Falcon 4.0 part 10: The FreeFalcon release

A guide on building the FreeFalcon release of Falcon 4.0. This build will use the final version of FreeFalcon, FreeFalcon 6 rev d. Unlike the other builds there is no retail install or starting point release as with FreeFalcon 6 the entire release is distributed as a standalone installer.

FreeFalcon 6 provided a number of graphical enhancements to previous Falcon releases. In addition native controller support was added allowing devices and axes to be selected. Track IR support is also included, so there is no need for a third party app.

History

FreeFalcon 1 was released in April 2003 and was developed from SuperPak 3. Further internal development would occur culminating in FreeFalcon 3 in July 2004.

Changes in BMS 2.03 would result in the CobraOne 1.0 patch that would be incorporated into FreeFalcon 3.1/Cobra 1.1, released in March 2005.

FreeFalcon 4/RedViper 1 would add the High Fidelity Flight Models (HFFM) in .January 2007. Internal development would continue with the last major release being FreeFalcon 5.5.5 in February 2011.

The final version, FreeFalcon 6 would mainly be a repacking of FreeFalcon 5.5.5, with a new easy to use installer in April 2012.

Prerequisites

Only the following folders are required to store the FreeFalcon 6 installer and optional HiTiles:

C:\Falcon4-setup\patches\freefalcon
C:\Falcon4-setup\patches\hitiles

Release patches

The self contained release installer can be found on the Internet Archive in Falcon 4.0: FreeFalcon patch collection:

• FreeFalcon 6 rev d installer (FF6d.7z).

Optional patches

One of the following optional HiTiles patches can also be installed to supplement this release installation:

• The full HiTiles packages for Falcon 4.0 (HiTiles.exe), it can be found at the Internet Archive in Falcon 4.0: HiTiles patch collection.

  
  

• The full HiTilesAF packages for Falcon 4.0:Allied Force (HiTilesAF.exe), it can be found at the Internet Archive in Falcon 4.0: Allied Force HiTilesAF patch collection.

The following optional patches can also be added to this release, after installation:

• FreeFalcon 5 Cockpit Pack v1.5 (FreeFalcon5_Cockpit_Pack.rar) can be found at the Internet Archive in Falcon 4.0: FreeFalcon patch collection.

Optional Theaters

The following theaters are available for FreeFalcon 6, all thraters can be found at the Internet Archive in Falcon 4.0: FreeFalcon patch collection. Theaters should be added after installation.

• Balkans (BalkansFF6-6.7z)

• Aegean (Aegean13.7z)

• Israel (ITO2-V4c.7z)

• Taiwan (TaiwanFF6-3.7z)

Starting point

No previous release is required to build this release, due to the fully self-contained installer.

Building

Before installing FreeFalcon 6 the optional first step is to install HiTiles or HiTiles AF.

The FreeFalcon 6 installer will find any full versions of HiTiles or if no full versions are available, the free/limited version of HiTiles can be selected.

The Hitiles (HiTiles.exe) or HiTiles AF (HiTilesAF.exe) installers should be run. The installation should complete without issue.

Note: terrain generation can take quite a long time, even on relatively modern hardware.

The steps to install FreeFalcon 6 are:

• Extract the contents of the 7z archive into a sub-folder of C:\Falcon4-setup\patches\freefalcon.

• Run the installer (FreeFalcon6.0_Installer.exe).

• The installer will attempt to find and remove any earlier versions of Falcon 4.0, F4Patch and their registry entries. If it finds any, confirm the removal.

• During the installation, select Free HiTiles, HiTiles or HiTIles AF to generate the terrain. Those options not already installed will be disabled.

• The installer should continue, generate the terrain (which can take a long time) and then complete successfully.

Patch selection

Once built, patch selection is handled by F4Patch, renamed the FFViper Config Editor (FFViper Config Editor.exe) in this release.

Like the earlier SuperPak release, the F4Patch folder already exists, so the FFViper Config Editor should not be run in expanded mode.

Applying additional patches/theaters

Each patch/theater is a self-contained installer making installation straight-forward. The steps to install the patches/theaters:

• Extract the contents of the 7z archive into a sub-folder of C:\Falcon4-setup\patches\freefalcon.

• Run the installer. For example to install the FreeFalcon 5 Cockpit Pack v1.5, run the FreeFalcon5 Cockpit Pack v1.5.exe.

• The installers will verify the data is valid and check for a valid FreeFalcon installation before continuing.

• The installer should continue and complete successfully.

HOTAS config

FreeFalcon 6 has native controller support which means the FreeFalcon can use the controller devices present in Windows. For those with separate stick, throttle and rudder pedals, each axis for each device can be configured in game. FreeFalcon 6 even supports axis shaping so vendor profiling software may not be needed at all (see In-game config).

This also means the vJoy/Joystick Gremlin combo used inn earlier builds is no longer necessary. Using vJoy/Joystick Gremlin introduced controller issues and is not recommended.

However as a test, a TM TARGET profile was added, this may provide higher precision than the default precision provided by Windows, so may feel 'subjectively' better. The axes were configured as follows:

Physical axis	DX axis
Stick x-axis	DX_X_AXIS
Stick y-axis	DX_Y_AXIS
Throttle	DX_Z_AXIS
Throttle (2nd engine)	DX_ZROT_AXIS
Throttle slider	DX_SLIDER_AXIS
Rudder pedals	DX_XROT_AXIS

Due to the ability to split the throttle for twin engined aircraft, DX_ZROT_AXIS is assigned as a second throttle axis.

This means an axis is required for the rudder pedals, in this case DX_XROT_AXIS. In the game configuration menus, this axis is assigned as the rudder (see In-game config).

Graphics config

The nVidia control panel was used to try and optimise the graphics. In the Manage 3D Settings a new program entry was added for FFViper.exe. The following limited settings were used:

• Image Scaling: On

• Antialiasing Mode: Enhance the application setting

• Antialiasing Setting: 8x

There may be far better settings, in which case feel free to let me know! I'm assuming there is similar functionality in software supplied with AMD/Intel graphics cards.

Further config

This release requires no DirectX wrappers or video config. TrackIR support is already included in the release.

Running

With the change in executable the command to run FreeFalcon 6 becomes:

FFViper.exe

There is no need for any command line options.

In-game config

The following is brief look at some of the most noteworthy config options for running under Win10. For a more detailed explanation the FreeFalcon manuals should be consulted.

Graphics options

Graphics options

You can use the T&L facilities of your graphics card.

Sliders also have new maximums.

And resolution can be increased to 1600x1200 with the cockpit pack.

Controller Options

Controller options, note the advanced menu option.

The controller options allow you to specify the joystick device and test the calibration.

If you were using native controller support you should select your joystick device.

As I was testing with a virtual controller that is shown as the device in the screenshot.

View controls

View controls

A clickable 3D cockpit can be enabled.

Screen screen enables Track IR for both 2D or 3D cockpits.

Custom axis shaping can also be enabled.

Avionics controls

Avionics controls

On this screen you can set the secondary axes, like the range and antenna dials on a TM Cougar or the slider on a TM Warthog.

Flight controls

Flight controls

The rudder and throttle controls can be set on this page.

If you were using native controller support you would select your rudder and throttle devices and appropriate axes.

As I was testing a virtual controller the axes shown are virtual controller axes. In the screenshot my rudder is set to the X rotation axis described earlier in HOTAS config.

Documentation

FreeFalcon 6 comes with a complete set of documentation including:

In the Docs folder:

• Mission statement.

• SuperPak 3 supporting documents, including the ramp start guide.

• Keyboard references.

In _the_MANUAL folder:

• Falcon 4.0 manual.

• FreeFalcon 4 manual.

• FreeFalcon 5/6 companion manual.

• Flight companion manual for various aircraft.

• Cockpit manuals for various aircraft.

• Flight model manuals for various aircraft.

It is also recommended to have read:

• The Realism Patch 5 manual available at the Internet Archive.

Example video

FreeFalcon 6 takeoff, CAP and landing demo video.

Finally...

Credit and thanks go to the FreeFalcon Team for all their hard work in creating an amazing upgrade to Falcon 4.0, in the FreeFalcon series of releases.

Good hunting!