http://combatpilotseries.com/


Looks fun. I've never done FSX Multi-player (on the 'bucket list'), but this looks to be a good time to start
As per their about section:


They use wording on other parts of the site such as "build ontop of FSX". I'm wondering if this is basically a super-hardcore and organized MP squadron, or if CMS is to FSX as Flaming Cliffs is to LOMAC (admittedly, I'm still going through the paperwork) NVM, reading the manual; I saw this

In general, it's great to see that Saitek is supporting the FSX community though, and I'm interested to hear what others think

It's a weird concept. $50 plus a monthly sub? Sounds to me like it's a centrally organised/curated multiplayer session(s) with some sort of external career management. Great to see Saitek experimenting with this sort of model, and who knows, people pay that for MMOs so why not for sims if it's slick enough.

IF it's slick enough.

I wonder if the aircraft are specially built, or if they're going to require people to shell out for the IRIS T-6 or the VRS SuperBug etc? Also, the combat system is a curiosity (I wonder if VRS are involved with TacPack?) and I wonder how they're going to sync carriers for CQ in multiplayer. Plus a million other questions.

Will be keeping an eye on this one.

I registered a callsign, but honestly I have tons of doubts about this whole thing.

$50 + a monthly fee to play FSX?

Plus pay for any aircraft apart from the basic ones (e.g. the "F-18C", which is no doubt the default Acceleration Hornet). Plus probably pay extra to be a "Command Pilot" rather than a "Squadron Pilot" with additional ranks, IFR etc.

Reading through the Ops Manual, choice of (ingame purchasable) aircraft is also limited by nation. So if you want to fly the Tiger and the Rhino, you're out of luck. same if you wish to fly off carriers and you're not USN, Marines or French - or I suppose you can pay for multiple accounts

Hey SimHQ, any chance you can do some investigative reporting on this?

Looks like you get 2 careers per account, and then you can purchase more. But then you have to put in the full 40+ hour training for each career I assume. All while paying a monthly fee...

So if you want to do a T-45 and a T-38 career, you're looking at 80+ hours to get them both graduated.

I'm both interested and repulsed at the same time...

I didn't catch the in-app purchase non-sense. I'm ok with it if I can bring my own (ie owning the Superbug in FSX= owning it here) but otherwise this smells more and more like a cash grab.

Don't ruin a possibly great thing by getting greedy Saitek...

Sounds like one of the bean counters at Saitek spotted the iRacing business model and got a semi.
I'll pass.

That was my thought as well. This is what Fighter Ops was aiming to be YEARS ago combined with the iRacing business model.

It does make sense though.

Problem: There is a small but rabid group of consumers who consume the ultimate flight simulator experience. The group is not large enough to be able to make a single-time purchase profitable (once all have bought copies they won't have made their money back and few others will try it out).

Solution: They can try the DLC/expansion-only model like ROF or SF2, but that requires a regular, steady output of content. Possible but prone to pitfalls. Instead, go the MMO route. Games like SW:TOR charged $60+ for the game plus a month or so of online, then after that you pay every month. Some updates will be free as part of that cost, but most new content will require purchasing on top of that.

iRacing has obviously found that there are enough rabid race fans with enough disposable income to buy a game, buy cars and tracks, AND pay per month to race them. If MC can replicate the quality of the iRacing experience, I've no doubt they can replicate the profitability as long as they maintain it.

Like Mark, I too have zero interest in this. I don't "double dip"...if I'm paying for everything I get, I want no monthly costs. If I'm paying monthly, then I better get all the content with it. For instance, if ROF was monthly, I'd certainly not be buying field mods, weapons mods, planes, maps, and campaigns. I'd expect almost all of that to be covered in the monthly cost. Since usage is free once you buy them, though, I've bought a majority of the stuff, and in the process spent far more in 18 months of ROF than any other flight sim in a similar amount of time.
However, iRacing is too rich for me, plus I don't have the time or interest to devote to it that would justify the cost...I'm not going to pay hundreds of dollars a year to either wreck or simply lose horribly against those with better skills/more time to practice than I.

I also don't have the time or money for CP. I suppose if I was either so wealthy I didn't need to work or I had a good paying job but no family I might consider it...but even so I might not see the value.




The Jedi Master

Thinking out loud here; but I'm now concerned that the all-or-nothing crash and stress damage model for FSX will take it's toll. FSX gives very little feedback that an air frame is approaching the stress point where it fails, unlike real aircraft.

I don't like the idea of being able to ski down the runway either. The "icy runway" effect in FSX has a huge impact on take off and landing rolls, especially in cross-winds or doing formation work.

They're charging $50 up front, so I'll be interested to see how much work has been done under the hood to make this title more than FSX with a new front end GUI....

Yeah it's $49.99 US and then $11.99 per month and the aircraft are developed by A2A (my favourite FSX addon dev team). At the end of the first month you may cancel your subscription, but you will still have access to the new aircraft and bases.

Source: http://combatpilotseries.com/flight-training-operations/

I may consider this...