However, what I tested so far in single player is very encouraging. Obviously, with the small number of testers I haven’t been able to stress multiplayer to a point where I would know for sure what the player limit would be. This brings us to the real meat of the article: in-game performance. I felt like a real hawk soaring through the Nevada sunset, looking for dinner. I didn’t even feel the need to use the zoom in/out button anymore: it’s just that good. I always had terrible vision, but even I could spot dots from almost twice as far away. Thankfully, Eagle Dynamics listened to the community’s feedback and after a couple of sessions, I found out that trying to spot a target in a Mustang with the improved DCS World 2 visibility is nothing short of a complete game-changer.
This is the difference between a multiplayer server full of “blind” pilots who can’t find each other and a server where pilots are able to scan the sky for enemy contacts and make tactical decisions based on the altitude, heading, speed, and silhouette of the contacts they spot. Since most air-to-air engagements were done within visual range at that time, target visibility is all the more critical. WWII air combat occurred at close ranges and the majority of pilots who were shot down never even saw their opponent until it was already too late. Not only could I spot planes easier at long ranges, but I could also clearly distinguish its silhouette without having to zoom or change my field of view. A new “Enlarge” setting in the game Options allowed me to see enemy fighters with a clarity that simply blew me away. To my surprise, I saw that the framerate was butter smooth. A similar scenario in DCS World 1 would typically bring my system to its knees the minute a plane started firing his guns, especially if all those planes were within visual range. I placed 15 AI-flown Mustangs and pitted them against 15 Bf.109s. Of course, the first thing I tried to do in the mission editor was to break the game. Well, after a couple of sessions with the old warbirds in DCS World 2, I was very pleased to see vast improvements in terms of in-game performance, target “dot” spotting, lighting, and visual effects like oil & glycol leaks, smoke, and slick high altitude contrails. 50 cal machine-guns with tracer rounds with complex ballistic models caused in-game stutters that highlighted the need for further optimization. While the sim engine could handle AMRAAM guided missiles with ease, firing six.
Target spotting, framerate, and performance issues during air combat were among the chief complaints. While the gradual inclusion of other fighters like the FW190-D9 “Dora” and the Bf.109K-4 Kurfürst showed great promise, a number of issues and limitations from the DCS World 1 engine made the DCS WWII experience great, but not perfect.
While the majority of community members were thrilled with the inclusion of one of the most iconic fighters of the Second World War, others were skeptical about the lack of a “proper” WWII theater, units, and plane-set. It was the very first module that was neither a modern jet nor a helicopter, which lit the forums on fire. I remember when the DCS P-51D Mustang was announced as if it was yesterday. In this pre-alpha preview, we will see what Eagle Dynamics has in store for World War II junkies like me. Early access to the current DCS World 2 build included NTTR (Nevada Test & Training Range) and a most interesting selection of aircraft. Being an insatiable DCS enthusiast, I saw this as a perfect opportunity to help the developer team while doing what I love most: flying. He kindly asked me if I was interested to be a part of the Tester Team for DCS World 2. Features of DCS World 2 are subject to change.Ī couple of days ago, I received a rather unexpected e-mail from Eagle Dynamics producer Matt Wagner, better known as “Wags” on the DCS forums. – Chuck All observations, mistakes, or errors are solely those of the author. Of particular note is that the version featured here contains old clouds that will be replaced by improved clouds.
Features are constantly being added, improved, fixed, and reworked, so these images may or may not represent the final product. Note – this article contains images that depict a pre-alpha state of DCS World 2. In a preview of what WWII combat in DCS World 2 will feel like, Chuck gives us some impressions on his early access to DCS World 2…