schurem
3002
Hornet got a little update today (in the beta branch)
Tim_N
3003
So I have been taking a break from IL-2 to try something new: the AJS 37 Viggen for DCS that was on sale recently. I have never used DCS before (beyond an aborted attempt to get into it a couple of months) and itās been quite the adventure learning the game and the jetās systems all at the same time.
When I looked at the list of DCS modules I canāt say the Viggen was even on my top 10 list, I got it purely because it was discounted which reduced the risk in case I didnāt end up enjoying the game. Fortunately, itās been a hoot! The viggen is really nice to fly, especially when you have just come from a bunch of WW2 propeller planes. The start up procedure is quite the mammoth task but once you do it a few times it comes to memory pretty easily. Landing is quite forgiving too.
The remaining obstacles were the computer/radar/weapon systems, which are all very retro. Plus I had no idea how to work the game beyond activating in-game training missions, which steepened the learning curve further.
Well today marks a breakthrough in learning this plane/game as I can now set up custom missions to practice take-off / anti-ship missile weapon delivery / landing and it (mostly) goes fine! Hereās a poor cargo ship feeling the wrath of Swedish engineering:
DCS just sucked some more of my dollars with Normandy Map, WW2 assets pack and the Spitfire.
Iāve been looking heavily into the mission builder and LUA scripting. Moose framework is pretty nifty for this and now I can embark in creating my grand campaign.
Time Pilot. The most realistic flight campaign ever created! Drawing on reams and reams of declassified video game mission data, this grand adventure will accurately simulate Hornet and Hogs blowing the crap out of Naziās, Spitfires strafing and bombing runways populated with Flankers and M29s, Viggens doing, er, Viggen stuff and F5s there to look pretty! I think I can program it to unlock weapons as you progress in score and will endeavor to make it as roguelike as I possibly can.
In short, a campaign that is sure to royally annoy generations of military purists, appeal to exactly three other people in this world, and win every point possible with my son. Wish me luck.
Tim_N
3006
It sounds really cool!
Random idea but you could set the background story as a modern military pilot who accidentally flies his jet into a hole in the fabric of the cosmos. It sends him to Normandy in a parallel universe in the year of 1943 where Hitler never attacked Stalin, the US is ruled by staunch isolationists, and the Nazis have poured all of their resources into Operation Sea Lion.
One Man, one jet, and a whole lot of Nazis that need dying.
Iām all for that idea, and if you ever post about it on the DCS forums, let me know so I can make some popcorn.
Iāve got a great story planned, and am toying with the whole time idea to allow unlimited ammo at some pointā¦ maybe as an āunlockā.
I mean canāt let a silly thing like lack of bullets prevent the sacred duty of killing natzis (with a short a and hard t). See how far I get.
The Normandy map gets a big thumbs up. I set up a Blue Angel hornet at 500 ft and 600 knots and set waypoints around the map. This is a great way to get a feel for the map because you can zoom close in and way way out and just watch it go.
Firstly, itās flat. Thatās important to know. The detail is wonderful. Little towns nestled against the coast and separated by checkered fields outlined by lines of trees. Civilized rural Europe. The tree technology is great. Close ground textures great. Cities great. Water great.
The only thing that isnāt so great is the waves. They just arenāt there yet. The edge of the water just kindof wobbles. I think my settings are on high.
if this is early access and they will continue adding, then I am very happy.
MOST importantly, the flat nature of the map will allow me to set ripe concentrations of Naziās for an A-10 to pluck with clusters and brrrt. On a gtx970 (no VR for initial demoā¦ iām on my laptop streaming through steam) frames are just fine. Iām glad I waited on the 1080 as prices are plummeting. $420 for a brand new EVGA on Amazon right now! Iām guessing next gen is around the corner, and I will be able to pile together an absolutely satisfying concentration of Hornet fodder. Probably do a bunch of ships to give the Viggen something to do.
Of course this will all have a perfectly reasonable explanation. Now to check out the WW2 victims. I mean assets.
The Viggen has tons of fun options beyond antiship missiles, too. Iām already looking forward to dropping a stick of bombs on a column of Tigers.
Assets look good. Even some weird balloon thingy. I should be able to give your Viggen some food in fairly short order (in DCS world terms)
Ok, Iām going to re-access my Normandy impression from happy to holy shit this is insane. The level of detail they put in here is off the charts.
From here as a totally acceptable low level flyover;
To here when zooming in (or crashing)
I suppose with the likes of Skyrim or Witcher 3 I shouldnāt be so surprised, but you just donāt expect this in your flight sim.
Sorry to spam the thread, but Iām excited. Looks like 88 flak guns are well modeled. This means that Time Pilot wonāt have a pure cakewalk. Wonder what they can do against a target flying 800 knots. Guess weāll find out.
Editer
3014
Problem with one man, one jet is thereās no Jet A once you run the tanks dry.
Thereās a reason The Final Countdown used an aircraft carrier. Future gas and ammo.
Tim_N
3015
Are you saying itās a race against time?
Oh my goodness I canāt believe I havenāt heard of that movie before, I have to watch it now!
Honest question: If you land a Hornet on a 1944 Normandy airstrip in DCS can you request refuel/rearming?
schurem
3016
Count me amongst those three other people. I will happily test and critique your work. I think levity and humor work really well in the very serious world of combat flight simulators. You have my backing, be sure.
I would also like to refer you to my broās at www.mudspike.com and the forum there. Thereās a couple of dudes there who can lend a hand with scripting troubles. I am also quite certain your premise will be well received, and you might get some suggestions on how the real navyā¢ would handle this scenario.
Yeah, English Channel means a carrier is in. Iāve also got a plan for the Hogs and Viggens.
I really like the Normandy map. It serves a highly specific purpose, so you have to understand that going in, but it does so quite well. If not full price, I would say a no-brainer during the next sale.
Of course, along with base DCS, the entry to play Time Pilot will be:
- Hornet
- A-10C
- Viggen
- Spitfire
- F5
- Persian Gulf map
- Normandy Map
- WWII Assets
I really want to make it appeal to those heavily into highly realistic flight sims and have already made the investment. I fully expect the most serious squadrons to honor the work as the holy grail of campaigns. Perhaps the US Navy will pick it up and use it as a training vehicle to cover all contingencies.
lol, Iāll shut up about it now and get to work. I tend not to finish stories where I talk too much up front. Gonna take awhile.
Just a quick update on Time Pilot.
Dev is actually going quicker than I thought it would. B-17 bombing raids and skies filled with flak are working well. The first mission will put you in an F5. Scoring conditions will allow you to āupgradeā your plane. Mum on the story, but that will be the highlight, hopefully putting a bit of āsoulā into the endeavor.
Without doubt, I suck at this game, but skill aside, it is surprising difficult to take out 109s when your Tiger is loaded with rockets and bombs. Makes for an interesting choice and some challenge for the first mission. Do you simplify taking out the air threat, or do you bite the bullet, and then have plenty of ordinance to spend on the wealth of Nazi ground targets? You want an upgrade, better be the latterā¦
Good stuff. Very cool that the platform allows us to run so wild with our imagination and make something decent (relative term of course). In any case, my son and I are really having a blast.
Editer
3019
Finally, the spiritual sequel to Chuck Yeagerās Air Combat weāve all been waiting for!
Okay, Iāve been waiting for.
Still remember how many tries it took me to shoot down an F-4 using a P-51ā¦
Is it too soon to ask about the MiG-21, Ka-50, Su-25, and Flanker sequel, Time Pilot 2: Red Strike? Just wondering.
Although my core interest is firmly with modern jets you have piqued my interest enough to buy the Normandy map and look at the spitfire. No pressure!
