DCS - Anybody

[J G 927]

I have just received my copy of PC Pilot and read the article on the Hawk for DCS..

 

The aircraft sim looks good, but what of DCS itself? 

 

Looking at you tube videos I am curious to understand more about this software.

 

Is it any good? Is it a sim or a game?

 

Is it a Jack of all trades and master of none? 

 

Has any one here given it a go?

 

If so it would be good to have some views on it.

[ddavid 149]

DCS might be regarded as a sim within a game. You get 2 or more sand-boxes in which to play. The DCS sand-box starter module is free and comes with 1 or 2 basic items, like the Su-29 (?), and is oriented towards warfare, with in-game missions involving a variety of vehicles and weapons. More vehicles, including fixed and rotary wing aircraft, are available to purchase.

I bought the UH-1 at a very reasonable discount last year. Took me a little while to get int DCS, but it was worth it. Their Huey beats the ---- out of any flight sim helicopter. Here's a vid:

Not really tried the fixed wings. Some of the missions are basic, but the flight dynamics are very realistic and the AI models are very good, too. Not tried multi-player as DCS World adherents are from another planet!

My verdict? Try it out, you'll either love it or...

Cheers - Dai.

[J G 927]

It looks interesting Dai - Great video, very professionally produced! - Thanks.

 

I have a few questions.....

 

1. What accessories can you with DCS - Joystick? throttles? gauges? pannels?

2. I can see that you can fly training missions and combat missions.  Is there a free flight mode?

3. If you choose to fly an aircraft, or use a tank or whatever, to what extent does the combat on the ground and sea go on around you? - do you have to plan it or is there a degree of AI involved?

4. Do you still use it? 

 

 

[MyPC8MyBrain 273]

great clip Dai, been itching to try out DCS for some time now

just can’t find the time and peace of mind to get into it just yet

 

[ddavid 149]

.....1. What accessories can you with DCS - Joystick? throttles? gauges? pannels?

Joystick, pedals, throttles - yes, if they're USB inputs. Gauges, panels? Possibly not.

2. I can see that you can fly training missions and combat missions. Is there a free flight mode?

Free flight possible, but limited to the particular sand-box scenery, facilities, etc.

3. If you choose to fly an aircraft, or use a tank or whatever, to what extent does the combat on the ground and sea go on around you? - do you have to plan it or is there a degree of AI involved?

As far as I know, there is some AI, but most 'interaction' comes from the DCS mission engine, like FSX, or from other players (multi-player).

4. Do you still use it? Yes, for flying the Huey, at least. But not much more than that, to be honest!

Sorry about the quote formatting. Hope the answers help.

Cheers - Dai.

Edited October 17, 2014 by ddavid
Editing "Quote" is not easy.

[J G 927]

I will give it a go sometime and see what I think of it.  Probably in the new year as I will be able to spend some time on it then.

 

Dai, once I have got used to it my be we could do a bit of multi-player. - This raises an interesting question which I guess you wont know the answer to - In a multi-player session, what happens if player a used an add-on aircraft which player B hasn't got?

 

I know what happens in FSX, but the thought of co-coordinating a ground strike with a 500 mph flying tank would be quite weird!

[brett 2,316]

I'll tack on another question, can you write missions?

[ddavid 149]

Hi, Brett - the quick answer is Yes, but the slow answer is here:

http://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/223750/manuals/DCS%20User%20Manual%20EN.pdf?t=1410913736

Remember that DCS World is a combat simulator and the missions are sophisticated 'shoot-'em-ups', but you can set the 'enemy' AI to zero for a more quiet life, if you want. In this way, you can make Training missions and, I guess, the sort of missions we're more used to in FSX.

Be interesting to find out - "...if I only had time, only time..." (turns gramaphone off!)

Cheers -Dai.

[hurricanemk1c 195]

This might help you justify the expense John as a trial - http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/news/

[J G 927]

I am going to take a close look at DCS from a FS perspective sometime over the next couple of months.

As there seem to be a increasing number of aircraft add-ons for this platform. Military aircraft are my thing, so I think it is worth me doing.

Having said that, it would be nice to know if anyone else would be interested in DCS, with perhaps some online sessions eventualy.

If you are, perhaps you could register your interest here.

[brett 2,316]

Take advantage of the sale now, I don't think I would want to go down that 50 buck-a-plane route for a closed sandbox. I'm starting to feel like I own a boat I spend so much as it is on FSX. Realistic shoot'em ups are an exciting experience though so it deserves a closer look, I just have to be in the mood to learn new key commands, ugg.

 

Thanks Dai

[J G 927]

I agree with you there Brett. None of the sale items are RAF so I cant see my way to buying any of them except the Sabre, but this only as I have found out that repaints are possible.

My way ahead with this is to look at what you get with basic package, and maybe the Sabre addon with a repaint if it needs one.

It will give me a feel for the platform and its limitations, high points etc. Imight even do a review if I think it is worth it.

[DC9man 11]

Ive been flying the SU25 for quite some time now and I love every piece of it apart from the once in while russian language (im not racist, I dont understand so I find it annoying). Its not only fly and shoot like War thunder or etc.. Its a proper simulator. What I love most of it is the fact that you can damage every p8ece of it. I cant remember how many times I blew up my nose wheel for a hard landing. There was once I took off and notice that my flught dynamics is odd, when I changed the view outside, the tiny tip of my wing got caught in the antenna of one of the building along the runway. I was amaze at how a tiny portion of the wing missing could affect the balance of the plane. I recently bought the F15C, never tried it yet. Soon...