DCS World- An Overview

[Staggerwing]

Yep. That's the same one in the third link in my post above. It looks like a good starter HOTAS and it's running about $49 over there at Amazon right now.

Also, I can't believe that the Freedom 2.4 is now selling for over $200 new! They must have become quite scarce. I think I paid about $80 for mine 'back in the day'.

[jomni]

I am using that HOTAS X.

[Nefaro]

Thanks.  It was the Thrustmaster I was thinking of, indeed.

I had an issue or two with my old Saitek.  For one, the pinky button combined with the hand guard on the back of the joystick was too small for my large mits so my fingers were a bit too cramped.  Looks like the Thrustmaster one is affordable and doesn't have a hand guard.  I don't need the excessive buttons, either, as I just end up forgetting what commands I have mapped to the buttons when there are too many.

[Staggerwing]

I don't need the excessive buttons, either, as I just end up forgetting what commands I have mapped to the buttons when there are too many.

Some joystick software allows you to print out a diagram of the stick with function labels. If not, just print out a picture from the internet and draw some arrows connected to your own labels.

[Nefaro]

I don't need the excessive buttons, either, as I just end up forgetting what commands I have mapped to the buttons when there are too many.

Some joystick software allows you to print out a diagram of the stick with function labels. If not, just print out a picture from the internet and draw some arrows connected to your own labels.

I do draw a diagram of them.  Pain in the ass but it helps.  Until I lose 'em and have to redo it.  ;D 

I kinda prefer not having a bazillion buttons on the HOTAS, though, or else I feel the need to map something to every single one.  I still prefer to have a lot of stuff on the keyboard alone, so no biggie.  It's up to whether I play enough sims to justify buying a TrackIR, though.  My flight simming usually just comes in widely-spaced spurts so that's still up in the air.

[Nefaro]

So.. I'm on the verge of diving back into the DCS stuff, having both A-10C and Black Shark 2 now, along with the Thrustmaster HOTAS I just picked up.  But I'll probably mess around with the freebie SU-25T for a bit first in order to settle in easily before going through the learning process (or re-learning in the case of BS2) in the "study" sims.

Has anyone fired up Flaming Cliffs 3?  I suppose it's just the much-upgraded old LOMAC game, but I do kinda miss the online dogfights I had years ago with it.  Now that all this stuff is integrated into one multi-player dealio, it sounds even more enticing.  Running a SAM/AAA unit on the ground, with Combined Arms also has it's appeal.

[JudgeDredd]

I'm messing around with a campaign in FC3...the SU-29 I think. Only a couple of missions in but I really am enjoying the simplicity of the controls. Having A-10C - I always wanted all those bells and whistles - but it's so hard to get in to...trying to remember all the controls. With FC3, I'm transported back to the kind of sims I used to love and played quite often.

It looks fantastic, it plays fantastic and scratches my simulation itch without being overloaded.

It's not "simple"...just there's a lot less to go on than A-10C (which I do love but my heed explodes when I play)

I haven't played MP.

[jomni]

I don't like FC because of the fact that you NEED to memorize the keys.  In A-10C I did not memorize a lot because the cockpit is click able.  So much easier to remember an on screen button to press than a key combination.

[Tuna]

So to get FC3, do you also need to buy LockOn: Modern Air? It says that one the page, yet I don't see a product page on the DCS web site.. sucks to have to buy two full price games to play the one..

[JudgeDredd]

I honestly can't remember, but that sounds like something I heard/read. I have Lock On and I'm pretty sure I had to jump up in the loft and get it to install/play FC3

Having said that - I'm pretty sure you can get Lock On pretty cheap.

[Nefaro]

So to get FC3, do you also need to buy LockOn: Modern Air? It says that one the page, yet I don't see a product page on the DCS web site.. sucks to have to buy two full price games to play the one..

Yes.  The info page mentions that you must have either LOMAC or Flaming Cliffs 2 (which also required LOMAC IIRC).  I'm sure this is due to Ubisoft owning the publishing rights to the original LOMAC, so DCS has to sell their upgrades as add-ons. 

I really need to get a TrackIR but have been waffling about dropping the chunk of cash on one.  Never having used them, does anyone have recommendations as to model, cost, etc?

[JudgeDredd]

I couldn't recommend them - but I am apparently in the minority...everyone else I know raves about them.

I have bought 2 (or3?) and sold each one afterwards for a loss.

So why did I not get on with them?




• Motions
I just couldn't get used to the motions. For driving sims, I tended to steer towards the way I was looking...not always a good thing.

• Sensitivity
I could never seem to get a suitable sensitivity. For example...A-10C. I tried and tried and tried to get a sensitivity that allowed me to look around the cockpit with only moving my head slightly (the idea of the product) but at the same time keeping it "stiff" enough that I could look down at the panels and click the buttons. Either it was too sensitive in that I couldn't hold my head steady enough to click a single button or it was too stiff and I had to break my neck to look around the cockpit...I tried everything I could to get it working just right.

• Light
During daytime I couldn't use it. Not even with the curtains shut because of sunlight. It played havok with the receiver.


Like I said, I am definitely in the minority. But I've bought two. Sold the first one pretty quickly for a loss (that was a used V3 TrackIR) and bought another one (used V4 TrackIR) a year or two later and actually kept that one for a year trying to get iot to work just right for me...to no avail.

One thing to note that may make a difference is I never had the Pro Clip version...I was using the T piece with the reflectors on a hat. So maybe I'd have got a better experience had I bought the clip version.

[Nefaro]

I am a bit concerned about the sensitivity and head-turning situation.  It's really what makes me hesitate most, especially since I have an old neck injury, near the base of my skull, that tends to pinch nerves and give me a headache in certain situations.  :-\ 

It could get ugly if it's too touchy, and I'd be gambling the price of a TrackIR if I took the leap.

[MengJiao]

So to get FC3, do you also need to buy LockOn: Modern Air? It says that one the page, yet I don't see a product page on the DCS web site.. sucks to have to buy two full price games to play the one..

A few months ago I got the lock-on disk for 9 dollars on Amazon (or maybe, just maybe it was ebay).

There's a downloadable edition available as well.

[Tuna]

There are different profiles out there for Track IR and you can make you own as well.. I know what you mean by crazy.. when my Track IR switches to 'default', and I look down in the cockpit, the view wobbles back and forth.. But as soon as I load the profile that I 'want'.. All is well.. movement is very smooth, and it really enhances the immersion. I really love being able to move my face right up close to the Cockpit!