Reviews...in depth?

[Vekkinho]

2560x1600 no problems here.

 

:huh:

Screen size?!!!

 

28"?!!

 

I'm considering a huge diameter LCD so please advise how huge is huge enough!

[CAT_101st]

My GT is close to that so I will be screaming on my 1440x900 19" WS.

[Flyby]

Not really:

 

Dell 3007WFP 30 inch monitor

E6850 dual core at @ 3.0 GHz

8800 GTX

2 GB RAM

 

I run at default High with the exception of vis range to medium which works great for me (25-30 FPS in most cases).

Thanks Wags. I can see where the memory on that 8800gtx comes in handy for that 30 inch display. I recall now that you posted your system specs before, but I guess I thought you'd bought some new stuff. I'd say that's pretty good performance you're getting.

Flyby out

[rocketeer]

Koriel,

 

In your first screen shot on the graphics option, the field Monitors show 1 monitor. What are the options like? 1, 2 and 3? What's the limit. And will BS automatically stretch the screen for you?

 

I guess that is no direct option for multiple displays (not as one single stretched display) but additional display for the shkval and abris? I hope DCS has anticipated pit builders' need to separate displays and made it possible in a not too painful way.

[Vitesse2l]

First Impression and Performance

 

Copy of a post I made over at SimHQ -

 

How does it run...

 

First, my system is quite low end...some sort of intel P4 3.0 (originally celeron, replaced with second hand cpu - shows 2 graphs in taskmanager), 2 gig ram, 256mb agp 7600gs. I have BS installed on a 500gb sata drive, defragged since installing. XP with sp3. I keep AA and AF set quite low! I use 1024 x 768.

 

Using default settings, overall performance impression is something similar to stock Lomac FC. In the training missions I get 20 - 30 FPS depending on what is in the scene. There is a city near the airbase and flying over it is no problem. There are odd stutters as textures load but nothing to worry about for me.

 

Anyone with better gear than me (everyone?) should get better results.

 

Biggest annoyance is the load time. About 3 minutes. I do not generally have problems with loading time (FSX, IL2, BOB2, SH4). *I will live with this!*

 

In game, the impression of flight is good. By default, head movement is modelled and slightly more pronounced than FSX. Using 'sim' settings, the Ka-50 is sensitive to control inputs and initially felt unbalanced but I quickly got used to it and made a reasonable circuit and landing first time out. The quickstart option is useful and does not feel like a cheat. It takes it's time to go through a realistic startup and keeps your head in the game.

 

I use a microsoft sidewinder FFB stick and that is set up nicely by default. The trim button is useful and works well.

 

Graphically, this is an updated Lomac. It looks much better low down and skimming treetops is a visual treat. Sounds are very nice (I use headphones) and well placed in stereo. I have actually heard my wingman joining formation from within the cockpit. The effect was subtle. I have fired the cannon and that's sounds like... a cannon going off outside your window when you are wearing a helmet and have turbine engines running. I also know what a crash sounds like. The attenuation as you close the side door before takeoff is a good example of the sound quality - it does not seem a simple reduction in volume. The actual sound seems to change too.

 

Overall BS feels like a high quality package. The menus look much better than Lomac but work in a very similar way. I have connected to a multiplayer server as spectator and that worked first time.

 

Feel free to ask anything more specific.

 

Cheers!

[deltahawk2008]

irst, my system is quite low end...some sort of intel P4 3.0 (originally celeron, replaced with second hand cpu - shows 2 graphs in taskmanager)

 

I am in the same boat. I have an AMD 64 3200 cpu, 128 meg 6600gt card, 1 gig of ram, XP Pro. Could I play on my sys, with settings toned down. FC plays quite well on my sys, so long as there is not huge amounts of stuff going on. Eye candy is nice, but happy to keep things toned down so long as the functionality is there.

[Vitesse2l]

BS is running well enough for me - so I have not tweaked too much graphically. From what I have done, I feel that there was little effect on FPS on my system. Suggests the CPU is doing a big share of the work.

[deltahawk2008]

Suggests the CPU is doing a big share of the work.

 

Thats good! Come upgrade time, resources can go into a decent CPU and ram, plus a GPU thats good enough, rather than having to go best of breed, as you would have to do for the latest FPS games. Money saved. Flight sims have traditionally been CPU tied primarily. We still await a multi threaded flight sim to take advantage of dual cores, IIRC Falcon 4 was multi threaded, not sure how well it worked. Remember all the talk about phyics cards, offloading to the GPU, doesnt seem too much software being written to take advantage of developments. Somebody else might like to chime in.

[Flyby]

In Oleg we trust (ED too)

 

Beyond the mist of the future lies the promise of combat flight sims that require quad (or more) CPUs, and at least two powerful GPUs to render real-life battle scenes with complex physics for weather, AI, vehicles, weapons, etc. It's be like looking out the windscreen!!:D Oleg's SoW_BoB may be the first since F4 to really use multiple core CPUs. ED will get there one day. Then wives and kids will lament being abandoned by daddy (abandoned husbands will demand their wives get off the pc and change the baby!). Oh happy day!!

Meanwhile, anyone ever tried brown riceand veggies steamed in ox scrotum?

Flyby out

[Flyby]

In Oleg we trust (ED too)

 

Beyond the mist of the future lies the promise of combat flight sims that require quad (or more) CPUs, and at least two powerful GPUs to render real-life battle scenes with complex physics for weather, AI, vehicles, weapons, etc. It's be like looking out the windscreen!!:D Oleg's SoW_BoB may be the first since F4 to really use multiple core CPUs. ED will get there one day. Then wives and kids will lament being abandoned by daddy (abandoned husbands will demand their wives get off the pc and change the baby!). Oh happy day!!

Meanwhile, anyone ever tried brown rice and veggies wrapped and steamed in ox scrotum?

Flyby out

[159th_Viper]

Meanwhile, anyone ever tried brown rice and veggies steamed in ox scrotum?

Flyby out

 

Aaahh - a dish to Die for, Dr Lecter ;) :)

[Flyby]

Aaahh - a dish to Die for, Dr Lecter ;) :)

Another connoisseur of arcane delights? Don't get me started!:megalol::megalol::megalol::megalol:

Flyby out

[159th_Viper]

In an attemp to appease my Conscience.......A moment of Pure Pleasure - after the years of Anticipation, the moment of Activation!!! :D

 

 

 

 

OK: In-Game and found the user-interface very, for lack of a better word, user-friendly. Toggled the options to suit the needs and slapped together a Mission from a Runway start to get into the Air for the first time as soon as possible. Cold-Start practice can wait for another time.........

 

 

OK - Here's me on the Runway - Good Times!

 

 

 

 

Gear Up - And thanking my lucky stars I had the extensive backround of the T-Toad to assist insofar as the AFM is concerned.........HOWEVER - this is a different Kettle of Fish altogether.......We've Hooked a Live One Here - this Dame is a Handful!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OK - Sightseeing over and struggling with the Lady...........Cold Sweat due to Exhiliration, Fear and Awe..........Time to Put her Down.......or attempt to in any event!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Slowly Does it now...............

 

 

 

 

Oops.........that was not supposed to happen.......

 

 

 

 

This is Gonna Hurt!

 

 

 

 

Yes - Confirmed: Hurts Like Fcuk!

 

 

 

 

I'm Dead...........

 

 

 

 

 

First Impressions:

 

Wow........What can one say - absolutely incredible Flight Model. I have just embarked on the journey and am already hooked - Absolutely lovin' the challenge. No more words just now.........Simply Incredible!

 

:thumbup:

[Gary]

Viper,

 

Very much my experience as well so far. Can take off, follow a route...ish....slow down...and crash!.....

 

I have managed only one landing so far...in the middle of a forrest, put it down soooo gently I survived....and wait for it....didnt even have the gear extended...so busy concentrating on decent rate, speed and keeping it in line I had forgotten!!!

 

Managed to take off again, no damage inflicted...move a clear area, same procedure, GEAR down this time...BOOM!!!!...crashed...

 

I think the ship has something similar to auto co-ord enabled by default from flying around a bit..

 

But like you, im loving the learning curve of this sim..

 

Cant remember where I saw it now but I did see a vid of someone landing this on a moving train!....now thats very, very impressive

 

Regards,

 

Gary

[leafer]

Oh wow. I HATE JU! :D

[Cyb0rg]

"I'm Dead..........."

 

Do you have any ideia of how many rubbles did you just waste?? :joystick:

[swepain]

"I'm Dead..........."

 

Do you have any ideia of how many rubbles did you just waste?? :joystick:

 

 

13 ?

[Cyb0rg]

13 ?

 

You mean 300?

Those wasn't a waste :thumbup:

Edited November 8, 2008 by Cyb0rg

[Flyby]

Viper, great screens and commentary. As you catch your breath, please keep us posted so we-who-don't-have-Black_Shark can live vicariously through your adventures. Oh, keep the screenies coming!;)

Aww hell Leafer hates everyone!:D

Flyby out

[Havner]

Oh, keep the screenies coming!;)

 

http://gallery.livecd.pl/v/blackshark

 

Here are some screenshots of mine. Various planes and carrier including.

[Flyby]

Havner that's a great site you have, and damned good screens!:thumbup: thanks for posting! Is that you landing on the roof? duh! I guess it has to be you!:P

Flyby out

[Havner]

Is that you landing on the roof? duh! I guess it has to be you!:P

 

Yeah, all the screenshots are made by me and me flying (except planes which how much I'd like I can't fly ;))

[159th_Viper]

Getting there..............:)

 

 

 

 

 

[Heatseeker2K3]

Woop!! Very nice :thumbup:. Have you crash... i mean... has a system malfunction forced you to do an emergency landing in the water?

[159th_Viper]

Woop!! Very nice :thumbup:. Have you crash... i mean... has a system malfunction forced you to do an emergency landing in the water?

 

Negative - sustained sub-5m Flight and then carried on through the Valleys :)

 

Found it relatively easy to sustain the NOE flight once you're all trimmed out.......And it is just so much more satisfying in the Whirly-Bird.......Everything moves at a more sedate, leisurely pace, all the while with the feeling that you have to look after her every second lest she turns on you :D

 

An attempted landing in the Valleys went horribly wrong though........Let's just say the last 100 or so meters had me falling from the sky like a brick with the Jingle Bells clanging from the Pit.............:music_whistling: