Air Combat Sim Podcast - Episode #9 : Razbam Interview

[Karma]

Un paio di novità o presunte tali.
Lo scenario sembra interessante, speriamo non si tratti del solito "BLA BLA BLA"...


https://www.reddit.com/r/hoggit/comments/gqzlge/air_combat_sim_podcast_episode_9_razbam_interview/

The Air Combat Sim Podcast just aired his latest episode. If you can't listen to it because <insert any reason> I made a transcription with the major topics discussed. I also reorganized it a bit, so you will find the relevant topics to you in a easier way.

I am not a native English speaker so I probably misspelled some things. Feel free to throw some rocks at me.

Air Combat Sim Podcast
Episode #9 : Razbam Interview
Date : 05.26.2020Host : Baltic Dragon, Goat, Red Kite
Guest : Ron Zambrano aka Prowler

The Team
The primary source of revenue is made from creating and supporting training tools for armed forces. Digital Combat Simulations is used as the training tool, there's just a different licence management.The team is divided in two departments : the 3D artists and the coders. The coders are managed by Larry Zambrano (Zeus). The team is not set in stone and they are always looking for guns to hire.The team is focused solely on Digital Combat Simulator, there is no plan to work on Fligh Simulator 2020.

The Mirage and the Harrier are considered as a training project for the team. These modules allow them to master the development tools in the DCS environment. The MiG-19 is their first aircraft that was developped without this mind set.

The coding part is the most tedious part as Eagle Dynamics is constantly on the code. What can work today might not work in the future.

Ron emphasize the fact that they will never abandon their modules. They will keep supporting them as DCS is evolving.



AV-8B N/A Harrier
A very similar process as the one that has been done with the Armée de l'Air collaboration and the Mirage is under way. Ron won't comment any further on the specifics because of legal reasons.

The pilot model for the Harrier is still being worked on by Tim.

A short campaign created by Baltic Dragon will be added to the module.



LHA-1 Tarawa
The Tarawa will be updated. At this point there is discussions about how to include Supper Carrier functionnalities to the Tarawa or perhaps another LHA, the USS America. Ron insists on the fact that they depend on Eagle Dynamics to deliver a complete core experience.



MiG-19 and MiG-23
These aicrafts are developped by Carlos. A former pilot who had access to a MiG-19 and a MiG-23.

According to Ron, the only problem with the MiG-19 is the fact that there is no adversary in DCS currently. They are fixing that point by developping a Cold War era AI asset pack.



AV-8B+ HArrier
Ron stands on what the team said years ago. They will deliver an AV-8B+ when Eagle Dynamics will deliver a final version of their ground radar API.



F-15E Strike Eagle
Razbam got the Boeing licence from Eagle Dynamics. The avionics will be easier to code than the ones in the Harrier. They don't know yet which version they will deliver as they could have a newer version that the one they thought they would do. What can be confirmed right now is that they will not develop the newer version.

Razbam will not provide a Jester AI. Ron doesn't like the idea of an AI backseater. Of course, two players will be able to fly in the same aircfraft.

Razbam plan for a F-15E early access this year. More informations will be unveiled by July - take it with a grain of salt, the informations could arrive a bit earlier or a bit later.



A-29 Super Tucano
This aicraft is being developped as a training tool for a South Amerian Air Force. 95% of the actual plane will be available to the players. This is the latest A-29 version. There will be no Mavericks or Laser Guided Rockets. The plane will support multi-seat.

Baltic Dragon will be involved in the mission/campaign creation for the Super Tucano.



FRS.1 Sea Harrier
An AI model will be included with the Falklands map. This will be also a full fleshed module.



HMS Illustrious
A British carrier will be included with the Sea Harrier module. You won't need to buy the Falklands map to have access to this carrier.



The Falklands
The Falklands is a contemporary depiction of the archipelago and will comprise a part of the South American continent. A 1982 version will also be included. The AI assets in development will be specific to the 1982 era (Canberra, Dagger, Mirage, choppers, navies). The assets will be included with the map, however, at the time of the release, not all the assets will be there. They will keep adding new units as they are ready to be released.

Razbam is really looking into details for the Falklands map, especially where major actions took place. The Argentinian coast line will be more challenging but they're ready to tackle it.

Baltic Dragon will do a 1982 Falklands campaign.

The Falkland map could be a thing by the end of 2020.



The Future
Razbam has plans for the following aircrafts : Mirage 3, Super Etendard (already in mesh), EE Lightning, Camberra as an AI first, AI-58 Pucara. The images shared from a Branco are a personnal project and is low priority.

Baltic asked about an A-4 Skyhawk. Ron simply answered the question by saying the A-4 was the first aicraft he created.

Razbam has also plans for 3 helicopters. One heavy helicopter and two medium helicopters. These are transport helos that can be equipped with some weapons, they are not attack helicopters. The heavy helo is US made, the two medium helos are european. Ron won't talk about the now for legal reasons.

 

[Pigon]

F-15E Strike Eagle
Razbam will not provide a Jester AI. Ron doesn't like the idea of an AI backseater. Of course, two players will be able to fly in the same aircraft.

Lo trovo un po' limitante: non dico che sia necessario un Jester, ma almeno qualche funziona base per poter volare in single. Altrimenti non si potranno fare prove o un minimo di addestramento base senza un altro umano! [ehmmm]

 

[Karma]

F-15E Strike Eagle
Razbam will not provide a Jester AI. Ron doesn't like the idea of an AI backseater. Of course, two players will be able to fly in the same aircraft.

Lo trovo un po' limitante: non dico che sia necessario un Jester, ma almeno qualche funziona base per poter volare in single. Altrimenti non si potranno fare prove o un minimo di addestramento base senza un altro umano! [ehmmm]

Credimi, un'AI sviluppata da Razbam sarebbe peggio

 

[Falcon]

F-15E Strike Eagle
Razbam will not provide a Jester AI. Ron doesn't like the idea of an AI backseater. Of course, two players will be able to fly in the same aircraft.

Lo trovo un po' limitante: non dico che sia necessario un Jester, ma almeno qualche funziona base per poter volare in single. Altrimenti non si potranno fare prove o un minimo di addestramento base senza un altro umano! [ehmmm]

Così la gente si abitua a pensare che un modulo multiseat è un modulo multiplayer a tutti gli effetti! Per la miseria siamo nel 2020, le prove in singolo non si fanno, fatevi degli amici, socializzate!

Approvo appieno questa filosofia.

 

[Pigon]

Io parlo di prove del piffero tipo testare un trigger in una missione, o verificare l'impostazione dei tasti. Se poi ad esempio voglio esercitarmi al rifornimento in volo, o al circuito di traffico mi sembra inutile tenere un'altra persona seduta a guardare.

Non pretendo che ci sia un AI in grado di fare missioni, ma non poter pilotare un velivolo solo perché devo per forza essere collegato con qualcuno mi sembra contro producente.
Anche perché una buona fetta di DCS vola in single, e togliergli la possibilità di usare il modulo va contro i loro stessi interessi.

 

[Tournament]

Ma credo che si possa volare ugualmente in singolo!
Non paragoniamolo al 14, è un'aereo diverso.
Gia il radar è gestibile solo dal pilota!

 

[Karma]

Avevo letto da qualche parte che le funzionalità delle due postazioni sono le stesse ma non ho verificato se è effettivamente così...

 

[Tournament]

Avevo letto da qualche parte che le funzionalità delle due postazioni sono le stesse ma non ho verificato se è effettivamente così...

Come ha scritto "VirusAM" sul forum ED, anche su JANES F15 si volava solo con un pilota con la possibilità di "andare" dietro.
Anche io lo usavo e ricordo che effettivamente era cosi.

Rimane il fatto che sono due prodotti diversi, e bisognerebbe sapere che tipo di compromessi (quelli della JANES) hanno trovato per rendere il loro simulatore godibile ad una singola persona....

anzi... ora che ci penso.... io ho il manuale di quel simulatore in PDF  [fisc]
Se il CD funziona lo recupero! 

 

[Falcon]

Il WSO si occupa della parte AG e l'avionica non è accoppiata come nell'F14.
Quindi il WSO può manovrare il TGP mentre il pilota fa A/A.
Una capacità direi utile negli scenari one-man-army che tanto si vedono in DCS.
Altra particolarità: il WSO ha cloche e manetta e può pilotare se quello davanti vuole mangiare un panino.