Review / opinions/ pictures / discussion

[markturner1960]

Will there be a thread allowed to discuss this and prospective purchasers to get some feedback before possible purchase? I saw the main thread is locked already after one negative poster........

Or will we need to rely on youtube? I can understand why if yes. 

[NineLine]

6 minutes ago, markturner1960 said:

Will there be a thread allowed to discuss this and prospective purchasers to get some feedback before possible purchase? I saw the main thread is locked already after one negative poster........

Or will we need to rely on youtube? I can understand why if yes. 

Seems like you just created a thread for it. The FAQ was locked because it was meant to be locked from the start. 

[YoYo]

I've already spent some time, of course not much so far but I can see progress in relation to Afghanistan and I think it's quite good. Of course you have to remember that photo textures will never look like those created by hand (e.g. Syria) unless the map, instead of 111G, had 1TB  but it is better. What is important, and what I suspected it would be, is that they abandoned the "sticker" texture in favor of a "sticker" but not with sharp edges. Now we have smooth png transitions, which makes it seem more natural and less noticeable. This is a nice change and I suspect that these changes are what the current approach to the Afghanistan map is all about. In general, my first contact is positive and I certainly do not regret buying it. In general I am happy and I consider the change to be better, plus of course you have to take into account that the texture will not always be super resolution, it is a compromise to save space. But if you accept it, the map is for you. The map is also quite diverse, from flat desert areas to green mountainous with lots of hills. This gives it quite a wide range of uses for different missions. There currently seems to be no AI traffic, or at least I haven't noticed (EA, although Afghanistan had traffic from the beginning). Sometimes I would see FPS drops in densely built-up areas (alternatively, changing LOD to 50% returns max. FPS in VR, and that's the only way I fly). 

[pjbunnyru]

I flew on map. for me, this is  best map released in 2025. optimisation, in  mode of simple flight of one player on map - my respect, no lags and staters. yes, tere are places where all maps released this year look almost same, but I do not regred money spent on this map. team that made this map should be given bonus!!!
It turned out interesting, after exiting f10 into f1, layers of textures of eath are loaded, it seems to me, I have not seen this anywere. system is stable, there are no sagging and freezing.

[pjbunnyru]

3 минуты назад, YoYo сказал:

I've already spent some time, of course not much so far but I can see progress in relation to Afghanistan and I think it's quite good. Of course you have to remember that photo textures will never look like those created by hand (e.g. Syria) unless the map, instead of 111G, had 1TB  but it is better. What is important, and what I suspected it would be, is that they abandoned the "sticker" texture in favor of a "sticker" but not with sharp edges. Now we have smooth png transitions, which makes it seem more natural and less noticeable. This is a nice change and I suspect that these changes are what the current approach to the Afghanistan map is all about. In general, my first contact is positive and I certainly do not regret buying it. In general I am happy and I consider the change to be better, plus of course you have to take into account that the texture will not always be super resolution, it is a compromise to save space. But if you accept it, the map is for you. The map is also quite diverse, from flat desert areas to green mountainous with lots of hills. This gives it quite a wide range of uses for different missions. There currently seems to be no AI traffic, or at least I haven't noticed (EA, although Afghanistan had traffic from the beginning). Sometimes I would see FPS drops in densely built-up areas (alternatively, changing LOD to 50% returns max. FPS in VR, and that's the only way I fly). 

 

 

Спойлер

but, this is very nice map.
 

[NineLine]

5 minutes ago, YoYo said:

I've already spent some time, of course not much so far but I can see progress in relation to Afghanistan and I think it's quite good. Of course you have to remember that photo textures will never look like those created by hand (e.g. Syria) unless the map, instead of 111G, had 1TB  but it is better. What is important, and what I suspected it would be, is that they abandoned the "sticker" texture in favor of a "sticker" but not with sharp edges. Now we have smooth png transitions, which makes it seem more natural and less noticeable. This is a nice change and I suspect that these changes are what the current approach to the Afghanistan map is all about. In general, my first contact is positive and I certainly do not regret buying it. In general I am happy and I consider the change to be better, plus of course you have to take into account that the texture will not always be super resolution, it is a compromise to save space. But if you accept it, the map is for you. The map is also quite diverse, from flat desert areas to green mountainous with lots of hills. This gives it quite a wide range of uses for different missions. There currently seems to be no AI traffic, or at least I haven't noticed (EA, although Afghanistan had traffic from the beginning). Sometimes I would see FPS drops in densely built-up areas (alternatively, changing LOD to 50% returns max. FPS in VR, and that's the only way I fly). 

Make sure to read here as well, it explains the textures down low.

To explain a little more the focus has been the textures from elevation right now, up high, It's one of the better-looking maps in our opinion, we are currently working on down low improving those textures, even Afghanistan in the upcoming update is working on smoothing out those transitions you talked about. 

And this is directed at all, it is Early Access so if you are here trying to diced if you want it, understand that there are things still needing work, some things need a lot of work, I have been staring at Iraq and providing much feedback, I have joked I stared at Iraq more than the Bush family so far. It will get there, but again its Early Access if that journey is not for you, then maybe wait. its ok.

[YoYo]

And above all, Congratulations ED on its release! I honestly did not expect this today, in fact, there were some voices that the map would not appear in 2024, and here is such a surprise when I got back from work! Just wow!

Now we have something to do and somewhere to fly. The textures in the desert look great, they are also quite diverse and it looks very realistic (MiG-21bis flight, of course in Iraqi repaint ).

[YoYo]

Someone asked about the map size but directly in DCS. Here you go:

 

[RyanFlint]

Visibility settings are on High and Baghdad looks like this ? WTH ? This EA nonsense finally needs to stop. 

[YoYo]

5 minutes ago, RyanFlint said:

Visibility settings are on High and Baghdad looks like this ? WTH ? This EA nonsense finally needs to stop. 

If you wanted to see everything to the horizon, your computer could explode ;). With every change comes greater efficiency, remember. Next year there will be RTX 5090, and the view range can always be modified manually (there are also mods for this), but I do not recommend it. Your PC will kneel.

I don't know if you fly in other simulators, but it's the same in MSFS, for example, you also don't see all the objects, of course maybe with time other visibility ranges should be added in DCS options, but it's not the map's fault, but the general settings.

Edited December 11, 2024 by YoYo

[NineLine]

4 minutes ago, RyanFlint said:

Visibility settings are on High and Baghdad looks like this ? WTH ? This EA nonsense finally needs to stop. 

You need to set your visibility settings higher, as well also read the post I linked above where some LODs and such may still be WIP, the reason WWE have a setting for lower visibility is for people who run into performance issues generating so many objects. Thanks. 

[Ala12Rv-Tundra]

4 minutes ago, RyanFlint said:

This EA nonsense finally needs to stop.

You could also wait for final release to choose buying or not; it´s ok. both options are valid.

[NineLine]

Just now, Ala12Rv-Tundra said:

You could also wait for final release to choose buying or not; it´s ok. both options are valid.

Yes, we will never get mad if a customer wants to wait until its complete, if we waited until its complete the waiting time would most likely be the same. Many people like to join us on the development road, its a choice and can be a bumpy journey. 

[ThorBrasil]

I bought the Iraq map to support ED and I'm sure it will become even better in the future.

[oz_codii]

I am a bit confused, on the store page the map is advertised as being 75.35GB but its 120GB when downloaded. Thats entire Normandy 2 map of extra space. 

[rcjonessnp175]

Ha, just getting a pit set back up for dcs and iraq comes out sweet.  Bought it and look forward to checking out camp justice and reminisce on that deployment.  Wonder if the big trash pile is still near by had a hide site setup in lol.  Good times.

 

Crom

[YoYo]

4 minutes ago, oz_codii said:

I am a bit confused, on the store page the map is advertised as being 75.35GB but its 120GB when downloaded. Thats entire Normandy 2 map of extra space. 

It has (bought as whole Iraq but current part) 111Gb after installation.

[oz_codii]

3 minutes ago, YoYo said:

It has (bought as whole Iraq but current part) 111Gb after installation.

You are correct, just checked it myself. Its not Normandy 2 but Persian Gulf of extra space then, still isn't right. 

[Czar66]

1 hour ago, RyanFlint said:

Visibility settings are on High and Baghdad looks like this ? WTH ? This EA nonsense finally needs to stop. 

I've set visibility setting to Ultra since the first DCS World build. Large cities always suffered with 'high' or less, this is just like it is in Caucasus. 

[pjbunnyru]

nullultra

[jurinko]

Northern mountains are awesome. I need to switch the reprojection, but worth it. 
Finally a map with realistic terrain (South Atlantic is close behind). What prevented other maps to have such sharp cliffs and mountain ridges?

[shagrat]

vor 1 Minute schrieb jurinko:

 What prevented other maps to have such sharp cliffs and mountain ridges?

I am pretty sure it was the hardware and technology available at that point in time they were created. As the terrain resolution/height mesh is more or less the foundation, it's not that simple to add a better mesh later. Basically you would need to start from scratch... texturing the mesh, fix the rivers, roads, powerlines that will break, then review and redo most/all of the cities/populated areas, etc.

...and there must be elevation data available in such a high resolution, in the first place. Not something you can download from anywhere and use in a commercial product. 

[jurinko]

I created maps for old IL-2 Sturmovik and for Condor gliding sim. The SRTM elevation data publicly available are quite good, but here in Iraq they are higher resolution. Combined with the texture and various bushes one gets a real feeling of altitude. Now excuse me, as I am off in F-5E quick start again  

[Hawkeye_UK]

1 hour ago, oz_codii said:

I am a bit confused, on the store page the map is advertised as being 75.35GB but its 120GB when downloaded. Thats entire Normandy 2 map of extra space. 

I alerted BigNewy to this very fact, minutes after release given i knew this would cause issues in some quarters.  They are aware apparently, however i note the store page has not been changed as yet for some reason 7 hours on.

To be fair they are leaving a rod for their own back with this one as people will have a legitimate right for a refund, given that there is a 45GB difference in PC requirements upto and including all sales completed until they change it.  Despite i would suggest it being an honest mistake (they included circa the download size not install) it's false advertisement effectively at the point of purchase, however if its not changed in short order, after they have been made aware then that is a separate issue entirely.

52 minutes ago, jurinko said:

Northern mountains are awesome. I need to switch the reprojection, but worth it. 
Finally a map with realistic terrain (South Atlantic is close behind). What prevented other maps to have such sharp cliffs and mountain ridges?

largely agree, it was my first observation in the DTM mesh being much higher.

Edited December 11, 2024 by Hawkeye_UK

[Beirut]

3 hours ago, YoYo said:

I've already spent some time, of course not much so far but I can see progress in relation to Afghanistan and I think it's quite good. Of course you have to remember that photo textures will never look like those created by hand (e.g. Syria) unless the map, instead of 111G, had 1TB  but it is better. What is important, and what I suspected it would be, is that they abandoned the "sticker" texture in favor of a "sticker" but not with sharp edges. Now we have smooth png transitions, which makes it seem more natural and less noticeable. This is a nice change and I suspect that these changes are what the current approach to the Afghanistan map is all about. In general, my first contact is positive and I certainly do not regret buying it. In general I am happy and I consider the change to be better, plus of course you have to take into account that the texture will not always be super resolution, it is a compromise to save space. But if you accept it, the map is for you. The map is also quite diverse, from flat desert areas to green mountainous with lots of hills. This gives it quite a wide range of uses for different missions. There currently seems to be no AI traffic, or at least I haven't noticed (EA, although Afghanistan had traffic from the beginning). Sometimes I would see FPS drops in densely built-up areas (alternatively, changing LOD to 50% returns max. FPS in VR, and that's the only way I fly). 

 

Good stuff. Looking forward to getting it tonight.