DCS A-10C - F-15E model

Cool screens from AI F-15Es on a ground attack mission. I hope Eagle Dynamics creates a playable F-15E that would be very cool. I would love to go Mach 2 to the target, drop off some bombs and then speed away.

(click on screenshots for full-size)

 Shock rings and flames on full afterburner 

AA damage all around and leaking fuel. Missing panels show avionics and components underneath.

DCS A-10C - Damage detail

Some screenshots of a damaged A-10C in a quick mission. I flew too close and low on a strafing pass and was hit by AA fire from T-80s and BMPs. I am surprised at how much punishment the T-72s and T-80s can take in DCS A-10C.

The screenshots below show how much detail ED has put into DCS A-10C. Everything is accurate, down to the last rivet. Look at the engine that is on fire, how all the components are in the right area.

(click on screenshots for full-size) 

Look where the GAU-8 cannon is, the panels are blown away from AA fire. The barrels will spin    when the trigger is pulled and the chutes will show the spent rounds! Amazing!

Enemy tracer rounds coming in close. I had extinguished the fire in the left engine, but after taking more fire it caught on fire again. I love looking at the nose and seeing what is underneath the panels.

DCS P-51D Beta - First Impressions

First Impressions

1. Sounds - Absolutely amazing
• The supercharger whine while turning is wonderful.
• The six .50 caliber machine guns firing in unison.
• Starting up and full RPMs.
2. .50 caliber machine guns are too weak
• It takes many strafing passes to destroy a BMP or AA emplacement. After watching real WWII gun cameras, the six .50 caliber machine guns can easily take on trains, ships, and vehicles. 
3. Graphics - Spectacular
• I love watching the bullet trails and ricochets. It is very realistic, just like the actual gun camera footage from WWII. I would like to see ED implement these graphics in DCS A-10C.
• Improved explosions, fire, and smoke. Explosions from DCS A-10C are really weak, ED did a great job of making them bigger in DCS P-51D.
4. Controls 
• Very sensitive. Requires much more care compared to DCS A-10C.
• Rudders are a bit tricky. Sensitive just like the X-Axis and Y-Axis.  

Overall - I really enjoy the beta. It is worth the $39.99 just to hear the supercharger whine and watch the bullets ricochet off the ground. ED did an amazing job recreating the P-51D and there is great attention to detail just like all their games. For example: flames shooting out the exhaust, AI pilots will turn their heads to where they are heading, and the reflection of the sunlight on the bullet trails.

Also included is DCS World and a flyable SU-25T.

The only thing that bothers me is that it takes place in modern Russia/Georgia and there are no other WWII warbirds. This is only the beta the full product will probably be in a different setting, more planes, etc.

Below are some screenshots that I have taken from the beta

(click on screenshots for full-size) 
    Exhaust Flames

    Spent bullet casings

    Strafing some armored targets

DCS P-51D - Open Beta Photos

(click on screenshots for full-size)

 

Check out the cool ricochets off the surface of the water.

 

 Trails from the bullets

 Very cool paint schemes

Eagle Dynamics has done a great job paying attention to detail. Check out the firings out of the exhaust. What is also neat is the propeller pitch will change as you increase and decrease RPMs.

Most of my landing attempts have been disastrous failures. Trying to gently land and use smooth braking pressure has been a real challenge as you can see below.

Very cool Moonbeam Mcswine skin on the Mustang.

 A bug I have noticed in DCS World. Apache helicopters will pair up for some reason and then shoot Hellfire missiles at the same time, and maneuver wingtip to wingtip.

DCS A-10C - Not everything looks great

Not everything in DCS A-10C is as detailed as the Warthog.

The hangars are downright hideous for a game that was released over a year ago. It looks like something out of the original Doom game. It is embarrassing to look at, especially the inside. Also the grass is really boring and flat, however there is a mod to add more detail to the ground. The super detailed A-10 looks out of place with such bland background textures. Graphic settings are all on high in the below screenshots.

Heavy aircraft such as the B-52, B-1B, C-17, etc. are not very pretty to look at and really bland. For example, take a close look at the windows for the flight deck, the panels on the planes, and tail of the B-52.

Better detail on the Viking, such as the inside of the bomb-bay, the tail hook, and munitions.

This is what really irritates me. The engines, good lord do they look ugly as sin. They do not rotate like the A-10C, they are completely still. Also they look like they were rendered in the past decade, can we get a round engine instead of some blocks? The flight deck windows look just as nasty as the B-52s.

Engines are ugly as sin

The turbojets on the B-52 in DCS A-10C do not rotate, just like the Viking. They are completely still and lifeless. Panels are not as detailed as the Warthog, just some really simple lines that look like they were painted on with MS Paint.

I hope these planes are redone sometime in the future. 

The award for the ugliest model in the DCS world goes to the TU-22M Backfire. Look how pathetic the pilot model is.

Look at the gun.

TU-95 is pretty damn ugly. Look at the engines, they look like cocoons. The guns at the tail are two black lines! 

The engine of the KC-135 is a spinning circle, not individual blades found in the F-15E, A-10C, etc.

Coming across these kind of textures is a disappointment, when you see how greatly detailed the A-10C is. A similar game I can think of is Duke Nukem Forever where you have some items that are really done well, and then mixed with extremely ugly old textures. Is it right to compare these two games? Absolutely not, DCS A-10C is a wonderful game that I love. It is probably the most fun I've had in games for a very long time and it is my favorite simulator. The issue is when you are flying along, completely immersed in the game and you come across these textures and you say to yourself "Damn that is ugly".

These models are taken from the 1.1.1.1 patch. 

Update: Zaino Leather conditioner and cleaner

After six months of testing the first and only Zaino products I have ever bought, I have come to my conclusion. The Zaino Z-9 leather cleaner is really weak and underwhelming. For only a meager 8 oz. of cleaner at $8.95 you are better off going to the store and buying some over the counter leather cleaner. Z-9 did not remove any stains better than Lexol or some store bought Meguiars leather cleaner and they are a lot cheaper. The only pro that I can think of is the smell is not offensive. I feel like they put some dishwasher soap and some water in a bottle and labelled it Z-9. Don't be fooled about the perfect 5.0 rating on their website, of course it is going to get the highest score.


Zaino Z-10 leather conditioner is a little bit better. I like the cinnamon smell and it does an average job of making the leather supple. However, like most leather conditioners it just sits on top of the leather and doesn't really penetrate and make it soft like leatherique or leather masters leather conditioner. The downside of course is that Z-10 gets all over your clothes and you smell like it.

My conclusion, don't waste your money on these overpriced products. They are expensive and come in insultingly small containers compared to the competitors. The name Zaino can only carry a product so far, the results are what matter and Z-10, and Z-9 are average at best. If you want the same performance go to your local auto store and pick up some Lexol, Meguiars, or Mothers.On a final note, I believe Zaino and Duragloss are the same product only relabeled. So if you want Zaino for cheap, buy the Duragloss equivalents.

Properautocare.com closing!

Properautocare.com is finally closing!

I am not surprised at all. In the past I have never received items and have had improper billing statements. In my opinion they were purposely not filling out orders in order to cut costs and try and raise profits. The last and final time I ordered they left out a couple of items. I called them, e-mailed them, and didn't get a reply back until three weeks later. They said they would ship it out and guess what? It never came.

I am glad they are closing because they are a shady company and consumers have gotten smart and shopped elsewhere. It they had done the right thing in the beginning I believe they wouldn't have gone out of business and I would have kept ordering from them.

Why League of Legends is unbalanced

I found this post on this thread and it sums up why Riot purposely has champions unbalanced.

"Gameplay imbalances."

The reason for these, is quite simply to make Riot money. Look at how many people buy brand new champions as soon as it's released. If they describe it as overpowered, and show it as overpowered, chances are, people want to buy them so they can dominate as well.

If there's anyone who hasn't watched the latest Kayle spotlight, go do so. Look at how powerful they make Kayle look late game to the regular eye. It makes it look like she is an awesome champion. Until you realize she's level 18, and the enemies are mostly level 13.
Take any of the champions into perspective. They make them sound awesome to begin with. Ever so amazing in all of the champion spotlights. Most of them turn out to be far from it.

It's all a big marketing ploy. All of it. Everything Riot does, is to get money towards their game. Although, many who don't look close enough won't see it.

I've already put enough money into this game, so I'm afraid to put this game to rest in my computer. Then I remember all of the disadvantages of playing this game, as listed in the original post."
                                                                                                           
and also
      
"In an interview, a riot employee said that that don't keep ever champ balanced because first of all, it makes it is more interesting. And also, because the op champs sell more, making riot money."

This is quite disappointing because Riot is more concerned about making money short-term and looking good on paper for Chinese investors rather than caring about long-term customer loyalty and value. In Spring of 2011 Riot was bought by the Chinese company Tencent, which explains why Riot is always releasing boring champions and skins, but not improving the game at all. Riot is just another greedy company that uses League of Legends to make money. Will Riot change to a video game company that cares about its customers and providing quality game play? I highly doubt it, they are too greedy and care more about Chinese investors more than anything else. I finally got sick of how Riot was running League of Legends that I haven't bought a champion or any skins for a very long time. Riot lost a customer and I hope more people would realize this and quit playing LoL.

Picture of my Meguiar's products

 

 I love Meguiars. Their All Purpose Cleaner is amazing and so is their M105 compound. 

League of Legends

Every patch they release makes the game worse and worse. It does not improve the game at all. There are so many useless champions and items. The only thing Riot does it release new skins and champions because it is a money maker while screwing over people who have played since the beta. Ranked is terrible and the matchmaking solo is a nightmare.