Digital Combat Simulator

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

Digital Combat Simulator, or DCS, is a free-to-play combat flight simulation game developed primarily by Eagle Dynamics and The Fighter Collection. Released in 2008, it was originally an evolution of Lock On: Modern Air Combat by Eagle Dynamics and The Battle Simulator by The Fighter Collection.^[1][2]

Two labels are used when referring to the DCS line of simulation products: DCS World and DCS Series. DCS World is the free-to-download basic game that includes two free aircraft and two free maps. DCS World is expandable through add-on modules as well as user-made add-ons and mods. DCS Series refers to the series of modules that must be purchased before use.

Gameplay[]

DCS World acts as a unified platform supporting "modules" (made by either Eagle Dynamics or a third party) to avoid large numbers of individual game releases. This allows users to join multiplayer servers without purchasing every vehicle available and to quickly switch aircraft. It also allows all development to be done on a single platform. The modularity of the game also attracts third-party developers, furthering DCS's content and popularity.

DCS World is widely known as a "study sim" - players must take care to learn how to operate the aircraft just as a real pilot would.^[3][4] PC Gamer, referencing the F-14 module, remarked that it may involve "requiring [you to] familiarize yourself with the actual manuals used to fly the actual planes in order to play".^[5] Aircraft in DCS are meticulously modeled, including interactive buttons and switches in the cockpit, accurate flight dynamics from real-world data, and often even unique sounds such as Bitching Betty.^[4]

The gameplay is highly variable based upon what aircraft and location the player chooses. DCS World supports a wide variety of combat operations, from close air support, dogfights, and SEAD, to more reserved missions such as cargo transport.^[6] There are a wide variety of planes, such as the P-51 Mustang, Fw-190, AV-8 Harrier, and F-15 Eagle. There are also a limited number of helicopters, such as the Ka-50, UH-1 "Huey", and Mil Mi-8.^[7]

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's default map is set in 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 small portion of Russia's southern border. Additional maps include:^[8]

• "Nevada Test and Training Range" - A U.S. Air Force training range and location of the Red Flag exercise, which includes Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, Groom Lake Air Force Station, and Tonopah Test Range Airport
• "Normandy 1944" - centered around the English Channel, it includes areas of the southern United Kingdom, and Normandy, France during World War II^[9]
• "Persian Gulf" - centered around the Strait of Hormuz, it includes nearly the entirety of the United Arab Emirates, as well as southern areas of Iran^[10]
• "Syria" - centered around most of Syria, Israel, and Lebanon and areas of Turkey and Jordan.^[11]
• "Mariana Islands" - a free map centered around the Mariana island chain, featuring "Guam, Rota, Tinian, Saipan, and a score of lesser islands"^[12]

Development[]

DCS Series logo (in use since 2011)

DCS World logo (in use since 2015)

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.^[13] 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.^[14]

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.^[15]

In 2011, DCS World was launched with concept of plug-in "modules", allowing the use of previously stand-alone simulations in the same session. 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.^[16][17]

In October 2015, DCS World was relaunched under the guise of DCS World 1.5.^[18] 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. DCS World 2.0 gained the ability to add new theaters of war, such as the then-new Nevada Test & Training Range. The Caucasus map was in the process of being updated, and was not yet compatible with DCS 2.0.^[18][19]

In May 2017, DCS World 2.1 was released in early access which includes support for the Nevada and Normandy maps and added new rendering technologies (deferred shading and physically based rendering).^[9][20]

In January 2018, DCS World 2.5 was released into open beta testing, which allowed for migration to 2.5 on Steam 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.^[21][22] The release version of 2.5 was published in April 2018.^[23]

In April 2021, DCS World 2.7 was made available to players for open beta testing, with the headline item being a new cloud engine, bringing volumetric clouds to the simulation.^[24] In June 2021, the 2.7 version was published as a stable release version.^[25]

Reception[]

PC Gamer reviewed the DCS: A-10C Warthog module with a rating of 92/100.^[26] 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."^[27] SimHQ praised the KA-50 module, noting the attention to technical details such as recoil of the helicopter's main gun affecting flight dynamics, along with smaller details such as the windscreen wiper having several modes. Also noted was the difficulty of flying the aircraft.^[28]

References[]

External links[]

• Official website
• Official forums