It was clear from the onslaught of videos over the last few days that the DCS: P-47 and DCS: Channel Map were coming very soon. Then yesterday they showed up on the Steam store with a June 3rd release date and it was unclear if that was actually going to happen or not – well… it has and here they are!
Thunderbolt’s across the channel
The DCS: P-47 and DCS: The Channel Map come alongside several dozen changes in the latest DCS Open Beta (version 2.5.6.50321) but of course the standout content are the two new pieces of content that add to the DCS: WWII theme in dramatic fashion. The P-47D-30 is launching into early access with some key features specific to this late war version of the P-47.
The D-30 variant specifically modeled includes:
- P-47D-30 late cockpit with K-14 gunsight
- New, round-shaped throttle
- Electrical bomb release selector
- The aircraft has a dorsal fin that improves directional stability
The following munitions are also modeled:
- AN-M30A1
- AN-M57
- AN-M64
- AN-M65
Not included are any rockets at this point although it is early access and I would guess that those will likely come later.
The Channel Map
Meanwhile, The Channel map also has arrived with its own impressive feature list. This second DCS WWII themed map covers a separate area from the Normandy map (making the two complementary) and has the potential for a more wide ranging set of narratives set during WWII. A key item that separates it from the Normandy map is the fact that it also features highly detailed areas on both sides of the channel map rather.
Here are the features as advertised by Eagle Dynamics:
- 40,000 square kilometres covering the English Channel region, set in the Second World War era.
- A new level of DCS World object detail that includes the Chain Home radar stations, cities and towns, ports, airfields, factories, and much more
- Authentic recreations of the ports of Dover, Folkstone, Newhaven in England and Boulogne-Sur-Mer, Calais, and Dunkirk in occupied France.
- The White Cliffs of Dover and the Seven Sisters – A detailed recreation of the Dover Castle complex and other fortifications
- Nine authentic airbases with grass and paved runways in England and Occupied France – Occupied France airfields include Abbeville Drucat, Dunkirk Mardyck, Merville Calonne, Saint Omer Longuenesse.
- Airfields in England include Detling, Hawkinge, Lympne, Manston and ALG USAAF High Halden.
- Inclusion of the V-1 Flying Bomb launch sites in Occupied France.
Available now
Both DCS: The Channel Map and DCS: P-47 are available on the DCS Store and on Steam. They are currently going for a $10 discount on each coming in at $39.99 for both individually. Although there was a little speculation of there being a bundle deal, at present there is not yet a bundle although it’s possible that we might see one later on down the line.
Of course, no DCS World launch is complete without a brilliantly executed trailer. Enjoy this trailer advertising both the new map and the P-47 and look out for plenty of updated shots of the DCS: Mosquito FB.VI that is planned for later this year.
Stormbirds 
I’m really not sure if this is going to be worth it for those who already own Bodemplatte. Ofcourse clickable cockpits is a huge plus but iL-2 seems to have pretty much everything, from dynamic campaigns to active multiplayer servers, covered at the moment.
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You have to admit though, (and I speak as IL2 dabbler but I have never flown in DCS) the graphics are on a totally different level.
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In VR I find IL-2 to be far prettier.
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I wasn’t really that interested in the P-47, it was never one of my favorites, but I bought it anyway and I have to say it’s pretty cool and has a stunning cockpit. If the cockpit is your living room, those graphics are a $2000 leather couch.
Steam still doesn’t have the map available. Hopefully when I get home from work. I want that map!
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Channel Map problem : I can fly (the 3 supplied) missions on it, also Instant Action missions, but I can not create Quick missions (Advanced or otherwise). I always get -after I try to generate a mission- error message “getMissionNode Nodeslds is empty”. I only get this with the New Channel Map … I tried to ‘repair’ my OpenBeta install but it does not help any… Early Acces problem !? Please help … can other people generate Quick Missions ?
(BTW other maps are still OK in this respect)
Thanks,
Simfan
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It fails for me too, although it just goes back to the main DCS screen and I don’t see the error message (and the log is as usual so full of errors that it’s hard to tell which is a real problem). I suppose it’s still WIP for that part.
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OK, thanks !
I now got some confirmation from the ED Bug forum too.
Hard to believe the testers could have missed this major BUG, maybe it is related to some other module / map install?
Can’t be all too common otherwise e.g. Hoggit would get crazy about this one (knowing how they react to some minor problems.
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I have to say that it looks wonderful, planes,map, smoke, fire!
I dont like clickpits and the sp content is probably lacking, but it looks very good.
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That was a surprise! :O
Verdict of the map: probably beautiful, but simply not playable on my poor PC 😀 I found Phil Style’s video very informative by the way, he’s really looked at the details and historical accuracy of this new terrain.
The P-47 is a big bird, for sure, and already in quite an advanced state, with its manual, missions on several maps, training missions (thankfully for me, on Caucasus)…
My wallet is also considerably lighter now.
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Just got it and came to two conclusions: it’s a resource hog and it’s frickin; gorgeous. I flew a couple of very simple flights through the mission editor and it was fine. I’ll keep playing with it.
For the moment it’s maybe more of a sightseeing map than a balls out combat map, but I’m upgrading soon(ish) and I look forward to some serious eye candy and decent FPS.
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I managed about an hour of flight time in the P-47 last night. It both is and isn’t what I expected. As with all of the DCS WWII Warbirds, it is harder to maintain stable flight in this P-47 than in other sims. I found I have to be gentle on the stick or risk stalling in a turn. Neutral rudder trim feels like flying the Fw190A, and I have to stay on the rudder pedal to keep the ball centered. Twitchy flight characteristics make it difficult to divert attention to the clickable areas of cockpit. I haven’t figured out how to unlink the turbo lever from the throttle yet. Still learning. Overall, I appreciate the subtle cockpit differences between the DCS version and IL-2 Bodenplatte’s P-47D-28.
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As much as I love clickable cockpits I think I will stick to IL-2 warbirds for the time being and only fly modern aircraft in DCS. Flying WWII planes in DCS still feels incredibly off.
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DCS WWII aircraft are beautifully modeled and well put together. The biggest problem is actual content and what you can do with them.
It’s getting better. But it still needs more.
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Yes, I agree. Don’t get me wrong I truly believe DCS warbirds are works of art. They are absolutely spectacular when taken individually.
It is the whole DCS WWII experience that feels off. You can tell that the whole system was Not designed with WWII sorties in mind.
Meanwhile IL-2, albeit technically behind in a few areas, has been specifically crafted with the intention to give the player believable WWII aerial warfare.
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Each has great features but I’d like them to merge at some point 😉
In the mean time, between DCS’ detailed system modelling, clickable cockpits, slipstream (?) and high-res cockpit textures, vs. IL-2’s damage modelling, weather and overall fun factor, I’ll take IL-2 for the missions and DCS only to mess with starting procedures and listen to the WWII’s engines 😀
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