CheckGear

I always chuckle any time I read statements like these. The enemy is a lethal enemy, whether they're the "Evil Empire" "Unstoppable Juggernaut" USSR or a few obsolete Libyan fighters. Our fighter pilots are stressed every time they encounter a bogey in the skies. What makes combat "thrilling," if that's even an appropriate term, is that you can either emerge victorious or you can go down in flames. Who your adversary ultimately matters little when you get that up close and personal. I understand the desire for alternative history scenarios. Personally, I'd rather have scenarios that are either based on actual events or are speculative scenarios that have an air of plausibility to them. With all the data we have available today, giving the enemy "steroids" ("Evil Empire" USSR) is so fantastic that it would detract greatly from the immersion factor, which is absolutely critical for a game, simulator in particular.

My take is that we have seen enough of the North Atlantic/GIUK Gap/North Cape area. I wouldn't mind seeing it again at some point in the future, but, in the debut theater, I'd like to see something we haven't seen a lot of, something a bit more historically relevant.

I don't know if anybody sees it differently, but I based on what we know now, the idea that the Soviets could've executed a successful invasion of Iceland seems to be pure fantasy.

Also, historically speaking, U.S. carriers spent far more time in places like the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean than they ever did in the North Atlantic/GIUK Gap region.

If we have a big "theater-level" map, I would prefer it be the North Pacific. Far too many games and simulations have featured the North Atlantic/GIUK Gap, but not enough of the North Pacific region, which was considered to be just as important if not more in terms of Cold War naval strategy. In truth, the military is more prepared for the middleweight encounter, i.e., Iran. I think a place like the Strait of Hormuz offers a much more realistic, relevant, and challenging theater to operate the Tomcat in than the GIUK Gap.

- NAS/MCAS Miramar - MCAS Yuma - CFB Cold Lake - Bitburg AB - Spangdahlem AB

I think the 1980s were definitely the "good ol' days" for the Tomcat. Definitely the best time to place the Tomcat in, although the 1990s offers a wide range of hypothetical opportunities.

Also, it would be nice if we got historically-accurate air wings to go with the aircraft carriers.

That's precisely what I had in mind. Southern Watch and a hypothetical war against Iran would be awesome too. Plus a brawl with the Soviet Pacific Fleet...

Liking this discussion. I would personally like to see the Persian Gulf/Strait of Hormuz/Gulf of Oman/Arabian Sea/Indian Ocean. This is where the majority of the Tomcat's career was spent when deployed. It simply makes sense to make a map in this general area. I also second the notion for a map set in the North Pacific, particularly near Soviet territory (Sea of Japan, Kuril Islands, Sea of Okhotsk). The North Atlantic is seen as the Tomcat's main theater, but the North Pacific was just as vital, maybe even more so.

As much as I am nostalgic for the old Crimea map, I think its high time for a new theater of operations. Even with everything that is going on in the area, the likelihood high-level warfare in the region is low. We need maps for the East China Sea, South China Sea, Persian Gulf, and the Korean Peninsula. Just like we did during the flight sim golden days of the '90s.

I prefer realism in my World War III scenarios. I find these "Red Dawn"-type scenarios to be far too hokey, even when stretching the imagination. For me, time period plays a lot into what maps would be appropriate for a WWIII scenario. Depending on the time period, we could/should see: 1970s: - Middle East/Suez Canal - Central Europe - Iran/Strait of Hormuz - Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia 1980s: - Central Europe - GIUK Gap - Iran/Strait of Hormuz - Korean Peninsula - North Cape - North Pacific/Hawaii - Vladivostok/Sea of Okhotsk 2010s: - Baltic region - Crimea/Ukraine - Korean Peninsula - Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands* - South China Sea* *Would really like to see these.

I was looking through the old PC combat flight simulations of the '80s and '90s and I think the following theaters ought to be added: - Kuril Islands/Sea of Okhotsk/North Pacific - Taiwan - South China Sea (primarily the Paracel and Spratly Islands) And I think this is in the works, but I am still awaiting the release of the Nellis Test and Training Range (NTTR).

I am late to this discussion, but if FC3 is a "survey" sim, then it is the closest thing we have to a "study-survey" sim. The amount of detail in each flyable aircraft is actually quite astounding, something that goes beyond simply showing what makes each aircraft stand out.

Never said it would be. Some folks take things way too seriously. :music_whistling:

...being released, shouldn't DCS be looking to add every single fighter aircraft in the current U.S. inventory? :D Every branch of service that flies combat aircraft has participated in Red Flag, so it is only fitting to have the entire range of American fighters be available I actually think the NTTR map offers the greatest potential for the future of DCS. In real-life, the USAF simulates just about every scenario imaginable at NTTR, whether it is through the USAF Weapons School or Blue/Green/Red Flag. Just think about all the Blue-Aggressor encounters we could have! In the future, I hope the developers consider making an NAS Fallon map as well! Then we can have Top Gun and Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center and see who is really the best of the best!:pilotfly:

What about the Tupolev Tu-160 "Blackjack?" :D

Well, the 'Vark wants you even more... :love: It would be nice to see the F-111 and the Pave Tack in action. In fact, if we get the F-111, we should also get the F-4G, since those two were major platforms of their time. In fact, why not make a "The Eighties: The Decade That Made the USAF" module?

If they did, they would have to include a Vietnam, Central Europe, or Persian Gulf theater, along with other time period-appropriate platforms. Otherwise, it would just look weird.

While there is no history to simulate, what you can simulate is the realism and details of the platforms that were in service during this time, along with the units that were in service in the theater at that time.

It would be pretty much like ArmA, since ArmA permits a certain level of vehicle simulation. All I really want is a virtual air base, along with access to the Officer's Club. :beer:

NOW THAT"S THE SPIRIT!!! :cheer3nc: As for me, I would look forward to being scrambled from Zulu Alert in my F-15C from Bitburg Air Base to intercept bogeys entering West German airspace.

So I was playing FC3 yesterday and my F-15 buys the farm. I safely eject and float to the ground. I expect the simulation to end or to shift me to the external view of some other aircraft as all other simulations have handled the issue of ejections. But no. Instead, my first-person view is maintained and I hear the thud of my feet landing on the ground. And nothing changes. I am still there! I even go to the external view and there I am! I move my joystick forward and... I START WALKING!!!:cheer3nc: I was like "THIS IS SO AWESOME!!! I AM SO HAPPY TO BE ALIVE!" No other simulation, to my recollection, permits this (perhaps with the exception of Pie in the Sky Software's Corncob 3D), where there is "life outside the aircraft." Before I get accused of getting off-topic, I want to move onto where I am going with this - the possibilities, which are endless. I hope to see DCS capitalize on this feature, which will only make the simulation even more immersive. We could end up having the first true "virtual airbase," where you can actually walk around to accomplish various tasks (perhaps replacing the "main menu" and even walk out to your aircraft and get in. And, this might be stretching it a little bit, but perhaps a Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) element could be implemented as well... The latter is probably a stretch and spins the game off in a direction that is a bit off-track. However, given that DCS has incorporated both air and ground combat, this particular feature of the game does being quite a number of doors that can be opened. I look forward to seeing DCS make the most of this. Then, it will not only be the greatest simulation ever - it will be the greatest game ever!!! :thumbup:

That is a very good point you bring up. A simulation set in World War III, at best, would have to be an entirely separate release independent of DCS. Another issue that comes up is authenticity. It is much easier to simulate World War II, as it was an era where high technology was not as prevalent as it is now. But from 1975 - 1991, high technology was prevalent, yet it is also quite different from how things are now. Anybody who tackles such a project would have to do an unbelievable amount of research in order to determine precisely what existed and what was in use at the time in order to avoid anachronism. This is precisely why a World War III module/release remains a "wish..."

I mentioned this in "The Next DCS (US) Fixed Wing Aircraft Wish List" thread, but I think this deserves its own dedicated thread. As much as I love the focus on modern warfare, I also think DCS can be utilized to explore historical warfare. We are already seeing it in the P-51 Mustang and WWII: Europe 1944 module. A historical module I would love to see is one that I would title either "United States Air Forces Europe" or WWIII: Europe (insert year). The post-Vietnam era to the end of the Cold War was a crucial time in the history of both air and ground warfare. The USAF re-built itself during this time and it was from 1975 - 1991 that made the Air Force what it is today. More importantly, we can also see a truly authentic and realistic depiction of a NATO vs. Warsaw Pact confrontation. The focus on the USAF in Europe would permit us to pit the fighters of this era - A-10s, F-4s, F-15s, F-16s, F-111s, as well as those of the NATO allies - against the Warsaw Pact MiG-21s, MiG-23s, MiG-25s, and MiG-27s, as well as early models of the MiG-29 and Su-27. Due to the absolute realism and attention to detail of DCS, we can finally see how the air war would have worked itself out had the "balloon gone up."