Heatblur know how to put on a presentation and this new Phantoms Phorever trailer that just released remind us just how good they are at showing us, telling us, and delivering on extremely detailed simulation experiences. The pre-order is now live, the trailer is out, and we know quite a bit more about DCS: F-4E than we did yesterday. Let’s talk Phantom!
Ghostly reveal!
DCS: F-4E has been on many a wishlist for a long time now and its finally coming this winter. Heatblur have given us a window of late 2023 through to March 2024 for when their new module will release.
The first part of the trailer was a cinematic feast showing off all of the visual spectacle and fast pasted action that you expect from a DCS World trailer. And Heatblur are among the best at this! Today they remind us of that!
Set to a House of the Rising Sun cover by Audiomachine, the trailer shows the F-4 fighting MiG-21s, dodging flak bursts, dropping high drag bombs, launching missiles, skimming the waves and generally doing all of the things you’d expect a Phantom to do. Once that high octane presentation was over, the trailer switched gears and gave us some great information on what Heatblur are doing with the F-4E. Heatblur look to be set to establish a new standard for DCS World yet again. Here’s how.
The details of the module
The narration reveals that Heatblur are modeling the aircraft’s physical nature both visually and at a simulation level. They encouraged us to count the rivets because they are all accurately placed. Pilot models will, for the first time in DCS, be customizable with a choice of features including helmet, body, equipment and gloves. They also joke about getting the essential details right – like the pilot’s moustache. Nice!
New weapons GBU-8 and AGM-12 are coming while the AGM-45 Shrike, already in DCS World, is being upgraded.
Simulated depth include physical simulations of the APQ-120 radar and an entirely new EW simulation.
They are also doing electrical and fluid simulation which will give the F-4 Phantom an even more organic feel to it. Reliability factors may mean that a light-bulb may be dimmer than the ones around it, a landing gear door may stick and take longer to come down. Thousands of individual components are simulated.
Jester AI 2.0 brings in a whole bunch of new features by asking questions proactively and being more interactive. The new Jester AI also will be externally scriptable meaning that the community can add their own segments into the Jester programming. Mission makers will be able to bring more of Jester into their campaigns and missions.
A sequence during the presentation has Jester expressing concern about low flying and the pilot being able to reply with one of what appears to be four different responses. No more Jester punching out unexpectedly? That sounds good.
Finally, DCS: F-4E is coming with a detailed interactive manual. For the first time, Heatblur are making that manual available from within the module. Hold the right key combo and click on any button in the cockpit and you’ll be taking to the segment of the manual detailing that button. Nice! Training missions and videos are also planned!
Pre-order starts now
Keeping in mind that Heatblur are expecting to launch the DCS: F-4E Phantom sometime in the winter, either late 2023 or up to March 2024, pre-orders are available now. Regular pricing is set at $79.99 USD but currently features a $20 USD pre-order discount. Addition packages add two licenses (one for you, one for your buddy), t-shirts, and limited edition Meteor music albums for the F-4 and F-14.
This is all available now through the Heatblur webstore. Pre-order will soon begin on the Eagle Dynamics e-Store and on Steam as well.
Phew… that’s a lot to take in but here we are. Phantom is finally closing in on launch and it sounds incredible!
Stormbirds 
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