On 23 Nov 2003 09:41:38 -0800, (Kirk Stant) wrote:


As far as training value of PC simulations; I firmly believe that they
can be useful, as long as the task to be trained is precisely defined
and the sim (and hardware) is carefully matched to that training need
- which is what the Navy does with MS FS for it's students at
Pensacola. The more experienced your are, you actually need less
overall fidelity as long as there is high fidelity in the task you are
training - you basically ignore the rest and can concentrate on
solving the specific task at hand.

Kirk is exactly on target.

There are more than a few who find the online combat sims to be fabulous tools
for teaching Situational Awareness and ACM. Because the aircraft are simple
(we are talking WWII aircraft with minimal systems to manage), and with the
systems themselves being simplified even further, the emphasis is placed upon
the specific function of air combat. Even the USAF Academy has used Aces High as
training tool and to my understanding, maintains several active accounts for its
cadets.

As I stated in the other related thread; "Think of Aces High as a simulator
within a game.... Art is right to some degree, but the simulator fans are also
right in some respects. Understanding this allows one to place these sims/games
in their proper perspective. Just because a guy is a terrific sim pilot doesn't
mean he'd display the same talent flying real aircraft. Possibly not. However,
as a combat pilot trainee the sim player will have a significant advantage in
SA, ACM and tactics knowledge over someone with no sim experience at the outset
of training. Therein lies the value beyond simple entertainment."

Perhaps, some do not believe this to be true. Well, the proof is in the pudding
as the say. Which is why I always invite everyone to try Aces High or even the
earlier Warbirds (both developed by the same engineering and software team).
There are active duty fighter jocks who participate. I know of several airline
pilots who enjoy flying these sims as well.

Many partcipate because they enjoy the competition of battling real people
rather than artificial intelligence. Other's join in because they enjoy the
genre and sense of history it creates. Others simply love anything related to
flying. And, there are those who simply enjoy the gaming aspect.

The reason these combat sims are so successful is that they appeal to many
different people, with many differing expectations of what "fun" is. Seriously,
if it was not entertaining to some degree, who would bother?

Yet, the military has nothing that comes even remotely close to the immersion
and intensity of these combat sims. Furthermore, you don't need massively
complex flight models to accomplish the learning of SA and ACM.

A final point. On any given night, especially weekend evenings (around 9 PM east
coast time US), there are more fighters flying in Aces High than the Luftwaffe
had available for the Battle of Britain. Like I said, it's extremely immersive
and intense.

My regards,

Widewing (C.C. Jordan)
http://www.worldwar2aviation.com
http://www.cradleofaviation.org