Archer7

Generally, but: "Such a significant graphics card update without fps increase points towards the graphics card not being the issue at all." A 650 isn't extremely far behind 700-cards and 700 cards with a more modern i5/i7 will run the game max all settings at 40-60 fps.

I had a spontaneous Ka-50 deactivation about a week ago too. No other modules, no cause.

Having played both the campaign and exercise BTF05 mission I can say that both times the wingman came dangerously come to me while descending. It seems he’s trying to touch down too. He comes close enough to touch until you are nearly touching the runway and then flies away, so I’m not sure if it’s intended. Otherwise fun mission that works well technically speaking.

Come on… upgrade your motherboard and CPU already! Your graphics card is in the weaker side of things (a 760 is the gaming standard as of 2013… I haven’t bothered checking what’s new this year) but other components look much more problematic. Such a significant graphics card update without fps increase points towards the graphics card not being the issue at all. 8GB memory is definitely enough but DDR2 could be very slow seeing as how DDR3 has been the standard for many years. It seems to me that you should stop clinging to that whatever old motherboard you have.

Sounds intended to avoid conflicts and on a side note your average keyboard also has difficulties handling multiple simultaneous inputs. Try holding both shift keys and writing THE QUICK BROWN FOX JUMPS RIGHT OVER THE LAZY DOG... worked well, eh?

The Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS was basically developed alongside with DCS and all you have to do is plug it into two USB ports and start the game.

I remember that, very funny. Made international news that time.

About how many failures/hour does this option currently create? Has anyone experimented? It would be nice if it was adjustable via a slider so you could easily set failures/hour (average) or failures/mission.

BFT04 both the campaign and exercise mission seems to have a strange bug that puts the pilot in the wrong position in the aircraft. When the mission starts and any time I centre the camera the pilot sits too high in the cockpit which makes it impossible to see straight ahead and the VVI during take-off etcetera. I have no issues in other missions.

Good thinking with the MOA! It might even be a good idea in the basic missions not to be difficult but to stop the drifting situation I've already described, at least in BFT03 if nowhere else since you can't course correct without being failed.

ED is a big team and I believe they are working on modern and vintage separately. I believe they can handle 66 years of aviation history from the upcoming Spitfire’s first flight to the A-10Cs introduction. Out of the existing aircraft we have a dominance of modern aircraft and out of the upcoming aircraft we have a dominance of modern aircraft. Out of the third-party modules we’ve seen I don’t believe we have any cause to distinguish between ED and third-party modules in terms of quality. So I wouldn’t worry about DCS eventually turning into a shoddy WWII simulator.

Thanks too. My issue with using the actual manual checklist is if you don't have the manual and indeed even if you do some of the steps are ambiguous or not simulated. When it comes to waypoints not working because you are out of the zone the worst thing is that you can’t turn back without being failed for having deviated off your heading. How about simply adding a big circular/shaped zone around Batumi airbase that is connected to a failure script if you go outside of it? Now players would be failed when deviating critically outside the mission area instead of drifting eternally waiting for more instructions. I haven’t tried the DCS editor but setting something such up is quick in most editors. Overall the scripting is well done though and the amount of situation-specific voice acting really excels. Sending a private message didn’t really come to mind since there was no need for privacy. Discussing things publicly mean anyone can democratically chime in and it’s how internet discussion usually works.

Dribble... ED are still making modules and not merely "maintaining" DCS, the WWII modules won't make DCS easy prey for any other simulator and your worries about TPD are obviously unfounded since every TPD module so far has had ED-quality.

Anyone?

How do you set what mission to play? I completed BTF03 and after being qualified and everything I thought the mission was over and ejected for fun which apparently de-won the mission and I don’t want to play it again. Some criticism on BFT: 01: Having to use your exact (and ambiguous) checklist is very annoying. How about cutting the player some slack like you do in the other missions where it’s flight readiness that counts? 02: I’ve had an issue twice with the guy never instructing you to start the EFATO. Was not a lot off altitude, course or speed but the issue may have been that. I also won this mission and could play the next one despite crashing onto the runway (and surviving) so apparently the scripting is off. Oh and in 02 I was also cleared to take-off despite forgetting both the APU Gen and APU on once… wasn’t he checking that? 03: Once I had the issue with the guy never telling me to go 120 the other time you are supposed to do it and after completing that the “do what the ATC says” voice message and another played simultaneously (the turn 40, turn 300 message also plays simultaneously often) so I missed the part about that I was actually supposed to touch down without more instructions. The first mission was annoying. The second mission was also quite annoying since I had the bug with the instructions stopping. The third mission was really enjoyable though despite some scripting bugs. OH and one more annoying, consistent issue: 2 minute shutdown!? Make it three! A shutdown where you’re spinning down the engines as quick as possible and slamming every switch in the cockpit as well as you can is not a good shutdown. In my opinion 10 minutes is good for a quick start and 20 for a slow one so 15 minutes seems generous enough but… shutdown in 2? Aren’t you supposed to idle for 5 minutes before turning any engine off? At least I wasn’t failed for missing CMS off in BFT03.

Is there any way to control the camera using the slew nub on the TM Warthog HOTAS?

I said up to 70% didn't I? As I remember most modules got 60% off last time while three or so modules got 70% off and a couple were unaffected. Much cheaper.

And your benchmarks are... where? I'm more down to Earth. You stress "current" games... indeed certain individuals have been waiting for hyperthreading to benefit gaming since always. Again, I'm down to Earth. I wouldn’t tell someone to spend money on something unless I thought they would actually need it because hey, I care about strangers' money. In actuality you’re not getting your money’s worth for stronger (>770 or other generation equivalent) graphics cards and not really getting anything for i7s, water-cooling or more than 8GB memory, in gaming. I can usually cut several £100s off someone’s computer without compromising strength.

You're sorta contradicting yourself. Games have to be made with hyper-threading in mind for it to make a significant difference. It doesn't happen by accident. Indeed, there's absolutely no significant difference between i5s and i7s in video gaming and I'm quite certain the i7s only exist so idiots can buy them thinking they're stronger because they sound stronger, serious. Only a handful of games ever show any marginal significant improvement with an i7.

The only things you have to map are: All HOTAS commands Eject Wheel brakes Rudders Camera centre Camera movement Camera zoom Some other useful things to bind somewhere if you can fit them are start, kneeboard stuff, night vision etcetera.

That would lead to some very strange mouse movements when moving your head and mouse at the same time I believe. You could make it stick to whatever cockpit surface you are pointing it at similar to the hand in the Black & White video games but that would take some programming.

Third parties have allegedly intentionally delayed multiplayer cockpits because ED are working on them and they should arrive this year.

Be warned, if you wait for the ED winter sale you can get up to a 70% discount so avoid buying modules when there isn't a sale going on unless you can afford it. Does it have twist (z-axis)? The Cyborg flight sticks are the only cheap sticks I would consider. A good amount of buttons (only one multi-directional switch though) and the Fly 5 has dual throttles and twist so you don't need separate throttle and pedals. More advanced equipment won’t really make a difference unless you pay several times more money for more switches so you can get the true “hands-on” experience without using the keyboard at all. Beyond the Fly 5/X52 HOTAS I would say you’re paying for immersion.

Has the issue with campaigns using the wrong aircraft been fixed yet? I want to update but I'm worried it will break everything ever.

DCS User Manuals are hard to find online but should be available in your DCS World directory if you search for ".pdf". Indeed they should be more easily available and especially A-10A/F-15C/Su-25/Su-25T manuals that are not included with FC3 despite them containing some exclusive, useful information. Here's a list of the different manuals for you: DCS World User Manual A-10A Manual A-10C Manual/Quickstart F-15C Manual F-86F Quickstart Fw 190 Manual/Quickstart Ka-50 Manual/Quickstart Mi-8-MTV2 Quickstart MiG-21bis Manual/Quickstart P-51D Manual/Quickstart Su-25 Manual Su-25T Manual UH-1H Manual Combined Arms Manual Flaming Cliffs 3 Manual/Quickstart