GS) How many campaigns will be included in DCS: A-10C and will they be accessible in online co-op play?MW)We currently plan on two phased campaigns. By phased campaign, I meanthat each phase can have multiple missions that you can randomly playas you progress through the campaign. The campaigns are non-linear. Inaddition, each mission has many random factors.
One campaignwill basically be a reverse of the Ka-50 campaign in DCS: Black Shark.You play as an A-10C pilot starting from the south of the combattheater and gradually advance north as you push enemy forces out ofoccupied Georgia. The second campaign will take place in the expandedterrain area to the east. This area includes Tbilisi, South Ossetia,several new Georgian airfields and new Russian airfields includingMozdok. These will be single-player campaigns.
GS) Will the Sniper XR targeting pod be available for use in the upcoming sim?MW)For DCS: A-10C we have instead decided to model the Lightning II ATtargeting pod in great detail. Doing the Sniper TGP would not haveallowed us to include the level of detail we want.
GS) Will we see Wind-Corrected Munition Dispensers?MW)You bet. Both CBU-103 and CBU-105. Using WCMD, players can designate aground location (often with TGP) and then release a WCMD at the targetpoint much like it would do a JDAM. However, whereas JDAM areGPS-guided, WCMD are INS-guided. They both though use the same CCRPdelivery.
GS) How has the aircraftstart-up procedure been altered for DCS: A-10C? How long will it taketo perform all the checklists under 'realistic' difficulty settings?MW)You can expect the same, if not more, level of detail for the A-10Cstart-up as you saw in DCS: Black Shark. Given the A-10C is a much'deeper' aircraft, you can expect to see a lot more options, tests, andpre-flight preparations compared to the Ka-50 though. Your start-upprocedure will be VERY close to the real jet.
Doing the start-upmanually, you can do it in about five minutes. Like Black Shark though,we will have an even faster and easier one key press auto-start.
GS) How and where did you get your information on airframe capabilities/data?MW)For the past four years we have been the developer behind the A-10CDesk Top Simulator (DTS) for the Air National Guard, Active units, andReserve units. The DTS is now deployed world-wide with all A-10Csquadrons. In fact, the DTS provides training elements that no othertraining solutions can currently match.
As part of the agreementwith our customer, we secured the ability to create an 'entertainment'version of the DTS. This agreement took about two years! Although therewere a couple of items we had to alter for security reasons, what youwill see in DCS: A-10C is about 95% accurate to the real jet. In fact,DCS: A-10C is actually much more accurate in many areas. Because theDTS was just focused on the changes between the A and C models, many ofthe systems were brought over from the existing The Battle Simulator(TBS) engine. For DCS: A-10C, we had to create the engine, fuel,electrical, hydraulic, lighting, flight control system, emergencysystems, radios, TACAN, ILS, and 6 DOF cockpit from scratch. As awhole, the DCS: A-10C is much more realistic and detailed than themilitary DTS version.
GS) Will recoil play a role in firing the GAU-8 cannon?MW)Yes, assuming you did not enable the Precision Attitude Control (PAC).PAC uses the pitch and roll channels of the Stability AugmentationSystems (SAS) to keep the gun pipper on the target and minimize recoileffects.
GS) Has the in-game map been expanded at all and, if so, how - by size or by content?MW)Yes, the map has been extended to the east to include many of the focusareas of the Russian - Georgian conflict. To the north, the Russianterrain has also been expanded to include the large Russian militaryairfield at Mozdok.
DCS: A-10C also for the first time providesa 'map switcher' that allows users to load different maps... not justthe Black Sea map. For DCS: A-10C, we are working on a Nevada map thatwill include Nellis Air Force Base and the primary A-10C trainingranges to the west.
GS) Has the airframe damage modeling system been changed at all for DCS A-10C?MW)As with DCS: Black Shark, a full and accurate damage model isincluded. This not only includes detailed physical damagerepresentation on the new A-10C model (textures and geometry) but mostsub-systems can be damaged with realistic, resulting effects. Whendamaged, the full range of emergency procedures is available includingthe fire extinguisher system, isolating pitch and roll controlsurfaces, Manual Reversion Flight Control System, and the complete setof BIT and other avionics tests.
GS) Could you tell us how the random mission generator works and if these randomly-generated missions work in multiplayer?MW)An unlimited number of side spawn locations, called Nodes, can becreated to determine front lines. We plan to include 100 such Nodepairs. In addition to Nodes, force layout Templates can be created. Aswith the Nodes, a broad range of Templates will be provided. When amission is generated, it randomly selects a Node set, Template set,weather, time of day and skills levels. This is an open system andusers can also create their own Nodes and Templates.
GS) Are there any plans for a true dynamic campaign in the future?MW)Yes, at some point. In fact, the Mission Generator is a key first stepin making this happen. This is in addition to now being able to hearall radio communications from allied flights... assuming you are on thecorrect radio frequency.
GS) What kinds of enhancements have been made, if any, to non-player aircraft AI?MW)The biggest is the radio communication system for AI flights. Eachflight group can now be assigned a broadcast frequency and the playermust have one of their three radios tuned to that frequency to hearthem or send them orders. You now hear them take off, navigate throughtheir route, spot targets, engage targets, take damage, etc.
AIflights can also now be assigned to Orbit waypoints and they can beradio ordered to push from holding points to engage targets by theplayer.
We think it very important that the player now be ableto not only hear what is going on around them, but be able to interactmore with non-flight groups. This is also true for ground forces andJTAC units.
GS) Are there any plans to visiting earlier times in aviation with upcoming titles?MW)Most of our work is based on simulator the modern battlefield. As such,we currently have no plans to model aircraft no longer in service.However, the right contract could change that.
Q) When deciding what aircraft to do focus on in the next DCS game, what are the criteria you consider?MW) It truly does vary, but the most common reasons are:
1- Existing contract.
2- Access to very detailed documentation and subject matter experts (pilots of the aircraft).
3- How well it fits into our long-term TBS and DCS program plans.
4- How well we think the broad market will accept the product (not just our online forums).
GS)With the void of civil aviation sims growing even larger withMicrosoft's departure, are there any rumblings or thoughts to ventureinto that territory?MW) While we have discussedinternally, we currently have no plans for such projects. However,with the right contract, that could all change.
We wouldlike to thank Matt Wagner, The Fighter Collection, and Eagle Dynamicsfor their hospitality and patience in answering our questions abouttheir upcoming DCS: A-10C, which should be due out on Windows PCs
early next year *See
NOTE Below. We hope to see you all on the flight line and be sure to check their
official website for more details!
*NOTE:It has come to our attention that the plan is for DCS: A-10C to bereleased in downloadable form by the end of the year. Sorry for theconfusion!
