Okay... So I just beat EVERY mission in sim mode...
 

No, this isn't just the Goat bragging. I did want to share some info about it though.

First... Here's what I'm sure everyone wants to know first... What planes do you unlock. And no... I still haven't unlocked them all and have no idea how to unlock the rest.

A lot of the single missions I did fly with limited fuel and ammo. A lot of them don't seem possible without unlimited ammo though.

Here's the planes I've unlocked:

Allied
A-20G
Blenheim Mk IV
Hurricane Mk II
I-153 (Bi Plane)
I-16 Type 24
IL-2
IL-2M
IL-10
La-5FN
LA-7 (I love this bird)
P-51B (AKA: Shopping Cart with broken wheel)
P-51D-5 (AKA: Shopping Cart)
Po-2 (Bi Plane)
Spitfire Mk II
Spitfire Mk IX
Yak-1B
Yak-3
Yak-9T

Axis
Arado-234
BF 109 E-3
BF 109 F-4
BF 109 G-2
BF 109 G-6
BF 110 C-4
FW 190 A-5
FW 190 D-9
HE 111 H-6
HE 111 H-16
HE 162 A-2 (Weird rocket plane)
JU 87 B-2
M.C. 202
ME 163 B (Yet another weird rocket plane)
ME 262 A-1A (This jet handles like crap)

So that's that.

Listen guys... I am also a HUGE P-47 fan. If someone has an extra unlock code or something of that nature lying around... This Goat would actually pay money for it. So hollar back and such.

Also, if you guys have unlocked some planes that are not on this list then feel free to share.

AND unfortunately... I really have no recollection of which missions got me which planes. I should have wrote them all down... And for that I am sorry.

One last thing... If you're waiting for a flight stick to play sim mode... Don't bother too much. There are a lot of disadvantages to the sticks. The dead zone that all of them have makes for really tough precise control. It is also still impossible to land with a stick. I flew most missions with the AV8R... But towards the end of the sim missions I ended up going back to my regular Xbox controller so I could have more precise control over my plane.

Love to all. And don't be afraid to play sim online either! It's so much more fun than arcade and realistic!!!

Pedro my man, you have to tell me what mission you did to unlock the I-153 Chaika!! and the Po-2 (? Those are two of my favorite 30s Soviet Biplanes. I've gone through Sim as well, but still haven't gotten either of those.

sorry... I can't agree with you here... I would rather have a crappy deadzone then the stupid default controller setup... I CAN'T FLY WITH IT IN SIM MODE!!!!! if they allowed the thumbsticks to be swapped, and had a look around toggle instead of the hold down and look then maybe I would be able to handle it.

I am sure that the programmers will fix the deadzone issues... since its not the issue with the controller, but the actual game itself... Look at previous threads... you can attach the ace edge, or av8tor to a PC and they have 0 " ZERO" deadzone... ( personally I think its due to publishers rushing Anton and the crew to push the game out sooner then later to max their profit margins...)

unfortunately this just shows how retarded publishers are... look at the MS wireless racing wheel... just about every game that supports it allows you to set the deadzones on the controller.... why not in this game? no clue...

I know this because while racing I use 2 feet... lef ton the brack and right on the gas... I had to tweak the lower end of the deadzone because my foot would rest on the brake just slightly and register in game unless I tweaked it.

hopefully they will patch this. along with allowing people with a hotas or av8tor to actually use the brakes upon landing.

I'm so sorry Soviet... I really have no idea. I DO know (Well... I think) that the I-153 was unlocked in one of the Single Missions in Korsun Pocket. I also think I unlocked the Po-2 in one of the single missions in the Battle of Berlin.

Always try to complete secondary objectives... I think they unlock planes. (Maybe)

Alright, thanks. I'm off to go get my Chaika and Po-2!! :cool:

If you are a Southpaw guy then I can totally understand how frustrating it must be for you. I also hope that they fix the deadzone and wheelbrake issues very soon.

how did you get the me 109 g10 k4?

I really should have wrote them down... I don't feel too smart right now.

BUT...

I do think that I got that one in one of the first 2 theaters in single mission. I don't think I have unlocked a new BF 109 since I started Korsun Pocket.

Good luck!!! I hope I didn't give you any bad info!

:-) totally insane if you ask me!!!! look at the ace edge... its a right handed stick... and a left handed throttle... why in the F would you make the opposite on the controller???? seriously.. I feel retarded in the game right now, because I can't make my brain function with my thumbs...

I have a lot of issues with the whole pressing the thumbstick button in games... I guess you could say I have heavy thumbs... it makes for me being crap in games with any control set to the thumbstick presses... cause I inadvertently press the stick in without my knowledege... it really apparent in FPS games where the crouch is tied to the thumbstick pressing in... while its saved me a bunch on accident... I would rather have a controller with 2 extra buttoms and no thumbstick pressing. its the same with flightsticks...... I thought about the av8tor... but I can't stand the twist rudder... to be honest I hate the ace edges rudder as well, but its a lot better then having to twist my wrist while also trying to pull back or forward at the same time.

Id much rather them allow PC flightsticks to work , but thats all on MS... Id buy rudder pedals right now if I knew they would work on both my PC and 360...

True true. I guess it's kind of the first person shooter concept or something.

I actually like the way the controller works. Can't beat a finely tuned flightstick though. Hopefully we'll get a patch that will allow for that soon.

I HATE YOU!!!! lol jk... I am glad that some people can handle the only setup for the controllers... I still will not blame the programmers... I am sure that the publisher just made them push the game out before they were ready...... seriously there is no excuse for not having some kind of custom controls... let alond a way of tweaking individual dead zones..... as it is both controllers I have have a constant pull to the left due to me dropping them on the ground too much... if I don't make sure I center the left stick each time, it will stick and constantly pull to the left.

I care not though, because I know the devs, and they did an awesome job on the PC, unfortunately they needed a publisher to release this game on console... this publisher is even forcing them to do a dlc BEFORE patching the games faults.... ( don't believe me, read the posts on here... anton stated that any patch will be after the first DLC... ) grrrrr... the patch should come before the DLC... PERIOD....!!! but oh well, its still the best flight sim on console.

If you don't mind?
 

How many attempts per mission did you usually use? Because I know you get more point for fewer attempts,

you really need to use the qute button... so we know who your talking to...

as far as I know attempts and score have no bearing on what you unlock.

its just doing each and every mission... campaign and the single missions.

but then again, I am not done with the campaign yet due to limitations on my ability to controll the planes with the stupid only setup allowed....

I can't see how anyone can use the controller to fly the way its setup, but like I said before... its due to me being more like an RC flyer.... ( or was it me being left brained? and right handed ) anyways... it took me a bit to figure out your asking about the plane unlocks.

did you know that you can complete the mission and continue it... then crash but you still win the mission? LOL seriously.... if I die after I choose to continue the mission... Id really like to complete it, and not auto win even though my plane crashes due to combat damage, and or having a stupid timer to beat in returning to base.

Was the I-153 Chaika, unlocked possibly in "The Babysitter"? Sortie in the Korsun Pocket? If so, I'm really starting to dislike the mission.

I would always attempt them with no additional attempts. If they became too frustrating then I would up it to 3. Because 3 is a good number.

A lot of the missions were that tactical respawn crap where you jump into your wingman's cockpit. I didn't like that too much.

I hated that mission too. Just stick on the one guy that your supposed to defend's tail. Shoot them off him but don't break from his tail. Nearly all the escort missions can be flown effectively that way. (The escort missions are by far the most frustrating)

Just once the fighters break from their tails do not pursue them.

Thanks for the advise. I don't understand why WE have to fly the old and outdated Yak-9s when they get to fly La-5s! :(

Agreed. I do think the controller should be mappable. Oh well though. The setup works well enough for me. I just feel sorry for people like you who are southpaw. That is a huge disadvantage.

The I-153 Chaika, I'm not sure is in Korsun Pocket or Berlin? I got the Po-2 defending that one guy. But Berlin just gave me the Salamander He-126.

huge is an understatement... I can barely keep a rookie ai off my six with the controller... let alone line up an effective deflection shot. its frustrating, but it will be fixed with the flightstick.. ( id rather have a deadzone to deal with, then backwards controls )

:-)

if you fly on the 360 add me, id gladly mess around in a private match with a bunch of friends with the controller! i might not be the best pilot, but seriously.... locking into 1 control sceme is shutting the game off from anyone thatis like me... with a controller... the left stick moves... the right stick aims... in fps games... this game.. the left stick "aims" since moving it "aims your nose" now after years of my left thumb aiming.... I can't use it to aim in this game? and have to try and use my right thumb to "aim the nose of my plane" very frustrating... but hey, so far I still love the game... its just not playable outside of arcade mode with the controller for me.
Sim mode is impossible for me with the controller... but mostly thats due to needing to look around to see your targets... and no toggle on looking makes it impossible for me with my wonky heavy handed thumbs. :-)

At OP/TS

I have beaten half of the single mission on Arcade and the other half on realistic, some of them where next to impossible to complete on realistic. But! It seems that i have every plane on your list.

Tip for unlocking extras: Win online matches! I have never lost a ranked dogfight and every 2 wins it gives me something. Till now only extra weapons... But maybe later-on more planes. I am busting my ass at finding that B-17 so if anyone has some tips feel free to PM ;)

EDIT: I GOT MY I-153 CHAIKA!!!!!!!!!!! Yet sadly no cockpit :( Oh well, I STILL HAVE IT!!!!

Awesome! I will be playing a lot more multiplayer now that I have all the singleplayer stuff out of the way.

It kinda stinks that you don't get anything extra for beating all that stuff on simulator. It wasn't easy for this Goat.

Hmmmm... My friend I have no idea then. I think it was within the last 3 campaigns on single missions. My buddy will have beaten them all tomorrow and I think he's writing down which missions unlock what. So I will get back to you when I find out.

What mission was it?

Hey Soviet,

No, sorry, i rushed through the single missions so fast that i did not even notice that plane until i browsed my hanger. And yes it is almost identical to the I-16 but then with an extra wing.

Big tip: Complete the single missions on the arcade setting, it is much faster and it appears that there is no extra reward for beating the missions on a higher difficulty.

Totally agree, there must have gone a lot of hours in to beating it. They could at least give you something for it....

Oh well. Most of the missions were enjoyable. Some had me cursing my life though!

That "Free Flight" one or whatever it's called where you had to shoot down various flights of transports before they got to a certain point made me want to rip my hair out! I hate the LA-5 (No offense Soviet Ace)... That piece of crap would almost shake apart when I would fire the cannons! And those stupid transports could take SO much damage and your crappy LA-5 would just fall apart like a card house if they got a few hits in on you.

Now the LA-7 on the other hand. Now THAT'S a plane. (I suppose the LA-7 was just a later version of the LA-5)

I know the feeling. I do not remember what the mission is called but it is the mission where you have to stop 109's from reaching there base or something. Tried to do it on realistic but i could never even reach the 109's before they returned to their base...

guys i blew through EVER mission in ARCADE, and I got all those planes too, it is NOT a difficulty thing.

it is if the only control setting is wonky for you!!!! but yeah.. even though I suck with the controller, I can still easily beat the arcade mode... :-)

it just pisses me off that I get shot down or die solely due to the fact that there is no way to swap control stick functions... thankfully I have less then a week to wait till I get my ace edge. !!!!! Id rather fight a dead zone that is huge then try to relearn what hand does what on the controller.

anyone notice that you bail out way too fast???? seriously! if I get 1 foot of my wing tip shot off... I am sure that I can control the plane and at least try to bug out!!!! instead it acts like I lost my whole wing even though its missing only a few inches of wing tip???? oh well, I am flying in arcade mode..

yeah i agree with the bail out, but i use a flight stick not controller :) AV8R

jealous! well at least jealous for another 6 days or less!!!! Still I would rather like an option to attempt to fly the plane!!!!! I was in the demo and got my engine shot up in sim mode because i suck badly with the only controller setup... and when my engine died it when straight to the continue screen! really??? as far as i knew without an engine most prop planes can glide just fine! :-) at least let me try to bug out!!! id rather go down im my plane then jump out too soon!

Its just not a good story to say I shot down 3 bombers but lost my engine and bailed out... a better story would be more like, I shot 3 bombers outta the sky when a lucky burst hit my engine and disabled it... but being a pilot I wrestled with the stick under heavy fire from german 109's and eventually landed in a field. :-)

Hey guys, first message on the forum.

I have a little problem with the Po-2... I completed the escorting mission ( with the high ranking officer's son) on Simulation and I didn't unlock it :(

Any idea why ?

ps: sorry for my crappy english, I'm french.

your english is perfect

It was the second to last mission in Stalingrad. Where you fly the Il-2, and have to bomb certain bunkers or something like that. I blew through it in minutes, and I did it on realistic so I could get to bed earlier as well :P

I just did the first 5 Single Missions in the battle of Britain, and the only thing I've unlocked were a couple of those (totally lame) encyclopedia articles. I thought I'd get at least 1 plane!

But also I don't really do secondary or optional objectives, so that could be it...

Anyway, here's my real question. What would be better use of my time?
1. Finishing off the campaign (I'm on the Sicily part now)
or..
2. Doing all the Single Missions of Britain and Starlingard first

Which would get me more planes faster?

Probably Campaign? But Stalingrad only gives you (In Single Mission) I think two planes total, maybe just one? But if you do the second to last Stalingrad Single Mission, you can get the I-153 Chaika (I-16 Biplane of sorts). It's a nimble little plane, and I just had my first online success with it.

Thanks! I was looking to unlock that biplane, I guess I'll just do that Stalingrad mission, then try to get through the rest of the campaign.

Which mission do you play to get the HE-162. Also does anyone knows how
to get the B-17. Thank you

Soviets aren't allied. They are a diff, faction.

What?:rolleyes:

Stuart.... would you like to take some time to think about what you just posted, then come back and tell us where your mistake was?

I just finished this on realistic too, and I didn't unlock anything?:confused:

Really!!?? Damn, I did it on the same difficulty? I'll call and see what my friend says. He's trying to unlock it as well.

I LOL'd! :D

Ok, I'm quietly alarmed here.

Can somebody just confirm that the score you get at the end of the level is meaningless, the difficulty you play on has no bearing on the score anyway and also the higher difficulties don't offer anything in the way of extra aircraft unlocks.

Furthermore, the online multiplayer appears to be Dead At Launch and in order to unlock the full quota of extra planes and weapon loadouts I've got to play it in online multiplayer.

This is the general understanding, right?

Dead at launch?... the game hasn't been released everywhere yet, and alot ppl are probably playing thru single player before venturing online (i did this in gta4) I've found the best way to get in a MP game is to create one and ppl will join. (admittedly i've only tried that with arcade so far)

about unlocking planes being partly done in MP, I think from what ppl are saying here, that is the general impression i'm getting. feel sry for ppl who cant take their game online. they have been tricked.

i'm not bashing the game i love it. but having to go online to unlock planes is unfair. and no this doesnt happen on other games. and i'm not talking about dlc planes. i'm talking about planes which are on the disc but locked.

/rant

@goat

since you've already beaten the game on sime I have a question for you, did you try it on sim immediately and succeeded in one go? and if so, did completing it on sim automatically unlock the achievements/trophies for arcade and realistic as well?

I tried the online multiplayer and found it very tedious indeed. I'm not going to reiterate all the flaws here, they've been well covered already all over these boards.

The lack of any incentive to score is a complete gamekiller for me, unfortunately. I was properly amazed to see no leaderboard for single player scores. The score at the end of a level/mission might as well not be there. In fact, Secondary Missions might as well not be there either since the majority of them appear to be "Leave the engagement area" and that's all. Being forced to endure such poor multiplayer for the full compliment of planes (which I can only use in multiplayer or training missions apparently, so I suppose it's no great loss at the end of the day) makes the whole thing somewhat joyless, and that's even though I like the look and feel of the game and enjoyed the campaign on Arcade. It's always a shame when a game with such potential dies out of the box, it truly is.

Thankfully though, I rented it instead of going for a straight buy so it's not all bad.

if you hate it so much...... don't post, bad luck, many of us love it.

I'm probably wasting my time here because you're obviously a fanboy and thus carrying all that close-minded bigotry that goes with that particular mindset.

But ...

Not kissing a game's ass in the way fanboys do does not necessarily mean that there's "hate" involved.

The fact is, if the devs patched the game so that the score or your progress through the difficulty settings unlocked the planes and loadouts, if they added leaderboards for the single player scores, if they fixed all the issues with the multiplayer ... the game would be a no-brainer buy for me and that's a fact. Even though nobody else is buying it and hardly anyone is bothering to stock it.

Birds Of Prey is nearly a great game. It's just a victim of some very odd design decisions that hurt it considerably and a release deadline its developers obviously had to meet before they'd finished work on the game. It also appears to be a victim of abject indifference by the gaming community as a whole. Maybe there's a connection.

The chances of that particular patch are nil btw. There will be no money for such a patch. Check out the forums. The game is stillborn. The game has already been released everywhere it matters.

It's just one of those things. Not hate, just acceptance. Take it or leave it.

You have a point, it is not a perfect game, (and house did sound like a bit of a fanboy there lol sorry but you did.) the devs probably were under pressure to release it now or it would get lost in the winter games rush, so somethings may feel rushed. But we have a game here that has tried to do something different, a flight combat sim on a console that isn't just arcade.
Now people on this forum are loving the gameplay, they are willing to look past its faults and are thinking what could be done better if given time and what a patch could fix. You say this feature is not great or that multiplayer sucks and no sp leader board and meaning less scores make the game not for you, thats fine, move on to the next game. To me score means nothing, to be able to fly these planes with flight realism far higher than anything else on console, while comfortably sitting in my home with a beer, is what is important and what makes the game great.

Now what you said about the game being still-born is a load of crap, I'm still only playing the demo waiting for my pre-order to arrive, half of Europe doesnt have the game yet along with Australia and NZ I believe, confusion in the US with pre-orders is still a problem for some people. Also this isn't a big hyped up release so there isn't a big rush on the first day where the whole world trys to get their copy, people will find and will buy over a longer period of time so multiplayer numbers will slowly increase. The developers have said there will be DLC and updates to fix somethings, why would they say that if they can't afford it? It has nothing to do with how well a game sells. Even the floppiest of flops in games get patches and DLC if the developers are committed.

I finished every mission on arcade and have not unlocked all the planes. I am playing online and havent unlocked anything there yet, even after winning rounds. And I have to add, the ME-262 is utterly horrible in the game. I cant even imagine why it is soooo bad. Speed, handling, Accel, it has some firepower but thats it. I know it needed some cover during take off, but it was a pretty decent plane back in the day. And lets be honest, most the bombers in the game could outhandle whatever plane they call the Me-262 in the game.

I believe it did actually.

If you look around moron, ive posted many critical threads about areas i feel need improving, but theres clearly no point you being here since you've decided you hate it unconditionally, if thats the case trade it in, and piss off. your opinion obviously cant be swayed, so why bother posting. Its got plenty of holes, im no closed minded fan boy, ive given my opinion, but those things should get fixed over time. so read around before being an egregious ignoramous.

It's a 1st generation jet, and it does exactly what it really did. The 262 was a high-speed interceptor that was able to zip in and out of bomber formations trying to do significant damage in a single pass. There are very few incidents of a 262 entering a dogfight. The handling at high speeds is always going to give you a much higher turning radius and the acceleration is just part of the deal. Early jet engines did not accelerate rapidly, nor could they, otherwise the engines would overheat. The 262 engines suffered from poor metallurgy, primarily because we had bombed the living piss out of their best facilities by that point in the war. If you are looking for a 262 that handles Blazing Angels style, look elsewhere. A Spitfire could easily beat a 262 in a turning fight, but that wasn't the tactic of Komando Nowatny. Make a high-speed pass, try to bust the formation, then use the superior dive speed of the 262 to get away and reset the attack. I know it's a shock to have a WW II game where you actually have to deal with the strengths and weaknesses of different aircraft, but that's reality.