The news this week for DCS World is mostly focused on maps with updates from Ugra Media for their previously released Normandy and Syria maps being a big focus. Eagle Dynamics is talking a little bit about DCS: Afghanistan, and one non-map related piece of news is that there’s a new AH-64D campaign coming along too. Let’s check it all out!
Eagle Dynamics talks Afghanistan map, Iraq map
There’s been a fair bit of criticism in the last week, since the announcement of the pre-order for the Iraq map, on Eagle Dynamics launching a new map pre-order when the Afghanistan map hasn’t yet been developed. In truth, I kind of suspected that we’d see Iraq come before Afghanistan was complete.
To date, only the southwestern part of the map has been developed while the other areas exist but aren’t fully detailed. Here’s the updated configuration of the map as released back in July for Afghanistan.
Eagle Dynamics has responded today to some of the comments with a statement on how they are developing both maps simultaneously. I’ve copied some of the pertinent pieces of that statement below>
Last week, we launched the pre-order for the DCS: Iraq map and this sparked many questions and concerns about the DCS: Afghanistan map. Primarily, why is Eagle Dynamics working on an Iraq map with so much work to do on the Afghanistan map? The Iraq and Afghanistan maps are being developed by separate map teams in different countries. The development of one does not affect progress on the other. As such, the Iraq map has in no way slowed down development of the Afghanistan map. Furthermore, map development has no impact on the development of other DCS aspects such as the Core and individual modules.
Developers do often work on multiple projects simultaneously and from the sounds of it there are a pair of Eagle Dynamics map teams working right now. While focusing all efforts on one map may get it done faster, there are perhaps some economic or organizational decisions that have set them up to work on two instead.
There are some technology based delays reportedly in the mix as well.
The next big update to the Southwest portion and the Eastern region has been delayed due to developing a new approach that will improve this and all maps; we believe it will be worth it. After the initial release of the Afghanistan map, we have been carefully reviewing all feedback, and we’ll be incorporating this into the map as well.
I do wish we had a little more detail on what’s being done and what the overall update will offer but at least we have a reason as to why DCS: Afghanistan hasn’t yet seen the next big update. Hopefully that will happen soon though I suspect both it and DCS: Iraq, ambitious as they are, will take quite a while to deliver.
Ugra Media updating Syria, Normandy maps
Meanwhile, the DCS World map news continues with two updates of currently existing maps coming down the pipeline. DCS: Syria looks set to retain the crown as one of DCS World’s most fully developed maps with Ugra Media offering screenshots and details on new areas that they are opening up.
The overview is that the map is picking up over 100 new military bases, helicopter pads have been added to 93 bases as well as hospitals, stadiums and oil fields, new scenery has been added that includes flags, radars, weather stations, and new static An-26 and A300 aircraft parked at various airports. Central Israel has been added to the map as well as new airports including Ben Gurion, Hatzor, Palmaсhim, and Tel Nof.
Here we have Ben Gurion.
If screenshots aren’t enough, there’s also video.
And then there’s also Tel Nof with these screenshots…
… and this video.
Ugra Media have also stated a bunch of times in this update thread that they have also been improving textures, fixing bugs, improving parking spaces at various airports to support larger aircraft where appropriate, and improving the optimization. All in all it sounds like a significant effort to expand and improve on this impressive map.
DCS: Normandy 2.0 is not being left out either with optimization being a central theme for their update of the map. But we’re also being treated to added content including airfields (Eastchurch, Headcorn and Hawkinge), new points of interest (Basilica Sacré Coeur, Palace of Versailles and Hampton Court Palace), and improved scenery and errors fixed.
Check out these videos and this update thread on Normandy 2.0 for more.
New AH-64D campaign on the way
The DCS World Weekend News reports that a new DCS: AH-64D campaign is coming called “Outpost.” It’s being done by StoneSky and features 15 missions, JTAC and FAC operations, Medevac missions and special assignments. There are 2,500 radio messages, 200 pages of documentation and kneeboard information, and interaction with UAVs, A-10s, F/A-18s and even B-1Bs.
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