Community Content

[Laud]

Nick Grey said in an interview that ED is happy about all the community content as ED, as a small company, couldn't cover that all by themselves.

 

Skins, 3D objects, missions...

 

 

Now what I wonder is can't this content (at least the qualtiy-stuff) be included into the base-game? Rather than having to go and download it, resulting in incompatibilities in MP.

 

Skins are really foremost in my mind here but also things like the Range Targets.

 

 

Are there legal issues involved?

 

 

Maybe at least some kind of auto-download of skins, to the clients saved game folder?

 

The community support is there in force. It's maybe just not ideally integrated into the game.

 

 

Looking forward to all your thoughts on this!

[Flagrum]

One aspect might be, that this content has to be mainainted. As DCS evolves, things change and this community content has to be adjusted as well in order to function properly. Skins depend on the 3D models, 3D models themselfs need skins/textures, which also depend on the rendering engine, etc.

 

Who will, reliably, maintain this content, once it is included into the base game?

[Mars Exulte]

Some of it HAS been included, but in general no, that's never going to happen enmasse for a raft of legal and practical reasons. DCS handles this stuff the same as nearly every other game in the history of mankind.

[BuzzU]

DCS is big enough. I don't need more taking room on my SSD that I won't use.

[rob10]

Who will, reliably, maintain this content, once it is included into the base game?

To me this is the #1 reason it won't ever be included and until that could be solved (realistically $/more people could solve it, but for no return to ED so it makes no sense for them to do it) the other considerations won't even come into play. Even official third party developers get caught out occasionally by a change and people freak out, so I can't imagine the screams if all this was included and not updated immediately each time.

 

[BaD CrC]

It happened before and there has been official (but failed) attempts to include some remarkable mods as official 3rd parties add-on (Caucasus textures, FrenchPack,...). But yes, as highlighted by everyone, ED is changing constantly their software and usually is doing a very poor job at communicating it to even their licensed 3rd parties. It also generates some frustrations with modders when, after a patch, they realized all their work has gone to the bin. So they just stop updating them and move on to other sims.

Now, community content is critical for me in DCS. ED is so laser focus on fixed wings and their shiny/more profitable modules like the F18 that the actual official content for helicopters is a bit ridiculous. We have to deal with the same horrible FARP for a decade, troops transportation is broken in MP for years, MP cargo slingloading is funky at best also for years with limited cargo types and infantry AI is ridiculous. I just cannot imagine flying without a CTLD+CSAR script running on the background, having credible threats like Technicals, elements likes hospitals pads, wounded personnel, civilian people, IED objects, some decent cargos like artillery units and vehicles, and most importantly, decent looking FOB and FARPS with proper markings and landing pads that do not stick out 20 feet above the ground. Every thing that makes DCS world more credible at 200 ft/ 100kt, which obviously is no factor for the boys flying 35000ft/500kt.

[Baco]

I do agree. ED has not ever nor will it be able to produce enough content for every module and map. most content is from Lock On! They really need to either make user content MP friendly, OR adopt it as official. specially with ED working on modules instead of working on core issues like ASSETS.

 

[=4c=Nikola]

IMO,

 

1. They can adopt user models if models are high quality and performance, come with source files and user is willing to give up all rights. That way future support of the asset is secured.

 

or

 

2. They can implement MP mods where clients would (temporarily or permanently) download server mods configuration. It can even be in some semi-official way where only approved mods stored at ED servers can be downloaded to ensure minimum quality.

[Laud]

IMO,

 

1. They can adopt user models if models are high quality and performance, come with source files and user is willing to give up all rights. That way future support of the asset is secured.

 

or

 

2. They can implement MP mods where clients would (temporarily or permanently) download server mods configuration. It can even be in some semi-official way where only approved mods stored at ED servers can be downloaded to ensure minimum quality.

 

Now that's very much what I would think of. The way it is in MP is just very uncompatible or uncomfortable.