Have been a CFS I fan since the begining [19??]   - playing-missions & campaigns - writing and uploading missions & campaigns.[Come on I bet you've all downloaded my stuff at some time']

Making like minded friends and scrounging their expertise from mission writers, developers of scenery - panels - liveries - air files - etc - etc. and upsetting them as well.
Super support from the Simviation Forums when in trouble, coming of course from you contributors.
Years of joy - excitement, frustration and virtual companionship.

Then I thought I would try IL2 Sturmovik as it seems to have a good press. Got a copy of the original for £1/10 or £1.50 in modern money [$0.75 for our friends across the pond].

Now I would like some of you experieced bods who have tried both  to input your opinions about IL2 Sturmovik vs CFS I .

My findings so far are:-
Excellent graphics,[bit over thte top in the cockpit I think as you can't waggle the levers etc.] Put your mouse in a drawer as you don't know what you'll end up looking at.

Technically - from a flying point of view - very realistic if you want it that way.

If you haven't got a joystick with a hat switch very very difficult to get all the veiws,which affects combat adversely.

Most of the CFS facilities are there once you found them, takes a lot of time experimenting but no help from IL2 Sturmovik . [If I wasn't a competent   CFS I flyer I don't think I would be able to get it going, because I had to look for operations experimentally that I knew should be there!!]
A very different approach to many operational aspects, so I suppose it needs working at.

I know from experience that if a game simulation is to be absorbing and rewarding then you must be prepared to put in the hours in to master it.  Not for the faint hearted then.
[MY CV for this attribute is mastering Grand Prix Ledgends]

Finally a major minus is that I can't find a forum comparable to Simviatin to get any interaction, advice, tips, etc-etc

I realy would appreciate your experiences in this matter.

Cheers TerryB

Thanks Vuikag for sticking your head above the CFS wall. I know it was a bit cheeky to ask and you gave an honest opinion which I appreciate.

Great tip about the mouse for seeing what's going on, I'll get on to that ASAP and persevere as you recommend.

By the way who is Ana Beatriz Barros ?  

Cheers TerryB

I'll admit that sometiems on IL-2 i'll just take off and bail out because I kept gettign shot down and captured, or some huys shot me throught the cockpit on my first pass (first unrealistic part fo the game, because italians cna't do that nad they do!)
and cfs3 is good now that I think about it because it has the vampire, and easier to use multiplayer.

I know this is about the original IL-2 and cfs I (the origiinal IL-2 wasn't as cool as the new one) but I think CFS 2 is the most versatile game of all time.