-Vindicator- Posted January 2, 2016 Posted January 2, 2016 I am new to DCS. I have read the F15 manual and the DCS User Manual. I have also read numerous threads. I understand there's a steep learning curve, I'm willing to learn, and I may not know much but I know how to ask questions although they are doubtless basic to many people. If anyone could answer the questions below it would really help. Thanks in advance! Please assume for all questions below that I want to use the DCS website in the future and not Steam. 1. I just installed DCS World 1.5.2.48726.17 from the DCS website. Is this the latest version? How can I tell? 2. If a new version of DCS World 1.5 is made, how can I tell in the future if I have the latest version of DCS World 1.5? 3. Is there an automatic updater for DCS World 1.5? 4. I just installed DCS World 1.5.2.48726.17 from the DCS website. Is this "Alpha"? "Beta"? Neither? 5. Am I correct I have to download DCS World 2.0 Open Alpha to play the NTTR? 6. Re "DCS World 2.0 Open Alpha," what does "Open" mean? 7. Re "DCS World 2.0 Open Alpha," what does "Alpha" mean? 8. Re "DCS World 2.0 Open Alpha," what is the difference between "Open" and "Alpha"? 9. What is the difference between "Alpha" and "Beta" DCS products? a. If I have Alpha, do I need Beta? b. If I have Alpha, is Beta preferable? 10. Now that I have downloaded DCS World 1.5.2.48726.17 from the DCS website, and if I need to download DCS World 2.0 Open Alpha from the DCS website to play NTTR, are DCS World 1.5.2.48726.17 and DCS World 2.0 Open Alpha compatible? That is, assuming my computer has the space to handle both programs, would there be any problem in having both programs? 11. Assuming I have DCS World 1.5.2.48726.17 and DCS World 2.0 Open Alpha on my computer, and I want to play NTTR after downloading it, do I just play it from DCS World 2.0 Open Alpha and ignore DCS World 1.5.248726.17 on my computer? 11. I previously bought FC3 on Steam. Beginning 12-29-15, I had multiple problems with my F15 and I don't know why. For example, even though I was at a complete standstill on the runway, the speed indicator reflected I was travelling 20 or 40 knots, i.e., the speed indicator was two or three notches below 0. Every time I pushed a button on the keyboard, it would take a screensaver shot. I tried to repair it by the above Windows Start Menu / All Apps / Eagle Dynamics / DCS World / repair option, but there was no "Eagle Dynamics" sub-folder (maybe because I bought FC3 from Steam?). At any rate, Steam is now gone from my computer; I uninstalled it. 12. Having deleted Steam from my computer, do I still have access to the FC3 module I purchased from Steam? That is, if I again open an account with Steam, should my FC3 module I already bought be available for downloading? (I haven't decided to download it if it's available, I'm just wondering is it still available for downloading.) 13. If I can download the FC3 I previously bought from Steam, should I download it or start all over and buy a new one from DCS?
Flagrum Posted January 3, 2016 Posted January 3, 2016 My remarks in red ... I am new to DCS. I have read the F15 manual and the DCS User Manual. I have also read numerous threads. I understand there's a steep learning curve, I'm willing to learn, and I may not know much but I know how to ask questions although they are doubtless basic to many people. If anyone could answer the questions below it would really help. Thanks in advance! Please assume for all questions below that I want to use the DCS website in the future and not Steam. 1. I just installed DCS World 1.5.2.48726.17 from the DCS website. Is this the latest version? How can I tell? Yes, this is the latest version. You see the version number on the DCS main screen in the lower right corner. 2. If a new version of DCS World 1.5 is made, how can I tell in the future if I have the latest version of DCS World 1.5? When you start DCS, it first checks if there is a newer version available and asks you in that case if you want to update your installation. You can perform this check also manually (using a different shortcut from the windows start menu) 3. Is there an automatic updater for DCS World 1.5? Yes. See above. 4. I just installed DCS World 1.5.2.48726.17 from the DCS website. Is this "Alpha"? "Beta"? Neither? If nothing else is stated, the website only provides the latest "Stable" version. Beta and Alpha versions can be downloaded here: http://updates.digitalcombatsimulator.com/ 5. Am I correct I have to download DCS World 2.0 Open Alpha to play the NTTR? Yes. At the moment, the NTTR map only works with DCS 2.0. Note: the opposite is also true atm: DCS 2.0 works atm only with NTTR. 6. Re "DCS World 2.0 Open Alpha," what does "Open" mean? Alpha version and beta version are different states of "completeness" of a software. The Release (or "Stable") version is the end user version. A Beta version is a test version that can contain errors and unfinished feature. An alpha version is also a test version that has some more rough edges than a beta version. Now "Open" in this context means, the version is available to us, the mere mortals - as opposed to internal versions which is available only for the developers and the dedicated tester team. 7. Re "DCS World 2.0 Open Alpha," what does "Alpha" mean? See above. :o) 8. Re "DCS World 2.0 Open Alpha," what is the difference between "Open" and "Alpha"? See 6. again. Both terms belong together. It is just "Open Alpha", "Open Beta" and Stable/Release version for us customers and probably many internal versions for ED and the developers. 9. What is the difference between "Alpha" and "Beta" DCS products? See 6. a. If I have Alpha, do I need Beta? No. You don't "need" any of these versions, but you _can_ use them and help the devs to fix errors and bugs (and enjoy new features early). b. If I have Alpha, is Beta preferable? See 6. Alpha version probably has more bugs than a beta version - but in our case they also have totally different features (NTTR is only available for "DCS 2.0 Open Alpha". So it depends on what you want... 10. Now that I have downloaded DCS World 1.5.2.48726.17 from the DCS website, and if I need to download DCS World 2.0 Open Alpha from the DCS website to play NTTR, are DCS World 1.5.2.48726.17 and DCS World 2.0 Open Alpha compatible? That is, assuming my computer has the space to handle both programs, would there be any problem in having both programs? If your hardware specs meet the requirements of both, there is no problem to install multiple versions, be it Open Alpha, Open Beta or release version of DCS. Just make sure you install them into separate directories. 11. Assuming I have DCS World 1.5.2.48726.17 and DCS World 2.0 Open Alpha on my computer, and I want to play NTTR after downloading it, do I just play it from DCS World 2.0 Open Alpha and ignore DCS World 1.5.248726.17 on my computer? At the moment: If you want to fly over NTTR, you need to start DCS 2.0 Open Alpha. If you want to fly over Georgia, you have to start DCS 1.5.2. 11. I previously bought FC3 on Steam. Beginning 12-29-15, I had multiple problems with my F15 and I don't know why. For example, even though I was at a complete standstill on the runway, the speed indicator reflected I was travelling 20 or 40 knots, i.e., the speed indicator was two or three notches below 0. Every time I pushed a button on the keyboard, it would take a screensaver shot. I tried to repair it by the above Windows Start Menu / All Apps / Eagle Dynamics / DCS World / repair option, but there was no "Eagle Dynamics" sub-folder (maybe because I bought FC3 from Steam?). At any rate, Steam is now gone from my computer; I uninstalled it. Uhm, ... sorry ...? If this is a current, specific problem, post a detailled description in the FC3 subforum and people there will probably help you in no time. 12. Having deleted Steam from my computer, do I still have access to the FC3 module I purchased from Steam? That is, if I again open an account with Steam, should my FC3 module I already bought be available for downloading? (I haven't decided to download it if it's available, I'm just wondering is it still available for downloading.) The important part is the FC3 serial key. You need that to use FC3 in DCS World (non-steam). How to transfer that license key properly ... is described in detail somewhere here already. Perhaps you use the search forums for it ... before I tell you something wrong here. :o) 13. If I can download the FC3 I previously bought from Steam, should I download it or start all over and buy a new one from DCS? You can use the Steam purchased license keys with DCS World from the ED website. No need to purchase anything a second time. ... phew! One last advice: save yourself some hassle and install and use just the DCS 1.5.2 version from the website - don't bother right now with Open Beta or Open Alpha versions. And when you are more confident with how things work, you can return and consider using the test versions of DCS.
-Vindicator- Posted January 3, 2016 Author Posted January 3, 2016 I am THOROUGHLY impressed with your answers. Thank you so much!!
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