Multiplayer

[element1108]

Sorry after watching the data link Producer's note I got really excited at the potential this game has for multiplayer gameplay.

 

The simple task of sharing data info and coordinating an attack with a real player to this level of realism is what I've been waiting for in a sim for the last 13 years ;). I had high expectations in 1995...a 15 year old can dream can't he ;).

 

Most online games work best when everybody works together and I don't just mean who can score the most kills. Planning, executing, providing cover for attacking gunships etc...it's all part of the master plan and I think it's going to be a rad experience.

 

That and Tracker IR in a 6DOF cockpit ;)...:megalol:

[warthogmadman987]

Yes, I have a feeling that this and the upcoming modules to DCS will redefine flight simulation:thumbup:

[graywo1fg]

with black shark there will be no more "Where is target?"........"its buy that building... to the left" ........."I dont see it your retarded" ........"no you are!".......

 

 

now you can just show him! :D awesome

[159th_Link]

I really can't wait for the multiplayer in black shark. Does anyone know what maximum player amount is? I know that in LOMAC its 32 players, also if all the modules are compatible with each other in terms of multiplayer.

[GGTharos]

As you know, the 'maximum' for LOMAC is 32, but there are servers out there in HL with 99 slots ...

[Shisai]

As far as I know, there's no software limit, so you can have as many players as the server can handle.

[HitchHikingFlatlander]

I think "officially" BS supports 16 players and for helo combat with others that should make for some interesting gameplay. I think even if you can get more players 16 is very realistic.

[deviletk]

Imagine the day a sim get all in 1... Helis, jets, infantry, tanks, APC's etc etc, and all with the same realism as DCS:BS. Everyone in MP doing all aspects in full realism ...wow! (sorry for derailing a bit here, dont know what came over me). :)

 

Yeah BS MP will be amazing eaither way. 16 should be enough for starters. WIll be needed for my training for sure. Argh cant wait!

[Xjikz]

Any information about communications like it exists in Falcon ?

I mean setting up the frequencies before your flight and only talk to the people that are to the same frequencies on the radio.

[Cosmonaut]

Bigger doesn't necessarily mean better. It all depends on the multiplayer environment and what capabilities the host will have at his disposal. Take ArmA, one the most insanely capable games I've ever played online and just when I thought I've seen it all I join a server and someone has scripted a zombie v Islander game or you're in an role playing map robbing banks or getting mugged at gun point, not to mention the portals :D. Anyway even ArmA with rooms as big as 60 it can be really .. well shitty. Chaos can rule and trying to organize that many people online takes a lot of effort. However c00ps are usually pretty good and 16 players should be perfect, for adversarial play no more than 32 but we won't have that in a DCS module for sometime yet. Although if the sim allows for it then I'd assume any number of players should be manageable with out too much hassle so I guess we'll have to wait and see.:)

[sobek]

I guess the dedicated server feature will boost multiplayer performance when it comes out. By then, more than 16 slots will most likely be possible

[nemises]

Bigger doesn't necessarily mean better. It all depends on the multiplayer environment and what capabilities the host will have at his disposal. Take ArmA, one the most insanely capable games I've ever played online and just when I thought I've seen it all I join a server and someone has scripted a zombie v Islander game or you're in an role playing map robbing banks or getting mugged at gun point, not to mention the portals :D. Anyway even ArmA with rooms as big as 60 it can be really .. well shitty. Chaos can rule and trying to organize that many people online takes a lot of effort. However c00ps are usually pretty good and 16 players should be perfect, for adversarial play no more than 32 but we won't have that in a DCS module for sometime yet. Although if the sim allows for it then I'd assume any number of players should be manageable with out too much hassle so I guess we'll have to wait and see.:)

 

Completely agree

 

Sim's (and hardcore tac shooters like ArmA or Project Reality) just aren't designed for the quick 30 min-jump-in-and-have-fun online mp scenario.

To get the most fun out of this in a MP environment, everyone has to know there stuff, and everyone needs to be in comm's.

 

To get 32+ people in that position at the same time over the internet is practically an impossibility :) (exception beeing Red Flag etc.. or other big organised events).

 

So yeah, I see DCS:BS beeing groups of 2 - 6 mates playing a co-op mission together , not as a game like FC where there are 99 player servers and maps that run a full day..theres just no scope for adversarial stuff.

 

Thats not a bad thing though! .. playing a co-op mission with a tight knit group of friends who know their stuff is the most fun you can have imho.

[element1108]

I agree completely as well. The smaller the groups the easier it is to manage. That being said, maybe with more people involved (like 10 or so) groups could be divided up into small pairs each with their own mission objective. Success will be dependent on how the entire mission goes and not just each individual pair mission.

 

On a TS server with multiple channels would be a good way to keep everyone involved in the mission together but also give privacy to the individual pairs so they can not block up the channel.

 

I always find it more fun personally playing co-op with a friend than head to head. Seems more strategic and tactical and I care more to protect a real life wingy than an AI one ;).

[GGTharos]

You will have to divide into groups of up to 4 (max), otherwise the datalink will be screwed up.

[RvETito]

Any information about communications like it exists in Falcon ?

I mean setting up the frequencies before your flight and only talk to the people that are to the same frequencies on the radio.

 

If you ask about voice comms, unfortunately it is not fully like in Falcon. You set manualy frequency but you transmit via menus by choosing from certain number of phrases, which is also present in Falcon. Hopefuly, someday we'll see built-in voice comms feature.

[Xjikz]

Thanks for the answer AirTito.

[CAT_101st]

Multiviper has added to their TeamSpeak a Black shark channel with a ready room, 2 flight channels and 2 recon channels. And TS is free so DCS realy dosen't need to have a in game comms, That would only slow the game down that much moore. DCS BS on 1 cpu and TS on another cpu thuss no impact to the game other than bandwith. :D

I cant wait to be in that room and have all the viper pilots come down to bug me in flight with questions about the sim. :D

[Xjikz]

I think when the game will be released we'll have hundreds of questions, which won't be the same as the hundred ones we currently have :joystick:

[CAT_101st]

Like ho do I keep from getting shot down. how do I land, how do I lock targets. :doh::D

[-Skipper-]

Like ho do I keep from getting shot down. how do I land, how do I lock targets. :doh::D

 

Nah, rather like "Hey, my windscreen-whiper is undermodelled - Fix that now!" :smilewink:

[RvETito]

Guess what- yhe Shkval window also has a wipper ;) You gotta keep that glass really clean :D

 

As for the comms- TBH, I haven't felt a need for that with the presence of TS and Ventrilo. Actualy, I'm not sure if people actualy use the built-in comms in Falcon. We tried it with my squad mates once just for a test but the sound quality was so poor (rather funny, you sound like you've breathed some hellium :D) that we rather used our Ventrilo.

Edited October 19, 2008 by =RvE=Tito

[-Skipper-]

Guess what- yhe Shkval window also has a wipper ;) You gotta keep that glass really clean :D

 

 

 

:smilewink:

[159th_Viper]

Guess what- the Shkval window also has a wiper ;) You gotta keep that glass really clean :D

 

And don't forget the Anti-Bug screenwash :D

[-Skipper-]

And don't forget the Anti-Bug screenwash :D

 

Ah, cool.

 

Is there also an Anti-SAM wiper?

[Revelation]

Actually I'd like to see TS or Vent support built into the sim itself.

 

For example you switch to frequency 1003 in the cockpit, you either whisper to the channel or move to it in TS/Vent. In TS/Vent it can be called anything, on the server side of the game itself in the .cfg file, you identify Channel "flight 1" as frequency 1003.

 

For instance I play a lot on Multivipers. You join the TS server and then fire up the sim; once in the sim it recognizes TS/Vent and automatically takes over that part. Once in the pit depending in complexity/realism you select, you program the flight you're in as comms 1, package as comms 2, etc...

 

I don't think support for both or all comm programs are necessary, ED just picks one and runs with it.

 

I know the coding is a lot to ask, but I've heard such a setup will be easier once TS3 is released. Hopefully ED will take a look at this.