Eagle Dynamics shared details about the next big update for DCS World, including a relevant upgrade to Supercarrier, weather, and more.
The Supercarrier update will bring animated plane directors, allowing you to correctly simulate taxiing your aircraft to the catapult for take-off and back to the parking spot after landing.
The feature will be available both in single-player and in multiplayer, and you can check out what it looks like below. A guide has also been provided.
Another feature coming with the next big update of the simulator is a new “state-of-the-art” fog and dust rendering system.
It allows both automatic and manual fog generation and can block both sensors and visual line-of-sight.
It is calculated with the simulator’s future spherical Earth in mind and it supports self-shadowing, it blends with clouds, and it’s fully animated with moving cloud banks.
Lastly, we get to hear from third-party developer Aerges, which is currently working on improving its Mirage F1 and developing its F-104 Starfighter.
Below you can read a summary of the progress, and check out a video and a couple of screenshots.
- Mirage F1M MFD and HUD symbology, as well as their respective avionics logic, are in an advanced state of development.
- Much work is being done to polish the F1 systems in addition to fixing bugs reported by our community. Attention has also been made to the C-101 in order to keep it up to date and bug free.
- There has been an overhaul of the code structure to allow more effective coding and feature-sharing between the F1 and the upcoming F-104.
- Research continues on radar picture rendering and physics improvements. The resulting technology is also expected to be used for the F-104.
- Coding of the F-104 flight model and general aircraft systems is complete, as well as initial flight model validation. This includes engine, hydraulics, electrics, fuel, controls, armament, and miscellaneous systems. Avionic systems and integration with the cockpit animations and inputs is currently in-progress.
- The F-104 external model and cockpit textures are the result of a thorough research that included laser scanning. The next step will be the creation of the set of liveries.
It’s also worth reminding that the next update will also mark the launch of the Arctic Thunder campaign, or better the two sides of this twin campaign set on the Kola Map.
If you’re unfamiliar with DCS World, it’s a free-to-play military flight simulator focusing on aviation from World War 2 to the present day. It’s available exclusively on PC (via Steam or Eagle Dynamics’ own store).
As usual, potential users should be reminded that fully enjoying the simulator requires the purchase of additional modules, so it’s “free” only in name, albeit Eagle Dynamics has a pretty solid trial and introductory discount programs, on top of frequent sales.
DCS World is well known among enthusiasts to be quite challenging for those who aren’t familiar with complex flight simulation. Enjoying most of its advanced aircraft requires days or even weeks of study. Of course, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing and many hardcore simmers find it quite rewarding.