Would you pay for another Addon to Lock On ?

[104th_Crunch]

It seems there is a large contingency of virtual fighter pilots who possibly wont fly online because they want to see some things fixed first. They've been holding out for a 1.13 patch which may or may not be released.

 

ED could make a new Addon for Lock On, nothing particularly fancy, maybe a MiG-25 Foxbat. Simple radar longer range missiles and nothing particularly unique. The key however, is that it gives financial incentive for ED to improve some things, the AIM-120 the Uber ET, etc. like the list created in this post. An Addon with improvements/fixes to Lock On could make the online experience more realistic and therefore help the online community to stay motivated to fly.

 

Do you think that ED should create an Addon for Lock On that you would pay for or would you rather wait for a high fidelity Fighter Aircraft DCS module, whenever that might be?

Edited February 23, 2009 by Crunch

[Aeroscout]

Fix link: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=26142

 

yes, I would like another addon, but as for the plane, I think the US should be given another bird. I'd say the F-16, but it's over rated and I think half the community wouldn't be able to contain themselves (This thread would become "sticky" if you know what I mean) A dumbed down F/A-18 would be better IMO. Balanced carrier ops would be a plus (Su-33 vs F/A-18).

 

Anyway, ED should "outsource" this addon to 3rd party groups like simmodders or such. This would keep most of the internal ED resources focoused on DCS.

 

The most important thing is still the missile and radar proformance, which really needs to be improved.

 

So... YES! Lockon deserves a very large patch, at the very least. I'd pay for an addon!

[Outlaw24]

Yes ,I would pay for a addon but it will never happen, I doubt if patch 1.13 will materialize . I think all ED attentions and resources are directed towards Black Shark.

[Udat]

If they did it properly (fix missiles, loadouts, general bugs, improve fms, add a multirole us plane and incorporate he best 3d-models and terrain mods/teka mods, etc,) I'd definitely pay for it. I'd probably pay in blood even, but I'm not seeing it ever happening.

 

Just imagine PROPER aim-120s online vs flankers armed with 8 or 10 r-77s, or f-16 sead missions. I'd be in heaven.

[GGTharos]

Resources are currently focused on other projects at this point, AFAIK.

[104th_Crunch]

I'd probably pay in blood even.

 

:crazy:

[rattler]

:mad: Let them fix what they broke.

[Moa]

I want to give ED my money for enhancing LockOn. Sure Black Shark is cool, but LockOn caters to a slightly different audience and customer taste.

 

I'd love new terrain (Israel, Korea or Taiwan) and the option of dropping 'game balance' for realistic missile performance. Multiplayer inflight refueling would be cool too.

 

ED don't have to do that much, just work more closely with community efforts like SimMod. We can do the work if only ED let us (especially with access to bits of the code). Check out the huge amount of work done on the flight model of the F16 by Raptor One and Mav-Jp for example. ED could use these efforts and more (as if their development team was a lot bigger).

 

By making a better product (harnessing the labour of the community) they would grow the market rather than being protectionist over a little niche. Witness the enormous grow of Linux and Open Source, with many companies making money from that.

 

However, the community won't work in a straightjacket and don't want do any work if ED can arbitrarily take the communities own work away from them.

 

I for one want to build a dynamic campaign engine at least as good as Falcon has, but have to work very inefficiently by parsing unreliable low-fidelity logs rather than being able to make API calls directly.

 

There would have to be enough of a change to make people buy new products. Either the F16 or F18 makes sense, as not only can you do a lot of different cool stuff with them, but also a lot of countries around the world use them (including all those US customers).

[104th_Money]

Yes. I would pay for an add on aircraft update for Lock On, especially if a majority of the update went to fixing current issues. However, I would think that since I already purchased the original, the price should be somewhere in the $20 range.

 

As far as aircraft, I dont think that a Mig-25 be the best choice of aircraft. I would prefer to fly an F-16, however I agree with Aeroscout that the proper balance would be an F-18 for US carrier operations, along with an update to the US tankers for the probe and drogue system for AA refuelling along with the boom.

 

In my personal opinion, for ED to offer a low priced update for an older product that still has such a large following would go a long way in any future decisions to purchase new products that they produce, regardless of them doing the work themselves or allowing 3rd parties to develop a patch or introduce a new flyable.

 

In all reality, while DCS:Black Shark is an absolutely wonderful simulation of unprecedent quality, the mission play, both on and offline remain a severely limited niche in the world of combat simulation. As a result I still find myself flying Lock On significantly more than BS. So I would rather see an aircaft/patch update soon and wait a bit longer for a new aircraft for DCS later.

 

169F Money

[Guest Avngr]

Yes, I would. BUT, only if they stopped this "dumbing down aircraft for balancing gameplay purposes". This is stupid. And for those crying that it would ruin the gameplay, go play Ace Combat! If you are in an inferior aircraft, with inferior equipment, make use of superior skill and planning!

 

ps. 80's US naval fighter choice? Tomcat offcourse!

Edited February 23, 2009 by Avngr

[Teknetinium]

Yes, I would. BUT, only if they stopped this "dumbing down aircraft for balancing gameplay purposes". This is stupid. And for those crying that it would ruin the gameplay, go play Ace Combat! If you are in an inferior aircraft, with inferior equipment, make use of superior skill and planning!

 

ps. 80's US naval fighter choice? Tomcat offcourse!

 

totally agree whit u, a patch is most likely unrealistic, I hope ED will think about this things u mention in Su-27,F-16,F-15 release. at the same time its really hard for developers to know how for example Su-27 against F-15 would do,(not even pilots them self know)so to not speculate to much the best solution is to have some sort of balance(to not start even bigger flame wars that we had). I think that missiles are just fine if R-77,Aim-120-ET had smaller search cones, and Aim-120s speed increased witch is proven to not match realife parameters.

 

remember. May the best pilot win.

Edited February 23, 2009 by Teknetinium

[Trooper_747]

Yes. I would pay for an add on aircraft update for Lock On, especially if a majority of the update went to fixing current issues. However, I would think that since I already purchased the original, the price should be somewhere in the $20 range.

 

169F Money

 

Totally agree, i guess we all want to see some improvement on current sim, such as TWS capability for Russian Aircraft, more efficient AIM 9 etc, so yeah my vote is Yes :)

[Boberro]

Maybe this what I am going to say won't be popular... but...

 

IMHO all resources should be directed to DCS series. More forces to DCS = we'll get jets and other planes faster. LO series just died...

[104th_Crunch]

Good thoughts guys. Remember when I say addon, I mean something simple just so ED can also work on a some improvements and charge for it as well. I wouldn't expect something as complicated as a multi-role F-18 for example.

Edited February 23, 2009 by Crunch

[Udat]

Well ok then, just fix missiles and flight models and payloads, weed out a few bugs and make payloads and printscreening server enforced option. Maybe true vista compatibility as well.

[Outlaw24]

If they would just fix the missiles parameters I could probably live with a few of the other bugs.

[Boulund]

I would hope that ED would spend all their time (and money) towards making DCS-series THE sim anyone would ever want to play. There are infinite possibilities in having a multi-bird game like that with that attention to detail we've seen in black shark, with improved multiplayer capabilities. I wouldn't want it any other way.

But seeing how Lock On crashes and burns hard brings small tears in my eyes ;)

Like someone said before me; maybe letting Lock On move on into the hands of eager modders is one way to let it die an honorable death. =)

[104th_Crow]

I would definately pay. And myself although I know it is a pipe dream and possibly unrealistic would love to have the F-18. Anything that would enhance the Lockon experience would be great. I am thankful for what ED has given us and it would increase playability were they to release a patch or add-on for Lockon.

[159th_Viper]

IMHO all resources should be directed to DCS series. More forces to DCS = we'll get jets and other planes faster....

 

Exactly Right!

 

Personal Preference aside, it would be akin to Financial/Business suicide to plough valuable time/resources into a product that is in the process of being surplanted by a far better/superior product.

 

Yeah - the downside is that one will have to wait for the preferred Fast-Jet module. However one cannot argue that the wait will be worth it in the long run if the first instalment is anything to go by.

 

Patience is Indeed a Virtue..........

[rattler]

Interesting to hear that DCS-BS is only a small nitch. Remember it will be a very long time and I do mean long, before we see fast movers in the DCS-BS series. It would be a wise decision on ED's part not to throw away LOFC. It still has a very strong showing. A very dedicated community like no other. IMHO it would be wise to build on both and if that means 3rd party for LOFC it still makes them money. Personally I think keeping both going would be a wise business move and 3rd party is a smart and reliable way to keep both making money. Name of Game for ED or any business. Find ways to make things work that are efficent and profitable. This can be done with both of these sims.

[tflash]

I must say I like DCS:BS very much, and really worked hard to master the flight, Abris and comms. I really like it, it is the game of the year and a must have, Abris and ME are top notch, BUT:

 

- It is in no way a replacement for Lockon to me;

- I find flying helos really boring and dull because of lack of speed;

 

So, I continue to fly 80% of the time my favourite game, which is and will stay Lockon.

 

Any idea to continue/revive/improve upon Lockon is a good idea. And honestly, to me THE absolute game would be simply Lockon with flyable F-16 and/or F/A-18. No need for AFM whatever, just add those planes flyable with a nice cockpit.

[littlejohn1959]

yep , id pay bucks for a patch .

how many bucks?

as many bucks as id pay for the dvd version of bs when its released here in canada .

i agree with rattler . fast movers , are a fair ways down the road .

bring on a lofc patch and you can have my bucks .

if and when fast movers comes to the dcs series , i may consider uninstalling lofc . i cant seem to get a ''rush '' flying the shark . i guess heli's are not for everyone .

imo lofc is still very much alive . for me , that is .

maybe someone should do a poll to see how many pilots still play lo?

thats my 2 cents .

cheers from here .

[Talon_300th]

Tough Call

 

Personally, I'd rather see all attention focused on DCS, perhaps that way a few jets will be squeezed out into what appears to be a better engine and a new map.

 

LOMAC will do me fine until DCS churns out some fresh aircraft.

 

That said, if ED released a new Lock On addon tomorrow with the likes of a Hornet (I'd love to fly NATO carrier missions) and the necessary bug-fixes, I'd pay for it - definitely.

 

Hope I'm not stepping on any toes by airing my opinion.

[FLANKERATOR]

DCS is the future but LO stills the present.

Any LO improvement will be definitely welcomed by a very dedicated community.

Even in marketing policies, we try to maximize profit from an existing product although in life cycle final stages.

 

Some guys even ready to help to enhance the LO experience...so why not ? definitely worths the shot.

 

Personnaly, i would love to see any new flyable fighters and/or something like 21st century LO patch with a weapon updating specially for the BVR.

Edited February 24, 2009 by FLANKERATOR

[lion737]

Exactly Right!

 

Personal Preference aside, it would be akin to Financial/Business suicide to plough valuable time/resources into a product that is in the process of being surplanted by a far better/superior product.

 

Yeah - the downside is that one will have to wait for the preferred Fast-Jet module. However one cannot argue that the wait will be worth it in the long run if the first instalment is anything to go by.

 

Patience is Indeed a Virtue..........

 

I agree. DCS is just two steps ahead of LockOn now. I wouldn´t waist

time and money on it anymore, and hope to get a SU27 module.

That would close the circle from Flanker 1.0 :D (don´t know wether this idiom is understood in english :D)