Well we know many of you have been waiting patiently while the AVSIM Online team immersed themselves in Microsoft's new combat fight simulation platform: CFS3: The Battle for Europe. I think you will find that the wait has been worth it. Over the next six days, the AVSIM CFS3 team will give you an in-depth look at what is definitely the biggest flight simulator release of the 2002 holiday season.

Once again, AVSIM takes a team approach to ensure we have complete coverage of the new combat platform. Those who have been AVSIM faithful for some time will note a lot of familiar names, with many of the CFS3 reviewers longtime combat specialists. They are joined by some new faces and cross-over reviewers from the general aviation side to assure a well-balanced team.

AVSIM Managing Editor Bill Dailey takes a look at the Character Development and Gameplay. Associate Editor Pardave Lehry covers the Aircraft and Panels. Senior Staff Combat Reviewer Robert Whitwell will take you through the Missions and Campaigns, while Senior Staff Combat Reviewer Dave Slavens takes on the platform's Overall Realism. AVSIM is also happy to introduce new Staff Reviewer Kathryn Whitwell who looks at the Installation and Setup, while also giving us a "woman's view" of Combat Simulation. AVSIM Systems Administrator Matt Johnson jumps over to the editorial side of things to look at the add-on potential of CFS3 and Managing Editor Chuck Boudreaux rounds out the team looking at Scenery, Weather, and Documentation. Chuck also served as Team Leader. Chief Managing Editor Maury Pratt leads off with an overall perspective as to CFS3's place in the world of flight simulation.

Before we dive into the meat of part one, I know all of you are interested in the bottom line—how we rated CFS3. Well you are going to have to wait. Just as the team would not have dreamed of thinking about ratings until after they did their research, let us brief you over the next six days on what we found so that you can better understand the rating. It will be worth the wait. And just to give you some background on that research, when all is said and done this team will have spent close to 400 hours in CFS3, most of it in actual flying time.

CFS3 — A PERSPECITVE
by Maury Pratt

Is CFS3 a flight simulator as readers of AVSIM Online understand the term? Is it simply a "game" of aerial tactics and skill in shooting down as many enemy aircraft as possible? Or is it something else?

We raise the question because we need to be clear about what CFS3 is—and is not—to put our evaluation and hence our overall rating in perspective. Simply stated, before we can say how good we believe it is we have to ask ourselves, "in terms of what?"

Well, CFS3 is indeed "something else." The essence of CFS3 is that it is a role-playing game. While obviously there are elements of flight simulation—CFS and CFS2 were in a sense derivatives of Microsoft's Flight Simulator—CFS3 has made a clean break from FS in the software technology that underlies it. Yes, mastery of aerial tactics is essential to success in scoring hits (and surviving), whether against opponents 'piloted' by the program's 'artificial intelligence' (AI) or against online opponents flying in 'multiplayer' mode. But the more you think about it, the more you realize that CFS3 is interactive in a much deeper sense.

With CFS3 you literally relive history. And in this virtual world you can change the course of history, creating an 'alternative reality' if you will. Though it may not be immediately evident, as you get into this 'game' you begin to realize that the flying and combat proficiency you achieve leads to something else: Your experience and 'prestige' entitle you to fly more advanced (and hence more deadly) aircraft. And by accomplishing your mission objectives consistently you'll find that the enemy's defenses (whether on the "axis" or "allied" side) diminish accordingly.

That puts CFS3 in another category altogether, one that is unfamiliar to most flight simulator pilots. That's because success is determined not by aerial tactics alone, but by having savvy in choosing reconnaissance objectives and acting on that information to attack and destroy important ground targets. CFS3 "remembers" the relative strength and extent of resources on both sides as campaigns develop, and the tactical situation changes accordingly.

So what you have here is the ability to reenact a young man's career during World War II in Europe, just as though you were born in the '20s and chose to pit your intelligence as well as the skills you were taught against the best aerial technology and displays of courage of the day. That's the challenge presented by CFS3.

OK, so what does all this have to do with our assessment? Simply this: Where we're dealing with familiar traits of flight simulation—aircraft visual appearance and performance; panel/instrument fidelity and functionality; scenery/weather realism and fluidity; and AI and multiplayer capabilities we'll be both appreciative of CFS3's advances and (as you'll see shortly) we'll point out its limitations and disappointments. After all, isn't CFS3 a harbinger of what's to come in future Microsoft flight simulation releases? But as I've explained, that's not the whole story because CFS3 is much more than that. I for one have concluded that the flight simulation aspects of CFS3 are simply a venue for CFS3's true role, which is to afford the opportunity to relive history—in very personal terms—in which was arguably one of the most exciting adventures open to young men who came of age in the middle of the last century.

And consider a reality of another kind: CFS3 is above all a commercial product, intended for a mass audience. As far as aircraft, panels, etc. go Microsoft's goal was relative simplicity, to get users "into the action" without a steep learning curve standing in the way of their enjoyment. So those who seek a high degree of refinement in the panels, gun sights and interior details may be disappointed with CFS3. Some will find that CFS3's "animated" effects, though impressive in their execution, give a subjectively "cartoonish" feel to flying. But that's not the point. The CFS3 experience is to become immersed in planning and conducting aerial campaigns—and it accomplishes that very, very well.

INSTALLATION AND SETUP
By Kathryn Whitwell

Now I know most of us tend to ignore this warning, but before installing CFS3, make sure that there are no other programs or files open. This is a large, wide-reaching program and it cannot install system files or update shared files if they are in use.

Other than that, the installation is simple and takes very little time. Insert disk 1 and follow the on-screen instructions. The initial screen prominently displays the Microsoft ID number, required for any technical support. It is best to note it now, but you can access the number after installation, by selecting the "Options" tab then click on "About CFS 3."

The setup offers four options for the user to select: Install, Web Connection, Register Online, and Uninstall (grayed out initially). I'll give you some info on the last three options before moving on with the rest of the installation process.

Web Connection: This option takes the user directly to the Microsoft Combat Flight Simulation INSIDER which offers real-world articles, strategy tips, historical information, aircraft descriptions and specifications, screenshots and more.

Register Online: The user must be registered with MS Passport to complete the registration process and a link is provided at the registration site. Then this option takes the user directly to the Microsoft game registration site. There the user fills in their email address and is then asked to answer a short gaming survey before finishing. That's all there is to it!

Uninstall: This option is not available until the game is actually residing on your hard drive. When you decide to uninstall the game, simply select this option and Voila! It's done.

Moving on with the Install option, the user is offered two more options: Express or Custom Install. Express Install is a full installation to the default location within the Program Files, located on the C: drive. The Custom Install allows the user to specify the location and size of the installation. The Compact Install option installs the minimum number of files required to play the game, or about 895 MB, while the Full Install, or default, option installs all of the files. This takes up more room on the hard drive, about 1,597 MB, but also allows for a better gaming experience.

Because I wanted the best gaming experience, and I like to say where the game is to reside on my hard drive, I chose the Custom Install with the Full Install option. Clicking on the Change button let me change to the directory of choice and then it was just following the prompts. At approximately 50% complete, a pop-up screen will appear to ask you to insert disk 2. Simply pop out the first disk and insert disk 2 into the CD-ROM. If the CD drive does not spool up quickly enough on it own, just hit Retry. That is it for Installation. Oh but do not put those disks up, you will need Disk 2 to run the program.

Prior to jumping into the cockpit, you'll want to handle some Setup issues by adjusting the display, sound and realism options. To adjust the Display and Sound options select the "Options" tab at top right and go to Display or Sound Options. Tinker with the settings until you it just right for your software. You can adjust how "true to life" you want your game to be by tweaking the Realism options. You can also choose unlimited fuel and/or ammunition from this screen. All in all, installation and setup were a breeze.

A note about an easily-overlooked option: Though the video configuration ‘Options’ screen has been improved, you’ll need to run an included applet 'cfs3config.exe' to access the check box that turns on your video card’s anti-aliasing. This makes a big difference in image quality, so if you have this feature in your video card you should try it.

DOCUMENTATION
By Chuck Boudreaux

In a day when documentation seems to be getting smaller and smaller in gaming packages, Microsoft come through with an excellent package of documents for CFS3. Now as is the trend of the day, most of the documentation will come in the form of Adobe Acrobat files on the CDs in the package.

The exception to this is the Tactical Air Power in the ETO handbook. This is a printed 35 page document which briefs you on the program, installation, setup and the configuration of peripherals like joysticks and yokes. There are also some brief Tips and Tricks, as well as a list of other resources the pilot can turn to if the ones included are not enough. And if you have not figured it out yet: ETO stands for European Theater of Operations. Even if you are not one to read the docs, take a minute to look through this one. It will probably save you lots of frustration down the line.

And do not take that in any way to mean the other documents on the CD are not worth reading. To the contrary, I thoroughly enjoyed reading through the entire set of documents and would recommend every user do so. You can do it while learning but flying in the program, but don't miss out on some great help in the Acrobat documents. We'll now look at those in the order I would recommend you read them.

Understanding the Tactical Air War is a 36-page look at the events, people and places of the tactical air war in the ETO. If it sounds like history, you are right. But it will help you and it is not that much reading. Next up is the Machines of War, a 55-page look at the aircraft, vehicles, weapons and aircraft armaments you will encounter in CFS3. As the 55-page length might indicate, this platform is not short of vehicles and weapons. And if you want to use any of them correctly, a nit of study is in order. Rounding out the trio and easily the biggest "must" read in the group, is the 50-page Flight School handbook. Unless you actually flew in the ETO during the period, and unfortunately that number is dwindling all too quickly, you stand to learn a lot from this handbook. Take the time to read through it and your Gameplay will be much more enjoyable.