Roger Wilco

By Joe Lundbohm

If you are a flight simulator enthusiast like me, you probably have followed the progress of Microsoft Flight Simulator from its early stages of flat green scenery representing grass to the photo realistic scenery available in Flight Simulator 98. With each new version and the hundreds of add-on programs available, simmers have enjoyed greater realism. Well I recently found the best add-on since the joystick...

TALKING LIVE WITH OTHER SIMMERS WHILE FLYING!

How would you like to take to the air in Microsoft Flight Simulator 98 and be able to talk live with other pilots in multi-player a flight? Well now you can! And, the best part is that it's not only easy to do, but it's also FREE!

HOW IT WORKS

Roger Wilco is a simple but powerful program that can be downloaded for free at http://www.resounding.com/. It comes in a standard .zip format which when extracted gives you a simple automated setup program. Even installation is much easier than, say, adding a scenery file or new panel. Once you unzip the file, you run the resulting re_mk1.exe install file, which will install Roger Wilco and create the standard Windows shortcut and desktop icons.

Once Roger Wilco is set up, the first time you run the program it will automatically take you through a short configuration program. This step by step process will detect your computer's sound card, Internet connection method, CPU speed, test your microphone and let you pick a call sign (what you want others to call you). I suggest something cool like Whisky Tango 123!

A word about microphones: Most computers come with a microphone. For maximum enjoyment and realism I suggest buying a headset style microphone. There are many good brands available at most computer stores for under $20.00.

Now that you have installed Roger Wilco, it's time to try it out. But first you'll need to set up a multi-player flight.

MULTI-PLAYER FLIGHTS

Using Microsoft FS98 click on Flight/Multi-Player/Connect. Follow the instructions for joining an existing multi-player flight. You'll need to select your method of connecting to the Internet. I use a cable modem which I highly recommend as it provides a nice stable high-speed connection. A regular modem will also work. When asked to provide your call sign, you should enter the same call sign you selected when setting up Roger Wilco. On the same screen, select "find other pilots to fly with on the Internet".

If this is your time using multi-player flight, you will be required to sign up for a free membership to the MSN Gaming Zone. And if you don't already have it, you may have to download a free plug-in which will allow you to connect and play. Getting and installing the plug-in is pretty straight forward and should only take a few minutes. Once set up FS98 will automatically open your browser to the MSN Gaming Zone Flight Simulator 98 Game Rooms Web Page. There are several types of rooms available from Free Flight to Tournament and cross-country. For your first flight click on "Free Flight".

The Free Flight Zone is organized in a series of rooms similar to the "chat room" concept except rather than chat topics, the room names indicate flights. Remember, not all flightsim pilots have Roger Wilco (yet!) so at this point you'll need to look for a room with other Roger Wilco enabled pilots. The number is growing every day as word of this exciting product. The key is known as the IP Address.

WHAT IS AN IP ADDRESS?

I'm sure there is a ten thousand-word answer to this question, but the simple explanation is that an IP address is the Internet "channel" on which players in a multi-player flight meet in order to see and hear each other, similar to tuning in ATIS on your plane's communication radio. IP addresses are typically an eight to ten digit numbers separated by decimals. They look like this: 169.207.125.43

ENTERING A GAME (ROOM)

This page serves as a "lobby" for simmers not yet participating in a game. At the bottom of the Free Flight page there is a chat window which allows you to talk (type) to others in the lobby. Each of the "Flight Rooms" on the free flight page can hold up to eight players and has a game number and description (i.e. "ATC at O'Hare") which means that the departing airport is O'Hare International in Chicago, and someone has volunteered to act as air traffic control. Look for a room that has the letters RW in the description indicating that other Roger Wilco players are inside. If you don't find one other clues such as ATC or IP may indicate that Roger Wilco players are in the game. Once you find a room, (with less than eight players) you can click "Join" to enter the game. (Also, if the game is already in progress you will not be able to enter).

Upon entering a game, another window will pop up listing the players in the game; you can also chat (type) to these players at the bottom of this new window. In the background is a picture of a Learjet with a more detailed explanation of the particular game. This is where you will find the Roger Wilco IP address if it is a Roger Wilco enabled game. If you don't see a description which includes a Roger Wilco IP address, you can leave the game, return to the lobby and keep looking. It shouldn't take long to finding a game with Roger Wilco enabled pilots.

Once you find a RW game, you may need to wait for the host to launch the game. Write down the IP address number and keep it handy. All this means is that the person who created the game must launch the game. Once the game has been launched, it's time to tell Roger Wilco what IP address (channel) you'll be talking on.

SETTING THE IP ADDRESS IN ROGER WILCO

Go to your desktop or wherever you created the shortcut to Roger Wilco and launch the program. Click the "Join" button. In the Join Channel window type the IP address you wrote down from the game window. Roger Wilco will connect to the channel and you should see a chat window with the names of any other Roger Wilco enabled pilots in the game. At this point you should be connected. Try pressing the F12 key (which is the equivalent on pressing the mike button on a real radio) and saying something cool like "Aaaah this is Whisky Tango 123 for a radio check do you read me, over." Another Roger Wilco enabled pilot should answer back: "Roger Whisky Tango I read you five by five."

Now you can discuss the logistics of your flight such as departing airport and destination, then take off and enjoy the ability to talk live with other pilots as you fly.

Hopefully, Microsoft will see the light and incorporate this technology in the upcoming Flight Simulator 2000. Then flying will really be "as real as it gets!"

Joe Lundbohm
jlbohm@mediaone.net

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