War Wings: A6M5 Gameplay

Since I am playing Japanese aircraft in a few other games, it seems only fitting that I showcase the top of my current progression efforts in War Wings with the tier V Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero.

However, using a much more careful eye to detail, I wanted to see if the frailties of this particular nation of aircraft, as depicted in other titles, also transcended to this one....

Straight To Battle: Kawasaki Ki-61 Part 2

A continuation in progression from this previous World of Warplanes video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPBdtkD8PKU&t with the tier VI Kawasaki Ki-61.

War Wings - Sound Testing Another Bell P-39N Battle

Something I didn't notice (perhaps I was just too tired) until I uploaded the last War Wings video was how quiet the audio was. I think I have improved on that this time....

Still a work in progress.

Someone Called It Bruce: Kawasaki Ki-88

With just a day away from the return of Attrition Mode in World of Warplanes, I had better belt out one more familiar type battle while I can. This time, I went with a Japanese plane that defies the standard for how the nation is usually played....

Straight To Battle: Kawasaki Ki-61

The great experiment in "short and sweet." The brag board above, the video below....

Air Combat On The Go - War Wings

Sometimes, you just can't pack a computer around with you.

Portable gaming has come a very long ways since the days of the original Nintendo Gameboy (or if you go even further back, those cheap, LCD handheld time killers) and in this age of smartphones and tablets, the evolution continues.

Since this blog is aircraft themed, it would only make sense to mention one title I have on the go, War Wings.

As of right now, what I would consider to be the two major players on PC and Console in this genre would be World of Warplanes (Microsoft Windows) and War Thunder (Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, macOS, Linux and reported to be released on Xbox One in the near future). Neither one of them has put out a portable version of their game (WarGaming has the Blitz series, but only covers Tanks and Ships).

Based on the absence of a mobile WOWP and/or War Thunder version, I have downloaded, played and later uninstalled a fair amount of Android air combat titles. Some might have offered okay gameplay action, but was missing a certain....flavor I was looking for. Others were of the "pay to play" variety and I am not about to spend piles of money on possible disappointment.

It felt like I was looking for the impossible, a free to play air combat game with a progression system similar to WOWP/War Thunder, throw in some Gold and Token options?

A few months ago I stumbled across War Wings and my search was over. Easy to pick up gameplay, a progression system that I was familiar with, earnable premium aircraft, my list goes on. It might not have been published by Gaijin or WarGaming, but it had enough features from both of their titles that I could now get my air combat fix on the go through my Motorola Nexus 6 phone.

Best of all, I just happens to have one of my favorite fighters from World War Two (a plane the is also present in War Thunder/World of Warplanes)....

Sorry about the sound, seems I should have turned the volume up while recording.

Want to give it a try (for Android and iOS)? Check it out here.

The Grind Gauntlet: Kawasaki Ki-61

This is the idea I have considered doing for some time.

Load up World of Warplanes, select a progression aircraft from my current "Nation of Mood" and play til I win, up to and no more than three consecutive battles. Now, this isn't a new concept, some streamers on other media formats do this type of thing (with their own conditions) on a regular basis, but I haven't started it myself.

One of the reasons for doing it is to see in myself what psychological changes take place if the first or even second battle end in defeat. Does frustration and/or disappointment dull the nerves and senses? Does the weight of not winning one battle carry over into the next? Using myself as a test subject, I am curious to see the answers to those questions.

On the flip-side, the main reason for not starting this experiment is the length of time a person would have to sit and watch my serial performances, up to 45 minutes of me talking, flying and shooting up the sky. I am sure there are folks out there that have better things to do with their time (I do appreciate those who have tuned in thus far and have continued to stick around).

Nevertheless, I put the question to you, should I do this or not? Would you be willing to spend nearly and hour watching my adventures in World of Warplanes with a tech tree plane, no matter the outcome? Is there another way I could have asked a similar question?

While you consider that, here is the first video on that concept, demonstrating a more positive psychological change at the end....

月光の戦士 Nakajima Ki-8

In reality, the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force didn't foresee a use for the problem ridden, two-seat Nakajima Ki-8 and after completing just five prototypes, the project was cancelled in 1934.

In World of Warplanes, it lives on as a tier II premium fighter and currently the only Japanese plane with a rear gunner in the game....

この初心者は学習しています Mitsubishi A6M3 (exp)

One Japanese plane I had early troubles with in World of Warplanes was the tier V premium Mitsubishi A6M3 (exp).

The major issue for me was the effective use and timing of those big 30mm cannons. Not only was I willing to give it another honest go, but I have also decided to try something I don't normally equip my planes....consumables.

All is explained in the following....

For The Second Time In My Life: Spitfire V DB 605

For once, I am at a loss for words, good thing I cover for this in my video....

Thanks trikke!

Krazy Hien: Kawasaki Ki-61

Like many other players from long ago, I had been eagerly anticipating the arrival of Imperial Japanese Army Air Service aircraft to World of Warplanes.

For far too long, all that was available was offerings from the Imperial Japanese Navy line (not that is a bad thing), with a few premiums sprinkled in over the years. Perhaps my patience finally ran out, or my interest had waned enough to not be overly enthusiastic when they finally arrived.

Granted, I managed to pull myself away from other projects and areas of interest to causally dabble with a few aircraft of the Army line, only to stop at the tier VI Kawasaki Ki-61 and then, I wandered off again.

Perhaps, I should see if I can re-spark that cold flame of lost enthusiasm....

Near Ruin Over Rome: Messerschmitt Me 1099B-2

Although it was my intention to try and fulfill a promise to LMG from the World of Warplanes North America forums to give the ground a good shake in his month long absence from the game, my tier IX Messerschmitt Me 1099B-2 battle took on a mind of it's own with an unexpected result....

The Odd Humor Of Fate And Luck

So, it's the day after picking up a tier VII North American Mustang P-51K to top out my Chinese line in World of Warplanes.

Naturally, as with a lot of people having something new, I was....giddy to take it out for a flight or two. Turns out that two was needed to collect a victory. The first battle was an epic facepalming event that I was merely another target for the enemy team to toy with. Needless to say I didn't bother with screenshots (nor a video) to keep a record of just how bad things went for the good guys. However, the second battle was a lot better overall, but still a bit lacking in the personal results department.

In the grand scheme of things, coming in second isn't so much a bad thing, but I am disappointed the results weren't more favorable to how I perceived the battle.

If I was to end my session, especially with Chinese themed aircraft, taking the tier V Tomahawk IIb seemed to be the right choice to make. Since I got a good warmup with the Mustang, how bad could things get with the Curtiss?

You would have a hard time convincing me that Lady Luck and Fate didn't conspire to prank me today.

中国战争小马 North American P 51K

With World of Warplanes holding a Victory in Europe event, I saw they were handing out discounts on both tech tree and premium aircraft.

Since the one I have been eyeing up for a very long time was finally on sale, I decided to make a video of it, from purchase with my banked gold to the final results of the first battle with it (including a few mistakes along the way)....

Silver Clawed Kitty: Grumman XF4F-3

Ace pilots are those aviators who have been credited with shooting down five confirmed enemy aircraft.

During World War Two, the United States Navy turned out some notable pilots like Charles R. Stimpson, Lt. E. Scott McCuskey, Stanley W. Vejtasa, Lt. Edward L. "Whitey" Feightner, Donald E. Runyon and Lt. Cdr. Edward "Butch" O'Hare who cut their "Ace Teeth" on the Grumman Wildcat.

In World of Warplanes, the tier IV premium XF4F-3 is the pre-production version of this "Ace Maker" and has transitioned rather well into this post-1.9 era....

Prelude To Fame: P-36C

Almost overshadowed in history by it's successor, the Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk/Kittyhawk/Warhawk, the P-36 Hawk/Hawk 75/Mohawk still saw service in World War Two, seeing combat in American hands for the first time in retaliation of the Pearl Harbor attack.

In World of Warplanes, this tier IV premium C version is a capable performer, for those who are patient to collect from it....