DCS World Weekend Updates - August 5th, 2016

[MegOhm_SD]

So 400% is a big win. That's great! Looking forward to seeing this from the cockpit...

 

Makes me wonder just how much there is left to do to get to the great "unification"...

 

Oh I know... by the end of the year...but the wait is quite agonizing.

 

Maybe the Museum Relic would help me pass the time...hmmm ok, I'll buy it and I guess that means I'm adding another little jet to my hangar that otherwise I would not have bought. :pilotfly:

Edited August 9, 2016 by MegOhm_SD

[NineLine]

How will not have the crimean. Would not it be better to exclude that part of the map?

 

Its no different than what we have now in reference to Crimea.

[Darkbrotherhood7]

Take a look at the current map mesh around Min. Vody. We plan that res for the entire map.

 

Thanks

 

Thank you Matt and ED team, awesome job!:thumbup:

 

I'm really excited to the end of the year, I mean, DCS 2.5, Caucasus update, Carrier DLC, Spitfire, F/A-18C and hopefully LNS F-14A/B. I can't wait, it will be amazing. :)

Edited August 9, 2016 by Darkbrotherhood7

[Vitormouraa]

F-14 this year? :D

[Goldsmack]

F-14 this year? :D

 

One can dream! :thumbup:

[NineLine]

F-14 this year? :D

 

Barking up the wrong tree ;)

[Phantom453]

Take a look at the current map mesh around Min. Vody. We plan that res for the entire map.

 

Thanks

 

Thanks for that reply and info Matt. Looking forward to seeing it.

 

A great move by ED IMHO. This map is the "front door" to DCS, especially for all new players. The better it looks, the more likely those new players are to hang around and get hooked (like all of us).

 

Of course the cherry on top is ED are kindly providing this great update for free! Such a comprehensive update is really going to breathe some new life into this map.

[MasterZelgadis]

I'm very happy to see that the Caucasus map gets such a nice update. Would even pay for it btw..

IMO Nevada map is nice, but offers not much space for real military scenarios other than training / [insert_color]-Flag missions. So I'm really looking forward to the new Caucasus and Hormuz maps

[SkateZilla]

I'm very happy to see that the Caucasus map gets such a nice update. Would even pay for it btw..

IMO Nevada map is nice, but offers not much space for real military scenarios other than training / [insert_color]-Flag missions. So I'm really looking forward to the new Caucasus and Hormuz maps

 

NTTR was designed and setup to be A <Color>Flag/Training Map, that's the purpose it serves in real life, and that's the purpose it serves in DCS, it wasnt meant to be an "open conflict war zone".

 

In the squads I fly with as a friend/guest, who also fly only Western/NATO AC (A-10s, F-15, F-5E, M-2000C)

They mainly use NTTR for Flight Qualifications, Point to Point Quick Free Flights, Mock Combat Scenarios (Using all Western Aircraft and Radio Calls for Kills), etc etc,

 

When they want to run a Actual War/Conflict Scenario/Mission they use Caucasus.

[Raven68]

Thanks for that reply and info Matt. Looking forward to seeing it.

 

A great move by ED IMHO. This map is the "front door" to DCS, especially for all new players. The better it looks, the more likely those new players are to hang around and get hooked (like all of us).

 

Of course the cherry on top is ED are kindly providing this great update for free! Such a comprehensive update is really going to breathe some new life into this map.

 

You put that nicely sir! It really is about first impressions and getting that hook the first time the line is casted.

[Aginor]

That's terrain elevation resolution being increased 400%, aka the geometry detail.

Not the texture resolution (although that's been done too).

 

Looking foward to this though over some of the other modules!

 

Yes, of course.

We were talking about terrain resolution, not terrain texture resolution.

The Nevada map has different parts with more accurate and less accurate elevation mesh. If I am not mistaken the new Caucasus will be near the quality of the medium areas, and that's pretty good.

 

And of course new textures will make it even more awesome. That goes without saying.

 

Exciting! :)

[SkateZilla]

Yes, of course.

We were talking about terrain resolution, not terrain texture resolution.

The Nevada map has different parts with more accurate and less accurate elevation mesh. If I am not mistaken the new Caucasus will be near the quality of the medium areas, and that's pretty good.

 

And of course new textures will make it even more awesome. That goes without saying.

 

Exciting! :)

 

 

 

 

The High (1m per Px), Medium(2-6 Meter per Px), an Low (16m per Px) You speak of for NTTR is Texture detail, not Elevation Detail.

 

NTTR Uses Clip Maps, Elevation Mesh Resolution Changes with distance from camera etc.

 

Not sure if the Geometry / elevation mesh resolution was ever publicly stated or not, although airbase areas do have a higher resolution it appears, over the outskirts of the map.

Edited August 10, 2016 by SkateZilla

[Ala12Rv-watermanpc]

The High (1m per Px), Medium(2-6 Meter per Px), an Low (16m per Px) You speak of for NTTR is Texture detail, not Elevation Detail.

 

NTTR Uses Clip Maps, Elevation Mesh Resolution Changes with distance from camera etc.

 

Not sure if the Geometry / elevation mesh resolution was ever publicly stated or not

 

Do you know by any chance if there is any way to improve that distance??

[Aginor]

The High (1m per Px), Medium(2-6 Meter per Px), an Low (16m per Px) You speak of for NTTR is Texture detail, not Elevation Detail.

 

NTTR Uses Clip Maps, Elevation Mesh Resolution Changes with distance from camera etc.

 

Not sure if the Geometry / elevation mesh resolution was ever publicly stated or not, although airbase areas do have a higher resolution it appears, over the outskirts of the map.

 

Huh. Got that wrong then. Thanks for the clarification. I always thought it was both texture and mesh.

[Oceandar]

Great news, indeed. Is there a plan to make the old Crimean available again ? I don't mind if I have to pay for it. God...I miss those Flanker 2 days...

 

Gam Zeh Ya'avor - King Salomon

[MasterZelgadis]

NTTR was designed and setup to be A <Color>Flag/Training Map, that's the purpose it serves in real life, and that's the purpose it serves in DCS, it wasnt meant to be an "open conflict war zone".

 

In the squads I fly with as a friend/guest, who also fly only Western/NATO AC (A-10s, F-15, F-5E, M-2000C)

They mainly use NTTR for Flight Qualifications, Point to Point Quick Free Flights, Mock Combat Scenarios (Using all Western Aircraft and Radio Calls for Kills), etc etc,

 

When they want to run a Actual War/Conflict Scenario/Mission they use Caucasus.

 

I know and fully understand. But nevertheless, this is why I am not so happy about that map at all. Caucasus got a little boring over the years and years of Lock On, Ka-50, A-10C and DCS World. And the new map, which would be a chance for new, fresh missions is a very restrictive training map with no real potential for interesting missions (again, "IMO" is the important part here). So it's a little sad to see, that so much resources are put into a map, which only serves as a training map..

[BIGNEWY]

I know and fully understand. But nevertheless, this is why I am not so happy about that map at all. Caucasus got a little boring over the years and years of Lock On, Ka-50, A-10C and DCS World. And the new map, which would be a chance for new, fresh missions is a very restrictive training map with no real potential for interesting missions (again, "IMO" is the important part here). So it's a little sad to see, that so much resources are put into a map, which only serves as a training map..

 

Your analysis is incorrect, it is not just for training, it is the first contact with new users, this is why it is important to increase the standard of the Caucasus terrain in my opinion.

Edited August 11, 2016 by BIGNEWY

[Zulu]

Your analysis is incorrect, it is not just for training, it is the first contact with new users, this is why it is important to increase the standard of the Caucasus terrain in my opinion.

 

He is talking about Nevada.

[MasterZelgadis]

No, he is right. New users in 2.0 or 2.5 will do trainings first, so tutorials / trainings will be on nevada map, which is why it will be the first contact to users.

It is not that bad, as it may seem after my comments (was not intended as a rant), because the creation of the nevada map will bring lots of experience, the devs can use to improve / create other maps.

 

It's just..so much time and so many resources for a (in my opinion) very restricted benefit, if you think about which kind of missions make sense on this map

[BIGNEWY]

Hell I am confused now :)

 

Caucasus free map and first contact, most training will be done here, it is a free map

 

Nevada is paid content so not ideal for first contact, but ideal for training scenarios.

 

both maps have had massive amounts of work done, which I think is great, and well worth the effort

[112th_Rossi]

I honestly think they should throw in a weaponless L39 as part of the free package. The TF51 is great but I think a lot of people will be downloading for the jets. The non-clicky SU25 is ok but DCS shines where we have full fidelity cockpits.

[JLX]

I honestly think they should throw in a weaponless L39 as part of the free package. The TF51 is great but I think a lot of people will be downloading for the jets. The non-clicky SU25 is ok but DCS shines where we have full fidelity cockpits.

 

I agree but I'd go further:

 

I'd make Nevada the FREE map! We've already established that new users need a good first impression. Well, Nevada incorporates all the new tech and looks amazing!

 

What are new users doing? Well... they're TESTING and TRAINING.... Hmm... Sound familiar? Why not let Nevada do exactly what it's designed for? Give them two training aircraft, the TF-51 and L-39 on the Nevada Test & Training Range for free. Then when they're ready for combat, they'll need to purchase new modules and theaters.

 

But what about those of us that have already paid for Nevada? This is where I'd suggest that an updated and expanded Caucasus map (ideally that would include the Crimean Peninsula so we can model more current scenarios) become a PAID terrain. Everyone who has bought Nevada would get this Caucuses 2.0 map for free. So, we'd still have both terrains while having paid for only one.

 

I would also release the updated (but not yet expanded) Caucasus map when it is ready and simply call it "early access" (or whatever) so as not to delay us from enjoying it while any possible expansion is developed.

 

A big change like this makes DCS 2.5 a good time to do this. Caucasus missions are likely going to need to be updated anyway. So make the big changes all at once.

 

Lastly, I'd update the SU-25T to a full DCS level product to mirror the A-10C. FC3 has the lower tech Su-25 and A-10A but both would then have improved versions as DCS quality upgrade modules.

 

This makes a lot of sense (to me anyway) and also leverages existing work (Caucasus map, SU-25T) that could use an update anyway (and in the process becoming paid) while also showcasing the latest and prettiest (Nevada, L-39) that ED has to show right now.

 

Hopefully, it would also encourage mission designers to make training missions for Nevada (as that's what new users who need the most training will have) and combat mission for other theaters.

 

Anyway, just my $0.02 as always.

[rajdary]

I agree but I'd go further:

 

I'd make Nevada the FREE map! We've already established that new users need a good first impression. Well, Nevada incorporates all the new tech and looks amazing!

 

What are new users doing? Well... they're TESTING and TRAINING.... Hmm... Sound familiar? Why not let Nevada do exactly what it's designed for? Give them two training aircraft, the TF-51 and L-39 on the Nevada Test & Training Range for free. Then when they're ready for combat, they'll need to purchase new modules and theaters.

 

But what about those of us that have already paid for Nevada? This is where I'd suggest that an updated and expanded Caucasus map (ideally that would include the Crimean Peninsula so we can model more current scenarios) become a PAID terrain. Everyone who has bought Nevada would get this Caucuses 2.0 map for free. So, we'd still have both terrains while having paid for only one.

 

I would also release the updated (but not yet expanded) Caucasus map when it is ready and simply call it "early access" (or whatever) so as not to delay us from enjoying it while any possible expansion is developed.

 

A big change like this makes DCS 2.5 a good time to do this. Caucasus missions are likely going to need to be updated anyway. So make the big changes all at once.

 

Lastly, I'd update the SU-25T to a full DCS level product to mirror the A-10C. FC3 has the lower tech Su-25 and A-10A but both would then have improved versions as DCS quality upgrade modules.

 

This makes a lot of sense (to me anyway) and also leverages existing work (Caucasus map, SU-25T) that could use an update anyway (and in the process becoming paid) while also showcasing the latest and prettiest (Nevada, L-39) that ED has to show right now.

 

Hopefully, it would also encourage mission designers to make training missions for Nevada (as that's what new users who need the most training will have) and combat mission for other theaters.

 

Anyway, just my $0.02 as always.

 

I agree with your idea, i would only add that ED include Crimea region to the new paid Caucasus theatre and there would be a good reason to make it payware.

[SkateZilla]

We're getting a little off topic now guys/gals.. lol.

[JLX]

We're getting a little off topic now guys/gals.. lol.

 

Feel free to move it to a new topic if that's more appropriate Skate. I think it's a suggestion that's worth ED considering even if they decide against it. Tnx.