Eeh, ED can’t do no right by a large part of the community, I wouldn’t say that the reception is any worse then usual.
For me, I find this interesting, I’ll probably pick it up in some sort of sale because I do find the FC3 aircraft tremendously fun to mess with, and I can see why a certain crowd is very attracted to it!
A very fair point.
The installment is obviously targeted at new players, no problem there. Had existing players known that from the get-go, i doubt there would have been any kind of backlash like we are seeing now.
Nobody i talked to would have thought of the new planes being taken from the roster of existing DCS planes. To tell users that are a bit miffed now that it is basically their own fault because they shouldn’t assume things is slightly disingenuous to me. ED is a small company, yes, but they still need to work on further professionalizing their message control.
If there’s any fault with the users, it is that they are overreacting, but i wouldn’t sign off on ED being completely unblamable.
Anyway, it’s probably not a big deal, as long as lessons are learned.
After giving this some thought, I’m actually all for it.
More cashflow from new players can only be a good thing: DCS will always be a niche game so ED will never be rolling in money (in the same way mainstream game houses can) and if FC4 brings financial stability then that’s great.
Also - more players overall will flow into more players in MP and that can only be a good thing.
I guess there could be some arguments about FC planes’ impact on MP (less time to start up planes causing people to behave more airquake-y etc.) but the simplified switchology fidelity combined with realistic flight model and weapons systems ultimately doesn’t really change the balance drastically. You’ll still get shot down if you don’t know what’s going on and there are servers without AMRAAM etc. for those who don’t like pitbulls / spam.
I digress - but I can’t help but think that once the Hornet is out, now is the perfect time for ED to focus on revamping Combined Arms / ground forces behaviour and the sim’s ability to handle bigger numbers of ground units…that and making the weather more interesting.
We have a selection of great new / revamped maps, we have a good range of planes and an array of keen licenced parties to come up with more of those…now we just need a world that feels more alive. Dynamic campaign would be amazing of course but I’d settle for a good revamp of CA for starters.
I come from the perspective of someone who wants a decent combat simulation still being supported by a developer. I just got rid of SF2, but that doesn’t automatically translate into “I want a sim so complicated I need a degree in aeronautical engineering”.
I am a father of two high school students who need my attention and help getting through chemistry and grammar. I have a wife I love dearly and enjoy her company. I have a lot of demands on my time, time I don’t have to dedicate to learning how to flip virtual switches in a make-believe cockpit in a digital representation of a place I don’t live in.
DCS is kindly giving me the opportunity to fly some pretty cool stuff without having to invest in a lot of time never getting off the ground. A survey sim-level representation of a Charlie-model Hornet?
Sold.
Having read a bunch of posts about it and given it some thought, I have come round on this topic. My intial reaction was one of disapointedly throwing the toys out of the pram.
But come to thingk about it, having a lot of choice in medium-core (certainly not sim-lite!) level aircraft makes for a far more accessible DCS world. The more the merrier, right? And having choices available makes sense. This way the marketing and hype for the F/A-18C is not wasted on the masses of users who are not turned on by the sound the ockpit defogging system makes when turned up. The masses who want to launch of the carrier into the danger zone and get it on with some MiGs.
The good thing about FC level aircraft is that they retain the high-fidelity flight models of so called hardcore aircraft. So you do not learn bad habits in them. In fact I reckon trapping a FC4 hornet will be as challenging and as rewarding as the full-fat version.
Another great argument @NineLine made is that this way of doing it does not take aircraft off the list for future inclusion. Perhaps good old Vladimir Putin is changing his mind on not allowing decadent westerners to play with simulations of the glorious machines of Russia…
So yeah, roll on FC4!
Fully agree with you @PFunk and @schurem
Its like : What would you like to see next? F4 FC level or FF level?
Corect answer : both
Btw BST is almost ED so I hope we could see also FC level of their planes
I am mostly wondering how easy it is to automate the systems that are now programmed to be done manually by the player in the FF aircraft that have to go to FC4 levels?
Another question on my mind is what will they do with FC3? FC4 makes it sounds like it’s the next version but if it has different aircraft in it then it really isn’t, right? Rebrand of the FC line perhaps?
A rebrand would be a fine idea, hot rocks is a silly name tbh. Name it something like DCS Basic or DCS Starter.
A couple of the FC3 aircraft has been updated pretty significantly since their initial release. I guess that updating all of them with the advanced FM would be good enough to include them in a new bundle, even if they’re still available in the old bundle.
Oh yes totally, I think the quality of FC3 aircraft is fantastic, the cockpits look gorgeous and flying them is a joy! Just wondering out aloud of they plan on keeping the FC brand going or come up with something new 
Could not agree more. The survey-level modules need a complete rebranding to make it easier for customers to discern the difference between the study sim modules and the less-complicated, more entry-level modules. i like the sound of DCS Basic.
You guys are talking about re-branding in a game called DCS 2.5, fomrally known as DCS 1.5, and includes Flaming Cliffs 3. Don’t see it happening.
DCS Flaming Cliffs 3.7 more likely.
I agree…the new planes are ripe for a new branding effort…!
It is just amazing that not only did they come up with that terrible name Flaming Cliffs, they are actually going to use it for the fourth time already Just take a step back from the “getting used to” and think about that name again: Flaming Cliffs. It is ridiculous
As for FC4 itself, I see it with indifference. Until a couple of weeks ago I didn’t know it existed and didn’t expect it. If they can generate some additional revenue by reusing what’s already there, without it seriously draining efforts on other areas, then good for them.