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A Review: HSFX 4.1 - First Impressions - Printable Version

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+---- Thread: A Review: HSFX 4.1 - First Impressions (/showthread.php?tid=67103)


A Review: HSFX 4.1 - First Impressions - Boosher - 12.12.2009

I'd like to start off, first, by saying that these views are mine and my own. You may disagree with me or my findings, after all, in the grand scheme of things, my opinion really doesn't matter. But I thought, since I have been playing this game for a very long time, my thoughts would be, if not appreciated, at least interesting to a few people.

The download process of HSFX 4.1 is considerably easier (normally) than it has been in the past for the UI from AAA. The torrents are a wonderful way for our community to help each other, and further emphasizes just how communally based these mods really are. It is no small feat that we have managed to join together some of the largest modding communities, all of which with different philosophies and followers, and created this thing we call HSFX 4.1. It is truly a unified install. That said, let me describe my experience.

Unfortunately, the net address where I live is tied into a college connection, which means blocked ports for torrents. Therefore I had a little bit longer of a download process than I'm used to. I'm not saying this is a bad thing. Certainly my internet connection is better than quite a few of our members. I still know people running internet through a phone line. We are a diverse community. Once everything was downloaded I took my fresh copy of 4.08m, added 4.09, and began the installation. There was a little bit of a hiccup, as something had gone wrong in my 4.09 install, but with bit of jury-rigging I restarted the process and the rest went off without a hitch. After two minutes of figuring out how to use the mod-enabler and choosing my options, there I was, sitting in a Fairey Fulmar, waiting to scramble in the middle of Slovakia. Thank you new QMB!

I had not previously installed the 4.09 aircraft and so spent a good deal of time getting used to them and having fun with the new features, but ultimately, something felt missing. True, not all of the aircraft available on AAA have been put into HSFX 4.1, they probably are beta and not ready. I missed the UI 1.2 loading screen, HG&P's Uranium effects, and some of the other mods I had thrown in. When it came down to it, I missed my 1.2 install. It was built how I wanted it, after several months of experimenting with this and that and making it right.

My UI 1.2 install was customized for me, by me. HSFX 4.1 is a new system. It will take time to get right. Ultimately, it will take those same months of customization to get my 4.1 install to where I feel it should be. And that's okay. We are still in control of our mods. We can still choose what goes in and what stays out.

Everything in HSFX 4.1 is top notch. While I'm still having a few teething issues, I'm glad I can finally enjoy a sim with the community at large again. Please accept a round of applause from me for your continued efforts in both producing a quality modification, and continuing to compromise so that we don't fracture the community you worked so hard to bring together.

Re: A Review: HSFX 4.1 - First Impressions - Salmo - 12.12.2009

Boosher Wrote:I missed the UI 1.2 loading screen, HG&P's Uranium effects, and some of the other mods I had thrown in.
Simply drop the uranium effects mod into your JSGME-MODS folder & it will be selectable in the JSGME switcher.

- AIRdomination - 13.12.2009

I loaded HSFX just as a test once. Am I correct that all the mods in HSFX are inside .SFS files? And not in the standard Mods folder setup?

- Boosher - 13.12.2009

I believe so, yes. That's what makes HSFX load much faster than the UI did. But, as was pointed out, if you add a mods folder you can easily still use mods the way we used to here at AAA.

- HEERDT - 13.12.2009

Boosher Wrote:if you add a mods folder you can easily still use mods the way we used to here at AAA.

and i did just that. i can safely say that i truly am in love with the HSFX set up. i added swaggers sounds and HG&P's uranium. with zuti's rearm and refuel mod.....this is amazing. ill admit i was skeptical at first. but after a few days of tinkering and tweaking, it amazing.

- Salmo - 13.12.2009

There are two ways to add additional mods. 1st as per AAA practice, adding them in folders under the MODS folder. & 2nd adding them in folders under the JSGMEMods folder. I prefer the latter because then each mod is selectable in the JGSME mod switcher.

- almenas - 13.12.2009

Would like to change map textures, f.e. add compans textures to the Normandy map. Is it possible?

- Poltava - 13.12.2009

Well, I have only tested HSFX for a day, but I must say that I am MOST impressed, by the loading time, by the sheer volume of the content, by the ease. And as a compulsive mission-builder I feel that this is really a big step forward, as you get a simple vanilla install, that works like a charm and at the same time that comes with a LOAD of new stuff, adding together a lot of MODs that I could not get to work before, or that I actually hesitated to install: new ships, new tanks, new vehicle columns, moving infantry, etc etc. I mean, just those trench system objects are really to die for. Not saying anything about flying things like the F-86 and the Mig-15. (Or all the new nations, or that we can FINALLY build Spanish Civil War campaigns now, with the I-15, the Hs-123 and the Bf-109B!) And the debugging should result in a stabler game.

HSFX should also lead to a big reduction in the number of people being unable to load and play some new campaigns, as most of the great new packs of objects are well and truly integrated into the game now.

This looks really good, and it appears that we are now moving towards MOD unification at last.

- AIRdomination - 13.12.2009

What kind of gets me is that I can't have access to the file structure if they are in SFS files. :?

What would be brilliant for me is if I was able to take out what I don't want, and put in what I want. And since SFS files load ten times faster, I guess that is where I would love to put my mods as well.

Sorry to steal your thread, Boosher. I would love to learn this stuff too. Smile

My problem with HSFX 4.1 and UI 1.8 - Lupus - 13.12.2009

Well, it seems that NWD's reticle mod is built in by default, that the carrier mod is built in by default. My problem is I don't like the reticle mod. Not anything against NWD or his work, but at least with my rigs setup in game I can't see the whole reticle. I can only see the inner ring and a few hash marks outside that, I can't see the outer ring. As a result my aiming is off.

I don't want the carrier mod either. My squad flies navy planes. We land and takeoff from carriers. Not everyone uses these mods, as a matter of personal taste. As a result, the carrier mod is not something I can use. I'd like to disable it. I can't.

With the old style UI, I could pick and choose which mods I wanted enabled. I could choose to have this one or that one. I didn't have any single mod forced on me. They were all optional. With the HSFX and UP, this is not the case. I have some mods forced on me. For most of them this isn't a problem. However, in the case of these two mods it is a big problem. One that means I will have to find another way to mod my IL-2.

I'd just as soon remove this mod, but I can't. Sad So I'm stuck with loading individual mods and using a mod activator etc. Unless someone has any ideas.

I appreciate any help you have to offer.

Here is what I see ingame just fyi:

[Image: 13122009185001.jpg][/img]