DCS (Digital Commercial Simulator)???

Just came up with this idea and didn't really know where to post it so decided to post it here cause I thought it was too good not to post.

Anyways, I just thought what if in the future, ED and maybe another company if involved could make another DCS called Digital Commercial Simulator, with the same graphics as the original DCS world, same engine. However it'll be for commercial pilots, regular general Aviation and commercial jetliners.

It can be the most realistic commercial aviation sim ever created and just like the original DCS, can have third party addons which are fully payware available for the game. Since FSX is getting outdated very soon and there aren't very many other games like it that can be kept up to date. And also just like FSX, it can have full world capability with only a select few airports with more detail than others. And for other areas, you can buy maps.

Again, just a thought, but really wanted to share it with everyone!

Since FSX is getting outdated very soon and there aren't very many other games like it that can be kept up to date.

But it's successor P3D is doing very, very well.

But it's successor P3D is doing very, very well.

Well, this DCS can be a good competition to that, don't you think?

I'm all for diversity in DCS, no complaints regarding your idea.

I think the limiting factor right now is map size. Where's the fun in taking a 737 across Georgia? It would only take some 30 or 40 minutes from Batumi to Tbilisi.

If DCS was able to simulate the entire world, like you suggest, things might be different. But my impression is that there won't be a way to connect the highly detailed maps, not for quite some time anyway. And with highly detailed, but small and isolated maps, the use for general and commercial aviation would be very limited.

AFAICT ED have their hands full: Merging 1.5 and 2.0 into 2.5 (one version that supports multiple maps), supporting all released aircraft, creating new maps of their own, working on the F/A-18C, and I don't even know what else. A complete globe that features the detailed maps - yeah, that would be amazing. But for the time being, the relatively small maps are awesome for what DCS really is - the Digital Combat Simulator. ;)

Well hopefully in the future, the full world capability shouldn't be a problem if they are planning such a DCS by any chance

Actually we need at least three worlds! WWII, The Cold War and Modern times :D

Ever wondered why there is a Chinese language cockpit in the mi-8mtv2?

Well hopefully in the future, the full world capability shouldn't be a problem if they are planning such a DCS by any chance

Well, given that the NTTR map download is 26 Gb in size, I would suggest that your request is somewhat beyond the reach of even the most cavernous hard drives, and I can't begin to imagine the howls of derision from the poor guys trying to download the entire globe at DCS World levels of detail!

I can't see any likelihood of ED ever bothering to go down this route when there is still so much scope, and work needed within the current environment.

Civil types within the DCS World environment however is a different matter, but I can't see it ever competing with the currently available commercial sims.

What makes FSX and similar sims so attractive is that you can fly everything everywhere. There might be a big enough group of virtual VFR pilots who would prefer the superior flight dynamics or damage modeling in DCS over the greater freedom in FSX derivatives, but I doubt it would be worth developing civil maps and planes at the expense of more and improved military content.

For me the only place for civil stuff in DCS is through dual use modules, such as civil versions of military planes, thus as a bonus for customers and developers.

A detailed mid 1980s map of central Germany for Cold War gone hot scenarios would be a fantastic place to fly some GA planes, just as the Nevada map if they add a few smaller civil airports over time. Within a few years DCS could maybe become attractive enough to generate some significant extra income from civil aviation fans.

DCS quality maps for the whole world are too big, no doubt.

But I'd like to have the whole world, even as a placeholder with much less quality (and the possibility to "stitch" ED-made or 3rd-party-made maps into it), so probably at the level of detail of stock FSX, with a few low-detail airports in it, ready to be improved by modders. When you fly at night or at high altitudes or in bad weather you won't notice anyway.

Nothing prevents 3rd party devs from working on civilian planes for DCS. There's a reason why nobody does it.

Rather than going for commercial avation and having to compete with a bunch of civil sims, including a very new one coming up soon, I'd rather see ED consolidate their pole position in the combat flight sim market. Instead of switching over to steering 747's over the map, why not appeal to the big bird market by having flyable craft added to the roster amongst the likes of a C-17, C-130, B-52, B1-B, Tu-22M, Tu-95, IL-76?

The maps we have now do not réally accomodate these types of planes. But I think by adding airports in Turkey, Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria we could have ranges appreciated by these type of aircraft.

Make a map "Fulda Gap" ;)

All we ever need for cold war

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Make a map "Fulda Gap" ;)

Oh yes baby, now you're talking.

I think for a long time into the future Prepar3d will be the better solution for this.

+1 for Fulda Gap. If the map extended far enough west I could even fly around my home region (and keep on nitpicking how they didn't get minute and completely irrelevant details right). ;)

a bunch of civil sims, including a very new one coming up soon.

Which is???

I am guessing he means the new Dovetail 'Flight School'.

But I'd like to have the whole world, even as a placeholder with much less quality

This is probably never going to happen in DCS. This is something that has been requested for many many years without any hint from devs that such a thing is planned. A whole new engine was developed meanwhile that also does not allow this - this is in my opinion a very clear indication that DCS is not going to take this route.

My guess would be that they primarily develop technologies that they can use for both of their entertainment as well as commercial/military platforms and since the c/m market is probably not interested in a low quality globe terrain but rather in a specialized training scenarios it seems to me that this is reflected in the technologies that are being developed. This is just my guess of course, I don't see in ED's kitchen but it would make sense to me and not surprise me if this was the case.

PS: I'm not complaining at all, this approach works fine for DCS. Also I think bigger maps are planned (this was hinted) but not the whole world.

I think for a long time into the future Prepar3d will be the better solution for this.

The problem with P3D is that they do not allow 'entertainment' use. Technically if you're not a pilot or a student pilot you are not allowed to use P3D, and that's a deal breaker for me. Being an enthusiast, not a pilot or a student, I will not pay $200 for a platform that in the end of the day I am not legally allowed to use. I will spend my money elsewhere (dcs and xplane in my case).

I am open, even willing for for Digital Civilian Simulator, but not so much in Digital Commercial Simulator. For reasons that have been discussed in various threads similar to this one, large commercial (and military for that matter) aircraft have different requirements to simulate their experience, requirements lean closer to likes of FSX and XPlane rather than DCS. And that is fine. Horses for courses.

What I would like to see in civilian aircraft category for DCS would be, civilian aircraft that can fit DCS' strong features. I'd categorize these into 3 distinct types :

- Pitts S2B, Zivko EDGE, Su-26M etc, where the thing really matters is the flight characteristics. These would be phenomenal to fly and try some aerobatics, challenges, air races etc. I am not suggesting people making all sorts of aerobatics aircraft of course, probably 1-2, at most 3 types would be very much enough for that category.

- Also, any helicopter can work too, with some dev work, air taxi, forest fire fighting, patrol etc. types of missions can be enabled for helis in DCS, as terrain mesh is getting better in new maps, and as DCS is top of the line in helo pyhsics currently, these would be quite nice.

- Finally a few small to medium size cargo and / or passenger aircraft. Someone was / is modeling a Caribou for example, which is prime example of what I mean in this category. Also, perhaps some small, short ranged regional commuters for people just really wanting some sort of commercial aviation in DCS taste. If bush flying type operations were possible in DCS, that would be whole another kind of challenge and fun, landing remote patches of land instead of even halfway proper runways etc.

So, I think there is room for some modules in these 3 categories, and I would like seeing DCS expand with modules in these areas (even if I may not really get them all, they would surely expand the audience).

Another thing, I see lots of people stating their opinions along the lines of "big aircraft have no place in DCS", but then turn around and say in the same post "but something like C-17 or tankers would be suitable". I am sorry, but if I look objectively, this makes zero sense... Same reasons that make a Boeing 747 not at home in DCS applies exactly to C-17 too, they make exactly same about sense (which isn't much in my personal view). Being military does not magically change the operational methods, flying experience, range etc characteristics of large aircraft. An IL-76, C-17, C-5 etc. will operate on same relatively small maps as funny ATC as a 747 or A 340 or IL-96. There is the navigation thingie too of course, but it seems as maps progress, beacons etc for runways are getting more realistic, and it seems a Garmin GPS navigation tool is also in works. But still, my point is, just because they are military, large tankers and cargo planes do not belong any more than large passenger planes. I find it strange to state contrary.

Edit : Oh, and I think even in these 3 categories, there would be room for a few modules each, not necessarily a whole slew of them all, so nothing to worry about them taking over combat modules :). Also, when I argue I don't think large aircraft and DCS go along too well, I am not arguing against those either, if people want to fly them and any dev decides it is a good idea for them to make one, by all means I hope they will enjoy the fruits of it. I don't think DCS and heavies fit that well currently but that's just me. I rather argued against people saying large civilian aircraft have no place in DCS, yet at the same time saying "but may be large cargo / tanker aircraft".

Another thing, I see lots of people stating their opinions along the lines of "big aircraft have no place in DCS", but then turn around and say in the same post "but something like C-17 or tankers would be suitable". I am sorry, but if I look objectively, this makes zero sense... [...]

Good points about aerobatic aircraft, choppers and small GA/transport aircraft, I fully agree.

Regarding the point about good use for military transport aircraft (which I don't think I ever made myself, but I sort of agree with it): I don't think there's any viable scenario for a short range flight with a civilian long range aircraft. With military transport aircraft on the other hand, while they're perfectly suited for long range flights, they may well be used for short range troop and material deployment, ferrying stuff back and forth between the safety of a home airfield and a combat zone with a captured enemy airfield and so on. Paratrooper deployment would be another scenario that doesn't require any long range flights.

While I don't favor cargo aircraft myself, the possibilities they would offer in DCS, even in the current maps, would mean a huge expansion in terms of mission variety and complexity - in contested airspace, they'd need CAP, and when landing on a captured airfield, there'd better be some CAS overhead to suppress MANPADs (or make sure they only get to fire one shot ;)).

In essence, I think it's a very valid point of view to support military cargo aircraft while not supporting the idea of civilian cargo and passenger aircraft in DCS. :smartass:

DLC World :D

just joking. this is the only one combat sim so we need them to survive. if you are ok with the content you have already, then just don't buy more

The extent of my support for civilian aircraft in DCS is limited to aircraft that fit the maps and strengths of DCS as it exists today, not what it may or may not have 5 years from now. I think small general aviation aircraft, choppers in general and aerobatic planes fit well. With that said, these types generally aren't worth all that much to me. I can't think of a single unarmed aircraft I'd be willing to pay more than $25 for, and even $25 is really pushing it tbh.

Edit: Not true Ebabil, there is another one very much alive with new stuff constantly being added. But DCS is the only one doing post WW2 military aircraft.