DCS Warthog.

[norm]

I have a question/request to the great producers of this game. Will there be a way to have DCS Black Shark and DCS Warthog pool skins, data, maps etc, as a way to save space? I want to conserve as much space as i can.

[mibsk]

I hope someone with soft english skills will answer your 'question/request' ... :doh:

[vCUJOv]

I have a question/request to the great producers of this game. Will there be a way to have DCS Black Shark and DCS Warthog pool skins, data, maps etc, as a way to save space? I want to conserve as much space as i can.

 

Hmmm. Let me digest this for a while.

[Frederf]

I believe how it works is there's a DCS "Core" and the Ka-50, A-10, etc are modules so there should be only 1 core part in a combined install.

 

A-10 = A-10 module + core

Ka-50 = Ka-50 module + core

 

A-10 + Ka-50 = A-10 module + Ka-50 module + core (shared)

Space savings.

[Lucas_From_Hell]

This crossed my mind a while ago.

 

I really hope there's a way to save all this space. Even for Lock On 2.0, as it will share ground objects and stuff with DCS.

 

Any thoughts?

[talisman]

Dont they all use the same engine? In which case they will use the same libraries and data files. It would be in ED's best interest to share resources.

 

But then the folder structure says different - 1C/Eagle Dynamics - then KA-50.

 

This suggests a different folder for each module.

[GGTharos]

They will be separate, stand-alone products, for now at least. There might be a space-saving solution eventually, but it isn't for certain.

Edited January 6, 2010 by GGTharos

[Boberro]

Honestly I don't know who cares 2 GB less or more when we have 1 TB disks. At least 500 GB is standard today.

[talisman]

i was going to post - "Solution - buy bigger HD" but didnt lol

 

Thank you for your post GG.

[Krippz]

They will be separate, stand-alone products, for now at least. There might be a space-saving solution eventually, but it isn't for certain.

 

 

So if you would like to fly an A-10C you would have to launch DCS A-10C and if you would like to fly a KA-50 you would have to launch KA-50 Black Shark? Being able to just download the A-10C module and update the existing BlackShark install would be a much better solution.

[GGTharos]

It is, however, a soltuion that is not in the cards at this time.

A-10C isn't simply an add on to what Ka-50 already is, there is additional functionality beyond the airplane.

[EtherealN]

Remember that with the two integrated, any changes made to A10 might end up causing unforseen bugs with the Ka50, greatly increasing the QA work needed. With the stand-alone model, there is more freedom in tweaking them as needed - more time creating new features (and modules) and less time spent working through massive Q/A dept checklists.

 

(Those who thing working fulltime QA on a game development project is all fun should see the massive and rigorous lists that often end up being compiled and that have to be gone through whenever patches and the like are to be released to ensure that there are not unforseen issues created by the bugs. This is why quick patches so commonly create new bugs - if you have a serious issue in a big product you simply don't have the time to test even for all the variables you know about, let alone try to find the ones you didn't think about.)

[norm]

Ok. though it would be nice to pool as much as possible.

[EtherealN]

I'm sure ED agrees - as long as the engineers find a way to do it in a safe way.

[Krippz]

I wish the dev's would explain this a bit more but I guess it's still being worked out....

[Lucas_From_Hell]

Actually, I was only thinking about the "Bazar" folder. It's the largest folder in the game, and, if we're talking about making both on-line compatible, getting both modules (and LO 2.0) to use the same folder could save some GBs on your hard drive. And yes, even with all this two zillion tera-bytes available, I do care about everything over 100 MB on my computer. Yep, mine is just 288 gigas and came with the computer :D.

 

Having the Bazar folder shared could be a nice idea, but I don't know how extensive are the changes between one module and other, and possible conflicts between them, so I can't say much on the matter.

[nemises]

I wish the dev's would explain this a bit more but I guess it's still being worked out....

 

That, and every minute spent typing out an explaination on a forum, is a minute not spent making the game :)

[sinelnic]

Ethereal and GG,

 

Just out of curiosity, but you're describing two different limiting factors. It's one thing to have a perfectly modular modular design (sic), but not have the time to test properly that the modularity was well implemented, and another thing to not really have a perfectly modular modular design, and then by force be forced to update theoretically independent modules when one of them is changed.

 

I wonder which is the case, I would assume that if you're inheriting an engine not designed for modularity then the latter case is the likelier.

[element1108]

Raises hand "may I use the restroom sir?".

 

I'm going to leave the engineering and behind the scenes stuff to the engineers. Let me know when you've got some screen shots or technical data pertaining to the hog and I'll be back . ;) ;)

[GGTharos]

Actually it is a bit of both.

 

Even a good modular engine can have problems when violently upgraded/added to ;)

[sinelnic]

Actually it is a bit of both.

 

Even a good modular engine can have problems when violently upgraded/added to ;)

 

GG, I love it when you talk dirty...

 

 

:thumbup:

[Chibawang]

mod·ule

...

5. Computer Science A portion of a program that carries out a specific function and may be used alone or combined with other modules of the same program.

 

Not that it really matters to me either way, but this is kind of silly... I understand the possibility of the two modules not being fully integrated by the time Warthog goes gold, but there is absolutely no reason they can't share redundant files. GG, I think what you're saying is that these are stand alone products that are being produced with the intention of making them compatible at some point down the road. So, why then not plan ahead and include the core elements on both discs/digital downloads but have the installer detect whether or not extracting everything is necessary? Or better yet, offer the digital downloads as a full version of DCS XYZ and a module "patch" for KA-50 owners. Like I said, it's not a huge issue at this point since there will only be two modules, but of course I would rather not have gigs and gigs of redundant files for FC 2.0, Black Shark and Warthog!

[Grimes]

One would think that a file system such as

 

Programfiles/DCS/common

Programfiles/DCS/KA50

Programfiles/DCS/A10C

 

would exist. Thus everything that can be shared and isn't directly related with each module. In fact one could argue that if a common user interface was created you could delete all of the flyables folder and still have access to everything else can't actually fly anything. I personally don't mind having duplicate data as I have plenty of hardrive space, I just don't want 70% of the game data to be duplicates.

[Prophet]

Actually, I was only thinking about the "Bazar" folder. It's the largest folder in the game, and, if we're talking about making both on-line compatible, getting both modules (and LO 2.0) to use the same folder could save some GBs on your hard drive. And yes, even with all this two zillion tera-bytes available, I do care about everything over 100 MB on my computer. Yep, mine is just 288 gigas and came with the computer :D.

 

Having the Bazar folder shared could be a nice idea, but I don't know how extensive are the changes between one module and other, and possible conflicts between them, so I can't say much on the matter.

 

I think there is a way to create some sort of virtual link so you could just create a virtual folder in BS that actually goes to the A10C folder.

 

I forget all the specifics, but I am sure you could do it. Would be easy to test given the right procedure on how to create the link.

[Bucic]

Is it only me who thinks that starting a new thread regarding A-10 with any single question, even from one's wildest fantasies (the answer to which will always be - NO) causes only unnecessary clutter? By the time there will be place for some constructive questions or by the release of DCS: A-10 the DCS forums will be a mess for those who would like to read something constructive regarding DCS module already released.

 

There is a DCS: A-10C Warthog thread already (a big one) http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=38201&page=38

.

Edited January 7, 2010 by Bucic