Personally, I would’ve been much harsher with the systems rating 
But that’s just me.
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Unfortunately, we can’t break it down into percentage rating based on sub-categories, or I would have. There is an overall score and then four bullet points for synopsis of the module. Those four bullet points are:
- Flight model
- Graphics
- Documentation
- Systems
I gave the F-16, with regards to those categories:
- Flight model - Excellent
- Graphics - Excellent
- Documentation - Fair
- Systems - Fair
Overall score: 85
With the following conclusion to the article:
“To recommend the module at this point of Early Access requires one to have faith that Eagle Dynamics will continue to develop the module toward their goals. Based on their record of wanting to get most things modeled correctly, I would have no reservations recommending the F-16C, but if you are the type of sim pilot who would rather have complete tutorials and mostly complete systems, you may want to wait and see how development proceeds.”
The module reviews don’t exist in a vacuum. While we aren’t given specific guidance on comparing modules, I like to compare them to other DCS modules as well as X-Plane and FSX/P3D offerings if there is a product of quality that warrants it.
By way of comparison, the F-14 (also reviewed by me) came out with these ratings:
- Flight Model - Excellent
- Graphics - Excellent
- Documentation - Good
- Systems - Excellent
Review Score: 97
So you can see the F-16 didn’t even make the “Good” rating for documentation and systems, instead only rating “Fair” (the only thing worse is “Poor”). I didn’t feel that the systems rated poor given that a lot of the underlying stuff was working (specifically aircraft mechanical systems, much of the navigation stuff, radios, some weapons modes, some weapons delivery modes). Unfortunately I have to go with what I have in hand and if I were to review it today, after several patches, we’d probably be up to “Good” at least for systems, and I don’t know where the documentation stands at this point.
There is also the not so fine art of judging a product based on its trajectory. Is it getting better? Does the company or developer have a history of sticking with a product? Is it revolutionary in some way? How did their last product do? Do I think an endorsement is warranted?
Also, by and large, a few years ago I started buying everything I review because I think there is an additional benefit to having invested some money in a product to give it a fair review. I also moved away from early, early access simply because others do it better (RedKite, Jabbers, Ralphie)…and I’m not competing with anyone. Mudspike is a money sink - I get paid nothing by any developers or advertisers, and we slightly offset some costs with some donations that are very much appreciated. The magazine pays me, but gives me no guidance, and if I’m to be honest, the money is definitely not worth the time invested because those articles take an enormous amount of time to research and write. The only saving grace on that is that I enjoy the content…I like doing the Challenging Airports stuff, and writing reviews on products also gets my mind churning and keeps me in the game so to speak.
Anyway - way more information than anyone asked for, but this was a great way for me to not work on my articles that are due in a week…haha…
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Like reviewing a new tent, but the pegs aren’t finished yet…
You can crawl around inside it, but it will feel unnecessarily cramped.
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That’s got to be one of the best descriptions I’ve heard for EA and especially the DCS F-16. I know a lot of the fancy weapons and background stuff isn’t in, but since I know how stuff should work (to an extent) from Falcon BMS, I’ll try different things to see what’s actually in. The problem is I keep running in to those “unnecessarily cramped” areas. In one mission, I tried to enter a new waypoint manually on the fly, but it turns out you can’t enter new waypoints into the flight plan in game, even now, 3(!) months after release. Every time I try to take it out for a spin, thinking “yes, I can enjoy what is currently implemented,” I just run in to that cramped tent and end up parking the Viper in the hanger again.
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Early Access is certainly a vote that you are confident that it (the product) will end up where you want. I think we’ve seen good Early Access and bad Early Access in DCS World, so by now people should have a pretty good idea when to hold em’, or fold em’… I buy them all (well, not the WW2 stuff) simply because I’m an optimist and a sucker for military aviation. Not to mention I’m an old school simmer that @Troll had talked about…so give me an Mk-82, a pickle button, and a mission, and I’m good to go.
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This. 
I also see buying modules (in EA or otherwise) as a way of voting with my wallet. Voting for continued development etc. So I have things in my hangar that pretty rarely get flow, but I dont regret buying them at all.
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Left WIN HOME is my friend…
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Exactly. Do you think the pegs will be finished, and that the tent will look like it does on the picture?
That’s what the reviewer must consider when looking at EA.
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Of course, I know and expect that all the modules will be completed eventually. The only instance where we for sure won’t get a finished module is the Hawk, but that’s done and dusted and I highly doubt something like that will happen again. Lots of people seem happy with the tent in the state it is now, and I’m happy for them. I just want a little more before diving in headfirst, and I know that point will get here soon enough.
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I listened to it earlier today. I think Polychop will have a hit on their hands. Despite all the naysayers regarding the Gazelle (which I have) I’m going to support Polychop and buy the Kiowa when it comes out. Besides, it is one of my favorite helos.
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Does anybody know what AGM-114’s to expect with this module? AGM-114L’s, AGM-114K’s or other variants? Also, can we expect LOAL shots to be part of it?
114Ls no as the OH-58D never carried them. SAL versions only. All the various LOAL modes should be possible with the 58D (LOAL-DIR, LOAL-LO, and LOAL-HI).
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As am I, despite being a founding member and former lead cheerleader of the Gazelle Naysayers Club. Once I followed the instructions to dampen out the cyclic inputs on the Gazelle, I found it manageable and a lot of fun to fly.
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Still a naysayer. Still a likely never-buyer. Nice people though and I wish them and their development nothing but a complete success.
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Alert 5 Interview
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A few good streams have been added to The Tube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4RJMfZ0o34&t=7s
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these are lengthy vids but excellent levels of detail for anyone interested
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