Warbirds v2.5 Released

Interactive Magic Online (IMOL) today released the next big version of its Internet multiplayer World War II flight simulation Warbirds.

Version 2.5 will feature four new aircraft models: the FB6 and FB4 Mosquito models, a Ju-52 German troop transport, the Ju-87D Stuka dive-bomber, and the G4M "Betty" Japanese medium bomber.

The big improvement in the new version will be a change in the base capture procedure, which currently is the mainstay of the online "strategy" behind the game. Previously players would have to destroy an airbase's facilities completely before a pilot could land and "capture" the field by exiting from his plane successfully.

Now after disabling an airfield, players in troop-carrying transports (for this version that means the Ju-52 only) must drop paratroops over the field. The paratroops, acting on their own, will establish a command post and capture the field but can be easily strafed and shot on the ground and in the air by attacking aircraft.

Other new features behind v2.5 include more varieties of aircraft ordnance loads, improved gunnery model, and the ability for a bomber pilot to switch to a gunner position while in flight.

After this more-involved base-capturing procedure, future versions of Warbirds will concentrate on overall strategy and economics, as well as more aircraft of varying nationalities and overall improvements in flight models, damage models, scoring, and other areas.