Leatherneck Simulations Monthly Update - January 2015

[NaCH]

The mulicrew technology demonstrator from ED, the L-39, is still several months from being completed. Leatherneck's Tomcat will depend on ED's multicrew technology. Moreover, the revision of carrier ops by ED, on which the Tomcat again depends, is also in a distant future. ED will probably do this in conjuncture with the Hornet, which is again very far away. Considering this and the general complexity of the F-14, I would be extremely surprised if it is released within the next 12 months.

 

On the other hand LNS stated that they will cater almost all of our tastes, which I read as that they will do aircraft from different eras. A release of a much less complex WWII or Korea era aircraft within this year is therfore a more likely possibility.

 

 

Let's hope you are right! :thumbup:

 

Maybe all these features will be included when the straight on hormuz is released... as for sure they will need a Nimitz class there.

 

I Know are not listed as feature but I have some hope the statement marked in Bold will mean that more than just eye candy and perf for DCS 2.0

 

 

"

 

Some features we plan to include in DCS World 2 include:

Direct X 11 support

Improved performance

Dynamic shadowing of the terrain and mountains

Improved weather

Improved lighting

Clipmap support for new maps

Higher object counts

Higher resolution ground terrain mesh and textures for new maps (between 1 and 64 meters per pixel depending on area of map and clipmap level)

More detailed tree models with collision for new maps

Better graphical effects

High resolution road textures for new maps

Ability for road signs and light signals for new maps

Additional ground clutter (rocks, cactuses, etc.) for new maps

Skeleton animation for infantry

Better use of multiple GPUs (CPU multi-threading is not being pursued as it will provide little if any gain)

Ability to create dedicated servers in the future

Unified front end and simulation .exe

Improved API sound support

Improved Oculus Rift support

The Black Sea map will see several benefits of this including better lighting, improved grass, effects and weather.

 

"

[MiG21bisFishbedL]

(CPU multi-threading is not being pursued as it will provide little if any gain)

[McBlemmen]

Eagle dynamics forums : my number one source of gif related lols since 2012

[King_Hrothgar]

We don't know how long their next plane has been in the works. An important thing to keep in mind is that on their team (4 members?), each person does something different. It's entirely possible the 3d artist has been working on the various 3d models for an F-14 for a year or more while the programmers kept working on the MiG. Sure the MiG-21 3d models have been touched up a few times, but that's not exactly a full time job. The same applies to the programmers, researchers and every other role. Once their element is mostly completed and submitted for testing, they can move on to the next project and return to the old one as needed for bug fixes.

 

As for waiting for multicrew support and new carrier operations, those are not core requirements of putting an F-14 out. The F-14 could take off from our existing carriers and of course use land bases as well. Though having proper AI crew modeling and multicrew support in MP would be great, they too are not actually required to have a decent F-14 in DCS. The pilot workload would be high if we're stuck jumping between the pilot and RIO seats all the time, but it could be done.

[VincentLaw]

The F-14 could take off from our existing carriers

Actually, they can't. The catapult is not implemented for players, and the Vinson arrestor cables don't work properly... among other things that need to be fixed for carrier ops, but I don't need to make a list here because I think they are all known problems.

[FlyingHighAU]

It's fair enough point, but the F-14 is capable of landing and taking off from normal runways, so it doesn't necessarily need to be delayed because of carrier ops.

 

Technically the Huey and Mi-8 should also have two pilots, but we can fly them just fine.

 

So I don't necessarily see these as show stoppers.

[McBlemmen]

It's fair enough point, but the F-14 is capable of landing and taking off from normal runways, so it doesn't necessarily need to be delayed because of carrier ops.

 

Agree completely.

 

 

Technically the Huey and Mi-8 should also have two pilots, but we can fly them just fine.

 

So I don't necessarily see these as show stoppers.

 

 

Our helo copilots and the F14's rio are nowhere near equal in importance :/

[FlyingHighAU]

Agree completely.

 

 

 

 

Our helo copilots and the F14's rio are nowhere near equal in importance :/

 

Well, of course not, but what I was getting at is that they could do something similar to the Huey/Hip where you can change seats and the AI will take over to some degree. I'm sure the AI is perfectly capable of follow waypoints, and doing some combat manuevers while you operate the weapons in the back, and vice versa - just like the way you command wingmen that fly their own hawgs and engage enemies on their own.

 

It's not the same as having two human crew members, but it still sufficient for the release of the module.

Edited January 16, 2015 by FlyingHighAU

[313_Nevo]

guys, you'd sacrifice almost everything to get that Cat, wouldnt you? ;)

[King_Hrothgar]

I'd rather a MiG-23, MiG-25, F-5 or Mirage (1970's or '80's model), but a tomcat is what we're getting. In any case, fair point on the catapults not working. I assumed the AI had some way of taking off and it isn't like programming them is a hard thing to do in a scripted manner. Regardless, I still think the F-14 would work just fine using land bases and no AI at all for the second crew member. As long as you can fly the plane from either seat and control the other seat with keyboard shortcuts or joystick buttons, it should be doable. It can't possibly be as hard as flying a 2 seater in RoF and being your own gunner while dogfighting. And believe me, a lot of players have mastered the fine art of gunning while flying. It can be done.

[Manuel_108]

I'd rather have any single seater than the tomcat, honestly.

[Nooch]

I'd love to see a Tomcat in DCS! Yes the RIO is important, however I'm sure they'll find a way to make this work fine. I'm also praying for a Mig 25 or Mig 31 to arrive in the not too distant future.

[westr]

There are plenty of single seaters being released by other 3rd parties, E.D and prob LN. So people who don't want multi-crew won't need to buy an F-14 module. The multi-crew would be different and offer something unique. I'm sure if LN done an A.I R.I.O. It Would operate and perform the functions that a F14 R.I.O would have done in RL scenarios. Leaving the pilot to just do some of that pilot S@!T. And vice versa. It would be nice to be chauffeur driven to the target then operate the weapon systems designate targets with an LTS pod. Or designate air targets for your pilot for him to launch at.

Anyway I'm getting carried away I'm still not convinced we are going to get an F-14 module.

[MBot]

Well there is a picture of an F-14 in the first post of this very thread, right next to the words "The Future". To me that leaves little to doubt :)

 

Also I have no doubts that LNS will solve the two seater problem, both with a human and an AI RIO. I just don't think this will happen within 12 months. The aircraft to be released this year must be something else.

[Flycat]

Well,I'm interesting in how the RIO work on Tomcat,anyone have experience?It's difficult to find the video or article about it.

I only have flight manual of it,but it only the instructor of equipment,but not have what the RIO should do during the flight and mission.

 

And if no one interesting on it,we will have no player work as the RIO in MP(and through the thread on the forum,it seems such a lot of guys don't like others seat behind,many guys like a clever bot receive the instruction instead a real brain),that will appear many human pilot with a back seat daddy bot in the server.

It sounds like Science Fiction,but not ...I don't have world to explain that feeling. LOL

[Flycat]

And if that happened(no one want to sit on back seat),maybe it could solve this on business.The module could separate into 2 part to sale,one edition is front seat,it needs 66% of total price to get it,the other one is back seat,is also 66%.And fully edition is price as usual.When the single wolf player first see such a LOW price they will pay it immediately to taste the bird.After they tired to fly it and want to control the radar,they will need to pay more money to sit on back.The team will get more incoming and the player will meet their demand.

Do not blame/abuse me,last time some guy doesn't like my word and say something on other site(not ED forum),I'm Just Kidding and do the brain storm.The team have their own business tactics,maybe it could be the suggest?

LOL

[Evilducky]

I hope (far fetched hope here) that you are gonna some day do the Su-25SM :) I want a full DCS version of the Su-25's..

[Destroyer37]

We want the SU-25SM!

[Slipp]

We want the SU-25SM!

 

Nah...

The crowd wants the Tomcat. :pilotfly:

[mattebubben]

And if that happened(no one want to sit on back seat),maybe it could solve this on business.The module could separate into 2 part to sale,one edition is front seat,it needs 66% of total price to get it,the other one is back seat,is also 66%.And fully edition is price as usual.When the single wolf player first see such a LOW price they will pay it immediately to taste the bird.After they tired to fly it and want to control the radar,they will need to pay more money to sit on back.The team will get more incoming and the player will meet their demand.

Do not blame/abuse me,last time some guy doesn't like my word and say something on other site(not ED forum),I'm Just Kidding and do the brain storm.The team have their own business tactics,maybe it could be the suggest?

LOL

 

Myself it would be fun to be a rio with a friend.

Talking on the teamspeak and all that.

The teamwork and communication would be awsome.

The whole Mav+Goose thing =)

[kontiuka]

Nah...

The crowd wants the Tomcat. :pilotfly:

oh, I'll take both, no problem.

[Scoggs]

Myself it would be fun to be a rio with a friend.

Talking on the teamspeak and all that.

The teamwork and communication would be awsome.

The whole Mav+Goose thing =)

 

Yeah, that is what I am looking forward to. Already got a RIO lined up.

 

At the same time, I wouldn't mind if the initial release didn't include that. I just want to fly the Tomcat around.

 

Well,I'm interesting in how the RIO work on Tomcat,anyone have experience?It's difficult to find the video or article about it.

I only have flight manual of it,but it only the instructor of equipment,but not have what the RIO should do during the flight and mission.

 

And if no one interesting on it,we will have no player work as the RIO in MP(and through the thread on the forum,it seems such a lot of guys don't like others seat behind,many guys like a clever bot receive the instruction instead a real brain),that will appear many human pilot with a back seat daddy bot in the server.

It sounds like Science Fiction,but not ...I don't have world to explain that feeling. LOL

 

If it is anything like the F Hornet, most of the communication between WSO(RIO in Tomcat) and Pilot is classified. Or at least the exact details

 

But here is a pretty good article from FoxtrotAlpha detailing a RIO's experience in Top-Gun

 

http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/what-it-was-like-being-a-topgun-instructor-while-they-f-1655347873

Edited January 16, 2015 by Scoggs

[kontiuka]

At the same time, I wouldn't mind if the initial release didn't include that. I just want to fly the Tomcat around.

Ya, not getting EVERYTHING at once can actually be part of the fun. I like seeing something become better and more feature-full over time.

[King_Hrothgar]

Yeah, that is what I am looking forward to. Already got a RIO lined up.

 

At the same time, I wouldn't mind if the initial release didn't include that. I just want to fly the Tomcat around.

 

 

 

If it is anything like the F Hornet, most of the communication between WSO(RIO in Tomcat) and Pilot is classified. Or at least the exact details

 

But here is a pretty good article from FoxtrotAlpha detailing a RIO's experience in Top-Gun

 

http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/what-it-was-like-being-a-topgun-instructor-while-they-f-1655347873

 

Interesting read. It's especially interesting that the RIO not only had something we might consider a regular radar display, but a raw output mode too like those on WW2 night fighters.

[Scoggs]

Ya, not getting EVERYTHING at once can actually be part of the fun. I like seeing something become better and more feature-full over time.

Yeah, that and I can get some practice too. That way after an awesome mission with my buddy as my RIO, I don't embarrassing smack into the tail of the ship and I can keep up my Maverick persona :D

 

In a somewhat related note, I really wish that someone would create a flight test mode similar to what Kinney Interactive was planning on doing. I think it would be really cool to get some training missions during beta and then move on to flight testing the Tomcat where we actually report our findings back to Leatherneck.

 

Interesting read. It's especially interesting that the RIO not only had something we might consider a regular radar display, but a raw output mode too like those on WW2 night fighters.

 

Yeah I thought that was pretty cool. It was nice to see a different perspective too, being that we usually only hear from the pilots perspective.