DCS: A-10C Warthog will be sublime!

Being so busy to even play a game of Plants Vs. Zombies as of late, I completely missed the fact that the Sim I've had my eye on for a while was released, albeit as a digital download only first [boxed later]: DCS: A-10C Warthog flight simulator for the PC.

DUXFORD, UK, February 21, 2011 – The Fighter Collection and Eagle Dynamics now offer “DCS: A‐10C Warthog” as a digital download for $59.99.
Purchase "DCS: A‐10C Warthog" at:
http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/shop/dcs_a10c

Looking for the .PDF manual??  --> HERE 

 

Though, I'll be waiting for a good ol' boxed copy, it really doesn't afford me much more in the way of actual hard manuals than the download, as they are now; like many new games- available only as a tree-friendly .pdf file on the disc. Unless of course, you burn an ink cartridge and a deck of paper on printing said manual out. [Like I had to!]

 

I got hooked on this series' with the last installment DSC: Black Shark, which was not only the most realistic, button toggling helicopter simulation I've ever seen, but was an incredible achievement in modeling flight dynamics and physics and weapon systems-as close to real as can be experienced without enlisting.

 

Behold, the sweetest looking virtual cockpit you will have burned into your head for the next couple years of sleepless nights!  I'll report back when the official boxed copy is available, for you ol' schoolers like me! 

This game will be a challenge to master, but it's worth the sense of accomplishent after your first confirmed kill!

A thing of beauty...with a bite!

My future new home...

I've said it in my other post HERE, if you haven't already checked out DCS: Black Shark, and i'm assuming you're a flight sim kinda dude or dudette...you are missing the closest thing to a realistic and unique helicoptor experience you can get from a pc. Check out your local neighborhood pc game store or Amazon to score a copy, they're getting hard to find now. 

"DCS: A‐10C Warthog" is a PC simulation of the U.S. premier Close Air Support attack aircraft. This is the second aircraft in the DCS series, following DCS: Black Shark, and raises the bar even higher in the DCS series. Warthog brings the most realistic PC simulation of a modern fixed wing combat aircraft in regards to flight dynamics, avionics, sensors, and weapon systems. You also have the option to play Warthog in "Game" mode for a casual game experience. Fly missions in the Caucuses region of the Black Sea against and with awide array of air, land and sea forces with new and improved intelligence. Create your own missions and campaigns with the included Mission and Campaign Editors, and fly with and against friends online using the included online game browser."

Key Features:
• Fly the A‐10C “Warthog” in either realistic or game modes.
• Fly missions in either Georgia and Russia.
• Interactive training missions shallow the learning curve dramatically.
• Rich campaigns and single missions included.
• Multiplayer cooperative and head‐to‐head.
• Feature‐rich Mission and Campaign editors allow user created content.
• The most realistic flight dynamics ever done for a PC simulation.
• Huge array of land, air and sea units to flight along and against.
• Ability to command ground forces during missions with radio commands.
• Fully interactive Forward Air Controller (FAC) that helps you find targets.

Website: http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/series/warthog

To tie you over, if you are waiting like me for a boxed copy of A-10C, the developer recently released this comprehensive multi-jet 'lite' sim that allows folks with both DCS games [including the new A-10] to play together online in one spectuacular online war!  And it's dirt cheap right now!

DCS: Black Shark OWNS me! My Preview-->

Are you good/patient enough?

So it is obvious that I am a pc gamer nerd. I have more games than I can literally, physically play at the moment. I have the best of almost all genre's, and pride my taste in only the best rated of games to fill my time...there is just too much! With finally starting the campaign in the awesome 'Empire: Total War' and late night Left4dead sessions eating away my sleep-time, it is a miracle my wife still remembers that she married some guy..a few years ago...

Add number 146 to the list...DCS: Black shark. An apologetically as-close-to-the-real-thing-as-it-gets actual simulator of the KA-50 Russian attack helicopter that us mere mortals well ever get our hands on.

To tackle such a 'game', is to have a plan of attack, else it will infuriate and scare away those with little patience. You have to do the training missions, you need to either hunt down the manual online, or print it out in it's entirety (as I did, from the disk); you HAVE to have some better than cheap flight control hardware, and now what I am learning, you HAVE to check out the incredible TrackIR 5 device. There is just no going back to normal after you spring for this 150 dollar simulator aid. It sits on your monitor, and moves the in-game POV by your every little head movement and gesture. Completely and naturally, as if sitting in the real thing. Check it out here to see some product videos.
naturalpoint.com

And that manual, what a piece of work that is! All 534 pages of glory. History, operational instructions..color pictures and diagrams of instruments, its is a virtual bible to behold. I printed the thing out [It's B&W Hardcover equivalent expensive and hard to find online] and it is about 2 inches tall of 8x11 paper! And that was double sided!! yeah...
So as I begin my epic quest to master this beast, I'll let you know how it goes. For you sim guys and gals out there, this is truly study-sim nirvana.
wish me luck!

Check the game out here: http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/

From the sites description:
"DCS: Black Shark" is a PC game of the Russian Ka-50 attack helicopter and is the first title in a new Eagle Dynamics and The Fighter Collection simulation series: "Digital Combat Simulator" (DCS). Following Eagle Dynamics' tradition of excellence, "DCS: Black Shark" will bring an even more realistic simulation experience than its predecessor "Flaming Cliffs". "DCS: Black Shark" will offer an unprecedented level of realism in regards to flight dynamics, instruments modeling, avionics systems, and weapon systems. The artificial Intelligence of ground vehicles and helicopters has been improved dramatically as well as weapon modeling. A new Mission Editor includes a powerful electronic mapping system that allows user to easily create missions and campaigns. A new campaign system allows the front line of the battlefield to move back and fourth according to your mission success or failure. Due to the increased flexibility of the DCS system, additional fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter add-ons will follow shortly."