Film of the competitors! (Boo Hiss!)

[Immermann]

Originally Posted by Skoshi Tiger

Maybe they decided to model arid terrain because they couldn't get the right colour green for a European theatre.

I like the way tufts of grass fit in quite well with the landscape. Looks quite realistic.

No, that is the Nevada training area map. The main action will take place in the same place as the rest of DCS/Lock On, Georgia.

[JG27CaptStubing]

Originally Posted by Skoshi Tiger

I didn't know about that decision.

I guess that when your developing a sim like these there is always going to be a trade off between the features that you implement and the performance that your trying to achieve.



Maybe they decided to model arid terrain because they couldn't get the right colour green for a European theatre.

I like the way tufts of grass fit in quite well with the landscape. Looks quite realistic.

Actually this would be incorrect... They have a European theater but this screenshot is for the new map they are adding which is Nevada USA a desert training center and home of Red Flag.

[ZaltysZ]

Originally Posted by Romanator21

However, I understand why the DCS team would have chosen not to represent these - the cockpits of modern jets are very busy, and they would obscure the fine text and markings on the panels. It's very much a technical simulation than a graphical/arcade one.

I think DCS engine needs to be blamed more, than good readability of instruments. Lots of (bad) things were inherited from previous engines, some were fixed, but some just could not be fixed quickly. I think no cockpit shadowing and "incorrect" lightning fall into such category together with wrongly rendered water above sea level. However, eventually they will be fixed.

[JG27CaptStubing]

Originally Posted by Romanator21

I guess SoW is somewhat unique in the flight sim department in that it supports self-shading for aircraft interiors as well as exteriors (RoF also has this feature).

However, I understand why the DCS team would have chosen not to represent these - the cockpits of modern jets are very busy, and they would obscure the fine text and markings on the panels. It's very much a technical simulation than a graphical/arcade one.

The terrain detail is far less than that of SoW so far, but you can't help but like the colors and photographic textures.

I can answer some of these questions for you... The reason why DCS doesn't show off some of the latest "self shading" technologies or techniques has everything to do with where DCS comes from. DCS BlackShark the first release is based upon the LOMAC engine DX 8. The premise being that today's modern simulator isn't going to get a bunch of funding. I think Oleg's project is one of a kind. There is a lot of risk taking on a simulator. Just look at the pages if criticism in this Forum alone and SOW hasn't even been released. Remember Modern Flight Sims has a very strong following but it's far smaller than the masses purchasing Halo Reach right now. With that said Wags started the DCS projects and he built some success by using the older Game LOMAC and adding a Helo to it. They also greatly enhanced the terrain to support a low level flying game such as BS. They were very successful with BS and it's a fine sim if you haven't played it yet. It's now compatible with the new Re-Release of Flaming Cliffs 2 which adds LOMAC back with several enchancements in that title and compatibility with DCS Black Shark.

This next project A10C is continuing to add to the franchize but it will add support for newer technologies. It's pretty clear to me they are self funding this stuff by selling these earlier titles with enhancements.

[Skoshi Tiger]

Like I said, I'll probably be buying both sims.

One of the reasons I posted a video of a 'State of the art' sim is to put our weekly updates into a bit of perspective. Compared to the A-10 what we've seen of SOW looks fairly good.

Now I haven't spent as much time trolling around the DCS forums as here but from what I've seen it's a much more positive and constructive feel to it. There seems to be a higher percentage of negative comments about updates on this site than over there.

Originally Posted by Feuerfalke

1. They are not just simple textures on flat surfaces. You can see that on some earlier screenshots (note the reflections on the instruments):

Your right it does look a lot better in that screen shot. Very similar to the Spitfire and 109 cockpit we've seen. Hopefully it will get the lighting and shadows in it's release.

Originally Posted by Feuerfalke

2. The video is WIP, much like IL2 is. The video shows the game in DX9. The final version will support DX11.

I guess I'll be having to get a DX11 card by the end of the year then.

Originally Posted by Feuerfalke

3. As Oleg mentioned for his boats, they are pretty simple, because you will swish over them with 400kp/h.
Now think what you will see when flying by with 900kp/h. I promise you, you won't notice the difference, which boat was modeled with more polygons.

Yes your right! The thing that made me doubt if it was the same sim was the difference in detail between the boats and the other ground objects in the video.

Originally Posted by Feuerfalke

Of course you can always find something negative, if you search hard enough for the simple fact that nobody and nothing is perfect.
If you find something better or more realistic than SoW or DCS, please let me know. If it really think you could do better, get a 3D modelling program (several are free, some with free trial-period), build one and send it to them.

Never have any truer words been posted on this forum! (Well there was the time where I posted that I was suave and debonair but I'll let that one slide for the moment!)

Although I am a Systems Analyst/Programmer by training and former occupation (currently working as an Educator), my field was databases. I doubt my 3D modeling skills would extend past a paper aircraft design . I'll leave that one to the experts.

Cheers! In this crazy mixed-up world, it good to find a like minded soul!