May 1999 Volume 80 Number 6 "serving the protectors"
ITBits
By Mike Horsfall  mich@picknowl.com.au

ProPilot 99

For those unable to satisfy their yearning to fly because of financial constraints, the solution is ProPilot 99, the latest release in the flight simulation range for the PC.

Dynamix has produced a sim which will allow budding pilots to fly thousands of destinations over Western Europe, Canada and the US in a choice of six different aircraft, from a single-engine Cessna 172 Skyhawk, to the twin-turbine Cessna Citation Jet (which also boasts the fastest cruising speed).

The game is solely a flight simulation as opposed to others that include fighter planes. The aim is to take control of an aircraft and fly it as you would in real life, with emphasis on the flight system and methods of piloting. You cannot just load the simulation and start doing victory rolls. This game requires you to take the time to engage all functions as a real pilot would.

Gamers who possess a 3D Glide-compatible accelerator card will be happy to know that ProPilot 99 supports this feature, allowing smoother graphics and faster frame rates for enhanced realism. The scenery is more realistic than previous releases with enhanced cloud and lighting effects.

One very helpful feature is the assistance of the dual-flight system. This allows the computer to automate many of the procedures by the use of a co-pilot. These include selecting the appropriate radio channels and navigation points, as well as monitoring airspeed and altitude.

If you think it’s easy to just fly around all day, think again. You may be surprised when there is a malfunction on the instrument panel, or perhaps an electrical malfunction. Do you think you can pilot to an airfield without navigational points? Perhaps you could use the GPS to assist in navigation; you might be lucky, unless an engine fails. Then you have to land a light Cessna in strong crosswinds.

The features are impressive, from creating flight plans to instrument landing systems and navigating the Global Positional System. Overall, ProPilot 99 is quite good, but many PC gamers will expect better graphics. Perhaps one of the many patches could rectify this point, but you’ll need an Internet connection and lots of time. The latest patch was a huge 105 MB.

To travel the world you will need a Multimedia Pentium 133 with 32 MB of RAM and DirectSound compatible sound card. A current commercial pilots licence is optional.

Close Combat III: The Russian Front  

Close Combat III (CC3) is the latest addition to Microsoft’s range of real-time strategy games. Subtitled The Russian Front, CC3 is set in World War II and presents a bird’s-eye view of the battle lands.

Players begin by taking command of the Eastern Front, the greatest struggle in modern history, spanning the 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union to the 1945 fall of Berlin.

The game features historically accurate combat at a squadron level, along with psychological elements for maximum authenticity.

Initially, players must decide whether to command the Russian Allies or the German Army. It’s then time to commence recruiting however many units the budget will allow.

Both sides have troops, armoured vehicles, tanks, and commanders and support units that are equally matched on either side. After setting up the troops, it’s time to take command and prepare for battle. The challenge is to maintain “fire” throughout the four-year war.

Play is enhanced by high-quality graphics and elevation changes such as hills and bunkers, where line of sight to the enemy is restricted - a great challenge for the player.

Sound quality is excellent. One great sound option is being able to alter languages. Players can have the Germans and Russians speak their own language, or have either or both speak English.

Included with Close Combat III is a thorough manual - describing how to mount missions in different terrain, and how to strategically deploy troops. There’s also descriptions and photos of weapons, tanks and armoured vehicle and wartime quotes.

System requirements are very reasonable, but Windows 95/98 is required.

To win a copy of Close Combat III put your details (but not your postcode) on the back of a used envelope and address it to Mike Horsfall, Sturt Police Station (12) COMBAT.

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