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29-03-2000
Well
I've been laughing myself silly since reading Microsofts answer to Auto
Follow, here's an excerpt :
As
many of you know the “Auto-Follow Mode” cheat has created a number of problems
for flyers playing CFS on the MSN Gaming Zone. This is a known problem
that will be fully addressed in our future releases of Combat Flight Sim.
One way of avoiding the problem is to play Private Games but this can make
it difficult to enjoy a large arena type of game. (For additional information
on avoiding cheats see our CFS Anti-Cheat page. )
As
our way of saying “thank you” to all of our loyal players we would like
to offer you a FREE month of Microsoft's massively multiplayer air combat
game, Fighter Ace! This offer is open to anyone who has purchased Combat
Flight Sim
Check it out here: Fighter
Ace Offer
Damn!
that's funny. Anyone for Fighter Ace?? We'll give you a month free then
you start paying lmao
28-03-2000
The
old saying "No news is good news" hehe. Sorry folks I've been too busy
playing around with cable. While the word is Telstra have capped my cable
speed at 50kbs, which is pretty damned rude, I can host a game and RW at
the same time. So it's ok for games but rats##t for downloading. Telstra
advertises "up to 400kbps", in fact the best I can do is around 270kbps
or around 35kps. Most other isp's start you off fast and obviously as more
users sign up, things slow down. Not so with Telstra, they start you slow
and leave you slow. While it's better than dialup, $65 a month is still
a damned ripoff.
25-03-2000
Well
I finally got cable installed. Was a very funny installation. The guys
who do the installs usually only do cable tv installations. They were given
a crash course in installing network cards, cable modems etc, given half
a dozen sheets of paper with instructions and pretty well left to their
own devices. So all over Australia there are guys who know nothing about
computers, setting up cable internet connections. 2 hours later this guy
had earned the $40 that Telstra pay him for an install.
On
the brighter side, the RAF B24 Liberator on this site which is 1.5mb, took
4 seconds to download. I was told to grab the Mtu Patch from tweakfiles.com,
I installed it and my speed was doubled. Only problem was, an hour later
it was back to normal, I think my isp put the brakes back on :-(
23-03-2000
I'm
counting down the hours, only 24 left until I get cable. While it's nothing
like the US cable connections, at least I'll see a few more greens on the
zone.
21-03-2000
I
see the New Zealand government has decided not to buy the 28 F-16 jets
from the United States. I guess SW_Tipo will be flying Skyhawks after all.
20-03-2000
My
apologies for the lack of news or updates. Fortunecitys' server fell over
and I haven't been able to either access the website or upload files. 2
emails later and no still no reply. I guess the old saying really applies,
"You get what you pay for". This is a free site so I guess I can't expect
too much. If the problems continue I'll look at moving to another server.
Roger Lowery aka RAF_Prune has released a JU88 german bomber, this aircraft
has a bombsight. Thank Roger, another great job. This aircraft is available
from the RAF Collection
16-03-2000
IBM has just
manufactured a 75 gigabyte hard drive made of glass hmmmmm
Southern Warbirds
welcomes new member SW_Old_Scotch.
15-03-2000
Latest news
on gaming consoles, Microsoft is putting out a console code-named "X-Box",
the Microsoft console will have a 600 megahertz Amd processor, compared
with Playstation2's 300 MHz. Its graphics processor is twice as fast as
Playstation2 and it has 64 megabytes of memory, compared with Playstation2
which has 38 megabytes. It will also sport an 8gig harddrive. Hmmm what
next?
Well I'd always had my reservations about Swed4 supposedly committing suicide. Sure enough, turns out he'd gone on a trip to Thailand and his 18 year old cousin got onto his computer and spread a nasty false rumour. If his cousin ever logs onto the zone he's a marked man. He caused a lot of decent people a lot of grief for nothing.
13-03-2000
Joe Amodea
aka CH_Jam has allowed us to host his JU188, this german bomber has a 3d
panel and is a really nice aircraft. Grab it from the Jamcraft
Collection. Thanks Joe, you've done a great job.
11-03-2000
Roger Dial aka Airbuddha has honoured Don Archer aka RAF_Yank by releasing
a replica of the P-47 Yank flew during WWII, "Wonderful Winnie". Southern
Warbirds thanks the RAF662, RAF_Yank and Roger Dial for allowing us to
host this aircraft. It can be downloaded from the RAF
Collection.
10-03-2000
The Southern
Warbirds Messageboards and Forums have been moved to a new server. Existing
members will need to reregister in order to access private forums and post
messages. My apologies for this inconvenience but a survey of prohosting
(who hosted the messageboard) showed that since 16th Feb 2000, prohosting.com
has had 71 hours in downtime.
08-03-2000
Pentti
Kurkinen (GZR_Buffalo) has released a set of 8 Me109g's. All beautiful
aircraft, these can be downloaded from the warbirds section of Combatfs.com.
Only a 1.4mb download, check them out.
I just figured
out the catch to the $65 a month for unlimited cable. Telstra made a net
profit of $2.093 billion for the 1999/2000 first half and over the next
two years are going to cut their workforce by 10,000 saying they will save
$650 million a year by doing it. The Australian government owns just over
50% of Telstra, so instead of employing those 10,000 workers will pay them
the dole. Figure that one out.
This is from
Amd:
, AMD is announcing
it has commenced shipments of 1GHz AMD Athlon™ processors.
Leading PC
manufacturers will also make announcements on the availability of systems
based on the 1GHz AMD Athlon processor. The first commercially available
systems based on the 1GHz AMD Athlon processor will be available beginning
Monday 6th March.
Intel will be shipping the first if it's Pentium III-1000 cpu's on Wednesday.
07-03-2000
I notice a
new squadron on the zone, the 425RCAF, it seems to me there is a lack of
communication about this.
RCAF Squadron
have built up an excellent reputation over the last year and now a new
squad is using their
name. I reckon
RCAF had better do something about it because a lot of people are getting
the two confused. I know if someone used the name 425SW I'd sure be jumping
up and down. Oh well guess it's their call.
RAF_Nello
has updated Multiswap to include a "Configga" option which lets you specify
starting altitude as well as other options. It is available from the "Utils"
section on this website. Nello has put a lot of work into this so please
thank him for his efforts.
06-03-2000
A word
of warning re: Virus Alert from McAfee.
W32/Pretty.worm.unp
is the unpacked edition of the original "W32/Pretty.worm" Internet worm.
It was discovered on 15/02/2000. On 23/02/2000 its risk assessment
was upgraded from Low to Medium, due to a significant increase in
prevalence. On 02/03/00, in response to the worm's continued, rapid spread,
it was once again upgraded its risk assessment to HIGH. W32/Pretty.Worm.unp
infects Windows 95/98/NT systems.
W32/Pretty.worm.unp
arrives via email from affected users who have also run this Internet worm.
It appears as an attachment titled "Pretty Park.exe", with the icon of
a character from the animated television series "South Park".
This worm
will try to email itself automatically every 30 minutes to all email addresses
listed in the Internet address book.
It will also
attempt to connect to an IRC server and join a pre-determined IRC channel
in such a way that the worm's author could use the IRC connection to retrieve
such information as the computer name, registered owner, registered organization,
system root path, and Dial Up Networking username and passwords.
05-03-2000
There was
a real idiot on the zone last night named Zepplin_Jon, abusing people,
telling them they should be flying not chatting. A number of people, including
myself, hosted games so he could play, but he could not get into
a game. Needless to say, because of the abuse, no one tried to help him.
On a more
personal level, I had an operation just over two weeks ago, which means
I haven't got much flying in, had a few games and haven't done too well,
I've got to admit, it doesn't take too much down time to get rusty.
Hmmmm
as I tell the newbies, practice, practice, practice. Better heed
my own advice he..he.
04-03-2000
Not really
news, more a warning. If you're thinking of upgrading your computer to
an Amd K6, Don't!!
Amd is phasing
out the K6 in favour of the Athlon as some people are aware. While they
are still being sold, they are essentially obsolete. There is a race on
between Intel and Amd to be first out with a 1 Ghz processor, expect one
in the near future.
Way, way back
when I first logged onto the zone I was a member of the RNZAF squadron.
We changed the name a month or so later, I see that there is now an RNZAF
squad flying on the zone. Hmmm makes me feel old.
02-03-2000
To those in
Australia looking to sign up with Bigpond Cable, Telstra have brought the
start date forward, so instead of the $65 a month unlimited, $99 setup
deal starting April 1, it started yesterday. You need to apply online at
Bigpond
Advance. Installation takes 10 - 14 days. Needless to say I've filled
in the application form.
Interested
in a new force feedback joystick? The
new MS FFB
Just reading
the news at Combatfs.com. CFS2000
screenshots can be viewed here
Here are the
official/unofficial specs :
“Combat Flight Simulator 2:
WWII Pacific Theater”
Preview Sheet
February 2000
What: Microsoft® “Combat Flight Simulator 2: WWII Pacific Theater”
Developer: Microsoft Corp.
Availability: Scheduled for fourth quarter 2000
Platform: CD-ROM for the Microsoft
Windows® 95, Windows 98,
Windows NT® 4.0 and later operating
systems
Product Overview:
“Combat Flight Simulator 2: WWII
Pacific Theater” takes the excitement, realism and challenge of the best-selling
“Combat Flight Simulator” from the skies over Europe to the South Pacific
for one of the most fierce air battles of World War II. Amid the Pacific
Theater of Operations (PTO) of 1941–43, players will start out as rookie
ensigns and will be challenged to hone their skills to become ace of the
skies by engaging in one thrilling air battle after another. The gritty
realism of air combat is presented in painstaking detail as the war rages
across the Solomon Islands. Players can fly for either the Japanese or
U.S. Navy in more than 120 distinctly intense and taxing missions.
Key Features:
? New Pacific Theater aircraft.
In “Combat Flight Simulator 2,” players can choose to pilot a variety of
American and Japanese aircraft, each accurately representing its historical
counterpart. Players can fly the deadly single-engine American Vought F4U-1A
Corsair, one of the most feared planes of the era, otherwise known as the
“ensign eliminator” or take to the skies in the A6M2 Zero, the Japanese
fighter that dominated the Pacific with its 20 millimeter cannons and lithe
maneuverability.
? Realistic aircraft flight models.
Rendered in meticulous detail, the
aircraft featured in “Combat Flight Simulator 2” are four times more graphically
detailed than those in the original “Combat Flight Simulator.” Based on
proven and detailed “Flight Simulator” models, a program recently selected
for a U.S. Navy training program for its unparalleled realism, each aircraft
featured in “Combat Flight Simulator 2,” is based on extensive research
and features its own unique flight model, performance style and detailed
cockpit. Players can watch the Corsair’s wings fold on the aircraft carrier
pitching deck as they land with a bone-dry fuel tank.
? Increased depth of play.
Starting out as rookie ensigns,
players will become engrossed in two action-packed, extensive campaigns
in one of the bloodiest battles of World War II. Following the real-life
events of the PTO, “Combat Flight Simulator 2” presents more than 120 challenging
missions, each designed to deliver an engaging experience. The variety
and challenge are further enhanced in this version, which features a world
four times larger than that of the original “Combat Flight Simulator.”
In one nail-biting mission after another, players will embark on torpedo
bombings, ground attacks and carrier landings over the seas of the South
Pacific. A flexible mission structure adds to the challenge, as events
are triggered by the individual actions of the player.
? Enhanced visuals.
“Combat Flight Simulator 2” features
enhanced
3-D objects and effects such explosions,
splashes and wakes, in addition to new weather effects including clouds,
haze and rain. Peeking out the window in-flight, players will see new terrain,
rendered in impressive detail using an improved “Flight Simulator 2000”
terrain engine. Using digital elevation model (DEM) data from the U.S.
Geological Survey, “Combat Flight Simulator” makes the South Pacific Islands
come alive with realism. Each of the aircraft featured is also designed
to take damage realistically. Players can fly in close and see the bullet
damage and broken wings of their defeated enemy.
? Harder and smarter fighting.
Players can take advantage of their
wingmen’s improved artificial intelligence and dog-fighting abilities,
issue orders, and get feedback on their status. When the wingmen can’t
help, players can sit back and enjoy the new bailout sequences.
? Graphical mission editor.
Creating and modifying missions
is now easier than ever with a full-featured, graphical mission editor
and campaign builder ? the same tool used by the game’s designers to create
the battles featured in “Combat Flight Simulator 2.” Add-on developers
and enthusiasts can take advantage of this tool to expand the range of
missions they can fly in the PTO or European Theater.
? Full multiplayer support.
Free Internet play (connect-time
charges may apply) for up to eight players on the MSN™ Gaming Zone (http://www.zone.com/),
over a LAN or modem to modem.
#########
The information contained in this
preview sheet relates to a prerelease software product that may be substantially
modified before its first commercial release. Accordingly, the information
may not accurately describe or reflect the software product when first
commercially released. This preview sheet is provided for informational
purposes only and Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with
respect to the preview sheet or the information contained in it.
Microsoft, MSN, Windows and Windows
NT are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in
the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and
products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
....
SW Chronicle Archives
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