Horns

This Aussie wholeheartedly concurs. I will get the F-4E, but it will mostly be to get a start on learning the systems while I wait for the carrier-capable version

Yeah, agreed about waiting patiently - personally, I think the more complete it is when we get our hands on it the better. I made some comments in another thread that assumed a preorder window (I didn't realize that's not a given anymore), so if I gave the wrong information I'd like to go back and put my hand up is all If Mike is a little too busy right now that's perfectly understandable!

I had thought so, but actually now I’m not sure… My own interest is more about whether we can expect a preorder window between the 'first look' videos and the release into EA. If HB are doing preorders we'll know at any point before the pre-order gets listed we'll have between a couple of weeks and a few months before the module becomes available. Doesn't make a difference now, but once we start seeing hype videos it might. Preorders went for a few months for the F-14.

Yeah, HB are ofc the only ones who can give a definitive answer, so I’m hoping @IronMike or someone will reply There is generally a discount involved, and it’s a way to get some of the devs’ financial outlay back to them faster

Just wondering if Heatblur expect to offer preorders when the time comes, or will you just list it once it enters Early Access? According to Wags here preorders are still a thing, even though they may not have been done lately. Thanks

Thanks Wags, much appreciated

*hears crickets* No one?

I believe what Silver_Dragon said would be correct, although I see the point in the latter post (apologies, I don't have the appropriate characters). The AIM-54 was specific to a particular airframe, whereas a number of airframes can use the AIM-7E. Beyond that, subsequent to the introduction of the AIM-54, I think ED has direct involvement now in all missile modeling after what happened with the JF's missiles, (can someone pls confirm or disprove?) so I expect the meteor and the Echo Sparrow will require significant involvement from ED, rather than being so heavily a HB endeavor as the AIM-54 was.

I'll start with an apology, I wasn't sure which forum was appropriate for this or what search terms to use, so I expect this is in the wrong place or maybe a repeat of something already posted elsewhere. Can 3rd party devs still offer preorder for their modules? I saw a post suggesting otherwise and this has obvious implications for what to expect for the release of upcoming modules. An official word would be especially appreciated, if you guys can find the time, or if that's already around I'd appreciate it if someone could point me to it. Thanks.

My bad, I didn’t read carefully enough. Can confirm what others have said though, they did accept preorders for the F-14.

I think @Cobra847said that during the Air Combat Sim podcast episode he featured in I think I remember ED putting a ban on crowdfunded modules because of the Hawk, is that maybe what you're thinking of? Edit: Part of the F-4 FAQ: "Q: Will the Heatblur F-4 Phantom be released as Early Access? A: The F-4E will be released as Early Access first..."

Awesome, much appreciated. I wasn't aware the AH-64 was delayed (I'm a fixed wing guy), I hadn't heard of preorders not making the EA launch window, I agree that makes it unusual and not a great example. Thanks for the info.

Bet you didn't expect to see that topic come up now! I'm curious about how long the preorder window was for the Apache and the Mi-24 - can anyone remember? I'm curious about whether ED did the same as with the F-18 (I can't remember the F-16) in predicting a season instead of a month, and how long it actually wound up being. Thanks!

I do agree that an official word on the new expected timeframe would help. After letting the end of 2022 come and go without ever telling people they wouldn't make the timeframe, some unmistakably official word (as opposed to a FB comment by a team member who doesn't often speak on behalf of HB) is probably warranted, even if it is just to say they're not able to make another prediction - at least then, people could adjust expectations accordingly. I figured that many people won't know or remember the history of HB's last release, the F-14, I hope I'm helping to better inform those who might wish to know what HB's track record is, but it's not an attempt to boss the discussion - just an explanation of how I arrive at my guesses. Re preorders, they do vary a lot. Again, I'd be surprised if HB wound up doing things dramatically differently to last time, but that could happen, who knows

I see what you’re saying, but if it might be 3 months I don’t think he would have said 6. But forget that, let’s say the hype train does get started in March. Maybe presale opens around Easter. Presale won’t be less than three months (likely to be a season again, and it won’t be announced and end in the same season). Even that extremely optimistic scenario puts EA starting in July. More likely: start seeing videos in May, presale announced July for a winter release. Again, I’d love to see it quicker too, if I’m wrong I’ll be eating crow with a smile on my face, but expecting it before the middle of the year requires ignoring relevant history.

Sorry, the quote from 6r0v3r on the previous page didn't say anything about when they'll be nearing completion, just that they'll show and discuss things starting in less than six months. That will be the start of the hype that comes before preorders open, no way we get the module before Q3. Is there a second post from a HB person floating around? Further edit: I repeat what Czechnology said about making the assumption the guy making the comment in question is authorized to speak on behalf of the Heatblur team. This may not be intended to be an official statement.

This comment from HB on the F-4 forum seems to suggest it will be up to five months before the hype campaign starts for the Phantom. Seems prudent not to expect that to hit EA before Q4. I have to believe they'll give it at least 12 months between releases, and then allowing time for the hype campaign and presale... I'm afraid my guess is the Typhoon hits EA in the first half of 2025. I hope history judges me pessimistic.

Maybe Q3, but not before. Looks like we can expect them to start "showing the details" around or after Easter (if we were going to start seeing stuff in three months I think he would have worded that differently), at least three months of hype videos and presale combined, so I don't see how we get it before July. Expecting Q4 should avoid disappointment. Now that the question of making the initial timeline is closed, HB may well elect to do as they did for the F-14 and hold it back to get more finished than they would had they released last year. I don't think they'll hold it back beyond the end of this year (unless it's out of their hands), but I wouldn't bet they rush it out ASAP having just done the minimum if they can see an advantage in completing more before entering EA. Again, just an opinion.

I sympathise, really I do. When HB released the ‘A Coming Storm’ trailer many of us, me included, didn’t know the F-4 was in development and at the heads of the queue, so disappointment is understandable. With circumstances conspiring to delay things so much in the final crunch to EA for the Phantom, I guess they can’t estimate any timelines that go beyond it and may not be trying to, so that might explain HB talking down expectations. Hopefully a certain person grows some pragmatism (if not humanity) and things will get back to normal in Europe sometime this year. After that we might get some indication on when we can expect the EF. Of course, if that certain person was dumb enough to step across a border, things might get back to normal that much quicker. Wouldn’t it be ironic if it was a bomb dropped by a Typhoon…

Ah, I didn't think about the variant, thanks for the clarification

For a happy, fleeting instant, I thought that might have been Vietnam That would be the perfect complement to the F-4

You mean, like saying HB aren't making F-4 announcements because they're going to release the Eurofighter first to punish Halliburton whistleblowers who are eagerly phoaming for the phantom?

I suspect the silence already tells us implicitly as much as any new statement might tell us explicitly: that they don't have any new information or timeline to share. Ordinarily I get annoyed anytime an ETA is missed by some margin without warning (even when it's a tradesman), but this might be one time I'd give them the benefit of the doubt. We know their team are directly affected by the Ukraine war, if someone doesn't know how long they'll have power day to day it's impossible to estimate what their work output will be. I believe @Cobra847will get the hype train rolling once we're approaching presale, until then we might just have to bear with them.

I agree it will be in the video for sure. It’s also true the reasons are different for this delay and the F-14. I seem to have accidentally deleted part of what I’d written before posting, but my point was that after missing an end-of-year deadline for their previous model, they weren’t rushing to get it out - in fact I’m fairly sure @Cobra847 confirmed at the time that he held it back to get as much done on the TGP and other stuff before putting it out ‘in the wild’, so we may see a similar process. Maybe they will let ED announce this module with no advanced hype, but that would be entirely different to the process they’ve followed with other modules. Honestly, I highly doubt we’ll get anything in the video but them spruiking the F-4 as a reason to be excited about DCS in 2023. That’s enough for me Edit: Happy New Year everyone. I am just guessing and I don't mean to be argumentative, just adding my perspective. I guess the important thing is that we're all looking forward to the F-4, and if it turns out to be announced January Phour (sorry) I'll be very happy I'm wrong!

IMHO ED aren't going to steal HB's thunder and announce major F-4 news. When there's something substantial to say HB will say it, and it won't be on or before Jan 4. HB had an aspirational goal of getting the F-14 out by the end of the year (was that 2018?), and it wound up arriving in May. Just sayin'.