[HB] Initial Experiences with Heliborne.

Initial Preparations & Troubles.

i started with a fast & agile American UH-18 helicopter selection on a 'Vietnam, the Gulf of Tonkin' map with easier, lower-tier helicopters.

i learned from an another game that better turn ratio translate to the better & superior 'dogfight', speed mostly is different & weaker type of fight - 'outrun ranges & return'.

i used an external view, without the cockpit, as it's easier for now - as i gain experience i'll switch for cockpit & depth; i still had the HUD lines, HUD numbers & other HUD parts as well.

Practiced flight & landing under the pressure of time, it's far harder than i thought.

Learned to look at HUD numbers as well, these represent the angles of flight.

Captured one of the bases, unloaded all of onboard troops.


Enemies & Time.

Two players joined on the enemy side, they captured 3 bases soon.

Still have troubles with troops loading for more of bases capture - don't know user interface enough yet.

Fourth of eight of bases is theirs.


The Fight.

As i was landed enemy attacked frontally, our base opened fire.

i started & chased, shot him down with unguided missles, after a little of the dogfight as well - probably with base's support; was damaged nevertheless.

Later i understood that helis should fight from below, close to the terrain & conserve a rare ammo as rockets as well ... this time was probably different - i'll say fairly harsh words as i warn: 'a little of dick from above'; it's far better to gain altitude as You fight than fall afterall.

After first combat, the second enemy heli appeared, we exchanged fire, had rockets depleted soon, i am down.

Took an one screenshot with my loss (first one with win was lost, for i used a wrong screen-capture key).

Then i quit, they won.


A Poem.

'Dick Down.

a little of dick from above - it's down,
... she keeps that little dick that fell,
... with her heart'.

--

Lost.

[HB] Initial Impressions with Heliborne.

An External View.


Initial Impressions.

It's far from simulation, more an action game ... yet the game has vector thrust flight with a non-full spin on a turn & with a side-tilt on low speeds as well.

Noticed that speed vectors change with time according to an angle of an upper rotor - we'll call it a 'rotor pull'.

Flight & combat controls are easy, with a keyboard & mouse.

There are keys & mouse for:
- forward thrust velocity increase & decrease - including backward flight,
- for turning sideways, upwards & downwards,
- for side-tilt at low speeds,
- for vertical-tilt at low speeds - for gaining slow speed upwards or downwards directly,
- for weapon switching & firing,
- for camera view switch as well,
- for more as well.

Flight seems easy enough as well, even if at first can be challenging (not too much) to maneuver.

Game includes:
- helicopters selection - they vary with generation, cost, durability, speed, agility & it's climb speed; infantry carry capacity as well,
- armaments configurations selection including configurations with flares - at different costs,
- onboard troops selection,
- an unit composition - of an unit consisting of up to three types of helicopters available to a
player(-s?) during a battle; with or without optional infantry soldiers as well,
- varying missions,
- a chat, during missions as well,
- currently a 4 of maps with up to 8v8 players fights at each of maps,
- Soviet & U.S. sides helicopters to choose from,
- more as well.

Helicopters available are many, split into four differing generations & at varying costs. There are two choices for infantry units (one more expensive, useful against enemy helicopters - defends allied helicopters & allied armored vehicles from these as well, second attacks enemy ground forces & enemy slow flying helicopters as well).


Hardware Requirements & Availability.

Game works with my old computer:
- NVIDIA GTS 250 graphics card (it's stated requires a 1GB of graphics RAM, not sure if i have),
- Intel Dual Core G2030 3GHz processor,
- a 4GB RAM,
- uses about 645 MB on a HDD.

i have Windows 8.1 installed as well.

Game works fairly well with my old computer, graphics performance is good enough.

Game is available on Steam.

Game is in an early access stage, players to play with are very few still.




Cockpit Flight.