Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    Well, guess what I received in the mail this morning? Yup, the long
    awaited FALCON update letter. The following is an approximate
    reproduction.
    
    FALCON AMIGA UPGRADE and NEW FALCON MISSION DISK NOW AVAILABLE to 
    registered owners of Falcon Amiga.
    
    FALCON MISSION DISK, OPERATION:COUNTERSTRIKE
    first came the original FALCON F-16 Fighter Simulation, with all its
    superb flight characteristics, full weapons complement and impressive
    3-D graphics displays. With the new FALCON MISSION DISK "Operation
    Counterstrike", expand your FALCON world into a full campaign with all
    the extras.
    
    NEW FEATURES:
    o  Twelve different misstions (designed for successive play)
    o  Four moving enemy vehicles (tanks,trains,amphibious craft, trucks)
    o  Stationary targets (power station,oil refinery, factory and bridges)
    o  Secondary explosions
    o  Enemy MIG-29s
    o  New terrain
    
    Order the MISSION DISK, receive the FALCON UPGRADE FREE!!
    Registered owners may order the FALCON MISSION DISK for 
    $24.95(including shipping and handling) and receive the FALCON UPGRADE
    for NO charge. Registered owners who do not wish to purchase the
    MISSION DISK may receive the FALCON UPGRADE only for a charge of $7.50
    (including shipping and handling). It is not neccessary to return the
    original disk with your order.
    
    FALCON UPGRADE
    We have listened to your feedback on FALCON and have incorporated as
    many improvments and new features as possible in the upgrade, a few are 
    listed below.
    
    o  Hard Drive installable;68020/68030 compatible;boot from WB or CLI
    o  Much easier landing parameters; Migs break off attack when you are
       landing; and you can land a damaged plane
    o  Improved flight controls for easier handling (keyboard,joystick, and
       mouse)
    o  Once destroyed, ground targets remain inoperable for 5 missions
    o  Number of times pilot completes a mission now displayed on the
       ribbon earned
    o  Aspect angle on radar reflects current F-16 avionics
    o  Easier to black/red out at higher levels
    o  SAMs launch according to chosen rank
    o  Enhanced graphics of damaged buildings
    
    Please use the form below for your order. Mail it with your check or 
    credit card information to:
           Falcon Amiga Upgrade, Spectrum Holobyte
           2061 Challenger Drive
           Alameda, CA 94501
    
    Offer good until DEC. 31, 1989
    
    ____________________________________________________________________________
    
    Name________________________________________________________________________
    Address_____________________________________________________________________
    ______I have enclosed $7.50 for the Falcon Amiga Upgrade only.
    ______I have enclosed $24.95 for the New Amiga Misson Disk and my FREE
          Falcon Amiga Upgrade.
    ______Check Enclosed           ______ Charge to my credit card
    visa/mastercard name_______________________________________________
    visa/mastercard No.________________________Exp Date________________
    
    
    

    You can order via the phone too. I have just done this and the person
    said that they are expecting their shipment of floppies on Monday
    the 24 of this month. I should be getting my misson disk with free
    update later that week.
    
    For phone orders call Spectrum-Holobyte at (415)522-3584 and ask
    for tech support.
    
    Renis
    

    
    So, who else has received their upgrade and mission disk?
    
    So far I'm impressed. The mission disk looks like it's going to be
    pretty tough. Keeping the tanks off your doorstep looks like it's going
    to be a full time job!
    
    Ray
    

RE: .3

Well...tell us about it.


Can you land the stupid thing now?

John

I too have received my update to Falcon along with
the Mission disk.

So far, I've spent my available time just flying around
the new map at Lt.-level inorder to get a sense of
what was there.

Strongest impression: Gone are the days of having those
MIG pilots do lazy fly-bys and wide sweeping/banked
turns in front of your F-16.  These MIG-29 pilots
are NASTY!!  (even at LT.-level!)  They jink their
planes all over the sky and do a real good job of
swarming all around your immediate airspace.

The new ground targets (trains, convoys, nuclear
power station, tanks, landing craft, etc.) are much
more interesting to attack.  The tanks, trains, etc.
all move too.

As for landing the the F-16, it appears to be just
moderately easier to land than the "original".

There is a new option available, which is an auto-
leveling function.  Now, when you issue small attitude
changes, the plane will automatically level itself
when you release the "stick".  This feature can be
disabled if desired.  The vote is still out as to
whether this is a "good" thing or not.

My biggest question is: how do I install both the
original Falcon (with the update) _and_ the Mission
disk version on harddisk....yet still use the same
score file?  The Mission disk instructions assume that
you are _replacing_  the original game disks.

-Jeff

    Picked up the mission disk yesterday and I'm well impressed. 

    First point, the European situation as regards the upgrade is ; you get
    a card in the Mission Disks pack to send to Mirrorsoft in England, the
    price being �3.95 in the UK and �5.95 for outside UK ( both prices
    include P&P ). 

The Missions

    As the previous noter mentioned, the tanks on your doorstep are a pain
    ; you *have* to fly the missions consecutively ( destruction of the
    tanks, and landing craft bringing more of 'em (!) being the first two
    missions ) if you want to survive. What's more you really have to make
    sure you've destroyed them all ( tanks and landing craft ) before you
    go on to the next missions... 

    ...last night I flew the first two missions, landing successfully (!),
    having destroyed all the tanks or so I thought, and feeling jolly
    pleased with myself, I went off in search of the truck convoy... 

    ...half way through making a mess of the trucks, the control tower
    announces it's been overrun by enemy tanks ! Ho hum, complete mission,
    return to base with no weapons and land to be taken POW ! 

Game Changes

    The plane seems to fly slightly more realistically and though the
    changes are subtle it "feels" quite different to the original at first.
    The major improvement is that there's no wild divergence when rolling
    360. Landing's a doddle now ( at least up to Major level ) but I found
    the auto-levelling function irritating for normal flying. 

    The new targets are great, and a nice touch are messages from base
    giving you "suspected" locations of the train/trucks. 

    The weapons seem more effective, the Mavericks can be made to 'lock on'
    to moving targets ( anyone manage this with the original ? ) which
    makes trucks and tanks easier to deal with, and the AIM9Ls seem to be
    available in greater abundance and be more lethal. 

    The MiG-29s look great and fly even more convincingly than the -21s in
    the original. 


Interesting 'features'

    A kamikaze nosedive onto an overrun base gets you taken POW ( at least
    the picture shows you holding your head - guess it might hurt a bit )
    !!! 


All in all, a magnificent piece of software,

    Dave 

    I've discovered so far 1 key that the manual doesn't explain and nor
    have I. The key is ALT, when you press that key the designator of the
    control sensitiviness changes from green to yellow....  I'll try
    to find some sort of explanation what it does...
    
    If someone else finds some undocumented features on the update then
    please post them here !!! I'd be very interested!
    
    -Kari
    

This may change control to the trim tabs.

John    

    >This may change control to the trim tabs.
    
    BTW: What are trim tabs ???? 
    
    -Kari
    

>    BTW: What are trim tabs ???? 
    
The trim tabs are little small control surfaces that are used to
make small directional adjustments.  The trim tab controls differ from
the normal controls in that you set them and they stay in the same
position. The can be used to compensate for thrust differences between
left and right side engines or to compensate for differences between the
center of gravity and the center of lift.

If the plane is loaded with more weight in either the front or the back
of the plane the plane will tend to either drop or rise.  Also, at
different speeds the center of lift will be at different positions on
the wing.

In Falcon it seems that the trim taps are just fine controls on the
rudder and elevator.  The trim tabs are toggled using the ALT key.

John

    
    OK, so it seems that the new version of Falcon is finally worthy
    to be considered buying by us eliterian folks with A2620's and hard
    disks. ;-)
    So, how much is it?
    Don't tell that I'll have to get the ole one AND the upgrade...
    
    Regards,
    
    <CB>

    RE: .10
    
    Thanks, John! That really clears the meaning of that key.
    
    RE: .11
    
    Yes, you have to buy the old Falcon too, because the upgrade just
    changes the bootdisk, not the second datadisk wich has highscores
    etc...
    
    Unless you can get the second disk somewhere....
    
    -Kari
    

    
    Re: .12
    
    Uh oh, are were condoming piracy here, or what? :-)
    Just because I'm living in Germany doesn't make me a pirate, although
    I believe I could get a pirated new boot disk within 24 hours, if I so
    desired. But since this new version 
    a) seemingly fixes the worst bugs/misfeatures of the ole one, and
    b) this proves that there are game publishers that will give you
    compareable support to productivity software,
    I most certainly don't plan to pirate this game, one way or another.
    
    What puzzles me, is how the transfer of the game to HD is achieved,
    or is the boot disk not copy protected? Or do they just allow the
    data disk to reside on hard disk???
    
    Regards,
    
    <CB>
                                                      

>    < Note 2648.13 by FRAMBO::BALZER "Christian Balzer DTN:785-1029" >
>                             -< Still puzzled... >-
>    Re: .12
>    
>    Uh oh, are were condoming piracy here, or what? :-)
>    Regards,
    
>    <CB>
                                                      
I don't think this is the place to discuss coming privacy.
    Tom

>    
>    Uh oh, are were condoming piracy here, or what? :-)
>

Hey <CB>, that obvious typo has some rather interesting implications. Might
just stop the proliferate buggers :-)

John

    Re: last few
    
    blush, Blush, BLush, BLUsh, BLUSh, BLUSH!  ;-)
    
    Anybody out there who can recommend a good spell-checker with a
    medium AI algorithm for VMS??? ;-)
    
    Still blushing,
    
    <CB>

Don't know a better spell, but maybe the VAX Grammer Checker (in X rated mode) 
would catch those things :-)

John

For those of you guys and dolls who have received your upgrade,
how long did it take to arrive?

I ordered mine five weeks ago and paid by credit card over the phone
and still have not received it.

Did they ship by UPS or U.S. Snail?

John

    I paid by check, and it only took 2 1/2  weeks.
    
    						Peter
    

I ordered by phone w/VISA when we first got word that
it was due out.......I think that was about 2 months
ago.  I've had mine for about 2+ weeks now.  Oh, it
came via U.S. Snail.

It wouldn't surprise me that they are taking even
longer to get the more recent orders processed and
delivered.

I picked up the mission disk at the Memory Location last week.  Is the update
included on that disk, or do I need to get another one from Spectrum Holobyte?

Mike

    The update is for the original "Falcon" and simply replaces the first
    diskette from the original set of 2.
    
    The Mission disk does effectively the same thing.......so you don't
    really need the update unless you wish to play the "old" scenarios.
    
    -Jeff

re:.11
>    So, how much is it?

I don't think anyone really answered this: $24.95 (overseas, your milage may
vary...)

I ordered by phone, recieved in about a month, but it was for the ATARI.
Be careful when ordering- nobody asked me what computer I owned, and I for-
got to point out that I wanted the Amiga version. So I called, and after 
some petty reluctance ("Well, it says here you ordered the Atari version...")
they agreed to swap it, and the replacement came in 5 days.

The upgrade and the new mission disk contain short control streams which
copy the appropriate files to the hard disk directory of your choice, after
creating subdirectories of their own. After that, running them is just a
matter of getting in the right directory and typing "falcon" for the old
missions, or "falconmission" for the new missions. The copy stream will
want "Disk 2", because the art and sound files are there. These aren't
changed, apparently.

Landing is definitely easier, as measured by the fact that I can land
now.

I've noticed some random garbage in the "cockpit" artwork when I'm running
the new version. Does anyone else have this? It doesn't overlay any important
information, so I'm not concerned, but it looks like some of the code is
being written into the screen data. 

Otherwise, seems quite bug-free.

John O.

> I've noticed some random garbage in the "cockpit" artwork when I'm running
> the new version. Does anyone else have this? It doesn't overlay any important


I get the same thing looking behind me in the cockpit. About a 1/2 inch
horizontal bar of "confetti" about halfway down the screen.

John

    Re, previous couple...
    
    I got similar effects very occasionally when using the original 
    version but so far I haven't seen it on the upgrade.
    
    Something else that seems to have changed... when I added the A501
    memory upgrade, I suddenly found ( along with more sound effects and
    the black box ) that whenever I "crossed paths" with a MiG I'd 
    suddenly get a view out the back for a few seconds, to watch him pass,
    and then get back the forward view. It was fun with one-on-one fights
    but against more MiGs, terminal confusion quickly set in...
    
    This no longer happens with the upgrade ( probably just as well ! ). 
    
    
    I could do with some tactical advice ! Even if I fly the first couple
    of missions successfully I can only get about half way to a more
    distant target before home-base starts telling me about landing craft
    beaching... if I don't break off my attack and go and sort them out, 
    base gets overrun before I can complete my mission and return...
    
    ...anyone else finding this ? any tips ?
    
    Currently, for every mission I first check for any tanks or craft and 
    take them out first - which often leaves me without enough weaponry to
    take on the mission... so I go back and land, and start again !
    
    Dave.

    I am also seeing a streak of garbage across the screen in front and
    rear views.  I'm not sure about the side views, but the external
    viewpoints are definitely OK.
    
    My son found a "cheapie": instead of taking off, just taxi around
    looking for enemy trucks, and shoot them with the guns.  He says 
    you can get a lot of points this way, but it looks funny when a truck
    passes *over* your F16.  I haven't had a chance to try this---since
    he discovered the game I haven't been able to get near the computer.
        John Sauter

    
    I only get the horizontal band of garbage when running from my hard
    drive.  The original floppy and backup copies work fine.  Wierd.
    
    Ed

    I've only run from the hard drive; maybe that's why I've always seen
    it.
        John Sauter

Harddrive also.

I have been playing with the new falcon and mission disk. There have been many
improvements, but some things still lose for me. The previous mentions of 
screen trashing bring this to mind:

1) bugs like the screen trash. There are others like problems running from
   the hard disk caused problems until I fixed some things in the ICONX
   script file - like a consistent guru from the "sound" program. Seems
   related to S:Shell-Startup doing a CD to a particular area.

2) The game does not multitask. I want to play it during long downloads. I 
   have an A2620 so there is plenty of CPU and memory. Grrr. Make the amiga
   a lot more like an ST or PeeCee or Mac. When will they learn!

3) The game does not exit, it forces a reboot after a Mac-like shutdown.
   El-sucko. Games that force me to re-boot *really* irritate me.

4) Code wheel protection - well, maybe this is not as bad as other methods,
   but those icons can be difficult to interpret. Perhaps a key disk approach
   would be less objectionable...

Re: screen trash

Yup...I get it also.  At first I though it was related
to running it from the hardrive...with all of the WB
stuff loaded and running on a 1Mb machine.  But
since then, I've added 2Mb of RAM and _still_ get the
same graphics problem.  *sigh*  At least I now get
all of the sounds when I run it from the hard disk.

-Jeff

I got my upgrade today. The thing so far seems to work GREAT.
Landing is much much better.  The plane handles better also.
The only thing that is funny is the autocentering of the stick
although it seems like something I could get used to even if
I couldn't disable it.

The ability to load from a hard disk reduces the startup time
from several minutes to a few seconds.  This is great!

John

When installing FalconMission on your harddisk, save some space -
just copy the FalconMission program and FalconMission.info icon to your
original Falcon directory containing Falcon1.1 and Falcon1.1.info. All
the other files are the same ('cept for the opening graphic). Having
them both in the same directory allows accruing merits in the same
scorekeeper for both missions.

I also see the horizontal band across the cockpit in the rear view!

Note, Falcon doesn't like too many background tasks running when you
boot. If you have MachII running (V2.5), Falcon won't allow the sounds
to play (wierd). 

Is there a way to eliminate the code wheel? Someone must have a patch!

Training mode is a lot of fun. Tracking the MIGs through their flight
envelope and knocking them down with the cannon is slick. Also, the
bullets "splash" in the lake and on the ground when strafing. 

Those tanks are tough to pick out from altitude. They seem to be tough
to destroy too. They require a dead-on hit with a Maverick. Near misses
on the SAM sites will destroy the SAMs. The cannon works very well
against the SAMs.

I'd love to try this via modem at 2400 baud.

    I tried copying the Mission DIsk into the same directory as the
    Falcon 1.1 stuff.  Unfortunately whenever I try to fly a mission
    the screen goes blank after the armaments menu and I can't do anything.
    
    John

>>    I tried copying the Mission DIsk into the same directory as the
>>    Falcon 1.1 stuff.  Unfortunately whenever I try to fly a mission
>>    the screen goes blank after the armaments menu and I can't do anything.
    
I used the HD-Install program on the Mission disk. I then copied the
executable and its icon to the original Falcon directory. Next, I
deleted the Mission directory. It works fine.   

    
    
    By all reports, this seems as must for my collection. But before
    I buy, does it have an Amiga <-> Amiga null-modem option??
    
    	A friend has some other simulator , and the 2 player option
    is really great, although with my in-experience the dogfights
    at present don't last too long and normally end with a sidewinder
    et al right up the cockpit!!
    
    Regards, Mark.
    
    

    
    Falcon has a very nice two-player mode.  However, it is extremely
    sluggish at 2400 baud.  
    
    Ed.

    I have used the two player option with Amiga to ST at 19200 via null
    modem.  I found the action slightly slowed down but very playable. 
                   
    I also found (or claimed as an excuse) that the ST had an advantage
    ... An enemy plane came on the radar at greater range on the ST and
    so could be tracked more easily.  It could be that this is fixed
    in the upgrade, I remember something about 'out of range of sight'
    radar tracking.

    Anyhow it has given me the impetus to practice my Mig fighting in
    preparation for another contest.
                                               
    Peter

    
    
    	Thanks for all the replies re:2 player option.
    
    	I did see a demo of Falcon over the weekend and am now definitely
    	in two minds.
    
    	Although Falcon was much better than the F16Combat thingy,in
    	2 player mode there was no visible perf. hit on F16 in 2 player.
    
    	Oh well eenie-meenie-mynie-mo....
    
    	One more question though, Is the disk accessed whilst 2-playing??
    
    	ie. Do you need to buy 2 copies for 2 player.
    		(bearing in mind that Falcon is copy-protected in the
    	UK vs codewheel Stateside. I think.)
    
    
     

Has anyone noticed that landing the plane at O-5 and O-5
levels is just as hard as it was before the upgrade?

John

    Re .39
    
    Don't worry about the speed of 2 player falcon, the game is fantastic.
    
    With the UK version you can run two Amigas from the one set of disks.
    The second disk can be copied.  Therefore you can start the first
    Amiga with disk 1 and load the copy of disk 2, then start Amiga
    2 with disk 1 and load (I would suggest) another copy of disk 2.
    
    Peter

    
    
    
    Thanks all, I am convinced. It's dig out that plastic time again!!!
    
    Regards, Mark.
    

RE: .40    Hate to admit it, but I've never crashed.

    OK, i have the version 1.1

    I went to the dealer on a still saturday afternoon, started 'heavy
    bubbeling' with the guy and he changed my version 1.0 disks against
    version 1.1. So far so good.

    Now i want to install Falcon on my HD. Several questions are comin'
    up:
    1. The version 1.1 Manual says nothing about the HD-installation
    2. I seens that i have a 'regular' version 1.1. 
       Because i have no mission disk, i miss the file HD-install
       Is it possible to install the stuff on the HD without using HD-install?
    3. Can anybody give me a short installation advise?
    

    Thanks in advance
    
    Ralf
    ====    

RE: < Note 2648.43 by DICKNS::MACDONALD "WA1OMM 7.093/145.05/223.58 AX.25" >

>RE: .40    Hate to admit it, but I've never crashed.


Care to share the secret?

    More than likely he never got off the ground.  :-)
                                                  
    
    Renis

Let me elaborate on my question...

At O-2,3 & 4 you can land the plane on the nose wheel.  Apparently
this is not the case at O-5 and O-6.  In order to last the plane
on the main gear you the velocity vector must be below the centerline
of the plane.  This seems to be virtually impossible in Falcon.
Even when the airspeed is 50 kts you can pull the nose up and 
the plane will rise.  I have not be able to find a way
to have the nose slightly up (or even level) and have the plane 
descend other than to use the pitch controls.  If  pitch the plane
up the rate of descent becomes too great and splat!

John

    Having just spent n (where n is a large number) hours trying to
    get Falcon working in Amiga to Amiga 2 player mode I have discovered
    some bugs in the UK version.
    
    I have previously had the 2 player option working fine with an Amiga
    to ST set-up but the problem this time is that one of the Amiga's
    has only 512K.
    
    I have noted the following scanarios:
    
  1 Falcon V1 loads and plays single player OK but Gurus when I attempt
    to takeoff in two player mode.
    
  2 Falcon V1.2 (the upgrade supplied by mirror soft) won't even load on
    a 512K Amiga.                                         
                                                          
  3 Falcon the Mission acts just like V1 ie. crashes on 2 player takeoff.
                                                          
    This only happens on the 512K machine.  Everything works OK on a 1
    Mb config.  I have also swapped the 512K expansion board just to
    check that the H/W is OK.
    
    Peter
                                           

    Well, my FALCON (original release) package includes a one sheet insert
    with information about flying head-to-head.  It states pretty clearly
    that you must have 1 meg to use this mode.  Yup, I tried it anyway here
    and noted the same results you report.  So I'm saving for a StarBoard
    for my A1000 (second machine)...

  > Well, my FALCON (original release) package includes a one sheet insert
  > with information about flying head-to-head.  It states pretty clearly
  > that you must have 1 meg to use this mode.  

    Interesting ... I also have the insert, but it does not state 1
    meg as a requirement.  It refers to page 3 of the flight manual
    which says:
    
    "Note that the black box feature and certain sound and graphic
    enhancements are available only on the 1 Mb models."
                                                
    "If you plan to employ the option to direct-connect two machines
    and dogfight against another Falcon owner, you'll need a special
    cable (or cables) to connect the two machines.  See special insert
    for information on this option."
    
    If this restriction is true it means that some of my friends can
    forget their expectation of purchasing a 512K Amiga and dogfighting
    against me.
    
    I will contact Mirror Soft and get their view on the subject and
    also on the fact that V1.2 won't even boot on a 512K Amiga.
    
    Peter

    I have a friend comming this weekend, with his Amiga 500, and would
    like to connect the two Amigas together. I have not looked in the
    manual yet, but though I'd ask here first, before I get home to look.
    What is the cable I need to do this. Will the standard DEC nul modem
    cabel BC22A work ? If
    not Is there a common cable to do this?.
    
    I plan on trying FALCON, and several other games as well.
    
    						Thanks Peter  

    
    
    I have a very simple cable that works with Falcon and most other
    two amiga options (Populous et al.) It is a standard null-modem
    or crossover cable.
    
    ie.
    
    	Pins go like this
    
    	Cable end 1				Cable end 2
    
    	Pin #'s  				Pin #'s
    
   Transmit	2 <-----_   _------------>	2	Transmit
			 \ /
			  X  ie. Crossed over
		         / \    
   Receive	3 <-----    ------------->      3	Receive
    
    	               Straight through
   Ground 	7 <---------------------->	7	Ground
    

    
    	This works fine! Don't know about the "standard" DEC null-modem
    	but I should assume that it is probably a superset of the above
    	pin connections.

    
    	Regards, Mark.

I've used a standard DEC null-modem cable and it worked just fine.

I don't recall the part number since it's at home but they're all pretty
standard...

-Ray

    Thanks for the information on the cables. 
    
    					Peter
    

I was wondering if any of you guys have run into any of these
bugs in the Falcon update or know about their resolution.

The stripe in the rear view is an obvious one but...

In the Falcon when flying at O-5 or O-6 level and you make combat manovers
the plane often goes into an unrecoverable stall.  THe plane may be going
well over the stall speed (300-400kts) but pushing HELP or
diving to increase speed then pull up does not recover.

In the Falcon Mission there seems to be a problem with ground attack
weapons.  The two factories seem to have a magical shield.  They seem
to have the ability to deflect Maverics and bombs even at close range.
There seems to be something funny with the way Maveric lock on targets.
Often when I block up a leading car in the train the following cars stop.
The car the gets hit is knocked off the track about forty feet.  When
I make another pass to get the other cars if I point at the car on the track
the pickle square locks on to the car that has been blown up
and is no even close to where I am pointing.

John

    re .49
    
    It does in fact require 1Mb for Head-to-Head (shame since a 512K
    ST can do the trick) they just forgot to mention it in the UK
    documentation.

    Thought I'd better clarify this so that expectations are correctly
    set.
    
    Peter

Article 3463 of comp.sys.amiga.games:
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From: [email protected] (Peter Altamore)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.games
Subject: Re: Installing Falcon on a HD
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Date: 16 Jan 91 04:56:10 GMT
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On 10 Jan 91 16:05:24 GMT [email protected] (David Witzany):
 
>     If you already own an early version of Falcon, you should contact the
>manufacturers about getting an upgrade.  I think the HD-installable version
>is 1.1, and they'll charge you $7.50 or so, plus your Disk #1.  If you don't
>already own the game, the version in any store should be the HD-compatible
>one.
 
This article motivated me to upgrade my copy of Falcon vintage 1.0 to a more
timely version (one that can land hopefully!).  I called Spectrum Holobyte
and spoke with a friendly and helpful woman.  She informed me that the most
recent version of Amiga Falcon is 1.2.  The upgrade entails sending a check
or money order for $5.00, your original disk #1, and a little note stating
that you want to upgrade to Amiga Falcon v1.2 to:
 
Spectrum Holobyte
Attn: Customer Support
2061 Challenger Drive
Alameda, CA 94501
 
The phone # is (415)522-3584
--
      UUCP: crash!pro-graphics!critical.mass    | Critical Mass Software
  ARPA/DDN: [email protected] | P.O. Box 23
  Internet: [email protected]  | Short Hills, NJ 07078

    I called SH this afternoon and the guy I spoke with said that the only
    difference between versions 1.1 and 1.2 was support for the Gravis
    MouseStick. I tried to pry any info about even the slightest of bugfixes
    out of him but he insisted that was all. Well, I never did go for the
    MouseStick offer (since it looks mechanically identical to the Advanced
    Gravis stick, which I busted prematurely because of it's soft plastic
    innards [not to mention overzealous arm twisting and my brains soft
    plastic innards]), so it doesn't seem worth the $5.00 (spoken like a
    true cheapskate!). Can anyone with V1.2 confirm this? I thought I saw
    mention of V1.2 a few replies back, but perhaps that was in reference
    to the U.K. version?

    BTW, SH also mentioned that "Flight of the Intruder" should be available
    for the Amiga in the near future. From what I hear, it uses accurate
    maps of the battle area (Vietnam?) and is available for I*M's and ST's.

    Pete

    P.s. When's the "Operation: Desert Storm" mission disk gonna hit the
         shelves?

>    BTW, SH also mentioned that "Flight of the Intruder" should be available
>    for the Amiga in the near future. From what I hear, it uses accurate
>    maps of the battle area (Vietnam?) and is available for I*M's and ST's.

That was an excellent movie. Saw it on Sunday in Nashua NH. Takes place in
Vietnam in (I think) 1972 or 1974.

john

    As anyone heard anything about Falcon supporting an analogue joystick ?
    The F-19 Stealth is much easier to fly when using one !!!
    
    -Dave.

    re  .59
    
    Hmm, think that operation Desert Storm will not be available for
    $5.00 (call Mr. Baker for details)  :-) ;-) :-)
    
    Ralf
    ====

>< Note 2648.61 by CEEOSI::WILTSHIRE "Dave - Networks Conformance Eng." >
                            -< Analogue Joystick ? >-

Dave,

		What make/model analog joystick are you using?

							Jim

                       <<< Note 2648.60 by WJG::GUINEAU >>> 

> That was an excellent movie. Saw it on Sunday in Nashua NH. Takes place in
> Vietnam in (I think) 1972 or 1974.
> 
> john
> 

John,
 
    I agree!!  I went to see it the Friday night after the War started.  Talk
about realistic timing.  On the way home from the theater, heard in a War
update that we'd just lost a A-6 intruder.  It was a very pensive ride home
to say the least.  I'd give the movie a pucker factor of 9.5 due to
realism...
 

--------
John R. Kendrix  ---  E-Mail:  A1 - John Kendrix @ALF
Tele: 404-343-1739    USeNet:  DECWRL::"[email protected]"
                      VxMail:  CSCOAC::Kendrix_J
--------
What do I want out of life?...MORE!

>   <<< Note 2648.61 by CEEOSI::WILTSHIRE "Dave - Networks Conformance Eng." >>>
>                             -< Analogue Joystick ? >-
> 
>     As anyone heard anything about Falcon supporting an analogue joystick ?
>     The F-19 Stealth is much easier to fly when using one !!!
>     
>     -Dave.
> 


I wasn't aware that they made a Analogue Joystick for the Amiga!!  Where did
you get one?!?!


--------
John R. Kendrix  ---  E-Mail:  A1 - John Kendrix @ALF
Tele: 404-343-1739    USeNet:  DECWRL::"[email protected]"
                      VxMail:  CSCOAC::Kendrix_J
--------
What do I want out of life?...MORE!

< I wasn't aware that they made a Analogue Joystick for the Amiga!!  Where did
< you get one?!?!
    
    	Voltmace Ltd.,
    	Unit 9,
    	Bondor Business Centre,
    	BALDOCK,
    	Herts,
    	SG7 6NG
    	U.K.
    
    	Tel: +44 462 894410
    
    	Cost: around $30 - Mastercharge and Visa accepted.  Shipping to the
    	      USA is probably extra........
    
    The unit is designed to be hand held so measures 5" by 2.5" with
    3 function buttons and the stick on the upper surface.  It is fully
    compatable with F-19 Stealth and FSII.  Hence my original question
    about Falcon supporting such a device....  Doesn't sound like there's
    going to be much demand :-(
    
    -Dave.
    
          

    I think there was an article in Amazing, a year or so back, on building
    a small adapter to use common I*M style analog joysticks on Amiga.

    re:falcon
    
    I thought I saw something recently that said a 1.2 version of Falcon
    is available.  The only new feature was support for the Gravis
    joystick.  I assume that means it now supports analog joysticks that work
    like the Gravis.  Does the Gravis have a setting for Amiga analog?
    or just ibm and apple?
    
    re: that analog joystick
    is it sold as an Amiga joystick or an ibmpc joystick with an adapter as
    mentioned in .67?
    
    Dave

    < re: that analog joystick
    < is it sold as an Amiga joystick or an ibmpc joystick with an adapter as
    < mentioned in .67?
    
    It's sold as a dedicated Amiga Analogue joystick......nowt to do with
    IBM.......
    
    -Dave.
    

     
>     It's sold as a dedicated Amiga Analogue joystick......nowt to do with
>     IBM.......
>     
>     -Dave
 
Dave,
 
What does it plug into, the joystick port?!  Someone told me that it couldn't
work that way since the amiga joystick port wasn't set up that way.  What are
the differences between the Gravis Joystick, and the other Analogue Joystick? 
Which one is best?
 
JK

    re. analog joysticks for Amiga, see note 730.*
    
    John

    re: -.2
    
    It plugs replaces the more normal micro switched joystick.
    
    -Dave.

    Hy to everyone!I am an italian Falcon pilot and during these days I
    have enjoied myself reading your notes about the "Marvellous" Falcon.
    I have also found many hints to my problem in flight F-16, but the
    reason of my note is this:I have read something about the version 1.2
    of Falcon.My version is the first (I think 1.0) and i would like to
    have the new one.How can I do to resolve my problem from Italy?
    I have found the address of S.H. in yuor replies, but I don'know if the
    price to have the new version is the same for Italy.There is somebody
    who can help me? May you conctat the S.H. for me?It's difficoult to
    reach them from here.Thank you very much for the attention. 
    
                                                  Bye Andrea
    
    p.s. What do you think about Falcon mission disk 2 ?
    p.p.s.Excuse me for my "down level" english.