Retro Dogfight, a New Podcast Focusing on Classic Flight Sim, Launches Today

[SpaceGameJunkie]

Chuck Yeager's Air Combat was my first.  I also had a WW1 title at about that time that I don't think was RB3D.  Then I guess Rowan's Battle of Britain, CFS3.  Does IL2 '46 count as retro?

Yeah, it's on our list.

[Skoop]

I'd say rowan's BOB definitely needs a modern redo.  It had a campaign that was the WWII version of the falcon campaign.   So immersive playing as the RAF and seeing the campaign map that looked like the pictures of fighter command HQ and the sounds of phones ringing and women plotters moving the plane icons across the board.

Microprose should have done that one for retro remake, it's turn key as is.  Just needs the graphics updated to 2025 DX12 standards.  If you can get the current version to run, it might be worth a playthrough.  There's a mod that adds a ton of content too.

[Jarhead0331]

Let's not all forget Mig Alley.

[JudgeDredd]

Let's not all forget Mig Alley.

Ooosh

[JudgeDredd]

I'd say rowan's BOB definitely needs a modern redo

Double ooosh

[Destraex]

Do you cover DCS world in your podcast at all?

No. We'll cover the games it came from, like SU-27 Flanker, for example. Was I not clear in explaining the whole thing?

I mean, there are already other podcasts that talk about DCS. This one, for example. I couldn't find a podcast that talked about the old stuff, or as I like to call it, the good stuff, so here we are. ;)

Do you have one?

Yup. Gunship 2000. Has pretty much everything I want in a flight sim.

Fair enough. If you
Don't play it, you don't play it. I know DCS was not in your podcast brief, but no harm in asking.
I don't think I have found a podcast that does DCS justice yet.

Good luck with your podcast. I will probably have a listen at some stage out of curiosity, but am not as interested in older sims. What I would be more interested in is a comparison between newer and older sims.

[SpaceGameJunkie]

Nah, DCS is all about switchology and not about gameplay, in my opinion. That's fine for folks who want it. That's just not me.

Starting a podcast isn't difficult. Why not start your own DCS podcast?

[Destraex]

Nah, DCS is all about switchology and not about gameplay, in my opinion. That's fine for folks who want it. That's just not me.

Starting a podcast isn't difficult. Why not start your own DCS podcast?

I have toyed with doing a podcast in the past. However I don't specialise enough for long enough in one game for that to work well. Streaming would be more what I would end up doing and absulutely everybody is doing that, many without adding much new content or value to the scene.

As for DCS being a switch simulator. I guess it can be more of a study simulator in some respects. Some of the ww2 and cold war aircraft in DCS beg to differ though.

Now I am interested in whether you like lock on or flaming cliffs?

[DesertFox]

Chuck Yeager's Air Combat was my first.

Same here.  My laptop at the time had a sort of trackball mouse built into it which made controls very interesting.  There was another one around that time that was like Combat Flight Simulator that I remember enjoying but not sure what version it was?

[bobarossa]

Haven't flown a flight sim since IL-2 1946!  Started with F15 Strike Eagle (Atari 800?).  Airwarrior 2 on Genie (not really a flight sim, just arcade).  Then tried AirWarrior and had to learn how to fly.  Also played Red Baron, SWOTL (arcadey), EAW, PAW, Rowan's BoB, and Mig Alley. Longbow Gold was also great.  Never liked jet sims with missiles/radar as there was too much learning curve. 

[SpaceGameJunkie]

Now I am interested in whether you like lock on or flaming cliffs?

Haven't played them. After playing the Flanker games I realized they're a little too high fidelity for me.

Never liked jet sims with missiles/radar as there was too much learning curve. 

Have you played F-117A? Very easy to get into, very fun.

[Jarhead0331]

Retro sims for me hold a sacred place in my soul. I remember them so fondly, having spent countless hours exploring these wonderful sims. They are truly part of some of my greatest memories. The problem for me is that most of them have just not held up to the test of time. The genre has evolved so much and in so many ways since the 90s and early 00s that I tend to get very little satisfaction out of playing them now. I will buy them on gog or steam and then spend almost no time p,aging them because their ancient graphics, sounds and archaic UI frustrate and even take away some from the magic that remains in my mind.

[SpaceGameJunkie]

I'm just not sure I agree. Sure, the graphics are old, but the gameplay just shines above all that. Like, I was playing 1982's Hellcat Ace for the first time recently, and I was shocked at how compelling it was given the super rudimentary graphics.

But I get that some folks can't go back that far and enjoy a game. I feel fornutate that I still can.

[Redwolf]

I just wish that old and retro sims were smarter when it comes to peripherals. With all the hardware controllers connected to my gaming PC that often means trouble.

[SpaceGameJunkie]

I have a USB hub with power switches for each individual port to help with this very problem. I almost always have the gamepad on, but when flying something, I turn that off and turn the joystick port on. It works wonderfully and I highly recommend it.