Which aircraft are you most interested in?

Most things on that list, but the Mosquito jumps out as something I would really love to see at DCS level.

any plane that has a gunner, thats what i will jump on!

Right off the bat I have to say I'm more interested in the gaming experiece than any other aspects.

 

I'm not hoping for any specific aircraft. What I'd like to see is ED working with its partners to satisfy a specific time-frame of the war. Aircraft such as the F8F Bearcat will be nice to put on the shelf, but do little to nothing to put a stable together that can be utilized in creating an entire environment.

 

There is already a late-war time-frame started and probably, with regards to creating an environment, the best move would be for ED to work towards fleshing this late-war environment out. An AI B-17 would be a great add--I don't think having a player-controlled B-17 would be a viable solution, because there will never be enough players to put a flight of B-17s together plus escorts to fly against a desperate German defense. But putting a flight of AI controlled B-17s together to be escorted by player-controlled P-51Ds and P-47Ds would certainly be possible.

 

Whether ED would want to delve into the Battle of Britain era, where it would be competing directly against other companies, is another question. It would most certainly be something I would be interested in, because I would rather play the era with fidelity than just play the era just to play the era. Plus ED would be starting pretty much from scratch to put the era together, which would be a monumental task. I'll be in retirement by the time they were to get about 50% to of it together... hey, perfect :thumbup:

 

But to be a viable solution, enough players would need to be interested, and many might think, I already play IL-2, why should I move to DCS to get the same experience--although it wouldn't really be the same I'm sure.

 

And that's another question. IL-2--from my understanding (I don't play it) is more game oriented--with the community working to make it more realistic--, while DCS is a simulation, which can be used to play a game.

 

Would the two clash? Would there be a crossover of IL-2 players who are just waiting for something better? Would DCS be too complex/difficult for their gaming enjoyment, or to be enjoyable to them at all?

 

Those are big questions, but I would hope that ED takes them into consideration.

Although it is still being flown by some, Il-2 1946 is pretty much done. I flew that one for about 12 years almost exclusively. Its successors (CoD and BoS) never really held my interest. CoD was extremely buggy when pushed out and was pretty much abandoned as soon as it was published, BoS was a solid piece of software but it is just Eastern Front and requires XP unlocks to use different weapons loadouts which in my opinion should not be required... too gamey for me. I occasionally fire up the modded Il-2 1946 and fly multiplayer for nostalgia's sake and have noticed the multiplayer numbers to be way down from back when I played on a regular basis. Il-2 1946 was originally released in 2001 and was the benchmark for WWII flight simulations. The game engine is essentially the same from that time. It has been tweaked but had reached the limits of its capability. The graphics are dated, a lot of the systems in the planes are not modeled and the flight models are not as advanced as in DCS. A majority of players have already moved on to other games.

Having a large map with realistic locations is a must for the inclusion of a B-17. If that can be accomplished and a high quality DCS level B-17 were to be made I doubt you would have any problem finding virtual pilots who would fly it in multiplayer. The Warbirds of Prey servers were fine examples of just what could be put together for bombers. We did what was called "Bomber Night" every Friday where everyone who wanted to could fly bombers in formation to attack specific targets. The missions were designed around actual missions from WWII which included all theatres and could be large 4 engine bombers like the B-17, B-24 or B-29 or they could be smaller planes like the SBD Dauntless, Il-2 Sturmovik, Ju-88, B-25 or even fighter-bombers like the Typhoon, Me-110 or Mosquito FB VI. On most of the later missions it was not uncommon to attracted up to 100 players from all over the world, 2/3's of which flew bombers. The other 1/3 were split between bomber escort and enemy interceptors. The missions usually only lasted about two to three hours but it was fun to see all of the bombers in massive formations totally obliterating their targets and beating off waves of enemy planes. Was good fun.

If they had a DCS Level B-17 I would never fly fighters again. Being that I grew up around b-25,B-17 pilots and gunners I always found them more interesting to fly. I am one of the fortunate few to get to talk to these guys while they were still around.

I wasn't talking about just piloting the B-17 but the entire crew, 10 per aircraft, because there was some talk about that. Considering a flight of 3 aircraft in a squadron of 4 flights, that would be 12 aircraft with 120 players.

If there were only one player-pilot in the B-17 with the rest of the crew controlled by the AI, that might work, although I have no idea how the actual bombing run would be handled when the target is approached and bombardier takes control. Still it might be done.

I wasn't talking about just piloting the B-17 but the entire crew, 10 per aircraft, because there was some talk about that. Considering a flight of 3 aircraft in a squadron of 4 flights, that would be 12 aircraft with 120 players.

 

If there were only one player-pilot in the B-17 with the rest of the crew controlled by the AI, that might work, although I have no idea how the actual bombing run would be handled when the target is approached and bombardier takes control. Still it might be done.

That was not your question though.

No you will probably not get all 10 positions in the B-17 filled. You don't have to either. If a game originally designed in 2001 handled high altitude bombing with only one actual player in the aircraft and all the rest AI, then why would one designed today not be able to handle it? Have you flown the Huey or Mi-8MTv2? A similar setup for AI on the aircraft could be used for the different crew positions. Couple this with a modified form of LN's proposed "Jester" AI that is supposed to be a virtual second crewman in the Tomcat that will be integral to fighting the F-14 and the solutions are there. I see real possibility in multi-crew aircraft being as good as or better than single seat planes.

CoD was extremely buggy when pushed out and was pretty much abandoned as soon as it was published,

Have you try it since the team fusion mods? If not please do so, that's my best online sim experience, by far. Great community

:thumbup:

That was not your question though.

I wasn't asking a question about it :smilewink: I was stating that I don't think a B-17 which needs to be fully crewed would not be productive. Sorry that I was unclear on the 'why' of how I feel on this.

No you will probably not get all 10 positions in the B-17 filled. You don't have to either. If a game originally designed in 2001 handled high altitude bombing with only one actual player in the aircraft and all the rest AI, then why would one designed today not be able to handle it? Have you flown the Huey or Mi-8MTv2? A similar setup for AI on the aircraft could be used for the different crew positions. Couple this with a modified form of LN's proposed "Jester" AI that is supposed to be a virtual second crewman in the Tomcat that will be integral to fighting the F-14 and the solutions are there. I see real possibility in multi-crew aircraft being as good as or better than single seat planes.

I have yet to venture unto the rotary-wings, but I know of them.

I see the possibilities too, but if I have a choice of getting an AI B-17F in twenty-sixteen or a piloted B-17F in twenty-sevennnnnnn...eighteen guess which one I'm asking Santa for :P

Could/can/will ED be able to handle creating a good B-17 with AI crew? I think if they put their minds and resources to it, yes. But will they?

To detract a bit to make a point, that's the point I was getting to with the comment about the F8F--and you could say the same thing about he P-40--the one is years before the current time-frame of war-birds and the other years after--they don't fit it to the mix. If you are regarding creating an environment to have a multi-player gaming experience they do nothing. And I will preemptively stave off the inevitable -but those are developed from a partner company-. Yes, partner, and if ED does nothing to coordinate/cajole/coerce/convince VEAO to produce the aircraft which would be best for the DCS-World then VEAO will do what they want, and as far as ever having a reasonable gaming environment, it will never happen.

The men at ED are if nothing else ambitious. But reading through the forum I find that there are literally dozens of bugs/incomplete-features on current ED aircraft, with all the work currently going into getting DCS-World2/EDGE through the door--current, tentative schedule is to get the EDGE engine out in September with the Nevada map in December--maybe---and I don't know about the Horn of Hormuz map at the moment. So it is possible that they will be busy with all that until easily summer of next year. I see a lot of get it out the door--make some revenue (which I can totally understand)--but not so much follow-up.

Again, this is just what I'm seeing, and I haven't been around DCS for so long, so maybe my view is lacking, but that's my observation and that's my answer to "then why would one designed today not be able to handle it?", the question is, will ED put the resources into it?

English Electric Lightning.

I would love to be able to fly one on DCS.

English Electric Lightning.

I would love to be able to fly one on DCS.

Then you're in luck... Welcome to the forum.

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=127100

They need the Fw-190A-9 with all of it's ground attack goodies!

They need the Fw-190A-9 with all of it's ground attack goodies!

Shouldn't that be F-9

They need the Fw-190A-9 with all of it's ground attack goodies!

Why not A8 that actually saw extended use and was built in great numbers?

not listed... but the A6M2 :)

They need the Fw-190A-9 with all of it's ground attack goodies!

The FW190 F8 would be perfect to match the p-47 ground attack capabilities. Also, two of them have the radial engines.

My real choice would be the Mosquito night fighter, with working radar. That would be a first for flight sims. (I know, IL2 1946 has several night fighters, but none with radar, and A2A has the HE-219, but no radar or guns) Of course, then there would have to be night flying bombers and opposing night fighters....

You guessed it, I like night fighters. :joystick:

So, I picked the P-38, because it hasn't been done before in DCS.

badfinger

all those planes would be awesome :D

But if I need to decide I would really like to see the Me262 A1 "Schwalbe" and A2 "Sturmvogel" since it was the worlds first operational fighter aircraft with jet-powered engines. The A2 has also the capabillity to carry bombs till 1000 Kg.

I would like too see an HE 162 A-2 "Volksjäger" too because of its unique design and story behind it. The He 162 was the fastest of the first generation of Axis and Allied jets.

Just my opinion ;)

Regards Griffon26

My real choice would be the Mosquito night fighter, with working radar. That would be a first for flight sims. (I know, IL2 1946 has several night fighters, but none with radar, and A2A has the HE-219, but no radar or guns) Of course, then there would have to be night flying bombers and opposing night fighters....

I'd love to have a night fighter.

and perhaps, a "pathfinder" :)

and perhaps, a "pathfinder" :)

A Lanc or a Mossie? Both were used as RAF Pathfinders IIRC. As were Halifaxes and Stirlings too, BTW ;)

I would like to see the

P-61B

A Lanc or a Mossie?

~

Both :) ... including perhaps, perhaps a dam buster ( the mossies were known for the "pathfinder" ability though)

Anything with a tailhook on it would definitely grab my attention, not mention my credit card!

Hawker Hurricane :)

I selected the B17 only because the Lanc wasn't available. Just love the Lanc with its four Merlins and large bombload.