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Article Type: Preview
Article Date: June 20, 2001
Previewed Version: 3.0 Beta
WarBirds III is the first version that makes full use of a 3D accelerator, and the difference is impressive. In fact, this is the first online flight simulation I’ve flown that can compete with the boxed sims.
In March of this year WarBirds III entered open beta, the current version comprising an 80 MB download including high resolution artwork.
WarBirds is the only combat flight sim where Mac pilots can fly online, and PC pilots can fly with Mac pilots. At the moment about twenty percent of the WarBirds community is comprised of Mac pilots.
The new graphics engine, with detail levels FAR beyond the old engine, changes tactical issues, like maneuvering and damage. In earlier versions of WarBirds it wasn’t always easy to tell what type of aircraft you were about to encounter until you were on top of him. Furthermore, you couldn’t tell your angle of approach unless you had significant Doppler effect. But with higher detail levels it’s now easy to tell when you score a hit, and if you do, which part of the aircraft is hit. Improved tracers are also helping. As for aircraft types, it’s quite amazing how much sooner you can discern the aircraft type.
The strategic game is rapidly changing as new vehicles are deployed. The most recent release on May 30th, 2001 added the M3 Half Track with quad 50 caliber guns. Towns have also appeared, with significant detail including trees, and soon we’ll have trucks and tanks.
Artillery is a major component in the strategic game, and soon players will be able to man the units. In fact, players will be able to place the 105mm guns, towing them with a Half Track. Trains are also under consideration for moving larger artillery. Trucks will be used for re-supply and also to move troops.
Why move troops? Glad you asked!
Towns are placed relatively close to major airfields. If you lose your town and your airfield takes significant damage, you're in bad shape, because you have no near source of transport for re-supply.
Capturing an airfield is also a strategic goal. To capture an airfield the anti-aircraft guns are to be taken out first, all of the buildings must be destroyed and then you must drop paratroopers on the field. Buildings vary in hardness, with the hangars requiring the most ordnance. Ammo and fuel supplies can also be destroyed on the airfields. If you destroy the radar on an airfield that area will not display radar (the overlay map accessed with F1) until it is rebuilt or re-supplied.
One great way to initiate an airfield attack in WarBirds III is to fly an Me262 low with two 250kg bombs, and take out the radar. Simultaneous high level bombers (10,000 feet) along with a mid level air raid to attract enemy defenders is the next step, and then finally a Ju-52 to drop troops.
With eight different bombers to choose from, and with the ability to bring your friends aboard to man the guns, there is a lot of multiplayer fun in WarBirds III. To date I have flown mostly the B25 and B17, but recently I’ve switched to the B24J Liberator. With four powerful engines this bomber has a climb rate much better than the B17 and is just as well defended.
The next major addition to the game will be naval units, meaning both carriers and naval based aircraft along with a new South Pacific terrain. The carriers are looking great.
For a first flight the A6M2 Zero is very forgiving. The Yak 3 is also an excellent choice, with great speed and decent firepower. The Bf 109 is a good choice for moderately skilled players. The need for raw speed is met by the P-51D. The P-47 is not yet modeled, but the latest information is that Jay Littman recently attended an air show and took plenty of pictures of the Jug. This is an important aircraft to the WarBirds team; they even had Cabby Gabreski (the top P-47 ace) as a guest speaker at the last WarBirds convention! Cabby’s aircraft will be the one that appears in WarBirds III.
You may be tempted to fire up the Me-262. I don’t recommend this for online combat unless you have solid experience in other prop sims, and even then it takes some getting used to. Against bombers it’s a deadly opponent, with four 30mm cannon.
Connecting to the host server is simple, but there is a fee. Follow the account creation steps on the iEntertainment website and you will be mailed a password. The "Go Online" selection is in the main interface and you can’t miss it. Choose your weapon, click the menu and away you go!
You’ll find yourself on the runway in your mount of choice. Hit F1 to access the map overlay (radar). Zoom in with SHF ] and out with SHF [. If you don’t see any other red or green dots nearby, exit using SHF Q and choose a different field. You may have to change the color of your nation from red or green to get the field of your choice.
Once ready to fly use “E” to start the engines, the same as you do in the offline game. Switch to an outside view using CTL E.
Game Configuration
Force feedback is fully supported in WB3 under DirectX 8. If you haven’t updated to DX8 you won’t have force feedback.
You can adjust a variety of parameters to your liking as seen above.
It’s also a good idea to set up your joystick response curve. I found the default response set perfect for my ThrustMaster F22/TQS gear, but my Logitech Strike Force 3d was twitchy. I used the above settings to increase the dead zone and moderate the initial response curve.
Remember to select the armament and fuel load of your choosing before you click the FLY button. I usually go with 50% fuel, though occasionally with as low as 30% for the bombers. You can also set gun convergence—for most pilots 200 yards is about right.
If you want to practice offline, you can choose from Air Attack, Target Drones or Bomber Ambush. You can also set the AI at three levels. I recommend starting with Unlimited Ammo but leaving the damage model ON. I also recommend using Veteran AI, since when it comes time to fly online you’ll find the competition stiff!
TIP: Use CTL H to remove the red text from the screen.
TIP: You can setup different keysets for quick access while in game. Access from the SETUP menu in game.
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Update - WarBirds III Beta
by Len "Viking1" HjalmarsonArticle Type: Preview
Article Date: June 20, 2001
Previewed Version: 3.0 Beta
An Original
WarBirds is one of the original MMOG combat flight simulators. The simulation was introduced in December of 1995, and the WarBirds community has continued to grow since that time.WarBirds III is the first version that makes full use of a 3D accelerator, and the difference is impressive. In fact, this is the first online flight simulation I’ve flown that can compete with the boxed sims.
In March of this year WarBirds III entered open beta, the current version comprising an 80 MB download including high resolution artwork.
WarBirds is the only combat flight sim where Mac pilots can fly online, and PC pilots can fly with Mac pilots. At the moment about twenty percent of the WarBirds community is comprised of Mac pilots.
A New Game
The primary improvements to the game are increased situational awareness, a rapidly developing strategic component, and the introduction of ground vehicles.  |
| B25 Gaining Altitude |
 |
| B25 Over Target |
The new graphics engine, with detail levels FAR beyond the old engine, changes tactical issues, like maneuvering and damage. In earlier versions of WarBirds it wasn’t always easy to tell what type of aircraft you were about to encounter until you were on top of him. Furthermore, you couldn’t tell your angle of approach unless you had significant Doppler effect. But with higher detail levels it’s now easy to tell when you score a hit, and if you do, which part of the aircraft is hit. Improved tracers are also helping. As for aircraft types, it’s quite amazing how much sooner you can discern the aircraft type.
The strategic game is rapidly changing as new vehicles are deployed. The most recent release on May 30th, 2001 added the M3 Half Track with quad 50 caliber guns. Towns have also appeared, with significant detail including trees, and soon we’ll have trucks and tanks.
Artillery is a major component in the strategic game, and soon players will be able to man the units. In fact, players will be able to place the 105mm guns, towing them with a Half Track. Trains are also under consideration for moving larger artillery. Trucks will be used for re-supply and also to move troops.
 |
| M3 Half Track |
Why move troops? Glad you asked!
Town-Based Supply
With the addition of towns, ground units will be town based. If you lose your town, you lose access to ground vehicles in that area, which means no more Half Tracks and no ability to move artillery around. Towns also act as the initial placement area for artillery, to defend surrounding terrain. Towns can be captured by the enemy via air-drops with the Ju-52 or with trucks carrying troops. To capture a town, troopers must occupy the church or the town hall.Towns are placed relatively close to major airfields. If you lose your town and your airfield takes significant damage, you're in bad shape, because you have no near source of transport for re-supply.
Capturing an airfield is also a strategic goal. To capture an airfield the anti-aircraft guns are to be taken out first, all of the buildings must be destroyed and then you must drop paratroopers on the field. Buildings vary in hardness, with the hangars requiring the most ordnance. Ammo and fuel supplies can also be destroyed on the airfields. If you destroy the radar on an airfield that area will not display radar (the overlay map accessed with F1) until it is rebuilt or re-supplied.
Bombs Away!
 |
| Me-262 Bomber Buster |
One great way to initiate an airfield attack in WarBirds III is to fly an Me262 low with two 250kg bombs, and take out the radar. Simultaneous high level bombers (10,000 feet) along with a mid level air raid to attract enemy defenders is the next step, and then finally a Ju-52 to drop troops.
 |
| B24J Liberator |
With eight different bombers to choose from, and with the ability to bring your friends aboard to man the guns, there is a lot of multiplayer fun in WarBirds III. To date I have flown mostly the B25 and B17, but recently I’ve switched to the B24J Liberator. With four powerful engines this bomber has a climb rate much better than the B17 and is just as well defended.
The next major addition to the game will be naval units, meaning both carriers and naval based aircraft along with a new South Pacific terrain. The carriers are looking great.
Into the Breach
The open beta with WarBirds III is a great opportunity to try an online mega multiplayer simulation. It’s free, and it feels similar to many boxed WWII simulations. The choice of aircraft is excellent, and you can even start with the EASY flight model if you like.  |
| Yak 3: Russian Killer |
For a first flight the A6M2 Zero is very forgiving. The Yak 3 is also an excellent choice, with great speed and decent firepower. The Bf 109 is a good choice for moderately skilled players. The need for raw speed is met by the P-51D. The P-47 is not yet modeled, but the latest information is that Jay Littman recently attended an air show and took plenty of pictures of the Jug. This is an important aircraft to the WarBirds team; they even had Cabby Gabreski (the top P-47 ace) as a guest speaker at the last WarBirds convention! Cabby’s aircraft will be the one that appears in WarBirds III.
 |
| Plane Selection and Ordnance |
You may be tempted to fire up the Me-262. I don’t recommend this for online combat unless you have solid experience in other prop sims, and even then it takes some getting used to. Against bombers it’s a deadly opponent, with four 30mm cannon.
Connecting to the host server is simple, but there is a fee. Follow the account creation steps on the iEntertainment website and you will be mailed a password. The "Go Online" selection is in the main interface and you can’t miss it. Choose your weapon, click the menu and away you go!
You’ll find yourself on the runway in your mount of choice. Hit F1 to access the map overlay (radar). Zoom in with SHF ] and out with SHF [. If you don’t see any other red or green dots nearby, exit using SHF Q and choose a different field. You may have to change the color of your nation from red or green to get the field of your choice.
 |
| Map Overlay in B24 Cockpit |
Once ready to fly use “E” to start the engines, the same as you do in the offline game. Switch to an outside view using CTL E.
Game Configuration
 |
| Stick Forces Setup |
Force feedback is fully supported in WB3 under DirectX 8. If you haven’t updated to DX8 you won’t have force feedback.
You can adjust a variety of parameters to your liking as seen above.
 |
| Stick Setup |
It’s also a good idea to set up your joystick response curve. I found the default response set perfect for my ThrustMaster F22/TQS gear, but my Logitech Strike Force 3d was twitchy. I used the above settings to increase the dead zone and moderate the initial response curve.
Remember to select the armament and fuel load of your choosing before you click the FLY button. I usually go with 50% fuel, though occasionally with as low as 30% for the bombers. You can also set gun convergence—for most pilots 200 yards is about right.
If you want to practice offline, you can choose from Air Attack, Target Drones or Bomber Ambush. You can also set the AI at three levels. I recommend starting with Unlimited Ammo but leaving the damage model ON. I also recommend using Veteran AI, since when it comes time to fly online you’ll find the competition stiff!
TIP: Use CTL H to remove the red text from the screen.
TIP: You can setup different keysets for quick access while in game. Access from the SETUP menu in game.
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