I care ... but I am a fan boy. So there is that :-)

I haven't even completed all the single player missions yet, so I won't purchase this campaign just yet.

I don't really see a problem with this approach. A single player campaign is totally optional for any player. Don't think it is worth $10? That is fine don't buy it. It really does not limit or split the player base like a DLC map in multi-player would. I figure, the economics will sort itself out. If enough players feel $10 is fair value we will probably see more content. If not enough people purchase it maybe it does not become feasible and either the price goes down or ED figures out another way to deliver content and make a profit.

For myself, I think DCS is missing a lot of meaningful single player content. We now have a handle of aircraft spread across the 20th century. Many of the recently released aircraft are lacking appropriate support assets (maps, AI units, etc) and IMHO lack meaningful single player content. If someone can start filling in the content I might be interested in paying $10 per campaign. The Su-27 actually does seem to have an appropriate map and AI units so I think this campaign makes sense. I watched the teaser and was not overly impressed. Video production and music seemed a little lackluster but if it gets good reviews I would consider picking it up.

I wish I could do a review...

I just flew the first mission - probably premature to draw conclusions, but I'll see if I can post up an AAR/thoughts in a few hours...

BeachAV8R

Have you flown the stock Su-27 Missions/Campaigns as yet?

I remember fondly all of your Falcon Allied Force AAR BTW.

Cheers.

Here ya' go... First blush..rough cut but best I could do in limited time:

Su-27 The Ultimate Argument Mission #01 AAR

BeachAV8R

I don't see payware campaigns by ED as a problem......just as long as it doesn't prove so successful as a money spinner that the actual game engine, all the modules that remain in beta and the focus on getting these sorted out as a priority changes due to what is making the biggest profit margins.

Lets be honest here.....as tricky and difficult as creating a mission is, it's a blip in the ocean compared to the time, effort and resources (and therefore cost) required to create the game and modules, yet it sells for 20-25% of the price. Large scale sales of a payware campaign could easily instigate a shift in focus - not something I'd personally like to see from ED given their track record in changing direction and not seemingly being great in communicating their intentions (if they even know what their intentions/roadmap is themselves as they stumble from one stream of work to the next)

Once they make the F/A-18C..they can cease development on everything other than making content for me to bomb with it. As a matter of fact, I'd like my first requested new DLC bombable object to be the ED factory that is churning out all these WW2 planes. I figure a pair of LGBs oughta put a stop to that nonsense <wink>..



BeachAV8R

LOL....yes, a good point - and preferably before 'DCS Blimp' is announced!

With pay campaigns here. Is there still incentive to create a dynamic campaign in the future?

I'd guess that whoever cracks that nut first stands to make a fortune. Whether that is ED or some third party. So I think the incentive is there...

BeachAV8R

Yes a good read, Beach, as always.

If I was in the market, as I said, I would likely buy it.

Would really like to see DLC for the Hawg C as well. THAT I would purchase.

Unlike maps or planes or MP missions, SP campaigns are the least divisive thing a company can release for pay. If you buy it and someone you fly MP with doesn't, it doesn't matter! With everything else there's the risk of splitting the community, whether it's making a mission that doesn't have any flyables a particular pilot owns or it's on a map they don't have, when you go MP you need conformity to make it work. Offline it makes no difference.

I think another bizarre assumption is that anyone making these missions, ED internal or contracted, is incapable of doing anything else. That if someone is paid to make a campaign they must obviously be working 40+ hr weeks SOLELY on this. I know a LOT of people who have a "day job" and do contracted work like that on the side, on nights and/or weekends, to bring in extra money. It's not that they spend their days making missions for DCS and BoS and ROF and Il-2 and SF2 and sell them all and that's their primary income, they spend 5-10 hrs/week on it in their spare time and use that money to help buy a new car, or remodel the house, or take a nicer vacation, whatever.

The lack of imagination some people have WRT how people work is staggering.



The Jedi Master

I'd term it as Wilful lack of imagination, however I digress.....

With regard to campaigns - I've said elsewhere that creativity, and especially innovations such as the Dynamic Campaign for the Mig-21 , should absolutely be something the Author could sell.

The fact that the addition of this new feature, or the production of new campaigns, is being used by some to drag up their pet problem with DCS, is quite baffling. This is a plus for creative mission/campaign makers for the future.

Nate

Thanks for the AAR B.

Ok Beach, if I ever make a campaign for DCS i'll keep your wishlist in mind :p

Hi All,

First a big Bravo Zulu to BeachAV8R for his well done AAR: http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/4061484#Post4061484

I'm currently busy with the "Mig-21" and the "Dora". I guess at this point, I will hold off on picking up any payware campaign until ED could put a little more "polish" in their payware campaign releases. I don't have a problem dropping a 10 spot for a well develop campaign, but it's like they say when I was on active duty, it is all about the "attention to detail". A paid DLC should live up the standards that set by the flight modules. No release is ever perfect and this being the first payware campaign, ED should have taken a minute to do product testing before they put it out for sale. Customer feedback is also important, I don't know anyone else but for me it's about the immersion factor and the details, but then again their only so much that can be done for $10, hopefully ED will make improvements by the time the next DCS World upgrade and the release of EGDE when ever that is. With the development and hopefully, the release of the DCS F-18C and the DCS: Strait of Hormuz Map, a well made and comprehensive F-18C campaign is released by ED.


Heat251
USN Retired'08

Just a quick note before I head out the door. I wouldn't say that the campaign doesn't have polish. After flying the second mission I think the triggers and actual difficulty level is spot on so far. I actually managed to get through the second mission with good results and it had a very nice composition to it. So don't get me wrong, so far I think it is worth the $10. Heck, to tell you the truth, I've spent about 4 or 5 hours so far on the first two missions (I pause a lot to get screen shots), and the fact that I'm 5 hours of entertainment for $10 already makes it a bargain. I've spent $12 to watch a horrible movie multiple times before. So on a value basis..I think it's great. Yeah, I got my wish list that might skew my opinion a bit..but I am liking it. Of course, part of that is that I'm really loving the Su-27 too though..

Plus - I'm not an air-to-air guy. I love air-to-ground. So even though I'm a little jazzed about shooting stuff down..an intercept/fighter guy would absolutely be over the moon about this campaign.

So just a few thoughts.. I'll try to put together the screens from the second mission tonight at some point..

BeachAV8R

Link to the 2nd AAR: HERE!





BeachAV8R