*** Official DCS World Thread ***

[Borsch]

I guess it boils down to, I "want" it to be simple to get into, with minimal buttons to remember as I don't play DCS that often. But i think i'm going to have to face the fact, that either DCS is the wrong game for my level of playing, or I need to invest more time into playing DCS, and then i'll get more used to the buttons / mappings etc..

Given DCS is a reasonably serious simluator then I can't expect to play it like I used to play FA-18 Interceptor on the Amiga

DCS FC2024 is perfect for your needs. Ace Combat (played most of the series) is not just simple, its simplistic. FC is Ace Combat for grown ups But, conceptually, it is NOT (much) harder than AC. Turn on engines, turn on radar, select close range mode, lock on, fire - yes, there are more buttons than in AC (follow the enemy and fire, everything else is automatic). But these steps are common sense, there is no turn on dc inverter, turn on generator, wait to spool to 3000rpm, turn on ISFGBNXSER system to mode2 after waiting for a BIT test etc etc lark in FC. And the physics/flight dynamics are exactly the same as with full fat DCS modules - light years ahead of Ace Combat (and the Interceptor on the Amiga haha)

Your hotas is plenty good enough for anything in DCS (with a modifier or two). I would assign a modifier to the throttle button under your thumb, the buttons on the base would be gear, flaps, radar on/off toggle, maybe jettison. But yeah, plenty of buttons for FC.

 

[Trig]

If you just want to fly and shoot stuff, DCS might not be the optimum solution, and certainly not the F18.
The Flaming Cliffs (FC) 4 pack includes a bunch of aircraft that have a simplified set of controls and systems, whilst still looking good and sharing the depth of the DCS flight model.

FC is where I'm at currently, good enough for me at this point..

There are also free mods like the A4, which are good, once you've sorted stuff out.

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

Good call. The A4 mod is seriously well done