Combat Flight Simulator 3: Battle for Europe
Encyclopedia
Combat Flight Simulator 3: Battle for Europe (CFS3), is the latest installment of combat flight simulator
s from Microsoft Game Studios
, released in 2002. The game is more or less a heavily updated version of the first (Combat Flight Simulator WWII Europe Series
), offering a far wider range of options to the player. The game incorporates an active campaign mode, whereby the player may play for the USAAF, RAF or Luftwaffe
in a campaign starting in March 1943. Based on the player's performance in the North-west Europe
, which spans from northernmost England to eastern Berlin, the player can alter the length and even outcome of the war. By avoiding the aviational errors of the Luftwaffe
made in the past, and by targeting key targets in British production centres, it is even possible for the Germans to drive the allies back to London and force their surrender. It is also possible for the Allies to make a landing in Fortress Europe
prior to the 6/6/44, or
D-day
.
bomber
aircraft. All stations in the aircraft are operable, including all defensive gun positions. The available bomber aircraft are:
series and the Messerschmitt Bf-109 series, as well as the typical RAF and USAAF fighters. Perhaps the most exciting additions to the fighter class in the game are the German jet fighters. The Messerschmitt Me-262 and Ho-229 (Go-229 in the game) both make an appearance, with many exotic variations of the Me-262 making an appearance, including the Me-262 1a/u4 high altitude bomber formation destroyer, armed with a single 50mm cannon (similar to that of the Ju-88 P-4). The aircraft are:
Nevertheless some modding teams found their way into the game and file structure and of all modding efforts at least six of them are outstanding: Firepower, the ETO expansion pack, the NEK (Nationality Expansion Kit), Mediterranean Air War (MAW), Over Flanders Fields (OFF) and Pacific Theaters of Operation (PTO). While Firepower, MAW, ETO and PTO are WWII scenarios, OFF is a total conversion of CFS3 to a WWI flight simulation.
Firepower adds new planes, graphics and sound enhancements as well as custom missions. Planes encompass not only authentic planes of the era there are also types never being flown for what if scenarios. The team also improved the flight models of the involved planes according to feedback of real WWII veterans. Newer aircraft variants are also added to the stock fleet which include: The Arado Blitz bomber, the Focke Wulf Ta154 and the Messerchmitt 410 to name a few.
The NEK (Nationality Expansion Kit) provides added nationalities to the stock sim. The stock Nationalities: British, German, and American are now supplemented with Russian, Japanese, French, Italian, Indian and Chinese nationalities. Players can download this pack and can now choose any different nation to fight for, or against, with added badges, medals and Aircraft upgrades according to the Nation they fight for, all through three important parts (which have the items listed), and twelve total parts.
Mediterranean Air War (MAW) is planned as a series of three chapters and still in development. Chapter One with the new Mediterranean Theatre and its focus on the time frame June 1940 - December 1941 has been released so far. Chapter Two will follow up Chapter One and will cover the period January 1942 - September 1943. Chapter Two will introduce the USAAC and will cover the Tunisian Campaign as well as the invasion of Sicily. Chapter Three will concentrate on the war in the Balkans and campaign of the Allied forces on the Italian peninsula until the end of WWII in Europe. However, the MAW website is not working and the project may have been abandoned.
Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO) takes CFS3 to the war in the Pacific region. It includes new planes like the Japanese types and the American types used in the Pacific. Improved flight and damage models add realism to it. Also, the scenery was changed to replicate the Pacific islands.
European Theater of Operations (ETO), made by the creators of PTO, is another addon for CFS3. Although the stock CFS3 already takes place in Europe, ETO expands on that. On startup of ETO, a Windows Batch file changes the era of WWII that CFS3 takes place and the appropriate user-interface music, sceneries and missions for the "era" of the user's choice. In ETO, the stock nationalities are supplemented with British Navy, Canadian, Australian, Italian (both co-belligerent and Axis), Spanish (Republicans and Nationalists), French (Vichy and Allied), Belgian, Dutch, Russian, Polish, US Navy, US Marines, Other Axis Nations (OXN), and Other Allied Nations (OAN).
Over Flanders Fields (OFF) is a total conversion of CFS3 to a WWI flight simulation. OFF radically changes all of CFS3. Most of the irksome features have been replaced, renewed or improved to achieve this. For example high resolution scenery, more scenery types, much improved AI (computer pilots), physics, flight models, damage models, WWI aircraft models, effects, ground objects and scenery of the 1914 to 1918 era, and most importantly with a full external replacement for the CFS3 campaign engine. This is called the "OFF Manager", a new independent WWI historical campaign engine. Now very popular with many of the old Red Baron 3D players.
Dogpatch Crew Korean Skies takes CFS3 to the Korean War. Korean War aircraft such as the F-86 Sabre, MiG-15, Yak-9, F9F Panther, F4U Corsair and F-51 Mustang are added. In DPC Korean Skies, the stock nationalities are supplemented by North Korean, South Korean, South African, Australian, US Navy and US Marines.
Combat flight simulator
Combat flight simulators are video games used to simulate military aircraft and their operations...
s from Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Studios is the video game production wing for Microsoft, responsible for the development and publishing of games for the Xbox, Xbox 360, Games for Windows and Windows Phone platforms. They were established in 2002 as Microsoft Game Studios to coincide with the release of the Xbox, before...
, released in 2002. The game is more or less a heavily updated version of the first (Combat Flight Simulator WWII Europe Series
Combat Flight Simulator WWII Europe Series
Combat Flight Simulator World War II Europe Series is the first version of combat flight simulators from Microsoft Game Studios, released November 1, 1998. CFS1 is set in the European Theater of World War II.-Game design:...
), offering a far wider range of options to the player. The game incorporates an active campaign mode, whereby the player may play for the USAAF, RAF or Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
in a campaign starting in March 1943. Based on the player's performance in the North-west Europe
Western Front (World War II)
The Western Front of the European Theatre of World War II encompassed, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and West Germany. The Western Front was marked by two phases of large-scale ground combat operations...
, which spans from northernmost England to eastern Berlin, the player can alter the length and even outcome of the war. By avoiding the aviational errors of the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
made in the past, and by targeting key targets in British production centres, it is even possible for the Germans to drive the allies back to London and force their surrender. It is also possible for the Allies to make a landing in Fortress Europe
Fortress Europe
Fortress Europe was a military propaganda term from the Second World War which referred to the areas of Continental Europe occupied by Nazi Germany, as opposed to the free United Kingdom across the Channel...
prior to the 6/6/44, or
D-day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
.
Pilot
On top of the new campaign mode, a pilot system has been introduced, allowing players to create their own pilots based on stock varieties and improve their skills such as visibility, G-tolerance and general health. The player may use their own pilot in the Quick Combat missions, or in pre-defined missions that are available.Bomber aircraft
The addition of medium level bombers into the game was a welcome gesture, as it allowed pilots to experience what it is like to fly and operate a World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
bomber
Bomber
A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by launching cruise missiles at them.-Classifications of bombers:...
aircraft. All stations in the aircraft are operable, including all defensive gun positions. The available bomber aircraft are:
- Martin B-26 Marauder-US Air Force
- North American B-25 Mitchell - Royal Air Force
- Junkers Ju 88Junkers Ju 88The Junkers Ju 88 was a World War II German Luftwaffe twin-engine, multi-role aircraft. Designed by Hugo Junkers' company through the services of two American aviation engineers in the mid-1930s, it suffered from a number of technical problems during the later stages of its development and early...
-Luftwaffe
Fighter aircraft
Many of the old classics return to the game, such as the Focke-Wulf Fw 190Focke-Wulf Fw 190
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Würger was a German Second World War single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft designed by Kurt Tank in the late 1930s. Powered by a radial engine, the 190 had ample power and was able to lift larger loads than its well-known counterpart, the Messerschmitt Bf 109...
series and the Messerschmitt Bf-109 series, as well as the typical RAF and USAAF fighters. Perhaps the most exciting additions to the fighter class in the game are the German jet fighters. The Messerschmitt Me-262 and Ho-229 (Go-229 in the game) both make an appearance, with many exotic variations of the Me-262 making an appearance, including the Me-262 1a/u4 high altitude bomber formation destroyer, armed with a single 50mm cannon (similar to that of the Ju-88 P-4). The aircraft are:
- North American P-51 Mustang
- Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
- Lockheed P-38 Lightning
- Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star
- Curtiss XP-55 Ascender
- Hawker TyphoonHawker TyphoonThe Hawker Typhoon was a British single-seat fighter-bomber, produced by Hawker Aircraft. While the Typhoon was designed to be a medium-high altitude interceptor, and a direct replacement for the Hawker Hurricane, several design problems were encountered, and the Typhoon never completely satisfied...
- Hawker TempestHawker TempestThe Hawker Tempest was a British fighter aircraft primarily used by the Royal Air Force in the Second World War. The Tempest was an improved derivative of the Hawker Typhoon, and one of the most powerful fighter aircraft used during the war....
- Supermarine SpitfireSupermarine SpitfireThe Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
- de Havilland MosquitoDe Havilland MosquitoThe de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was a British multi-role combat aircraft that served during the Second World War and the postwar era. It was known affectionately as the "Mossie" to its crews and was also nicknamed "The Wooden Wonder"...
- de Havilland VampireDe Havilland VampireThe de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served...
- Messerschmitt Bf-109
- Focke-Wulf Fw-190
- Messerschmitt Me-262
- Dornier Do-335
- Gotha Go-229
Criticism
The game has garnered much criticism for its standards. One was that it was really impossible for the actions of one player to affect the outcome of a campaign. Another stemmed from the lack of a global interface, which the previous version lacked. This criticism is viewed to have ended the Combat Flight Simulator line, with Microsoft now focusing its attention on the Flight Simulator line. Some specific criticisms also include inaccurate flight models like the Spitfire and the Me-109 being too easy to fly over their contemporary the North American P-51 Mustang, for example.Addons
Combat Flight Simulator 3 was criticized by many for its radical new file format. While CFS2 was simpler, it was also less detailed. The new format greatly dashed many ideas for addons because of the complexity and limits within the game. As of 2010, newer addons are still being produced for the sim. Many third party addons are being designed and developed to add to the general combat simulator experience.Nevertheless some modding teams found their way into the game and file structure and of all modding efforts at least six of them are outstanding: Firepower, the ETO expansion pack, the NEK (Nationality Expansion Kit), Mediterranean Air War (MAW), Over Flanders Fields (OFF) and Pacific Theaters of Operation (PTO). While Firepower, MAW, ETO and PTO are WWII scenarios, OFF is a total conversion of CFS3 to a WWI flight simulation.
Firepower adds new planes, graphics and sound enhancements as well as custom missions. Planes encompass not only authentic planes of the era there are also types never being flown for what if scenarios. The team also improved the flight models of the involved planes according to feedback of real WWII veterans. Newer aircraft variants are also added to the stock fleet which include: The Arado Blitz bomber, the Focke Wulf Ta154 and the Messerchmitt 410 to name a few.
The NEK (Nationality Expansion Kit) provides added nationalities to the stock sim. The stock Nationalities: British, German, and American are now supplemented with Russian, Japanese, French, Italian, Indian and Chinese nationalities. Players can download this pack and can now choose any different nation to fight for, or against, with added badges, medals and Aircraft upgrades according to the Nation they fight for, all through three important parts (which have the items listed), and twelve total parts.
Mediterranean Air War (MAW) is planned as a series of three chapters and still in development. Chapter One with the new Mediterranean Theatre and its focus on the time frame June 1940 - December 1941 has been released so far. Chapter Two will follow up Chapter One and will cover the period January 1942 - September 1943. Chapter Two will introduce the USAAC and will cover the Tunisian Campaign as well as the invasion of Sicily. Chapter Three will concentrate on the war in the Balkans and campaign of the Allied forces on the Italian peninsula until the end of WWII in Europe. However, the MAW website is not working and the project may have been abandoned.
Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO) takes CFS3 to the war in the Pacific region. It includes new planes like the Japanese types and the American types used in the Pacific. Improved flight and damage models add realism to it. Also, the scenery was changed to replicate the Pacific islands.
European Theater of Operations (ETO), made by the creators of PTO, is another addon for CFS3. Although the stock CFS3 already takes place in Europe, ETO expands on that. On startup of ETO, a Windows Batch file changes the era of WWII that CFS3 takes place and the appropriate user-interface music, sceneries and missions for the "era" of the user's choice. In ETO, the stock nationalities are supplemented with British Navy, Canadian, Australian, Italian (both co-belligerent and Axis), Spanish (Republicans and Nationalists), French (Vichy and Allied), Belgian, Dutch, Russian, Polish, US Navy, US Marines, Other Axis Nations (OXN), and Other Allied Nations (OAN).
Over Flanders Fields (OFF) is a total conversion of CFS3 to a WWI flight simulation. OFF radically changes all of CFS3. Most of the irksome features have been replaced, renewed or improved to achieve this. For example high resolution scenery, more scenery types, much improved AI (computer pilots), physics, flight models, damage models, WWI aircraft models, effects, ground objects and scenery of the 1914 to 1918 era, and most importantly with a full external replacement for the CFS3 campaign engine. This is called the "OFF Manager", a new independent WWI historical campaign engine. Now very popular with many of the old Red Baron 3D players.
Dogpatch Crew Korean Skies takes CFS3 to the Korean War. Korean War aircraft such as the F-86 Sabre, MiG-15, Yak-9, F9F Panther, F4U Corsair and F-51 Mustang are added. In DPC Korean Skies, the stock nationalities are supplemented by North Korean, South Korean, South African, Australian, US Navy and US Marines.
See also
- Microsoft Flight SimulatorMicrosoft Flight SimulatorMicrosoft Flight Simulator is a series of flight simulator programs for the Microsoft Windows operating system, although it was marketed as a video game. It is one of the longest-running, best-known and most comprehensive home flight simulator series...
- Combat Flight Simulator WWII Europe SeriesCombat Flight Simulator WWII Europe SeriesCombat Flight Simulator World War II Europe Series is the first version of combat flight simulators from Microsoft Game Studios, released November 1, 1998. CFS1 is set in the European Theater of World War II.-Game design:...
- Combat Flight Simulator 2Combat Flight Simulator 2Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 2: WWII Pacific Theater is the successor to the highly successful Combat Flight Simulator WWII Europe Series and Fighter Ace Series. CFS1 Was the first combat conversion of the Microsoft Flight Simulator series...