VRS Lovingly created killing machine

[Airspeed]

Hi all...
Now, I know that I don't believe in jets any more than I do the Easter Bunny (leave Santa out of this)
I've had the pleasure of a couple of visits by an Air Cadet from Nowra N.S.W. He's the grandson of a local friend, and plans to sign up with the RAAF next year.
He wasn't that excited about my FSX hangar contents, so between visits, I downloaded an F35, F111, and a couple of other glass cockpit beasts.
He was ecstatic - Aaaargh! they've got this and this and this as the young sh1t danced through mazes of green grids, icons & numbers like he was really at home. HA HA, he couldn't land, though, could he? How smart was that?
But I digress, dear reader.
Reading the extensive manuals for these, we discovered an outfit called VRS, and their "Tacpack" weapons add-on. Tonight, I've taken a look at their site, and, no, it's not free.
The extensive blurb says amongst other stuff, that these weapons are not just scenic; they will damage or destroy your target. Turning FSX into a combat sim. In multiplayer, you are vulnerable to the weapons, but I think you can blast away offline.
You can't get Tacpack (US $35), unless you've already bought their FA18 "Superbug" (US$45). So what's Santa bringing you?
This is a copy/paste of their catalogue, which they can't spell, so goodness knows what else is wrong. To make matters worse, it looks like the troglodites still loving FS2004 can also use it.
As if!


Product Catalog
VRS FA18E FS9
VRS F/A-18E "Superbug" for Microsoft Flight Simulator 9 (FS2004).

The VRS Superbug for Flight Simulator 2004 is available as an immediate digital download! You must have an active internet connection in order to activate and download the software.
VRS FA18E FSX
The multiple award-winning "Superbug" for Microsoft Flight Simulator X.

The Superbug for FSX is available as an immediate digital download!
VRS TACPACK FSX
VRS TacPack for Microsoft Flight Simulator X is a high-fidelity single/multi-player combat modification.

NOTE: The TacPack requires a pre-existing copy of the Superbug. Please ensure you log into the store with your Superbug license ID!
For those who want to see the whole boring blurb, here's the boring link:
http://www.vrsimulations.com/tacpack.htm

dere snaxxxx santa,
I hop yuo are feling wel........

[rohan]

G'day Mike,
I've seen it said that an updated version of TacPack is due soon (whenever that is) and that it will no longer require you to purchase a copy of the F/A-18 as well. However, I've yet to see any official confirmation of the latter ...

FYI, Dino Cattaneo has added TacPack compatibility to each of the three models he supplies, though this is largely limited to weapons load and launch facilities I believe. If you've not seen them, all three are excellent and fly very realistically (to this novice pilot) - they are the BAe-Boeing Goshawk, Grumman F-14D and Lockheed-Martin F-35. Dino's website is at -
http://indiafoxtecho.blogspot.com/

Personally, I've no interest in TacPack unless it's available without the Hornet, and then only for use with Dino's models,
regs,
Ro

[Chris Trott]

VRS has stated that TacPac will eventually be available as an SDK for other developers to use under license, so selling it as a stand-alone is just a matter of time. They spent a lot of time getting it right, and the guys I know who have it say it works great. Now the question is going to be how well it works when you go off the SuperBug platform.

[DaveG]

The sdk has been available for a while. I've added weapons to my Mosquito and Beaufighter, although they are just simple unguided bomb, rockets etc.

[Airspeed]

Hi DaveG
In the format which you have used, do the weapons damage anything that they hit?
I installed the old "Weapons for FSX" some months back, and though projectiles can be seen flashing against objects, that's all they do.
They were just about giving it away, and TBH I only used it a handful of times.

[DaveG]

Hi Mike,

The weapons will destroy sim-objects such as AI aircraft, ships & ground vehicles, but not stock buildings.

[Airspeed]

Thanks, Dave.
Rather a step up from your original droppable non-destructive bombs, then.


Hi, Rohan
Two of the fighters that I d/l for Jonah were, in fact, Dino Cattaneo's Grumman F-14D and Lockheed-Martin F-35. The other was the F111, with terrain-following autopilot. I used FlightSim for all 3. Went back tonight and grabbed a Vought Crusader, as the shape appealed when I made a plastic kit 50+ years back; haven't installed it yet, as I took the Tomcat up from Avalon, was dismayed at the rotten rendition of YMAV in ORBX, then found why---they've done a payware release. When the pension hits my account, I'm buying it for about $17 (about 1/2 price).
I looked at a freeware Avalon, in Air Show mode, but the blurb says not to expect much as he did it all from memory.
What have you been flying, mate?

[DaveG]

Of course the downside is that you must have the Takpac installed to use them, and there are a limited number of weapons, most of which are modern US stuff.

[Airspeed]

Sorry for being thick, but have you done all that by just using the SDK, or did you have to buy everything then get the SDK as a registered purchaser? I saw it in the list the other day, but didn't note details. I guess it didn't mean much to me at the time.

[rohan]

Hi, Rohan
... What have you been flying, mate? ...

Hei Mike,
'fraid I haven't done any flying recently as RL has seriously interfered with one "disaster" after another - all I've managed to do is keep up with the sales and maybe the new releases. P3D v2 was on the cards until I saw the long list of "problems", so now I'll be waiting for v2.1. Bought all the Orbx regions except the 4 UK ones and have most of the airports I want, though may buy a few more before the sale ends - was waiting for my pension day next year to take advantage of the discount, but with a "there won't be another one" sale suddenly appearing I couldn't resist the better discount ...

Hope things are well at your end,
MVH,
Ro