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SOH ADMINISTRATION
Contemplating the plunge
- Thread starter OleBoy
- Start date
Reply...
OleBoy,
This is the classic "can o' worms" question. The short answer is...BOTH sims have their merits. CFS3 "out of the box" is not the gold standard, but with add-ons like firepower, Mediterranean Air War (MAW), PTO, ETO, and Over Flanders Fields (OFF), the sim has definite merit.
That being said, CFS3 has a unique file system that takes a big leap to understand if you are accustomed to FS-based flight sims and CFS1.
CFS2 is a bit older, but is much more user-friendly. CFS2 also offers Vietnam, Korea, and virtually every CFS2 theatre you can think of, even WWI is possible. Couple that with a plethora of skins, aircraft, scenery, airbases, and other tweaks developed over the years, not to mention missions and campaigns from all over the globe, and you'll also find that "the senior sim" is not showing her age yet!
OleBoy,
This is the classic "can o' worms" question. The short answer is...BOTH sims have their merits. CFS3 "out of the box" is not the gold standard, but with add-ons like firepower, Mediterranean Air War (MAW), PTO, ETO, and Over Flanders Fields (OFF), the sim has definite merit.
That being said, CFS3 has a unique file system that takes a big leap to understand if you are accustomed to FS-based flight sims and CFS1.
CFS2 is a bit older, but is much more user-friendly. CFS2 also offers Vietnam, Korea, and virtually every CFS2 theatre you can think of, even WWI is possible. Couple that with a plethora of skins, aircraft, scenery, airbases, and other tweaks developed over the years, not to mention missions and campaigns from all over the globe, and you'll also find that "the senior sim" is not showing her age yet!
OleBoy,
I strongly recommend CFS2 for your first dive into combat flight sim. Whatever your area of interest - WWI, Sino-Japanese War, Pacific Theater, European Theater, North Africa, or Korean War - there is so much stuff available for download (almost all freeware) you can customize CFS2 for any type of play. Just keep in mind that it does not include the advent of missile warfare so if you're into SAM's and Sidewinders and radar lock-ons there are other sims that provide that stuff.
I strongly recommend CFS2 for your first dive into combat flight sim. Whatever your area of interest - WWI, Sino-Japanese War, Pacific Theater, European Theater, North Africa, or Korean War - there is so much stuff available for download (almost all freeware) you can customize CFS2 for any type of play. Just keep in mind that it does not include the advent of missile warfare so if you're into SAM's and Sidewinders and radar lock-ons there are other sims that provide that stuff.
Oleboy, I am not going to be as PC on this as my esteemed colleagues here.
Don't even waste $7.00 on CFS3. I paid, very sorry to say, full price when it was new. My CFS3 discs are collecting dust on my CD/DVD shelf. Many on here will tell you the same about their CFS3 discs.
I gave CFS3 several tries as the modifications and new stuff for it came out. It is currently UNINSTALLED on all of my computers.
I occasionally fly CFS1, still. I fly CFS2 almost exclusively. I have the multiple installs (8) of CFS2 on each of two computers and three operating systems, and am contemplating splitting my European and Pacific installs into two separate regions of each, giving me 10 complete, separate installs of CFS2 on both computers on both HDs on each. (Yes, I know, I could have installs on one HD and just map to it from the other OS and HD). BUT, that causes some problems, especially with Vista and Windows 7X64.
With all of the modifications to CFS2, it is the premiere combat flight simulator, even if you only want to fly around the world and look at all of the very fine add-on scenery it now has without shooting at another aircraft. Many of us here have done just that, a few times. I have flown through canyons in all parts of mountainous and dessert terrain across the globe. I have put on auto pilot and flown across all oceans to islands with old WW II airstrips that no longer exist and refueled and picked up the next day from there.
No, I am not going to be kind nor PC to CFS3. At my age, CFS3 is just too much work for no pleasure of flying in a sim. To be honest, I cannot even figure out how to successfully complete the very first CFS3 mission and progress to the second one. Since each mission in CFS3 is totally dependent on the prior, I lost the war to Germany in my first campaign mission. My CFS3 war is over before it starts.
Don't even waste $7.00 on CFS3. I paid, very sorry to say, full price when it was new. My CFS3 discs are collecting dust on my CD/DVD shelf. Many on here will tell you the same about their CFS3 discs.
I gave CFS3 several tries as the modifications and new stuff for it came out. It is currently UNINSTALLED on all of my computers.
I occasionally fly CFS1, still. I fly CFS2 almost exclusively. I have the multiple installs (8) of CFS2 on each of two computers and three operating systems, and am contemplating splitting my European and Pacific installs into two separate regions of each, giving me 10 complete, separate installs of CFS2 on both computers on both HDs on each. (Yes, I know, I could have installs on one HD and just map to it from the other OS and HD). BUT, that causes some problems, especially with Vista and Windows 7X64.
With all of the modifications to CFS2, it is the premiere combat flight simulator, even if you only want to fly around the world and look at all of the very fine add-on scenery it now has without shooting at another aircraft. Many of us here have done just that, a few times. I have flown through canyons in all parts of mountainous and dessert terrain across the globe. I have put on auto pilot and flown across all oceans to islands with old WW II airstrips that no longer exist and refueled and picked up the next day from there.
No, I am not going to be kind nor PC to CFS3. At my age, CFS3 is just too much work for no pleasure of flying in a sim. To be honest, I cannot even figure out how to successfully complete the very first CFS3 mission and progress to the second one. Since each mission in CFS3 is totally dependent on the prior, I lost the war to Germany in my first campaign mission. My CFS3 war is over before it starts.
Echo One.... Echo Two
I'm with D-Dawg on this one.
I attempted to learn to fly and fight in CFS3, spent several YEARS [on and off] being frustrated by the main program, but dazzled by the eye candy.... Eventually, I returned exclusively to CFS2 and haven't looked back.
Then again, I AM in inveterate tinkerer, and just LOVE messing with stuff like this... Couldn't get CFS3 to cooperate like CFS2 does !
Hat in the CFS2 Ring, then.
SC
I'm with D-Dawg on this one.
I attempted to learn to fly and fight in CFS3, spent several YEARS [on and off] being frustrated by the main program, but dazzled by the eye candy.... Eventually, I returned exclusively to CFS2 and haven't looked back.
Then again, I AM in inveterate tinkerer, and just LOVE messing with stuff like this... Couldn't get CFS3 to cooperate like CFS2 does !
Hat in the CFS2 Ring, then.
SC
Talon
Members +
When CFS3 came out I wasn't impressed so I put it on the shelf.After OFF,MAW and PTO came out I decided to give it another try.Now I enjoy flying both.IMO MAW is the best for Med.ops and OFF for WW1.
I now help with the new addons for CFS3 and have been a team member for PTO and ETO addons.Believe it or not I have alot of knowledge about the ETO as well as the Pacific.
As for the planes in CFS3 I have done the same thing with them that I've done with the CFS2 planes to have them do what I want them to do.
Going from CFS2 to CFS3 there is a learning curve but when everyone first started playing CFS2 there was one also.Some things are different between the the two but you'd be surprised some of the similarities.I modded many planes in both with no problems.
CFS2 has advantages with the mission builder,you can do more with it.I also find it better than the IL2 mission builder.I also fly IL2 for online gaming.
More planes to fly and ships to use but CFS3 has some new planes on the way ( PBY has been released and a new freeware B-24 is on it's way )New ships will be out for CFS3 soon also.
CFS2 has the whole world to fly over while CFS3 is mostly Europe.PTO is the Solomons and MAW is the Med.Not to bad IMO.There is also a Korean addon for CFS3.
I do fly CFS2 more than any other sim but enjoy them all.They all have good points and bad points and none are perfect.
Talon
I now help with the new addons for CFS3 and have been a team member for PTO and ETO addons.Believe it or not I have alot of knowledge about the ETO as well as the Pacific.
As for the planes in CFS3 I have done the same thing with them that I've done with the CFS2 planes to have them do what I want them to do.
Going from CFS2 to CFS3 there is a learning curve but when everyone first started playing CFS2 there was one also.Some things are different between the the two but you'd be surprised some of the similarities.I modded many planes in both with no problems.
CFS2 has advantages with the mission builder,you can do more with it.I also find it better than the IL2 mission builder.I also fly IL2 for online gaming.
More planes to fly and ships to use but CFS3 has some new planes on the way ( PBY has been released and a new freeware B-24 is on it's way )New ships will be out for CFS3 soon also.
CFS2 has the whole world to fly over while CFS3 is mostly Europe.PTO is the Solomons and MAW is the Med.Not to bad IMO.There is also a Korean addon for CFS3.
I do fly CFS2 more than any other sim but enjoy them all.They all have good points and bad points and none are perfect.
Talon
watchdog22
Piston Broke
I have been playing CFS2 since its release and I think it's the most accessible sim out there. I have tried CFS3 and IL2 but have had trouble coming to grips with them, especially the IL2 flight model. After reading Talon's thread I might revisit them as I still have them installed. CFS2 is a hard act to follow though, I can fly and fight just about anywhere in almost any plane of any combatant nation. The AI is a bit dodgy and the eye candy is not up to the standard of other sims but it is FUN!
tonybones2112
Charter Member
Well, some like Pepsi, others swear by Coke. I got CFS2 at a thrift shop out of the clear blue with no prior knowledge of it. A week later I got CFS3 off Amazon for a few bucks, and it would not install. A Micro$oft game, on a Micro$oft OS, with Intel video chips on Micro$oft drivers. A guy in a computer shop had CFS3 installed on one of his computers for sale and I tried it. I didn't like it at all. I don't really have the time I'd like to devote to CFS2, so another flight sim is not on my menu right now. There is a great deal about CFS2 that I'd like to know that I'll probably never have time to work with, I'll stick with it as long as there is a community producing add ons for it. M$ blew it with CFS3 by making it first totally incompatible with anything, although I have seen some people have adapted the graphic textures from CFS3 for various other sims, as some adapt Il-2 textures to CFS2.
It's all a matter of taste, there jis ust more out there for CFS2, more people still staying loyal to it, I'd recommend CFS2 for your first CFS.
Tony
It's all a matter of taste, there jis ust more out there for CFS2, more people still staying loyal to it, I'd recommend CFS2 for your first CFS.
Tony
Thanks to everyone providing their feedback. Sounds like CFS2 is a definite "must". CFS3, meh. Not likely. I don't want to dive into something that the knowledgeable don't care for. I can't waste my time.
I want to see what all the fuss is over. And CFS2 has been around a while.
I've messed with many CFS2 aircraft trying to get the usable in FS9. And, I like the ones I've worked on. Most times if I spend time one one, it's a keeper. Some are just a bear to tweak. Most have been tweaked by other interested members and I've followed stride. There are some great modelers in that area.
I pop in the CFS2 forum on many occasions. Reading this, reading that. I learned that there is just as much activity here, as there is for FS9 or FSX. And the knowledgeable are those who post the most. Good reads I must say.
Like most in any sim I suppose, I'm like the rest. I like to tinker until it's a bad addiction.
I called the store and told them to hold CFS2 for me. He's a friend. So I can pick it up later in the week
Then, brace yourselves. I'm likely going to jump in with both feet and pester the hell out of each and every one of you at one time or another. Hehehe.
I want to see what all the fuss is over. And CFS2 has been around a while.
I've messed with many CFS2 aircraft trying to get the usable in FS9. And, I like the ones I've worked on. Most times if I spend time one one, it's a keeper. Some are just a bear to tweak. Most have been tweaked by other interested members and I've followed stride. There are some great modelers in that area.
I pop in the CFS2 forum on many occasions. Reading this, reading that. I learned that there is just as much activity here, as there is for FS9 or FSX. And the knowledgeable are those who post the most. Good reads I must say.
Like most in any sim I suppose, I'm like the rest. I like to tinker until it's a bad addiction.
I called the store and told them to hold CFS2 for me. He's a friend. So I can pick it up later in the week
Then, brace yourselves. I'm likely going to jump in with both feet and pester the hell out of each and every one of you at one time or another. Hehehe.
Jagdflieger
Jr. Admin
Welcome aboard Oleboy. I don't think that you will regret your choice at all. We look forward to your company here.
P51FAN
SOH-CM-2024
I would go with both.
Personally, I would go with both of them. While I would agree that CFS3 could use some tinkering, to me it is not as bad as some people would make it out to be; and I have been using the stock install on CFS3 since I got it some 8 years ago, until just recently.
In addition, there are a few things that CFS3 can do that CFS2 cannot do, like playing in different stations in the aircraft. For example, you could play as a tail gunner of a B-26.
Anyway, it is up to you, but I recommend getting both.
Personally, I would go with both of them. While I would agree that CFS3 could use some tinkering, to me it is not as bad as some people would make it out to be; and I have been using the stock install on CFS3 since I got it some 8 years ago, until just recently.
In addition, there are a few things that CFS3 can do that CFS2 cannot do, like playing in different stations in the aircraft. For example, you could play as a tail gunner of a B-26.
Anyway, it is up to you, but I recommend getting both.
CFS2 installed and already rock'in & roll'in. Lots to learn for the keys and all. Would be nice to get the X52 configured for this. Is that possible? I know, I know, ****!!! I can't. Not enough time. I had to check it out. So far, I LIKE IT!!!
More on the flip-side. WHOO HOOO!!!!!!!
More on the flip-side. WHOO HOOO!!!!!!!
dvslats
Charter Member
I love that one mariereid! :d Like a pack of Luckys..eh?
Sorry for the interrupt, its good to see you aboard OleBoy.
Dave
Thanks to everyone providing their feedback. Sounds like CFS2 is a definite "must". CFS3, meh. Not likely. I don't want to dive into something that the knowledgeable don't care for. I can't waste my time.
I want to see what all the fuss is over. And CFS2 has been around a while.
I've messed with many CFS2 aircraft trying to get the usable in FS9. And, I like the ones I've worked on. Most times if I spend time one one, it's a keeper. Some are just a bear to tweak. Most have been tweaked by other interested members and I've followed stride. There are some great modelers in that area.
I pop in the CFS2 forum on many occasions. Reading this, reading that. I learned that there is just as much activity here, as there is for FS9 or FSX. And the knowledgeable are those who post the most. Good reads I must say.
Like most in any sim I suppose, I'm like the rest. I like to tinker until it's a bad addiction.
I called the store and told them to hold CFS2 for me. He's a friend. So I can pick it up later in the week
Then, brace yourselves. I'm likely going to jump in with both feet and pester the hell out of each and every one of you at one time or another. Hehehe.
Once you get it installed, GO SLOW with add-ons. I don't know how to count high enough to number the times I got impatient and tried one too many add-ons at the same time and crashed and had to re-install, rebuild an install.
Suggestion: Find one of the threads here that talks about multiple installs and follow the guidance with you very first installing of CFS2. If you have room on your HD, go for it up front. I would start with 4 installs, **one being pristine that you do NOT modify in any way.**
Then, have one for Europe, Mediterranean, Pacific, for modifications. As you add scenery files, add them to the three mod installs. Aircraft are a piece of cake. Ships are a piece of cake. Weapons and scenery are both tricky at first until you get used to it. When you add something, ONE THING at a time, delete ALL filelist.dat, *.cdp, and index files and fire up the sim and let it rebuild them. When you activate scenery in free flight, close down the sim and do it again, before you try to fly in the newly activated scenery. When adding aircraft, get Jonesoft QCEd and make sure you add the new aircraft to your Quick Combat file. When adding new scenery, FOLLOW the directions completely. Get the GSL manager, (most GSL scenery designers include it), and learn how to add GSL objects in the GSL folder.
Those are the very basics to make this a VERY enjoyable combat flight sim, and general flying around and looking flight sim.
CFS 3,man I hate that game.But for $7 buy it and try it,and the least they make very pretty coasters for your drinks.And until you try it you will never know if you like it.:d
And by the way,
Free IL 2- 1946
I have a copy collecting dust if anyone wants it email me....free no less.I will not be checking back here so don't respond here.
It is an original 2 disc set,not a burned copy.
And by the way,
Free IL 2- 1946
I have a copy collecting dust if anyone wants it email me....free no less.I will not be checking back here so don't respond here.
It is an original 2 disc set,not a burned copy.