Video games and flight sims are where things are at right now with so many of us working from home, staying in, and keeping our distance. Eagle Dynamics has launched a dual sale and free trial schedule to help us pass the time and now we have the details!
It starts with the Viper and goes from there
The DCS: F-16C Viper started appearing on Steam with a free trial period yesterday (as my secret informants pointed out), however, the official news of the free trial and Eagle Dynamics full schedule and plans for the next month are now out.
A sale and free trials will run from March 18th (today!) until April 18th with all participating modules getting up to 50% discounts. The free trials are interesting as this is the most aggressive schedule we’ve ever seen from Eagle Dynamics with a new DCS World module getting the free trial treatment every few days.
Here is the published schedule:
- March 18-19: F-16C
- March 20-21: F/A-18C
- March 22-23: F-14B
- March 24-25: JF-17
- March 26-27: A-10C
- March 28-29: AV-8B
- March 30-31: M-2000C
- April 1-2: Spitfire
- April 3-4: Mustang
- April 5-6: Fw 190 A8
- April 7-8: Bf 109 K4
- April 9-10: Persian Gulf Map
- April 11-12: Nevada Map
- April 13-14: F-86
- April 15-16: MiG-15
- April 17-18: Black Shark Ka-50
If you wanted to try out a new aircraft but weren’t sure if you’d like it, now is an absolutely fantastic opportunity to check them out. I know there are a few there on the list that I want to try out. And if you like them, most of them are 50% off so that you can keep flying them.
There are some exceptions:
- DCS: Supercarrier – no additional discounts
- DCS: F-14 Tomcat by Heatblur Simulations – 20% off
- DCS: JF-17 Thunder by Deka Ironwork Simulations – $15.00 USD off
- DCS: SA342 Gazelle by Polychop Simulations – 25% off
Update: Now with a heartwarming trailer and a special message from co-founder Nick Grey.
Viper gets a big discount
The DCS: F-16C Viper gets a 50% discount in this sale which is significant. Still new to DCS World and only recently added by comparison to most DCS World modules, this discount is very impressive. Is it worth it? Well I hope to write a more involved piece on this soon but let me try and give you a bit of a preview.
The F-16C at launch was missing a lot of functionality and features. It even lacked a damage model. That gave it a bit of a sour reputation in the community that I don’t think it deserves any longer. Eagle Dynamics has added features and functionality to the jet since then and it’s now very good at doing quite a few things.
It can already do air-to-air at essentially final capability while its ground attack abilities are somewhat more basic. You still have a target pod, Link16, and most basic attack modes. It’s just the more advanced features that it lacks. If the F-16 were another aircraft it could even be considered reasonably complete, however, because its like the F/A-18 in being able to carry so many different weapon systems, it’s still only just a fraction of the way there.
You can load this up today and tomorrow and see for yourself.
Stormbirds 
Morning,
Yeah, this free trial and sale looks good. Nice of them to lay out the schedule.
I tried to get the F-16 but it didn’t install, I’m sure it will next time. I have enough in my Steam wallet for one of the “big” planes, might be a hard choice.
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Wait a few and give it another go. Is there something you’d like to be able to do with any of these modules? I can try and help advise a purchase ☺️
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Anything in particular you would recommend for a new player/novice?
Looks like just about everything is 50% off right now.
Was planning on starting with Flaming Cliffs 3 & the Supercarrier bundle due to the price, but the helicopter bundle is also tempting at 50% off.
Planning on getting the 14 at some point as it’s a favorite, but might hold off until the next sale and getting some experience in-game.
Overwhelmed, any advice is welcome!
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Hey New Flyer. There are a lot of choices and it can be pretty overwhelming.
While some may eschew this advice, if you’re new to modern air combat I think the best places to start are the F-15C and/or Su-27. You can get those in Flaming Cliffs 3. They are high fidelity flight models but simplified systems and I personally think they are good places to start learning.
The F-14 is a beauty but it is a complex beast as well. Worth every penny but the learning curve I found to be steeper than most.
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Thank you for the reply.
Thinking I will end up with FC3 & the carrier bundle. Mostly like doing sandbox flying and landings.
Do you find any of the other random add-ons to be essential? Like combined arms or any of the assets?
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Also, helicopters are an acquired taste. DCS’s helicopters are generally fantastic but I still struggle with them. If you love helicopters, check out the Huey or the Mi-8 but if you’re still feeling a bit new to everything… maybe wait a bit.
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Hello New Flyer,
The FC3 package is great! Easy, fun, and covers a lot of bases. Just having the A-10 and F-15 gets you the two extremes of flying fun.
I think you’ll have much, much more fun with FC3 and the carrier than with the helicopter bundle. I have the Huey, and it’s pretty good. But to start with, definitely FC3.
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I would agree with FC3 aircraft to start with. When you are ready to move onto the first full-fidelity aircraft. I would suggest the F-5. Unfortunately, it isn’t on the list of discounted and free aircraft. However, it is probably the easiest of the full-fidelity aircraft to learn.
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Correction to my earlier post: the F-5 is on sale, just not available for a free trial.
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The F-5 is great. Given my experience with the more complex aircraft, I was able to learn most of the basics of the F-5 in a couple of hours which was pretty cool for my expanding knowledge of systems. There’s a few quirks and I have by no means mastered the aircraft but I have the basics now. That’s how good the F-5 is at a combat trainer. Worth checking into as a fun diversion before going to the more complex types.
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Howdy New Flyer,
I think you just stepped up at the right time. My advise is that you can’t go wrong with any of the FC aircraft for the current price. That being said I have the Mig-29 but don’t fly it much since I really enjoy the complexity of the clickable cockpits in the full module aircraft. So, I would say hold off buying for now and try out each of the aircraft as they come up for the free two day try out. Once you have flown a few you will get a better idea of what they are like and what suits you best. Also think about what type of flying you like to do. If you thing is air to air then look at the fighters, F-16, F/A-18, F-14 ect. If, like CanadaOne you like ground attack then try the A-10, AV-8B.
While I love both the F-16 and AV-8 they are very different. The F-16 has about the shortest cold start sequence going, the AV-8 is much trickier and you can end up shutting it down if you click the wrong switch. Both are fun aircraft and I really like them both.
If you need any help let me know, I have a little group that gets together on Sat mornings (east coast time zone) and does PVE missions. I would be happy to help you out if you need it. (we are looking for a 4th person to round out the flight).
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I can second everything that Michael said here. And I have had the pleasure of flying with his group before and they are fantastic folks if you’re looking for a small group. One of many supportive flight sim groups out there!
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It installed fine the second time.
Nice plane, but not for me. Not being a jet fighter A2A type, I’m not feeling the love. On the other hand, I have a great time with the Harrier. The F-16 (to me) feels like the Harrier minus the fun. I’d buy the F-16 for $20 but not for $50. But that’s just me.
I like sandbox flying, sightseeing, with some ground pounding thrown in. I have all the maps, and with the planes it’s all about interior eye candy, ease of use, and fun to fly. The Harrier, the A-10A, and the Yak-52 are my most flown planes.
The F-14 is only 20% off. So not sure. Might bite on the A-10C at 50%. I’d never learn it all, but I have a soft spot for the A-10.
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The Harrier is indeed a great aircraft for ground pounding!
I’ve never been able to make my way through all that the A-10C offers but it is the most complete DCS World jet experience on hand and the new cockpit looks great.
If you want something quirkier… The AJS-37 Viggen is a great strike aircraft!
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Love the look of the Viggen, it’s just too cool. But something inside my tiny little brain is telling me I wouldn’t enjoy the systems. But I’ll watch the Grim Reapers videos on the Viggen. they have first rate tutorials and maybe that will illuminate me.
I wouldn’t be enjoying the Harrier half as much without the Grim Reaper tutorials.
That would be a great article if you had a chat with them.
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I still have Not touched the few modules I have bought since last summer but I think I am going to purchase the Viper anyway. The price is indeed very appealing. I bet that by the time I will start exploring the aircraft, it is going to be (almost) finished.
Too bad the Tomcat is only at 20% discount, it would have been a steal!
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Yeah, it’s too bad the F-14 won’t get the 50% treatment. bet they’d sell a ton. I have the carrier on pre-order and would consider the F-14 just because of that. But at 20% off it’s more than I have in my Steam wallet, and given the weirdness of the world right now, I’m not putting another dollar towards games.
Looking forward to trying the Mirage and the Spitfire. No free trial of the Viggen, I wonder why?
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I was going to get the Normandy Map + WW2 Assets bundle but it seems like the price has gone back up to $59. Both the map and assets pack alone are still showing as discounted. Anyone know if this is just a fluke in the eshop or is the bundle no longer available at sale price?
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I don’t even see the Normandy map on my Steam DCS page. Weird. I have the Normandy map & assets. They’re good.
The Persian Gulf map is great!
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Yeah I don’t think they have the bundle on Steam. They did have it discounted on the ED store yesterday but, now it’s back to full price. Ala carte they are on sale tho but ~$10 more.
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