Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Air Models / November 2006

Geez, Ed and Charlie, my experience is (kind of) just the opposite of yours.
G3 and its various versions up through .448 was no problem for me or my
computer (and its more of a "home/business" machine than a game machine). It
ran and performed terrifically with a few exceptions that were the fault of
a cheap integrated video card. I learned to fly with it and soloed on my
second day of actual flying with an instructor. That simulator was (and is)
a wonderful tool for me. The only problem I have is with the computer; I
can't get shadows because the video card won't handle them. Its also a
little slower than what your game machine is capable of, Charlie. The video
card is the one that came on the mother board. I'd like to switch to
something better, but at the moment its pretty difficult to justify the
expense.

You may not have read what is happening on the http://www.knifeedge.com 
website, but Jim Bourke and his crew are working on a large fix to the
flight physics portion of G3.5. Seems that it acts a bit strange during
certain maneuvers with certain planes. The custom planes are the ones most
grievously affected. In any case a revised version will be coming out as
soon as they get the thing rewritten.

I haven't downloaded the new version (G3.5) yet, because I very much enjoy
some of the custom planes that one guy in particular developed for G3.448
and prior versions. I like some of the warbirds, but some of the planes like
the Ultra Stick and the Extra 300, 330 and those types are really nice
performers on G3. My understanding is they aren't very nice performers on
G3.5, so many folks aren't downloading G3.5 until Knife Edge comes out with
the revised version which corrects some errors with flight physics.

Your comments have me wondering why some folks love G3 (the original) and
why some folks found it didn't work for them. I was aware that Ed didn't
think much of it from his early comments about it. I couldn't understand his
attitude at the time, but now that you have indicated you had a problem with
it, I am wondering if it was a problem with some computers, some video
cards, some conflicts, etc. I only know I never had a problem with G3.

I am looking forward to "the fix" even though I don't perceive that anything
is broken since I haven't downloaded G3.5. Take a look at some of the
comments on the Knife Edge site and draw your own opinion. I'm at a loss to
explain why some find the old version better than the new and vice versa. I
wouldn't download any of the custom planes until the fix is introduced,
however. (Besides, the organization of the custom planes is pretty poor, and
they aren't easily identified. And there is lots of duplication of various
planes for color schemes. Unnecessary, in my opinion, but I've already said
I'm a geezer.

This is by most estimations, the best RC flight sim out there at present.
But they are playing with it to such an extent that some youngsters see it
as a game rather than as a tool. I guess that the geezer in me. It can
probably be both and likely is.

Harlan