I've put DCS:World on a system now, waiting on some new hardware to arrive, and in the meantime, trying out the default SU-25 just to make sure before I commit myself into a completely new simulator with the A-10 and P-51 and Hokum. I think after I figure a couple things out, and get it all working together, that all of those purchases are pretty much a given.The interface is taking some getting used to from FSX, especially the lack of Ezdok. I haven't figured out how to move the eyepoint around in the cockpit yet as the TrackIR only seems to be able to rotate around one fixed eyepoint. The whole thing is a little daunting because I'm so used to doing everything differently. I don't like the lack of being able to click the cockpit, but I guess that is only because it is the default Su-25.

 

I'll say one thing, the flight experience is a real eye-opener. The massive, and I mean massive performance increase over FSX is amazing. The plane feels like it is actually riding on air instead of rails. Love the special effects too. Like JComm above said, I'm wondering why it took me so long to discover this, especially considering I already had the original Black Shark. Thanks for the advice all, and I'll keep posting about my experiences with this as they evolve.

I've had the P-51 and DCS world installed for a couple of months now and I'm having fun with it. I am a regular FSX user as well and 700 hour pilot IRL. Here is my pros and cons list for DCS world and the P-51, these are only my opinions whether right or wrong:

 

Pros:

-Excellent flight dynamics. There is no comparison here in my opinion, DCS blows FSX away. Stall and flight characteristics are highly accurate and realistic side to side friction and momentum on the ground are notable aspects.

 

-Sounds: My favorite thing to do is fire on a ground target and then push F3 to lock the camera in front of you while you wizz by. Their rendition of the RR Merlin is pretty much spot on. I'm guessing the DCS engine has much newer technolgies than FSX for sound implimentation as well which makes this possible.

 

-Systems programing: I'm not a P51 pilot but everything seems like it's there and functioning as it should.

 

-Graphics and game engine: Leeps ahead of FSX (of course it's newer also). Anyway, I can turn everything up to nearly max on my system and rarely get even 1 studder.

 

Cons:

 

Scenery: DCS world is based on modern warfare and it is limmited to Georgia (not the USA Georgia either). Thus there are no 1940's period scenery to fly in nor can you fly in the US or Europe though I think there's a Las Vegas area coming out or maybe it's been released already I don't know. Anyway, as the sim grows, I expect the scenery areas to grow also.

 

Battle scenarios: Aside from dogfighting the AI P-51, there aren't any other realistic battle scenario's for the P-51, yet. If I'm missing something here let me know but when I use the quick mission builder and get close to my target I get blown away by modern day helicopters. I expect this will develope over time though.

 

Tough learning curve: I think I crashed over 10 times before I finally got it in the air, probably crashed on my first 20 landings too. You really have to stay ahead of this plane and fly it the whole way. I haven't mastered this thing yet but I've improved greatly in all phases. I guess it's not really a con, but it is a bit frustrating at first.

 

Lack of customizable conditions: I'd like to have more control over weather settings, time of day, etc, and be able to change this mid flight without having to reload the sim. FSX beats DCS in this aspect in my opinion.

 

So, I figured I'd post this for the benefit of others. I like the potential that DCS world has and I'd like to see it grow. For now, quite honestly, there's not enough variation for me in DCS so I still mainly fly FSX. However, from time to time when I want a more realistic feel, I load DCS.

 

Note: The above bullet points are my opinions only, feel free to let me know if I am missing something. Also, I do not own the A2A aircraft, so I cannot compare DCS with that product.

I'm finally getting the hang of the different interfaces, customizing controls, eyepoints, fields of view and other things so that the simulation experience isn't a total break with FSX. Just playing around with DCS:World so far, and if the default and so-so SU-25 is merely a preview of what is in store, I am very impressed. Really nice to see a program that runs well and looks good right off the bat without having to spend months and years tweaking it, fighting for every frame per second! Why did I wait so long to set myself up with this new system? I think this will make a perfect side by side companion with FSX for civilian planes, and this for military planes. At this rate I might even add RoF to both of them and be able to do it all! :rolleyes: I came here wondering if a particular plane was worth $40, now I really think I'm "all in." The heck with the P-51, I want them all! I'm very excited about all of this.

One more con with DCS is the lack of proper ATC. You can fly the A2A Mustang on VATSIM or with Radar Contact etc, over real world scenery of your choice. Especially the Civilian version, which you can use the Reality XP GNS430 in for IFR etc.

 

But if it's flying, fighting, aerobatics, and general fun you want, the DCS Mustang is great. I don't know why Just Flight is mentioned, as they are just another seller of it, I just buy my DCS stuff directly from the DCS website and get the most up to date release.

While the DCS Mustang is great it does lack a theatre of war or a realistic variety of opponents to face. The real gems of the DCS series is the Black Shark and A-10C in my opinion. There isn't a more realistic helicopter available in the consumer sim market, and soon there will also be a DCS Huey.

 

Also DCS is a modern sim environment, i.e. it's maintained. You can get 60fps in DCS, compared to 30fps in FSX with the same quality of visuals. But then in FSX you don't need that much smoothness as you are not dogfighting or aiming a gun.

I would say the DCS Mustang compares favorably with The A2A P-51D,Only it has 6 working .50 cals :biggrin:

 

Not only 6 .05 cals, you have 6 to 8 rockets and + 2 bombs

 

future theatres can be in the future (nevada map + EDGE terrain engine) opening 3rd parties to build new terrain.

I was impressed enough with what I saw in the free DCS:World, that I decided to go all out with not only the P-51, but also the other planes. I am still in the process of setting up hardware to match the planes and still maintain the same general environment as I use for FSX---when I 'm done, the only thing I'll have to do to seemlessly transition between the two simulation environments is to stow the yoke to the side and place the joystick on the desk. I'll use a Fightertstick in favor of the Warthog, because the Warthog price was over my budget.

 

Until I get all the controllers set up, it is hard to make a good evaluation, but I did take the P-51 out for a spin. I was very impressed with what I saw both flying and systems wise, and was pleased to see that both the DCS Mustang and the a2a Mustang feel very similar, although as others have posted, there definitely is something a little more realistic about the environment in which the DCS Mustang lives and flies. With a little research I figured out how to make the virtual cameras behave a lot like ezca.

 

The fact of the working weapons and an environment to use them in, even if the P-51 is mismatched, is still a lot better than the relatively sterile world of FSX, in which a plane like this can only be used as a GA plane, and is yearning for something more. My first tentative flight had me strafing a collumn of trucks. I was grinning ear to ear when you see the tracers ricochet off of the ground, just like you see in the old war footage. My second instant flight had me in air-to-air combat against another AI P-51. He had me heading for a belly landing in short order, and again was tickled at how the plane was so realistically damaged by the engagement and the crash landing. The stopped propeller was riddled with shrapnel holes! The maintenance hangar thing of the FSX plane is fine, but waiting for some pump to fail over time isn't near as exciting as watching your plane get torn to pieces by enemy fire!

 

The A-10 and KA-50 are each going to have a learning curve from hell, so those might be a bit down the road before I get to actually flying and fighting with those beyond the initial environment setup. As best as I can, I'll get them "ready to fly" and then they will be all set to go when my knowledge permits me to rise to their challenge.

 

I am very excited about this new simulation environment, and as far as military planes go, I can't foresee I'll be using any planes of this nature in the FSX environment anymore. So FSX for the peaceful Commercial and GA flying and DCS for when things need to get hot and dangerous with military planes. Thanks for the advice to the people who responded.

King,

 

that's exactly my point.

 

Starting FSX (even with the excellent Civil p-51), X-Plane10, MS FLIGHT or AeroFly is so grey-looking / poor now that I am really considering investing in the A10, and certainly in the BS. There are news of a Bell comming nest, and that will certainly be a great addition!!!

 

I really do not like the military side of flight, but I also don't like the limitations in flight dynamics, systems, immersion that the other simulators give me. Got tired of refusing what is evident - DCS World gives me deatail, accuracy, immersion, quality like no other fliught simulator.

 

I was told that ILS Cliffs of Dover is also very good, but I fear getting into yet another combat simulation platform, and the future is, IMHO, a lot more in DCS World than in IL2 CoD....

 

I was writing the other day that DCS closed a cycle, started early this year with MS FLIGHT, and I now feel at home and very glad with what this simulator gives me.

 

It is really very very good!!!!

Jcomm,have you considered Rise of flight?

I can tell you, that the flight physis and damage modelling are brilliant,if you want to get into WW1 aircraft.

 

Regards.

Actually, the same friend who pointed me to DSC World P-51 mentioned RoF...

 

WWI is also an era of flight that attracts me particularly, and I have read lot's of interesting oppinions about RoF...

 

Anyway, is it still under development/ support?

 

Jcomm,have you considered Rise of flight?

I can tell you, that the flight physis and damage modelling are brilliant,if you want to get into WW1 aircraft.

 

Regards.

Actually, the same friend who pointed me to DSC World P-51 mentioned RoF...

 

WWI is also an era of flight that attracts me particularly, and I have read lot's of interesting oppinions about RoF...

 

Anyway, is it still under development/ support?

 

Hi JComm,

 

Short answer=yes

 

Long answer:

 

If you can handle some combat, ROF is truly an excellent sim, you can see from my avatar (SE5a) that I love that sort of flying. But bias aside, it's one of the most well supported simulators out there. When I used to have more time I was an active beta tester, and I can say I have never seen a group of more passionate dedicated developers for a sim.

 

For the past two years the developers have released an update about once every 2 months.

 

The base game is free if you get it from their website, then you have the choice to purchase which aircraft you like best, with massive discounts for multi-purchasees. Similar to the FSX addon model except addons are only sold through their store. Some have 3rd party developers helping on models, although most of the work is done by the team. There are currently no payware "mods" or addons except those approved and available in the store. Although there are free mods out there.

 

It's all western front france at the moment. But a map of the english channel is almost ready for release.

 

Online is fun, and you never stop learning air combat tactics, maneuvers, and about each individual aircraft. They all have very unique quirks in the flight model and are not just a function of the v speeds like some sims. But if you have a hard time with defeat (it will come LOTS when you start), then online might not suit you unless you join a squadron. If you take each defeat as a learning experience, you will have alot of fun improving your flying skills. There are no "unlocks" like FPS games, it's based on knowledge of tactics and maneuvers, and well-practiced skills only.

 

On DCS - Remember DCS in the long term will also add non-combat aircraft such as the C-130. It's definitely not a GA sim but I agree everything seems so seamless in comparison it's hard to resist isn't it!

 

The search for the perfect sim is like looking for the holy grail - it doesn't exist remember that :lol:

@DanW,

 

thx for your post Dan ;-)

 

P.S.: Really tempted to buy RoF, looking forward for a bright future for DCS :-)

Forgive me for my giddiness, but my TM Warthog just arrived at the door and I just removed it from the box a minute ago--I hadn't expected it until next week. Holy Cow, is that thing heavy and sturdy, and BIG. I'm psyched!!!!

 

It makes all my other controller hardware feel pretty cheep by comparison. I had some buyer's remorse for getting this, but now that I see what I have, it makes me feel a lot better about things. Can't wait to plug it all in and see it perform in the sim--it will probably take me hours just to map all the controls!

^^Congrats on your New TM WartHog!!!^^ In my Opinion it's Money well spent,The quality is unsurpassed.

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