In the “Blast From The Past” video, we cover the rise of Microsoft’s Combat Flight Simulator series with a focus on the development and reception of Combat Flight Simulator Two, a landmark title that brought the PTO air war to mainstream computer gaming in a way no other game has since the year 2,000. What is really exciting is that a new game is in early stages of development which appears to be the spiritual successor of CFS2, called “Combat Pilot,” which is being made by a former developer from the IL2 Sturmovik game. We may finally be getting some much needed new blood in the combat flight sim space soon!

Music Credits:
Video includes music from White Bat audio (   / @whitebataudio  ) as well as the following single track;
"Corporate Background (Royalty Free Music) SYNESTHESIA" by GalaxyTones Creative Commons (CC BY 3_0) license Music powered by BreakingCopyright.

INSTALL INSTRUCTIONS:
First, you'll need the prerequisite files:

CFS2 game files (ISO)
https://oldgamesdownload.com/microsof...

NO CD Fix file:
https://megagames.com/games/combatfl... **WARNING, this link appears to be dead as of 2/09/24. Other NOCD file fixes can be found by google search but i have NOT vetted any of them, so i will not post them here**

Virtual CloneDrive:
https://www.elby.ch/en/products/vcd.html

Next, install Virtual Clonedrive and run it once to make sure the default options are good enough (i think they were, but don’t remember)

After installing the clone drive, unpack and open the ISO file for disc one and install using the settings/destination you prefer (if you want a specific custom folder, best set that up ahead of time in directory and then find it in the install)

Once installed, open the location of the cfs2 executable and RENAMe the CFS2 application file (I just added a b to the end) to back it up. Before doing the next step

Follow the bizarresounding instructions to download, rename, and unzip (twice i think) the NO CD fix file, then take the application executable from there and cut/paste it into the CFS2 folder.

Ensure that the ONLY compatibility settings checked are the following
Compatibility mode for XP SP2

Run as administrator

Run the game and change the video settings

Use the “player defined advanced settings” to set the highest possible graphics, increase cache file size, and improve the game to your desired resolution… Many people don’t realize the game supports 1920x1080 and looks pretty decent for its time when all the settings are bumped up.

NOTE: to run the game, you will always use the No CD Fix application file, so make sure that, if you have a desktop shortcut, it is pathing to the correct application file.

Don't forget to set your realism settings and controls as desired before you begin playing as well. This will greatly impact your perceived performance of the game.

#flightsimulator #flightsim #games #gaming #videogamehistory #historicalgames #ww2

Chapters:
0:00 Flight Simulator 2024 is on the way!
0:28 Background on the CFS Series and a comparison against its primary competitors
2:03 Development & game features of CFS 2
4:19 Reception
5:07 CFS Can still be played today! (see description for details)