Falcon 4.0: Allied Force

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This article is about the video game. For Operation Allied Force, see 1999 NATO bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
Falcon 4.0: Allied Force
Falcon AF Cover.jpg
North America boxart
Developer(s) Lead Pursuit
Publisher(s) Graphsim Entertainment
Version 1.0.13 (January 27, 2008)
Platform(s) PC (Windows), Mac (OS X)
Release date(s) 2005
Genre(s) Combat flight simulator
Mode(s) Single player, Multiplayer
Rating(s) ESRB: T (Teen)
Media/distribution CD-ROM

Falcon 4.0: Allied Force (F4AF) is an F-16 based combat flight simulator released by Lead Pursuit on 28 June 2005. The game is based around a realistic simulation of the Block 50/52 F-16 Fighting Falcon in a series of missions in the Balkans. The game engine is based on the source code of the original 1998 Falcon 4.0 from MicroProse, and consists largely of a collection of improvements from the official patches and extensive Falcon modding community. Allied Force also introduced several major new features and significant improvements in realism and stability.

Contents

[edit] Features

  • Significant differences from Falcon 4.0, the original MicroProse version:
  • Airbases enhanced and terrain tiles redone
  • AI wingman commands and functions, others reworked
  • 110-page printed manual, plus 760 page PDF manual

[edit] The Simulation

Falcon 4.0:Allied Force is a detailed simulation; like other simulations, it may take the user some time to become proficient and familiar with all of its features. Allied Force comes with a 716 page manual, which can act as a "quick start" guide to flying a military jet. Allied Force focuses primarily on learning to fly and fight in an F-16, yet also allows the user to manage all the ground and air assets in a campaign if they wish, or control and vector fighters as part of an E-3 AWACS squadron.

The simulation allows the user to control the level of realism: the player can either set the realism settings on maximum, or enable options such as invulnerability and unlimited ammo; this may make the game easier for newcomers or players who wish to have a less realistic experience.

A player that enables many of the realism settings must work with his Wingmen, friendly assets such as AWACS, JSTARS, Airborne Tankers, Forward Air Controllers, and other friendly aircraft if he wishes to be successful.

The emphasis of the simulation's air combat is the use of Beyond Visual Range missiles to destroy opponents many miles away, while maintaining the pilot's situational awareness. The player must therefore learn not only offensive tactics, but an ability to detect and counter a threat such as an incoming enemy missile. Due to the nature of Beyond Visual Range fighting, Within Visual Range (Dogfighting) is rare in the game's campaign modes. There is, however, an "Instant Action" mode, where dogfighting may occur.

[edit] Training mode

The game provides simulations and training missions for some common situations, such as: landing during an engine flameout, BFM, navigation using on-board instruments, avoiding SAMs, and deploying various weapons against air and ground targets.

[edit] Dogfight mode

Allows the player to set up a situation in which dogfighting will take place. This is a Single or Multiplayer mode. In Multiplayer mode two or more humans can combat one another over the Internet. Dogfight mode also allows the player(s) to choose between: Missiles and guns, or Guns only. You are also alllowed to choose fog height and density, air defences or no air defences, where you dogfight, at what height you dogfight, and a option for unlimited 20mm cannon ammunition.

[edit] Tactical Engagement mode

Here a player can build a mission with a number of customizable parameters, including the target, payload, enemy presence, customization of aircraft, etc. This is also a multiplayer mode.

[edit] Campaign mode

Falcon 4.0:Allied Force has a dynamic and customizable campaign. Once a player starts a campaign, the game will begin executing the campaign in real time. Thus, even when the player is not flying, other aircraft, ships, armies and anti-aircraft sites may still be fighting. This is represented to the player in a 2D map where objects can be displayed or hidden. The player can accelerate the campaign to 64X normal time, set up new flights, select weapons load-outs, view target areas and map waypoints before the time arrives for the next mission.

The campaign modes take place in the virtual battlefields of Korea and the Balkans, which can be configured based on historical data from 1999, 2005 or from how the area might appear in 2010. Each timeline will automatically change the type of weapons and sophistication of aircraft used in the campaign.

Korea The simulation includes the original Korean peninsula battlefield between North and South Korea. Here NATO forces support South Korea in various scenarios that can also involve China supporting North Korea.

3 campaigns are included for this region:

  • Operation Tiger Spirit
  • Operation Rolling Fire
  • Operation Iron Fortress

The Balkans (Italy, Sicily, Serbia, Slovenia, Hungary, Greece, Albania, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro)

Here NATO forces take on Serbia, supported by Russia.

3 campaigns are included for these regions:

  • Operation Powderkeg
  • Operation Balance of Power
  • Operation Under Siege

"Operation Powderkeg, 1999" is similar to the actual Operation Allied Force, although the number and type of enemy aircraft and SAMs have been increased to give the player a challenge.

(Any of the 6 campaigns above can be set in the years 1999, 2005 or 2010.)

The campaigns can also be played online over the Internet. Here teams of players around the world can fly together in strike package formations as wingmen and help one another complete the assigned mission by attacking ground targets, enemy jets, and accomplishing other mission objectives. Multivipers is one example of such Virtual Squadrons.

[edit] Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon (Viper) versions included

Non Flyable

  • F-16A M
  • F-16A Block 15
  • F-16C Block 25

Flyable

  • F-16AM /MLU (Mid Life Update) Block 50 level avionics
  • F-16C Block 30
  • F-16C Block 32
  • F-16CG Block 40
  • F-16CG Block 42
  • F-16CJ Block 50
  • F-16CJ Block 52
  • F-16CM Block 40 CCIP (Common Configuration Implementation Program)
  • F-16CM Block 42 CCIP (Common Configuration Implementation Program)
  • F-16CM Block 50 CCIP (Common Configuration Implementation Program)
  • F-16CM Block 52 CCIP (Common Configuration Implementation Program)
  • F-16DG Block 40
  • F-16DJ Block 52

[edit] Air to Air Missiles carried by the F-16 in the simulation

[edit] Air to Ground weapons carried by the F-16 in the simulation

[edit] Internal F-16 Gun

[edit] A selection of other non flyable aircraft in the simulation

(all fixed-wing aircraft are flyable (except for AWACS) with a slight modiffication in the game files)

[edit] Tactical reference

The game includes a useful database including most ground vehicles, aircraft, weapons, and ships that are in the simulation. Each entry is presented with an image and text information on the subject.

[edit] ACMI player (Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation)

In game, players can record parts of their flight which can then be reviewed later in the ACMI. Here the fight from any angle or viewpoint can be played, paused rewound or forwarded through. Also information can be shown on the screen such as turn rate, speed, turn radius, and altitude to help a pilot ascertain where they may be going wrong.

[edit] Multiplayer

Lead Pursuit has been updating the game with new patches, considerably enhancing the functionality of the simulation as they've released them — particularly in the multiplayer aspect, which now allows extremely smooth close-up formation flying for players across the world. One of the most popular online Allied Force servers is Multivipers, which runs real-time campaigns lasting days. Players jump into missions — whatever missions they like — and their success or otherwise determines the course of the campaign.

[edit] The future

The development team Lead Pursuit are rumored to be in production of the successor to Falcon 4.0: Allied Force.[citation needed] With the demise of Microsoft Flight Simulator[1] the Falcon name could claim to be the longest running flight simulation series.[citation needed]

[edit] Game modifications

Although not programmed originally with modification in mind there are several graphical enhancements available from hobbyists to give the objects and terrain more detail.

  • New Aircraft and Weapon skins.
  • New Terrain.
  • New Cockpits.

[edit] Awards

AVSIM.COM

Best Combat Simulator -- Bravo Zulu Award. From the judges: "We thought this a fitting designation for the truly outstanding contributions of new simulators and related hardware, aircraft, panel, scenery, and add-on utilities we've seen this past year. We've selected what AVSIM Online's Editors judge to be the best from both freeware and commercial product (including shareware) publishers and developers."[2]

PC GAMER MAGAZINE

89% Must Buy Award: "The real joy of the game is seeing the complex, constantly changing conflicts first-hand from the cockpit of the gravity-mocking F-16 jet. Three variants of the versatile Falcon are modelled, each with breathtakingly faithful avionics and cockpit functionality. Sensational campaigns, superlative realism, impressive scaleability. Go purchase the most realistic, most absorbing jet sim money can buy."

PC PILOT MAGAZINE

5 out of 5 Classic Award: "To say that the campaigns in AF are a triumph would be to undersell them. Put plainly, no high-street sim can offer you a more accurate portrayal of a modern military airborne radar system. Lead Pursuit should be congratulated for refurbishing Falcon so successfully. It's significantly closer to perfection than any of its rivals."

PC ZONE MAGAZINE

82% Essential Award: "You suddenly realize that this is a game, sorry simulation, of such intelligence, such utter authenticity and attention to detail that few, if any, other flight sims can match its passion for avionic and tactical perfection. If you dedicate yourself to learning how an F-16 really flies ... then you'll find that Falcon 4.0: Allied Force is a work of genuine excellence."

[edit] See also

[edit] References

 This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2009)
  1. ^ Microsoft Flight Simulator Accessed 23-02-2009
  2. ^ AVSIM Feature: 2005 Bravo Zulu Awards

[edit] External links

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