New FC "Cold War" Package

[Potter]

First of all, I wanna thank the community for all the help I've received by consulting this forum for the various issues I've encountered over the years in DCS with various settings, bugs etc.. Much appreciated!!

We are now entering a phase where ED has lost a key partner and subsequently 4 very prominent modules, which makes me think (perhaps now more than ever) ED should consider alternatives to the current situation and push for another FC package?
Personally I think a "cold war" package would pretty much solve what I believe are some of  ED's most (at least from my humble point of view) prominent issues at once, but please let me explain how:

1 - ED's AI in dire need of a total overhaul but new GFM not in sight - By bringing in more modules at once we wouldn't have to rely on AI so much, as by introducing more accessible modules at once, would likely see an increased number of users being draw to PVP servers. Please ponder over this for a sec and think how much has FC3/4 helped with this already?

2 - New Redfor FF modules are not being prioritised cause lack of data and consumer's appetite - By creating a new FC package focused on the cold war ED could develop multiple Redfor modules which would most definitely draw in more customers/sales as well as not having to deal with the lack of data of modern Redfor planes present with (think of Mig25-Su17-Mig23 etc)

3  - Lack of cohesion in PVP servers -  PVP servers are forced to have the F16 fighting for Redfor to keep things balanced... Personally I play DCS for immersion, and to see that is plainly put... painful! An F16A released for a new FC package could be finally be used against Redfor in PVP scenarios, as well as bringing a more coherent setting altogether with other Bluefor modules. 

4 - Razbam modules not available / phasing out - Pretty self explanatory, however is worth mentioning that even though I don't blame anyone for what happen (because of lack of clarity on the main issues from both sides), ED who is the platform's owner, surely understands that having users who have already bought these modules will find themself emptyhanded soon. This, as well as potential new customer not having the opportuning to dive in to certain peculiar modules (Harries for example?) doesn't do any justice to a game of the calibre of DCS.
Replacing FF modules with an FC one won't cut it for all, but will certainly be very acceptable for many current and potentially new users. 


I hope my train of thoughts won't be perceived as accusatory or inflammatory, as I only wish the best to the DCS's community, who is perhaps one of the most dedicated I've ever had the pleasure to come across to. I truly believe a new "Cold War" FC package has the potential to become one of the most celebrated (and sold) article ED could come up with.

Cheers

[SemperFi]

RedFor needs the SU 17/MiG 27 and a MiG 23 for a Cold War scenario. FC3/4 would be a quick solution.

I think that's a good suggestion.

[Gunfreak]

3 hours ago, SemperFi said:

RedFor needs the SU 17/MiG 27 and a MiG 23 for a Cold War scenario. FC3/4 would be a quick solution.

I think that's a good suggestion.

Except making a FC3 version of an aircraft from scratch is 80% the work of making a full fidelity model. So there's very little time to gained by that. 

ED spend years upgrading a handful of AI 3d models. Just saying "make an FC model" is no solution at all. 

 

[Potter]

1 hour ago, Gunfreak said:

Except making a FC3 version of an aircraft from scratch is 80% the work of making a full fidelity model. So there's very little time to gained by that. 

ED spend years upgrading a handful of AI 3d models. Just saying "make an FC model" is no solution at all. 

 

 

Sounds a bit far-fetched. How do you determine percentage? May I ask (not in accusatory, but genuinely curious tone) are you part of the developer team?

But let's imagine you were correct with this 20% (which forgive me but I think as for now as a guesstimate) 20% off many yrs of development, would still save us a considerable chunk of time?

In any case, to develop a product who's flight dynamics falls under the AFM (advanced flight module) category instead of a PFM, as well as having standard system modelling instead of advanced, I presume would contributing to reduce production time significantly?

From there they can always be improved/upgraded to a higher fidelity level (like I believe it already happened for most current FC content).

[Kang]

I'd point out that ED has previously stated that they had no interest in further pursuing the Flaming Cliffs project, but then, they have released what is effectively Flaming Cliffs 4 in the meantime, so... why not.

[Potter]

Hi Kang. Yes I think we find ourselves dealing with a different situation.

ED, through they're own admission, have realise that the new AI/GFM has proven to be a bigger challenge than originally thought I believe? Plausibly, the dynamic campaign would trail behind this too, and with 4 whole modules (plus a 5th nearly ready) now gone too, I don't see why a new FC package wouldn't help. 

After all making modules is what ED knows how to do best. Why not focusing on this strength?