DCS World 2.0 and New Maps Discussion Thread

[Strelok]

Just download DCS World from ED's Website and install... no need to suffer from steam :D

 

Yeah... I'm of course know that, but I am old spoiled Steam user so I am simply too lazy to download it from ED page... And for me Steam has got many benefits. I'm used to Steam for long time... ;)

[hannibal]

if the next iterations of DCS to include an ATC module, carrier OPs module, world maps... this program will utterly take over the sim market...

[CallsignFrosty]

I really hope ED decides to do a 'world model' (hence the name DCS World and not DCS A Collection Of Smallish Maps)

I understand that details will be an issue but to follow the xplane 10 model (terrain is modular and is replaced with water if not present) would not be too hard, it would also be a great way to see the sim grow.

 

I'm not holding my breath though, I don't think this is a feature :(

[Strelok]

My opinion about 2.0.0 is that there we can't expect many new features... Something telling me that main features in 2.0.0 will be only some new models and brand new spectacular graphics engine and of course later new NTTR map... But for now it's still only my own speculation. Anyways, I think that we all hope in many awesome new features!

[Exorcet]

ED said that 2.0.0 is being called 2.0.0 because there will be many changes. Though no specifics have been released. Even if it was just EDGE, that would be pretty good as it would mean most of the work on that project should be completed, leaving them to focus on other things (ATC, AI, etc).

[Strelok]

True is, that "top secret" development of 2.0.0 and EDGE is really unpredictable... But that is intentional Am I right ?

[shagrat]

Well, it is a reason of this forum community tending to behave like crazy in every possible way, whenever an announcement ("feature XYZ may be introduced") isn't implemented later or not as expected etc.

It is not secrecy per se. More a "don't announce anything official before it is 100% available" attitude.

I'm just waiting for the shit storm to come, if the FW-190 is not released on 5th August 0:00 hours punctual! :D

[Strelok]

Well, it is a reason of this forum community tending to behave like crazy in every possible way, whenever an announcement ("feature XYZ may be introduced") isn't implemented later or not as expected etc.

It is not secrecy per se. More a "don't announce anything official before it is 100% available" attitude.

I'm just waiting for the shit storm to come, if the FW-190 is not released on 5th August 0:00 hours punctual! :D

 

Yes, totally agree It's much better when developers publish only what is their focus for next features in expected update than as we see in many mainstream games when their developers inform community about "all new features" and in final release is less than 50% what they promised.

[shagrat]

Yeah, actually ED was always very precise about features that are an "idea" and what will definitely be added... people often have certain expectation towards certain aspects of a word. To be fair ED development never boasted to add features, but told us what they look at and plan to do, IF feasible! Still when a new feature is added some people are not happy with its limitations, would like to have it different and so on... you can never make everybody happy.

[NineLine]

So for how long time after EDGE release we can buy NTTR map through Steam?Do ED developers have any idea when Steam users can buy it, or they simply waiting for all circumstances after release?And also I waiting for F-86F Sabre on Steam because I can't wait for it... :joystick:

 

There is a roughly 2 week lag time on Steam releases...

[Deadsix]

There is a roughly 2 week lag time on Steam releases...

 

Is their a specific reason for this? Most major titles hit Steam at the same time as they hit retail around the world. Is it because DCS modules don't have their release dates set a long time before release?

[NineLine]

I do not know...

[shagrat]

I guess it is because ED publishes on their servers as soon as it is ready and don't wait for Steam to go through their publishing process? Just a guess...

[fearlessfrog]

I guess it is because ED publishes on their servers as soon as it is ready and don't wait for Steam to go through their publishing process? Just a guess...

 

Updating for a Steam release can take about an hour, as most publishers have a store page ready to go. The release files are all there already, as the ED build publishes to both their own servers and Steam at the same time (via script).

 

The Sabre page was added some time in June:

 

http://steamdb.info/depot/306240/

 

(The store page for the Sabre when the 'private' flag is ticked off will be: http://store.steampowered.com/app/306240/ )

 

As you can see at the bottom of this list, there are a few getting ready to go that are still private (it's fun to line then up with what new modules we know of):

 

http://steamdb.info/app/223750/dlc/

 

A bit more cynical theory would be ED make more money from selling from their own store (no Steam commission to pay) so if they can 'disincentivize' with delays or differences then it helps the bottom line to move people to stand-alone DCS World (if you don't count your own hosting/labor costs to do these things yourself). The other side of that coin is unfortunately some Steam people will just go play something else and not wait or even buy, so it's not always a net gain. Steam have also had issues with publishers that do this, but they don't tend to notice.

 

A less cynical/happy/business driven reason would be that the release dates are just a bit random and that Steam is more of an afterthought (plus it's nice to give non-Steam customers an earlier look as a one-off 'thanks'). It might not be product policy to always delay. Dunno.

 

PS Sorry for slight OT, but as I have a background with Steam then it's probably best to crush the 'it's because they are doing the Steam paperwork' reason as the best guess :)

[Strelok]

While ago I found awesome video that shows new module for DCS especially for Area 51 included in new NTTR map.

:megalol:

[NineLine]

Makes sense that a place with their own store would want to sell at their own store first... not sure how thats a cynical theory... more of a realist.... another cynical theory might be, if people knew that a good chunk of their money wasnt going to ED, and the reason that they bought a module was to do just that, support ED... would Steam sales drop off in favor of the ED store... Would make sense why things like Origin came along.. etc...

 

Updating for a Steam release can take about an hour, as most publishers have a store page ready to go. The release files are all there already, as the ED build publishes to both their own servers and Steam at the same time (via script).

 

The Sabre page was added some time in June:

 

http://steamdb.info/depot/306240/

 

(The store page for the Sabre when the 'private' flag is ticked off will be: http://store.steampowered.com/app/306240/ )

 

As you can see at the bottom of this list, there are a few getting ready to go that are still private (it's fun to line then up with what new modules we know of):

 

http://steamdb.info/app/223750/dlc/

 

A bit more cynical theory would be ED make more money from selling from their own store (no Steam commission to pay) so if they can 'disincentivize' with delays or differences then it helps the bottom line to move people to stand-alone DCS World (if you don't count your own hosting/labor costs to do these things yourself). The other side of that coin is unfortunately some Steam people will just go play something else and not wait or even buy, so it's not always a net gain. Steam have also had issues with publishers that do this, but they don't tend to notice.

 

A less cynical/happy/business driven reason would be that the release dates are just a bit random and that Steam is more of an afterthought (plus it's nice to give non-Steam customers an earlier look as a one-off 'thanks'). It might not be product policy to always delay. Dunno.

 

PS Sorry for slight OT, but as I have a background with Steam then it's probably best to crush the 'it's because they are doing the Steam paperwork' reason as the best guess :)

[fearlessfrog]

It only makes sense if the strategy works :) in that for each stand-alone you get an extra, say $5, but then you lose if people in a larger storefront/market who just go buy something else in the interim? Example:

 

X = 2 week increase in ED store Sabre sales that would previously have been Steam store ED sales.

 

Y = 2 week lost sales from Steam if you had the Sabre available to 70 million potential purchasers. There's also a knock-on impact of people not bothering to 'switch over' to the proper version where things come out earlier.

 

Bohmia Interactive, Dovetail, even Creative Assembly as niche players in niche markets like sims all went through this before. If you can't make Y bigger than X then it's not a path to decent growth and success in today's PC market, which is what we all want for DCS.

 

Makes sense that a place with their own store would want to sell at their own store first... not sure how thats a cynical theory... more of a realist.... another cynical theory might be, if people knew that a good chunk of their money wasnt going to ED, and the reason that they bought a module was to do just that, support ED... would Steam sales drop off in favor of the ED store... Would make sense why things like Origin came along.. etc...

[NineLine]

I think ED is doing ok, so whatever they are doing seems to be working....

[fearlessfrog]

ED are doing great I think, in that the DCS World/modules split was a really nice direction - plus with the 2.0 map modules upcoming, partners gearing up etc is a really exciting time for sim fans.

 

The Steam model isn't all sunshine and daisies as the fit with what Valve thinks of as 'DLC' is awkward for a title like DCS - what would normally be considered major content doesn't get the store time as just 'DLC'. Valve and the 'green light' cluster have also made a crowded store get worse. There's a major store redesign coming up, but it's long overdue.

 

I just wanted to stress that my comments/info was just more about just getting as many people as possible to buy ED stuff, as that way we all get more toys. :)

 

I think ED is doing ok, so whatever they are doing seems to be working....

[aeliusg]

I'm all for ED making as much money as possible. Without their work the combat sim landscape would be a barren wasteland.

[shagrat]

It only makes sense if the strategy works :) in that for each stand-alone you get an extra, say $5, but then you lose if people in a larger storefront/market who just go buy something else in the interim? Example:

 

X = 2 week increase in ED store Sabre sales that would previously have been Steam store ED sales.

 

Y = 2 week lost sales from Steam if you had the Sabre available to 70 million potential purchasers. There's also a knock-on impact of people not bothering to 'switch over' to the proper version where things come out earlier.

 

Bohmia Interactive, Dovetail, even Creative Assembly as niche players in niche markets like sims all went through this before. If you can't make Y bigger than X then it's not a path to decent growth and success in today's PC market, which is what we all want for DCS.

Your example is flawed! They don't "make" buyers wait on Steam to get more sales, they give the sources to Steam as soon as available and in parallel upload to the ED store (I would bet on that, whole "publishing industry" works like that). Then it takes X minutes of Valve Time to get it published on Steam...

 

EDIT other companies simply hold back their stores until Steam is ready. It is the same for music 2 to 3 month is usual before a song or album shows in the webstores after you uploaded to your publisher...

Edited August 3, 2014 by shagrat

[felthat]

but u can put your stuff on Steam way earlier and launch it whenever you want

[shagrat]

but u can put your stuff on Steam way earlier and launch it whenever you want

Exactly, what I said. ED simply upload it as soon as it is ready. Which means it is available on ED website after upload and on Steam whenever Steam is finished with their process!

To "cater' Steam lovers, they would have to hold back the stuff on their own servers... and piss off the loyal ED customers?

I recommend to complain on Steam why it takes so long to publish new modules, maybe Valve speed things up?

[shagrat]

It's simply just my opinion, nothing more (albeit it is a quite educated and relevant opinion for evaluating business practices and growth factors in markets). Any consulting firm would tell you the same, however, due to their "small pond" that you mentioned they are able to slide by with comparatively poor management and long range planning. To your point, they are absolutely the "big fish" in their space but I don't for a second think it is their business prowess that has gotten them to that spot. Instead, IMO, it is their superior development abilities that put them there. They are superior developers to their competition and I maintain that they are poor businessmen...I will leave it at that and we can agree to disagree, as I do not want to stray off topic here.

So the mentioned consultants would consider VW (Volkswagen - worlds largest automotive company) having a poor marketing, because in Entertainment Parks they suck?

 

They have "Autostadt" at Wolfsburg a theme park on car manufacturing and history...

 

http://www.autostadt.de/en/start/

 

No, you would simply say it is not their core business, as ED's is not necessarily consumer flight sims...

BTW other third party, also develop military simulations for a living and DCS modules for... let's say not as their main source of income.

[Nooch]

Hey guys! Does anyone know if edge will be more nvidia/amd optimized? The current version seems poorly optimized for amd so I wonder if it is going to change...