Flogger23m

I have zero interest in a two seater. That will just make things exceptionally more complicated (AI, multiple cockpits to develop) and may raise the price. Although an AI only version would be nice. I'll take the more modern single seat versions though.

MIG-23MLD from that list. Would also consider the most modern version of the Su-17/22 series. Of course I'd much rather have an Su-27SM, MIG-29SMT, Su-35, MIG-29K/35 at the FC3 level. :D

Either: Mirage F1M or Mirage F1EE

The Mirage 2000C isn't just used by France, so what the ADA uses is not of much concern.

Interesting bot. I enjoyed the casual free flight servers I've played on in the past.

I want to go to Las Vegas! Thanks for another great giveaway Corvus.

Should be the F-35. My understanding is the F-35 is now cheaper than the Eurofighter/Rafale. This leaves them with the following options: - F/A-18E / Advanced Super Hornet. Australian versions cost roughly the same as the current F-35 price if I am not mistaken, let alone the newest version plus pods and other equipment. - Gripen. After new competition costs I do believe Canada will get shafted for what was mainly a political/election policy.

I don't expect modules to remake training missions in the new maps. And I hope all future modules have training in the Black Sea map. Would be terrible if you bought a module and then found out you needed to spend $40-60 on a map just to utilize the training missions. Everyone will have the Black Sea map. The same can't be said about NTTR, Straits, Normandy or any other map in progress.

It does look better in screens users are posting. Now I wish I bought it when it had the two campaign DLCs. I might as well hold out a while longer since it costs more now.

It is a good module. After the activation issues were sorted (even if only temporarily) and I got it to load again I had some fun. The MIG-21 is fun to fly even if it is a bit old.

I want the A-10A. Going to enter for a friend. Thanks for the giveaway OP!

If you mean a study sim version there is no solid info.

Not really interested. Limited roles, limited payload, only one country uses it.

On Friday it was $350 in store at Frys. Sale might be gone there though.

Do any of these mods include a unique cockpit?

You didn't answer the question. No one said it doesn't. It was a counter argument for those saying the MIG-29A is included in a paid product (FC3). So was the Su-25T and most of DCS World. The differences between A-10C and World were miniscule in the past. I didn't hear people protesting DCS World becoming free when they paid for the majority of that content in A-10C. This is an entirely different topic in itself though. Which should be recouped and profits made via FC3 or MIG-29S sales. Few people are going to buy a standalone A model. For people like yourself who do want to buy it again there is always the option to rebuy the standalone S or FC3 again. The idea is to retain more people, even if only slightly. More than likely they will spring for FC3 (which includes the S anyways) if they maintain the interest in World because it is as of now an excellent value. Even if they never buy FC3 or the MIG-29S and buy another module it is still a slight win. As for the prices we know the days of large sales are gone. And with the probably price hike of FC3 and other modules mentioned in the latest news email I wouldn't be surprised if FC3 was raised to $80+. Maybe the standalone modules will shoot up in price to. Also keep in mind average players may not have the best flight controllers. Fact is the -25T/TF-51 are not the easiest aircraft to fly and this is complicated when you don't have a good HOTAS. An easier to fly aircraft (MIG-29A) will lessen these complications for newcomers. Anything to make the game easier to get into without diluting the experience via less realism is something that should be perused. I do wish I bought an extra F-15C or two back when it was $3 though. Would have made excellent gifts. I'm not going to go back and re-read the posts for names but I wasn't the one blanket labeling members on this forum as cheapskates and freeloaders. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume it was other posters. It annoys me as I do give back to the community in little ways such as some skins, including for a module I don't own. I don't expect anything for it and I realize there are plenty of skins out there. I also realize not everyone enjoys or cares for my work. But I do get a little annoyed when I am called a freeloader/cheapskate when I've likely given more to the community and bought variations of the MIG-29 more times than most of those hurling the insults. They do. But this is a discussion forum and we discuss things. No one is demanding or spamming the forum begging for it. I think they will end up buying FC3 which includes the S variant. Or if there is no free MIG-29A this concept will still cross their mind and they'll simply never buy a standalone A. Again, shades of gray. To use your own examples, we'll take Assassin's Creed Black Flag and its direct sequel Unity. While there are obvious similarities the majority of the content is different, ranging from animations, thousands of lines of dialogue, a different theme (pirate age VS French Revolution) and more. Each title being multi-million dollar projects involving what likely amounts to 1000+ people. Now, lets compare that to the discussion of the MIG-29A: - Significant portion of market hollowed out via FC3. - Differences between the MIG-29A and the paid MIG-29S are small. Development R&D and time minimal to give free variant minimal. - Goal is to retain slightly higher number of players by making the game easier without diluting realism of DCS. I'm no fan of Ubisoft but if you put some time reviewing your examples you'd be able to clearly see massive difference in the analogy. There is a reason why this thread is pertaining to the MIG-29A and not the F-15C. A free F-15C would be entirely unreasonable. It is not about being able to afford it or not; rather it is about attracting and retaining players. Flight sims are niche and people are less likely to part ways with their money on unfamiliar things. A free Su-25T or TF-51D is a great notion but it simply isn't the best airframe for the task. They are not great aircraft to ease new players in. The problem I've experienced is that they tend to believe everything is exceptionally hard to fly and quit playing shortly after. Only after being lured into cheap F-15s or Su-27s have revised their opinions. Now most of them have given the Su-25T a second chance and find it easier. Of course, some of them have written off the game completely after trying the Su-25T and did not even feel inclined to purchase a cheap F-15C. Imagine if a more friendly airframe was their first experience. I'd think more would have been retained and kept interest from the start. Quoted simply because I have no idea what you're saying. The AFM types are: SFM AFM AFM+ PFM EFM (3rd party) I still firmly believe the TF-51D will give new players are harder time than a MIG-29A. Feel free to disagree with me. Quote who said they wanted everything for free. And the community intends to keep it that way it seems. ;) Regardless of what happens with the MIG-29A I do hope there is a template. I'd like to attempt a few skins for it. :D

My understanding is that the SM does not bring too much new to the table. While it is more advanced than the T in some ways it also takes a few steps back. I'd be interested in buying an FC3 version if it was priced right, but there are other aircraft I'd rather see. If some talented individuals got together to make a free mod this would be a good place to start. The flight model and weapon systems are mostly done. Avionics and HUD would still need to be done from scratch but it is easier to chew than starting an entirely new project. Sadly it seems modding is more or less dead these days.

I don't think a nearly two decade old game is the best way to get people into the genre or DCS World in particular. I wouldn't be surprised if it had difficulty running on modern PCs to. By that logic, why not just have them buy LOMAC?

Number one problem I've heard with it. Flight is the most important aspect in a flight game and is the first thing people interact with. Players are less likely to take the time to learn the systems if keeping it in the air is exceptionally difficult. The MIG-29 is still harder than most other games but the energy, acceleration and maneuverability make it much simpler. The P-51 is an entirely different category from the Su-25T itself. Landing the PFM Su-27 feels "Ace Combat easy" after trying the P-51/TF-51. The TF-51D is about as unfriendly as you can get for new players. No HUD, horrible aerodynamics, stall happy, requires a Track IR to effectively use it and more. But I don't think that was the intention for including it. It simply required little effort to make and ED wanted a demo for clickable cockpits in the base game. So it serves its purpose.

Well I did, as did many others. The vast majority of the assets in DCS World were paid for by previous owners of FC2/Black Shark/A-10C. Going from A-10C to the initial versions of DCS World was almost unnoticeable. A lot of the content still dates back to LOMAC, which is over a decade old. Which is exactly why a more forgiving aircraft is an excellent idea. Better first impressions and hopefully a higher rate of return customers for paid content is what we want. It isn't the 90s or early 2000s where people gradually moved from the less realistic titles like Flanker, Jane's USAF / F-15 or even started with games like Ace Combat. The whole market of light simulator (aside from FC3) and arcade flight games is entirely gone. While there are certainly people with zero flight game experience who will jump into A-10C that number is very small. That includes most members in this community who gradually moved from the less realistic simulators of yesteryear to DCS. It essentially comes down to retaining the current customers/player base with little growth VS the possibility of enhancing growth. Bringing in new people to the genre is certainly a good thing. If it brings in even 10% more new users then that money will help fund and expand DCS. Which will hopefully result in growth and more products for us. The MIG-29A isn't the easiest aircraft to fly (that goes to the F-15C) but it certainly is much more forgiving than a Su-25T/TF-51D.

Hello OP, 1) Ignore the Su-25T and TF-51D. If you own FC3 start with the F-15C. It is very difficult to crash which will save you a lot of frustration up front. There are only four weapon systems, one heat seeking missile, two radar guided missiles and a cannon to worry about. 2) The next thing to do is use the mission editor. It is fairly simple to make basic scenarios. Start off with no enemies and just fly around. You'll quickly learn the limits on the simplest aircraft, the F-15C. The Su-27, Su-33 and MIG-29A/S are also rather easy to fly. 3) You can add enemy types that don't shoot back, like tankers or cargo planes. As you get some weapon systems down place enemy fighters with no missiles (just cannons). 4) I am not sure about the current state of the training missions, but Youtube may be your best bet. I encourage you to start with the F-15C first and watch some videos. You may not be 100% proficient and know the ideal altitude to get into a turning fight but that is not really necessary for the AI or even most human players online. Just get the basics down first. 5) You should be using a HOTAS. The X52Pro is the best budget HOTAS. Hope that helps a bit. That would be a terrible idea. Buy a module, attempt to utilize the training missions only to find out you need to pay $50+ more. All training missions should be on the Black Sea map and all 3rd party modules must be forced to use it. Unless they include a map with an aircraft.

And this is the major point to illustrate here. They're not making a new aircraft from scratch. The differences in workload between the A and S aren't very big. And as it is, the MIG-29A (as a standalone) won't sell much at all. Not with Flaming Cliffs and a standalone MIG-29S for sale. Also keep in mind much of the market is already carved out from current FC3 owners who bought the game years ago. Had this been a F-16A vs F-16C in which the cockpit layout, avionics and weapon systems are vastly different making the A free wouldn't make sense. The workload/development time between the two variants is massive. The same can't be said for the MIG-29A/S. Now I do wonder if the MIG-29 will be sold as one combined module (A/G/S), two (A/G and S) or three separate modules. True, I and many others did pay for the MIG-29A multiple times. However, we also paid for the content in DCS World which is now free. Should everyone who owned LOMAC/FC/BS/FC2/A-10C get DCS World for free while the rest have to pay $50? It would be more consistent but is certainly not something I would support.

Making the A model free won't diminish the quality. The paid variant, the S, will still be of quality. As the two aircraft are 90% the same they're not giving away all the work for free. The S model (the one people would actually purchase) would still be paid. Also the differences between AFM, AFM+ and PFM are minimal. You will never notice the difference unless you flew the real aircraft. They are marketing terms first and foremost despite the minor differences. Name a single person in this thread who claims they wanted it free "just because". I bought LOMAC/FC/FC2/FC3. I've paid for the MIG-29 four times now. Have you? Considering I've owned it (MIG-29A/S) for over a decade how I am simply trying to get it for free? It does, but there would still be a paid version. There is a reason why people are asking for a free MIG-29A alongside a paid MIG-29S and not a free Mirage-2000C or A-10C. There are differences between the scenarios. Use your head a little. Again, this has not been my experience. Flight characteristics are the first thing people experience. Stalling out in a TF-51 or Su-25T does not make for a good impression. Especially when someone is using a old crappy joystick or gamepad. Essentially everyone I got to try DCS (that were not flight simmers) quit. Only some came back after they got the Su-27/F-15. Another cleverly masked "If they're not experienced with flight sims, screw them! We don't need their money anyways!" argument.

I actually disagree. The lack of a HUD makes it much harder to see speed, altitude, weapons selected or weapon status. Remember most people don't have Track IR. Even I don't. This makes panning around the pit difficult when flying. Many years back I found the F-15C and Flanker/Fulcrum the easiest. They have power to get out of tight situations to where the P-51/Su-25 would stall and crash. I disagree after viewing a few cases which were the opposite. While it certainly is little proof, I think if an easier/attractive plane can retain 10% more players then it is a great win for ED. I also do question how well a standalone MIG-29A module will sell. There are really three possibilities here: 1) Those that have FC3 already have both the A and S. 2) The MIG-29A is rather similar to the S, so maybe ED plans on including both in a single module anyways. Thus making the A essentially free to those who buy the S. 3) Both will be stand alone modules and most people will end up buying FC3 or just the standalone MIG-29S. When presented with an option to buy a standalone A essentially no one will. Where as something like a F-16A to a F-16C Block 52+ is a massive difference in terms of artwork, flight modelling and avionics, the MIG-29A and S are rather similar. Flight characteristics and visual characteristics (cockpit) are essentially the same between the two. There is little reason to buy the A module when you can get the S as it can do everything the A can. I don't really see much of a market for the A as a standalone module. I don't think it will be making ED much money considering the S model is available. All this being said it is just my opinion and it doesn't benefit myself personally. I already bought LOMAC/FC/FC2/FC3 so I have the MIG-29A and S.

Thanks for running a large sale with a large discount. Still waiting for the Eurofighter. :thumbup: