*** Official DCS World Thread ***

Im a bit late to the party but just seen that Virpil have a new cheaper throttle coming out soon.
Nice to see some cheaper options for beginners.

£209 if you pre order plus shipping etc.

 
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I’ve never been into flight sims, but a video popped up on my timeline from Growling Sidewinder and it’s piqued my interest.

As I understand it, DCS is free, but you buy any planes, maps, and missions you like? I have an antique Saitek Cyborg Evo joystick and a Razer Tartarus game controller, which I assume will be enough to get going.

Any suggestions or tips before I jump in? If I like it I’ll get a VR headset, so any recommendations for that will be appreciated too.
 
Skunkworks said:
I’ve never been into flight sims, but a video popped up on my timeline from Growling Sidewinder and it’s piqued my interest.

As I understand it, DCS is free, but you buy any planes, maps, and missions you like? I have an antique Saitek Cyborg Evo joystick and a Razer Tartarus game controller, which I assume will be enough to get going.

Any suggestions or tips before I jump in? If I like it I’ll get a VR headset, so any recommendations for that will be appreciated too.
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Be careful with this. It's potentially a very expensive rabbit hole, and one that requires a lot of of time and effort to get mildly competent with.
I dip in and out quite often. Start slow, build up the basic skills and knowledge, have a lot of patience, it has the potential to get frustrating fast. It can be very technical and complicated. However, There are a LOT of resources/Guides on Youtube. Use them! Even better if you have a second monitor/laptop/tablet and run them side by side when you are learning.
map your buttons to something that works for you, and keep a log/quick reference sheet with important commands at hand, there is a lot of commands to map, and it will take a lot of trial and error to get it comfortable.
I started off using other peoples controller profiles, it just didnt work for me. If I go through the physical process of mapping them it it trains my brain and repeated use will imprint it.

Whilst yes technically it is F2P, what you actually get with base content is not much at all. If I remember correctly it's basically a prop plane and an SU25. You get two types of aircraft models, standard and full fidelity planes. The standard ones can be mapped to be fully functional but is limited in it's quality and interactivity. Whereas the full fidelity models are very high quality with fully interactive cockpits.
Additional content is eyewateringly expensive. If you plan to get any content buy wisely. If you want to invest money start with one plane and stick to it.
The additional maps whilst outrageously pricey, are huge with a decent level of detail. I'd argue picking a full fidelity plane over new maps. Whilst a change of scenery is nice. There is by and far enough space and variety in the stock map to tide you over.

I personally went with the F/A 18c to begin with, I have since ordered the "Harrier" and KA-50 full fedility models and the Flaming cliffs pack. I also got the Syria map when I first started. I recently picked up the new SW Afghanistan map which was more of a nostalgia thing for me. I'm finding interesting flying around the old FOBs, routes and villages etc Familiar stomping ground.


Some kit to consider:
  • head tracking - I'd say its single handedly the most useful equipment upgrade you can have. Be that through head/eye tracking (TrackIR/tobii etc ) or VR headset. That ability to intuitively and easily have the visual situational awareness of the skys around you and be able to look around and manipulate the controls in the cockpit.
  • Half decent HOTAS - you dont have to go overboard, however it all depends on how immersed you want to be. I'm running a Logitech (Saitek) X56 at the moment, which whilst not "cheap" is firmly lower tier equipment. I used to have a Thrustmaster Warthog kit. Whilst the Warthog setup was really nice in the hands, it dosnt make me any better at flying.
  • Dedicated HOTAS mounts - Might be more of a personal thing but I suffer a lot of back shoulder discomfort in longer sessions having the HOTAS just sitting on the desk, having them mounted in a more ergonomic position is really helpful.

I'm sure other will be able to put more meat on the bones but for me thats the main points that come to mind.
 
Very good summary there I must say :)

A simple joystick is more than enough to get you going but if you do get bitten as mention you'll want to pickup a HOTAS sooner rather than later. If you're just flying planes you won't really need pedals for a good while but if you wanted to start into helicopters pedals are really a neccesity as trying to use the joystick twist for that is just painful.

One of the first things to get is some kind of head tracking, it REALLY does add to it, this can be as basic as using a webcam or even you're phone with some free software just to get you going, then down the line look at one of the knockoff Trackir 5 systems there just as good as the original.

Best thing to say as to what planes to get is what plane would you like to fly, what posters did you have on the wall as a kid? They have sales all the time so you should be able to pick up anything but the latest releases nice and cheap. First a first plane I'd recommend looking at something multirole like the FA-18 or F16 they can do everything.

The one thing to bare in mind with DCS is it really is a simulator, take you're time and learn a little at a time, you're not going to fire it jump in you're plane and be maverick, thats months down the line.

VR.... steer clear initially, it's a VERY deep hole and a VERY expensive one unless you have some to end kit already.

Lastly, this is probably the most fun and fatisifying thing I've ever done on a computer if you stick with it you'll have something to lose yourself in and have the most amazing times in for as long as you want.

Not sure where you are but I'm based in East London, you're more than welcome to pop over for a cuppa, a chat and have a play. I fly in VR but am setup for a normal screen with headtracking for when friends want to fly. I mostly fly helo's but do dabble in the Harrier.
Actually the same goes for anyone who's interested in DCS in you fancy trying it give me a yell.
 
Sorry about the large pics but after an hour of searching and arsing around trying to find a way to post a thumbnail or small image with a link I gave up.

If anyone does fancy coming for chat and trying out DCS or any of the stuff here, give me a yell.


 
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Skunkworks said:
I’ve never been into flight sims, but a video popped up on my timeline from Growling Sidewinder and it’s piqued my interest.

As I understand it, DCS is free, but you buy any planes, maps, and missions you like? I have an antique Saitek Cyborg Evo joystick and a Razer Tartarus game controller, which I assume will be enough to get going.

Any suggestions or tips before I jump in? If I like it I’ll get a VR headset, so any recommendations for that will be appreciated too.
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Someone made a pdf beginners guide here -

www.digitalcombatsimulator.com

DCS Beginners Guide - Full Release v2

Beginners Guide to DCS - The full release of the guide. The entire purpose of this guides is to help those interested in starting and playing DCS. This guide is my attempt at an almost all encompassing guide of everything DCS at a high level, without getting into specifics on aircraft or...
www.digitalcombatsimulator.com www.digitalcombatsimulator.com
 
Holy crap, Rikk, just buy an actual fighter jet, it would be cheaper!

Thanks for all the feedback, chaps. I'm still gathering information, but am definetly going to give it a go! I feel the need, the need to go quite quickly! :cool:
 
I'd say entry into DCS has a pretty gentle curve, similar to IL2 and stock MSFS2020 planes. The trick is to go for DCS Flaming Cliffs modules as there ou get all the phsyics and fun of actually flying and blowing stuff up, without the complex systems managment. Flaming Cliffs were recently updated with 3 more planes (F-86 Sabre and MiG-15 of the Korean War fame, plus the F-5). Start there and many may actually ending there as it's like Ace Combat for grown ups.

 
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SimonRigga said:
what am I missing?
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IMO? Nothing! It very much isnt. They still require a lot of training/practice to map and learn controls. Whilst they arnt as rediculously detailed as the full fidelity modules, and cockpit controls arnt fully fleshed out. Its still very much on the serious simulation end of the spectrum.

Thats not to say the Flaming Cliffs bundle isnt brilliant value for money, it very much is. Its just a little bit false to sell it as adult Ace Combat. I'd suggest that something like Nuclear Option or VTOL VR fit that bill better.
 
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