I would say the licensing model doesn't appeal to everybody. On FSX, P3D etc you're your own boss - when you're working for DCS you got someone above you.
You'll need to pay royalties to ED and, additionally, you need to get their SDK which requires several conditions to be met.

Might assume that's a turn-off for many small devs.

I'm sure that's part of it, along with the smaller potential user base and the fact that DCS isn't a fixed code base, it's constantly evolving. Considering how many of these 3rd parties are part time sim devs, it's not their main job, they have a tough enough time finishing their modules to the code on date X, let alone worrying about how it's going to be 4 months or a year from that.



The Jedi Master

P3D is hardly a fixed code base now.

The F/A-18 was brand new tech in my day. As a project manager tech at China Lake. One of my first contracts assignments was to enhance the F/A-18 software validation simulator with a graphical interface for the HUD.
Had a custom high-frequency calligraphic graphics mixer designed and added a synchronizer circuit to a graphics box the size of a small office desk. Also added the first over the shoulder CCTV plus a custom designed 1553-mil-std programmable card that would add key data on the video. We had to build a custom box bolted behind the pilot's seat to add a compact 1" inch broadcast video recorder. At the time I was certified for calibrating 1" Sony Broadcast Recorders and Time-Base Correctors. When the pilot hit high G's on a turn, the mechanical video head created some distortion.

But, this was the closest we earthlings could envision a flight.
The relatively small company I worked for built a low cost flight simulator that could be configured as the F/A-18 and Mig.
They sent me a week early to the Paris airshow at Le Bourget to set up a large booth in the American pavilion. We also had an advanced prototype large dual hi-res projector Command and Control display.

There was an interesting person (Boris) during the setup. He was Moscow educated with graduate studies in Washington.
I offered to clear with my managers him getting the Russian pilot to fly the F/A-18 and to give us feedback on the Mig.
To my surprise, this happened. He flew the F/A-18 then the Mig sim.
Then, the pilot had to leave to fly his mig at the show within the hour.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MQk1yvsoKY
After this incident, some people from the US with the latest and greatest miniature video cameras of the day (probably not yet available to consumers) immediately showed up. They asked if they could use the large screen hires (for its day) projectors to review the video. There was a group of top professionals evaluating this in stop motion over and over.
The skill of this pilot was absolutely astounding! This video doesn't show that the pilot was trying to restart the engine while negotiating all of the options.
Boris indicated that the pilot had broken his nose. We had to toast how tough these pilots are. Evidently, they didn't need parachutes at all. ( ).

The last non-PC Flight Sim I piloted was at the United Airline training a few years ago. The new systems are just amazing. They have come a long ways from the humble, and horribly expensive, beginnings.

Love reading posts like that ^^^^ Thanks for posting it

Nate

Coretex just posted something on their FB page + they showed something live.
Seems to be deleted now
Anybody saw it?

No, but I saw SkateZilla was working on something completely unrelated to the CTD hornet on his facebook page. Perhaps you have confused the 2?

No, Coretex Designs is gone but work continues on a mod (not full licensed product) of the F/A-18E. I saw several photos but missed the video.
So maybe we'll have a semi-proper flyable Super Hornet eventually.

and then we have the official response which proves the now defunct F-18 is still a questionable public release.......which is why it was shelved and merged to the mods section all those years ago over at ED.......soon enough I expect to see a revamped F-35 mod from Kinney Interactive......few photos, video's but that is always as far as it will ever get. Funnily enough all these years later someone at CTD decides to stir the pot with a photo and an unseen video.....perhaps to stir the pot with what ever SkateZilla is working on.



Perhaps what you really saw was this F-18E (there's an advertising plug Skate....I'll be sure to invoice you for the advertisement just as I will LLC\blueball visuals for time spent fixing the bawked registry in the Mig-21, don't thank me....I know It's appreciated)

The thing about DCS is the total lack of help for modders from the devs. There are a few helpful tid bits on the forums but the work involved to get anything close to realistic FM would justify, rightly so if part time 3rd parties can charge for PoS modules, charging. However ED will not allow modders to charge for their mods as ED would want a cut. That is the reason you see a lot of private mods in the what if screenshot thread over on the ED forums.

I love this Daniel Isidro's reply! I wonder if that earned him a lifetime ban over on the ED forums? Well worth it IMHO!

I agree. There is so much potential out there for high quality mods. Look at the H-13 that was developed from the Huey FM.
The A-4E, again a mod that could be full up with access to the SDK. Despite that, they're making amazing steps forward.

The exclusivity continues...

This is only eclipsed by the awesome steps they're making backward

Reread Storm's post, slowly.

Hahahaha!!! That's rich, coming from you!

Reread the FIRST TWO WORDS of what I quoted. That shouldn't be too hard, so I hope you can manage that. Make sure you read it slowly. Take your time.

My steps forward comment was in relation to the Reddit/Hoggit A-4 team.

Which Ice, apparently, completely failed to comprehend. Reading is fundamental.

I see, my mistake then! I thought you were talking about the progress a modding team could be doing had they had full access to ED's help... then I thought you were talking about ED after that, talking about exclusivity and all.


Ah, at least I can own up to my mistakes. I wonder if anyone else is mature enough to do so?
I'm quite sure you've NEVER missed anything, have you, cichlidfan?

No worries. I kind of jumped around. Sounded great in my head, but not always to others.

But yes, the A-4 team is making great strides despite access to the SDK. But given the rule that access = $$, I see why they went the route they did.

And as for exclusivity, I was referring to the private mods that are growing in numbers. It's a shame as the talent out there is only shared with the elite few. So many gaps could be filled to complete very usable placeholders until the actual aircraft/objects could be released in full. It would only take the ok from the higher ups...