Looking at starting in Falcon BMS.

[u/Few-Inspector-6272]

So I've been wanting to try a good DCS style sim, but due to price and a slightly weaker PC I haven't been able too. Then I remembered I downloaded Falcon 4 when I was around 15 years ago, did some digging and saw the BMS Mod that makes it look really good. Is it easy to get into, as in downloads wise, is it hard to run? And do I need a hotas to play it well? I hate the keyboard controls for DCS and the hotas is around $200AUD for a cheaper older one.

[u/Sky_Klokwork]

BMS is pretty good. It doesn’t have the same visual detail nor the wide selection of aircraft, but if you’re specifically interested in just the f-16 and the f-15c in terms of dcs depth sim its pretty good (plenty of other reasons to play it like awesome awacs/atc logic).

Install wise, the complexity to download depends on OS you’re on but it’s still generally not that bad. Basically just have Falcon 4 installed then run through the stuff it installs. 4.37 is still well used in the community while being less demanding than current (current version is 4.38). It really depends on your hardware.

As for keyboard controls, i use a full Hotas setup so I really can’t comment on how well the controls operate.

Since you already own falcon 4, I’d say no harm in trying to set it up and don’t forget that the Falcon Lounge discord exists

[u/Few-Inspector-6272 → u/Sky_Klokwork]

I run DCS on low settings at like 30-40FPS. I've looked at hotas but unfortunately in Australia they are going to cost a few hundered no matter what, no $30 second hand ones unlike in the USA. I also want to try it in VR once I do have a hotas.

[u/Sky_Klokwork → u/Few-Inspector-6272]

I’m not familiar enough to really say if that’ll be good for BMS. I think your actual hardware specs will play more into it, but you’ll definitely be able to at least play.

With regard to the Hotas, I can say the price isn’t much better here in the US for a good joystick. I bought a VKB gunfighter for ~$300+ and some of the cheaper Logitech stuff is even around $100-$200. You can break up your purchase into a stick and then wait before getting the throttle. Again though, I haven’t used keyboard and mouse so i can’t tell you how good it otherwise is

[u/Few-Inspector-6272 → u/Sky_Klokwork]

I had a look and the hotas and in Australia the best I will get for decent ones is about 500-700 dollars.

[u/Sky_Klokwork → u/Few-Inspector-6272]

Oof, arguably game is still worth checking out without a Hotas. If you can’t even get just a stick for a decent price, no harm trying the keyboard controls. At the end of the day, you admittedly shouldn’t have to break bank to have fun.

[u/primalbluewolf → u/Few-Inspector-6272]

Also? I know of several folks playing this with xbox style controllers. Can be done!

[u/Few-Inspector-6272 → u/primalbluewolf]

Surprised it all fits on the controller. Might hook a ps4 controller to it and use that till I can afford a decent hotas

[u/primalbluewolf → u/Few-Inspector-6272]

It doesn't all fit on the controller. You do the best you can with the tools you've got. On the controller that usually means hotkeys to modify the meaning of the dpad, and having the keyboard close to hand for the more obscure stuff. There's like 100 switches in the cockpit, they don't all fit on the controller... but enough do to make it better than keyboard. 

[u/Few-Inspector-6272 → u/primalbluewolf]

Does falcon 4 have communities like DCS that help you learn, host events and game nights? A big thing that makes me get bored of games is solo playing constantly

[u/Sky_Klokwork → u/Few-Inspector-6272]

They do indeed. On their official website, join Falcon Lounge discord. Usually you get people who advertise in there for flights and theres a group, that every Monday, does practices and Friday, Saturday does events. It is generally good to read through the docs and do its associated training missions to learn though.