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What
aircraft will be flyable in Lock On?
The focus aircraft of Lock On are the:
* A-10A "Warthog"
* F-15C "Eagle"
* Su-27 "Flanker B"
* MiG-29 "Fulcrum A"
* MiG-29 "Fulcrum C"
* Su-25 "Frogfoot"
* Su-33 "Flanker D"
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Why
were these aircrafts picked to be flyable?
Lock On began as an outgrowth of Flanker 2.5 by Eagle Dynamics. Three of
the flyable aircraft from this title were the Su-27 "Flanker B",
the Su-33 "Flanker D", and the MiG-29K "Fulcrum." Given
the work already accomplished for these aircraft, it was a logical choice
to bring the Su-27 and Su-33 over to Lock On. Initially, what is now called
Lock On was once termed Flanker Attack. This product was to add a dedicated
Russian ground attack aircraft in the form of the "Frogfoot".
With the demise of other A-10A simulations and the strong desire in the
flight simulation community to fly the Hog, we felt it was a great opportunity
to take advantage of. To round out the mix of US and Russian aircraft, and
to provide a counterpart to the Su-27, we decided to add the air superiority,
not a pound for air-to-ground, F-15C Eagle. Finally, we added three versions
of the MiG-29 Fulcrum (German MiG-29A and Russian MiG-29A and C).
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Will there
be additional flyable aircraft for Lock On?
No. We are striving for detailed modeling of each flyable aircraft and there
are only so many we can do and maintain a high quality standard. Our list
of flyable aircraft is frozen for the initial release. The addition of more
flyable aircraft for future Lock On products is being given serious consideration
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Who
is developing Lock On and where are they located?
Lock On is being developed by Eagle Dynamics, part of The Fighter Collection.
Eagle Dynamics was the developer behind Su-27 Flanker and Flanker 2.0 and
they bring their attention to detail and outstanding graphics to Lock On.
Eagle Dynamics is located in the suburbs of Moscow, Russia.
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How
will Lock On be scalable to different players?
We are aware that there is a broad spectrum of flight simulation enthusiast
out there and we want Lock On to be a fun and engaging for them all. While
some players do not want to be burdened with complex avionics and non-forgiving
flight dynamics, others want to experience every nuance of modern, air combat
aviation. Areas of scalability include:
Avionics. There will be two radar options for each aircraft.
The Easy Radar, consists of a God's eye view of the area around the
player and will show all friendlies, enemies, and missiles. Using a
set of Auto-Lock On keys, the player will be able to lock on to any
target with the press of a single key. Once locked, the player will
be given steering information and an easy-to-see target box to help
find their target. For those wanting an authentic experience, each aircraft
will also have a realistically modeled radar system that is based on
the real article.
Flight Dynamics. Selecting the Easy Flight option, players will
be given the ability yank and bank their aircraft all over the sky without
concern. With this option enabled, the player's aircraft will maintain
airspeed, recover from spins automatically, and land the aircraft in
a manner that would usually lead to a crater. However, for those wishing
to experience the most thrilling feeling of flight every brought to
the PC, Lock On will provide unparalleled flight dynamics for each aircraft.
Labels. Visually acquiring targets can be one of the most difficult
parts of any flight simulation. Be it a MiG or a tank, putting eyes
on target can be a frustrating task. Lock On will provide the option
to place vehicle labels that will denote vehicle type and range.
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Can I create
my own skins and objects for Lock On?
We greatly appreciate the flight simulation community and the wonderful
enhancements in regards to after-market skin textures. While we cannot promise
anything at this time, it is our hope and desire to include an easy-to-use
option that would incorporate user-made skins.
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How advanced
will the AI logic be?
Very! Be it air-to-air or air-to-ground, Lock On uses some very advanced
algorithms to portray modern air combat. In air-to-air combat, aircraft
will use effective, real-world tactics to down their opponents. When in
the dogfight, the AI will make maximum use of the advantages of their aircraft.
At the highest settings, the AI will prove a handful for even the most experienced
simmer. In the air-to-ground role, the AI will intelligently use their weapons
to best effect while keeping the risk to themselves at a minimum...just
like any intelligent pilot would.
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Will there
be aerial refueling?
When flying the F-15C and A-10A, players will be capable of refueling from
the KC-10, with appropriate radio commands from the tanker. When flying
the Su-33, players will be able to tank from the IL-78.
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Can aircraft
start from the tarmac or hangars?
Depending on how the mission in structured, aircraft can start missions
from all sorts of places. In addition to starting the mission in the air
or at the runway threshold, there will be the option to have aircraft start
from the parking apron or even the AI within hardened bunkers.
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How extensive
will land combat be?
Lock On will feature intelligent, moving vehicles that are capable of engaging
each other. Ground vehicles are capable of automatically plotting a course
using just roads, driving around obstacles, changing formations, and even
assuming various rules of engagement. When in combat, vehicles will employ
main tank guns, anti-tank guided missiles, machine guns, artillery, and
unguided rockets.
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How detailed
will the terrain be?
With the inclusion of the Warthog and Frogfoot, it was very important that
we include a detailed and accurate low-level flight environment. The topography
is based on unclassified, Russian satellite data and is extremely accurate.
Populating the world are tens of millions of individual trees, power lines,
villages, detailed cities, bridges, railways, and all of the other land
marks that are there in the real world. The Lock On world is designed to
look as good from 30,000 to 10 feet off the ground. By including so many
objects in the world, players flying at low altitude in their A-10 or Su-25
will feel an incredible sense of speed and "being there" as the
scenery rushes by. In addition to the Crimean peninsula, Lock On will also
include portions of the Caucuses. The Caucuses is the region east of the
Black Sea and is characterized by towering mountains and deep valleys.
Over 100,000 square miles of a highly detailed world contain:
* More than 16,000 km of roads
* More than 2,400 km of railways
* More than 20,000 km of rivers
* More than 180,000 of buildings and other constructions
* More than 15,000,000 trees
* 21 cities
* 1,700 towns and villages
* 140 highway and railway crossings
* 500 bridges
* More than 7,800 electrical towers with connecting power lines
* 18 airfields
* 8 naval bases
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To what extent
will weather be modeled?
Mission builders will have a tremendous amount of control in creating
weather conditions. Selectable weather features include:
* Temperature
* Cloud cover base and density
* Wind speed and direction at three altitude bands
* Amount of turbulence at three altitude bands
* General visibility level
* Fog cover base and density
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What type
of special effects will be included?
Using the tools of DirectX 8 and the latest breed of graphics card
technology, Lock On will push the bounds of special effects. Some
of the more impressive special effects include:
* 3D, volumetric clouds that move
* 3D, volumetric explosions and fires
* Point source lighting
* Environmental lighting
* Specular Lighting
* Rain
* Snow
* Lightning
* Environmental bump mapping
* Light-sourced, moving water surfaces
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How extensive
will training be?
The goal of our training module will be that if the player completes all
of the training missions, they will never have to read the manual. We will
do this by first introducing the players to both Russian and US aircraft
via Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) missions. They can then select lead-in
training for the A-10, F-15C, Su-27, and Su-25 and learn their unique systems.
Additionally, there will be an Advanced Training and a Top Gun sections
for those that have mastered the basics.
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Will I be
able to customize my weapons payload?
You bet. Lock On will include a custom payload editor for all flyable aircraft.
After the players have created a loadout configuration, they will have the
ability to save it and use if for future missions.
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What form
will the manual take?
Although still in development, Lock On will likely ship with an approximately
100 page quick start manual and a much larger, softcopy reference manual
on the CD. While the quick start manual will contain information on using
the East Radar, navigating the menu system, and other fundamental portions
of the game, the reference manual will include detailed instructions on
using the complex avionics, tactics, weapons references, and the finer points
of using the mission editor and multiplayer functions. The reference manual
is being written by long-time sim Guru Tom Basham.
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Will
there be a dynamic campaign in Lock On?
Eagle Dynamics is creating a campaign system for Lock On. Details will be
provided as it nears completion.
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Will naval
units be included?
Although Lock On will focus on land-based operations, a broad assortment
of naval vessels will be included in the mission builder. Using the powerful
mission builder, players can set movement waypoints for all ships and, depending
on their armament, ships will engage aircraft and other ships. Ships in
Lock On will include:
* Nimitz-class aircraft carrier
* Ticonderoga-class cruiser
* Spruance-class destroyer
* Perry-class frigate
* Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrying cruiser
* Slava-class cruiser
* Kynda-class cruiser
* Kara-class destroyer
* Kashin-class destroyer
* Neustrashimy-class frigate
* Krivak-2-class frigate
* Krivak-3-class frigate
* Grisha-5-class corvette
* Grisha-2-class corvette
* Sivunch missile boat
* Tarantul-3-class missile boat
* Osa-class missile boat
* Nanuchka-3-class missile boat
* Kilo-class submarine
* Tango-class submarine
* Natya-class patrol boat
* Rupucha-class landing ship
* Tsaplya air cushioned vehicle
* Torpedo Boat
* Elnya oil tanker
* Zwezdny passenger ship
* Yastrebov passenger ship
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What gameplay
elements will be included?
In addition to a faithful simulation of modern air combat, a central focus
for Lock On has been fun gameplay. Lock On will strive to give players a
sense of purpose behind their missions and career tracking features. Before
and after each mission, Lock On will use an advanced mission briefing/debriefing
generator that will provide the player with all the details they need. Depending
on the outcome of the mission, the player will be given clear feedback regarding
the success or failure of the strike. During the course of their pilot's
career, kill statistics and flight hours will be tracked in a logbook. Additionally,
it will be possible to earn medals and promotions.
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What multiplayer
options will be included?
The Lock On multiplayer module will allow both head-to-head and cooperative
gameplay. Upon joining a game, players will have the opportunity to select
a flight, or they can even create their own. It will be quite possible to
have one side fly Russian aircraft and the other American. Furthermore,
missions can be created in which players fly different types of aircraft.
For example, Side A players could be flying a combination of F-15Cs and
A-10s, while Side B is flying Su-27s and Su-39s.
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Will there
be a track file recording function?
Yes. Players will be able to record any mission for later playback. Additionally,
it will be possible to playback the mission and edit it on the fly regarding
views.
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How realistic
will the flight dynamics be?
About as realistic as you're going to get on a PC. Flying a combat jet can
be a challenging task and it is Lock On's goal to scale the flight dynamics
such that both the novice and expert user alike will be pleased. Options
to scale the flight dynamics include extra-powerful engines, anti-spin control,
and easy landings.
If however the player selects the realistic flight dynamics, they will experience
the most authentic feeling of flight ever created for a PC simulation. Advanced
mathematical formulas and a detailed accounting of the physical characteristics
of each aircraft are used to create flight dynamics that mirror the real
aircraft. Whether in a Western or Eastern fighter, players will experience
what up until now was only available to real world combat pilots.
Some advanced features of the flight dynamics include:
* Advanced calculations account for the unique characteristics of
each aircraft and reproduce the flight nuances of each faithfully.
* The engine models contain real calculations for thrust and fuel
consumption in regards to speed and altitude. This guarantees realistic
acceleration, rate of climb, maximal altitude, maximum and minimum
speed, flight range, and time of flight values for each aircraft.
* Lock On uses nonlinear, dynamic calculations to portray high angle
of attack flight. This provides high fidelity, overcritical angle
of attack flight, as well as stalls and spins.
* Even advanced flight maneuvers such as the famous "Cobra"
are possible in the Su27, Su-33 and MiG-29.
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What options
will be included to get into the action quickly?
There will be two ways to allow players to jump in the cockpit. When players
first start the game, they will be able to select the aircraft of their
choice on the main menu screen and begin a Quick Start mission. Additionally,
a Fast Battle Planner will be provided that will allow players to pick from
more than a dozen mission variables to create a custom mission.
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Will radio
communications be included?
In modern air combat, the fighter pilot never flies as a single aircraft
but is instead supported by multiple wingmen, AWACS, aerial refuelers, and
tower controllers. Lock On will mimic the radio commands and chatter that
a combat pilot would hear in a war-zone. The player will have the ability
to individually communicate with his wingmen, AWACS, tower controller, approach
controller, and tanker. Over 2,000 lines of recorded speech will make the
radio come alive with feedback from supporting friendly units. The player
will never feel it is them against the world; they will feel as if they
are part of a team. Separate speech files will be provided for both American
and Russian speakers. In addition to the audio speech, sub titles will be
provided.
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How realistic
will the sound effects be?
Lock On will use a new sound engine that will recreate what it is like to
sit in the cockpit of a combat jet. Everything from the whine of the turbine
engines, to the wind over the canopy, to the hum of the avionics systems,
to the ripping sound of the cannon will be recreated in visceral detail.
The engine will be fast and accurately recreate the audio combat environment.
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Will a mission
builder be included?
Yes. A very feature-rich mission builder will be provided.
This mission builder will allow players to create
both single player and multiplayer missions easily.
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What localized
languages will Lock On be released in?
English, German, and French. We hope to release additional localized versions
at a later time.
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What
are Lock On's system specs?
Windows(r)98/ME/XP/2000
Pentium III 800/AMD Athlon 600 or better
256 MB RAM (512 MB RAM recommended)
3D video card (DirectX 8.1 compatible) w/32MB RAM (128MB recommended)
Sound Card (Direct 8.1 compatible)
DirectX 8.1 or higher (included on disc)
4X CD-ROM or better (Not recommended for use with CD-RWs)
Internet connection (56 kbps or better) or LAN for multiplayer
Hard Drive Space 1.1 GB
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Which
CD-RW's are not recommended for use with Lock On?
The following list of drives are incompatible with Safe Disk, the copy protection
system used for Lock On and many other PC entertainment products. For more
information please visit www.macrovision.com.
Please note that Ubi Soft are not responsible for any hardware or software
problems that may arise if you modify the configuration of your CD-RW drive.
Sanyo CRD-256P
latest firmware: 1.01
issue: after repeated executions of a protected game, the drive will enter
a "not ready" state. Ejecting the CD will resolve the problem.
Sony CDU77E
latest firmware: 1.0e
issue: The early (1.0) firmware versions of this drive will fail with
encryped disks if the drive is configured as a slave. Reconfiguring the
drive as a master will resolve the problem.
Acer CD-624a
latest firmware: N/A
issue: The drive will fail when used with read mode drivers. Installing
protected mode drivers resolves any issues.
Memorex CD-RW2224
latest firmware: 2.27
issue: CD-RW drive
Yamaha (various brands) 2216E, 4416SX, CDR6416S-VK
latest firmware: N/A
issue: Latest firmware updates will resolve problems with Safedisk. Available
from http://www.yamaha.com/service.htm
Cybermedia 204 Pan International
latest firmware: N/A
issue: Not included in report.
Liteon 4265
latest firmware: N/A
issue: disks encoded with Safedisk will hang and not authenticate, causing
the program to crash. No solution at this time.
Incompatable software:
Nuts & Bolts (Network Associates)
Nuts & Bolts will fail is the Bomb Shelter utility is running under
certain configurations. To fix this follow these directions:
1. Maximize Bomb Shelter
2. Select "properties"
3. In the "error protection" group, select "advanced".
4. uncheck the "write protect IDTs" box and click apply.
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Will
there be a demo and what is it likely to contain?
Yes, a playable demo is planned for Lock On, shortly before the game is
available in stores this winter. The demo will allow players to fly the
A-10A and the MiG-29A with a mission or each of these aircraft. The demo
will be for single player use only, and will each plane will have a very
limited fuel supply
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Can I be
a beta tester for Lock On?
At this time, we are not accepting any additional, external beta testers.
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