It was just ground radar and the FLIR.

Technically the FLIR lock up works in VRS, but theres no image. <_<

Yeah correct - FLIR technically works, but no image - it's beyond FSX core programming capability to create an IR image from it's environment - you will have to lock up the target with ground radar (which will be in tacpak). So I suppose it depends on the fidelity of the radar image (IRL the image is quite good quality resolution, not just some dots as in Janes).

Saying that - it's an amazing add-on - full real clickable cockpits, avionics, AA radar, amazing carrier models available for free etc, astounding graphics, and probably one of the best flight models i've flown. Definitely worth getting if your a JF18 fan. Everything works just like janes, so if you a vet on this game, you'll be in the cockpit and in the air in a minute. Took me about 10 mins to programme my X52 and I was HOTAS ready! The FLIR issue really is the only problem.

There is som talk on the vrs forums of adapting the game to the upcoming MS Flight, getting MS to code in IR capability. All we need is for TSH to do some work on constructing missions/dynamic environment add-on payware, and you have some real opportunities there. I think you could clear up in the combat sim market. Imagine going on a SEAD mission, but facing human piloted flankers (tacpak will eventually be released to third parties to make any plane combat ready). It would kind of make game specific combat sims redundant. People would simply model planes and mission/campaign packs for insertion into the game. Then you have the whole world to play with. License google earth to slip over the terrain model, and you have a photoreal, worldwide dynamic combat zone. Even non combat players could get into it, flying refueling tankers, awacs, supply planes etc. I'm getting carried away now haha!

Seems a no brainer to me, and I hope that some entrepreneurial folk in the software business grab this one and run with it, as I think they really could clean up. Sorry for rambling on - just glad to be positive about something after the disappointment of Cliffs of Dover

Hehe... while the possibilities are "there," I guess I can sit this one out. Thanks guys. I love Jane's F/A-18 a lot and don't want to "taint" the experience with something else.

If things pick up with TacPack, I'll be sure to get this but at this time, I guess it's better for me to just sit back.

No probs Ice - this is def a waiting game, and it might come to nothing. It's a classic market void waiting to be filled, but with no formula, and utterly dependant on completely separate entities coming together to create a new entity.

Thats why I used the word entrepreneur. Ths is a quick minded business opportunity call, not a flight sim fan call. And that is out of my league haha! I'll stick to being an architect!

Steve

While I bow to their achievement with the Superbug, and assuming TacPack works as advertised, that's great... but having a 3rd-party or community-controlled group make other aircraft flyable and mod their own missiles, I can see things turning south pretty quick. It's not fun having to flick so many switches to get an AIM 9 off the rail when some guy in some plane with "arcade settings" can point-and-shoot at you before you can say "damn!!"

An accurately-modeled Hornet vs. an accurately-modeled Viper would be cool. But note how many different versions of one type of aircraft exists in FSX/FS9, just because one group has issues with the flight model or weight distribution or whatever. I don't want to get into that pot again.

They got the FLIR working in this thing! Probably the biggest cause of delay for release.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-bPxOM0jYs

Could become very interesting if it's a fully working machine. Just need some third party campaign add-ons (I would pay).


edit for typo.

I can't access SOH, but here's the link from the VRS forum .

TacPack FLIR tech demo
by VRS Varmint » Sat Dec 24, 2011 12:33 pm

Ok everyone, a little taste of our horrible video skilz, and our much better avionic skills. Keep in mind this is very raw, very unedited video of a very beta implementation, and doesn't demonstrate many of the finer points, but it does show you what's in store. This is much less than you deserve for your patience, but much more than you were probably expecting since it was never an officially listed feature:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-bPxOM0jYs

Higher resolutions should become available as YouTube finishes processing the video. This is not a publicly listed video since it's so raw, but feel free to pass along the link.

Enjoy, and Merry Christmas to all.

P.S. No more MUX FAIL!

And Varmint's reply to the FSX limitations
Re: TacPack FLIR tech demo
by VRS Varmint » Tue Jan 03, 2012 12:24 am

FSX does not provide/simulate moisture in any addressable way. This is the same reason why you will not find any sort of real weather radar that does anything other than "fake it" using clouds. So the answer is no, weather will not affect the performance of these systems. We fully simulate terrain masking with the radar, and that is/was our primary goal. The FLIR will be subject to the same visual constraints you would see out the window initially (albeit improved night vision), and as time permits, we will continue to simulate features that move closer toward IR. However the same basic limitations exist now that have always existed - we must use the database that FSX provides. No true IR signature data exists in that database anymore than true weather data, so the best we can do is work with the data that does exist.

WOW, that FLIR really looks great! However I do have the following questions:
-> Does this addon comes with some sort or a campaign/career? If yes, how does it work? If not, what kind of gameplay (missions) does it have?
-> What kind of enemies are present (aircraft, tanks/ground vehicles, air defences, etc...)? Are enemy units competent fighting and firing againt the player?

Thanks in advance for replies...

Ric,

Here's the link to VRS Tacpack forum. Recommend you check the various threads contained within. You will also see a note about FSX@war that plans ot interface with the VRS Tacpack that might answer some of your questions.

http://forums.vrsimulations.com/forums/p...435e6657c73baa2

Also, you may have to register to view the thread, not certain.

Matt

It's like Jane's all over again; except this time we have Milvis F-15 and VRS F/A-18

I truely hope for WSO pits because I can't really fly anymore.