DCS World & Modules FAQ

[DarkMellie]

What is DCS World?
It's the base world simulation engine for all Digital Combat Simulator modules. These modules that plug into DCS World can include aircraft, maps, ground and sea units and campaigns.
A full description can be found at this link:
http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=89885

Where do I buy DCS World?
It's free and comes with one plane, the Su-25T that can be flown in single player mode. Consider it like a demo, you try out DCS World for free in single player, explore the world and try a few missions to see if this sim is for you.
The other modules you will have to buy and to use multiplayer you will need a purchased module.
Please note that the Su-25T is a Flaming Cliffs 2 (FC2) plane and doesn't have the full fidelity that the other DCS modules have.
You can download DCS World from here:
http://games.on.net/file/50389/
and the modules from DCS
http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/i ... ts&lang=en

Who makes DCS World?
Eagle Dynamics are the developers of DCS and are based in Moscow.
You can find more information about ED at their discussion forums and wiki:
http://forums.eagle.ru/index.php?s=27ce ... f291233adc
http://en.wiki.eagle.ru/wiki/Main_Page

What are these modules?
The modules are the simulators that you purchase and install directly into DCS World.
Currently there are 5 modules available for purchase.
DCS KA-50 Black Shark 2 - Russian attack helicopter
DCS A-10c Warthog- USA ground attack aircraft
DCS P-51d Mustang - 2nd World War USA fighter aircraft
DCS Combined Arms (beta) - Ground warfare simulator
DCS Lock on- Flaming Cliffs 3 - Range of mid fidelity aircraft

Where do I buy these modules?
Generally these modules are purchased from DCS, though you may find a bargain on steam.
http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/i ... op&lang=en

How do I install these modules?
Once DCS World is installed you then just run the modules installer which will find your DCS World install and place itself in the mod folder. When you launch DCS World you will then be able to use the purchased module from within DCS World.
You will need to create an account at DCS if you want to use multiplayer, if you purchased from DCS you already will have an account.

I own Black Shark 1 and FC2 can I use them in DCS World?
No, Black Shark 1 and FC2 are not compatible with DCS World.
You can, however, purchase the upgrade version of Black Shark 2 for installation into DCS World. You will need Black Shark 1 installed on your PC to be able to activate Black Shark 2 in DCS World.

How do I setup multiple monitors and touch screens ?
DCS has inbuilt multimonitor support for 3 monitor configurations, however, if you want to place specific instruments on a second monitor then you do need to manually modify the default monitor configuration by editing files, using 3rd party software or a combination of both if you want to export all indicators to multiple displays.

Firstly, if you just want to place the mfcd's on a second monitor you can create your own lua file that defines the combined resolution of your desktop and within that file allocate parts of the desktop to the mfcd's you wish to display. A comprehensive guide has been written by MadTommy at ED:
http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=60815

The 2nd option is to use 3rd party software to allocate your desktop in DCS and popular choices are Helios and icontrol and both support the use of touchscreens. Touchscreens allow to you directly interact with the mfcd's rather than having to use the mouse to click buttons on the mfcd's.

Thirdly if you want export all indicators via viewport to various displays then you will need edit a few files and details and discussion can be found in below thread by icemaker at ED:
http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t ... ti+monitor
(wip)

TrackIR, what is that ?
TrackIR and the freeware version Freetrack are head tracking technologies that allows you to look around the cockpit and zoom your view in and out (6dof) just by moving your head and is one of the most immersive products on the market for simulators.
TrackIR setup video:


Freetrack is a homebrew version and requires a compatibile video camera and an afternoon of elbow grease and all you need to know can be found at this link:
http://www.free-track.net/english/


a hot fix has been released to fix the sound bug on some of the in game training videos:
http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/e ... ng_videos/
another sound bug fix:
http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=91666


DCS Training guides
DCS simulators are shipped with extensive manuals that can be a little overwhelming at first (a-10c is 700 pages) so written guides can be a good starting point and we'll add them here as we find some good ones.

KA-50
Essentials guide (courtesy SimHQ)
http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2626185/

Ka-50 Auto pilot guide by IvanK; the manual lacks some detail and this guide helps clarify how the Auto control flight system works:
http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=36246


A-10c
Step by step guide for GBU 12 and GBU 38 (courtesy SimHQ)
http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/t ... ost3171145


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Credits
concept: Dark Mellie
FAQ's: brimlad

Guides:
KA-50 Essentials: Dark Mellie
GBU: URAUC
KA-50 autopilot: brimlad

[v4moose]

Feel free to start that as a fresh topic (if you're sure it's correct) so I can sticky it. Could possibly make a resource thread with TS information, Australian Squad information and other useful links.

But for the moment, I'd love an answer for the topic! Both BS2 and A10 were 1.1.1.1. for me so I've just uninstalled both (I have the instal files still) and am currentlygrabbing DCS World. Had no idea it was such a big file with such a poor DL speed!

The torrents for world maxed out my connection mellie, could try them.

Installation is straight forward, world first, then modules. If u have previous versions of non steam modules theirs a patch to go from 1.1 to 1.2... Otherwise it's a full module download.

If u have warthog on Steam, delete it, download the 700mb module from Ed and use the steam key to activate.

If u have black shark on Steam, u need to purchase the upgrade from Ed for it to work in world. Then download the upgrade module. Not sure yet if u can them delete the steam version but im fairly sure u can.

I'll expand with links later. Ta

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

[brimlad]

good idea Mellie.

The install is as v4moose has said. DCS World is the base install and the first, you then add each module and activate them by logging into multiplayer where it asks for your key.

If you have previuos versions of a-10c, BS2 or p-51d then you need to uninstall them but do not deactivate them as the activation will carry through when you install the module into DCS World.

Installing the module is straight forward as the installer will find DCS World and do all the work for you.

Spaldo set up our ts channel yesterday details:

tms-1.games.on.net: 9987 channel: GON Flight Lounge password: smis
just add the channel to your bookmark for direct access.

I'll add some more details later but if anybody has questions they want answered about DCS please post.

cheers

[Disco LT]

I just asked this question in another thread, and then immediately saw this >.>

So DCS World is the base install, that I assume is free, to which you attach your P051, or A-10 etc? I always thought A-10 was the base game, and then the others were expansions but I gather I was wrong

[brimlad]

So DCS World is the base install, that I assume is free, to which you attach your P051, or A-10 etc? I always thought A-10 was the base game, and then the others were expansions but I gather I was wrong

Yes, DCS world has become the new base install an it's free and comes with a free single player plane the Su25T ported from FC2.
All the planes and Combined Arms are now modules that load into DCS World.
unfortunately the new version of DCS World hasn't yet made it to the gon file library, hopefully soon, but you can d/l it from DCS:
http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/i ... ct&lang=en

a hot fix has been released to fix the sound bug on some of the in game training videos:
http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/e ... ng_videos/
another sound bug fix:
http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=91666
and a train fix:
http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=91718

cheers

[InAUGral]

I have DCS World setup with DCS:A10C atm and I noticed today that Black Shark is $5 on steam. If I buy the steam version of Black shark for $5 can I use that to download the DCS World module? I know it says above that you need to "upgrade" but what does this mean exactly?

[brimlad]

I have DCS World setup with DCS:A10C atm and I noticed today that Black Shark is $5 on steam. If I buy the steam version of Black shark for $5 can I use that to download the DCS World module? I know it says above that you need to "upgrade" but what does this mean exactly?

BS2 is an improved version of the original and is compatible with a-10c and the other new modules from DCS; and no the black shark on steam is the original and doesn't work with DCS world. You would need to buy the black shark 2 upgrade from DCS for it to work in World. That would save you $15 though from the full price for BS2 which is $40 as the BS2 upgrade is only $20; that's how v4moose bought BS2.
http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/i ... op&lang=en

cheers

[InAUGral]

Oh yes now I understand now how it works.

[DarkMellie]

So for black shark (for which i bought the upgrade), should i install that from scratch, then the upgrade then the patch or just grab the module? I had errors last night with installing A10 and BS2 as it just kept asking me for my bs2 key and saying it was invalid.

[v4moose]

as far as i can tell mellie, to activate BS2 upgrade you need the bs1 install on ur steam.

you need the update package - it works with the steam version of bs1. if you download the full package your key won't work. this is the exact little 'glitch' i ran into, cause it sounds illogical, but the upgrade version seems to be the full data package, but just checks your steam install and accepts the upgrade key

hope that made sense :/

[InAUGral]

as far as i can tell mellie, to activate BS2 upgrade you need the bs1 install on ur steam.

you need the update package - it works with the steam version of bs1. if you download the full package your key won't work. this is the exact little 'glitch' i ran into, cause it sounds illogical, but the upgrade version seems to be the full data package, but just checks your steam install and accepts the upgrade key

hope that made sense :/

I can confirm this as it says I need to have an installed and activated BS1 to install BS2 upgrade to DCS World.

[DarkMellie]

Okay, so I have the ED version of BS1 (I was into helicopter sims before those steam giiz) so I should install that and then patch to 1.1.1.1 then use the BS2 upgrade module for DCS world?

Their storefront needs to be a lot clearer.

Any ideas how I would uninstall the BS2 upgrade I installed last night?

[brimlad]

Okay, so I have the ED version of BS1 (I was into helicopter sims before those steam giiz) so I should install that and then patch to 1.1.1.1 then use the BS2 upgrade module for DCS world?

yes that's how I installed the upgrade; and keep bs1 installed as each new version of bs2 you'll have the same issue.

Any ideas how I would uninstall the BS2 upgrade I installed last night?

you possibly don't need to just install bs1 before you activate bs2 upgrade.

cheers

[InAUGral]

Okay, so I have the ED version of BS1 (I was into helicopter sims before those steam giiz) so I should install that and then patch to 1.1.1.1 then use the BS2 upgrade module for DCS world?

yes that's how I installed the upgrade; and keep bs1 installed as each new version of bs2 you'll have the same issue.

Any ideas how I would uninstall the BS2 upgrade I installed last night?

you possibly don't need to just install bs1 before you activate bs2 upgrade.

cheers

That is a very unusual system and quite annoying. I spose it would be easier with a retail copy of BS?

[brimlad]

no it's the same deal with the retail physical copy, I have one. The reason is that they wanted to offer a cheaper upgrade version of BS2 to those that purchased the original but the drm they use needs to verify BS1 and can only do so if it's installed; the answer probably makes more sense in Russian.

cheers