IL2 and other flight sims.

[Geek44]

I use a Logitech something or other...but I have continual problems with it and I'm not sure why. Just inconvenience but it shouldn't happen.
Play includes both the stick AND the keyboard. Emery, it's a pretty comprehensive package. One needs to regulate prop pitch, fuel mixture, engine temperature and a dozen other things while also dodging enemy fire and of course shooting down aircraft and rocketing ground targets. Of course you can set the game to be simpler if that's your taste too, but a decent joystick is essential. I've had this game for years now and I never tire of it. There's a guy at the other site calling himself 'Browning50Cal' who's a complete freak for it. There's also a mission builder, a campaign builder and a few other goodies and one can download historical 'skins' for the aircraft. At a guess, there'd have to be over 100 flyable types and they all differ in character...I just wish the P-51 had a cannon.

[Whiterook]

Originally Posted by McCoy

It's a popular stick but it's sadly discontinued by Microsoft. So if you stumble upon one you shouldn't hesitate in buin' it.

I did a quick search online, and there are some out there...but between $100-200 US! Yikes!!! I think I'll lurk on EBay and see if I can hit a good deal, but I'll definitely keep an eye out for it. This Sidewinder joystick looks like a sweet ride! Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!!!

[McCoy]

It'll cost you if you want to be at the top...

[Whiterook]

Well, ain't that the truth with just about everything, these days!

[gi-rene]

Base scheme is my club's... The Logo on the tail, Rank, names, lance, ribbons, and kill board are all me

And the pilot is even John Belushi

[Whiterook]

Love the screenshot, gi-rene....hooo rah! The F4U Corsair has always been one of my top 5 favorite aircraft from WWII (and beyond). What a sweet ride! IIRC, it had considerable success against the newly emerging Jets after WWII. The gull-wing is a thing of beauty. Thanks for sharing those...and I like how you customized it!

EDIT...Additional question added:

BTW...I take it IL2 has a graphical editor...so you can customize the skins? How do you save that...I know PS2 utilizes memory cards, but I'm not sure how the PC works...I'm assuming it saves it on the hard drive?

[McCoy]

You use templates that you store in the gamefolder...

[gi-rene]

Yeah go into the game folder/PaintSchemes/Skins open them up with an editor like Photoshop and edit away. Now you have to make sure you save it as a .bmp, don't change the size, and make sure its either 8 bit or in 256 colors. I cheat this by opening it up, changing it into a PSD file (so I have the layers and stuff to edit at will), and save it as a BMP copy. I then open one of the originals, paste my skin onto it, save it (and is should all ready be set to 8bit, since I otherwise dont get the option) as another name and it works fine.

[Geek44]

I know what I'll be doing tonight.
You can also download historical skins online Whiterook...I've only done it once and I doubt it was from a very good site...it had limited choice but it worked okay.

[Whiterook]

That's pretty impressive guys! It must be cool to see your own customized version up there on the screen. Thanks for the explainations!