Thinking of buying this. Questions.

[agathorn]

Hey all,

 

Currently I am a very happy owner of the DCS A-10C, and I absolutely love its incredible high level of simulation fidelity. I fly it of course with the Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS, and looking forward to getting in the cockpit with an Oculus Rift sometime soon!

 

Anyway, while I love my hog, ever since I've been a little boy I have loved jets like the F-15 and F-16. I'm so happy to see one of these finally being developed, and i'm curious about finding out more as i'm considering buying it.

 

My confusion though lies in this being called a Flaming Cliffs product and not a DCS World product. What does that actually mean? Does it mean I need to own FC3 first before I can get this? Also what does it mean as far as simulation fidelity? The product blurb implies it is more dumbed down (sorry I don't mean that in an offensive way) than a normal DCS world product like the A-10C? Does this mean it lacks the hard core simulation qualities in the cockpit? Is there a reason it is being developed this way rather than a full DCS World product?

 

Anyway, none of this is intended to be a slight to the developers at all, i'm just trying to understand what I would be getting, because its that insanely hard core simulation side of DCS A-10C that I love. Thanks!

[Skall]

It used to be that you needed LOMAC or a previous Flaming Cliffs to buy and install FC3. If you look at the product page, that is no longer a requirement. http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/shop/modules/dcs_flaming_cliffs_3/

 

FC3 brings several planes, not just the F-15. If you are only interested in the F-15, then you can buy that plane separately. Due to a summer sale, the F-15 can be purchased for $10 USD. The page says open-beta as there is still a bit of work left to do on the flight model but it is perfectly flyable in its current state. http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/shop/modules/f-15c_dcs_flaming_cliffs/

 

FC3 planes, as opposed to DCS planes, do not have clickable cockpits so several manual procedures and interactions are simplified. As far as flight modeling goes, some FC planes (F-15C, A-10A) have a more advanced flight model than the others and are more inline with the flight modeling of the A-10C. ED plans to update the flight model for all FC3 planes over time. The next FC plane in line to be upgraded to the new flight model is the Su-27 and will be released as a stand-alone module much like the A-10A and the F-15C. If you buy FC3 now, you will automatically get the updated Su-27 when it comes out.

 

My thoughts: if you already own the A-10C and are not 100% certain about getting the entire FC3 package but want to fly a fighter jet, get the stand-alone F-15C and see if you like it. I see little value in buying a whole suite of planes in one shot when getting proficient in one of these planes alone takes a fair deal of time and practice.

 

I own DCS A-10C and FC3. The only FC3 plane I've used is the F-15 and it is keeping me plenty busy, even with its non-clickable cockpit. I'm not the slightest bit disappointed with the flight modeling of the aircraft.

 

Also, even if you don't own FC3, you can still play online with people that fly planes you don't own so don't feel like you are limiting your MP options by not buying the whole thing.

 

Edit:

 

Just to make it perfectly clear, FC3 includes the stand-alone F-15C: DCS Flaming Cliffs and A-1A: DCS Flaming Cliffs planes. If you buy FC3, you do not need to buy the stand-alone DCS Flaming Cliffs planes. Or, if you are not interested in all of the FC3 planes, you can buy them as stand-alone products for much less.

Edited July 9, 2014 by Skall

[Exorcet]

FC3 planes, as opposed to DCS planes, do not have clickable cockpits so several manual procedures and interactions are simplified. As far as flight modeling goes, some FC planes (F-15C, A-10A) have a more advanced flight model than the others and are more inline with the flight modeling of the A-10C. ED plans to update the flight model for all FC3 planes over time. The next FC plane in line to be upgraded to the new flight model is the Su-27 and will be released as a stand-alone module much like the A-10A and the F-15C. If you buy FC3 now, you will automatically get the updated Su-27 when it comes out.

 

The most realistic FC3 planes are eqivilent to the free Su-25T in DCS World. Try the 25T to see if you like flying FC level planes.

 

Note that the MiG-29 and Su-33 don't have AFM (the Su-27 is getting AFM in the future) and do not experience pitch/roll/yaw coupling, have no ground physics modeling, scripted limit of envelope flying, and simpler damage model. They're still simulation aircraft, but outdated at this point.

[Ktulu2]

Well, If I remember SU-25T only has an AFM+, not a pfm (though you wont notice the differance) but the F15 and (future Su27 should be a little better.

[Sceptre]

My advice is get FC3 while it's on sale. The flanker has a really nice 6DoF cockpit and will be getting it's very own professional flight model soon :) If you own FC3, you can upgrade for free because you already own the plane.

[agathorn]

Thanks for the replies everyone. 10 bucks is a steal so I just went and grabbed it. It sounds like the level of simulation will be less than I like (That immersive clickable cockpit, along with all the operational procedures that come with it are a big draw for me), you can't really go wrong at that price. None of the other aircraft in FC3 interested me so I just grabbed this one.

 

Maybe some day it will migrate from FC3 to full on DCS?

[Magician]

Maybe some day it will migrate from FC3 to full on DCS?

 

No immediate plans for the F-15C to do that. The first modern American fast mover that's coming out in High Fidelity is going to be the Hornet. Possibly (with emphasis on possibly), this year.

[Ktulu2]

No possibility for this year, wags just said not to expect EARING about it before this year.