By request- I have copied a post I made to the guys regarding what you need to know & understand to get started in Lock on.
Here’s what I got
Dell P4 HT @ 3.06 Ghz XP home.
1024MB Dual-channel SDRAM
Radeon 9800 128mb cardSoundblaster live! 5.1
Saitek X-45 flight stick w/ custom profile.Track IR2 Pro19” CRT monitor
5 Altec Lansing 295 surround speakers
1 badazz pilot ;D
The debate rages on about how demanding the game is on your hardware. Hear me now.
"The specs on the box mean diddly-squat."Here’s the straight deal as best as I can tell you. I’ve been playing this since day 1 of the first demo release.
CPU- arguments are plentiful about how CPU intensive LOMAC is. From what I’ve seen- a 2.0ghz CPU will do ok. This does
NOT absolve you from needing the other components.
The game needs XP. Anything older will SUCK.
RAM. Have a gig of it or this game will “ram” your machine right off a cliff. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.
Graphics card- ONLY with the debut of the new Nvidia 6800 ultra, and the Radeon x800XT does there exist a video card that is truly capable of running this game at high graphics settings. There are NO other cards that can do this. A Radeon 9600 & it's Nvidia equivalent are about the worst you'll want to attempt it with.
Soundcard- an out of date sound card will adversely affect gameplay.
Flightstick- A H.O.T.A.S. setup is ideal for LOMAC. Many of your keys will have a primary, control +, and a shift + function assigned to it. I find the less I use the keyboard - the better. The X45 is an inexpensive way to simplify a complex sim. Reliability ratings of this stick are all over the map.
Track IR2 Pro- when you have the basics down you will soon realize that you are being held back. You could do so much better if you had a better way to see around you. Keeping tabs on an incoming missile. Following a target in a turn. Checking gauges. Confirming target destruction, and SUPREME situational awareness are critical. The Track IR is a must to achieve this. Not only for SA, but it also frees up precious buttons on your Stick from mapping dumb views, and your HAT(s) from “turning your head” which is awkward at best. The mouse is better, but requires a hand. You’ll need 3 hands to fly effectively. Watch the videos on the TIR website linked above. There is nothing like it.
Pilot- The most important piece here. Understand some things now.
1. This game is f*&#ing HARD. Leave ego at the hangar.
2. You WILL spend lots of time Studying, reading, training in Navigation, Instrumentation, Weapons, radar & sensors, other aircraft, and the capabilities/ limitations of all of it, friend and foe. You cannot fly this game like L3. The settings allow you to scale it back to “retarded” but you will never learn anything. Leave this game on easy settings and you will get your clock CLEANED, and bore of it quickly. There is nothing more rewarding than learning new stuff, and performing as it was intended. Don’t take the easy way. You won’t last.
3. You will spend money to play this game to full potential. (don’t ask)
4. Broadband ISP is- for the most part- a must. In Nova, asynchronous servers pretty much cancel out the wide variety of connections. Lag is limited to the crappy line, and the guy chasing him. In LOMAC, a crappy line can affect the entire room.
5. You can try to play on inferior equipment. You will suffer problems, and you’ll have to deal with it. Work through it with me, or with someone who has already been there. 99% of the time it’s not the game. It was clearly stated the game was made for the
future of hardware.
**EVERYONE has to adjust & tweak their graphics settings/ options with the properties of their video and sound cards to the levels that will allow acceptable FPS, and performance/ looks to co-exist. **
Register for and read the LOMAC forums. There is a goldmine of information there. Hardcore simmers, real combat pilots, and even the developers themselves actively participate. Thousands of screens and movies that will drop you in your tracks. Don’t leave the ground without doing this.
.. Im up to send you the money that are attached to this overdraft. I will msg you about it 
.. Im up to send you the money that are attached to this overdraft. I will msg you about it 
