Hardware, software and the future of flight combat sims.

[startrekmike]

I would say that at this point, the DCS world modules (other than FC3) are pretty much the end all and be all of flight sims in the market.

While I like CloD, it's realism level pales in comparison.

[Skoshi Tiger]

Originally Posted by startrekmike

I would say that at this point, the DCS world modules (other than FC3) are pretty much the end all and be all of flight sims in the market.

While I like CloD, it's realism level pales in comparison.

I've bought a few of the DCS products including the P-51 and they have some excelent systems modeling and features. Great Flight simulator. Can't wait until they release the production version.

That said as a "Combat Flight Simulator" it is lacking in that the P-51 has no contemporary targets, or maps, or adverseraries. These are not critisims, The Developers have never stated that they would have. The P-51 is just as they said it would be.

I see that some people are holding out for a contemporary environment for the P-51. That would be great. But I am not holding my breath. How long have we been waiting for the Nivarda map? It just must be very hard to create maps for DCS World.

[baronWastelan]

Also worth mentioning that the desktop PC is this decade's equivalent of the CD player, inasmuch as the under-30 consumer would rather have nothing to do with them. (yes, I still buy CD's )

For example, in my current employment, my Android phone is serving in the role a laptop would have 10 years ago.

[zapatista]

Originally Posted by startrekmike

I would say that at this point, the DCS world modules (other than FC3) are pretty much the end all and be all of flight sims in the market.

While I like CloD, it's realism level pales in comparison.

i dont think that is true, but to be honest i havnt spent much time with the DCS p51, only tried it on a friends pc a few times (compared to what is prob 1000 hrs or more on il2 over the years). their DCS p51 is very good, has complex systems modeled etc, but in actual "flight feel", the issue of representing the sensation of flight itself, with the aircraft interacting against the wind and weather, to me the DCS p51 experience feels almost sterile compared to the "living world" of flying aircraft in CoD (or late versions of the previous il2 series)

for ex read some of the threads/posts on this forum on how to activate some of the currently inactive weather elements in CoD, then go and try some crosswind landings with a strong gale, its very realistic (because of the cpu/gpu load, most pc's can only run those as single player missions, but worth a try if you havnt experienced it). similarly for the feel of doing barrel rolls, immelman's, hammerhead's and other flight maneuvers, for me CoD is significantly superior.

then look at the detailed physical damage model to the aircraft in CoD, each element carefully modeled (em but not working perfectly yet), there is nothing like that in DCS p51, neither is the cockpit as photo realistic and 3D as in CoD

the DCS p51 is pretty amazing however, and to me is the next best thing. i really hope they proceed quickly with their with their new gfx engine built (to be used for all their aircraft), and that they add more ww2 flyable aircraft so the p51 can be used for actual combat flying in some historical settings

i am not stating these things to argue and currently DCS is our next best hope in ww2 combat sims, currently however their p51 aircraft is even as a single aircraft not quiet up to par to the CoD aircraft (but some of those have individual bugs that would still need resolving) and the environment it flies around in (weather, scenery, etc)