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Nick C
September 29th, 2008, 03:40
Does anybody have any updates on the Alphasim server which is down and has been since Friday? I'm looking to make another purchase but as the product pictures seem to be hosted on the same server and as such are missing, I can't get the information I need.

Helldiver, did you ever resolve your problems too?

EDIT: The title should say "Alphasim - Updates?". Can a mod change it please?

FLighT01
September 29th, 2008, 03:51
Seems to be working okay this morning for me.

pernik
September 29th, 2008, 04:27
The store is up, but the forum and galleries are not available.
What info are you after Nick ? If I have the product I'll more than happily take some screenshots for you ( I'm not connected with AS but always on the look out for an excuse to jump into Flight sim )

noddy
September 29th, 2008, 04:53
The store is up, but the forum and galleries are not available.
What info are you after Nick ? If I have the product I'll more than happily take some screenshots for you ( I'm not connected with AS but always on the look out for an excuse to jump into Flight sim )

Same goes for me, let us know and see what we can do.

Noddy

Nick C
September 29th, 2008, 05:21
Having bought recently the Seasprite, I'm now looking at either the Blackshark or the Longbow. What I'd like to see is a good set of VC images and I'd also be keen to hear thoughts on how they fly and which you feel is better value for money. I have the original Alpha Apache which, with Michaels updated Airfile, is now a superb helicopter. Do I gain anything with the Longbow? Many questions...

Henry
September 29th, 2008, 05:36
I cannot help you other than change the title :costumes:
H

MCDesigns
September 29th, 2008, 06:03
Having bought recently the Seasprite, I'm now looking at either the Blackshark or the Longbow. What I'd like to see is a good set of VC images and I'd also be keen to hear thoughts on how they fly and which you feel is better value for money. I have the original Alpha Apache which, with Michaels updated Airfile, is now a superb helicopter. Do I gain anything with the Longbow? Many questions...

Go with the Black Shark, the VC is rather impressive and flies rather well.

pernik
September 29th, 2008, 06:33
I have the Longbow, but not the BlackShark.
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/8685/deadlyduonx8.th.jpg (http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=deadlyduonx8.jpg)
In all honesty the Longbow seems to me to fly very much like the old Apache - very floaty light. But I may be running an older version, given all the updates to the package since it's release I lost track of what was what, so the FDE may have been updated. I certainly prefer the new and improved Apache FDE distributed by Michael Davies.

Terrific sound set though, I could listen to the thud of the rotors all day.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=U3mCTvC_yOM

The default VC textures are quite frankly a little poor, fuzzy and hard to read giving it a rushed feel to it, which given the actual modelling of the cockpit cannot have been the case. I was a little disappointed, jumping in from the Blackhawk and SeaSprite I expected things to be of a similar standard. The realguage items are easily readable it is just the button detail which was hard to see. No biggy really as the majority of the switches are simply for show.
However an Alphasim forum member did release some High Res textures and these have improved the experience.


MFD's basic flight data and map are togglable in right hand mfd only. Occurs in both Pilot and gunner stations
http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/4479/mfdshy1.th.jpg (http://img216.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mfdshy1.jpg)

Pilots pit
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/787/vc1qr9.th.jpg (http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vc1qr9.jpg)

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/3272/vc3za6.th.jpg (http://img401.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vc3za6.jpg)

Gunners station
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/7764/vc2hx2.th.jpg (http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vc2hx2.jpg)

Value for money ? hmmmm on the whole I would say so, you do get a lot of load outs and models, top sounds, external textures and model. Suppose it really depends on how much you want a Longbow :mixedsmi:


Cheers

Graham

djscoo
September 29th, 2008, 11:14
I HAD both...but kept the longbow. Just personal preference though...they're both great choppers.

MCDesigns
September 29th, 2008, 11:50
I HAD both...but kept the longbow. Just personal preference though...they're both great choppers.

Confused, what do you mean by 'had"?

djscoo
September 29th, 2008, 12:00
I bought both when they came out, but I only ended up keeping the longbow. The textures took forever to load with the blackshark, and I wasn't flying it very often, so I took it off my hard drive.

michael davies
September 29th, 2008, 12:07
I have the Longbow, but not the BlackShark.
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/8685/deadlyduonx8.th.jpg (http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=deadlyduonx8.jpg)
In all honesty the Longbow seems to me to fly very much like the old Apache - very floaty light. But I may be running an older version, given all the updates to the package since it's release I lost track of what was what, so the FDE may have been updated. I certainly prefer the new and improved Apache FDE distributed by Michael Davies.

Terrific sound set though, I could listen to the thud of the rotors all day.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=U3mCTvC_yOM

The default VC textures are quite frankly a little poor, fuzzy and hard to read giving it a rushed feel to it, which given the actual modelling of the cockpit cannot have been the case. I was a little disappointed, jumping in from the Blackhawk and SeaSprite I expected things to be of a similar standard. The realguage items are easily readable it is just the button detail which was hard to see. No biggy really as the majority of the switches are simply for show.
However an Alphasim forum member did release some High Res textures and these have improved the experience.


MFD's basic flight data and map are togglable in right hand mfd only. Occurs in both Pilot and gunner stations
http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/4479/mfdshy1.th.jpg (http://img216.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mfdshy1.jpg)

Pilots pit
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/787/vc1qr9.th.jpg (http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vc1qr9.jpg)

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/3272/vc3za6.th.jpg (http://img401.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vc3za6.jpg)

Gunners station
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/7764/vc2hx2.th.jpg (http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vc2hx2.jpg)

Value for money ? hmmmm on the whole I would say so, you do get a lot of load outs and models, top sounds, external textures and model. Suppose it really depends on how much you want a Longbow :mixedsmi:


Cheers

Graham

The original was like the old one, they simply used my old files and changed a few bits and pieces.

I'd recently redone the A model upgrades and offered to do the same with the D , I was given 24hrs to ship, did it in 13 but they uploaded in 11 ?, consequently.... unless things have changed since I communicated on the matter....the shop updated FSx D model is running on the old technology FDE, the FS9 updated model is running on the new technology FDE.

There was several threads about all the ins and outs at AS but thats all gone now, about the best I can do.

I'm led to believe the shop is still working correctly, the forums are a technical issue, they may not return, they may return in a truncated format, they may return as they were originally, that is all the information I have.

Best

Michael

WarHorse47
September 29th, 2008, 12:12
I'm led to believe the shop is still working correctly, the forums are a technical issue, they may not return, they may return in a truncated format, they may return as they were originally, that is all the information I have.

Best

Michael<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->Thanks, Michael.

I've been waiting for some Seasprite repaints that were supposed to be available last weekend. Now that the forum is down, there is no way I can determine the status or leave a message for the painter. Most of the time the only way to find out about any repaints for the newest AS products is to monitor the forum. Sigh. :kilroy:

--WH<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

kilo delta
September 29th, 2008, 12:22
Michael.....where can I d/l the newer FDE :)

Nick C
September 29th, 2008, 13:06
WH, keep an eye on Avsim, "Pierre Lheureux" always posts his repaints there. I'm watching for them too.

Thanks all for your thoughts and pictures, I think I'll await the site being fully active again before making any purchase but the information here is invaluable.

Helldiver
September 29th, 2008, 13:38
No Nick, I have not heard a word from Phil and I guess I'll just have to kiss the AT-6 and about $250 other planes goodbye.
Makes you hesitate before you start to invest in payware,

pernik
September 29th, 2008, 22:48
........snip ....

I'm led to believe the shop is still working correctly, the forums are a technical issue, they may not return, they may return in a truncated format, they may return as they were originally, that is all the information I have.

Best

Michael

That covers all bases :icon_lol:

Being the old cynic that I am and given several of the bad tempered posts I had seen from the AS management, I wouldn't be in the least surprised if the forums didn't return. Which would be a shame as they were a valuable resource. Hope I am proved wrong.


If there is an updated D model FDE I'd love to get my hands on it.

Cheers

Graham

michael davies
September 30th, 2008, 06:22
That covers all bases :icon_lol:

Being the old cynic that I am and given several of the bad tempered posts I had seen from the AS management, I wouldn't be in the least surprised if the forums didn't return. Which would be a shame as they were a valuable resource. Hope I am proved wrong.


If there is an updated D model FDE I'd love to get my hands on it.

Cheers

Graham

Precisely :icon_lol:, that is exactly what was communicated to me, nothing more, nothing less.

I think your summation is a very observant one, however, my gut feeling is that they may well opt for the middle option. I hinted on their own forum that a move to more or total boxed sets sales would virtually negate the use of a forum, I still believe that to be true, customer issues would be taken up by the vendor, not the developer.

Apache FDEs, let me wake up properly and I will FTP them and post links in a few hours, both the D and the A

Best

Michael

Nick C
September 30th, 2008, 06:31
If you sell any product you have to be thick skinned, but treat your customers with respect and they will return the favour. That's how we deal with customers in my day job and we're frequently rewarded by customers complimenting us on our service.

I personally never buy boxed products as they take up too much room and would hate for Alphasim to take that route. Also many publishers send support requests directly back to the developer and in the past I've been left in no man's land when the publisher sent me to the developer and the developer then ignored my emails politely asking for help.

I for one hope their forums return.

michael davies
September 30th, 2008, 12:06
If there is an updated D model FDE I'd love to get my hands on it.

Cheers

Graham

Try these

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mickoo/files/ALPHA_AH-64A_Apache_FSx_V1.3c.zip

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mickoo/files/ALPHA_AH-64D_Apache_FSx_V1.1.zip

These should be the latest, there the last that I did, use at your own discretion and please make a back up of the originals first please, any issues please let me know but they should be good for y'all to use.

Best

Michael

WarHorse47
October 1st, 2008, 14:50
Been to the AlphaSim site, lately? Interesting... :running: No forum, no main page. It now takes you directly to the store.

--WH

CodyValkyrie
October 1st, 2008, 19:28
Been to the AlphaSim site, lately? Interesting... :running: No forum, no main page. It now takes you directly to the store.

--WH
Not on my end it doesn't. They are probably experiencing some technical issues, which a lot of forums appear to be having as well. This was possibly a temporary fix?

fsafranek
October 1st, 2008, 21:31
Been to the AlphaSim site, lately? Interesting... :running: No forum, no main page. It now takes you directly to the store.

--WH

Nothing going on over at Alphasim. Just the same problem as SOH here with the forum database. The gallery seems to be effected as well but otherwise, business as usual. The main page has been up and running through it all.

http://www.alphasim.co.uk

:ernae:

Marlin
October 2nd, 2008, 12:23
I wonder if this has anything to do with anything.


Flight 1 Partners With Alpha Simulations
http://avsim.com/images/common/sep_bar.gif
Posted: Thursday, October 2, 2008 - 0:43
Flight1 is excited to announce its partnership with renowned flight simulation developers, Alpha Simulations. The first release available from Flight1 (in both download and boxed editions) is AlphaSim's acclaimed simulation of the Hawker Hunter (http://www.flight1.com/products.asp?search=true&filter=all&txtsearch=Alphasim%20Hunter).

The legendary Hawker Hunter is one of the most admired fighter aircraft of all time and its beautiful lines have often resulted in it being referred to as the Spitfire of the jet age. Designed by Sir Sidney Camm, an engineer whose designs span biplane to jump jet, the Hunter is a remarkable machine. The Rolls Royce Avon will propel you at Mach 0.94 at sea level, and let you climb at no less than 10,500ft/min to 'touch the face of God' at 51,000ft. Hunters were the chosen mount of the famous Black Arrows, their livery one of many in this simulation. Their 22-plane formation loop, set a record which stands to this day.

Developed by AlphaSim for FS2004 and FSX this new simulator is now available on general release. It includes subtle reflectivity, bump mapping, self-shadowing and bloom and even signs of weathering. The static realization includes the cockpit ladder engine covers and pitot tags. The speedbrake is restricted to operate only with wheels up - just as in the real Hunter. The simulation covers 7 unique variants and 8 texture sets including the Black Arrows, and the famous Swiss air force examples where the pilots were often part-time and the runways empty motorways! Looking into the cockpit the auto-animated avatar even has correct insignia on his arm patches.

For complete details, visit the Flight 1 (http://flight1.com/) website.

S
October 2nd, 2008, 12:28
Probably has nothing to do with it as this seems to be just a way for AlphaSim to sell their boxed products.

Database issues for the forum. Well kindah strange not to be able to go there. I hope they'll have it up and running again soon!

MCDesigns
October 2nd, 2008, 13:13
Well with Phil's inclination to go with the civilian type models I am not surprised with the Flight1 announcement. Wonder if all of the AS offerings will use the Flight1 wrapper from now on?