SOW: your thoughts on clickable cockpits and realistic start-up

[robtek]

For me the cockpit doesn´t have to be clickable.
What i want is a more realistic engine management and that includes the starting procedure.
It will bring more immersion and would also, by chance, keep away the "join, throttle to 100%, start run in which direction the plane is pointing at this time - player"
Also it should be felt if you abuse your engine (too hot, too cold, too much rpm)
With the really complex engine management the different workload for the pilots would be simulated at last.
And if that is implemented it could also be clickable, for those who like it.

[Chivas]

I don't find clickable cockpits usefull or immersive, But being able to map the Magneto's Fuelcock's, Primer's and Ingine start button to my Hotas very usefull and immersive.

[ECV56_LeChuck]

Agree with Chivas and robtek. Today, with IL-2, all the planes work the same way. Engine on, full power, and go. That´s no realistic at all, and have a bad and negative effects on pilots.
If, for example, the pilots must set the mixture before starting the engine, gives another depth to simulation.

[HR_Zunzun]

I find start up procedure a "must have" for a sim that claims is going to be the more complex ever created. If latter the complete procedure will be used or not by the user is another matter. It is just a matter of doing of it an option in the difficulty settings.
Regarding the cockpit I find it quite inmersive as well, especially for thing like fuel selectors, primer, magnetos.....(so if you are going to have a complete start up procedure is very handy). Again, could be an option and not that hard to implement as Bob2 had it more than 6-8 year ago.

[ZaltysZ]

I don't have to use mouse in Black Shark to be able to click the switches. Mouse cursor is always on the screen and when I am moving camera by using TrackIR, cursor is also moved with it. I only need to "look" at switch and press button of my HOTAS to emulate mouse click. It is easy, natural and way faster than removing hands from HOTAS and pressing keys in the keyboard. Would be nice to have the same in SoW.

[DD_crash]

There was a video on youtube with a guy using some sort of glove to touch the switches on Black Shark. Looked very impressive

[Snuff_Pidgeon]

As an option i think it is a good idea, then when you dont want it, just turn that option off simple..

[ElAurens]

Clickpits are out for me. Never liked them in FSX.

Some added complexity such as fuel management, proper radiator and cowl flap management coupled with correct overheating/temperature models would be great IMHO.

A super complex engine start procedure is not high on my list, but, proper warm up definitely is. "Breaking the wire" (using War Emergency Power) should have correct limits, and consequences for not adhering to them.

And just why does every plane in the sim seem to have VR set at 170kph anyway?

[SPUDLEY1977]

If you want checklists, create each one:

1. Pre flight walkabout checklist
2. Pre Engine startup checklist
3. Warm up checklist
4. Pre taxi checklist
5. Pre take off checklist

make 5 clipboards and get your pens out. You already have this option. Do you already do this? No??? Once eack clip board is filled in, just start clicking your mouse the same number of times anywhere you want. There is your clickable virtual cockpit. No need to DELAY this past the current 2010 release.

Begging for additional limited programming and testing time will only delay the release. PLEASE DO NOT WASTE TIME on this option. Yes, this is my 2cents worth, but they already have to solve the VIRTUAL COCKPIT SMELL requirement to deliver on.

FLEAFLY is already working on the fully functional J TUBE...but will it be environmentally friendly, fully recyclable, self sustainable, and compatible with water cooled PC's (Even his new one someday)?

Clickable Flickable doo dads arrrggghhhh
Let the Flames begin...

FLYBY has already submitted C++ plans for real fire, smoke, and brimstone to fill your cockpits when you overload your clickable cockpits. Oh and he has a screen clickable fire extinguisher that is pooped out of your LCD into your lap so you can spray it all over the place and your clickable cockpits and clip boreds.

PEACES

[Chiz]

Wow, a lot of replies, seems clickables aren't too popular here. Coming from sims like Falcon 4 AF and DCS Black Shark, I think they can work very well, however I understand that WWII birds are far less complex. But I still think that clickable switches for functions that aren't used as much like fuel cocks, fuel primers, signal flares, bomb fusing panels, magenots etc. would work really well...and just because something is clickable, doesn't mean you wouldn't be able to bind it. Black Shark has around 500 actions to which you can bind keys...most of them are clickable too, and the Ka-50 cockpit is far more complex than anything that will be in Storm of War.

My real concern though is just how detailed the sim will be. IL2 is a lot of fun and for it's age has held up extremely well, but it's not really a sim...it's closer to Air Quake. I hope there are improvements in areas like engine management, computer AI, radio (LoS for transmissions, atmospheric interference, jamming etc.), ground-based direction for fighters from observer/radar info (huge part of the battle)...the list goes on. If it's just more 'press i and go full throttle', then it's just more Air Quake really, with nicer graphics. I think more detailed simulation of aircraft in Storm of War would also make the sim more attractive to the hardcore simmer crowd as well, especially with the MS flight sim studio folding, which could mean more market volume for Maddox Games. Scalability in the options could still accommodate the "press i and fly' crew, but for hard core simmers the more realistic flight options would be there too. I can picture it now, the MS flight sim guys are all flying He-111's, just waiting for an eight gun spit to give them what for