Digital Combat Simulator

Digital Combat Simulator World (DCS World) is a free-to-play combat flight simulator. It includes a free simulation of the Sukhoi Su-25T Frogfoot attack aircraft and TF-51D Mustang, an unarmed training variant of the P-51D Mustang. DCS is expandable through additional official "modules" as well as user-made add-ons and mods.

Digital Combat Simulator
Developer(s)Eagle Dynamics
Publisher(s)The Fighter Collection
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Release
  • RU: 17 October 2008
  • EN: 10 December 2008
  • GER: 7 March 2009
  • NA: 2 April 2009
Genre(s)Combat flight simulator
Mode(s)Singleplayer, multiplayer

Gameplay

DCS World includes mission and campaign editors; online multiplayer; a large inventory of air, land and sea combat units; AI opponents; a mission generator; dynamic weather and seasons; training missions; a replay system; and a pilot log book.

The mission editor utilizes Lua support and a campaign editor for user created tasks. This allows users to extend provided missions with content created independently from module publishers, or create their own unique scenarios. Users of DCS World can host their own servers with user-made missions for co-operative and/or adversarial multiplayer missions with or against AI units.

Setting

DCS World includes one free map, which features a large area of the Caucasus region that encompasses much of Georgia – the location of the Russo-Georgian war in 2008, as well as a portion of Crimea, the site of a Russian Annexation in 2014, and a portion of Russia's southern border. Additional maps include:

Modules

DCS: Black Shark 2

A simulation of the Russian Kamov Ka-50 single seat attack helicopter, Black Shark was originally released in October 2008 as a stand-alone simulation, with the updated Black Shark 2 released in 2011 to upgrade the simulation, and to change it to an expansion module for DCS World. The Black Shark 2 module incorporates Eagle Dynamics' Professional Flight Model, the Advanced Systems Model, and presents the player/pilot with the full six degrees of freedom style cockpit.[3]

DCS: A-10C Warthog

Released on April 22, 2011 DCS: A-10C Warthog is a PC simulation of the Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II. This is the second aircraft in the DCS lineup, following DCS: Black Shark. DCS: A-10C Warthog provides a simulation of a modern fixed wing combat aircraft in regards to flight dynamics, avionics, sensors, and weapon systems. The player also has the option to play Warthog in "Game" mode for a casual game experience. Players can fly missions against a wide array of air, land and sea forces under AI control (or in some cases other players). Users can create and share their own missions and campaigns with the included mission and campaign editors, and fly with and against other people online.[4]

Development

DCS World traces its lineage directly from the Flanker series of combat flight simulator games. Eagle Dynamics published DCS World's direct predecessor with Ubisoft as Lock On: Modern Air Combat. The aircraft from Lock On: Modern Air Combat are still available as part of the Flaming Cliffs 3 module.

The first module (though not until later referred to as a module) added to DCS was DCS: Black Shark (released in 2008) as a stand-alone simulation of the Kamov Ka-50.[5] It was originally an add-on for the previous Lock On: Modern Air Combat series, but it was deemed necessary to use a different engine instead.[6]

The second module added to DCS was DCS: A-10C Warthog (released in 2010). Originally released as a stand-alone simulation, but offering multiplayer compatibility with Black Shark, it was one of the first native 64-bit flight simulators.[7]

In 2011, DCS World was launched with concept of plug-in "modules". This allowed using previously stand-alone simulations in same scenario while sharing assets. DCS: A-10C Warthog was made available as plug-in module, while DCS: Black Shark became DCS: Black Shark 2 as part of an upgrade to the simulation.[8][9]

In October 2015, DCS World was relaunched under the guise of DCS World 1.5 via a free update.[10] 'DCS World 1.5' brought all the current aircraft, ground units, and terrain into the new Eagle Dynamics Graphics Engine (EDGE) featuring DirectX 11.

In November 2015, DCS World 2.0 was released in open alpha format via a free update. 'DCS World 2.0' gained the ability to add new theaters of war, such as the new Nevada Test & Training Range. The Caucasus map was in the process of being updated, and was not yet compatible with DCS 2.0.[10][11]

In May 2017, DCS World 2.1 was released in early access which includes support for Nevada and Normandy maps and new rendering (deferred shading and physically based rendering, PBR).[1][12]

In January 2018, DCS World 2.5 was released into open beta testing, which allowed for migration to 2.5 on Steam (service) and from 2.2 Open Alpha. It included an updated, more detailed map of the Caucasus region along with a plethora of other changes and additions.[13][14] The release version of 2.5 was published in April 2018.[15]

In the future, DCS World will undergo a graphics engine overhaul, integrate Vulkan API, support multi-threading and feature a dynamic campaign engine, voice chat and enhanced aircraft artificial Intelligence.[16]

List of modules
Name Module type Role App. historical year Developer Release date Status Flight model Systems model
DCS: Caucasus Terrain Eagle Dynamics 2 November 2008 Released
DCS: Ka-50 Black Shark 2 Aircraft Attack helicopter 1987 Eagle Dynamics 2 November 2008 Released Professional Advanced
DCS: A-10C Warthog Aircraft Close air support
Ground attack		 2005 Eagle Dynamics 22 April 2011 Released Professional Advanced
DCS: MiG-29 Aircraft (2 variants-A/S) Air superiority
Multirole		 1982 Eagle Dynamics 10 October 2018 Released[17] Professional Standard
DCS: Su-33 Aircraft Air superiority
Carrier-based		 1998 Eagle Dynamics 22 September 2017 Released Professional Standard
DCS: Su-27 Aircraft Air superiority 1985 Eagle Dynamics 11 November 2014 Released [18] Professional Standard
DCS: Su-25 Aircraft Close air support
Ground attack		 1981 Eagle Dynamics 26 July 2013 Released Advanced + [19] Standard
DCS: A-10A Aircraft Close air support
Ground attack		 1977 Eagle Dynamics 26 July 2013 Released Advanced + [20] Standard
DCS: F-15C Aircraft Air superiority 1976 Eagle Dynamics 26 July 2013 Released Professional Standard
DCS: P-51D Mustang Aircraft Fighter 1945 Eagle Dynamics 12 September 2012 Released Professional Advanced
DCS: Flaming Cliffs 3 Aircraft 1995 Eagle Dynamics 30 April 2013 Released Mixed Standard
DCS: Fw 190 D-9 Dora Aircraft Fighter-bomber 1944 Eagle Dynamics 14 August 2014 Released Professional Advanced
DCS: Bf 109 K-4 Kurfürst Aircraft Fighter 1944 Eagle Dynamics 12 December 2014 Released Professional Advanced
DCS: Spitfire LF Mk IX Aircraft Fighter 1943 Eagle Dynamics 16 December 2016 Released Professional Advanced
DCS: L-39C/ZA Albatros Aircraft Trainer
Light ground attack		 1971 Eagle Dynamics 19 February 2016 Released Professional Advanced
DCS: Combined Arms Land combat 2005 Eagle Dynamics 25 December 2012 Released Professional Advanced
DCS: World War II Assets Pack Air, ground and sea assets 1944 Eagle Dynamics 26 May 2017 Early access [21]
DCS: NEVADA Test and Training Range Terrain 2017 Eagle Dynamics 30 November 2015 Released
DCS: Normandy 1944 Terrain 1944 Ugra Media 26 May 2017 Released
DCS: Persian Gulf Terrain 2018 Eagle Dynamics 25 May 2018[22] Released
DCS: Hawk T.1A Aircraft Trainer
Light fighter		 1976 VEAO Simulations 16 March 2015 No Longer Available[23] External Advanced
DCS: M-2000C Aircraft Multirole 1987 RAZBAM 25 December 2015 Released External Advanced
DCS: UH-1H Huey Aircraft Utility helicopter 1967 Belsimtek 19 April 2013 Released Professional Advanced
DCS: MiG-15bis Aircraft Light fighter 1950 Belsimtek 11 March 2016 Released[24] Professional Advanced
DCS: F-86F Sabre Aircraft Light fighter 1953 Belsimtek 1 April 2016 Released[25] Professional Advanced
DCS: F-5E Tiger II Aircraft Light fighter 1972 Belsimtek 11 November 2016 Released[26] Professional Advanced
DCS: Mi-8MTV2 "Magnificent Eight" Aircraft Utility helicopter 1990 Belsimtek 5 September 2013 Released[27] Professional Advanced
DCS: AJS 37 Viggen Aircraft Interdictor
Strike fighter		 1993 Heatblur Simulations
(as Leatherneck Simulations)		 27 January 2017 Early access[28] External Advanced
DCS: MiG-21bis Aircraft Light fighter
Interceptor		 1972 Magnitude 3 LLC
(as Leatherneck Simulations)		 19 September 2014 Released External Advanced
DCS: C-101 Aviojet Aircraft Trainer
Light ground attack		 1980 AvioDev 21 January 2015 Released External Advanced
DCS: SA342 Gazelle Aircraft Utility helicopter 1973 Polychop-Simulations 29 April 2016 Released[29] External Advanced
DCS: AV-8B Night Attack V/STOL Aircraft V/STOL
Ground attack
Carrier-based		 1991 RAZBAM 29 November 2017 Early access[30] External Advanced
DCS: F/A-18C Hornet (Lot 20) Aircraft Multirole
Carrier-based		 2005 Eagle Dynamics 1 June 2018 Early access[31][32] Professional Advanced
DCS: MiG-19P Farmer Aircraft Light fighter Early 1950s RAZBAM 1 March 2019 Early access[33] External Advanced
DCS: F-14B Tomcat Aircraft Interceptor
Air superiority
Carrier-based		 1987 Heatblur Simulations 15 March 2019 Early access[34] External Advanced
DCS: F-14A Tomcat Aircraft Interceptor
Air superiority
Carrier-based		 1974 Heatblur Simulations Scheduled for the end of summer 2020[35] In development[36] External Advanced
DCS: Forrestal Aircraft carrier Carrier 1954 Heatblur Simulations Scheduled for the end of summer 2020[35] In development[36]
DCS: Yak-52 Aircraft Two-seat trainer 1979 Eagle Dynamics 3 August 2018 Early access[37] Professional Advanced
DCS: Fw 190 A-8 Anton Aircraft Fighter 1944 Eagle Dynamics 07 June 2019 released[38][39] Professional Advanced
DCS: I-16 Aircraft Fighter 1939 OctopusG 10 May 2019 Early access[40] External Advanced
DCS: Christen Eagle II Aircraft Aerobatic 1977 Magnitude 3 LLC 18 January 2019 Early access[41] External Advanced
DCS: F-16CM Fighting Falcon/Viper (Blk.50) Aircraft Multirole 2007 Eagle Dynamics 3 October 2019 Early access[42] Professional Advanced
DCS: JF-17 Thunder Aircraft Multirole 2007 Deka Ironwork Simulations 3 December 2019 Early access External Advanced
DCS: Superсarrier Other Carrier Eagle Dynamics 22 May 2020 Early access[43]
DCS: F-15E Strike Eagle Aircraft Multirole
Strike fighter		 1985 RAZBAM Unreleased In development External Advanced
DCS: MiG-23 MLA Flogger Aircraft Fighter 1985 RAZBAM Unreleased In development External Advanced
DCS: F-4E Phantom II Aircraft Interceptor
Fighter-bomber
Carrier-based		 1970 Eagle Dynamics Unreleased In development Professional Advanced
DCS: F-8J Crusader Aircraft Fighter 1969 Magnitude 3 LLC Unreleased In development External Advanced
DCS: F4U-4 Corsair Aircraft Fighter-bomber 1945 Magnitude 3 LLC Unreleased In development External Advanced
DCS: Bell OH-58 Kiowa Aircraft Scout Helicopter 1983 Polychop-Simulations Unreleased In development[44] External Advanced ?
DCS: A-10C Warthog 2 Aircraft Close air support
Ground attack		 2005 Eagle Dynamics Unreleased, scheduled 2020[45] In development Professional Advanced
DCS: Ka-50 Black Shark 3 Aircraft Attack helicopter 1987 Eagle Dynamics Unreleased, scheduled 2020[46] In development Professional Advanced
DCS: Mi-24P HIND Aircraft Attack helicopter 1981 Eagle Dynamics Unreleased, scheduled 2020[47] In development Professional Advanced
DCS: Marianas Islands Terrain 2018 Eagle Dynamics Unreleased In development[48]
DCS: The Channel Map Terrain 1939-1945 Eagle Dynamics 05 June 2020 Early Access[49]
DCS: P-47D Thunderbolt Aircraft Fighter-bomber 1944 Eagle Dynamics 05 June 2020 Early Access[50] Professional Advanced
DCS: De Haviland Mosquito FB MK.VI Aircraft Fighter-bomber 1942 Eagle Dynamics Unreleased In development Professional Advanced
DCS: Falkland Islands Terrain 1982 RAZBAM Unreleased In development
DCS: Syria Terrain Ugra Media Unreleased pre-order [51]
DCS: BO-105P AH1-A1 Aircraft Military helicopter 1991 RAZBAM & Miltech-5 Unreleased In development[52] External Advanced ?
DCS: A-7E Corsair II Aircraft Light ground attack
Carrier-based		 1967 FlyingIron Simulations Unreleased Announced[53] External Advanced ?
DCS: A-29 Supertucano Aircraft Trainer aircraft

Light ground attack

 1980 RAZBAM Unreleased Announced[54][55][56][57][58] External Advanced ?
DCS: IA-58 Pucarà Aircraft Ground attack 1969 RAZBAM Unreleased Announced[59][60][61] External Advanced ?
DCS: AMX Aircraft Ground attack 1984 RAZBAM Unreleased Announced[55] External Advanced ?
DCS : Sea Harrier FRS1 Aircraft V/STOL

Multrirole

Carrier-based

 1978 RAZBAM Unreleased Announced[55][62] External Advanced ?
DCS: Lightning Aircraft Interceptor 1957 RAZBAM Unreleased Announced[55][63][64][65][66] External Advanced ?
DCS: Mirage IIIE Aircraft Strike fighter

Multirole

 1961 RAZBAM Unreleased Announced[67] [68][61][62] External Advanced ?
DCS: Super Étendard Aircraft Strike fighter

Carrier-based

 1974 RAZBAM Unreleased Announced[62] External Advanced ?
DCS: Mirage F1EE, BE, CE and M Aircraft Fighter

Ground attack

 1966 Aviodev Unreleased In development[69][70][71] External Advanced
DCS: Me 262 Aircraft Fighter 1944 Eagle dynamics Unreleased Announced[72] Professional

Reception

PC Gamer reviewed the DCS: A-10C Warthog module with a rating of 92/100.[73] IGN praised the care and attention to detail, though remarking a level of inaccessibility: "Yes, there is a 44-page "Quickstart" guide and yes, there are tutorials – a bevy of lengthy, highly instructive tutorials, actually – but precious little of this is designed for the neophyte or even the marginally experienced jet jock."[74] Rock, Paper, Shotgun although praising the module, noted that "The Hog is a fascinating creature no doubt, but by sending it to the Caucasus and involving it in a characteristically skeletal canned campaign, the devs don’t display it in a particularly fresh or alluring light.". The absence of an instructive tutorial and the length of the included instruction manual and the presence of bugs and crashes were also criticized.[75]

Player reviews on GameSpot granted it a score of 9.6 out of 10 out of 55 ratings.[76]

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