I am a little confused by the whole thing. I have bonus points accumulated and those points must be used by September. However every time I go to make a purchase I can not seem to use them. It lists the amount I can use as $0.00. My latest attempt was today when I tried to pre-purchase the F5E Tiger. Any ideas?

Here are the rules.

http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/support/bonus_rules/

Does this mean anything that is early access or in an Alpha or Beta state? I would hope not as this would eliminate about 90% of the products on the e-shop.

No. It means what it says, though you will almost never see 'NEW' since new modules are usually on an early access sale.

The OP's problem, with the F-5, is covered by rule 3.

Thanks for clarification. This does explain why I can't seem to be able to ever use my points. I do have bonus or reward points systems with other simulation vendors and those seem straight-forward compared to what DCS have devised.

My advice toward the point system is to not really bother with them. You can get better deals waiting for sales. The only people that would really benefit from the bonus points are people who are discovering DCS rather late and also want to buy a large number of modules.

Yeah, the point system is useless unless you are buying in bulk. I had so many points due to my purchases before but they ran out... wow, I was emailing them and asking where my points went. Apparently, they also have an expiry date. GoG and Steam have better rewards points and customer service than DCS.

Yup, the DCS bonus points are bordering on a massive joke. You have to plan purchases months in advance to actually get much use out of them.

They didn't have to offer them, so the fact that it's almost a masters thesis in planning and finance to use them isn't that big a deal.

Just forget about it and plan your purchases like any other thing that has no bonus program, you'll be happier.



The Jedi Master

So I was thinking I could use some bonus points to pay for the Gazelle but I cannot figure out when the new price is calculated. I put the module in my cart but the price is not altered. Do I have to proceed to checkout to apply the bonus points? The Gazelle is in the pictures in the newsletter from yesterday so I guess that means the bonus should be valid.

-C-

You have to go to checkout to see what percentage of discount there is....I wouldn't hold your breath though, I had a quick look at some items yesterday and a lot seemed to be only 20%.

We had a long discussion about these 'bonus' points previously. In a nutshell if you can use whatever points you have to buy something then obviously use them but as others have said it's not really a bonus system at all. Wait for a sale is the general consensus if you're trying to get a deal as they still happen regularly.

If I'm not mistaken, the last 3 newsletters have primarily been trying to flog discounted modules. The only difference is this last newsletter actually includes a link to a patch-log so it's the first news on actual progress for an entire month.

Actually, this weekend you can use the bonus points to cover 60% of the cost. Even 3rd party modules like the Mirage and Gazelle are included.

Nope.....its 'up to 60%' so different products have different amounts you can save.

The ones I looked at only allowed 20%

I find this bonus system so confusing that I gave up buying from their website altogether, when there is a Steam sale that is worth buying, I'll get a module again.

Which is that, the F-5? Products that bonus points can be applied to can normally have 30% covered by them.

I only checked a few campaigns as I've previously bought all but one module.....but have since given some aircraft away to SimHQers for nothing.

I'm slowly giving everything away.....perhaps I'll entertain DCS when they actually finish something so may re-buy modules in 15-20 years time

In a lot of ways DCS is feeling more and more incomplete over time. I suppose updates are getting fairly slow. I'd try and stay with the game though. If you play FC3 there is a new 3D model for the MIG-29A. Waiting for the S 3D model and flight model.

To keep your bonus and stop it expiring you can buy the cheapest thing on the menu (probably a campaign) and it will reset to a year or whatever it is. Whether it's actually worth it is arguable though.

a good reason NOT to buy anything ...