DCS: F-5E livery competition cancelled

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A few weeks back, Eagle Dynamics announced another in a series of successful livery competitions. This one was focused on the DCS: F-5E with winners of the competition receiving various prizes and inclusion of their work in the released modules. This latest competition, ran headlong into some issues and it has now been cancelled. Here’s what we know.

Livery competition no more

Back at the beginning of April, Eagle Dynamics announced the DCS: F-5E Remastered Livery competition. The competition followed in the footsteps of several successful competitions, however, this one ran headlong into an issue right away.

Most livery creators make use of an external model viewer while working on their art. The flat textures, projected onto the 3D model, can then be edited and reloaded while working out some of the more complex patterns. It’s painstaking work and tools like that help make the process quite a bit smoother. The DCS: F-5E Remastered, however, is among the newest aircraft in the sim key pieces of the model are now encrypted to the point where the external model viewer is not able to read the files.

Livery artists, though making use of the template, rely on the back and forth process to do their best work with some artists saying that it would take anywhere between three and ten times as long to produce the same livery. Ouch!

Solutions were looked into, however, it doesn’t appear that they have found a quick one and that has no doubt impacted the viability of the competition. Here’s what was said about the cancellation.

We would like to extend our gratitude to all individuals who have dedicated their time to submit entries and provide feedback and concerns regarding custom livery painting for our customers. Consequently, we have decided to cancel this contest while we explore options to enhance our support for those who appreciate painting and sharing their livery creations. 

Regarding the current entries, while we will not be adding any to the game at this time, we would like to offer a small gift to you for your effort and hope that when this contest returns, you will consider resubmitting your work. We will contact you shortly. 

Thanks again for all the feedback we have received on this, and we look forward to improving this in the future.

The ED Team

Read the post here.

Hopefully a better solution to support livery artists workflows will be found and then a new competition can be offered.

17 responses to “DCS: F-5E livery competition cancelled”

  1. CanadaOne Avatar
    CanadaOne

    That didn’t work out so well, did it? 😉

    Like

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    1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
      ShamrockOneFive

      That’s for sure! Sounds like a core issue there needs to be sorted first.

      Like

      Reply
  2. oesau Avatar
    oesau

    Not sure what they were thinking really – they own the core engine and know the limitations they have been implemented yet went ahead with a competition that just highlighted the challenges with it.

    Hopefully something good can come of this and moving forward a workable model is implemented

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
      ShamrockOneFive

      Indeed, it was a bit of a misfire. Hopefully this is impetus enough to find a good working solution and then they can restart the contest.

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      Reply
      1. Pet Lemons Avatar
        Pet Lemons

        It’s notable that this was an issue highlighted by many livery designers immediately upon release.

        Like

      2. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
        ShamrockOneFive

        Yeah absolutely. For the record, I reported on that during the announcement. I was hopeful they’d have a quick solution for it and that it’d be a boon for all livery artists… but for now its not the case. https://stormbirds.blog/2025/04/04/eagle-dynamics-talks-instant-mission-generator-f-5e-livery-contest/

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  3. padinn Avatar
    padinn

    Not canceled, it was retigered

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    Reply
    1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
      ShamrockOneFive

      *claps* Well played 😉

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      Reply
  4. Carl Avatar
    Carl

    why is there so many misfires with ED over the past many many months.

    not good and not appealing to get back into it

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    1. ShamrockOneFive Avatar
      ShamrockOneFive

      I suspect there’s internal communications that aren’t fully connecting.

      There have been some good moments for the sim as well particularly with the relative success of the new Cold War Germany map. But that’s pushing against the sense of disruption that’s out there.

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      1. Pet Lemons Avatar
        Pet Lemons

        I think the wins have far outweighed the losses. However the online portion of the community is incredibly vocal about all the losses and silent about the wins. There is also the typical element of software development, the vast majority of the work done by the team will never be noticed by the end-user. This is especially true when there is such a significant difference in user experience in DCS. Someone who only flys campaigns might notice the AI improvements over someone who only flys in MP airquake servers etc.

        There have been a tonne of improvements around the AI in core. I would be willing to bet the farm that this end-goal of this work is dynamic campaign. Same can be said for the in-flight save update from the last week. Dynamic spawns is another improvement that is more than likely tied to dynamic campaign. There have also been a lot of graphics optimizations in core.

        Finally, I think a lot of people don’t use many modules to their full extent. This has the effect of the end-user not realizing how many bug fixes and improvements are being rolled out with every update. I’ll be honest, I’m impressed by the extent of the changelogs every time. Not every point is the sexiest, but rarely do I feel like they are only small quick wins.

        None of this is to downplay people’s valid concerns about poor community engagement and communication breakdowns. I’m just trying to say that we as a community don’t leave much room for nuance in these discussions and we don’t celebrate the wins as much as we rage over the losses.

        Like

  5. felcsarbr Avatar
    felcsarbr

    Good that ED have recognized the short comings and read the room.

    It is sad that needed an actual movement from the community for them to react instead of being pro active and offer the user proper tools and pathways to make DCS a richer environment.

    I hope to see them take care more of the user side front. Still love the sim and weekly fly it.

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    Reply
    1. Dimitri Avatar
      Dimitri

      All they have to do is open up to the community a little bit, give us an SDK.

      the reason is Greed.

      they don’t want modders to make something ED may want to, at some point, monetize themselves.

      but ED doesn’t have the resources to do it themselves.

      So we’re stuck waiting for things that may never be, but modders are no Bueno either.

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      1. felcsarbr Avatar
        felcsarbr

        I don’t buy that ‘greed’ talk.

        Like

    2. Dimitri Avatar
      Dimitri

      A great example is REDFOR aircraft. I’ve spoken to a few people who made the Su 30 mod, which is fantastic, given the limitations.

      they said there is enough data to make the Radar and maybe even an early access module of the Flanker-G, considering it’s been exported so much.

      ED simply refuses to let CodenameFlanker do it. And Chizh has a bias against Russian planes in general, because BLUEFOR is “better for business”. A pity.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. felcsarbr Avatar
        felcsarbr

        You’re outdated. Community managers already stated Sukhois jets are coming on a later pipeline after the 29 is out depending on how the 29 sells to warrant other red aircraft development.

        The team for the MiG 29 is in charge of red fighters, but they are only beginning now.

        Stay away from the bandwagon that feeds themselves hate for ED without any factual base.

        Like

  6. Urgent Siesta Avatar
    Urgent Siesta

    Tempest in a teapot…

    Moving on.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

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