturdy build, uses Halls sensors instead of potentiometers (which eventually wear out/get "spiky"), has twist "rudder" control, separate throttle lever, lots of buttons, can be used instantly as USB "plug 'n play" or can be programmed with Thrustmaster TARGET software (CoD is dead easy to assign joystick buttons in the Controls menu - no need to program with TARGET, really), very smooth feel to the stick.

Cons: probably more comfortable for right-handers, only comes in black

I have one (ordered it from Amazon) and keep it as backup for my Warthog HOTAS system. Will never sell it - it's THAT good for 42 bucks.

And, no, I don't work for Thrustmaster! LOL

[ATAG_Torian]

A joystick is really an absolute must. I can recommend the Thrustmaster T Flight
HOTAS also if ur on a budget.
The other truly must have item is Trak IR 5. This is a head movement detection
device with software that enables u to simply move your head slightly in any
direction and your view follows on your screen. It eliminates the need for a hat
switch and gives far more realistic immersive gameplay. All of us use it.
Getting hooked up with us on Teamspeak will enable us to talk u thru some of the
details about settings, controls, complex engine management etc and save u from
some of the pitfalls of a newcomer. Managing your engine and plane is tricky enuff
for experienced users but very rewarding once u have the basics nailed. Getting on
coms would certainly help accelerate that process for u.
Cheers and welcome,
Torian

[Dutch]

Hi kopperdrake,

As it sounds as though you may be temporarily 'on a budget', I'd recommend something such as a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro for now, if you can get one. Very cheap on ebay etc, but great quality for the price.

It has a hat switch for looking around and a twist type rudder control plus 11 buttons to assign controls to. Nothing fancy but cheap and does the job. Once you've found out whether flight sims are for you, the sky's the limit.

As for the game itself, I have FSX with lots of extras, Rise of Flight, DCS A-10, the old IL2, forgotten battles, 1946 with lots of mods and Cliffs of Dover.

I haven't touched anything but Cliffs of Dover for at least 2 months. Which may give you an idea of the value of it.

Welcome to our world! :Grin:

P.S. I notice you're in Derbyshire. I have a 3D pro going spare and am in Liverpool. PM me if you're interested!

[kopperdrake]

Thanks again - I have a feeling I may be able to borrow a joystick from my dad, if he's no longer using it. If not I'll grab one, I'm struggling to pull this Hurricane into the air in training, and I don't think the mouse is helping much!

I've got TeamSpeak up and running, so as soon as I have a joystick I'll likely come and pester you chaps, any help on keeping these crates airbourne would be welcome!

Thanks for the offer Dutch - I may take you up on the offer, though I'm South Derbyshire - near the Rolls Royce factory in fact, so quite a way from your neck of the woods.

[kopperdrake]

Good grief - this is beautiful! I've plumped for a reasonably cheap ebay Logitech Extreme 3D Pro, to get me started, which hopefully won't take long to arrive. I've managed a take-off and landing in the old Sopwith Camel (I think that's the plane in the training section), though I just can't get the Hurricane to lift off using the keyboard and mouse, and the thought of waiting until my old man turns up with his joystick is too painful, so fingers crossed it might arrive in time for some weekend practice, once the sproggs are tucked up.

The graphics are handling okay - it became a bit choppy approaching London, but then my PC is also rendering a job out as well, so in fairness it was only getting a thread or two to handle that data...

[Dutch]

That's Excellent!

The 3D pro will be fine to cut your teeth on. Don't forget that when it arrives, you'll need to go into the controls menu and individually assign each button etc to the function you want.

The training plane is a Tiger Moth, by the way! :Grin:

[ATAG_Snapper]

Good stuff!

Save a joystick button to assign to Teamspeak push-to-talk. It's soooo handy to be able to maneuver AND talk at the same time without taking your eyes off the action in front (or behind) you!

[Dutch]

Where'd he go?

[ATAG_Snapper]

Oh no!!!! Did we lose him over the Channel? Bloody shame, he was a good chap, kopperdrake was.......

Oh well, let's have his kit, then. We can sell off the good bits and help pay down the Mess bar tab.....God knows ol' kopperdrake was responsible for most of it, anyway......

[Dutch]

Must've vanished without trace en route from OTU.

It's that bloody Berm-ingham Triangle again I tells ya.

[ATAG_Snapper]

Ah, that explains it! It's that bloody daft compass we have.......remember what a hard time Wrong Way Kopperdrake had with it?

[Dutch]

Yep, always ended up in the ladies, especially after a half of bitter too many.

[ATAG_Knuckles]

pssst ::::: (I heard he went blue) didn't like the rigging on that Sopwith/errr I mean Tiger Moth !!

What ?


Knuckles

[kopperdrake]

Bloody cheek - so much for camaraderie!

Truth is I've only just today had the joystick turn up! I've been practicing single missions with the keyboard, but it's oh-so-painful! Still - joystick is sat in front of me, basic keys are programmed, mic is hooked up, TS is installed, so here I go...

PS Name is Jammy Dodger ingame - a certain sense of irony is to be had...

[ATAG_Knuckles]

Kopperdrake:
Enjoyed meeting you on TS tonight. Looks like we at least got you hooked up on the ATAG server and strapped into a Hurricane. Not sure we did you any favors as now that you are sucked into COD, you will likely ruin your marraige, loose your job, as well as all your friends, for spending too much time here. But look on the bright side !!!! you have all of us !!!!!!!!

that aside for all those details i.e. compass, load out, convergance feel free to contact me with a day and time so we can again meet in the "Help Channel" and get it all sorted out. Contact me via "private Message"


Knuckles

[ATAG_Snapper]

Kopperdrake! Was that you suddenly appearing in the Mess sopping wet and holding your opened chute all gathered up in your arms? Welcome back, mate! :thumbsup:

Glad you've got your joystick. Let us know how you get on. Don't hesitate to come back here with any questions -- I'm sure you'll have many. :laugh1 Hope to meet up with you on Teamspeak soon.

Snapper

[Dutch]

Jammy-Drakey Mate!!

So there you are! Don't tell me - let me guess - you could've sworn you were tucked up safe in bed until you woke up in the lavs at the Dog and Duck. Again!

I've told you before about chasing the local ales with Drambuie!

Not to worry, the squadron's at readiness, so you'd better get yourself up and familiarised sharpish. The CO doesn't stand for slacking! :dthumb:

[kopperdrake]

Thanks guys for a fantastic first outing!! Far too much fun, despite getting through about 8 crates just trying to take off! Watched someone else not bother to line up, just out of the hangar and full throttle so copied him, and it worked!

Placed my first rounds into an enemy bomber, though he got away due to my well-timed spin (or as JT called it, a "tactical escape manouveur"), though I had help from him and others and managed to get out of it.

Thanks again for the warm welcome, Knuckles, I'll take you up on that offer, though I think I may be in the Dog and Duck for a few days recovering before I'm on again :) Nothing a few pints of pedi can't sort out though ;)

[Dutch]

Nothing a few pints of pedi can't sort out though ;)

Marston's Pedigree? It's years since I had a pint of that nectar of the gods!

Living in Liverpool has it's disadvantages, principally in the availability of good Bitter. (Was born in Glossop, hence we have a Derbyshire connection). They all drink that lager rubbish around here.

Ah well, see you in the Dog and Duck for a snifter sometime before the next sortie.:Grin:

[ATAG_Snapper]

A snifter you say? Make it a tankard! (All one and the same, I'm sure! LOL)

Great to finally catch up to you on Teamspeak last night, kopperdrake. It was a busy evening! :dthumb:

Snapper