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Rise of Flight, yes or no?

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Andrew MacPherson

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Aug 21, 2009, 9:17:00 AM8/21/09
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This year I've developed a love/hate relationship with iRacing, and that's occupied
a lot of my free time and even more of my bank account. Now I'm trying to stay away
from that hardcore racing regime, and have been contemplating doing a bit of flight
simming for the first time in ages... if I can untangle the rat's nest of cables
behind my pc and get the joysticks plugged in again. :-)

I could try to get back into Black Shark, but I think my love affair with Eagle
Dynamics is over for good, so I'm on the prowl for something else. I've never
really been a WW1 enthusiast, and the business model for RoF is a bit of a
put-off... especially after I've allowed myself to weaken and spend more than $450
in iRacing this year on an even more restrictive business model. (I know, insane!)

Reading some forums it looks like opinions are fairly divided on the subject, but
the basic sim isn't too expensive and I'm tempted to get some oil on my goggles.

Anyone here have any useful input?

Andrew McP... growing financially incontinent in his old age

Remco Moedt

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Aug 21, 2009, 11:42:54 AM8/21/09
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Not useful I guess..

The sloppy introduction of the game, the lack of information where to
buy it, the lack of support on the forums from the developer when
people have problems with activating the game, the fact you've to buy
extra planes and the fact you've to log in to a website to play
offline holds me back a bit for the moment.

Cheers!

Remco

GaryR

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Aug 21, 2009, 3:41:08 PM8/21/09
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Andrew -

Do you have a copy of Microsoft Flight Sim 3 kicking around? There is
a great WWI add-on that is quite popular called "Operation Flanders
Field - Between Heaven and Hell" You cna get the add-on for $29.95
here - http://www.overflandersfields.com/info.htm and the forum for it
is here -
http://forum.combatace.com/index.php?s=713cbc64d94cc7576953326c306447d0&showforum=206

It has tons of planes, a good flight model, a semi-dynamic campaign,
etc. etc. etc.. It's the most immersive game i've played in a long
time. The online play is ok and more dependant on internet
connectivity than anything else (as it's a user that hosts)..

I actually have a spare copy (new) of MSFS3 that I would sell cheap
but I think it can be found online easily enough..

Gary

>On Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:17 +0100 (BST), mcp.a...@DELETTHISgmail.com (Andrew MacPherson) wrote:

Andrew MacPherson

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Aug 21, 2009, 4:17:00 PM8/21/09
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no@email (Remco Moedt) wrote:

> Not useful I guess..

Maybe, maybe not Remco... but what you say mirrors my feelings, which is why I
resisted the urge to buy it from direct2drive yesterday. Thanks anyway; at least I
know I'm not alone with my doubts. :-)

Andrew McP

Andrew MacPherson

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Aug 21, 2009, 4:17:00 PM8/21/09
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Ga...@nospamforme.com (GaryR) wrote:

> Do you have a copy of Microsoft Flight Sim 3 kicking around?

I did buy MSX and hardly ever flew it if that counts? :-) No, I don't Gary, but I
can pick up a copy very cheaply locally. The cost of the two together would be a
little bit more than the cost of the basic RoF package, which includes next to
nothing.

I'll investigate, thanks.

Andrew McP

GaryR

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Aug 21, 2009, 5:18:50 PM8/21/09
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I should add that I own RoF also and prefer BHaH..

G

Farley

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Aug 21, 2009, 7:46:44 PM8/21/09
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He means 'Microsoft *Combat* Flightsim 3' and not the civilian flightsim
series. I have RoF and like it but plan to get OFF also because the
campaigns are done better but RoF has the better detailed planes and
flight models though. Hopefuly RoF will get better campaigns later as
RoF is a work in progress and you need to understand that ahead of time
if buying RoF.

GaryR

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Aug 21, 2009, 10:21:48 PM8/21/09
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Yes, MCFS3, sorry about the confusion. You can get it for $10 just
about anywhere, here for one -
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VRCNLG

G

Andrew MacPherson

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Aug 22, 2009, 1:58:00 AM8/22/09
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far...@SPAMTRAP.net (Farley) wrote:

> He means 'Microsoft *Combat* Flightsim 3'

It's ok, I may be a bit rusty on flight sims these days, but I knew what he meant
immediately. :-)

> Hopefuly RoF will get better campaigns later as RoF
> is a work in progress

Having bought into the ongoing iRacing beta experiment (in a depressingly big way!)
I'm sort of on the fence about joining another. I know I ought to buy it anyway,
just to support the genre, but there are only so many disappointments a man can
take in one lifetime. :->

Andrew McP

GaryR

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Aug 22, 2009, 9:44:08 AM8/22/09
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Hold off on RoF and do a "wait and see".. Get a copy of MSCFS3 and OFF
P3, you won't be dissapointed, Well, if you try MSCFS3 you will be
dissapointed so save yourself the depression and just run P3 with the
latest update (1.32e at this time I believe) and let the MS "host" sit
idlely in the background...

Gary

rob

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Aug 22, 2009, 3:50:10 PM8/22/09
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"Andrew MacPherson" wrote...

> I could try to get back into Black Shark, but I think my love affair with
> Eagle
> Dynamics is over for good, so I'm on the prowl for something else. I've
> never
> really been a WW1 enthusiast, and the business model for RoF is a bit of a
> put-off... especially after I've allowed myself to weaken and spend more
> than $450
> in iRacing this year on an even more restrictive business model. (I know,
> insane!)
>
> Reading some forums it looks like opinions are fairly divided on the
> subject, but
> the basic sim isn't too expensive and I'm tempted to get some oil on my
> goggles.
>
> Anyone here have any useful input?


I'd say yes. I got a download version with 4 planes and have since bought
the SE5, now I'm waiting for the camel so bad that I've taken to sitting on
the doghouse outside in my googles and scarf.

All up I'm having fun with RoF, tho we had a baby last month so I've only
spent about 10-15 hours it. The login to play 'feature' that has so many
peoples knickers in a knot is really pretty painless. The graphics are
absolutely beautiful if you have a hefty PC (except for the trenchlines
which look like a 2d bitmap), the flight models seem good, the AI will
challenge you but sadly I've yet to have a decent online experience.


Andrew MacPherson

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Aug 22, 2009, 4:24:00 PM8/22/09
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In article <h6pi5i$hi2$1...@aioe.org>, rob...@xtranope.co.nz (rob) wrote:

> All up I'm having fun with RoF, tho we had a baby last month so
> I've only spent about 10-15 hours it.

Thanks, and congratulations. I've never done the family thing myself, but always
hoped to. It seems ungrateful not to after all these millions of years of passing
the genetic parcel. :-)

> but sadly I've yet to have a decent online experience.

I've never had a satisfactory online experience with a flight sim, except maybe
when watching that amazing live aerobatic display by the Russians with Lomac. I
think that's why I'm always eager for that much anticipated and very rarely
delivered dynamic campaign.

These day though I can be quite happy with just a satisfying flight model and a
nice landscape to fly around. I think I may be turning into a pacifist in my old
age. :-)

Andrew McP

Farley

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Aug 23, 2009, 7:40:34 AM8/23/09
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Andrew MacPherson wrote:

> Having bought into the ongoing iRacing beta experiment (in a depressingly big way!)
> I'm sort of on the fence about joining another. I know I ought to buy it anyway,
> just to support the genre, but there are only so many disappointments a man can
> take in one lifetime. :->
>
> Andrew McP

At least RoF is just a one time payment with other planes being
optional. iRacing is a recurring monthly fee.

Farley

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Aug 23, 2009, 7:42:12 AM8/23/09
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GaryR wrote:
> Hold off on RoF and do a "wait and see".. Get a copy of MSCFS3 and OFF
> P3, you won't be dissapointed, Well, if you try MSCFS3 you will be
> dissapointed so save yourself the depression and just run P3 with the
> latest update (1.32e at this time I believe) and let the MS "host" sit
> idlely in the background...

Not if you get the ETO mod for CFS3. It's a 2GB download though. MAW for
CFS3 is supposedly good too but I have never tried it yet.

Andrew MacPherson

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Aug 23, 2009, 9:32:00 AM8/23/09
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far...@SPAMTRAP.net (Farley) wrote:

> iRacing is a recurring monthly fee.

The monthly fee's not too bad if you swallow a year in advance. It's avoiding the
temptation to keep buying content that's the problem! :-)

But you're right, compared to iRacing RoF is a bargain even if you buy all the
content currently available.

Andrew McP

Farley

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Aug 23, 2009, 3:54:50 PM8/23/09
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Andrew MacPherson wrote:

> But you're right, compared to iRacing RoF is a bargain even if you buy all the
> content currently available.
>
> Andrew McP

Nah, iRacing is not for me because I don't want an online only sim. I
bought Liver For Speed 2 years ago and have never played it once online
yet and it sucks for offline use because the AI cars have no sense of
the human player and just drive straight through you. I guess I should
try it online one of these days because that is all it is good for.

Andrew MacPherson

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Aug 23, 2009, 9:44:00 PM8/23/09
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Far...@SPAMTRAP.net (Farley) wrote:

> I bought Live For Speed 2 years ago and have never played
> it once online

LFS is an interesting project, but I agree the offline AI is poor (so do the devs!)
and the online community is very hit & miss. As ever, organised leagues are the
only way to get decent races regularly.

iRacing is an even more 'interesting' project. Expensive, a very restrictive online
format, *but* the most satisfying simulated driving experience in the history of
sim racing. I miss it when I'm not subscribed, but I grow frustrated by the
inflexibility and poor off-peak turnout when I am. It's a lose-lose situation for
me. :-)

Andrew McP

Message has been deleted

Andrew MacPherson

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Aug 26, 2009, 2:06:00 AM8/26/09
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l...@SPAMTRAP.net (Laurence Harvey) wrote:

> I don't want to join a league either so LFS was a waste of my money
> basically.

And for me too really. However in S3 the AI should be improved (if S3 ever happens.
:-) and as for the money... compared to my foolishly over-enthusiastic 'investment'
in iRacing the cost of LFS is pretty much insignificant.

Andrew McP

Scatter

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Aug 31, 2009, 6:53:59 AM8/31/09
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On 2009-08-22, Andrew MacPherson <mcp.a...@DELETTHISgmail.com> wrote:
> I've never had a satisfactory online experience with a flight sim, except maybe
> when watching that amazing live aerobatic display by the Russians with Lomac. I
> think that's why I'm always eager for that much anticipated and very rarely
> delivered dynamic campaign.

Joining a virtual squadron is probably the best way to enjoy decent
online flying. The trick is finding one that suits your style and
timezone.

I'm eager for an online dynamic co-op campaign, with adjustable
settings for mission generation so that you can set gameplay
difficulty, mission type, etc before starting. Also a join in progress
is also appreciated for those less disciplined groups (ahem).

As for rise of flight - I've bought it, as some mates said that their
online play was great. I'm really not fond of props though and haven't
had a chance to give it a decent try yet.

GaryR

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Aug 31, 2009, 10:03:48 AM8/31/09
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Falcon 4 AF will give you all that and much more. Of couse it isn't
WW1 but it's still my all time favorite online or offline sim...

G

Mitchell Holman

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Nov 17, 2009, 10:31:59 PM11/17/09
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Farley <far...@SPAMTRAP.net> wrote in
news:SU9km.90340$nL7....@newsfe18.iad:


But why the requirement to log on to their
server to play a stand-alone sim?


Darren

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Nov 18, 2009, 2:46:19 PM11/18/09
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> But why the requirement to log on to their
>server to play a stand-alone sim?

I think it's a scam or something. Nothing I do will get this piece of
crap to run on any of my 3 state-of-the-art gaming computers. If you
intend to spend money on this then I suggest you talk to somebody that's
actually got to play it.


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Scatter

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Nov 19, 2009, 4:14:20 AM11/19/09
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On 2009-11-18, Mitchell Holman <noe...@comcast.net> wrote:
> But why the requirement to log on to their
> server to play a stand-alone sim?

DRM, plain and simple. If it had an offline mode like steam it'd be
more palatible. At least you don't "lose activations" when you upgrade
your machine unlike other schemes. The online verification doesn't
worry me that much as I pretty much only fly online but I can see how
it'd be a real drag for anyone with dialup or other intermittent net
connection.

The honest pay for the sins of the pirates.

Darren

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Nov 20, 2009, 12:33:34 PM11/20/09
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>Probably an issue with your router not opening the port the game needs.

I use a 1GB switch, not a router.


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Wile E. Coyote

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Nov 20, 2009, 1:26:28 PM11/20/09
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Darren wrote:

>
> I use a 1GB switch, not a router.
>
>

Then why is it everyone else has no problem starting the game except you?

Darren

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Nov 20, 2009, 7:22:30 PM11/20/09
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>Then why is it everyone else has no problem starting the game except you?

Well frankly I don't know, but I sure would like to and I wish somebody would
offer a helpful suggestion rather than some jackass proffer snarky little attacks
such as this. Perhaps this sort of thing is why this newsgroup is as dead as it
is. Eh? In the good old days I normally would expect literally dozens of people to
chime in with helpful suggestions or relevent questions. But you, Wile E. Coyote
choose to be a jerk. You're ot so "wiley" if you ask me.

I have 3 compters here, all are Core 2 Quads or Duos with GeForce GTX 260 vid
cards, 4 GB RAM, etc, etc, all drivers are up-to-date. Every other game or flight
sim I own install and run just fine. But not Rise of Flight. No virii or trojans
are found using multiple scanners (Spybot, Malwarebyte's, SuperAntiSpy, McAfee,
etc). All 3 computers are well tuned and running just fine.

Rise of Flight seems to install and register just fine until I actually try to boot
it up. I click on the icon, the hour glass "please wait" thingy appears briefly and
then simply disappears. Nothing at all happens after that. There is no instance of a
process named "rof_updater.exe" running in task manager, no error message, no game,
nothing at all happens.

I have spent hours reading the forums at http://riseofflight.com, and as of the last
time I was there I found no one else with this sort of problem or any hints as to why
my install simply won't work.

As much as I was excited to find a new, great looking flight sim to play with, I've
simply had to give up on it. Nothing is worth the amount of time I have put into trying
just to get this thing to work. It looks to me that I have wasted $40 and 4GB of hard
drive space.

Now, Wile E. Coyote, if you don't have anything constructive to offer, I'd rather you
just fought the urge to post. Go kick your dog or something rather than waste my time
downloading and reading your useless post. Ok? Thanks. See ya.

GaryR

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Nov 21, 2009, 12:24:03 AM11/21/09
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Darren - from the sounds of it you have been on other forums, nothing
has helped? It never even starts? Can you view processes? Does it show
up at all? There must be someone to contact, even a "Rise of Flight
won't run" in Google has to offer something, no?

Screw the smart ass comments, if there is something I can do I will as
i've been there...

GR

DirkG

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Nov 21, 2009, 10:54:30 AM11/21/09
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I don't have your original post. But, if you suspect the switch as the
problem, just try by-passing it and link directly to your modem and see
if it works.

Darren

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Nov 21, 2009, 11:52:57 AM11/21/09
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>I don't have your original post. But, if you suspect the switch as the
>problem, just try by-passing it and link directly to your modem and see
>if it works.

No the switch can't be the problem. All my computers connect just fine and I've
registered the game.

There's something missing that Rise of Flight requires apparently. I've got
.NET Framework 3.5 installed, DirectX is installed of course, even Adobe Reader 9
which is listed as "optional" is installed. Rise of Flight's updater can and has
downloaded and installed the latest patch for the game. I did it for the hell of it
last night, it took nearly 2 ridiculous hours to download and install (2 bloody hours
to patch a game?? Huh? It doesn't even take that long to download and patch Windows
XP with every possible update available), still no joy.

I'm not too happy with the people that made this Sim. I mean, come on, the installer
really should have some sort of ability to examine your system and determine what is
missing and needs to be installed in order for the game to start up and run and then
simply install them. At least deliver some sort of error message when it fails (DirectX
missing! Install and try again, or .NET Framework 3.5 was not found and is required to
play!). Pretty much every game and sim has been able to do that for the past 15 years or
more.

Perusing the RoF forums again I noticed quite a few other people with similar problems
but no one there really offered any sort of suggestions on how to fix it.

I don't know... maybe I just have a bad install disk or something but the install seems
to finish with no problem. I just don't get it.

TWO HOURS TO PATCH RISE OF FLIGHT!?! And it still doesn't work. WTF.

Not very happy with this sim. Not happy.

Wile E. Coyote

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Nov 21, 2009, 3:37:40 PM11/21/09
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Darren wrote:

> Well frankly I don't know, but I sure would like to and I wish somebody would
> offer a helpful suggestion rather than some jackass proffer snarky little attacks
> such as this.

I tried to help but you give so little information about your setup that
I can only surmise that the reason you can't get it started is because
you don't know WTF you are doing.

Wile E. Coyote

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Nov 21, 2009, 3:43:20 PM11/21/09
to
Darren wrote:

> Rise of Flight seems to install and register just fine until I actually try to boot
> it up. I click on the icon, the hour glass "please wait" thingy appears briefly and
> then simply disappears. Nothing at all happens after that. There is no instance of a
> process named "rof_updater.exe" running in task manager, no error message, no game,
> nothing at all happens.

Which OS noob? If it is Vista or Win7 did you run it as admin? Did you
go to compatibility tab and check the boxes that say Disable Visual
Themes and Disable Desktop Composition. Quite a few games won't run on
Vista and Win7 if you don't do that first. Have you updated DirextX?
That's another possible cause. See? I am very helpful even if you don't
deserve my help.

And back in the day I was the most helpful person in this group and used
to show people how to get enough mem in Dos with custom config files all
the time.

Wile E. Coyote

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Nov 21, 2009, 3:45:53 PM11/21/09
to
Darren wrote:

> TWO HOURS TO PATCH RISE OF FLIGHT!?! And it still doesn't work. WTF.
>
> Not very happy with this sim. Not happy.
>
>

Go ask in the simhq forums for RoF as that is the best place to get info
on this game.

No.T...@here.com

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Nov 21, 2009, 6:47:30 PM11/21/09
to
Have you installed Directx 9.0c from the disk? If you're running Vista
or Win 7 you may need to if it's not installed by some other game. try
it and see.

Avatar

Nats

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Nov 22, 2009, 6:48:08 AM11/22/09
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"Mitchell Holman" <noe...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:Xns9CC6DB12C947A...@216.196.97.130...
Its the latest in PC gaming didnt you know? Publishers have stopped
releasing all of their games with invasive protection systems that dont
prevent piracy and now they are starting to only allow you to play their
games if you are connected to their server. It means that if their server
goes down or your internet connection goes down you cant play the game. The
only way to deal with this kind of mentality in gaming unfortunately is to
express your disatisfaction with your wallet in other words dont buy the
game and give them your money. It means losing out on a decent game by the
sound of it but it will mean future releases will be adequately playable. If
enough of us refuse to buy they will change their stance.

Darren

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Nov 22, 2009, 3:31:40 PM11/22/09
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>It means that if their server goes down or your internet connection goes down you cant
>play the game.

Yeah so.... what happens when they can't afford to keep their server running then? I
assume that they won't keep a server running indefinately into the future, at some point
they'll have to shut it down.

So what then? We just got software that we bought and paid for that we can no longer use?
That is, assuming I can ever get this thing to run in the mean time.

I really wish I hadn't bought this game. Aside from the fact that I simply can't get it
to run, the manuals and forums are rife with typographical and gramatical errors. The
entire thing looks extremely bush league. Are these guys for real?

I mean if it we're for the posts here and on the RoF web site forums and a smattering of
fan sites I would be lead to belive that this entire thing is just another gigantic scam
out of Russia.

Wile E. Coyote

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Nov 27, 2009, 5:57:30 AM11/27/09
to

Yea, that's what his issue is. Now I remember the same thing happened to
me the first time I installed RoF. I had already updated Directx so
elected not to instal it during the RoF installa and RoF would not run
until I installed again and let the RoF installer update Directx too.

Darren

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Nov 27, 2009, 12:16:07 PM11/27/09
to
Well I do have the latest DirectX 9.0c installed I'm pretty sure. I keep
that updated.

Worth a try I guess but why would the DirectX on the RoF install disk be
different?

Darren

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Nov 27, 2009, 2:54:53 PM11/27/09
to
Well you redeemed yourself Mr. Coyote. Installing DirectX from the install disk
did the trick.

Which is strange, because the DirectX files I had were dated August 2009 and the
files on the disk are all older, from 2006 to Dec. 2008. It's like they're using
older ot altered DirextX files or something and I had to revert back to an older
version.

This kind of ticks me off really. #1 I don't have the most current version of
DirectX, and #2 if it's mandatory that we use the specific DirectX files included
on the install disk they really ought to note that somewhere in the documentation
and / or at least have it posted as a big sticky trhread on their forums.

Honestly it never occured to me to (re)install DirectX off the disk because I
actually have installed what Microsoft offers as the "latest version".

Something fishy going on here with the DirectX versions I must say....

Anyway, it's working now, I'll quit bitching.

I'm really going to have to dig out my darned rudder pedals now. It's rather
dicey attempting take-off without them.

Wile E. Coyote

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Nov 27, 2009, 11:00:33 PM11/27/09
to
Darren wrote:
> Well you redeemed yourself Mr. Coyote. Installing DirectX from the install disk
> did the trick.
>
> Which is strange, because the DirectX files I had were dated August 2009 and the
> files on the disk are all older, from 2006 to Dec. 2008. It's like they're using
> older ot altered DirextX files or something and I had to revert back to an older
> version.

Yes, I had the latest version of Directx too but thought I should let
the game install Directx just in case and after that RoF ran fine. I
agree, it is quite strange that their version of DirectX has something
different in it than the Microsoft version. I should email RoF
developers and ask them why that is.

GaryR

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Nov 28, 2009, 11:30:04 AM11/28/09
to
It's a Ruskie conspiricy....
;-)

Darren

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Nov 28, 2009, 12:10:09 PM11/28/09
to
>It's a Ruskie conspiricy....
>;-)

It's just not cool that they're forcing us to use an older version
or some altered version of DirectX. This sim *should* work with the
latest version of DirectX.

Wile E. Coyote

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Nov 30, 2009, 1:37:10 AM11/30/09
to
Darren wrote:

> It's just not cool that they're forcing us to use an older version
> or some altered version of DirectX. This sim *should* work with the
> latest version of DirectX.
>
>

Yep, if they injected some other needed file or altered some of the
files other than the files that are standard with Directx install then
that would classify it as a Trojan install IMO.

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