Couple of questions before I start flying

[Ruggerbugger]

After lurking in here for a while I'm ready to get airborne, but I've got a couple of quick questions.

1. I can get FB and AEP from Amazon for £40. Am I right in thinking I also need the Pacific Fighters pack before I can get online at all? (I've read Zak's sticky, but he doesn't mention Pacific Fighters).

2. I've read a lot about the problems with the Pacific Fighters pack, patches etc. Have these been sorted, or would I need to work on it first?

3. Lastly, there's the perennial "what kind of performance can I expect" question. I've heard IL2 is quite demanding.

Cheers guys, see you up there soon!

[[GSV]Trig]

If u wanna fly online then most people now run with PF as well, as an addon its fine as a full game its incomplete, if ur getting FB/AEP tho thats not a problem..
Patches, theres always been patches with this game, as long as ur broadbean'd up u dont really have to worry about it..
Your system will run the game fine.
Get a stick, get Hyperlobby, join in...

Simple

[Ruggerbugger]

Thanks Trig. Hope to be up by the end of the month. I'm having a quiet couple of weeks to appease the bank manager before splurging £100+ on games and kit

[Romanov]

You'll need to get Hyperlobby as well as thats where most people fly online. I think theres a link in the sticky above called useful links. You will need PF as most people dont have servers with PF planes on but if the server has it installed you will need the game to play anyway also patch 3.03 which is the current one at the moment.

[Ruggerbugger]

Thanks Romanov. Can I also get by without a microphone for now, especially as I'm considering the X45 controller?

[Ruggerbugger]

Play.com have FB for £7.99, AEP for £9.99 and PF for £17.99. However FB is listed as temporarily out of stock, and AEP as sold out. Are they likely to get them back in soon?

These discounts will offset a lot of the price of an X45, maybe even an X52!

[[GSV]Trig]

Can I also get by without a microphone for now, especially as I'm considering the X45 controller?

Umm the X45 doesnt have a built in mic m8

A mics good tho if your going to be getting into the game on a more serious level as its much easier to shout than to type to the guy thats about to be dropped on by a pair of 109's

Good stick tho, I'd probably prefer the X52 as it has a twist rudder n I prefer that to the one on the throttle...

[jeNK^]

Clingy would be best for comparison, given he has both

I love my x52

Mic's are good, but not essential like a joystick (omg.. I can't even imagine what it must be like to fly without one :/)

[Ruggerbugger]

Umm the X45 doesnt have a built in mic m8

I meant from the point of view of having to shell out for three games and a controller all at once.

[[GSV]Trig]

I'm a sarcastic mofo btw if anyone hadnt told ya

[Ruggerbugger]

An X45 from dabs would probably leave enough money for a headset. What would you recommend?

[jeNK^]

I use Plantronics Audio .90s.

Cheap(ish @£25-£30) and Cheerful.

The DSP500 would be better, but cost a little more

[Ruggerbugger]

Amazon has the dsp500 phones for £55. Damn, you, now I have to spend more cash That iPod that was tempting me is looking dodgier by the minute

[[GSV]Trig]

I use a crappy logitec mic from ebuyer, there about 5 quid n do the job fine...