A welcome return to you, RM_Phoenix!
The HSFX series of mod packs actually goes back in time a while and the UI (Unified Installer) started to gain wide exceptance in early 2009.
There was a team working on the UI 1.2.5 and had tested it as a beta. Some of these guys I know personally.
Late last year, 2009, communication with several modding communities resulted in almost all the UI content - which includes the UI 1.1, 1.2, and beta 1.2.5 -
included in the HSFX 4.1 mod pack download. Also integrated was a bunch of SAS and SFX stuff and what was then the latest Zuti with the Moving Dogfight setup. The Moving Dogfight feature allow the moving of the battle line as the number of ground forces change which move the line. This adds the need to attack ground forces to the air combat. UltraPack added stuff to the pack and the JSGME Mods Enabler became the basis for adding, switching, and viewing enabled and disabled mods and smaller mod packs. On top of all this were included some nice surprises. The HSFX 4.1 with History Mods enabled is simply awesome! You would get almost three whole columns of maps! ...dozens of maps!
By the way, in my humble opinion, the JSGME Mods Enabler is one of the greatest mods-related creations to ever be united with IL-2. It makes the management of mods quite easy once it is learned. I really appreciate how a user can see exactly what is activated and what is deactivated. Push a button and the switcher handles the mods! The user still must learn how to install mods, but that is easy once you get it. After that, the switcher makes them all clear as they appear in the JSGME Mods Enabler.
The HSFX 4.1 had the potential to be the unifying system for all the major modding communites, but many people jumped on the band wagon ( I don't blame them, only stating the reality ) and installed the UltraPack 2.0 instead of the HSFX 4.1 The UP 2.0 has its strengths and weaknesses just as all mod packs do. It had the capability to switch mods with the Mods Enabler, too, and could be switched to make it compatible with the HSFX 4.1 for online flying.
Ah! The Unified Intaller download was absorbed into the HSFX 4.1, so actually the UI vs HSFX is actually an evolution of creative programs. Unfortunately, HaDes missed the opportunity to be a much more important contributor by neglecting the HSFX unification cause.
HaDes made a bunch of users of the much larger UltraPack 2.0 happy by its release, however at the expense to a large extent of HSFX unification of communities. There are other issues of integrity regarding UltraPack which I will not express here. Unfortunately, the decisions of HaDes and his team has been the largest factor in the resentment by many people in the know at All Aircraft Arcade.
Therefore my conscience is clear and I am happy about using HSFX 4.1
The HSFX 4.1 has a quick loading time - about 45 to 75 seconds for me. I was using the UI 1.2 but have recently begun to do everything with the HSFX 4.1
There is an HSFX 4.11 add-on for the HSFX 4.1 that was recently released with nice things.
The UltraPack 2.0 and the Mega Pack have far more than anyone would experience in years. This suits some people just fine and I don't blame anyone for trying them. One of my biggest criticisms of the UP 2.0 is the increased loading time over the HSFX 4.1, though still better than the UI 1.2 For a guy like me who is best served with a mod pack like HSFX 4.1 which is great for online use, fast loading, and quick handling of mods, the choice is easy to make.
Go "shopping" for a mod pack, though you know my preference. :wink:
Have fun with the whole process! You'll learn a bunch of things as you do.
