Conure

The fact that customers harass on the forums is hardly the reason that hardcore simulations are becoming rarer. If that was true then Blizzard would've been liquidised a long time ago! I'd imagine the real reason is because during the 90s (and the early 00s) PCs were the domain of the geeky and technically inclined. These are the kind of people that have the intelligence/patience to work through a manual rivalling undergraduate complexity. Now the PC has become a bit more mainstream and people prefer COD/WoW type games, and even then the real profit seems to lay with the consoles. Either way, whinging forum members is definitely not the reason :P

Didn't play that one! I did play X-Wing Alliance though...Loved it :D

Apparently Freetrack is great. Though I think this may be more a case of perseverance. Without wanting to cause offence, the fact that you didn't know anything about headings/instrument scanning implies you're reasonably new to the hobby. The Shark is a difficult beast to master and will take hundreds of hours until you're proficient. I actually suck at it, I spent hours learning the systems and no time flying, so whilst I can describe what everything does, ask me to put it to practise and I'm useless.. The A-10 on the other hand..I can empty my Maverick racks faster than John Wayne can empty his 6 shooter ;) Keep practising. Unlike the A10, the systems are very simple, it's like a polar opposite in that with the A10, systems proficiency means you're reasonable capable (if you can handle a cessna)...In the Shark, you can be brilliant with the systems but if you cant bring that thing from 220 knots to a stable hover behind cover in a few moments, you're almost useless!

And not only reach up, but reach up with your RIGHT HAND!! Rofl

I think there is an argument for both sides though, but I do agree that it's just abstraction at the moment. If you look at the EU, USA etc there is a definite trend toward greater and greater interdependence, and with the ease of immigration (particularly within european countries) how many generations will it be until national identity is flaky, but skin colour will also become less prominent biologically? After all, evolution is the main reason we've got different bone structures/skin colour - People moving to different climates and environments and maintaining cultural separation long enough for evolution to take its course as the less environmentally apt die out, in the same way various lizard species have minor differences dependent on locale. Now there is so much inter travel that these differences will cease to exist, and with them, skin colour, society itself will break down into one "thing". After all, without geographical barriers there is almost nothing to separate us biologically, and with nothing to separate us biologically and as religious ideologies subside to rationalism...I see nothing but a bright future for humanity. The next 200 years are utterly critical in us surviving...We're at a stage where we've got the ideological remnants of the medieval ages and european imperialism (religion, homophobia, cultural otherness) coupled with the utterly destructive power of nuclear weapons and aircraft which (as we all know) can devastate regions. Utterly needless waste of human life over petty difference and minor ideological difference...I hope my children and grandchildren grow up in a new society..If all the grievances and racisms were abandoned, we'd have world peace within a generation...It's a shame some people are so hateful. Still, I agree that we are probably a few hundred years away.. "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one" - We need more people like Mr lennon :-)

Excellent news - I trust of course, that you also have Rise of Flight?! Rise of Flight > Cliffs of Dover > DCS Black Shark > DCS A10... Flight sim heaven!

Good luck :) Was the old HDD SSD?

I disagree that a HOTAS particularly helps with the mission, and your built in throttle will be fine. The HOTAS comes into play when you're simultaneously entering autohover, adjusting trim, setting laser on, slewing the Shkval and locking targets whilst entering copilot datalink info - That is where the HOTAS comes is useful. (it is also what, AFAIK, makes the Shark almost useless in real life sorties :D) The best thing for making this mission easier (though this mission is as easy as BS gets) would be track IR. No messing about with HATS. By looking down, he means head down in instruments checking engine health, fuel qty, weapon systems status, Abris, Shkval etc etc. IRL pilots do an instrument sweep (correct me if I'm wrong with combat aircraft) in which the pilot will make a quick scan across of all instruments very quickly (through a lot of practise) ensuring all systems are healthy. Still, on this mission there is almost no need to go head down, it's a bad habit that simulators tend to teach due to the poor visuals of a flat screen monitor. It's hard to tell your altitude in game due to depth perception limitations, however IRL you should know your altitude (roughly) by looking out the window.

The mission completes before shut down. As soon as the AI aircraft lands ASAIK. You just need to wait for him. If you keep on the correct heading at the correct speed changing heading on time, you should automatically keep close. Another trick albeit one which ruins realism is to press F2 then zoom out and search for him that way...Or..Tap F2 a few times til it changes camera to follow him and work out his position from there.

X-Wing versus Tie Fighter...Now there was a game :D

What do you mean? I think I'm missing something!

Hey all, I promise I won't overuse this thread due to the other one but I was wonderiing if any of you could help with my peformance issues on Arma 2! my rig is in my sig but I'm getting 30-40fps on normal! is this standard?

Very doubtful considering the nature of ED's non civilian contracts and the way in which they effect what we get!

Bought :) Haven't tried a non flight sim before...Hope it's fun :)

Hi mate, welcome. 26 = 260 which (pardon me if you already know) means 10 degrees from West (which is 270). Again excuse me if you're familiar but 360 is North, 90 is East, 180 is South, 270 is West. These translate to 36, 09, 18, and 27. You'll also note that runways are numbered..This reflects the heading. For example runway 27 means 270 degrees in azimuth so the runway is in a Westerly direction. You can only see other Sharks on the DL (I may be wrong, it's a while since I've played the shark). It's important to not rely too heavily on your instruments, as with all flight...Situational awareness is everything, and most of your time should be spent aware of where your friendly is whilst maintaining control of the chopper, scanning for enemies and ensuring you're at correct altitude for terrain etc etc...Welcome to DCS: Black Shark, if you master this then you're better than me :)

2 threads below mine indeed. This is what happens when I begin to multitask multiple forum threads :-)

Agree and disagree! I reckon nowadays origins and difference are more fluid than ever, our origins aren't anything substantial...I think the internet is helping to create a more "global society" and improve integration between members of different cultures...The issue with (a very small minority) of Islam is a reaction to this...In my opinion, mingling of new Western and traditional values. If I live to see a day when no one speaks of birth place with pride, but rather as a member of the human race and its shared achievements, that'll be a beautiful day. It's very interesting to see the intermingling of cultures nowadays, we're very privileged to be sharing the cumulative achievements of our wonderful, admirable and sometimes stupid species. Either way "origin" is changing more and more, totally transfigured from what it was even a generation ago. I'm done now :)

You just wait...We'll have our Empire again.. Just as soon as Russia, China, Pakistan, India, Japan, France and Germany obliterate each other...THE WORLD WILL BE OURS FOR THE TAKING!! RULE BRITANNIA, BRITANNIA RULES THE WAVES... ......Actually before we get this empire going, please could we borrow some money? Our banks aren't so great..

Do any of you wonderful DCS-Community people play this? I have been desperate for a new sim and saw this, thought it looked decent and a nice change of pace from Call of Duty... So, anyone play and thoughts?

Frustrated now...Been off work since early Jan and start full time with a long commute Monday morn so extremely little sim time. No doubt B6 will release the morning I start. Woe is me.

DCS: IRONMAN!

That'd be great...Or...DCS: Harrier GR9...VTOL in DCS in a fixed wing...Now that'd make me happy!

*edited when realised I was being pointlessly argumentative*

I want to join the RAF but it doesn't mean I only want to fly the Typhoon. Still don't understand the mentality but it's perhaps because I have an interest in general and historical aviation, rather than an interest in a specific aircraft. A friend of mine is a figher pilot (Typhoon, RAF) who has seen DCS. He reckons the training staff would dissuade people from using DCS prior to beginning flight school as it can teach all manner of bad habits, and instil a false confidence...Still, great training tool when you've got the correct procedures down. Anyway, each to their own I suppose.

I've never understood this "I will only fly US/Russian" rubbish...You're either closet racists or not true lovers of flying in my opinion.