So I bought DCS Black Shark the second it came out and spent weeks downloading it in Iraq every time I visited a FOB with internet (Godbless download managers)

Anyhow, i got to fly her for a month or so and then my computer puked, finally got a new rig that will run it proper again and low and behold theres a BlackShark 2 now......

So i download it, install, boot it up, go to do a quick action to see what I can remember and BOOM "Enter Serial Key"

so I enter my BS serial......."incorrect key"

Wait, so the Black Shark Upgrade download is something I have to PAY for???......so you mean DCS supported Black Shark to all of 1.0.2 and then rerolled a "new" title that is the same title (more or less, I mean come on the upgrade uses the BS:1 files) and they want me to pay $29 for it?

Sorry, I'll go back to EECH for good before I spend another dollar on a company that supports a product for all of 2 patches and then does a "major patch" and calls it a new product......

Did the LockON guys go through this crap?

Well, even software developers have to pay rent and eat. If you don't think the new content is worth the money, stick with BS1, it's still a top product. Lock-on had several additions which you had to pay for. I can understand your frustration though, when money is tight even 30 bucks hurts.

-C-

Upgrading comes down to personal choice, of course, and if you don't feel BS2 is for you then why not consider ED's other offerings?

If none of them interest you then wait a bit for the next un-named ED DCS product or one of the new third party developers to release their aircraft.

It'll probably be twelve months or so before we see much of the new stuff but it'll all integrate with the new DCS world (as I understand it).



I'm sure not everyone is happy with the way sims and DLC is evolving. The world of PC simming has changed a lot over the last two or three years. In terms of combat sim quality I think we're in a new golden age. Just got to pay for it!

The original Black Shark was released in April of 2009. There has been a lot of development of DCS in the last three years, which is offered in the BS2 upgrade.


List of changes between Black Shark 2 and Black Shark v.1.0.2:

Improved graphics:

- High Dynamic Range (HDR)
- Cockpit dynamic shadows
- Soft self-shadows
- Tree shadows
- Normal maps
- Animated cirrus cloud layer
- 3D and transparent water
- Low altitude clutter
- Improved airbases
- Improved FARP texture

Improved sound

- Implemented surround sound support.
- Many new and revised sound samples provide a more rich and accurate audio environment.

Improved gameplay

- Network compatibility with DCS: A-10C Warthog.
- Ability to take-off from ships (ships pitch and roll depending on wind strength (sea state)).
- AI radio traffic can be heard when tuned to the correct radio frequency.
- Mission Briefing and Debriefing available in-flight.

Expanded theater of operations

- The map now covers terrain further east to include the region of South Ossetia, center of the 2008 conflict between Russia and Georgia, as well as additional Russian and Georgian territory. The newly covered area provides a variety of terrain types, 5 new airbases, highly detailed cities, and a number of radio navigation beacons.

Mission Editor improvements

- Group properties interface that allows for in-depth AI scripting of a variety of behavior options, such as waypoint or trigger-based task execution, rules of engagement settings, readiness states, attack conditions, orbiting and holding points, etc.
- Ability to lock either arrival times or travel speeds for AI routes.
- Ability to copy and paste groups
- New ground group formation options
- Improved trigger menu interface includes cloning, trigger re-ordering, and OR rules.
- 32 new trigger conditions and 19 new triggers actions.
- Ability to set AI aircraft to spawn at mission start, but delay start-up.
- Added Abkhazia and South Ossetia factions.
- New active ground units:
----- 9B11 Mortar
----- Variety of armed stationary objects (house, barracks, blockpost, tower)

Mission Generator

- The mission generator utilizes a wide collection of force templates placed throughout the map to generate a randomized mission based on the player's desired mission location and options. Force templates can be edited and created within the Mission Editor.

Improved AI

- Helicopter AI (HAI)

----- When analyzing a tactical situation, the HAI will take in account all threats, not only the target that the HAI is engaging.
----- If it's possible to engage targets from a safe distance, the HAI will not fly close to threats.
----- If it appears that the HAI is not at a safe position, for example too close to enemy air defenses, the HAI will fly away from the threat(s) and then start engaging targets from safe a distance.
----- If it appears impossible to engage targets from safe distance, the HAI will make only one short attack (one missile launch / rocket salvo or cannon burst per run) from maximum range of that weapon and then break away to make a new attack if required. This reduces fire effectiveness, but greatly increases HAI survival when engaging targets with cannon or rockets.
----- HAI will not hover in an unsafe location.
----- If high-priority targets are screened by low-priority targets that make it impossible to attack high-priority targets from safe distance, the HAI will attack low-priority targets first to break the screen. In other words, if you have line of enemy APCs and tanks at 4 km and enemy AAA and SAMs at 12 km, the HAI will engage those APCs and tanks first. No more flying over the enemies' heads.
----- Jinking defensive maneuvering has been added. When flying in the WEZ of AAA, tanks, and APCs, the HAI will fly at high speed and jink. Of course, HAI will not jink when aiming at a target.

- Plane AI (PAI)

----- AI-fighters will now always try to launch AA missile when the target has entered into its no-escape zone. However, AI-fighters will fire missile immediately if it appears the fighter is losing first-launch superiority.

- Ground Unit AI

----- Ground units are able to cross streams.
----- Ground units will by-pass destroyed bridges and seek alternate routes.
----- Ground groups will disperse when attacked.
----- Some ground groups will pop smoke when attacked.
----- NVG capability was removed from MANPAD SAMs.

Dynamic weather

- Dynamic weather conditions can be set for the mission based on a number of weather fronts and pressure differentials. Winds and cloud formations are calculated dynamically during the mission based on the fronts settings. This makes it possible, for example, to see precipitation in one part of the map and relatively clear skies in another.

New or improved 3D models:

- Air units
----- A-10A
----- A-10C
----- An-26
----- An-30
----- C-130
----- E-2
----- E-3
----- F-15C
----- F-15E
----- KC-135
----- L-39
----- Mi-8
----- Mi-26

- Ground units

----- 9S80 radar vehicle
----- HEMTT TFFT fire-fighting truck
----- LVTP-7
----- Patriot SAM site units
----- SA-11 SAM site units
----- SA-3 SAM site units
----- Russian infantryman

- Naval units

----- Pr. 1241.1 Molniya
----- Ticonderoga-class cruiser
------ Oliver H. Perry-class frigate

- Other

----- Fuel tank depot

Active Pause

- The active pause feature allows you to pause the simulation, while continuing to work with cockpit controls.

Campaigns

- A new 15-mission campaign features a variety of missions with some randomization elements and voice-over messages. The campaign takes places in the South Ossetia region and is very loosely based on the 2008 conflict between Russia and Georgia.
- Updated and improved Georgian Oil War campaign.

GUI

- Added sliders to control tree and ground clutter draw distances.
- Added software Multisample Anti-aliasing (MSAA) settings.
- Added an exporting function to the Input Options menu to export all mapped command to a text file.
- Added Misc. tab with various game options, including view restriction options for multiplayer.

List of primary changes between Black Shark 2 and A-10C v.1.1.0.9:

- Player controlled Ka-50
- Ka-50 cockpit in improved and more efficient EDM format
- Dynamic cockpit shadows
- Adjusted rotor effects for the Ka-50 flight model
- Network compatibility with DCS: A-10C Warthog
- Improved helicopter AI (HAI):
----- When analyzing a tactical situation, the HAI will take in account all threats, not only the target that the HAI is engaging.
----- If it's possible to engage targets from a safe distance, the HAI will not fly close to threats.
----- If it appears that the HAI is not at a safe position, for example too close to enemy air defenses, the HAI will fly away from the threat(s) and then start engaging targets from safe a distance.
----- If it appears impossible to engage targets from safe distance, the HAI will make only one short attack (one missile launch / rocket salvo or cannon burst per run) from maximum range of that weapon and then break away to make a new attack if required. This reduces fire effectiveness, but greatly increases HAI survival when engaging targets with cannon or rockets.
----- HAI will not hover in an unsafe location.
----- If high-priority targets are screened by low-priority targets that make it impossible to attack high-priority targets from safe distance, the HAI will attack low-priority targets first to break the screen. In other words, if you have line of enemy APCs and tanks at 4 km and enemy AAA and SAMs at 12 km, the HAI will engage those APCs and tanks first. No more flying over the enemies' heads.
----- Jinking defensive maneuvering has been added. When flying in the WEZ of AAA, tanks, and APCs, the HAI will fly at high speed and jink. Of course, HAI will not jink when aiming at a target.
- New, 15-mission Ka-50 campaign "Medved-2"
- Updated and improved Georgian Oil War campaign
- New voiceovers for Russian radio entities
- Abkhazia and South Ossetia factions to the ME
- Abkhazia and South Ossetia borders to the ME map
- A number of unit skins for Abkhazia and South Ossetia
- Flag Equals, Flag Equals Flag, and Flag Less Than Flag trigger conditions
- Group MSG (message), Group SND (sound) trigger actions
- Animated cirrus cloud layer
- Higher resolution textures for a number of ground objects
- Improved smoke effects
- Improved FARP texture
- Updated GUI manual

Let me add on to what evil bevil wrote.

Yep its had some improvements (improvements that were always planned). Its ED's right to charge for it fair enough.

But the kick in the teeth part of it was that ED knew they were going to charge for it, and they didn't mention a single word to the community about charging for it until the day it was released for a price. Not one single word!

Then ED come out and said that they can't do a core sim world with bolt ons (like they were supposed to). And upgrading exisiting packages to bring them in line with the latest releases will cost money for the extra development.

But looky looky chooky. they are now builing a core sim world with flyables as bolt ons (that they said they can't) and now its supposed to be the way they originally intended.

There is no confirmed reports if you will have to pay for upgrades to bring in line your current purchases to the DCS world or how they will continue to charge for each addon and subsequent upgrade.

So for me, i was pissed that i, a devoted fan and promoter of DCS wasn't fit a simple email or community post advising the direction ED was taking.

So, for me, if DCS kept me in the loop, i wouldn't be pissed. I would have bought all add ons and i would know the direction they are taking.

Instead, i have not bought anything further and i am saving money by not upgrading my computer. When i am happy in the clarity of the direction and cost involved to me as a consumer to enjoy their product, then i will splash out again with a possible solitary purchase and take it from there.

Its a shame, because i really really love their sim.

For me, ED would have a lot more of my money if they gave a little customer/support service.

Rant over.

As you mention, this was always the plan ... what happened inbetween the plan being announced and executed internally will be something for people to wonder about, I guess



I don't understand how the availability of A-10C and BS2 modules for DCS:World that work with your existing install key (unless you have the upgrade version of BS2 - right now it does not work with DCS: World, but that will be sorted later) constitutes some sort of unconfirmed report of something or other. I think it's pretty much confirmed that you don't need to re-purchase either A-10C or BS2. DCS: World is free, and it comes with a single flyable (the Su-25T) but no multiplay; you might say it serves as a demo, as well as a platform to create missions on a separate PC without having to pay for another copy of DCS: Your Favourite Module.



Yep, and Jim Mack posted that there was some sort of breakdown in communication internally that caused this to happen and apologized for it.



I don't know how much you have kept up with current events, but do have a look, there is a lot of stuff happening.

Thanks grey,

I am definitely keeping an eye on it.

Yep the early supporters of ED got the shaft with the paid BS1 -> BS2 "upgrade" ... patch
and now to rub salt in the wounds we have no idea when we will be able to play
with the rest of the BS2 / A-10C / P-51 gang in DCS world

I wish ED would give us a rough idea when we will be able to get in on the fun

Black Shark 1 - $49.99
"upgrade" ----- $19.99

$69.98 in total and still excluded , not a great way to treat the customer

Hopefully not long now.

Nate

I'm not a fan of essentially rebuying the same products for minor upgrades. I'll be on my 4th (or 5th) Lock On purchase with FC3 comes out. Now, if they update the 3D models, cockpits, flight model, damage model, and make some other improvements I can justify it (though not at $30-60), but if FC3 is going to be FC2 aircraft ported into DCS World then I'll be a bit annoyed.

Luckily they are going with the DCS World model. They should have done this with BS1/FC2.

I would rather get MIG-21 or combined arms rather than rebuying Lock On and Black Shark, but such is such.