How many planes does IL-2 really have compared to the original?

[Riderocket]

an interesting post was made on Stormbirds considering how much aircraft we really have.

 

it points out about how certain planes like the Mig and Ju87 have Modifications essentially making them different variants.

this makes the 32 or so aircraft we have, more like "49" aircraft if you count things the old way like in 1946.

 

i remember some reviews on steam back in the day, arguing that the price was too much for 10 aircraft.

but compare the prices with DCS, and consider that we actually have around 49 aircraft in total, i think that we have plenty of aircraft.

 

hopefully we can get the I-153, Yak-9, La-5F, Li-2, Hurricane and Bf 109 G-6 as well     

 

https://stormbirds.wordpress.com/2017/05/23/how-many-planes-does-il-2-really-have-compared-to-the-original/

Edited May 24, 2017 by Riderocket

[schurem]

We already have the La-5F, you can get the improved engine as a mod. Would be great if we could get the further improved La-5FN later down the road.

[Riderocket]

We already have the La-5F, you can get the improved engine as a mod. Would be great if we could get the further improved La-5FN later down the road.

We have an early La-5F, the La-5F has a sleek canopy with glass (like the Yak-1B)

[Finkeren]

Comparing these different flight sims in terms of "price Per plane" is tricky, because of the very different levels of detail that goes into modeling planes in each sim and thus take vastly different amounts of time and resources to create.

 

If we put them on a scale of "complexity" from 0 to 10 as a measurement of how much it takes to create a plane model in the sim, it'd probably look something like this:

 

0: Ultra simple flight games for mobile devices.

1: Old Dynamix flight sims

2: Late 90s flight sims

3: Warthunder

4: Original IL-2, IL-2 1946

5: MSFSX, MSCFS3

6: BoX, Rise of Flight

7: ClOD (because clickpits and internal models)

8:

9: DCS

10:

 

I'll say BoX is probably the best deal outside of f2p arcade games like Warthunder.

[Pupo]

Il-2 1946 in it's pre-daidulus days (~2010) had 316 selectable airplanes. The SAS modded version of the game at one point claimed to have ~1500 planes, obviously most of these were just silly variations that would barely count as a field mod in the current IL-2 BoX series.

 

These numbers are a bit irrelevant since a plane back then required so much less work. With no 3D pit, much less detail in the models and much simpler FM's and CEM's, some modders were popping a plane every 2 weeks.  

[Finkeren]

Well, IL2-1946 did have 3D pits...

[Pupo]

Well, IL2-1946 did have 3D pits...

 

Only after TD came in and added them for their (great) 6DOF update.

 

EDIT.: Ok, my use of 3D is wrong. I meant 6DOF compatible 3D pits. The pits were obviously 3D, but took shortcuts by not modelling parts that were not visible from a  2DOF POV.

Edited May 24, 2017 by Pupo

[Finkeren]

Ah ok, Yeah I get what you meant. That obviously slightly complicates the development process a bit, because head movement has to have boundaries.

 

Not as much work as creating the 3D cockpit model itself with functioning and readable gauges I'd imagine.

[J2_Trupobaw]

Comparing these different flight sims in terms of "price Per plane" is tricky, because of the very different levels of detail that goes into modeling planes in each sim and thus take vastly different amounts of time and resources to create.

 

If we put them on a scale of "complexity" from 0 to 10 as a measurement of how much it takes to create a plane model in the sim, it'd probably look something like this:

 

0: Ultra simple flight games for mobile devices.

1: Old Dynamix flight sims

2: Late 90s flight sims

3: Warthunder

4: Original IL-2, IL-2 1946

5: MSFSX, MSCFS3

6: BoX, Rise of Flight

7: ClOD (because clickpits and internal models)

8:

9: DCS

10:

 

I'll say BoX is probably the best deal outside of f2p arcade games like Warthunder.

 

 

Clod is tier 4 with clickpits bolted on ... 

 

Also, if I remember correctly, up to level 4-5 flight physics of all planes are largely the same, with individual planes created by adjusting some parameters - this allowed modders to create "new" crates by moving few performance sliders around. So, sims up to 1946/CloD, possibly FSX, have just one virtual plane (generic universal plae, or GUP) dressed in tens/hundereds of paper thin disguises, while BoX/RoF/DLC have much fewer genuinely different planes (each implemented separately as new entity, rather than variant of GUP... 

[Ribbon]

Yak-3 would be my first choice!

[BlitzPig_EL]

Subjective rankings of flight sims are just that, subjective, and highly opinionated.

 

For example, placing any of the microsoft titles above IL2/46 is laughable, at best.

[Inkophile]

We have an early La-5F, the La-5F has a sleek canopy with glass (like the Yak-1B)

 

Both are a "La-5F", early or not doesn't matter for if it is a La-5F. However you are right that it isn't the main production series of La-5Fs, but that's another definition entirely

[Jade_Monkey]

Another factor worth taking into account is the resources available to the devs of each game. Idk how well funded the original IL2 was, but the current version is doing marvels on a tight budget.

 

Im sure some DCS developpers also work on small budgets as they are very small dev teams.

Edited May 24, 2017 by Jade_Monkey

[Blitzen]

I still have my boxed copy of the now ancient Il-2 Sturmovik that I bought when first made available ...I'll check!

[Elem]

I still have my boxed copy of the now ancient Il-2 Sturmovik that I bought when first made available ...I'll check!

 

I still have that too and the disc is signed by Oleg himself having met him.

[dburne]

I also still have my original IL-2 Boxed copy around here somewhere, no telling where but I know I still have it.

[Finkeren]

I just threw out all my boxed games last weekend.

[ST_ami7b5]

I just threw out all my boxed games last weekend.

I still keep Il*2 1946/Pacific Fighters/Forgotten Battles and fly IL-2 4.13.1 from time to time - endless number of planes and missions available

Edited May 24, 2017 by ST_ami7b5

[Blitzen]

I still keep Il*2 1946/Pacific Fighters/Forgotten Battles and fly IL-2 4.13.1 from time to time - endless number of planes and missions available

Endless...esp with SAS B.A.T. extensive modded install!

[ShamrockOneFive]

Thanks Rocket for sharing my post. As I said in the piece's intro... people keep saying there aren't enough aircraft in IL-2 but that has changed dramatically and the counting isn't exactly fair on a 1:1 basis. Once Battle of Kuban releases its last plane into Early Access... we'll be at 49 using the method of counting that the original IL-2 used.

 

A whole other topic is the detailing required and its certainly higher here than in IL-2: 1946.

 

We already have the La-5F, you can get the improved engine as a mod. Would be great if we could get the further improved La-5FN later down the road.

 

It's an Early La-5F. The versions that came later had a redesigned cockpit/canopy and various other improvements that affected performance. Still, I counted the M-82F engine mod as an extra plane because that's how it would have been done under IL-2 1946.

[Gambit21]

I just threw out all my boxed games last weekend.

 

Just checked my drawer

 

I have RoF, CloD, Pacific Fighters, Knights of the Old Republic, Grand Prix Legends, GTR, Half LIfe 2 and a few Batman Arkham games.

Except for Arkham Origins...I guess I should let go....

 

Sadly even RoF will not get a reinstall on this new rig.

I miss boxes dammit.

Edited May 24, 2017 by Gambit21

[dburne]

 

I miss boxes dammit.

 

Me too, not to mention the nice big manuals we used to get inside those boxes.