DCS black shark released :O?

[virre89]

Yo,

The helicopter sim from the lockon developers seems to have hit the market recently , i bet everyone here already knows but i just found out. So if anyone have tried it , is it any good and worth the money :)?



// Virre

[tagTaken2]

Looks great, contains Starforce.

Caveat emptor.

[Thunderbolt56]

A few squaddies have gotten it and say it is absolutely a brilliant helo sim. Understand there is only 1 flyable (Black Shark) and there are a few small issues that should be ironed out very soon.

Bottom line...I hear them saying "get it!"

[Flyby]

it's also important to note that DCS intends to add a new aircraft every nine months. in fact Matt Wagner says progress is moving along on the next aircraft, the A10C yeah, the C, not the A). Also, DCS hopes to implement two-seater multiplayer aircraft at some point. Imagine the Strike Eagle, or Apache online with two players occupying complex aircraft. I'd like to see the Tornado too. ;)
Flyby out

[IceFire]

Interesting about the A-10C. That variant is extremely new. I guess its easy for them with the A-10A already modeled. I heard there was a F-16CJ in the works as well.

[Flyby]

I reaad somewhere that at first the A was going to be done, but then DCS got permission to do the C as well. IIRC DCS does a training version of the C for the U.S. military. Also, DCS posted a list of a/c it plans to model. I'm not sure which version of the F16 is on there.
Flyby out

[Pizzicato]

After four days with DCS: Black Shark, I can safely say that it's the best sim I've played in years.

After the disappointment of Flanker 2, Lock On and (to a lesser extent) Flaming Cliffs, I was a bit on the fence about Black Shark. I shouldn't have been. It's utterly incredible and, unlike previous ED offerings, is very, very polished with (shock!) a game at the heart of the sim!

That last point is probably the biggest thing of all - a quantum leap in the overall quality of the simulation (I still haven't fired a single weapon after 4 days) and yet there's compelling, beautifully presented series of campaigns just waiting for me. This is a million miles from the frankly embarrassing campaign presentation and structure from the Flanker and Lock On series.

Starforce?

Meh... I don't care. I'll take the risk of having to replace my DVD drive if it means I get to fly simulations of this quality.

Amazingly, I actually get better frame-rates from Black Shark than I do with Lock On and Flaming Cliffs.

[JG27CaptStubing]

it's also important to note that DCS intends to add a new aircraft every nine months. in fact Matt Wagner says progress is moving along on the next aircraft, the A10C yeah, the C, not the A). Also, DCS hopes to implement two-seater multiplayer aircraft at some point. Imagine the Strike Eagle, or Apache online with two players occupying complex aircraft. I'd like to see the Tornado too. ;)
Flyby out

I don't know if you flew Long Bow 2 but it supported 2 guys multiplayer in the Apache. It was the best Helo sim for a very long time.

I just picked up BS on Friday and I've done a few FAM flights. I'm very impressed.

[JG27CaptStubing]

After four days with DCS: Black Shark, I can safely say that it's the best sim I've played in years.

After the disappointment of Flanker 2, Lock On and (to a lesser extent) Flaming Cliffs, I was a bit on the fence about Black Shark. I shouldn't have been. It's utterly incredible and, unlike previous ED offerings, is very, very polished with (shock!) a game at the heart of the sim!

That last point is probably the biggest thing of all - a quantum leap in the overall quality of the simulation (I still haven't fired a single weapon after 4 days) and yet there's compelling, beautifully presented series of campaigns just waiting for me. This is a million miles from the frankly embarrassing campaign presentation and structure from the Flanker and Lock On series.

Starforce?

Meh... I don't care. I'll take the risk of having to replace my DVD drive if it means I get to fly simulations of this quality.

Amazingly, I actually get better frame-rates from Black Shark than I do with Lock On and Flaming Cliffs.

I have to agree. I have it on some pretty high settings but what I did notice and my hats off to them is the FPS stays very consistant. Not a lot of jumping around. The minimal FPS stays VERY playable and consistant.

I have no clue about the gaming aspect of the sim just yet. I'm only scratching the surface and hope that it's not as steril as previous products. Nothing beats Falcon 4 for immersion but hey this is what we have at the moment.

[Aviar]

Here is a 4-part review of the English version:

http://www.simhq.com/_air12/air_390a.html

http://www.simhq.com/_air12/air_391a.html

http://www.simhq.com/_air12/air_392a.html

http://www.simhq.com/_air12/air_394a.html

Aviar

[Thunderbolt56]

So, am I to understand the English version is on the shelf here in the US?

[Aviar]

The interview with Matt Wagner (last link) says first quarter 2009.

Aviar

[JG27CaptStubing]

So, am I to understand the English version is on the shelf here in the US?


It's not on the shelf until Feb however you can purchase the download version right now.

http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/

[JG52Uther]

With starforce and an 8 activation/10 deactivation limit!
That means,every time you change hardware,or reinstall O/S,you lose one.After that,looks like you have to buy it all over again to get a new key.
I was interested,but after reading that...

[SPUDLEY1977]

My two cents....Based on these high resolution large file videos, I am not particularly impressed. For one thing the popup effect happens less than 100 yrds out. These high resolution demo videos look like LOCKON (several years old) crossed with Micropose Gunship (even older and much like Lockon only chopper based). Gunship is much older than LOCKON and DCS just looks like LOCKON with a CHOPPER. To the Chopper Sim crowd this may be a big deal but to me I see nothing to get excited about.

Now what would excite me is:
Efficient game programming
High FPS - smooth gameplay
Photographic satellite imaging of terrain/trees/planes/etc
Multiple flyable Planes/Choppers
MP Customizable games/maps
Multiple controllable stations in:
Planes, Ground defenses, Ship defenses
Different respawn capabilities - governed by Host
Planes/Chopper/Grounddefenses controlled by multiple players
Well thought out Multiplayer
Host customizability/control of MP games
Hack prevension
Sound Mod capability
Customizable paint jobs/high res capability
Immersion
Don't just repackage something old give us the next leap in softeare/gameplay/visuals


I keeps my short list

PEACE

[JG27CaptStubing]

With starforce and an 8 activation/10 deactivation limit!
That means,every time you change hardware,or reinstall O/S,you lose one.After that,looks like you have to buy it all over again to get a new key.
I was interested,but after reading that...

Actually no... In effect you can install it and then deactivate it and get your activation back which equals 18... Changing your hardware doesn't effect it. It's also Starforce lite not the one that installs a device driver.

[JG27CaptStubing]

My two cents....Based on these high resolution large file videos, I am not particularly impressed. For one thing the popup effect happens less than 100 yrds out. These high resolution demo videos look like LOCKON (several years old) crossed with Micropose Gunship (even older and much like Lockon only chopper based). Gunship is much older than LOCKON and DCS just looks like LOCKON with a CHOPPER. To the Chopper Sim crowd this may be a big deal but to me I see nothing to get excited about.

Now what would excite me is:
Efficient game programming
High FPS - smooth gameplay
Photographic satellite imaging of terrain/trees/planes/etc
Multiple flyable Planes/Choppers
MP Customizable games/maps
Multiple controllable stations in:
Planes, Ground defenses, Ship defenses
Different respawn capabilities - governed by Host
Planes/Chopper/Grounddefenses controlled by multiple players
Well thought out Multiplayer
Host customizability/control of MP games
Hack prevension
Sound Mod capability
Customizable paint jobs/high res capability
Immersion
Don't just repackage something old give us the next leap in softeare/gameplay/visuals


I keeps my short list

PEACE

I think you need to read some reviews as a lot of what you're asking for is in there.

You will notice it looks a bit like Lockon because it's using that engine however it's been highly modifed to include way more detail on the ground since thats where Helos do their thing.

In addtion the FPS is very impressive in that its incredible stable. The FM is impressive.

This is a study sim of the KA-50 Black Shark and they have plans to continue to add to the sim. I think it includes the A-10C and F-16CJ and a few others.

[ElAurens]

So far it seems it is taking the real military pilots I know about an hour to figure out the startup procedure and just get the thing off the ramp.

Does not sound like fun to me. Too many darned buttons.

:lol:

[JG27CaptStubing]

So far it seems it is taking the real military pilots I know about an hour to figure out the startup procedure and just get the thing off the ramp.

Does not sound like fun to me. Too many darned buttons.

:lol:

Thats if you like that sort of thing... other than that hit left windows key and the home key at the same time and bingo its up and running.

It also has retard mode for those that want to play more of a game. So before throwing the baby out with the bath water do a little research.

[Thunderbolt56]

Thats if you like that sort of thing... other than that hit left windows key and the home key at the same time and bingo its up and running.




I like that idea. Not that I wouldn't eventually want to learn the process, but I wouldn't buy it for the complex procedures. If you look at youtube, there's a startup video for Black Shark that actually shows the complex procedure to git'r done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q_XNf4elAI

[JG27CaptStubing]

I agree... I'm sometimes okay with the "switchology" aspect of a sim. The Falcon Series, Janes F-15, Longbow II, LOMAC, got me used to that part but it's nice to have the option of getting in a flying.

You always have the option of dumbing it down.


So far it's a very impressive simulation and by the looks of it ... it's going to get better over time.

The key will be the playbility of the game. Apparently a lot of work has gone into the mission and campaign editors so there should be some re-playability. In terms of the MP portion it's geared more towards coop not head to head. That of course could change once other aircraft are introduced.

If anything purchasing a product like BS is supporting a very small genre and community. I know it sounds a little odd but I'm sorta willing to help these guys out to make sure my favorite types of games will be developed in the future.

This one looks to be a keeper.

[TX-EcoDragon]

TX-Kingsnake, TX-Gunslinger, GOZR, and myself have been having a blast with Black Shark.

As a veteran clickable cockpit pilot from other sims, the lack of a cockpit interface in IL-2 and LockOn were big let downs. . .of course there isn't a lot to worry about in a WWII era cockpit compared to something like a modern fighter, I still notice every time I use those two sims (the only ones I own, that don't have clickable cockpits). . .BlackShark is helping me get my fix! The flight physics are impressive, and overall systems fidelity seems excellent. There are only a few inop switches in the cockpit, and the outside air temperature is also inop, but apparently all of that will change soon. . .in the end, it raises the bar in most respects. If it has a weakness, it's that there is only one flyable (for now) and that the graphics are still pretty much like a subtle update to LockOn. . .and to be honest, neither of those is a weakness at this point. It looks great in most cases, and the Ka50 learning curve is steep enough to keep anyone entertained, even if they wish they were flying a Longbow (I admit to missing the mast mounted AN/APG-78 system of the Longbow though).


Here's some screenshots:

http://forums.flightsim.com/vbfs/showthread.php?t=190126

[Therion_Prime]

My two cents....Based on these high resolution large file videos, I am not particularly impressed. For one thing the popup effect happens less than 100 yrds out. These high resolution demo videos look like LOCKON (several years old) crossed with Micropose Gunship (even older and much like Lockon only chopper based). Gunship is much older than LOCKON and DCS just looks like LOCKON with a CHOPPER. To the Chopper Sim crowd this may be a big deal but to me I see nothing to get excited about.

Now what would excite me is:
Efficient game programming
High FPS - smooth gameplay
Photographic satellite imaging of terrain/trees/planes/etc
Multiple flyable Planes/Choppers
MP Customizable games/maps
Multiple controllable stations in:
Planes, Ground defenses, Ship defenses
Different respawn capabilities - governed by Host
Planes/Chopper/Grounddefenses controlled by multiple players
Well thought out Multiplayer
Host customizability/control of MP games
Hack prevension
Sound Mod capability
Customizable paint jobs/high res capability
Immersion
Don't just repackage something old give us the next leap in softeare/gameplay/visuals


I keeps my short list

PEACE

Sorry, but are you nuts?

BS is the best simulator up to date. Period. You didn't play it and judge from (possibly old beta-) videos?
The graphics are really awesome, there is no "popup" and almost all of the things in your "wish list" are already in the game.

[Therion_Prime]

So far it seems it is taking the real military pilots I know about an hour to figure out the startup procedure and just get the thing off the ramp.

Does not sound like fun to me. Too many darned buttons.

:lol:

I like it. I always missed clickable cockpits in other "sims".
In fact I would not call anything a "sim" without a clickable cockpit.

btw, I made the startup video posted earlier. Learning what all the buttons do was the most fun.

I know, I'm hardcore :-P

[TUSA/TX-Gunslinger]

Best prop sim since the Il2 series.

The best thing I can say about it is that it's the only sim that has ever taken me away from the Il2 series in 7 years (and it's not like I don't have other's) for any period of time.

I'm continually finding new things every day, and like Il2, this has a "feel of flight" that's out of this world.

I used to wonder why TX-Ecodragon was so passionate about clickable cockpits, and now I know. It's simple, you get to interact with the cockpit in a manner that is Ergonomically more "pilot like" and natural. Many switches which I'd normally map to a controller or keyboard, I can just naturally move around the cockpit to use in the manner that the cockpit was designed for. The clickable cockpit has actually allowed me to learn the cockpit much faster than in Il2.

I'm running BS on a 3 year old laptop, and doing ok. You don't need 70 fps for this sim, as combat is occurring at long range (or your dead).

Two things that my experience with BS has made me hope for in SOW:

1) More advanced flight model than what we've been using since 4.04 - while the current Il2 FM is good - it could be more complex and complete

2) Clickable cockpits

S~

Gunny

[virre89]

Yeah, it's an absoulutly amazing simulator, bought it 4 days ago and it's safe to say it's the most advanced and realistic simulator to date, very very impressive :) , Last time i was so impressed was with IL2.

The depth is also stunning , i suppose it would take about a half-1 years preiod to master exactly everything in the KA50, and i belive this is the cloesest you can get to really flying a helicopter.

Can't wait for other modules to be intoduced with just as much realism and detail.