DCS SITREP #26 2024: ED Reveal Dynamic Campaign Progress, Heatblur to Make F-16A MSFS

[@fafafafa-k8c]

DTC, Package Planning: 2030 AI ATC AWACS IADS Overhaul: 2035 Dynamic Campaign: 2035-2040 (*ED said they expect to start testing this feature in 2020 and closed beta test will be in 2021 lmao) My bet I think ED's task is gonna be incredibly harder and complicated, compared to Falcon4/FalconBMS devs did Since there are many modules from different era, 3rd party modules, maps etc. ED also have to care about CPU usage and FPS especially for VR users thanks to their priority to pumping up the fancy graphics, moving Trees and Grass before updating core game Damn I cant wait for FalconBMS 4.38 update. Hopefully end of this year or 2025

[@_Jake.From.Statefarm_]

So why are you here again?

[@bboy69sa]

I remember ED mentioning they thought the Dynamic Campaign would be ready late 2020…. At this rate 2025 will be optimistic…. ED won’t see another $ of mine until real, tangible progress is made with the simulator platform and things like the dynamic campaign. Spamming us with terrain and aircraft modules is ridiculous and screams cash grab and rug pull, the Razbam debacle supports the concerns. No point having great modules in a full and broken platform.

[@oneill6291]

Absolutely agree.

[@BunialskiTrip]

Agree!

[@Biller2334]

Samesies

[@ChucksSEADnDEAD]

I'm also displeased about the state of DCS and I am not looking forward to any purchase until improvements are seen but the dynamic campaign whining has to be some of the most unreasonable complaints when the Falcon 4 dynamic campaign was also a hot mess to get right and the guy who programmed it admitted he wouldn't have done it if he knew how much effort it would take. Falcon 4 was essentially built as a dynamic campaign first and then a simulator was bolted on top. DCS never had that foundation built so ED has to dig under two decades old code and rebuild a complex bunker without causing the entire surface structure to collapse into the pit they just dug.

[@Spindrift-m8n]

Thanks for all the news. Loved the “outro”. Have a good holiday.

[@VictoriaWargaming]

I remember people saying DCS didn't need a dynamic campaign. None of those people had played the Falcon4 dynamic campaign.

[@171-OC]

Oooo new video - Magnificent.. Good to see you again M8.... Hope your keeping well....

[@Pricklyhedgehog72]

I am. Thanks for asking...chugging along.

[@wyattdean5192]

Hi Mark! Funny to find you on here!

[@171-OC]

@@wyattdean5192 The Very Best DCS You tube Content on the Planet M8 with Zero Exceptions... Where else would I be ?

[@wyattdean5192]

As always thanks for the update my friend!

[@madaxe606]

Sadly, without a huge improvement to the AI, I just can’t see dynamic campaign working the way we expect/hope it to. I really hope I’m wrong.

[@superdude4402]

Have a safe and fun trip prickly!

[@shanepregler9865]

Ty, enjoy your trip!

[@gradocchio]

I really hope this comes to fruition soon, but I just have no faith..

[@simtaylor61]

Have a good trip bud. Wish I could ride along with you. Been many years since I’ve been there

[@chocks9350]

Thanks and enjoy your time off :)

[@thunderace4588]

Thank you Prickly.

[@stuartbraithwaite1297]

Have a safe and enjoyable trip back to NZ

[@case.98]

i hope they’re gonna implement cas missions into that campaign and rework the jtac. Would be awesome to have a real tic situation within the DC

[@dealwolfstriked272]

Go ED!!

[@willievstudio]

Nice B roll of Afghanistan map at the end!!!

[@Pricklyhedgehog72]

@@willievstudio thanks

[@rapidrapid01]

Have a good break sir

[@Locutus720]

If it’s going to be a paid module then I really want to make sure that it’s not always online required, and make it as good as falcon 4.0 heck, if they made it on par with DID’s EF2000 I’d be okay with that, even if that was simple. Until then it’s user generated missions to fly the Combat-craft Museum Sim otherwise known as DCS.

[@r4dio4ctiv3man9]

No news about the Razbam / ED dispute and the future of my beloved Strike Eagle? Slowly giving up hope more and more...

[@Pricklyhedgehog72]

Sadly no. And as I said last week to someone else, even if the dispute is resolved, we as the general public may not get much information if the agreement reached is covered by NDAs etc, etc. We may not ever hear root reasons for the catalyst of events.

[@aatwinner1377]

Never give up hope. The eagle is worth it.

[@daviddavids8218]

If it’s a legal battle, it’ll take ages, eventually we will just get an announcement, hopefully positive & we all have to move on.

[@Pricklyhedgehog72]

@@SASCAT1972 My understanding is that would be a contract violation, and if you do that, do you remove all of the RB's modules.

[@bobholmes487]

i got my refund while i still can….. sad

[@dougroberts3840]

Any news on ED's full fidelity Mig-29A, and/or Red Star's Mig-17?

[@Pricklyhedgehog72]

@@dougroberts3840 nothing on the MiG front...

[@OnlyNapalm]

Great video, thanks. Fly safe to see Your family and please get back to share Your informative videos again. F-14 mirrors looked excellent. Mine went blurry after last update, F-18 mirrors remained ok and I have not found any settings to fix Tomcat. Anyone any suggestions?👃

[@Pricklyhedgehog72]

There is a setting that asks if you want the mirrors activated or not, it's possible that this needs a tweak.

[@OnlyNapalm]

@@Pricklyhedgehog72 It helped Thank You very much.

[@andrewcoulthard-clark]

Do you mind if I ask how you're recovering after the mountain bike crash? That sounded pretty rough...

[@Pricklyhedgehog72]

@andrewcoulthard-clark not too bad. I'm back to rights, knee has healed, it was painful for a while and no complications from whackomg my head. Helmets are a good idea!

[@voodoo7863]

Is anyone able to share the title of the outro music please?

[@Pricklyhedgehog72]

@@voodoo7863 deep emotional Arabic background by culture capital music

[@griffin5012]

What's happened with the LA-7 - seems to have disappeared ??? They were producing the SU-17-22 - is that still a live development?

[@Pricklyhedgehog72]

I suspect the La-7 is close, but it's a matter of timing. Remember the Chinook was supposed to be in game at this time, and we're on hold as they ironed out kinks in the last patch, and issues hindering the release of the big chopper. If the delay looks more long term and OctopusG are ready to roll, we could see it drop, but for now it's a wait and see game. As for the Su-17/22 I haven't heard anything on that front.

[@griffin5012]

@@Pricklyhedgehog72 Thank you for your response - appreciated as always. Hope you are well and all the best to your family when you go the NZ.

[@Tome4kkkk]

Speaking of F-16. Could anyone explain why there are still Flanker2.0-worthy F-16 external models in DCS?

[@jep1103]

Didn't know I had to start the standard game not mt for updates to be added, did I hear that right?

[@Pricklyhedgehog72]

Correct

[@LalaPala-ml2or]

And what about ATC?

[@pinkfloyd7572]

Love me my weekly Hedgehog. 🍺

[@aviationrambler]

I'm pretty excited for the F-16A in MSFS. The current F-16 is a borderline scam so having a trusted dev like IndiaFoxtEcho and Heatblur is reassuring.

[@jamesmcd71]

I need some help. My Afghanistan map is still unusable. ED has asked me to send them the track files. I have no idea how to do this. I found a track file folder, but it seems to be only MP files.

[@Pricklyhedgehog72]

@@jamesmcd71 play the file in replay and see if it's Afghanistan.

[@daviddavids8218]

Have a great time down under and switch off, well deserved rest

[@dienicy]

I think they'll lose me if they try to sell DC as a module.

[@tbe0116]

They can’t rely on selling aircraft modules forever. Software dev is very expensive so they pretty much have to sell the DC as a module.

[@dienicy]

@@tbe0116 Well, there are still couple of spots missing in the DCS World map. Probably enough for a hundred DLC's. Anyway, you could justify selling Options in the same way. I'm just saying I won't be paying and move elsewhere.

[@Storm11251]

depends on the price for me...i kinda understand, that the development have to pay off.. for my part i am really passive with buying maps and modules..and i only buy when a sale is goin on... but what i say.. all depends on the pricing for me

[@zorbakaput8537]

@@Storm11251 The global base of DCS users in the majority I suggest only buy when a sale is on. Except for the few who live in their basement and don't know DCS has several sales a year or they are desperadoes who have to be the first in the flight group to have the "new" map or AC. 🤫

[@Biller2334]

I would not be lost. This is an expensive hobby.

[@JD96893]

I'm still concerned about the egregious AI. Seeing work on the DC is nice, but it was unspecific as to if the ground AI or aircraft AI is going to be improved by sides the DC relevant stuff.

[@Pricklyhedgehog72]

@JD96893 yeah, portions of the AI behavior need an overhaul. I know they have been working on it, as the ATC stuff is still needing attention. Recording more voice over stuff for example.

[@Broncoman-lk2zn]

What music is that at the end.

[@Pricklyhedgehog72]

@Broncoman-lk2zn "deep emotional Arabic background" by culture capital I believe. Via audio jungle.

[@fa-ajn9881]

My most wanted module for dcs has been F-16A…

[@Youda00008]

Yea, same. There is something magically beautiful about these old F-16 and their cockpits. Also it's about time we get an F-16 that performs well in BFM. I understand they prefer highly multirole aircrafts so that they can sell it to as many people as possible, but DCS is full of BFM enthusiasts and we want to have fun too.

[@Blade4952]

Me still wishing for a F-14D...

[@Pricklyhedgehog72]

HBS have indicated a desire to do it...if they can.

[@WanderfalkeAT]

If Heatblur wants to make MSFS Planes now, just because their Tomcat sells like hotcakes I totally understand. Also Dino is a asset hat every Designer would like to have. I also understand that it is safer for them because you won't get a patch every 2 months that makes you redesign all the code in your module or it doesn't work anymore. But to be honest - MSFS is a FLIGHT SIMULATOR not a Combat Flight Simulator! All you can do with your shiny Addon Planes in MSFS is flying around enjoying the scenery. You cannot interact with anything but fly some formations with other players (who are hard to contact with that "XBox Chat Garbage") and then there are the reduced multiplayer features and the horrible LAG because MS thought they can handle it with hosting big regional servers for all players! Not to mention that Scenery can also be a big problem if not all of the players have the same addons. I rather have a F-16A in DCS, that would fit Cold War Scenarios very well. Now I go fly my CJ Typhoon above my Hometown, following a F-22 UFO that looks like a Boeing 737 for me because I don't have the cheap F-22 from DC Design just to remind me why I rather fly DCS World! Hoping the Typhoon doesn't take forever in DCS!

[@TomP-148]

And yet a single dude at BMS was able to create a "dynamic campaign" over 2 decades ago.

[@ChucksSEADnDEAD]

And he said if he had known how hard it would be he would have never done it. Falcon 4 was built around the dynamic campaign by abstracting the map and units. DCS "simulates" the entire thing. Falcon 4 is essentially chess pieces on a chess board and they only become "real" once they are inside your render bubble. When you can't abstract game units everything becomes a mess as it becomes progressively harder to get units to coordinate behavior and they'll start acting up in regards to pathfinding. Like trying to drive through buildings in cities or a convoy getting stuck on a bridge because multiple vehicles are obstructing themselves at the chokepoint. When you can just make everything disappear and turn into a chess piece you can just say "move 4 squares in this direction this turn" and mostly everything goes right.

[@TomP-148]

@@ChucksSEADnDEAD the point is that it was 1 dude 2 decades ago. ED has a team

[@slammerf16]

Will the DC work for multiplayer?

[@Pricklyhedgehog72]

If I recall correctly, I thought that was one of the aims, but I maybe wrong on that front. Expect a single-player version and if it supports MP, you won't be disappointed.

[@generalgrevous2458]

🙂👍

[@johnselden9257]

I got excited about the Heatblur F-16 on MSFS. And then I remembered that MSFS is totally boring.

[@2BachShakur]

DCS will likely never surpass the depth and detail of Falcon BMS.

[@CAL1MBO]

Why not? That's their target

[@dimitri1154]

I can't get over the flat buildings/tiles in BMS, no matter how good their dynamic campaign is...

[@_Jake.From.Statefarm_]

It's great if you wanna fly an F-16.. They finally got proper avionics for the F-15.. ONE aircraft... They each have their place but tell me.. how in depth and detail does the Apache have in BMS?

[@thelmaviaduct]

I'm sacking DCS off until the dynamic campaign is out.

[@theack777]

Good, we don't want fair weather fans like you. Go away and stay away forever cry baby!!!

[@johanverhoeven3661]

I hope you still have some years left otherwise you’ll probably never play DCS again.😂

[@jep1103]

Why

[@joeds3775]

OK kiddo, time to put your toys back in the pram.

[@thelmaviaduct]

@@joeds3775 how does that equate??? If you want a do, just ask 👍🏿

[@SVD762-lp9en]

ED seems to have no problem pooping out yet another module with nothing to do in or empty map in no time but with the only thing that could actually bring a single speck of life to this simulator, the Dynamic Campaign they seems to not be in any rush. They know they can make a lot more money with half assed modules instead of something like a DC that they can only sell once.

[@RW-zn8vy]

They said that dynamic campaign would be free

[@SVD762-lp9en]

@@RW-zn8vy no wonder why they're not taking it seriously then.

[@RW-zn8vy]

@@SVD762-lp9en they don’t take anything about their game seriously 💀

[@ChucksSEADnDEAD]

3d modeling and coding systems is easier than gutting 20 year old base code and shoving new features in. Falcon 4 was built as a chessboard where pieces could be plopped into the playing field and a computer would make decisions based on an abstracted model of a war. Then the player can jump into a flight sim where the game takes the chess pieces and turns them into 3d models of vehicles or factories and bridges so they can be rendered in game - then when the player walks away those units vanish from the simulation and turn back into chess pieces on a chessboard. DCS was never built like this.

[@RW-zn8vy]

@@ChucksSEADnDEAD dcs was never built for anything from the looks of it

[@mustezdcs6329]

we need proper troop moments and a dynamic campaign engine

[@Pricklyhedgehog72]

That's what they're building...