Frequently Asked Questions

Table of contents

1.  Basic questions

3.  General Gameplay

4.  Graphics

5.  3D glasses/Track IR

6.  Easy Mode/Simplified avionics

7.  Multiplayer

8.  Campaign

9.  Dogfight

10. Force-on-Force

11. Sound

Basic questions

2. What are the system requirements?

• Windows® 98 / ME / 2000 / XP
• Pentium® 4 1.5GHz or AMD Athlon® 1.2GHz CPU (recommend: Pentium® 4 2.4GHz or AMD Athlon® 1800)
• 384 MB of RAM
• 1.5 GB Free Hard Disk Space (plus 500 MB for Windows Swap File)
• 4x CD-ROM Drive, 100% Windows compatible mouse, keyboard and joystick
• 1024x768 resolution capable color monitor
• 3D accelerated DirectX® 9 .0c compatible Video Card with 64MB of memory (recommend 128MB)
• DirectX® version 9.0c or higher compatible sound card
• 56Kbps ("hardware") modem for multiplayer options (recommended: DSL/Broadband)
• DirectX version 9.0c (included) or higher.
• As a general rule of thumb, make sure you have the latest Windows updates (including Windows XP Service Pack 2 and following updates), and latest drivers for your other hardware (graphics card, sound card, joystick controller...)

3. When is it due to be released?
It was released on 28th June 2005 in North America (United States and Canada) and followed by worldwide releases thereafter.

4. Which vehicles and weapons are available?
You can fly F-16 Block 40/42, F-16 Block 50/52 and F-16A-MLU and use most of the weapons they carry in real life.

5. Does it have single player missions?
It has a truly dynamic campaign engine to generate missions in each theater of war. Each mission experience is different every time you play.

6. Does it have multiplayer?
Yes.

7. Can you play cooperatively?
Yes.

8. How many players are supported for multiplayer?
That really depends on the bandwidth available for the server and each client, as well as machine specs for all involved.

9. Is a joystick required?
Not required, but it is highly recommended to use one, preferably having separate throttle controls, i.e. a HOTAS.

10. Is there a plot?
Each campaign has a scenario and win conditions. The rest is up to you and your comrades :-)

11. Does it have good AI?
Sure does, with varying skill levels.

12. How realistic is it?
How realistic do you want it? ;-)

13. Do I need a degree to play it?
No, but it might help (joking ;-). The learning curve is fairly steep compared to other games you might pick up, play and finish within a couple of weeks. This sim will keep you busy for months, if not years, to come.

14. What should I do with the Crashlog tool ?
When a crash to desktop (CTD) happened, this tool pops up automatically when you start Falcon 4.0: Allied Force the next time. Using it, you can send information about the CTD to the developers that might lead to a solution for this problem. When you specify your email address, the developers can contact you for more information. Furthermore, you should write a short description of what happened right before the CTD occured (like key presses or mouse clicks).

The crashlog contains no personally identifiable data other than your email address, if you submit it. No information collected from the crashlog service will be transmitted outside of Lead Pursuit Inc. and only used internally for the purposes of analysing and fixing problems with its products.

15. Am I allowed to print a copy of "Battlefield Operations: Falcon 4.0 Allied Force" PDF manual ?
Yes you are. You can print one copy for your own usage and reference.

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Installation issues

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General Gameplay

2. I have no FLY button and can't get into a mission. Why?
You are in Multiplayer dedicated server or AWACS mode.

3. Do I need a joystick to be able to play?
It is possible to control everything using the keyboard only, but it is recommended that you use a good joystick, and preferably a HOTAS (Hands On Throttle And Stick) setup to get the best from the game.

4. How can I fly an aircraft other than F-16?
You can only fly F-16 Block 40/42, F-16 Block 50/52 and F-16A-MLU aircraft.

5. I can only see F-16 squadrons for selection in campaign selection. Where are all the other types?
The other types are present, but you can only fly F-16 Block 40/42, F-16 Block 50/52 and F-16A-MLU aircraft.

6. What screen resolutions are supported?
There are cockpit resolutions of 1024x768, 1280x960 and 1600x1200 included with the product for each flyable type of F-16. Resolutions from 1024x768 upwards are supported and the cockpit graphics are scaled from the most suitable included resolution. Currently all screen resolutions must be 4:3 ratio.

7. How do I fly in the back-seat of the plane in training for example?
Back-seat operation is not supported.

8. My missile didn't blow up when it reached the target, even though it was very close!
Missile malfunctions are simulated and they may fail on launch, during guidance, or on detonation. In this case, your missile probably launched and guided to the target OK, but failed to detonate at the appropriate time due to a malfunction.

9. How do I take screenshots?
By default, the Print Screen key can be used to take screenshots in-game. Depending on if you are in the Simulation or in the User Interface, the pictures are stored in the Pictures\Simulation or Pictures\UI sub-folder of your installation with a date and timestamp, respectively. Default installation folder is C:\Program Files\Lead Pursuit\Battlefield Operations\

10. How do I find the target?
If the target is a ground installation such as an airbase or power station, then you should be able to follow your steerpoints to get to the target. However, if the target is a concentration of ground vehicles, they may have moved away from the target steerpoint when you arrive there.

11. Why is my radar off when I enter the aircraft?
Modern aircraft have safety systems to prevent the radar being activated when there is weight on the wheels (WOW) to prevent the radiation hazard. This system also prevents any weapons being fired.

12. Why did my bombs not come off when I pickle?
Firstly, check that your Master Arm is On. You can do this by moving the switch on the front left cockpit panel to the Arm position, or by using SHIFT+M. If you are using unguided bombs, in CCIP mode you will need to make sure you are at a sufficient altitude and dive angle for them to drop, otherwise there will be a short horizontal line across the centre of the vertical drop line of your HUD (see Mission 19 in Chapter 5 of the PDF manual). For CCRP mode with unguided bombs, you need to hold down the pickle button as consent to the onboard computer to drop when it calculates the correct instant to do so (see Mission 18 in Chapter 5 of the PDF manual).

13. How can I tell where my wingmen are?
The positions of the other members of your flight are displayed on the HSD along relative to the position of your own aircraft in the centre of the display by default. Also you can ask AWACS for vectors to the other members of your package.

14. It is dark outside and I can't see anything in the cockpit. Where's my flashlight?
Firstly, you should switch on your Night Vision Goggles using the default N key to toggle. Your aircraft is also equipped with panel lighting which can be switched on during hours of darkness and is compatible with your NVG system. There are two switches to control this on your down-right-right panel. They are lit at night time. Toggle both ON.

15. The AWACS menu commands are greyed out and I have no AWACS. Why?
AWACS is only available if one has been assigned to your mission in campaign. Normally this will be the case, but if for example you are airborne and AWACS is shot down or goes off-station, then you will not be able to call them up. Replacement AWACS missions will be generated as long as the AWACS squadron has sufficient aircraft and pilots, and their airbase is not shut down. This limitation only applies to the Campaign, you will always have AWACS in Instant Action, Dogfight and TE by default.

16. How can I record the action to review it later?
There is no in-game video maker, but there is an ACMI interface which records the essential properties of any action so you can review it later from many different angles. Toggle it on using the default F key at the start of the action you want to record, and then toggle it off again using the F key to stop. When the mission is finished you can then view it via the ACMI option on the menu bar. The size for the ACMI file is set in the Setup screen. If ACMI record is longer than set size, new ACMI files will be created on your hard disk. All ACMI files are stamped with date and time when they were recorded.

17. Computer-controlled pilots do not always seem to hit the target with their bombs. Why do they miss?
Human pilots don't always hit the target either. Bombing accuracy depends on the skill level of the pilot, whether human or computer-controlled.

18. 20. I was shot down without any audible warning from my RWR. Why did I not get a warning?
Infra-red missiles will not trigger a warning on your RWR as they are passive systems that do not emit radiation that your RWR can pick up to alert you to their approach. They are among the most feared weapons on the battlefield. Try to avoid overflying concentrations of enemy ground troops and keep an eye on your sensors for enemy aircraft in the vicinity.

19. I clicked on something and now my Multi Functional Displays (MFDs) are dark and I can't make them brighter.
Use Shift-Alt-G to increase right MFD brightness and Ctrl-Alt-G to increase left MFD brightness. This can also be controlled in the 2d cockpit by clicking on two small areas (one on top of another) just next to the OSB1 button (first button on the top-left side of the MFD) that can increase and decrease brightness. In main 2d cockpit view they are obscured partially by the panel protecting center console from sun reflections.

20. Radio commands in Simplified Avionics
If you're using simplified avionics, the regular radio keys have different functions. To access all of the radio commands first you press <TAB> key to get top level menu. Then press 1 through 6 to choose between Awacs, Wingman, Element, Flight, Tower and Tanker commands. After pressing 1-6 keep pressing <TAB> to cycle between subpages and finally press the number letter next to the radio command you wish to send.

21. I hear the Intro video music, but no movie shows. Sometimes I also can not get into the User Interface - the parachute icon shows, but I need to press CTRL+ALT+DEL to close the program. What is wrong?
You might have installed a 3rd party video codec packages. They can cause all possible issues and problems. For example, the K-Lite video codec package is known to cause problems with Falcon 4.0 Allied Force. If you have this installed, do the following:
Open Klite Codec pack > Configuration > Fddshow > Video decoder configuration and change the MP42 format entry to disabled by clicking on libavcodec.
As a result the standard MS codec will play the AVI movies and FDDshow is not used for this type. Falcon will run fine with movies then.

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Graphics

2. When I start the game up I get only a black screen and not even a User Interface.
FSAA (Full Screen Anti-aliasing) currently causes problems, especially when set to 4x, though 2x can cause some problems in cockpits too, particularly for nVidia graphics cards. Switch off FSAA via your Display Settings menu for your graphics card. Consult your graphics card manual or the manufacturer's website if you have difficulty finding this. Also, uninstall and reinstall your graphics card's drivers, and install the latest version of DirectX from the Microsoft website. If you have "ffdshow" installed at the same time, it might be a cause of a conflict, too.

3. In the cockpit, I can't see the cursor in some areas of the screen. What is wrong?
On some video cards, Antialiasing causes this problem to happen. Try installing latest drivers. If that doesn't solve the issue, turn off Antialiasing. See previous topic for further details.

4. I get poor FPS with my 386 processor, 128Mb Ram and 4Mb graphics card.
Your system specs are well below minimum system requirements. Even if you are able to load the sim, gameplay will not be at all smooth and generally unstable. You should upgrade the key components of your system.

5. Why do I have poor FPS with my GeForce™ MX graphics card?
MX graphic cards are low-end entry-level graphics cards even though they maybe GeForce™ 4. They are in fact closer to GeForce™ 2 standard output and therefore are below the minimum system requirements.

6. I have graphics corruption on some missions.
Any one of dozens of graphics settings could be causing this. Set your graphics settings to suit your system and card. Use only official drivers as beta versions may be unstable. If you have a low-end card, it will only be suitable for low-end graphics settings.

7. I get poor FPS, especially when on taxiway and runway.
There could be several causes for this. It may be that there are lots of other aircraft around or your graphics settings are too high for the hardware you are using. On taxiways and runways in particular, anti-aliasing can cause a big frame-rate hit as it tries to smooth out all those painted markings on the ground. Turn off anti-aliasing via the display properties control panel for your graphics card.

8. Clouds seem to be causing a big FPS hit? What can I do?
Rendering clouds and the shadows that they cast on the ground requires a significant amount of processing. You can disable clouds and/or shadows via the Setup -> Graphics menu.

9. It seems that Falcon 4.0 Allied Force is crashing when I press ALT-TAB to temporarily switch to desktop.
This is a known issue that, so far, only seams to affect users with nVidia graphic cards. We are looking into fixing this issue.

10. nVidia 8800 series graphics bug
Black screen and freeze when going from user interface into simulation is a known issue with brand new nVidia 8800 series graphics card. A major reason for that was fixed with Patch V1.10 - please upgrade to the latest patch.
Furthermore, cranked up graphics 3D settings can cause problems. If you still experience problems after updating to the latest patch, then do the following: Open up the Nvidia Control Panel and then go to the "3D Settings" section. In that section open up "Adjust Image Settings With Preview". Look in the title bar for that screen in the far upper right and in tiny writing you'll see "Restore Defaults". Push that option. If you have a different control panel, search the 3D settings section for a button where to restore factory default settings.

11. If graphics problems persist, or Falcon can't start at all
Follow this checklist to troubleshoot graphics related problems:

1. Can you actually set your display to 1024x768x16 bits/pixel resolution on the Desktop (Control Panel / Display/ Settings / screen resolution)? This is a required resolution for Falcon User Interface.
2. Check if you are running WHQL certified video drivers. Non WHQL certified video drivers can be problematic sometimes. Try finding drivers that are WHQL certified and see if that helps.
3. If you have nVidia video card, see if you have FSAA enabled and if so switch it off via Display Settings menu for your graphics card. Consult your graphics card manual or the manufacturer's website if you have difficulty finding this.
4. Some systems may have problems running the introduction video. If Falcon 4.0 Allied Force fails to run, create a NEW shortcut to FalconAF.exe using Windows Explorer (go to C:\Program Files\Lead Pursuit\Battlefield Operations\ folder, find FalconAF.exe, right click on it and select 'Create Shortcut'). Right click on the newly shortcut, select the 'Properties' menu command and add ' -nomovie' to the very end of the Target field. Target field should now read:
   
   "C:\Program Files\Lead Pursuit\Battlefield Operations\FalconAF.exe" -nomovie
   
   (notice that the -nomovie part is outside the quoted part). Click on the OK button to finish. Now use the new shortcut to run Falcon 4.0 Allied Force.
5. If you are able to start Falcon with -nomovie option, go to Setup and select "Skip intro movie" checkbox so next time you start Falcon in full screen mode with regular shortcut, intro movie will not play.
6. If you have "ffdshow" video codec installed, there have been reports that it might be a cause of a conflict, too. See previous answer on how to solve this issue.

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3D glasses / TrackIR support

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Easy Mode/Simplified Avionics

2. No Steerpoints
The steerpoints are followed by following the tic in the heading indicator in the HUD, the diamonds also in the HUD, or the path displayed in the MFD.

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Multiplayer

2. Can a server have LAN and internet players at the same time?
No. A server can host a session for an internet game or a LAN game only, but can not have players from both. 

3. Why can I not see any multiplayer games listed in the browser?
There could be several causes of this. If it is the first time you have accessed the multiplayer section, you will need to allow the application to access the internet via your firewall and router if you have them. There may be a background pop-up window that requires action to allow the application access to the internet. You can switch to it using Alt+ Tab. This needs to be done only the first time each version of the application needs to access the internet and is standard with all Windows applications to ensure your computer is secure.

4. Will multiplayer work with Windows XP™ SP2 firewall turned on?
Yes, though as with any multiplayer game, you will need to configure the firewall to allow the application to access internet services. This can be done by adding the application to the list of exceptions for the firewall, and opening the required ports 2934 and 2935 (UDP). This Knowledge Base article explains how to configure the firewall in general for multiplayer games: http://support.microsoft.com/

5. I use a software firewall other than Windows XP™ SP2, how do I configure it so that I can access ?
Please consult your software firewall vendor's documentation about how to open up ports 2934 and 2935 (UDP).

6. Which ports need to be opened on the router to play via internet?
Ports 2934 and 2935 for UDP need to be forwarded to your host it you are behind a NAT/firewall setup. Please consult the manufacturer's documentation for your router or visit this site: http://www.portforward.com

7. Can I play on internet using more than one machine on my LAN?
Your LAN router needs to be configured with port forwarding to send relevant data coming back into your LAN from the internet, to the correct computer. This requires the IP address of that machine to be entered on your router configuration. Only one IP address can be entered for port forwarding, so only one machine can have this set up. Therefore, you can only play on internet using one machine on a LAN at a time.

8. Where do I set the bandwidth and what is the best to use for my connection?
The bandwidth is selected in the Multiplayer User Interface. For both the server and clients, it is recommended to set the actual bandwidth the computer is capable to transmit in both directions, up- and download.

9. How many clients can be supported?
This depends on the server's bandwidth and processor power and the game mode you choose. Thus, a much higher number of clients can join a Dogfight than a Tactical Engagement (TE), and more clients can join a TE than a Campaign because of the amount of data that needs to be transferred between all sessions.

10. How do I find and join other players already on the server?
Players either come together in the main lobby where they can communicate using the Chat menu option. If players are already in a game, select either the Dogfight, TE or Campaign option and select the "+" button next to the game name to see who has joined the respective game.

11. Is it possible to play cooperatively?
Yes. Co-operative play is supported in both the Campaign and Tactical Engagement environments. You can also fly as an individual or as teams in the Dogfight module.

12. How can I increase performance on the MP Server?
If you are hosting an MP game, you can turn off the "Allow External View" setting. If you allow this each time a player uses an external view (pressing the 8 key), then that increases the network traffic. For a small TE or just a few in a campaign, there should not be a problem, but if you are hosting a lot of players then it could create warping.

13. What are some tips for a Dedicated Server?
I would use the setting mentioned above to limit b/w usage.
When setting up the server, set the clock to "STOP". This will keep the server from running when there is no one connected. Once that last person leaves the clock will stop.

14. What multiplayer services work with Falcon
The latest patch includes support for Hyperlobby, which allows servers to publish their game on free Hyperlobby service.
Another good start for the MP experience is for example www.multiviperforums.com or other websites from a number of virtual squadron that fly Falcon 4.0 Allied Force - check our LINKS page for a collection of squadrons.

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Campaign

2. Why are there no stocks of nuclear weapons available in the campaign?
Adding stocks of nuclear weapons to the campaigns would destabilise and unbalance the campaign system by a huge degree, so these weapons are always out of stock in campaign. They are available in TE.

3. How can I edit the campaigns to move squadrons or ground units?
Editing campaigns is not supported.

4. I shot down a MiG-21 in a Balkans campaign, but I got a warning from the pilot and was court-martialled when I returned from the mission. What gives?
Properly identifying aircraft and friendly-fire are problems every pilot must deal with. Despite the fact that the aircraft was a MiG-21, it may have been flown by a friendly nation. Ask AWACS to identify your target. After you lock it on radar or padlock and they will let you know if it is friend or foe.

5. What do I need to do to win the campaign?
Each of the campaigns in each theater has its own set of criteria to win.
Here are the details for each:

Balkans / Balkans 2005 / Balkans 2010

Powderkeg:

FRY wins (over-run Bosnia and Croatia main cities) -- Control ALL of: Bihac, Banja Luka, Gornji Vakuf, Mostar, Sarajevo, Tuzla, Gruda, Split, Zadar, Rijeka, Zagreb, Osijek

NATO wins (Cities around Beograd are captured so FRY surrender) -- Control ALL of: Bijeljina City, Vlasencia, Novi Sad, Zrenjanin, Stepojevac, Sabac, Mionica
OR
NATO wins (Chop off the head and the beast will die) -- Control ALL of: Beograd, Beograd South, Beograd East, Beograd West

Balance Of Power:

FRY wins (overrun remainder of Slovenia) -- Control ALL of: Rijeka, Kranj, Ljubljana

NATO wins (Serbian forces pushed back to their borders) -- Control ALL of: Zagreb, Zadar, Banja Luka, Split, Mostar, Gornji Vakuf, Tuzla, Bijeljina City, Osijek, Sarajevo, Gruda, Bihac

Under Siege:

FRY wins -- Control ALL of: Tirane City, Tirane, Elbasan, Kavaje City, Kavaje City

NATO wins (Serbian forces pushed back to their borders) -- Control ALL of: Boric i Math, Shkoder, Shkoder City, Kukes, Velesta


Korea / Korea 2005 / Korea 2010

Tiger Spirit:

DPRK wins -- Control ALL of: Seoul, Chuncheon, Weonju, Taegu, Cheongju, Taejon, Kwangju, Pusan

ROK/US win -- Control ALL of: Kaesong, T'osan, Haeju, Changyon, Sariwon, Songnim, Hoeyang, South P'Yongyang, P'Yongyang, Wonsan

Rolling Fire:

DPRK wins -- Control ALL of: Seoul, Chuncheon, Weonju, Taegu, Cheongju, Taejon, Kwangju, Pusan

ROK/US win -- Control ALL of: Kaesong, T'osan, Haeju, Changyon, Sariwon, Songnim, Hoeyang, South P'Yongyang, P'Yongyang, Wonsan

Iron Fortress:

DPRK wins -- Control ALL of: Seoul, Chuncheon, Weonju, Taegu, Cheongju, Taejon, Kwangju, Pusan

ROK/US win (Regain all territory in South Korea) -- Control ALL of: Seoul, Chuncheon, Weonju, Taegu, Cheongju, Taejon, Kwangju, Pusan

6. Why do I only get a Partial Success on the debrief screen when I exit a mission, rather than a full Success?
All mission types have their own set of criteria that must be fulfilled to be considered a successful mission, like keeping yourself and your wingmen alive, hitting the correct target and staying within a designated patrol zone. Typically though, this issue is caused by exiting without landing the aircraft. You will need to successfully land following Air Traffic Control procedures to get a Success rating for your mission.

7. I hear lots of calls over the radio. How can I switch them off or just get calls that are relevant to me?
Radio chatter is something that real pilots need to deal with, but you can control how much of it you have to listen to, to a certain extent. 

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Dogfight

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Force-on-Force

A Force-on-Force (FvF) TE is not much different then a normal TE, but there is more flexibility with FvF. With FvF you create the packages in real-time on one or both sides. So when the TE starts, there are no packages generated until a human generates them manually. This allows the desktop general to plan and/or fly each mission in real time against other humans doing the same. This is a great training tool that allows the opposing force to try different tactics to help train their pilots.

Or create a TE with packages already created for the OPFOR and let the human TE players create packages based on the current situation for the blue side only. Or have humans creating all packages including the OPFOR packages in real-time. The humans can also take control of the grounds and run the ground war as well.

2. How do I create a FvF TE?

You create a FvF TE like you would any other TE, but with a few minor differences. First position all the squadrons that you want for each side. Remember to set their skill level.

Then position all the ground units and set your victory conditions.
Save your TE
If you created packages for the OPFOR team already then just send them the FvF TE to try in SP or in an MP coop-mode.
If you create the FvF so that humans will need to create all packages in real time, then just start up a server and load and setup the FvF TE.

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Sound

2. Are third-party voice comms such as Teamspeak™ and Roger Wilco™ supported?
Yes. These applications are completely separate and run as a different application concurrently.

3. Are there any in-game voice comms provided rather than a third-party one such as Teamspeak™ and Roger Wilco™?
No. If you want to communicate audibly with other players in Multiplayer, you will need to use a third-party application. Of course, there are commands included in-game for interacting with your wingmen and other members of your flight. Those do not require any third-party application.

4. I don't have a sound card. Can I still play?
Yes. Though of course you will not receive any sound.

5. Is Surround Sound supported ?
Yes, though no specific functionality for EAX™, Dolby Digital™ or any other advanced Surround Sound processing has been implemented.

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