Posted by Matt "Wags" Wagner a little while ago.


What is DCS?

DCS stands for “Digital Combat Simulator”. DCS is a world simulation engine permitting the user to operate or direct a growing number of combat and civilian aircraft, ground vehicles and ships, from different historical eras and in different geographical locations. It is a true "sand box" simulation. DCS started with the Ka-50 and A-10C, but has recently grown to also include the P-51D Mustang and, with Combined Arms, a ground command and control tactical warfare component. Future products from The Fighter Collection and Eagle Dynamics in the DCS line are in development and will include third party products for the first time.

The overall "simulation operating system" is termed DCS World and is a free program that includes a free Su-25T for the player to fly. All DCS products will plug into DCS World as unique modules within the same software installation. DCS products will not be limited to aircraft, but will include maps, missions, campaigns, environment objects, weapons, vehicles and ships. We even hope to look into a train simulation component in the future!

Third party products to DCS are supported by ED and there are already several qualified 3rd party teams creating new aircraft that will plug into DCS World. In these cases we leave it up to the developer to decide the level of systems fidelity, but we do expect certain "DCS Standards" to be maintained such as detailed and accurate models and cockpits, mouse clickable cockpit controls, and 6 DOF view control. Third parties are provided access to our Standard Flight Model (SFM), which ED can assist to adjust and improve to suit the requirements. Given the extremely complex nature of our Advanced Flight Model (AFM) in DCS we are currently unable to provide a SDK for 3rd party use. However, 3rd parties are also invited to offer their own Flight Models should it prove to be satisfactory.

In parallel, we are also developing Flaming Cliffs 3 (FC3), which will also work within DCS World. However, Flaming Cliffs 3 will require an installation of Lock On: Modern Air Combat to be present on your computer. FC3 will probably be the last version of this critically acclaimed product line.

Hmmm... can they call it DCS World when it only comprises of the Georgia area?

And "Standard" flight model for all 3rd party aircraft? It's starting to go downhill from there... though I hope the bottom won't be too far. It'll still be a gorgeous sim, no doubt, but the flight model is one of the important things IMHO. Can you imagine driving a tank in the sim only to find out it uses an arcade driving model? Oh well, at least we start getting more aircraft, then I hope it gets further and further refined until it "graduates" to an advanced flight model and more accurate representation of the systems.

So unless a certain mod/aircraft comes with as much bells and whistles as possible (as many systems implemented, flight models accurate to published data, etc.) I think I won't be buying any more from this line until it matures a bit.

I hope DCS: Next follows more in the footsteps of DCS A10 though.

DCS World doesn't mean that it will encompass the whole world, it's just the world of DCS. As for the SFM for 3rd parties, I think they've said that that's for now.

Ice, I'd look at it as a modern day IL-2 with all the goodies. And not much wrong with that.

Thanks for posting Doug, don't go over to the DCS site often. I like their business model. Open up their graphics engine.
Provide an SDK for "qualified" 3rd parties. Prolly keeping the advanced flight model for their own offerings.
(Carrier Ops - PLEASE!)

Clancy's Red Storm Rising will be put into play very soon.

That would be AWESOME!!!!

Nevada map is on the way

And I don't know about control of ships. I asked about Ticonderogas over at their forum and someone said no.

What I wouldn't give for a DCS: OH-58D Kiowa Warrior.

next in the series : DCS Lasagna Heat - a new module where Pepperoni Pizza troops battle the forces of Lasagna, forces bent on proving the superior taste of true Italian Lasagna over American style Pepperoni Pizza.

It would still come with a 600 page manual.

Lol, I know. Was just trying to be funny.

It was "coming" since before release.

And people all over the USA will argue about the accuracy of the "Amercian" pizza!