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#3430564 - 11/09/11 08:41 PM
Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
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Custodian
Veteran
Registered: 09/29/00
Posts: 19767
Loc: 11th floor, corner office
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Erik "EinsteinEP" Pierce reviews the latest version of the popular helo sim. http://www.simhq.com/_air14/air_504a.html
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#3430599 - 11/09/11 10:34 PM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: guod]
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Junior Member
Registered: 05/12/11
Posts: 4
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Thanks for the nice review.
Just one question, do they (DCS) still intend to someday link the sims together (Black-Shark, A-10, future titles) ?
What's disappointing is the way one has to obtain this stuff.
Call me outdated but I'm still VERY VERY restrictive about where I post my Credit-Card information.
Of course, doing it that way will bring more cash for them, but is less convenient/secure for the one wishing to purchase their product..
Edited by Khegrow (11/09/11 10:34 PM)
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#3430602 - 11/09/11 10:43 PM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: guod]
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Member
Registered: 03/23/11
Posts: 209
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very excited to read and see what the new edition offers.
as for credit card purchasing over sagepay. even if you did it, you'd like get an error anyway. that particular agency is notoriously inept. this is something of an issue if the response on the official forums are any indication, so hopefully they'll get the message and do a retail version.
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#3430608 - 11/09/11 11:14 PM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: guod]
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Member
Registered: 12/29/04
Posts: 986
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Nice review but with all the time they spend on design you think they could implement a dynamic campaign. 
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#3430655 - 11/10/11 01:27 AM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: guod]
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Member
Registered: 12/22/06
Posts: 103
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Thanks for the review. A more detailed look into the improvements would have been nice, tho.
FokkerDVIII,
I wouldn't hold my breath for seeing a dynamic campaign in an ED product in the foreseeable future. The impression I have is that they view DC as a complete waste of dev resources. Still, you might like the new mission generator. It is not bad at all.
Edited by Lurker_71 (11/10/11 01:28 AM)
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#3430793 - 11/10/11 06:50 AM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: Lurker_71]
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Junior Member
Registered: 08/04/07
Posts: 42
Loc: London, England
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Good review and nice screen shots. Unfortunately, I kinda gave up on BS because I found the AIs ability to shoot you through trees meant I had to adjust my tactics to suit the game rather than the mission (especially in the flat areas with lots of trees but few hills). It's a shame really because I'd like to buy this upgrade, but I guess for me it would ultimately be unforfilling.
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#3430846 - 11/10/11 07:40 AM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: guod]
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Entil'zha
Big Kahuna
Registered: 02/15/00
Posts: 33095
Loc: Space Coast, USA
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You just have to fight like the USMC and Army learned in Iraq...shoot while on the move! Too hard to do in a single seater? Well, the Russians agree, hence they're not buying any more 50s and are instead getting 52s and Mi-28Ns.  The Jedi Master
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#3430876 - 11/10/11 08:09 AM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: Lurker_71]
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Air Combat & General Aviation Editor
Member
Registered: 11/20/07
Posts: 1790
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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A more detailed look into the improvements would have been nice, tho. Thanks for the feedback, Lurker! In this reviewer's opinion, the single biggest improvement was the graphics, and I tried to capture that in the screenshots I uploaded. I hit quickly on a few of the other differences I had noticed (Mission Generator, mission editor, etc.) and there are a number of other improvements that I didn't fully evaluate. http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=81117&highlight=black+shark+flight+modelSome things I plan on exploring in the future are the new helicopter AI and the updated radio comm logic, but all in all the remaining "differences" were introduced to the community in A-10C and I really wanted to hit on the new things for Black Shark 2.
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#3430883 - 11/10/11 08:18 AM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: Khegrow]
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Sim Addict
Member
Registered: 09/22/09
Posts: 485
Loc: Sydney, Australia
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Thanks for the nice review.
Just one question, do they (DCS) still intend to someday link the sims together (Black-Shark, A-10, future titles) ?
Yes as in multiplayer compatible. A-10C patch within a week (apparently) will make A-10C compatible with Blackshark. Then missions can be run with both aircraft.
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#3431040 - 11/10/11 10:58 AM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: guod]
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Junior Member
Registered: 12/29/10
Posts: 9
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IMO the review shouldn't have mentioned the pricing/upgrade/patch argument - it would have been better to have remained impartial by simply ignoring it.
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#3431042 - 11/10/11 10:59 AM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: EinsteinEP]
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Senior Member
Registered: 12/22/02
Posts: 3538
Loc: Wisconsin, USA
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A more detailed look into the improvements would have been nice, tho. Thanks for the feedback, Lurker! In this reviewer's opinion, the single biggest improvement was the graphics, and I tried to capture that in the screenshots I uploaded. I hit quickly on a few of the other differences I had noticed (Mission Generator, mission editor, etc.) and there are a number of other improvements that I didn't fully evaluate. http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=81117&highlight=black+shark+flight+model Some things I plan on exploring in the future are the new helicopter AI and the updated radio comm logic, but all in all the remaining "differences" were introduced to the community in A-10C and I really wanted to hit on the new things for Black Shark 2. Real nice review Einstein. Enjoyed reading it. But...I would respectfully disagree on your choice of "single biggest improvment." The graphics are indeed superb...you swear you are in the real world they are so beautiful. But I have been tinkering with the mission editor the last few days. The things one can do with the AI, both ground and air are simply amazing. One simple little thing I like, probably no big thing but do you know you can now set up an ai aircraft on the ramp and it will not start up and take off immediatley when mission starts? It will start only when certain triggers are executed by you. So many new and creative triggers have been added to the sim. The sky is the limit now in mission creation.
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#3431060 - 11/10/11 11:12 AM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: guod]
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World of Forums MMO NPC
Senior Member
Registered: 01/08/09
Posts: 3720
Loc: Vancouver, BC
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Great write-up EinsteinEP, it's looking great. Upgraded! 
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#3431104 - 11/10/11 12:06 PM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: Hellfire257]
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Member
Registered: 07/10/05
Posts: 903
Loc: CA
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IMO the review shouldn't have mentioned the pricing/upgrade/patch argument - it would have been better to have remained impartial by simply ignoring it. I don't agree. One of the main reasons people read reviews is to see if a purchase is justified. Not to mention the price point would have wrong IMO.
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#3431120 - 11/10/11 12:17 PM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: guod]
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Entil'zha
Big Kahuna
Registered: 02/15/00
Posts: 33095
Loc: Space Coast, USA
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Yes, because reviewing the latest Camry and saying it's a great car without noting the price doubled over last year's model would leave many scratching their heads with a "WHAT???"
As ED never made one peep that this wouldn't be free but would cost before the moment of its release, it is natural to comment on it. Had this been something announced months ago, such as around the time of A-10C's release, it probably wouldn't have been as important, but the fact that it has separate upgrade and standalone pricing is relevant when so many games do NOT have an upgrade or previous customer discount.
The Jedi Master
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#3431355 - 11/10/11 05:10 PM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: guod]
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Junior Member
Registered: 10/26/09
Posts: 69
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I know it's a sore subject but I really hate being told that my position is bad like a child. Black Shark 2 is absolutely, absolutely, absolutely worth the small cost of the upgrade. Anyone who says all those features should have been included in the price of BS1 are crazy.
The problem is that BS2 utterly precludes any more patches to BS1. If you have BS1.02, how long will you have to wait for patch 1.03 that fixes so many game-breaking bugs? Yeah, never ever ever going to happen. For people that bought BS1 for $50 will never get their complete product. The fact that BS2 exists is a red herring. The lack of any more development on BS1 is what's wrong.
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#3431415 - 11/10/11 06:48 PM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: guod]
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Sim Addict
Member
Registered: 09/22/09
Posts: 485
Loc: Sydney, Australia
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BS1 is fully playable as it was sold.
The DCS series even in Beta the A-10C was more functional than the fully released cliffs of dover and some other sims the same applies.
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#3431438 - 11/10/11 07:24 PM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: guod]
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Air Combat & General Aviation Editor
Member
Registered: 11/20/07
Posts: 1790
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Frederf, you make a good point: BS2 does seem to ring a death-bell for BS1. Will ED support it with future patches? I would expect only for issues that are truly broken, but, just like Taipan points out, I don't know of any part of BS1 that could be considered truly broken, as in "OMG ED better patch this or ima demand my money back!"
What application, after any number of patches/fixes/updates, is ever really "complete" in the sense that there's nothing left to change?
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#3431444 - 11/10/11 07:30 PM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: guod]
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Senior Member
Registered: 12/17/03
Posts: 3426
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Thanks for the review!
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#3431446 - 11/10/11 07:34 PM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: Frederf]
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Contributing Editor
Lifer
Registered: 01/22/01
Posts: 20982
Loc: Charlotte, NC USA
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For people that bought BS1 for $50 will never get their complete product. I disagree with that statement. I don't know of any sim that has ever been released that reaches "completion". Heck..13 years later and Falcon 4 still isn't finished.. 
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#3431475 - 11/10/11 08:52 PM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: guod]
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Junior Member
Registered: 08/01/11
Posts: 5
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Read more like the back of a box than a review. Could have used a lot more detail on the improvements like the AI. Examples, etc.
Edited by pillar (11/10/11 08:53 PM)
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#3431729 - 11/11/11 07:46 AM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: guod]
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Member
Registered: 10/02/09
Posts: 120
Loc: Canada
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Great review EinsteinEP. The screenshots were pretty damn good as well.
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#3432651 - 11/12/11 02:03 PM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: Taipan]
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Junior Member
Registered: 10/26/09
Posts: 69
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BS1 is fully playable as it was sold. Go give your wingman an attack order with civ traffic on. Tell your wingman to hold position. Make a new flight plan and get ABRIS VNAV to work... [admin edit: let's be nice]
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#3432657 - 11/12/11 02:15 PM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: Frederf]
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Member
Registered: 12/29/04
Posts: 986
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If that truly is the case why should people have to pay for the fix? 
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#3432744 - 11/12/11 04:38 PM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: guod]
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Member
Registered: 12/15/09
Posts: 1315
Loc: South East PA
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Good review, will probably pick this up down the road. Still bummed the training didn't get an upgrade though  I think the upgrade cost is justified, but as far as the "paying for a patch" argument goes, ED brought a lot of hate down on themselves by: 1. Calling it a patch...and a sequel; It's neither of those things. I agree that one should NEVER have to pay for a patch. To me, the term "patch" implies it's a fix for software that's currently bugged. I should never have to pay a developer to fix something they broke. That being said, BS2 isn't a patch, or just a bunch of bug fixes. Of course, it's not a full blown squeal either. Calling it both of those things* can be misleading. 2. Not telling us this was coming. By dropping the product on the community like this, there's bound to be more controversy. A heads up would have been nice. It's just very odd how this was launched. *To me, calling it "black shark 2" implies squeal. It's more like Black Shark 1.5. Not a total overhaul, but a substantial one.
Edited by AggressorBLUE (11/12/11 04:39 PM)
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#3433615 - 11/14/11 05:28 AM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: guod]
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Entil'zha
Big Kahuna
Registered: 02/15/00
Posts: 33095
Loc: Space Coast, USA
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Yes, I suppose BS 1.5 would be more accurate, as would Flaming Cliffs 1.5 instead of 2.0, but it's a name not a real version number. After all, it's actually "DCS:A-10C with some updates and a flyable Ka-50 and no A-10C" and not Black Shark 1.03. Likewise FC2 was really "BS 1.02 without a flyable 50 and flyable planes from FC 1.12" and not FC 1.13.
However, it's their product they can call it what they want, as by any other name it smells the same.
The Jedi Master
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#3434071 - 11/14/11 03:01 PM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: guod]
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Sim Addict
Member
Registered: 09/22/09
Posts: 485
Loc: Sydney, Australia
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At the end of the day all these issues with the marketing and political issues don't matter. If youre a real simmer what matters is the end result, the simulation, the immersion, the fun, and those times when you get #%&*$# scared when a Zu-23 that you missed opens up on you with fiery vengeance.
To put it simply, both DCS to me are now freakin awesome. I even purchased some TM MFDs since I now know I'll be playing it long term. They have announced their long term plans for FC3, DCS JTAC (combined arms), and Nevada will apply to all 3 as will JTAC so hopefully that will clear up future communication.
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#3435042 - 11/16/11 12:14 AM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: Taipan]
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Opinionated Aussie Bloke
Member
Registered: 03/14/06
Posts: 798
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If youre a real simmer what matters is the end result, the simulation, the immersion, the fun, and those times when you get #%&*$# scared when a Zu-23 that you missed opens up on you with fiery vengeance.
I agree wholeheartedly with this taipan. Its not the cost, or the fact we have to pay for work, i don't have a problem with that. But what i am concerned about (agreeing strongly with frederf) that we have not seen any substantial bug fixes for the KA. Do i need to mention the dual hydraulics failures? Whats the point in having a back up hydraulics system if they both go at the same time all the time. Not to mention the myriad of other faults that we thought were going to be brought into this patch/upgrade/inbetween thing. The other issue is, what happens to black shark one now? no more support ? NOw they are tinkering with bringing out flaming cliffs 3 as a pay on. So what happens to 2, no support ? And the big question is the fractured community. All these different version, all requiring a pay on upgrade. Its a bit of a mess to keep all of these at the latest version only to have zero support for the poor guys that don't want to. Not entirely happy with the progression. I mention all of this and quoted you above as dcs really shines on multiplayer. Surely there must be a better way for ED to get remuneration for their work and not so many fractured bolt ons.
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#3435071 - 11/16/11 01:49 AM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: guod]
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Sim Addict
Member
Registered: 09/22/09
Posts: 485
Loc: Sydney, Australia
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I was hoping everyone would upgrade - eventually and it wouldn't be fractured. I disagree about being a mess, its progress forward. To keep the same engine forever is not going to last computers are getting better an better and things like Battlefield graphics are drawing away customers. I'm happy that it's progressing even if there are short term splits of multiplayer. I like the end result once my install is setup good I'm having fun.
Regarding dual hydraulics failures - its not something that's affected my enjoyment of it at all.
Seriously the complexity in these sims to have errors like this is something like 2% of the features modelled.
DCS remains to me the cleanest released set of sims, in that they are very playable from day 1 with no show stopper bugs for the majority.
Even A-10C in Beta was less buggy than many games gone gold.
But your opinion is valid, people with the old games may want support. But it's rare for a game maker to still do patches many years after release. Kudos to those that do such as the IL-2 series.
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#3435078 - 11/16/11 02:26 AM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: guod]
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Opinionated Aussie Bloke
Member
Registered: 03/14/06
Posts: 798
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the dual hydraulics failure was only one thing. You may be happy with it, but i am not. I want the fidelity from it.
There are many things in the KA that we can't do due to broken items.
Sure if you are happy with the basics then you most likely won't take heed of the indepth items that make a simulator a simulator aside from a flight model and clickable cockpit.
But the fact remains. They are still there and will we have to pay again for them to be fixed ?
On the other issue, i have no problem with the sim moving forward. I can safely say that i think we we all want it to. However, it has moved a long way away from the core ideolgy that DCS was supposed to be a core base to where each flyable adds on.
At the moment everything is a stand alone release that may or may not tie in with all the other releases, no guarantee. This is not what was advertised or planned or advised to the public.
So, fair enough, if you only have one flyable then this route is not really an issue. Just pay to upgrade (with or without bug fixes) and all is hunky dorey.
However, if you like to have all the flyables, then you have a costly and a somewhat funky way of trying to keep all this together.
AkA, black shark version 10, with dcs version 9 with lockon version 6 with f-18 version 3 with f-18 version 4...... adnausium.
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Don't get me wrong, i like the progress ED are trying to make, but unfortunately for me (a long time supporter waaaaaay back in the day well before DCS) I am not going to purchase any upgrades or any further flyables, until i understand where all this is moving to. When i find a common ground that i understand ED will take this then i will decide how many flyables i will purchase to obtain value for money and cohesion with further upgrades.
As an example. (instead of purchase all the flyables which is what i would have done). I can easily hold off an purchase the latest iteration every 4 years. Ok, i will only get multiplayer capability until next upgrade.... but hey ho... thats the price of fracturing.
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#3435147 - 11/16/11 05:17 AM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: guod]
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Member
Registered: 03/20/09
Posts: 516
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Keep up with the times or get left behind. Sorry, that's real life for you. Every old software will be superseded and you can't expect a company to support an older product forever. Software companies don't work that way. Sure the older software will still work but there won't be any support for it nor will it be guaranteed to work with the latest features. So either you jump on board or get left behind.
RE: problems in BS - most have been fixed with BS2. I only had problems with the AI and that has been totally reworked. The AI is stellar in BS2, wingmen do things right, enemy units react realistically. It's much more fun and immersive.
What other 'many' problems are you talking about? I bet that what ED have done right far outweigh their bugs by a large, large margin. No software in the history of software will ever be bug free.
You won't buy anymore that's your prerogative. I'll buy whatever they release, flyables and all. You can stick by your principles and miss out while I have fun flying whatever aircraft they decide to release, provided the aircraft appeals to me ofc.
EDIT: Actually I'll buy whatever they release even though I don't like the aircraft and would rarely fly it. I'd do it to support them just like I bought all the aircraft + field mods for ROF. Even though flying WW1 crates is probably the lowest rung for me.
Edited by WynnTTr (11/16/11 05:22 AM)
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#3435267 - 11/16/11 08:38 AM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: guod]
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Air Combat & General Aviation Editor
Member
Registered: 11/20/07
Posts: 1790
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Without an infinite budget, infinite resources, and infinite time, no project will ever be truly "complete" to all observers, but, as the saying goes, sometimes you have to shoot the engineers and start selling cars.
That said, many of the issues folks bring up against the DCS products is valid. As I understand it, they have a bug-tracking feature where they keep track of even "minor" bugs and tweaks and re-consider them for incorporation for each patch/update. With the finite budget, resources, and time problem, the developers have to choose which bugs get fixed. One specific fix may only take an hour to integrate and test, but when you have dozens of these little items in addition to significant fixes that require days of integration, the tradeoff decision becomes easy. Since we're not privvy to those discussions and decisions, it may seem like the "easy" fixes are being deliberately overlooked and ignored, but that's not what's really happening. There's a much larger picture than what we see.
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#3435298 - 11/16/11 09:06 AM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: guod]
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Opinionated Aussie Bloke
Member
Registered: 03/14/06
Posts: 798
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@einstein, yes i am aware there will be a bigger picture. I am not asking for perfection, just some adressing to the bugs that are not fixed that will most likely come in another pay for patch. I am not young like some of the posters here and i do understand the concepts of business.
@WynnTT. I won't get left behind. As i said before, all i have to do is make one purchase every 4-6 years and i will still be current without spending a shed load of money in the process.
Anyway, there will be fanbois and there will be haters and there will be those in between. I hope you all enjoy.
Regards,
Bogus.
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#3435520 - 11/16/11 01:48 PM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: bogusheadbox]
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Sim Addict
Member
Registered: 09/22/09
Posts: 485
Loc: Sydney, Australia
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the dual hydraulics failure was only one thing. You may be happy with it, but i am not. I want the fidelity from it.
There are many things in the KA that we can't do due to broken items.
Sure if you are happy with the basics then you most likely won't take heed of the indepth items that make a simulator a simulator aside from a flight model and clickable cockpit.
But the fact remains. They are still there and will we have to pay again for them to be fixed ?
On the other issue, i have no problem with the sim moving forward. I can safely say that i think we we all want it to. However, it has moved a long way away from the core ideolgy that DCS was supposed to be a core base to where each flyable adds on.
At the moment everything is a stand alone release that may or may not tie in with all the other releases, no guarantee. This is not what was advertised or planned or advised to the public.
So, fair enough, if you only have one flyable then this route is not really an issue. Just pay to upgrade (with or without bug fixes) and all is hunky dorey.
However, if you like to have all the flyables, then you have a costly and a somewhat funky way of trying to keep all this together.
AkA, black shark version 10, with dcs version 9 with lockon version 6 with f-18 version 3 with f-18 version 4...... adnausium.
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Don't get me wrong, i like the progress ED are trying to make, but unfortunately for me (a long time supporter waaaaaay back in the day well before DCS) I am not going to purchase any upgrades or any further flyables, until i understand where all this is moving to. When i find a common ground that i understand ED will take this then i will decide how many flyables i will purchase to obtain value for money and cohesion with further upgrades.
As an example. (instead of purchase all the flyables which is what i would have done). I can easily hold off an purchase the latest iteration every 4 years. Ok, i will only get multiplayer capability until next upgrade.... but hey ho... thats the price of fracturing.
Bogushead your two points are at odds with each other. Firstly you say you want very high fidelity above and beyond what any other game delivers. Then you go on to say adnauseum about how to pay for it going forward? If you want something close to commercial/military grade you should be rejoicing they have found a way to continue the line. It's like a subscription method but cheaper, way cheaper than iRacing or anything like that and way more detailed too. My previous point still stands - marketing, sales, politics, packaging, version numbers are all nonsense and don't affect the sim experience. Hell they may even make it possible to improve and fix more bugs. If I have BS 10, a-10 9, FC8 it will be wonderful not "ad nauseum". You know why? Because there are 7 more titles there which means seven more flyable high fidelity experiences. And forget the idea of having them as plugin flyables to the original DCS, that idea is gone, move on. When you fire up the game and get in the cockpit, packaging don't mean #%&*$#.
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#3435528 - 11/16/11 01:59 PM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: bogusheadbox]
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Member
Registered: 03/20/09
Posts: 516
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@einstein, yes i am aware there will be a bigger picture. I am not asking for perfection, just some adressing to the bugs that are not fixed that will most likely come in another pay for patch. I am not young like some of the posters here and i do understand the concepts of business.
@WynnTT. I won't get left behind. As i said before, all i have to do is make one purchase every 4-6 years and i will still be current without spending a shed load of money in the process.
Anyway, there will be fanbois and there will be haters and there will be those in between. I hope you all enjoy.
Regards,
Bogus. That's 3-5 years that you won't be flying their latest sim for the saving of a few dollars. It's your money though and whatever floats your boat. All I know is I'll be happy flying whatever they bring out that day instead of waiting half a decade for the next aircraft.
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#3436141 - 11/17/11 11:53 AM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: bogusheadbox]
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Senior Member
Registered: 12/22/02
Posts: 3538
Loc: Wisconsin, USA
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Anyway, there will be fanbois and there will be haters and there will be those in between. I hope you all enjoy.
Regards,
Bogus.
Oh I will. I'll get years of enjoyment doing something I could not do in real life. All for the price of dinner for two at the local diner...and that dinner only lasts a few hours.
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#3436277 - 11/17/11 03:15 PM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: guod]
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Member
Registered: 07/10/05
Posts: 903
Loc: CA
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Seeing the posts here I can tell that DCS's strategy is working. Pretty soon it will be standard for us to pay for patches that only include bug fixes. Were not there yet, but you can tell the future will be them citing "finite" resources and "unexpected" length of time to fix bugs and a lot of folks here will hand over their money with that glazed look in their eye's and ridicule those that oppose it.
_________________________
Alienware Area 51 X-58
Windows 7 64 bit Home edition
Intel I7 920 @ 3.5 ghz
6 gig 1600mhz corsair in triple channel
PowerColor 6970 PCS+ 2GB with factory OC
Intel 510 series 120gb SSD (boot drive)
Caviar Black 1 TB 7200 rpm
Onboard Soundmax sound
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#3436362 - 11/17/11 05:26 PM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: Force10]
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Member
Registered: 03/20/09
Posts: 516
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Seeing the posts here I can tell that DCS's strategy is working. Pretty soon it will be standard for us to pay for patches that only include bug fixes. Were not there yet, but you can tell the future will be them citing "finite" resources and "unexpected" length of time to fix bugs and a lot of folks here will hand over their money with that glazed look in their eye's and ridicule those that oppose it. Cool. Can you look in your crystal ball and tell me next week's lotto numbers? I need more time to fly all these sims.
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#3436374 - 11/17/11 05:45 PM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: WynnTTr]
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Member
Registered: 07/10/05
Posts: 903
Loc: CA
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Seeing the posts here I can tell that DCS's strategy is working. Pretty soon it will be standard for us to pay for patches that only include bug fixes. Were not there yet, but you can tell the future will be them citing "finite" resources and "unexpected" length of time to fix bugs and a lot of folks here will hand over their money with that glazed look in their eye's and ridicule those that oppose it. Cool. Can you look in your crystal ball and tell me next week's lotto numbers? I need more time to fly all these sims. Since you will need the money to pay for bug fix patches...here ya go: 12 8 31 22 28 19
_________________________
Alienware Area 51 X-58
Windows 7 64 bit Home edition
Intel I7 920 @ 3.5 ghz
6 gig 1600mhz corsair in triple channel
PowerColor 6970 PCS+ 2GB with factory OC
Intel 510 series 120gb SSD (boot drive)
Caviar Black 1 TB 7200 rpm
Onboard Soundmax sound
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#3436388 - 11/17/11 06:08 PM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: Force10]
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Contributing Editor
Lifer
Registered: 01/22/01
Posts: 20982
Loc: Charlotte, NC USA
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Seeing the posts here I can tell that DCS's strategy is working. Yeah..cause Jane's and Microprose are doing really stellar these days..ED should adopt their business model and become really successful! 
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#3436389 - 11/17/11 06:10 PM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: enigma6584]
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Contributing Editor
Lifer
Registered: 01/22/01
Posts: 20982
Loc: Charlotte, NC USA
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Oh I will. I'll get years of enjoyment doing something I could not do in real life. All for the price of dinner for two at the local diner...and that dinner only lasts a few hours. And that doesn't include a bottle of wine with dinner. Cripes..$30 for probably a $10 bottle of wine. I hate drinking on date nights..
_________________________
Subscribe to PC Pilot magazine! -- (I write for them!)
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#3436437 - 11/17/11 07:33 PM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: Force10]
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Member
Registered: 03/20/09
Posts: 516
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Since you will need the money to pay for bug fix patches...here ya go: 12 8 31 22 28 19
What? $20 that I drop just stepping out? Nah.. I'm taking real money so I can retire, pay Boeing or a big company to make me a full motion 360 holographic simulator.
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#3436480 - 11/17/11 08:49 PM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: guod]
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Sim Addict
Member
Registered: 09/22/09
Posts: 485
Loc: Sydney, Australia
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I just spent $100 at the pub and now have the hangover of the century. That only lasts a day but DCS will last me many more Who needs our support and money more??? $90 for battlefield 3 when there are millions buying it even though it has broken 1970s style joystick support. $40 + $20 for DCS when there is less than even 1million customers It's obvious which one is value.
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#3436661 - 11/18/11 07:43 AM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: guod]
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Member
Registered: 07/10/05
Posts: 903
Loc: CA
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Lets get this thread back on track. Great write up Einstein! I have a quick question. Your system specs are pretty close to mine EP, was wondering if you had any annoying micro-stutters during gameplay? That was part of the reason I shelved BS1 way back, solid framerate but micro-stutters every 10-15 secs. DCS A-10 runs perfect on my rig, so I'm not sure what the deal was there.
_________________________
Alienware Area 51 X-58
Windows 7 64 bit Home edition
Intel I7 920 @ 3.5 ghz
6 gig 1600mhz corsair in triple channel
PowerColor 6970 PCS+ 2GB with factory OC
Intel 510 series 120gb SSD (boot drive)
Caviar Black 1 TB 7200 rpm
Onboard Soundmax sound
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#3436729 - 11/18/11 09:49 AM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: guod]
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Ground Looper
Member
Registered: 04/17/08
Posts: 265
Loc: East Bay, CA, USA
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Thanks for the write up. I'd like to hear more about the improved wingman AI.
_________________________
. A pig that doesn't fly is just a pig. - Porco Rosso
. Windows XP Pro SP3, Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3ghz, 2GB RAM
. GeForce 560 (190.62) 640mb @ 1920x1200 32bpp 96dpi
. TrackIR 3 Vector, Logitech G940 & G25
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#3462846 - 11/26/11 07:38 PM
Re: Review: DCS: Black Shark 2
[Re: Force10]
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Air Combat & General Aviation Editor
Member
Registered: 11/20/07
Posts: 1790
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Your system specs are pretty close to mine EP, was wondering if you had any annoying micro-stutters during gameplay? Nope - not a one. I've got a straight-out-of-the-box nVidia config, too: no tweaking with any default graphics settings in the 285.62 driver package.
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