By Derek “Baron” Davis
Lock On: Modern Air Combat...Mega Review!
Q. Why has the game been “Lock On began as an outgrowth of Heir to the throne! called Lock On: Modern Air Flanker 2.5 by Eagle Dynamics. Three of Lock-On was always going to be an Combat? the yable aircraft from this title were the ambitious project. Being next in line to the A. Rather than being focused on a single Su-27 “Flanker B”, the Su-33 “Flanker ‘Flanker’ dynasty, it had a lot to live up to! plane, Lock-On allows players to y a D”, and the MiG-29K “Fulcrum.” Given So although the brief historical outline given variety of combat aircraft. Hence, it would be the work already accomplished for these above illustrates its initial conception, this inappropriate to name the title after a single aircraft, it was a logical choice to bring the offspring has grown up to take on a character aircraft. Additionally, we wanted a name that Su-27 and Su-33 over to Lock On. Initially, all of its own. So what’s the best way to would convey the subject matter of the game what is now called Lock On was once describe this new addition to the ight sim to a customer not versed in combat aviation. termed Flanker Attack. This product was family? I suppose that Lock-On can best be As such, we needed a name that was broad to add a dedicated Russian ground attack described as a ‘mini-survey’ sim (offering in scope, easy to remember, and meaningful aircraft in the form of the “Frogfoot”. With a selection of aircraft), with the qualities, to the average consumer. While “hardcore” the demise of other A-10A simulations and aspirations and attention to detail of a ‘study’ consumers may feel this name is more the strong desire in the ight simulation sim. In fact Matt Wagner, Producer of Lock- appropriate to an arcade title, we believe community to y the Hog, we felt it was On goes on to state that, “One of Lock-On’s that this title will appeal to the broadest a great opportunity to take advantage of. primary goals is to create an authentic and possible market. To round out the mix of US and Russian realistic combat environment. Key to this is aircraft, and to provide a counterpart recreating the jets as accurately as we can. Background history to the Su-27, we decided to add the air Lock-On is not a survey simulation that will Before we take a look at what is probably superiority, not a pound for air-to-ground, include many aircraft with a low delity of the most anticipated combat ight sim F-15C Eagle. Finally, we added three modelling. Rather, we want to concentrate on release of recent years, here is a little versions of the MiG-29 Fulcrum (German a select number or aircraft and model their background history to this sim. MiG-29A and Russian MiG-29A and C).” distinct qualities as accurately as we can.”
2626 Computer Pilot Magazine V V 88II22 REVIEW
However, as we have seen with past The Manual? Lock and Load! - Installation simulations, it is one thing to aspire to a goal, Now we’ll turn our attention to the and Main Menu but it’s another when it comes to achieving packaging, installation and presentation Installation comes on one disk and was that aim! So let’s see whether Eagle of Lock-On. Let me say right off the bat uneventful. Once installed, Lock-On takes Dynamics have managed to maintain a lock that on opening the case containing the up 1.24 GB of hard disk space. Load time on their target or whether their efforts have single CD, I was initially disappointed. to main menu seems a little longer than been spoofed! This disappointment stemmed from the other sims, particularly with the absence realization that the manual accompanying of a progress bar. However, this may be A quick guide to LOMAC the game consisted of only 56 pages. The dependent on the specication of your Before we can examine the pros and cons current convention of packaging gaming machine. While we’re on the subject, the of Lock On: Modern Air Combat (LOMAC), software in small cases means that we machine on which Lock-On was initially it will be helpful to rst get a brief overview are no longer provided with beautifully tested was as follows: of the design and content of this simulation. designed booklets, such as those provided by the Jane’s series of simulations. On • Processor - Athlon XP 1800 1.53 Mhz Aircraft: pages 49 and 50 of this booklet is an • RAM - 512 MB inadequate keyboard command, with • Video card - Geforce FX 5600 with 128 First we have eight aircraft. U.S. aircraft the type size being unhelpfully small. MB RAM include - the A-10A Thunderbolt II and the Fortunately there is a printable 135 page • Soundcard - Soundblaster Live Value! F-15C Eagle; Germany is represented by manual, saved as a PDF, on the CD. This • DirectX 9.0b the Mig-29A ‘Fulcrum-A’; while Russia is admittedly is more of what I’m used to • Joystick/Throttle - CH Force FX and represented by the Su-25 ‘Frogfoot’, Su-27 when it comes to a simulation of this CH Pro Throttle ‘Flanker-B’, Su-33 ‘Flanker-D’, Mig-29A complexity and sophistication. To be fair, • Windows XP (Home Edition) ‘Fulcrum-A’ and the Mig 29S ‘Fulcrum-C’. the printed manual is designed to get you up and running quickly, with the pdf Region of conict: manual providing the greater depth. In However, halfway through this appraisal, spite of this approach, I still feel that the I upgraded the RAM and the graphics card, The Black Sea region, which includes the keyboard card is inadequate and while which resulted in a marked improvement in Crimean Peninsula and the western caucuses the PDF version is more detailed, I found the sim’s performance, more on this later. - the setting for a hypothetical conict. it hard going because of the layout, the Having installed and launched the Single-player missions: relatively small typeface, the narrow line program, you are presented with a clean A variety of single missions are presented or can spacing of the text and the lo-res images. but ‘functional’ menu display that takes its be created, using the in-built mission planners. Thankfully the shortcomings of this part design cues from the multi-function displays of the package have been recognized and and push-buttons of the cockpits of the Campaigns: alternatives have been offered via the modelled aircraft. This screen is split into Lock-On website: http://www.lo-mac.com/ two sections. The left half of this screen has Four scripted campaigns are included, in (or check the January issue Cover CD). 10 different sections that give you access to which you can y for either the U.S. or Here you will be able to download a high- the various parts of the sim. From the top Russia. Apparently, the team ran out of time to res Reference Manual and Keycards. In we have: Show Replays, Training, Open fully realize a dynamic campaign. However, addition, you will also nd details of an Mission, Mission Editor, Network Play, Lock-On includes a ‘persistent’ world in enhanced manual and game guide that has Campaign, Fast Battle Planner, Options, which damage to objects and buildings in one been produced by a third-party company Encyclopedia and Pilot Log book. On the mission will carry over to the next. - Digital Aspirin. right hand side of the menu screen are displayed six screen shots of the yable Graphic detail: aircraft. This section is essentially an ‘Instant “Digital Aspirin are producing ‘leather Action’ module that allows you to jump Of all the features included in this package, type’ triple fold ring binder with over 300 straight into the cockpit of your chosen probably the most anticipated element is the pages of information for the Lock On: mount. Serving as an audio backdrop, one graphics engine. Lock-On comes with a high Modern Air Combat fan. In addition to the can hear radio communications between standard of detail throughout. Dynamic lighting, 136 page full color manual that will be pilots, ATC and weapons ofcers, which more than 180,000 buildings, 50,000,000 tress, shipped with the game, the paper manual seem to be taken from actual missions. 21 cities, 1,700 towns and villages, 500 bridges, will also contain a 70-page additional 18 airelds and 8 naval bases. training section, plus 120 pages of Options technical data concerning each of the air, Of the 10 sections, the rst place you Audio features and communications: ground and naval units in the game. On top should pay a visit to is the Options section. of these a section will be created with quick This area allows you to congure the look, Lock-On provides the player the ability reference in mind, such as a key reference sound, feel and difculty levels of Lock- to communicate with wingmen, AWACS, guide, landing/take-off and engagement On. The options section is split into ve refuelling tankers, Tower and approach checklists and mission planning sheets. areas; Input, Audio, Difculty, Graphics and controllers. The manual is A5 in size and will contain: Cockpit. Let’s take a closer look at a few of A debossed logo on the front, a CD Sleeve these areas in more detail. Multiplayer features: in the back to store the LOMAC CD, plus In terms of graphics, this simulation is a magnetic enclosure. Each manual is resource hungry, so do not expect to run this You can y with up to 32 players over a LAN, numbered and a few will be signed by the sim at maximum detail without incurring or a minimum of 6 players over the Internet. development team.” a noticeable performance hit. Even those
27 with high-end machines will have to turn After conguring the sim, the next question Fast Battle Planner down some of the detail under certain is which section should you start with rst? An ideal place to hone your skills and get circumstances, however, credit should be Well, Lock-On is scalable and can be played to know this combat sim in more detail is in given to the developers for building in in a variety of ways; the aim being to appeal the ‘Fast Battle Planner’. Designed to look scalability as well as exibility into the to as wide an audience as possible. This means like a multi-function display, the Planner design. In graphic terms, it would be fair that because of the level of difculty and provides a quick and intuitive way to create to say that Lock-On is by and large state- the amount of time you will have to invest a mission; giving you command over a of-the-art. As with other sims, Lock-On in this sim, it is probably best described as wide range of parameters. The permutations automatically congures the settings and an intermediate to ‘hardcore’ level product, are endless. balances quality with speed, to suit your depending on which difculty level you are Not only can you specify the type, particular computer set-up. I would suggest playing it on at the time. So, if you have read skill, and number of aircraft own in your you try the default settings set by the my “Combat Simulation” article in Volume scenario, you can also dictate altitude of software rst and see how the sim performs 7 Issue 10, this is a level 2/3 simulation. friendly and enemy aircraft, separation under various conditions. Then, if necessary distances, the intercept angle between tweak one item at a time. Training you and the enemy and also the time and Although you will likely not be able to season as well as controlling the level of Here are Lock-On’s ‘default’ resist ring up the ‘Instant Action’ section authenticity. The Planner is well designed settings on the review machine: and jumping into one of the aircraft on offer, and will satisfy those who have not the you will soon become frustrated, because of time or patience to go through a whole • Textures=High lack of knowledge in operating the various campaign. Of all the various ways of • Scenes=Medium radar and weapon systems – unless you are a playing Lock-On that are on offer, this • Terr PRLD=50 km seasoned veteran already! So I would suggest more than any module seems to sum up • Civ Traff=No that the Training section should be your rst the underlying concept behind this sim. • Water=Medium port of call. This section uses text overlay That is, although it may be complex, it is • Haze=Advanced instruction combined with pre-recorded designed to be explored and ‘tinkered’ and • Lights=All footage using the sim’s own graphics engine. experimented with. With many ‘hardcore’ • Visib Range=Medium This is basically the same method as that sims of the past such as Rowan’s Battle • Effects=High used in IL-2 Sturmovik . The training module of Britain and Falcon 4.0, the core of the • Heat BLR=Off begins with an Undergraduate Pilot Training product tended to be the campaign. With • Shadows=All Planar course. This covers basic ying maneuvers, Lock-On the opposite is the case. There is • Color=32 Bit along with take-off, landing and navigation. further evidence to back up this assertion • Resolution=1024x768. The training course is split into a further ve in the form of the next module we will sections; four give tutorials on all the included examine, which is the ‘Mission Editor’. aircraft (except for the Mig 29) and one, called These settings illustrate the scalability and ‘Advanced training’, gives instruction on Basic Mission Editor complexity of the graphics engine. So for Fighter Maneuvers (or BFM). The tutorials The manual describes the Mission Editor example, ‘Textures’ allows you to specify are well-presented and cover the handling as the ‘heart and soul of Lock-On’, and for the overall texture quality for cockpit objects and the operation of the radar and weapons good reason. In simple terms, the ‘Editor’ and terrain, while ‘Scenes’ allows you to systems for each aircraft. In addition, an added allows you to create and micro-manage control the level of land objects. In fact, bonus is that you can take over the controls at single missions or whole campaigns. It is a the underlying theme of Lock-On is one any point during the proceedings. However, detailed and powerful design tool and very of giving the consumer choice rather than the one criticism I would have of presenting intuitive to use. You can start with a blank making the choice for them. instruction as a text overlay rather than an audio canvas and literally work from the ground up Equally important is the Input section. presentation, is that it is often difcult to read and create missions or campaigns as simple Here you can assign key commands and what is written while trying to keep up with or as complex as you wish. You have control congure your peripherals. This area is what is being done on screen. Thankfully the over every single object and aspect of your detailed, intuitive and well thought-out. tutorials can be paused at any point, which helps created mission. In addition, an important Within this section is a welcomed feature you to learn at your own pace; yet some may aspect of the Editor is the way in which it that gives you the ability to control the still nd the text overlays a little frustrating. is designed to directly interact with all the degree of the response of your joystick, In terms of training, mainly because of the other modules within the simulator, such as rudder or throttle. relative complexity of Lock-On’s aircraft the Fast Battle Planner and the Encyclopedia. Difculty levels are also scalable from cockpit systems, it’s best to learn about one Here is an outline of some of the features ‘Novice’ to ‘Experienced’. So you can tailor aircraft at a time until you become condent included in the Editor… the sim to suit your own level of ‘expertise’. in ying and operating its various controls Within the ‘Editor’ itself you have Difculty levels affect your aircraft, the and weapon systems. Any other route will control over the season and prevailing A.I. and the views. Padlock, G-effects and lead to frustration. In fact, of all the aircraft weather. For example you can choose ight modelling are just three examples in Lock-On’s inventory, the A-10A “Tank the nature of the cloud cover along with of features that can be customized in the Buster” is the ideal aircraft to cut your teeth its base height, thickness, and density. difculty section. Cockpit aids give you a on. Its cockpit, though highly detailed, Wind speed (at various heights) and choice of having the HUD in Russian, mirror demands less pilot input in comparison to the direction, turbulence, visibility and fog reections and altering the angle of you other aircraft in the sim. In addition, it takes are other atmospheric elements that forward view. Much time should be spent in a lot of damage and of all of the aircraft, can also be factored in. You can choose the options section so you can tailor Lock-On it is the easiest to land. We will look at the the nationalities and consequently the to suit your own personal taste and expertise. aircraft in more detail later in this piece. equipment of the participating ‘coalitions’.
28 Computer Pilot Magazine V 8I2 REVIEW
Lock-On patch details (as of writing)
Hi everyone, • NyMax (maximum G) has been increased up to 9g for Su-27, Su-33 and Mig-29. Eagle is hard at work on the patch and we hope to release it just as soon • New MiG-29S CAP payloads have been added. as we can. I’m sorry, but I just can’t give you an actual date at this time. • AGM-65D and AGM-65K now indicate correct seeker type in Believe me when I say that Ubisoft and Eagle want to nish the rst patch payload screen. even more than you do. • Maximum range of AIM-120C and R-77 was increased to 50 km. • Reduced the effect of radar range reduction when ying at low altitudes. Overall, the patch is looking very good and I think that most of you will be • Corrected engagement range of S-300PS (SA-10) and Patriot. very happy. There are just a couple more areas that I am asking Eagle to • AI will now engage with follow-on missile(s) if rst has missed. address before we release the patch though: force feedback centring and • Corrected TrackIR centering problem. having MP clients get air defence search and lock warnings. Once we can • Corrected probability of failures option. It is not always set to 0%. get those two items wrapped up, we should be good to go (knock on wood). • Skill is defaulted to “Player” when a yable aircraft is selected. • Game no longer crashes is player presses F3 while the game is paused at That is not to say that there won’t still be bugs in the game, there will. the start of a mission. That’s why Ubisoft and Eagle will continue to support this product and • “Fuel Low” indication is correct now for the A-10A. there will be future patches. • The visibility range of “Goal” targets has been increased. • Added advanced check of connections in the LAN Game. One other note regarding the patch: because several changes have • Renamed “mi” to “nm” in labels. been made to the ight dynamics, AI, and weapon systems, many of the • Adjusted maximum radar range of some aircraft. training missions no longer play back correctly. Given that xing these • Set 150 shells for Mig-29 gun. missions would cost us at least another week, we are going to release the • The wind direction dial now shows correct direction. patch with a notication that patching will break some of these missions. • The R-27EM now has a semi-active radar seeker instead of an active However, we are working with Shepski to provide a drop-in folder that radar seeker. will x all training--after the patch is out. • Chaff now works against semi-active seeker missiles. • Decreased effectiveness of chaff and flares against active and IR Lock-On 1.01 Patch guided missiles. 18 December 2003 • Fixed crash game in Dinput8.dll on the Exit. • Fixed instability bug when saving stage of campaign. • Removed “Category” column from Debrief Event Log. • Players can now record voice-overs for Tracks. Corrections List: • Fixed several bugs for Win98/ME (white screen, low memory etc.) • Limited helicopter numbers from 1 – 10. • Track to AVI tool is now working correctly. • Fixed algorithm of nding course of routes in mission editor. • Corrected sound and input program header les. This has increased the • Fixed award white spaces in the Logbook for countries with less then 8 efciency of sound les. awards (e.g. Spain). You need to remove existing pilot, sorry. • AI aircraft now only report “Radar On/Off” or “ECM On/Off” if it • Corrected wind-related ight effects for player and AI aircraft. really has radar or ECM. • Corrected engine behavior after aerial refuelling. • Localized “Unknown Error” message. • Corrected zero thrust phenomena in A-10 when ying at M>0.8. • Corrected damage model for Su-33. • Expanded range of R-60 in rear hemisphere. • Corrected target loss problems for some air defence complexes. • Increased engine impulse for MICA missiles. • Will not crash now if save state is created with an AWACS in the mission. • Values RCS for some planes and helicopters are adjusted. • Player can now not view Hide lists for a mission that has been classied. • Decreased maximum G for F-15C at low speed. • Player can now change payload of his or her aircraft in campaigns and • Corrected collisions for Mirage-2000 and, KAMAZ. classied single missions. • BANO, afterburner and other effects will not cast shadows now. • After exiting a training mission, the player now returns to the training • Cockpit camera speed control commands are functional (Ctrl+Left Shift, mission selection screen. Alt+Left Shift, Right Shift+Left Shift). Corresponding speed values in the • External fuel tanks now add weight to the aircraft. Cong\View\View.cfg are functional too. • Corrected ight behavior of A-10 and Su-25 at low speed and AoA > 30 . • Labels are much more congurable now (Cong/View/View.cfg). • Removed rst delay in A-10 bomb dropping when ripple interval > 1. • ECM was removed from MiG-25PS. • Corrected jumps of general visibility in Meteo selection. • The F-117 has no chaffs or ares now. • AI will now go out to less range (8 km) when re-engaging a target with • Incorrect route saving from state restoring is xed both for Human and AI. bombs/CBUs. • AWACS-View is now working in saved state games. • AI will now pop up to 500 m when attacking with gun or rockets. • Corrected keyboard-only pitch control. Disabled automatic return to the • MiG-23 and MiG-27 will not destroy themselves when attacking with gun neutral position. or rocket. • Disabled mouse speed scaling for TrackIR. • Corrected A-10A pitch ladder so that it will not climb as the aircraft rolls. • Host can now respawn in multiplayer. • Reduced radar look-down range reduction for F-15C. • Missile and gun accuracy is greatly increased in multiplayer. • Removed A-10A TVV on HUD when it is inside CCIP or gun/rocket pipper. • New text messages are now automatically shown at the top of the screen • Removed F-15C bank and steering indicator on HUD when A2A mode. in multiplayer. • Increased padlock eld of view angles. • nForce2 lag problems have been signicantly reduced. • Corrected the lack of green radar zone triangle on Russian HDDs when an AWACS is in the mission. • Adjusted the aircraft reaction to small rudder inputs. • S-3A and S-3R now will fold their wings during taxiing. Matt “Wags” Wagner • Player can now switch between cockpits of yable aircraft (Alt-j). Producer / Ubisoft
29 THE AIRCRAFT
The F-15C The Su-27
The Su-33
30 Computer Pilot Magazine V 8I2 The Mig-29 The Su-25 REVIEW
The awesome Su27 The lines of the F-15 have been faithfully captured
This shot shows off the Su-33’s distinctive arrow head shape
31 The Mig-29 is well respected by friend and foe alike The Su-25 is a robust and forgiving aircraft to fly VARIOUS OPTION MENU SCREENS
Difficulty Graphics
Cockpit Audio
Input Main Menu
32 Computer Pilot Magazine V 8I2 The Training suite The Fast Battle Planner REVIEW
Various views of the A-10 cockpit
33 Examples of the many types of land vehicles populating the Lock-On world The Encyclopedia is a useful resource The Pilot Log
There are four campaigns, one for each of the following aircraft: the A-10, F-15, Su-25 or Su-27. Trees are in abundance in Lock-On
The ‘zoom’ view is an essential feature in Lock-On An example of Lock-On’s lighting effects
34 Computer Pilot Magazine V 8I2 An A-10A shows off its new flares! Smoking! The A-10’s cannon in action REVIEW
The terrain is a target-rich environment An example of the of civilian traffic that exists in this sim
There are many non-flyable support aircraft, such as this Panavia Tornado This shot illustrates the damaged canopy of an A-10
This shot illustrates the detail on the buildings An F-15 flies over the glistening water
35 A Mig-29 climbs into an overcast sky A shot of a low-flying Mig-29. Note the cranes in the background System Upgrade: You have control over the details of the Air Group planning, such as the waypoints, Now, I stated earlier that I initially tested on the system above, because payload and targets as well as the placement while evaluating Lock-On, I upgraded two components of my system. First, of targets and other static and mobile objects. I added a further 512 MB of RAM to bring the total to 1GB and then I In addition to this, you can also dictate replaced my Geforce FX 5600 video card with an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro. The the routes, speeds and altitudes (where detail contained within the sim means that Lock-On uses a lot of resources, applicable), of all these entities. The Mission particularly when it comes to RAM and video processing power. These Editor even provides the facility to factor in changes made a big difference to the performance and hence my enjoyment of various systems failures, making for a more the sim. Lock-On’s box says that it runs on 256 MB, but recommends 512 MB challenging experience! of RAM. In fact I would recommend 1GB to run this sim! Lock-On uses a lot Your task in choosing the numerous of memory, so combined with a memory-hungry operating system, there is land, air and sea objects is made much very little room to maneuver. Upgrading from 512 to 1GB RAM reduced the easier by the provision of an interactive occasional stuttering, resulting in smoother frame rates. The increase in RAM encyclopedia that provides in-game images also reduced the load times between screens and the ight engine itself. and descriptions of every military hardware Upgrading the graphics card to an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro made the most contained within the sim. Split into seven dramatic difference. I must say I was presently surprised at the marked sections, you can choose from aircraft, difference in frame rates between the ‘5600’ and the ‘9800’. Smoother, faster helicopters, ships, numerous land vehicles, and more stable/consistent frame rates makes for a happy ight simmer! anti-aircraft and mobile radar equipment and aircraft ordnance. Such is the depth and detail of the Mission Editor that I would not be surprised if owners of Lock-On spend Frame Rate comparison: most of their time in this part of the sim.
As I stated earlier, I upgraded the RAM and then the graphics card and Campaign completed a ‘before and after’ comparative frame rate test. While it would be fair to say that, in terms These were the results: of gameplay, the Mission Editor is Lock-On’s forte, it does still include a ‘hand-crafted’ Geforce FX 5600 128 MB RAM (Mid-range card): semi-scripted campaign. Even though the • Plan View=12-17fps developers’ original intention was to create • Rear View=15-18fps a fully-dynamic campaign, it was decided to • Cockpit View=10-12fps go down the scripted route in order to ensure • Sky View=45-60fps that Lock-On shipped on time. In this case • 3D marks in 3dMark03: 2442 semi-scripted means that while the initial set-up of each mission has been scripted, the ATI Radeon 9800 Pro (High-end card). world in which you y will have random • Plan View=76-83 elements and events, and will be persistent. • Rear View=48-52 Persistent means that damage to objects and • Cockpit View=34-40 buildings in one mission will carry over to • Sky View=84-92 the next. On-going debate still ensues on • 3D marks in 3dMark03: 5120 the form campaigns should ideally take, i.e., scripted, semi-scripted, or completely dynamic, and Lock-On may be criticized for opting to take this particular route. However, Windows 98 issues: one school of thought is that semi-scripted campaigns, when designed well, enable the I have a dual-boot system, with Windows XP running on one drive and designer to maximize the ‘gameplay’ balance Windows 98SE on another. When I tried to run Lock-On under Windows and so can be more fun and exciting than 98, I could not get past the main Menu screen; often it would crash to the their often sterile and repetitive counterparts. desktop. This is a known issue and it is hoped the rst patch will resolve this problem. This symptom seems to be only an issue with the full game Pilot Log and not with the previously-released Demo. However, there is a solution Lock-On provides an element of role- that seems to work for many people. In order to run Lock-On under ‘98’ you playing and an added incentive to come have to rst run the Demo. Then after exiting the Demo, you will be able to back for more. This is in the form of a successfully run the full game! The Demo seems to load les that allow the Pilot’s Log Book. This allows you to create full game to run. and track your pilot persona. As time goes I also decided to compare how the two systems handled Lock-On. by, a picture will build up showing in detail Comparative frame rate tests revealed that overall, Lock-On frame rates a history of your ups and downs! You also were much lower under the Windows 98 system than those under Windows have the opportunity to receive promotion XP. For example, the frame rates in the cockpit view under ‘98’ averaged and medals. In terms of the logged statistics, around 20fps, whereas when running Lock-On under’XP’, rates were you will be able to track: the number of between 34-40. From this it would seem that Lock-On has been optimized to missions own, total ight hours, number run under Windows XP rather than Windows 98. of successful runway and carrier landings,
36 Computer Pilot Magazine V 8I2 REVIEW the number of successful aerial refuelings quality rendition. Even at an average screen concerns, so it will be interesting to see if and the number of ejections and landings. resolution of 1024x768, with 2-4x anti- this is addressed in the rst patch. These One other feature worth noting is the ability aliasing enabled to remove the ‘jaggies’ the aircraft are fairly straightforward to y, but to to record, watch and re-y missions at any aircraft look photorealistic. To give you an y them well will take practice. point in the proceedings. idea of the amount of work that has gone into producing each aircraft, the average polygon Communication, A.I. Graphic detail count for each one is around 2000. If you and sound Of all the included features of Lock-On, look closely at the undercarriage of any of Lock-On’s communication set-up is fairly the one element that has probably been the aircraft, you will see subtle details of comprehensive, allowing you to communicate spoken about the most is the graphics operating actuating arms; detail on the inside with your Wingman, other Flights, Tower and engine. It would be fair to say that in this of the undercarriage doors. Battle damage AWACS. So for example, you can give your respect, Lock-On is ‘state-of-the-art’. also receives the ‘Lock-On’ treatment, with wingman formation and tactical instructions, Perhaps the over-used phrase, ‘attention to localized damage and even bullet holes being you can ask AWACS for vectors to bandits, detail’ couldn’t be more appropriate than in authentically rendered. Fire is perhaps a little tankers and ‘Home Plate’ and you can request this particular case. Let’s start off with the too ‘Hollywood’ close-up, but it does add to Tower for vectors and take-off and landing cockpit rendering. As I have mentioned in the atmosphere. If your canopy gets hit, you instructions. Personally, I nd this set-up fairly previous articles, the level of detail exhibited will see holes and cracks running along it. complete. When it comes to the A.I., friendly in the cockpit area of a ight sim generally The only element to rival the aircraft is the and enemy entities perform intelligently, with sets the tone for the rest of the simulation. landscape. Much of my time was spent just no obvious issues being apparent. Although That ‘rule’ particularly applies to Lock- ying around sight-seeing. Tones and colors on one occasion my wingman became On. The quality of the 3D cockpit detail are convincing and well restrained. The repetitively irritating when I refused to heed is simply stunning! Such delity helps to towns and cities look like towns and cities! If his calls to “watch my six!” draw you into the simulated world. There is you enable civilian trafc the added activity Sound reproduction is satisfying, the so much detail in this area that there is not brings the virtual world alive, and unlike highlight of which for me is the sound of enough space to detail all of them, however, other sims, you do not feel like you are the A-10’s whistling General Electric TF34- a notable feature includes a zoom function ‘living’ in a ghost town. It’s the little things GE100 turbofan engine on y-by! Coming allowing you to move closer or further away that count, like the power masts and lines, a close second is again the A-10’s General from any particular part of the cockpit. This the smoking chimney stacks, the literally Electric GAU-8/A 30mm rotary cannon is useful when on bombing runs or when millions of trees, the varied styles and sizes complete with accompanying smoke. In real- operating a particular ‘MFD’. In addition, of houses, buildings and town ofces, the life, the cannon is so powerful that when red, there is the jaw-dropping ‘crazing’ on the nely detailed railway lines and carriages the forward ying speed of the aircraft is Perspex canopies if the sunlight hits it at a and I almost forgot, the best rendering of reduced. As a testament to Lock-On’s delity, certain angle! All these features combine in water yet seen in a simulation! Coupled with while sitting on the runway in an A-10A I the suspension of disbelief. subtle lighting effects, particularly at dawn decided to re the cannon and was surprised One thing that should be pointed out and dusk, we have a virtual world that you to see the aircraft move backwards in response however, is that Lock-On does not possess would be happy just to y around in. to the recoil. However, on the downside, I clickable cockpits. The trade-off to having a have experienced intermittent sound problems zoom feature, which was seen as an essential The Lock-On flying in the form of what can be best described design component to the cockpits, was that experience as static. I have since discovered that others it would not be possible to have a clickable It would be fair to say that to many, have experienced similar symptoms. It is cockpit. Some may be disappointed with all the features outlined above would be not part of the software, but in my particular not being able to press all those buttons, tarnished if Lock-On’s ight modelling case it seems to occur if my system memory although, such a design decision will also received less than equal attention. After all, resources are getting a little low. make the sim a little easier to play and appeal at full difculty, Lock-On is perceived as to a wider audience. a ‘hardcore’ sim. Fortunately, the general Conclusions ight modelling of each aircraft feels pretty So, was Lock-On worth the wait? A by-product of this level of delity, with solid and needs to be own with respect. Personally, I would have to say yes. Lock-On all this sumptuous detail, is an increase in Not having own any of these aircraft in the is not perfect; the manual is disappointing the virtual pilot’s workload, particularly in real world, I cannot vouch for their absolute and ‘discussions’ on internet forums have a fast-moving jet. Frustration sets in early authenticity, however, what I can say is that revealed some frustrating problems, however, until you get used to using the controls. some aircraft are easier to y than others. with the release of the rst patch imminent That’s why it’s so important to practice the Carrier landings take some practice! Pull (at time of writing), it should go some way to tutorials and initially concentrate on only one too many ‘Gs’ and you will be warned about resolve some of these prevailing ‘issues.’ aircraft. Operating the various MFDs, radar reaching your ‘maximum angle of attack’ and This reviewer experienced little that spoilt systems and designating targets can prove landing is easier to do in a more forgiving the overall enjoyment of the sim. True, Lock- particularly ‘ddly’. Mentally breaking down aircraft like the A-10 Warthog than the Su- On will push your hardware to its limits and each operation into a series of key command 27. Some aircraft like the Mig-29 need to be even the highest ‘spec’ machines will not ‘sequences’ simplies things a great deal. In trimmed quite frequently to maintain level. be able to run it with all bells and whistles fact Lock-On will demand careful study and However, on some occasions, aircraft like on without struggling, but keep in mind that patience, particularly when it comes to using the A-10 would exhibit pitch oscillations, Lock-On does not have to be run at high the avionics of each aircraft. which seemed a little odd. So I’m unsure as resolution to look good. Lock-On is a ‘must- Switching our attention to the exterior to whether this is normal or a ‘bug’. Others have’ simulation. It looks good, sounds good details we nd the same level of high on various forums have expressed similar and simulates great! Recommended. Q
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