IL-2 Korea dev update focuses on B-29, massed bomber formations

2–3 minutes

The latest developer diary from 1C Game Studios is tackling one of the series’ AI aircraft – the B-29 Superfortress. This strategic bomber is part of IL-2 Korea and there are some interesting developments in the core of the sim that should be interesting to see in action. Let’s dive into some details.

Massed formations possible

The B-29 was used in large numbers during several phases of the Korean War. The USAF employed the bomber similarly to how they were used during the lead up to the end of the war in Japan with large formations of daylight bombers. They were up against the MiG-15 which was far faster and could fly even higher negating some the advantages they had at the end of WWII.

1CGS reports that they have build a detailed model of the B-29 visually and that there are going to be two versions of the B-29 available in the sim. One version has a detailed flight model and systems, on par with flyable aircraft, while a second version has those detailed scaled back so as to make it usable in large formations.

In missions where the bombers will be part of mass formations, a simplified physics and damage model will be applied to them, which will allow these mass formations to be represented with a sufficient level of performance. However, even the “simplified” bomber physics will not be “railgun” and it will participate in interactions with the rest of the world on a common physical basis. In general, the flight of a simplified aircraft will not differ from a normal aircraft until it takes damage — the detail will be somewhat lower, and the behavior of a damaged simplified aircraft will not reproduce the real situation as accurately as in a full simulation (but will remain very plausible).

Interesting. We’ll have to see how this works in practice but hopefully it does open the door to larger formations which has been a weak point in the IL-2 Great Battles Series.

We’ve also got some new media with this video, the screenshots above, and some new art below.

Check out the art below and then go and see even more over on the IL-2 Korea dev blog.

12 responses to “IL-2 Korea dev update focuses on B-29, massed bomber formations”

  1. PaperPilot Avatar
    PaperPilot

    I think that the IL-2 dev team could make the B-29 flyable in case they want to do a 1944-45 strategic bombing module over Japan from the Marianas. Though I wouldn’t be too keen on them recreating the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki just out of respect for those poor people who suffered horrific deaths. What are your thoughts on this? Would you buy it?

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    1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
      ShamrockOneFive

      I’m a sucker for all flight sim content. I’d buy just about anything. They could definitely turn the B-29 into a late war Pacific experience for sure. I too would prefer avoiding those specific missions however.

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    2. Urgent Siesta Avatar
      Urgent Siesta

      The atomic bombings were neither the most horrific nor the most fatal strategic bombing missions.

      It’s a common misconception because of the understandable drama caused by the explosion of but a single bomb.

      But make no mistake, strategic bombing in both Europe and Japan killed & destroyed far in excess of the two atomic bombs. I.e., it doesn’t matter if a city is flattened by 1 bomb, or 1,000 bombs – dead is dead.

      ///

      Considering that the B-29 was a major combatant in the Korean War, I highly doubt the dev team would go to the effort of building Japan & the Marianas simply to avoid having to deal those events.

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  2. dryheat94 Avatar
    dryheat94

    Something I don’t see discussed much is that IL-2 content comes out in a finished state. When I buy this content I feel I get my monies worth immediately. I’m a senior citizen and I’ll never see all the current EA DCS content I’ve purchased reach maturity before I leave this earth. As for CP, go find investors or it’s just amateurish for a product that may never even see the light of day. I’ll continue to buy all the finished content I can in this hobby (aka IL-2), but I’m saying no more to Early Access products that go on for years, or Patreon, or Kickstarter campaigns.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
      ShamrockOneFive

      There’s definitely a different development cycle for IL-2 versus DCS. A big piece of that is complexity and while IL-2 aircraft are complex, they aren’t anywhere close to complexity on DCS aircraft. The simulation detail required to get even some of the Hornet’s weapon systems is probably approaching an aircraft release on IL-2. That’s not a judgement but just a “hours of development” required to make something.

      That does change the economics of the situation so I get why ED likes to release and then further develop. I also get why folks don’t want to wait for that to happen. Even IL-2’s early access cycle has been criticized though quite a bit less thanks to being a more fully featured sim these days.

      It all depends on your appetite for this sort of thing and if you know you wouldn’t be satisfied with something mid development it’s a good thing to know. Buy accordingly. We do have so much great content out there!

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      1. Urgent Siesta Avatar
        Urgent Siesta

        I wish ED would charge for the sim itself – just like every single other flight sim developer does…

        would avoid so many of the issues they face.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
        ShamrockOneFive

        It might. But I think there’s considerable inertial dragging them in the direction they’ve gone and I’m not sure if a change like that would help. At least in the short term. Long term… maybe!

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    2. Dimitri Avatar
      Dimitri

      I agree. Il2 usually keeps bugs to a minimum and planes come finished and cost 10 dollars, not 80.

      that being said, they don’t come close to the fidelity that DCS offers, which is a bit unfortunate.

      clickable cockpit and a cold start procedure would be nice and adds to the immersion overall.

      il2 also does a better job of giving you stuff to do in their world.

      cant have everything I guess.

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      1. Sokol76 Avatar
        Sokol76

        “clickable cockpit and a cold start procedure would be nice and adds to the immersion overall.” in campaign in GB you dont even start with engine off, they have animations for realistic engine starting and no one see it even more then 1 time, i dont count on them having cold start with players starting airplane or even clicable stuff, i think they see this as not important for players who play the game

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Sokol76 Avatar
    Sokol76

    It will be good for PTO and Okinawa, no reason in making two FM if they dont plan to make it human controled for PTO after Korea

    Liked by 1 person

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  4. Austin Shaw Avatar
    Austin Shaw

    Will the B-45 be considered as a flyable aircraft? Its a pretty neat early jet bomber and me and my friend are hoping to be able to fly it

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    1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
      ShamrockOneFive

      I’ve not heard mention of it. To the best of my knowledge, its Korean War activities were entirely recon so its probably not a priority aircraft. Did it have a combat record aside from the one shot down by a MiG-15?

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