......................

Thanks for these - a great read.

On a side note - t's a pity SimHQ no longer produces articles like these anymore. They used to have great article from time to time.

Nate

yeah, the SimHQ tongue probably isnt as long as the mudpike one
Or maybe gushing praise isn't what SimHQ does ?

I suppose it begs the question what does it do these days?

Nate

I dunno , maybe contact the people who run it and ask them ?

Hello All,

https://www.facebook.com/heatblur/

Update from our friends at Heatblur Simulations. It's RIO Time baby.

"One of the most difficult parts of developing the F-14 is developing your AI RIO companion- JESTER AI. For Jester, we want to make sure that the AI feels as lifelike as possible.
We have begun work on the AI’s “Human” behaviour model, which will simulate the RIOs current task, visual focus and detection abilities.
JESTER will move his head to look at exactly where the switch/indicator being manipulated or used is in the cockpit, and thus will not be able to scan the sky at the same time. Thus the RIO will have significant difficulties with visual detection when under heavy radar workload, as his head is buried in the DDD and TID screens.
The RIO has a focused viewing cone of roughly 30 degrees, and a peripheral vision field of roughly 100-130 degrees. Inside the focused viewing cone, the RIO will more quickly detect targets, while detection range and speed is significantly reduced in the peripheral vision. We also account for the sun, the horizon and line of sight (JESTER will not see through mountains or clouds). Thus, the RIO might even notice contacts in his peripheral vision while manipulating radar controls, but at a much lower chance than if actively scanning the sky, and thus using his focused viewing field.
Making sure that the RIO is bound by realistic human limitations is in the very foundation of our work, and it is important not only for immersion, but also to maintain appropriate multiplayer balance.
Below are three screenshots showing the system in action!
In the first image; Jester is looking straight ahead and has seen both the Carrier and the aircraft in the distance (yellow markers denote detected units).
In the second, he is looking down into the cockpit and manipulating one of the backseat controls.
In the third, he's looking at the locked targets, the dropped flares and has also seen one of the fired missiles. Note that the second missiles has not yet been seen by the RIO."

All seriousness aside this is truly amazing work to ingratiate a critical component of a RIO into the overall immersion factor. As they say it takes two to be a strong part of the team. Funny thing about all the squadron RIO's, I met when I was active duty used to call the pilots nose gunner's and the"GITB's" where the brains of the operation.

On the subject of RIO;s, I just finished reading a great one by: Dave 'Bio' Baranek, It wasn't just about his collaboration during the filming of top gun but his active fleet time as well to give real perspective: https://www.amazon.com/Topgun-Days-...oding=UTF8&qid=1505184179&sr=1-1

Another: https://www.amazon.com/Before-Topgu...mp;psc=1&refRID=JSQPT49XQPZFB8XE112B

Now we cant have a decent conversation regarding RIO's without or all time favorite and remember theirs two 'O's in Goose.



"Talk to me goose"





Heat2151
USN Retired'08
"Mr, We could use a man like, Ronald Reagan again, those where the day

While this RIO looks cool, I wonder how useful it would really be? For instance, flying DCS A10C years ago and with an AI wingman, the AI can spot tank targets from a good distance away... so that's a good thing... but it can't really help me get eyes on targets... which made his target calls next to useless.

I'm also calling it now -- DCS Goose RIO DLC!
I'm also ashamed to say that I will probably pay good money just to say "Talk to me Goose!" in the sim. Don't judge me, people.

I'm giving Heatblur the benefit of the doubt on this. They've put innovations into their modules (I'm including the MiG-21 radar in this) that have gone beyond standard DCS functionality. This includes a full ray-tracing ground radar for the Viggen, and now they're doing an AI that is more of an integrated crew member than a complementary wingman. I agree with your assessment of the A-10 wingman target spotting, but would this feature be more useful if the wingman actually created a SPI and sent it over datalink? We're going to have Jester managing the radar and likely creating a SA picture with the rest of the flight via Link 4. It may not happen day 1, but I wouldn't expect less from Heatblur.


Yeah, you're supposed to say "Talk to me Goose" and "Yee Haw, Jester's dead!", not the other way around.

and the obligatory

I hope you're right there HomeFries! They have set the bar high if they decided to call this one "Jester"

I've got good intel stating that the planned DCS Goose RIO DLC will only be US$5, the only downside is that it is a single-use DLC and will "expire" as soon as you trigger the ejection seats..... You can, however, purchase another DCS Goose RIO DLC when your previous DLC no longer works.

At the rate I'll be ejecting from the A model, I'll only buy Goose DLC if he can play volleyball, then just keep him on the beach.

Nice!!


link


btw, who the hell plays volleyball with his watch on?

update

ED's Forum

It is my humble opinion, that DCS should have stayed with jets. I understand the desire to stretch your wings, see what else your capable of but they know jets. Maybe this would be out already if not for sidestepping over to WW2. Find your niche and stick with it. I've felt that the lack of direction has hurt the brand.
Just my opinion, of course. This one is going to sell well. Whole lotta Tomcat fans out there.

It will still sell well but not as well as it could have.

Why, because of the way that people feel about DCS, now? Maybe something like this can save their asses. I mean, they have done some nice stuff. I do love my F-86. Would definately like a Korea terrain to operate over, though. Should've gone in that direction instead of Normandy. They'd be selling more Sabres and MiGs. Imagine taking off from Kimpo and heading north for the Yalu. Damn. But, there's that lack of direction, again.

I have to agree with you Pooch. ED should leave WW2 to 1CGS (and hopefully OBD with WOTR).

When it comes to the Korean era what do we have? Nothing springs to mind with the complexity of DCS.

Of course. Release a finished module and maybe. Maybe is depending on the core engine. We still have 2 different installs. Will the finished released module have to be changed when ED change the core engine? There are far too many variables with DCS for me to part with any money. Buying a beta in any other platform i have no problem with. DCS no.

Well, for me the problem is buying a single airplane that costs as much or more than an entire sim. I doubt that I'm buying any more DCS stuff. The F-86 was my last one. I HAD to have that jet. But I do think that the F-14 will be a good seller for them. Whenever it comes out. I was going to add that I might purchase a Korean War terrain if they ever did one, but I know it's not gonna happen so it doesn't matter.