[ZoomBoy]

Eagle Dynamics has issued a new version/upgrade of their Russian Ka-50 helicopter flight simulation calling it DCS:Black Shark Version 2(BS2). It carries forward all the improvements built into the recent next gen DCS:A-10C with that sim’s features: Expanded map to the east, dynamic weather, HDR(high dynamic range) graphics effect, and AI improvements.

The full version, paid by credit card, costs $39.99 while the upgrade is charged at $19.99 for those who already have the original Black Shark 1.0. The copy protection seems to be the same one that the community is used to: On-line activation with replenishable activations.



read more

[ZoomBoy]

I had some difficulty classifying the "upgrade" at least until I dug into the flight sim more. It's the same Ka-50 aircraft, with that aircraft's limitations: no radar warning system and a single-seater helo that would have a difficult time in front-line elite battle conditions. But rotor-heads (like myself) like flying it.

With respect to the Ka-50 some features specifically are added:

dynamic shadows in cockpit

improved 3D cockpit

improved low level clutter/shrubbery and high res textures

improved radio interactivity.

Coming soon (possibility within the week) will be a compatibility patch to allow the A-10C and Black Shark to fly on-line together.


Installation

I already had Black Shark but patched to 1.02. After down-loading the 4.59GB patch, the BS2 setup looked for the BS version 1.0; it did not recognize the v1.02 on the hard-drive. Some people do report that, for updated BS2 installer programs, BS2 does accept v1.02. Anyway, I backed-up the v1.02 Ka-50 folder, uninstalled v1.02 and then installed, from download, a new clean v1.00. Then BS2 recognized it and started to install. DCS BS2 does not over-write in anyway the original BS installation.
It is placed in C:\Program Files(for 64 bit programs) rather than C:\Program Files (x86) where BS v1.0 is located.

After starting up and getting the controls re-mapped (from scratch), I started to poke around. I chose the High settings (1920x1080) to be used with the following hardware: PC 3GHzIntel, HD6870 Ati Card, TrackIR4, CH Fighter stick and Saitek Quad Throttle on Windows7


The Flying Experience

I took a quick glance at the Quick Start missions. The original BS just had one quick start, but the BS2 has a choice of six missions. Instead, I started my flying with the new campaign, Operation MedvedevII. The labels were on but that can be fixed with a quick [L.Shift + F10].

The start up was the usual quick-launch for me, so I had time to look at the cockpit. Definitely was upgraded so that all the dials and text were very clear. In v1.02 I had to find a mod (Ricardo's Cockpit Mod) to make the dials (mostly the speed dial) clear and useful. And the improved clutter and helipad itself was charming and likable rather than the usual v1.0 so-so FARP.
And then I started flying the Black Shark. I spent some time just rotating in the air and watching the dynamic lighting play across the cockpit. It made the interior very life-like and reduced the usual sterility of the Ka-50. And then I turned to face the sun (with HDR) and I smiled big. I could hardly see anything and when I turned from the sun, my "eyesight" adjusted. I then carried on my scouting/orientation mission as I followed an Mi-8T transport flying at high speed over the low ground.

I did not get to try the takeoffs/landing from moving ships but the flight experience was better than the original. The smoke/explosion effects were impressive and realistic and I liked the water improvements. The sounder was a bit richer and seemed a bit more responsive. In some missions, I trusted my wingmen more. When I sent him in, he spotted air defence threats and acted according. Ported over from the DCS:A-10C was Active Pause allowing you to pause but able to work with the cockpit controls.

Overall, the feeling that you were in a real cockpit was the most immediate value added. It was subjective, but I felt the Ka-50 flew more solidly,was more reliable, and had less of the flakiness.


Graphics

BS2 uses the graphics engine that had been re-done for the DCS:A-10C. When running DCS:A-10C, my original Ati4870 gave me large lags that were cleared up when I upgraded my video card to an AtiHD6870. When flying BS2 there were no lags with the higher end Ati HD6870 including the HDR effects, dynamic lighting, normals, and other features. When I re-installed the older Ati 4870, I got the same features but never got over 15fps and sometimes BS2 would freeze at 1 fps. When I switched to Low settings, it was flyable but so ugly, it was not worth flying.

Also stemming from the DCS:A-10C work, many vehicle models had been improved in comparison to the original. The improved clutter/bushes were adjustable and added a nice touch.


Content

This upgrade has all the campaigns and missions ported over from v1.0. So that’s 4 campaigns and 10 missions plus 6 new Quick Start missions. No changes in the Multiplayer maps, so we'll have to depend on the Squadrons and Dragon's mission packs. I have tested some of my v1.02 missions and have had no problems porting from v1.02 to BS2. Some people do report losing some event triggers. That means that v1.02 missions are available for conversion to BS2 with some work. There are also two new featured items for content:

New Campaign - Operation Medvedev II – Taking place in central Georgia, I have been playing through it. The campaign has a dozen+ missions. They are voiced well and have a reasonable amount of randomness with a chatty and informative atmosphere. A good addition to the current campaigns(including a upgraded/reworked Georgian Oil War)

Fast Mission Creator – Derived from the Fast Mission Planner from the DCS:A10C, it does offer up simple missions over varying terrain. Using the advanced mode I tried 3 or 4 missions. They were good for simple search & destroy missions that were not super challenging but it was nice to let loose with weapons. The DCS BS2 GUI Manual pdf (page 46) has instructions on how to use this feature.


Mission Editor

I've have worked thoroughly with the DCS:A-10C Mission Editor and it has many valuable improvements over the BS1 with new features. The INU fix-points work now. I didn't feel any limitations in the BS2 Mission Editor as I did with BS1 and look forward to working with it. With the ME features, JTAC with American forces is likely possible. Bullseyes are now available which can be referenced to but do not show up in the ABRIS map system.

Mission Briefings (and Debriefings) are available in-flight, so allmy mission briefing work will get used rather than merely clicked through.


Training/Documentation

The documentation is to be found in the Doc folder with 4 pdf files. The original Flight Manual is here; I thought it was one of the best I have used and I always had it open. The BS2 version is expanded with checklists and an expanded Flight School section for maneuvering theKa-50. But what is missing is the Key-Commands file. DCS:A10 did not have this file either, but it’s disappointing nonetheless as it was very useful. On the Options screen is a "Make Text" button that will print out commands. Still not as good but useful.


Also gone are the in-game training missions. When you go to Training screen, there are no missions, but there is a Downloads button. This opens up a web browser to a page of downloadable videos. I can understand using videos; the tracks in previous Eagle Dynamics titles had to be re-worked each time a patch came out. DCS:A-10C had many videos issued as Producers’ Notes. I found them very useful and accessible, but not having flyable training missions is a small disappointment.


Screenshots

BS2 HDR View

BS2 - Town View - high settings



BS2 - Forest view



BS2 - closer view Ochamchira - Low Settings



BS2 - closer city view Ochamchira - high settings



Original BS V1.02 - closer view Ochamchira - high settings


Evaluation/Conclusion

I tend to divide things into two categories:Worthwhile and Not Worthwhile

Worthwhile:

· If you've never bought BlackShark, $40 for a top-ranked flight sim is a very good deal. Solid content, good community support, and atop-tier flight experience, if you've got the gear. A nice alternative to DCS:A-10C, you'll have a chance to dig your teeth into a real study sim with an improved atmosphere.

· If you've already bought BS1, $20 for both an improved flight experience, continued support, and the long-term success/survival for a leader in a niche sector might be a reasonable investment.

Not Worthwhile:

· While BS2 does not need a elite joystick (I've used a simple MS Sidewinder for years with Black Shark), if you do not have the coin for a higher-end graphics card, you might want to wait or pass. Certainly if your hardware is at the limits of the original BS1, it would require an investment that might not be worthwhile.

. Each purchase needs to be evaluated on its own. If you've already bought BS1, one new campaign and some simple generated missions does not make $20 an easy payout. Though I've laid out a case that it's more an upgrade than a patch, the distance between BS1 and BS2 for $20 is not an easy sell and some will not buy it.

I personally find the upgrade worthwhile as an investment and an increase in my flying pleasure as the DCS engine moves forward.

[pktis]

ZoomBoy27:

A very nice initial report. It brings to light a lot of what we were assuming and now we read it in your Review. I really liked the way you closed instead of a single Conclusion, well done. That said, it still does come down to an update or a patch and what you have said solidifies what some of us were already thinking.

My personal feeling is I don't like Companies the rush a product out the door only to due what ED/TFC has done and is doing with their products. I personally would prefer much further beta testing, even though this may result in an increase in the price of the product. At least you get very close to what is advertised as indicated in The Advertisement of the Product. One should not expect less. If you bought a toaster and it only toasted on one side and you had to pay more to have both sides working, I don't think you would be very happy, when the original Advertisement indicated it would toast all your bread to a desired color. Now you have to pay half as much again to get that benefit. Seems like a strange comparison but that is exactly what ED/TFC are doing.

Thanks for the Review and hope to hear more.

[159th_Viper]

An an aside, the new Surround Sound Engine is also a feature introduced.

ZoomBoy, on 08 November 2011 - 12:17 PM, said:

I personally find the upgrade worthwhile as an investment and an increase in my flying pleasure as the DCS engine moves forward.

Aye - quite so. As I see it, life's a give and take in equal measure. It's not all take, take, take with a little give. Taking all into consideration, at $20 it seems to me more of a take than a give and as such eminently justifiable.

[pktis]

159th_Viper, on 10 November 2011 - 02:08 PM, said:

An an aside, the new Surround Sound Engine is also a feature introduced.



Aye - quite so. As I see it, life's a give and take in equal measure. It's not all take, take, take with a little give. Taking all into consideration, at $20 it seems to me more of a take than a give and as such eminently justifiable.

From an ED/TFC point, give/take would probably mean "eminently justifiable". From a consumer point of view it would be open for discussion as per the content of the whole Review and not just a quote of the very last line. Any update or patch would make the flying experience better than the original, at least that is what one would expect. Would it justify more money, well that is what we are considering, for some it would be an obvious yes for others it may be a no and yet for more it would be a question, till we see what the future brings? The consumer may have no choice if they would like to follow the DCS series due to changes made that the original does not nor will not have. If this gets things back to a DCS Modular Series, great!! Worth every bit of the $20.

[Tom_Weiss]

an excellent review - a pity that ED did not take the time to do what you did before releasing the product.

[pktis]

Yes, Tom good point.

I know in todays economy we all like to buy things for less, however if that means buying something today and a month or so later having to pay again, then IMHO, I would rather wait and have the proper beta testing and approval done with as few amount of errors as possible, considering it is software and there is always a few bugs. I would be glad to pay more for the product. If my memory serves me correct we paid higher prices in the earlier days than we pay now. Let's face it $39.95 for such a high quality Sim is rather a gift. I would expect it to be around the $70 plus range if done correctly. That is my humble opinion anyway. That's me, I like things done right or as best in the first place.

[Tom_Weiss]

let just hope that down the line we don't get a DCS A-10C v2 ...

I just flew a bit the Ka-50 - it feels more easy to fly and rather more stable

[innerloop]

Tom_Weiss, on 11 November 2011 - 10:57 AM, said:

let just hope that down the line we don't get a DCS A-10C v2 ...

I just flew a bit the Ka-50 - it feels more easy to fly and rather more stable

I won't be surprised if DCS A-10C v2 comes out after the next module.. but it will be in the next 3 years or so.