Over the past year, a massive amount of work has gone into Modern Air Combat in order to make it a AAA title. During this period, we have also expanded the scope and features of the product substantially. This has led to us push back its release date to 2020.
Modern Air Combat will not be a DCS World product, but rather a new series for us that focuses more on action, gameplay, and a shallowing learning curve.
Wondering how this will end up being in terms of gameplay. If they cut the mission editor and whatnot it will be a flop. Really all I want is more FC3 level aircraft. Realistic flight models, semi realistic avionics. The rest of the shortcomings are inherent to all of DCS currently, and if they can't work them out in DCS then I don't see that changing much in a brand new title. I also assume they will not roll out free upgrades, which means less new AI units, 3D model updates and more. They're hard pressed to keep the updates to DCS in a timely matter and I don't think it will be possible for them to develop two games concurrently.
If they are just essentially moving FC3 planes to a version with cut down features and less updates it will be a net loss. You may as well just release newer FC3 level plane modules to DCS. I'd happily buy a FC style F-18 or F-16 module.
Likewise if they make to make it more game like you need to add new features. Again, removing the mission editor or other features will hurt the experience. In addition to keeping everything DCS has to make it more game like they will need a decent multiplayer and good campaigns, with some cinematic, briefings that are not too technical and good mission design. Currently all the missions in DCS feel the same as one another. Jane's USAF did a good job with unique voice overs and briefings to give an idea of what they will have to go for. Multiplayer would need some interesting modes that are balanced which requires a lot of gameplay testing.
My fear is this project will essentially just be a cut down DCS with the FC3 planes without any worthwhile additions.
Sweet! If you wanna fly the A-10C you can buy ANOTHER module. All of you who paid for the F/A 18C can expect to buy F/A 18C II next year. It will cost another $70.
I am thinking it will be completely arcade like, after all in DCS there is an option to use arcade or simulated flight dynamics.
There is even a preview of the tomcat if Heatblur decided to release it in Modern Air Combat. Probably be aimed at those who used to put their $1 and $2 coins into the old arcades back in the day for 5 minutes of 'simulated' fun
My guess is it will be a lot closer to FC3 vs "arcade", but with a more concise UI and campaigns/missions that feel a little more polished like a complete game. Just a guess based on what ED have said though.
Sweet! If you wanna fly the A-10C you can buy ANOTHER module. All of you who paid for the F/A 18C can expect to buy F/A 18C II next year. It will cost another $70.
That's not how i read it, though. If you own the A-10C now, you can keep flying that (it just got a new cockpit, btw.). If you want the A-10C with additional functionality - whatever that may be - you will have to buy it (with a discount for current owners).
Same procedure that's planned for the Black Shark. Sounds perfectly reasonable to me. Much better than what they did for the BS2 upgrade.
Sure we can fly our old A-10C in the current version. Soon enough we will be informed that we will need a dual install keeping the old DCS 2.8.4 version when the module costs ED too much to keep up to date and only the new A-10C will work in the "next" 2.9.0 version. Yes, DCS is modular. Very. Until next re-release. You know "We need money".
Of course they need money. They are a business and not a charity.
They maintain the DCS World basis and therfor they need money to pay the salaries for the people maintaing this basis. You can definitely say and mourn about wrong decision they make/made with the planes they release or the maps. Or the lack of "gaming" features to make the sim more immersive and all of that. But for me it is reasonable that they charge us some money for new content. And its also normal that old tech gets superseeded with new tech. Or do you complain that you can't use your C64 tape storage unit with your new IMac? in the "old" days you had a new sim every time Jane's decided to release new planes/maps. And you also can't merge these games into one playfield. And also they charged every time the full amount of money and don't get old users some sort of discount. Was this really better than we have today?
In memory of the JaboG34 "Allgäu" Memmingen 1959-2003 Last take-off: 17.12.2002 10:06am
Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,961arthur666
Pitbull Tickler
arthur666
Pitbull Tickler
Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,961
NC, USA
Interesting. Didn't know this was in the pipeline. I haven't done much flight simming lately. Been too busy race simming, for the past few years. But I recently upgraded my computer. And got a free X-52 - set that up to goof around with the aircraft in Arma3. Forgot how much I liked it. But like the OP, don't have much free time these days.
Would love a great looking sim that is a bit more complicated than StrikeFighters. I'll be watching for this. And hoping for dynamic campaign too.
System Vitals: Intel i5 9600, RTX2060, 16GB DDR3000(OC), Win10 Home 64bit, Saitek X-52, Logitech G27 Current Sims: MSFS2020, Assetto Corsa, StrikeFighters2, IL2:BoS etc, Arma3, American Truck Simulator, SnowRunner
MAC has many merits. I have mentioned in another thread here that the dynamic campaign will probably be released 1st with the MAC release.
Not only is it beneficial to release the dynamic campaign with a structured number of aircraft, rather than release a dynamic campaign that includes individual 3rd party aircraft modules. The selling point would be that in order to 1st try the dynamic campaign, users will need to 1st purchase MAC or wait another 12-24 months to use their paid modules within a dynamic campaign scenario.
Having a specific number of aircraft such as FC3 or the future release MAC allows the campaign to flow freely as it is designed with basic aircraft, basic radar and basic loadouts using aircraft released by ED.
it is far too technical releasing a dynamic campaign that features 3rd party modules. The selling point of MAC will no doubt feature a dynamic campaign.
Perhaps PC pilot will write a review on the dynamic campaign once MAC is released to Beta tester's and associates of ED.
As Sobek stated, "unless they offer something substantial in return" a dynamic campaign to me would be "something substantial"
MAC has many merits. I have mentioned in another thread here that the dynamic campaign will probably be released 1st with the MAC release.
Not only is it beneficial to release the dynamic campaign with a structured number of aircraft, rather than release a dynamic campaign that includes individual 3rd party aircraft modules. The selling point would be that in order to 1st try the dynamic campaign, users will need to 1st purchase MAC or wait another 12-24 months to use their paid modules within a dynamic campaign scenario.
Having a specific number of aircraft such as FC3 or the future release MAC allows the campaign to flow freely as it is designed with basic aircraft, basic radar and basic loadouts using aircraft released by ED.
it is far too technical releasing a dynamic campaign that features 3rd party modules. The selling point of MAC will no doubt feature a dynamic campaign.
Perhaps PC pilot will write a review on the dynamic campaign once MAC is released to Beta tester's and associates of ED.
As Sobek stated, "unless they offer something substantial in return" a dynamic campaign to me would be "something substantial"
Color me skeptical. All I want are more modern FC3 style aircraft and possibly a better multiplayer mode. Everything else lacking is general quality of life or engine issues. Once MAC ships, it will have all the issues DCS has and they probably won't get fixed gradually.