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Digital Gaming => Computer Gaming => Topic started by: JudgeDredd on October 27, 2014, 11:29:55 AM

Title: DCS Hawk available for Pre-Sale
Post by: JudgeDredd on October 27, 2014, 11:29:55 AM
Announcement below

**********************************************
DCS: Hawk T1A is available for pre-sell!

VEAO Simulations in cooperation with The Fighter Collection and Eagle Dynamics are pleased to announce that DCS: Hawk T1A is available for pre-sell.

DCS: Hawk T1A will sell for $39.99 at end of November. Pre Purchase now for $31.99 and save 20%!

The Hawk first entered service with the RAF in 1976, both as an advanced flying-training aircraft and a weapons-training aircraft. The Hawk T1 version is currently used at RAF Valley for fast-jet pilot advanced flying training with No 208(R) Squadron, and at RAF Scampton by the RAF Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows.

The T1A is used for weapons and tactical training on No 19(R) Squadron at RAF Valley, and by No 100 Squadron at RAF Leeming for advanced fast-jet weapons systems officer training and operational support- flying. In its weapons and tactical training role the Hawk is used to teach air combat, air-to-air firing, air-to-ground firing and low-flying techniques and operational procedures.

While the Hawk T1 is used solely in the advanced flying-training role, the Hawk T1A is equipped to an operational standard and is capable of undertaking a number of war roles.

The T1A has four under-wing pylons cleared to carry Sidewinder AIM-9L air-to-air missiles, rocket pods, practice bombs and bombs, and can carry a 30mm Aden cannon in a pod underneath the fuselage centre-line. The cannon can be fired at the same time as any of the pylon-mounted weapons are selected for release or firing.


Key Features:

Accurate and highly detailed 3D interactive cockpit featuing six-degrees-of-freedom (6DOF) technology compatible with head-tracking devices and Oculus Rift.
Accurate modeling of the Hawk HUD, instruments, gauges and dials.
High fidelity accurate Advanced Systems Modelling (ASM) such as electrical, fuel, hydraulics, oxygen, pressurisation and air conditioning, temperature control, pitot-static, AHRS, lighting and weapons system modelled to detailed schematics.
Highly detailed Hawk external 3D model and liveries.
Fully interactive, comprehensive training missions make learning to fly the Hawk easier.
Armament includes: AIM-9M Sidewinders, bombs, practice bombs, rocket pods and gun pod.
Highly detailed damage model.
Standard Flight Model (SFM) included.
**********************************************

Have to say - not interested in this one. I'd have bitten their hand off for a Tornado...but a Hawk?

Also if you want it cheaper, don't pre-order. Given DCS's track record it'll be half price in two weeks!  :buck2:
Title: Re: DCS Hawk available for Pre-Sale
Post by: Jarhead0331 on October 27, 2014, 11:50:02 AM
Not available for beta access until November...in case anyone is wondering.
Title: Re: DCS Hawk available for Pre-Sale
Post by: Yskonyn on October 27, 2014, 11:50:20 AM
I am interested in this bird, but you make a valid point; it'll probably go on a better sale pretty soon (X-mas?).
Title: Re: DCS Hawk available for Pre-Sale
Post by: Nefaro on October 27, 2014, 03:29:18 PM
The choice of DCS aircraft releases continue to confound.   :uglystupid2:
Title: Re: DCS Hawk available for Pre-Sale
Post by: Staggerwing on October 27, 2014, 05:27:58 PM
Wish it was a Curtis Hawk (P-6) instead.
Title: Re: DCS Hawk available for Pre-Sale
Post by: JudgeDredd on October 27, 2014, 05:36:02 PM
I know Nefaro.

But the problem with no direction (if indeed that is the case) from DCS, then additional, 3rd party aircraft will be coming along much like they do/did for FSX. In other words, whatever a developer wants to create, they will. It will either sell, or it won't.

Of course the difference between FSX and DCS is FSX knew it was a civil flight sim (even with some military units in there) and there was a believable world to fly around in. DCS and the aircraft available seems to be just a hotch potch mix of whatever is getting developed.

I would think a firm direction from DCS ala we are creating a world for 1950-1970 aircraft and/or a world for 1980-2000 aircraft may focus 3rd parties. I would think DCS have the say on what 3rd party products go through...and I wonder if they really care whether they make sense or not. At the end of the day, they'll be getting a chunk of cash for whatever joins their world (I would think).

I'm not overly bothered at the moment...but I would think I'd like what is trying to be to be nailed down sooner rather than later when there's a whole mix of whatevers in a world.

Maybe my vision of what DCS World would be just isn't what they are going to make it. Maybe they just wanted to provide a region for people to fly whatever they want. Maybe there was no grand plan to make a believable battlefield. Maybe I just dreamt about it being that.

If I did dream it - and that's not the plan, then I will be disappointed. Because I genuinely surely thought this was the time for something like that to happen.  :-X

Good god no Stagger. I mean I like the Curtis Hawk - but I was really disappointed in the move to WWII props. I had hoped that DCS World was going to be a modern battlefield. I don't actually mind if there's that other World in WWII for people to delve into - but I see WWII removing resources/3rd parties from what I had hoped for in DCS World.
Title: Re: DCS Hawk available for Pre-Sale
Post by: Staggerwing on October 27, 2014, 05:45:18 PM
JD- This is the Hawk I was thinking of:



(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.wp.scn.ru%2Fcamms%2Far%2F747%2Fpics%2F3_13.jpg&hash=fe6e9cdf8b5d08672317585ed427495f9823f469)



Definitely pre-ww2  ;)
Title: Re: DCS Hawk available for Pre-Sale
Post by: JudgeDredd on October 27, 2014, 05:46:48 PM
Yeah - I looked it up after I posted. I saw "Curtiss" and thought of the P-40 Warhawk.  :-[
Title: Re: DCS Hawk available for Pre-Sale
Post by: Nefaro on October 27, 2014, 06:38:15 PM
Quote from: JudgeDredd on October 27, 2014, 05:36:02 PM

Good god no Stagger. I mean I like the Curtis Hawk - but I was really disappointed in the move to WWII props. I had hoped that DCS World was going to be a modern battlefield. I don't actually mind if there's that other World in WWII for people to delve into - but I see WWII removing resources/3rd parties from what I had hoped for in DCS World.

JD has a point though.

All the scattered aircraft just doesn't help.  The WW2 planes being added to DCS World just drains the effort as a whole.  Now we're getting trainer aircraft?  DCS is more schizophrenic than some of my past girlfriends.
Title: Re: DCS Hawk available for Pre-Sale
Post by: jomni on October 27, 2014, 07:59:19 PM
We have all these 3rd party guys giving us all sorts of aircraft to fly but where are all those scenery / map developers. DCS is so lacking in this aspect.
Title: Re: DCS Hawk available for Pre-Sale
Post by: Yskonyn on October 28, 2014, 01:18:10 AM
The Hawk is developed by a 3rd party group so the argument about stretched resources doesnt stand in this case IMO. Eventhough I do agree with that point on a broader note.

Aparently DCS World v2 is going to be ready anywhere between a month from now and five years. A new middle Eastern theatre is coming after its release as well as a terrain upgrade for Georgia and finally the Nevada map.

With the debacle of DCS WW2 I think they will just churn out aircraft models to buy seperately now (like p51 and Dora) instead of making a seperate sim.

In essence this modular structure should be a winner for everyone because you can build up your sim any way you like, but the pacing of development is just so darn slow.
Title: Re: DCS Hawk available for Pre-Sale
Post by: JudgeDredd on October 28, 2014, 01:30:41 AM
Painfully  :'(
Title: Re: DCS Hawk available for Pre-Sale
Post by: JudgeDredd on October 28, 2014, 05:24:32 AM
All I wanted (and I understand I'm not the entire simming world or even talking for them)...but all I really wanted was a believable, fluid battlefield with one aircraft and the potential for more aircraft to become available.

I suppose (from a campaign perspective) a bit like Falcon 4.0. I always felt in Falcon 4.0 I was part of a big war...everything going on around me. From the list of sorties being presented to you for you to choose which one you were going to fly to the comms whilst in air and even the way you were talked back to home plate. Everything about that sim screamed immersion. I didn't even really miss new flyables. They'd have been nice, but they weren't needed because you had an air superiority fighter as well as a ground pounder. The F-16 was extremely versatile and could carry a shite load of weapons.

What DCS seems to be doing is giving the flyables before the world and with no real indication of that world I'm looking for ever being available. Great for some. Not for me really.

I enjoy starting it up, doing a ramp start and taking off, perhaps even landing - but that's kind of as far as I get. I'd have spent so much time on that I don't get anywhere else - especially as there's not really an awful lot more there...or at least nothing to drag me in. I want the list of battles presented to me like Falcon 4 did...let me choose and upload the list when I get back.

I'm not even keen on DCS providing another world. I'm not particularly stoked about giving the tools to the community to let them create a list of scripted missions to play in a campaign. As good as the community is, that's not really what I wanted from DCS. And honestly - I've seen people moaning about Nevada not being out for well over a year now. What exactly is it about Nevada that's getting people stoked?

I'd much rather they gave a dynamic campaign for the world they've given us. A truly awesome single player experience. I want the sim to drag me in and keep me sucked in. Make me fight the mission and want to get back in the air to continue supporting Blue or pushing Red back.

I've tried to put it as best I can and I know I'm one wee voice among thousands of simmers all looking for different things - so the above is really (kind of) what I hoped DCS would give me. I've yet to get any indication I'll find what I'm looking for.

Doesn't stop me buying they're aircraft though.

Perhaps I should just stop being a dinosaur and wake up to what the reality is. Online gaming.
Title: Re: DCS Hawk available for Pre-Sale
Post by: Nefaro on October 28, 2014, 09:01:36 AM
Quote from: JudgeDredd on October 28, 2014, 05:24:32 AM


Perhaps I should just stop being a dinosaur and wake up to what the reality is. Online gaming.


If you want a huge living war environment, your only other modern option besides Falcon 4 mods is Wings Over Flanders Fields. 

I suppose the older Strike Fighters 2 series has that too, but I've always thought it's dynamic campaign was missing immersion in some way.

Does anyone believe that modders will create such things with DCS' tools after they're released?  It would be nice, but I have doubts as to whether that would come to fruition.  :-[


At least there is rumor of a Mideast map.  Dunno what the fascination with a Nevada map would be, either.  Maybe we'll just be getting trainer aircraft for awhile?  :buck2:
Title: Re: DCS Hawk available for Pre-Sale
Post by: Yskonyn on October 28, 2014, 09:03:54 AM
I hear you, JD! :)

That experience can be there for DCS. The 476th Fighter Group virtual Squad runs a dedicated server with several scenario's that run for a couple of weeks.
As close to a persistent battlefield as I have seen so far, but it took an insane amount of work to create such missions.

And here is the big choking point. As easy as it is to create something interesting in SB Pro PE, as tedious it is to create it in DCS.

If they would add a 3D placement function to accurately place individual units, it would alleviate the work of mission creators so much .

Perhaps DCS World v2 will offer a better ME.
Title: Re: DCS Hawk available for Pre-Sale
Post by: RyanE on October 28, 2014, 09:05:51 AM
Isn't that what DCS Combined Arms is supposed to be?  An open modern battlefield for all the planes.  I don't own it and was just assuming that is what it was.

I like Flaming Cliffs but don't understand all the hoopla over the WW2 and helos around DCS.  If I just want to tool around in a plane, I use X-Plane.
Title: Re: DCS Hawk available for Pre-Sale
Post by: JudgeDredd on October 28, 2014, 09:36:46 AM
I'm not entirely sure what Combined Arms is. I thought it was an addon where you could mess around in the ground units, shooting down A-10's and Warthogs.

If I find out it's something else (i.e. a dynamic campaign for any of the aircraft you want to fly) then I'll be picking it up...but I really didn't think it was that.

I shall report back when I've investigated. I have to be honest I didn't even give it a remote glance even when it was on sale because I thought it was an single player/online ground part of the game.
Title: Re: DCS Hawk available for Pre-Sale
Post by: Yskonyn on October 28, 2014, 09:49:54 AM
Combined Arms is light weight.
It enables you to control ground units. On the map as well as in the 3D world.
But the Controls are pretty basic and arcade, nothing close to something like steelbeasts for example.

The module doesnt change anything to the way the campaign system works. It just adds the possibility for a player controlled JTAC (which is pretty awesome admittedly), control the ground war or an individual vehicle. But this has only basic functionality.

The new newsletter presents another dissapointment.
DCS World v2 is not ready and probably will not make a winter 2014 release afterall.

Nevada will come late december.

No news on F/A-18.

No timeframe for Strait of Hormuz.

DCS WW2 seems to be exactly as I thought it would be: modules for DCS World. Dora will come out of beta soon, Bf109 current project, Spitfire next. No mention of maps yet.

On the other hand, we will get retooled aircraft fairly soon; SU-27 with a fidelity in between A-10 and FC3.
Title: Re: DCS Hawk available for Pre-Sale
Post by: Toonces on October 28, 2014, 10:49:10 PM
I have a thread in the main DCS forum on SimHQ that discusses this thought in more detail, but in short DCS is a fantastic sandbox simulator.  The tools you have and the high-fidelity modules provided allow a home user to get a very authentic military-sim experience.

DCS fails on the game aspect.  There just isn't a game there.  But it's a great simulator. 

If you can get online with a bunch of like-minded, serious folks, you can do some very cool training.  But if you're looking to have a virtual pilot career, DCS is the wrong sim for you.

With Nevada it will be possible for the home user to have a very close representation of real-world Red Flag...in some ways better than real-world.  But it will take work to create the missions that flesh the world out like that.
Title: Re: DCS Hawk available for Pre-Sale
Post by: jomni on October 29, 2014, 12:57:14 AM
Combined Arms is an Arcade version  of Steel Beasts. Big disappointment and not worthy to be in DCS world.
Title: Re: DCS Hawk available for Pre-Sale
Post by: Yskonyn on October 29, 2014, 05:00:06 AM
Quote from: jomni on October 29, 2014, 12:57:14 AM
Combined Arms is an Arcade version  of Steel Beasts. Big disappointment and not worthy to be in DCS world.

That depends on how you approach it. The manual JTAC feature is DCS worthy and works very well. Also the funtionality of directing a ground offensive as a Commander (from the map rather than in the 3D world) opens up a lot of interesting scenarios too.
It only falls short in the individual vehicle controls department.
But then again it had been fairly unrealistic to think the module would give us fully featured units to begin with. There are many different platforms.
Title: Re: DCS Hawk available for Pre-Sale
Post by: Nefaro on October 29, 2014, 10:02:50 AM
Quote from: Yskonyn on October 29, 2014, 05:00:06 AM
Quote from: jomni on October 29, 2014, 12:57:14 AM
Combined Arms is an Arcade version  of Steel Beasts. Big disappointment and not worthy to be in DCS world.

That depends on how you approach it. The manual JTAC feature is DCS worthy and works very well. Also the funtionality of directing a ground offensive as a Commander (from the map rather than in the 3D world) opens up a lot of interesting scenarios too.
It only falls short in the individual vehicle controls department.
But then again it had been fairly unrealistic to think the module would give us fully featured units to begin with. There are many different platforms.

I picked it up for the possibility of running air defenses in multi-player. 

Haven't even used anything in the Combined Arms pack yet, nor have I done Multi-player in DCS "World".


The SAMs are probably as Arcade as the rest.  :-\