Posted April 29, 2016
Seeing as the Bombs Away website and forums (what was the best resource for this game) is now defunct, I have taken the liberty of replicating below the game FAQ that was on their website. Basically a Q&A with the developer, Wayward Designs. Note that some of what is stated below didn't necessarily make the final version of the game.
When will the sim be released?
B-17 is now available in stores.
What are the hardware requirements?
Required:
Windows �/ 98/ Millennium * Intel Pentium II 300 MHz or faster (or 100% compatible: Celeron 300 or AMD K6-2 400) * 128 Mb RAM * 8x CD-ROM drive * Hard Drive (700 Mb free) * Video cards: 3dfx Voodoo2 or higher, Matrox G200 or higher, Nvidia TNT or higher, ATI Rage 128 or higher, S3 Savage 4, 3D Labs Permedia2 or higher * 8 MB VRAM * DirectX compatible sound card * DirectX 7 (supplied on disk) * DirectX compatible joystick.
Recommended:
Windows �/ 98/ Millennium * Intel Pentium II 400MHz or faster (or 100% compatible) * 256MB RAM or better * Hard Drive (700 Mb free) * Video cards, including: 3dfx Voodoo 3, Matrox G400, Nvidia TNT2 and GeForce, ATI Rage 128 Pro and Radeon, Supports Hardware T&L * 16Mb VRAM+.
Will there be a demo of B-17 2?
No, not unless MicroProse asks Wayward to make one.
Which aircraft are modelled? Will there be any non-flyable aircraft?
All the aircraft will be flyable. The modelled aircraft are:
B-17G Flying Fortress
P-51D Mustang
P-47 Thunderbolt
P-38 Lightning
Me-109
Fw-190 Focke Wulf
Me-262 Schwalbe
Is MultiPlayer supported?
Unfortunately, MP is out. That's right, B-17 II will not feature MP, and we most likely will not get MP in a future patch or add-on either.
Please keep in mind that the chaps at Wayward are not to be blamed for this, it's not their decision - they wanted MP in the sim just as much as we did.
Will there be other flyable bombers in the game?
Due to the truly fanatical level of detail in our game, from the in-game model itself right down to the fully motion captured virtual crew we have had to pick one of the Big Friends to focus on. In this game it's the B17. To do all of the other bombers justice we would have to do them to this same mad level of detail. And unfortunately to do that in one game would take us many more years and many more millions.
When you finally get to see B17-II I think this will all become clear, this is not like any other flight sim you have ever experienced. You will not be disappointed.
So we won't get the Me-110 then?
We (internally at Wayward) have had quite a bit of unrest concerning the 110. Everybody wants it, but we just don't have the time.
(Porta's Note: a while ago, there was a rumor that some guy was working on a Me-110 after hours. Nothing new on this for a while though, but keep your fingers crossed.)
Will there be a Mac version of B-17 II?
I'm afraid it's just not a viable (commercial) proposition for us or Microprose. We've got lots of hungry mouths to feed at Wayward...
Heeey - what's happened to the navigators gun and the radio room gun?
The left cheek gun was often removed as it was of little use and took up valuable space in the nose compartment. We have standardised on this 'combat modification' for the aircraft in the game.
Similarly the radio room gun was not present on a large number of aircraft.
How many targets are modelled?
There are 200+ targets in B-17, from V-Weapons sites to Oil Refineries and all are constructed from 3D buildings and vehicles, which include different levels of damage for every model.
Will transfer of ammo from one station to another be allowed ?
Nope... Each station comes with 1,000 rounds per gun. Once it's gone then it's gone. (unless you want to cheat, that is;-))
How realistic is the aircraft modeled? Does it take a real pilot to get this thing airborne?
If you turn off all the AI help and occupy the cockpit seat then you're going to have to be able to fly the plane, because all the correct switches and dials are modeled and they all hook up to the flight model.
However, I have to stress that this is NOT something you are forced to do. B-17's AI is designed to allow you to tell the aircraft what you want to do (i.e. Increase engine output) and have the AI do the grunt work of managing Intercoolers, cowl flaps, superchargers and prop pitches, among other things.
If you decide to sit out the take off in the Bombardiers position, for example, the pilot and co-pilot will quite happily run through the start-up checklist, taxi, takeoff and formate themselves.
Are the fighter flight models and physics modeled with the same attention to details as the B-17?
The fighters are modelled every bit as well as the B17's. Flight model, physics, damage - the lot.
About flying in formation:
Formations are straight from the B17 operations manual; Main groupings are 6planes in 2 elements of 3. Two groups of 6 constitute a 'formation'.
Players can hit a hot key to find out where he should be, which will display a marker.
Formations will reorganise as planes are lost or leave formation.
AI flying in formation
In a lot of sims, the AI's are doing it for real. In B17-II, the AI's have *exactly* the same access to the aircraft and the human players, ie joystick, engine controls etc.
But yes, we've got some pretty good AI formation stuff It great to see them slowing drifting up and down on the turbulence, gusts etc. Just like in the real footage I've seen. No coat-hangers for B17-II.
Flying formation manually though is easier in the B17's than the other aircraft. The artificial pilot can be used to achieve the slight control changes required for most situations.
In general though, it's a bitch. You just don't have the field of vision your eyes give you. And things get distorted if you widen it up too much with the narrow real estate we have.
When the B17's drop their bombs, do they gain altitude?
Yes the B17's will gain altitude rapidly as they release thier payload.
Are weather effects modelled?
Yep, we have weather. Blanket cloud, wind varying with altitude, gusts, turbulence...
Is it possible to jettison the ball turret?
No. This feature did not make it in the final release.
Is there any way I can review the damage my aircraft sustained after a mission?
In Squadron Commander mode you can look at each bomber's post mission damage report, and then take a 3D spin around each bomber and see all the dynamic damage. The damage report tells you what's wrong with the plane , item by item, and how long it will take to repair. You then choose whether to fix individual parts of the plane or, if time is pressing and you consider a factor non critical, you may not. Bear in mind though that if you choose not to overhal that overheating engine this time, you may well regret it in the next mission.
You can also scrap a plane for parts.
When will the sim be released?
B-17 is now available in stores.
What are the hardware requirements?
Required:
Windows �/ 98/ Millennium * Intel Pentium II 300 MHz or faster (or 100% compatible: Celeron 300 or AMD K6-2 400) * 128 Mb RAM * 8x CD-ROM drive * Hard Drive (700 Mb free) * Video cards: 3dfx Voodoo2 or higher, Matrox G200 or higher, Nvidia TNT or higher, ATI Rage 128 or higher, S3 Savage 4, 3D Labs Permedia2 or higher * 8 MB VRAM * DirectX compatible sound card * DirectX 7 (supplied on disk) * DirectX compatible joystick.
Recommended:
Windows �/ 98/ Millennium * Intel Pentium II 400MHz or faster (or 100% compatible) * 256MB RAM or better * Hard Drive (700 Mb free) * Video cards, including: 3dfx Voodoo 3, Matrox G400, Nvidia TNT2 and GeForce, ATI Rage 128 Pro and Radeon, Supports Hardware T&L * 16Mb VRAM+.
Will there be a demo of B-17 2?
No, not unless MicroProse asks Wayward to make one.
Which aircraft are modelled? Will there be any non-flyable aircraft?
All the aircraft will be flyable. The modelled aircraft are:
B-17G Flying Fortress
P-51D Mustang
P-47 Thunderbolt
P-38 Lightning
Me-109
Fw-190 Focke Wulf
Me-262 Schwalbe
Is MultiPlayer supported?
Unfortunately, MP is out. That's right, B-17 II will not feature MP, and we most likely will not get MP in a future patch or add-on either.
Please keep in mind that the chaps at Wayward are not to be blamed for this, it's not their decision - they wanted MP in the sim just as much as we did.
Will there be other flyable bombers in the game?
Due to the truly fanatical level of detail in our game, from the in-game model itself right down to the fully motion captured virtual crew we have had to pick one of the Big Friends to focus on. In this game it's the B17. To do all of the other bombers justice we would have to do them to this same mad level of detail. And unfortunately to do that in one game would take us many more years and many more millions.
When you finally get to see B17-II I think this will all become clear, this is not like any other flight sim you have ever experienced. You will not be disappointed.
So we won't get the Me-110 then?
We (internally at Wayward) have had quite a bit of unrest concerning the 110. Everybody wants it, but we just don't have the time.
(Porta's Note: a while ago, there was a rumor that some guy was working on a Me-110 after hours. Nothing new on this for a while though, but keep your fingers crossed.)
Will there be a Mac version of B-17 II?
I'm afraid it's just not a viable (commercial) proposition for us or Microprose. We've got lots of hungry mouths to feed at Wayward...
Heeey - what's happened to the navigators gun and the radio room gun?
The left cheek gun was often removed as it was of little use and took up valuable space in the nose compartment. We have standardised on this 'combat modification' for the aircraft in the game.
Similarly the radio room gun was not present on a large number of aircraft.
How many targets are modelled?
There are 200+ targets in B-17, from V-Weapons sites to Oil Refineries and all are constructed from 3D buildings and vehicles, which include different levels of damage for every model.
Will transfer of ammo from one station to another be allowed ?
Nope... Each station comes with 1,000 rounds per gun. Once it's gone then it's gone. (unless you want to cheat, that is;-))
How realistic is the aircraft modeled? Does it take a real pilot to get this thing airborne?
If you turn off all the AI help and occupy the cockpit seat then you're going to have to be able to fly the plane, because all the correct switches and dials are modeled and they all hook up to the flight model.
However, I have to stress that this is NOT something you are forced to do. B-17's AI is designed to allow you to tell the aircraft what you want to do (i.e. Increase engine output) and have the AI do the grunt work of managing Intercoolers, cowl flaps, superchargers and prop pitches, among other things.
If you decide to sit out the take off in the Bombardiers position, for example, the pilot and co-pilot will quite happily run through the start-up checklist, taxi, takeoff and formate themselves.
Are the fighter flight models and physics modeled with the same attention to details as the B-17?
The fighters are modelled every bit as well as the B17's. Flight model, physics, damage - the lot.
About flying in formation:
Formations are straight from the B17 operations manual; Main groupings are 6planes in 2 elements of 3. Two groups of 6 constitute a 'formation'.
Players can hit a hot key to find out where he should be, which will display a marker.
Formations will reorganise as planes are lost or leave formation.
AI flying in formation
In a lot of sims, the AI's are doing it for real. In B17-II, the AI's have *exactly* the same access to the aircraft and the human players, ie joystick, engine controls etc.
But yes, we've got some pretty good AI formation stuff It great to see them slowing drifting up and down on the turbulence, gusts etc. Just like in the real footage I've seen. No coat-hangers for B17-II.
Flying formation manually though is easier in the B17's than the other aircraft. The artificial pilot can be used to achieve the slight control changes required for most situations.
In general though, it's a bitch. You just don't have the field of vision your eyes give you. And things get distorted if you widen it up too much with the narrow real estate we have.
When the B17's drop their bombs, do they gain altitude?
Yes the B17's will gain altitude rapidly as they release thier payload.
Are weather effects modelled?
Yep, we have weather. Blanket cloud, wind varying with altitude, gusts, turbulence...
Is it possible to jettison the ball turret?
No. This feature did not make it in the final release.
Is there any way I can review the damage my aircraft sustained after a mission?
In Squadron Commander mode you can look at each bomber's post mission damage report, and then take a 3D spin around each bomber and see all the dynamic damage. The damage report tells you what's wrong with the plane , item by item, and how long it will take to repair. You then choose whether to fix individual parts of the plane or, if time is pressing and you consider a factor non critical, you may not. Bear in mind though that if you choose not to overhal that overheating engine this time, you may well regret it in the next mission.
You can also scrap a plane for parts.
Post edited April 29, 2016 by ikrananka