Lock On: Modern Air Combat is a DirectX 8.1-based flight simulation that was developed by the Russian research and software development company Eagle Dynamics and published by UbiSoft. Hoping to follow in the footsteps of the highly successful IL2-Sturmovik, Lock On features an accurate and detailed terrain system that was based on Russian satellite data covering some 100,00 square miles. Special graphics effects include environmental bump mapping, dynamic lighting, 3D volumetric clouds, explosions, and fires, a weather system that generates fog, rain, snow, and lightning, and light-sourced, moving water surfaces.

Lock On: Modern Air Combat - MiG-29 Intercept Track

The number of flight sims that are produced is small due to high development costs and low sales that are generated by a limited target audience. Although flight sim fans are in the minority, they are notorious tweakers and strive to obtain the maximum performance from their systems. Flight sims have always been the most demanding of games and Lock On: Modern Air Combat is no exception.

Lock On: Modern Air Combat - MiG-29 Intercept Track

For those of us who are all thumbs when it comes to actually flying a virtual MiG-29 can still measure performance by making use of the track playback feature. While missions can be recorded and played back, Lock On installs with a number of default tracks that can be used for benchmarking purposes. The particular track that I chose was the MiG-29 Intercept, which was recently used in a graphics card review at X-bit labs.

Lock On: Modern Air Combat - MiG-29 Intercept Track

With FRAPS frame rate logging enabled, the initial three minutes of the track were used to measure performance. Benchmarks were run with in-game graphics quality configured to high. The default cockpit settings were used and sound and music were disabled.

Benchmarks were run at resolutions of 1024x768, 1280x1024, and 1600x1200 with No AA and No AF enabled.

Lock On: Modern Air Combat Performance

And with 2X AA and 8X AF at 1024x768 and 1280x960 and 4X AA and 8X AF at 1024x768.

Lock On: Modern Air Combat Performance

Morrowind was tested based on the information in this article. Tests were run with 100% visibility, 50% real-time shadows, and 3D hardware audio.

Morrowind Performance

Please refer to our Dungeon Siege gamplay walkthrough article, which was done using the GeForce 6800 Ultra.

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