Flight simulators have been used as far back as World War I. Designed to re-create aircraft flight and the flying environment, they have proven invaluable in training pilots how to navigate an aircraft.
During World War II the main pilot trainer was the Link Trainer, many of which were used in the United States and Canada in preparing young men for combat. Ironically some of the Link Trainers were even purchased by the Imperial Japanese Naval Air Arm prior to Pearl Harbor. Another simulator used was the Silloth Trainer, which used an analogue system that allowed the pilot to “feel” resistance when moving the controls. Later there was a simulator designed to simulate flight at night called the Celestial Navigation Trainer and it could accommodate an entire flight crew.
No matter which simulator was used, the express purpose was to come as close as possible to actual flight realities. The environment (turbulence, clouds, precipitation) could be altered as well as outside stimuli like anti-aircraft shells, incoming attack planes, and malfunctioning controls.
As the years progressed computer hardware made it possible to simulate flying on a personal computer, and that brings us to online flight simulator games. World War II games like Aces High have reached a level of sophistication that leaves a player with a serious adrenalin rush while playing. Different terrains can be used, combat missions flown against other gamers from around the world, atmospheric conditions constantly changing, these and other alterations make these online 3d multiplayer games just about as realistic as you can get without actually flying at 20,000 feet.
3D cockpits are now simulated in the better online flight simulators to add to the sense of realism. About the only thing missing are actual wounds sustained during the flight mission, although you may pull some muscles as you rapidly maneuver your flight controls.
If you have never tried Aces High do so today; try the free two-week download and get a feel for the game, then sign on for endless challenges against the best online pilots in the world.
It has been said in countless articles that World War II computer games are only as good as their graphics. There is another school of thought, however, that says yes, graphics are import, but of equal importance is the capability of players to coordinate with other players, the degree of control a player has in staging forces in a combat structure to better insure success in battle.
Aces High, and other quality flight simulation games, give a great deal of freedom to players so that they experience what it is like to coordinate their troops, planes, ships, and ground vehicles in a sustained engagement.
In the actual Air Force hierarchy, the breakdown of forces looks something like this:
- Wing/Group 45-100 aircraft
- Group/Wing 17-45 aircraft
- Squadron 7-16 aircraft
- Flight 4-6 aircraft
- Section or Detail 2-4 aircraft
A similar hierarchy exists in the Navy and Army, a complex structure if individual units, under individual commands, all coordinated by a central command. Communication is obviously crucial, as is a detailed and yet concise battle plan for any engagement.
But what happens if communication should break down during battle? What happens if individual pieces lose contact with the central command? Well, that’s what all the training is for and it then becomes the job of the individual unit commander to keep the battle plan in mind while adjusting to the events that are happening immediately. Civil War enthusiasts still marvel to this day about the ability of commanders to move their troops in territory in which they were virtually blind regarding troop movement and enemy movement. It is no simple task moving battalions consisting of thousands of men through forests in some sort of formation and coordinating wings so that the entire battle line remains protected.
All of this is to say that some of the greatest moments while playing an online combat game happen while working in tandem with other squadrons, all coordinated for a central purpose. Aces High offers similar opportunities when they hold special scenarios, and in no small way each time you log on and climb into your cockpit you have the choice to sign up with a squadron and work together towards a common goal, all while traveling 300 mph over unfamiliar terrain.
If you are looking for the ultimate in gaming experience, and have the desire to live vicariously the way WWII pilots must have lived, then download Aces High, strap on your helmet, and fly our challenging skies.
Military strategy, to some extent, has had to change over the years and those changes were generally dictated by the advancement in technology. A classic example of this point was shown during the American Civil War. Previous military strategy called for Army Corps to align in rows and columns and march into battle, effectively the strategy employed in every war prior to the Civil War. Unfortunately, modern advancements in weaponry made that military strategy obsolete within a matter of months as guns were able to shoot farther and more accurately than ever before.
Some basic beliefs regarding overall strategy in battle have not changed. In the United States Army Field Manual of Military Operations, essential battle concepts are listed as:
- Objective (in other words, have a plan and move towards it)
- Offensive (always push the initiative)
- Mass (choose where to concentrate your combat power)
- Economy of Force (more expenditure of assets for essential efforts)
- Maneuver (make the enemy react to your moves)
- Unity of Command (all efforts dictated by one commander)
- Security (protect your forces)
- Surprise (seek the enemy’s area of unpreparedness)
- Simplicity (use the Keep It Simple Stupid concept so no misunderstandings)
Although these basic battle strategies are always in the mind of a combatant, it must be remembered that fluidity must always be employed because situations are constantly changing in combat and one must have the capabilities to adjust based on the ever-changing aspects of battle.
Massive 3d multiplayer games like Aces High require that players always keep these basic military strategies in mind. This is especially difficult considering the fact that each time you go online you are facing different opponents whose strategies are different from the last opponents you faced in a combat game. The fluidity factor is readily apparent in flight simulator games in each battle. Questions like, “what do I want to accomplish?” or “how can I use my opponents’ actions against them,” should always be considered when entering battle. There are simply too many skilled players out there for any player to enter an arena without clear objectives and certainly without the ability to change on the fly.
Give Aces High a try; use the free two-week download and find out just how exciting multiplayer games can be. A warning, though: make sure you have clear objectives because you can bet your opponents have theirs.”
Check the website each month for special events being held. Each month new challenges are offered to keep our players on their toes and involved against the best combat game players in the world
Sunday, May 29th, the Sunday European Campaign will hold Frame 3 of “The Battle of North Africa.” These are events loosely based on historic military actions and this one promises to be rewarding.
Tuesday, May 31st, the Aces High eXtreme Air Racing League is scheduled.
Sign up info and other details can be found onsite.
Flight simulator games like Aces High give players a chance to test their skills and strategies against hundreds of players from around the world. Some of the strategies are ones developed after hours of play; some are based on actual World War II battle strategies.
Early on in WWII there were two basic schools of thought concerning air battle. The Japanese in particular believed that extremely lightweight aircraft with great range and maneuverability, like the A6M Zero, would dominate any dogfight. The Allies believed in greater speed and superior rate of climb. It soon became apparent that the Japanese were much more in tune with the needs of a pilot in a dogfight.
The Germans, meanwhile, worked on the assumption that sheer mass numbers would carry most fights and early in the war that belief was accurate. The European nations simply were no match for the German superiority in number of aircraft available. The Germans also had unmatched anti-aircraft guns capable of firing 88 millimeter shells 50,000 feet into the air. The number of British, French, and Russian aircraft destroyed in the first couple years of the war was astounding and crippling to their war efforts and they didn’t have the industrial capabilities to replace their huge losses.
By 1943, however, the U.S. industrial machine was producing new military weapons and aircraft that could match anything the Germans or Japanese could produce. The F6F Hellcat and the F4U Corsair were better matches against Japanese planes and air superiority started to shift in the American direction shortly after.
Towards the end of the war jet propulsion, radar, and air-to-air missiles were introduced to battles, but their military importance was experienced more during the Korean War than WWII. Until that time, air strategies and battles relied more upon pilot skill and the industrial capabilities of each nation to keep producing war machinery. As in the Civil War with the North’s superior ability to keep producing weapons, WWII was eventually won because of America’s ability to out-produce every other nation on Earth.
Combat games, and probably especially WW2 games, are a great way to test your combat knowledge, reflexes, and strategies during the heat of battle. Does speed counteract maneuverability? Does rate of climb counteract short turn-radius? Can you use the clouds to your advantage? Can you coordinate your squadron to match the strategies of your opponents? This is exciting stuff, all done from the safety of your computer desk. Strap on your helmet and have a great flight!