Dogs Of War Vu

Sim/Strategy/War => Steel Beasts Pro => Topic started by: Frankie on May 03, 2015, 01:51:40 AM

Title: Specialised hardware
Post by: Frankie on May 03, 2015, 01:51:40 AM: (https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B08T_yjCQAEsNoq.jpg)

Whoa!!! check out that classroom. How and where do I enrol? How much would it cost me to rig my PC with that kinda hardware?
Title: Re: Specialised hardware
Post by: Lumituisku on May 03, 2015, 10:25:40 AM: Could be Finnish army classroom for simulation as well. o.o Much a like at least.
Title: Re: Specialised hardware
Post by: Beef on May 03, 2015, 06:09:06 PM: Here is the link for AFV Sim company that sells replicas:

http://www.afvsim.com/
Title: Re: Specialised hardware
Post by: Asid on May 03, 2015, 08:02:33 PM: Quote from: Beef on May 03, 2015, 06:09:06 PM
Here is the link for AFV Sim company that sells replicas:

http://www.afvsim.com/

You seen the price???? eeek!
Title: Re: Specialised hardware
Post by: Lumituisku on May 03, 2015, 09:03:29 PM: no I havent.
Title: Re: Specialised hardware
Post by: Beef on May 04, 2015, 02:46:16 AM: I haven't seen the price, and can only assume it is WAY out of my range.
Title: Re: Specialised hardware
Post by: Frankie on May 04, 2015, 05:34:12 PM: Hi Y'all

I did 2 things. First I sent an enquiry E-mail to AFVsim to ask about their M1A2 controller. As well as the price. This post Subsim post (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=97622) suggests that a controller's 2006 price was USD1,200. So having spent USD125, hey, what's another USD1,500 for a piece of specialised hardware *shrug*. Hahaha. Yeah right, like I'm gonna splash that amount of money for a controller that controls only one type of tank at a time. I think I'll stick to my mouse, for now. Anyway I thought it would be interesting to see if I get any response.

Secondly, as I web-searched for AFVSim, I came across the ITEC 2015 website (http://www.itec.co.uk). ITEC stands for The International Forum For The Military Training, Education And Simulation Sectors. AFV and eSimGames are among the many exhibitors. Wish there were a booth for SBPeoPE enthusiasts, though.

Here's the ITEC 2015 official video on Youtube:
https://youtu.be/c3uAZKdb5w8

Some screenshots I came across in the vid:

(http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah81/boonsengkam/exhibition/itec2015-1_zpstamh62j8.png)
Which simulator is this? ITEC 2015

(http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah81/boonsengkam/exhibition/itec2015-2_zpskmro5edu.png)
Virtual reality FPS - ITEC 2015

(http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah81/boonsengkam/exhibition/itec2015-4_zpsurv0naw1.png)
eSimGames booth (too bad you can't make out any faces) - ITEC 2015

(http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah81/boonsengkam/exhibition/itec2015-5_zpsitgtz2fr.png)
Flight Simulator booth - sans Tom Cruise

Maybe there will be an ITEC at Langkawi, Malaysia sometime in the future.

Cheers, Frankie Kam
Sunny and humid Malaysia.

P.S., here's eSimGames at ITEC 2014 Copenhagen. At least more faces are visible here:
(http://www.esimgames.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/ITEC2014_Stand_R_max2a.jpg)
Title: Re: Specialised hardware
Post by: Lumituisku on May 05, 2015, 04:13:11 AM: That is one fantastic post Frankie! Thank you!
Title: Re: Specialised hardware
Post by: Asid on May 05, 2015, 05:26:33 PM: Hi Frankie

Thanks for posting all the information. The next ITEC is when eSims hopes to release/reveal/show the new version of Steel Beasts which is the 17 - 19 May 2016.

Regards
Title: Re: Specialised hardware
Post by: Lumituisku on May 05, 2015, 06:23:48 PM: btw... is that cv9030 weapon controll panel that I see hidden into another picture at the center in the picture most down... LOL... xD
Title: Re: Specialised hardware
Post by: Frankie on May 06, 2015, 12:40:42 AM: Boy, Lumi. You are really sharp. I never noticed that until I zoomed in with my iPad. Yes, it is the CV9030 control panel in the centre of the last picture. And the blonde guy with the pony-tail is wearing a shirt with the eSimGames logo on it. It's amazing what details you can see when you zoom in.
Title: Re: Specialised hardware
Post by: Durham on May 06, 2015, 07:41:25 AM: Here was the terminal on my thoughts re buying a custom tank controller (I bought at Thrustmaster Warthog for ~$500, which looked like a bargain! I did not ask for an "official quote" btw):-

From: Michelle Brown [mailto:MBrown@raydon.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2014 10:35 AM
To: Durham
Subject: Steelbeasts

Mr Durham,

My name is Michelle Brown and I am a Proposal Manager for Raydon Corporation. I received your inquire regarding our M1A2 handles. We get a lot of requests from Steelbeasts players asking for pricing of our handles, and I always like to give an upfront estimate of the cost as it’s usually more than most people are expecting. These handles run between $4,000 and $5,000 each. They are specifically designed for our military simulators.

If you are still interested, I will be happy to put together an official quote for you.

Please let me know if you are still interested.

Thank you,
Michelle Brown

Michelle Brown
Proposal Manager
1420 Hockney Court
Port Orange, FL 32128
(386) 267-2936 Ext. 314
(386) 566-4014 (Cell)
Title: Re: Specialised hardware
Post by: Lumituisku on May 06, 2015, 09:12:47 AM: ???

:'(
Title: Re: Specialised hardware
Post by: Frankie on May 06, 2015, 02:41:16 PM: That happiness will cost me a fortune.

Okay....here's how I would approach it. Think of all the games and upgrades you will be buying over the next 10 years. Got that? Okay, now cross out all except for two of those games. One game should be SteelBeasts Pro PE upgrade for the next 10 years. The other game, perhaps some Graviteam Tactics game. Whatever. The good news is that after 10 years you would have saved up enough dough to buy a USD4,000 tank controller. There you go. It's a no-brainer.
Title: Re: Specialised hardware
Post by: Asid on May 06, 2015, 03:01:17 PM: Quote from: Durham on May 06, 2015, 07:41:25 AM
These handles run between $4,000 and $5,000 each.

:'(
Title: Re: Specialised hardware
Post by: Lumituisku on May 06, 2015, 06:39:40 PM: That joystic alone is more expensive than any of cars I have had. :o
Title: Re: Specialised hardware
Post by: Frankie on May 07, 2015, 03:23:16 AM: An update. AFVSim replied to my online enquiry. The reply was "M1A2 Gunners control handles are £1,700 GBP each including shipping to Malaysia. You will have to complete an End User Undertaking to comply with export control". That is a cool USD2,589.99 which is no small sum for a controller which is intended to be used for a SB hobbyist's leisure time. And I don't know what an "End User Undertaking" is. Gee, with prices like these, it makes SBProPE's USD125 list price look like pop-corn. It is also nice to know that my mouse does the equivalent of a USD2.5K controller. Wow. :-)

(http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah81/boonsengkam/exhibition/controller_zpsnau5mqmo.png)

I have a suggestion. A crafty and almost insidious suggestion. Please, let us promote SB Pro PE among gamers in mainland China, Taiwan and the Asia Pacific region. Who knows? One of the gamers there might be a son of a CEO of an engineering company that specialises in customised simulation equipment. In the long run, a little global competition from the Far East wouldn't hurt, would it?
Title: Re: Specialised hardware
Post by: Lumituisku on May 07, 2015, 09:50:28 AM: LOL... interesting idea. Even scary one.

I do not even know why here are practically no players from outside nato. And even less from china or Korea... I wonder why that is?
Title: Re: Specialised hardware
Post by: Frankie on May 07, 2015, 03:28:38 PM: People's Republic Of China
From Wikipedia (http://)

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Type_99_MBT_front_left.jpg/220px-Type_99_MBT_front_left.jpg)

The Type 99, also known as ZTZ-99 and WZ-123, developed from the Type 98G (in turn, a development of the Type 98), is a third generation main battle tank (MBT) fielded by the Chinese People's Liberation Army. It is made to compete with other modern tanks. Although not expected to be acquired in large numbers due to its high cost compared to the more economical Type 96, it is currently the most advanced MBT fielded by China. The website ArmyTechnology.com considers the ZTZ99 MBT to be one of the 12 best tanks in the world, and is a successor to the Type 98 G tank manufactured for the People's Liberation Army.

Modern South Korean Tanks
From Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanks_of_South_Korea#Modern_South_Korean_armor:_present):

South Korea uses this tank:

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8d/K2_black_panther3.jpg/300px-K2_black_panther3.jpg)

Today the South Korean army has 2,500 tanks in operation, including the K1A1 and K2 Black Panther, which form the backbone of the South Korean army's mechanized armor and infantry forces. A sizable arsenal of many artillery systems, including 1,700 self-propelled K55 and K9 Thunder howitzers and 680 helicopters and UAVs of numerous types, are assembled to provide additional fire, reconnaissance, and logistics support. South Korea's smaller but more advanced artillery force and wide range of airborne reconnaissance platforms are pivotal in the counter-battery suppression of North Korea's over-sized artillery force, which operates more than 13,000 artillery systems deployed in various state of fortification and mobility.

The future replacement for the K1 MBT has been baptized the K2 Black Panther (Korean: 흑표), which will be fitted with a 1,500 hp (1,100 kW) water-cooled Diesel engine, 120 mm/L55 main gun, and coaxial machine guns. The new tank will also feature radar equipment as well as all-bearing laser detection system and reactive armor comparable to the American M1A2 and French Leclerc.

Modern Japan Main Battle Tank (MBT)
Source: Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_90_Ky%C5%AB-maru)

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Japanese_Type_90_Tank_-_1.jpg/300px-Japanese_Type_90_Tank_-_1.jpg)

The Type 90 tank - see image above - (90式戦車 Kyū-maru-shiki-sensha?) is the main battle tank (MBT) of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) as of 2014. It was designed and built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as a replacement for all deployed Type 61 and Type 74 tanks, and entered service in 1990. It is to be superseded by the Type 10 tank. See image below.

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/76/Type10MBT.jpg/300px-Type10MBT.jpg)

The Type 10 (10式戦車 Hitomaru-shiki sensha?) is a 4th generation main battle tank that the Japan Ground Self Defense Force has been equipped with, and boasts significant enhancements in its capability to respond to anti-tank warfare, mobile strikes, special operations force attacks, and other contingencies

Taiwan - Republic of China (Taiwan)
From Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_China_Army#Armoured_vehicles) and ArmyTechnology.com (http://www.army-technology.com/news/newstaiwan-considering-used-abrams-mbt-purchase-us):

Taiwan's MBT:

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/da/M60A3_Taiwan_03.jpg/220px-M60A3_Taiwan_03.jpg)

From the 1990s onwards, the Republic of China Army launched several upgrade programmes to replace out-dated equipment with cutting edge state of the art advanced weapons, also increasing its emphasis on forces that could be rapidly deployed and were suited for combat in Taiwan's heavily urbanized environment. Orders were placed with the United States for M60A3 Patton tanks, M109A6 "Paladin" howitzers and AH-1W SuperCobra attack helicopters, as well as updating existing equipment.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) is planning to procure second-hand M1 Abrams main battle tanks (MBTs) from the US to upgrade the country's ageing armoured tank fleet.

From armyrecognition.com (http://www.armyrecognition.com/january_2014_global_defense_security_news_industry/taiwan_looks_always_to_acquire_200_used_m1a2_abrams_main_battle_tanks_from_united_states_0501143.html), "There is no formal Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) request published yet, but Taiwan looks always to acquire 200 used M1A2 main battle tanks from United States".

Finally, from strategypage.com (https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htcbtsp/20110419.aspx) comes an excellent 2011 article on SB which states: "So far, ten countries (Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Chile, Canada, Australia, Spain and the U.S.) have bought Steel Beast Professional (at $125 a copy) for training their armor vehicle crews. The troops find the vehicle controls, and tactical situations to be realistic, and compelling. The game really gets the pucker factor going, and even before the pro version came along, troops were buying the commercial version and playing it for the professional, and entertainment, value."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Frankie Kam: So my conclusion is this: with the exception of Taiwan's MA0A3 MBT, none of the other above tanks are modeled in SB. So that explains why most players are from the US and NATO countries. But it doesn't explain why the odd one, two or three players from South East Asia are playing this game. ;-)

Cheers,
Frankie Kam
Malaysia (that's just north of Singapore)
Title: Re: Specialised hardware
Post by: Frankie on May 07, 2015, 04:23:13 PM: Feast your eyes.

From Copybook.com's entry on AFV Sim (http://www.copybook.com/military/afv-sim-ltd):
(http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah81/boonsengkam/tanksim_zpskgjsym5x.png)
What exactly is that control board thingy on the left?

From Copybook.com's entry on eSimGames (http://www.copybook.com/military/virtual-simulations/articles/afv-gunnery-and-crew-procedure-training-simulation):
(http://www.copybook.com/media/military/profiles/virtual-simulations/migrated/images/simulation-control-unit.jpg)
A closer look at that vertical control thingy - AFV Gunnery and Crew Procedure Training

(http://www.copybook.com/media/military/profiles/virtual-simulations/migrated/images/gunnary-training-simulation.jpg)
Gunnery Training Simulation

(http://www.copybook.com/media/military/profiles/virtual-simulations/migrated/images/virtual-simulation-exhibition.jpg)
Virtual Simulation Exhibition

(http://www.copybook.com/media/military/profiles/virtual-simulations/migrated/images/crew-gunnary-training.jpg)
Look it's a Dell PC and a CRT! How old is this photo? Check out his headgear.

From Copybook.com's entry on MSE Weibull (http://www.copybook.com/military/intelligent-modular-training-and-simulation-hardware):
(http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah81/boonsengkam/tanksim2_zpsmxmmoz2a.png)
MSE produces world-leading all-electric loading trainers easy adaptable to any tank or artillery brand.

Money, money, money, must be funny, in a rich man's world.

Cheers
Frankie Kam
Title: Re: Specialised hardware
Post by: Lumituisku on May 07, 2015, 08:55:55 PM: It still doesn't explain why not to play, even when it is western armor. As far as I know. Peoples from all kind of countries like armor of other countries. Some are patriotic yes, but many are not. Other thing that I find is language problem. But even when so. I do not understand why there is not more players from other countries. It could be since of prize tag... I assume.

Also.. from your second post that control panel that you wonder about, it is from Finnish classroom and I clearly read some text from there. One area for thermal imager, one for weapon, one for laser.. and so on. I assume this is from for - leopard 2 training.

First pic is apparently from sweden... jugging from swedens flag on students suit. Third with cabin is most probably from Germany as I saw document about them using that

others im not sure off.. and not even interested where are those from.

Bottom one is interesting. Heh. I guess there is not enough of that kind of training either. Its easier for Russian tankers thought. On west there is always one who has to be lifting things time from time and be fast at that. Having strong arm to push sabos to barrel.
Title: Re: Specialised hardware
Post by: Frankie on May 20, 2015, 02:14:39 AM: Two more pics I stumbled across.

Nice hardware...
(http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah81/boonsengkam/93b_zpsmffxg71e.jpg)

and how many quarters do I need to play this console?
(http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah81/boonsengkam/93a_zpsw3dxbkn6.jpg)
Title: Re: Specialised hardware
Post by: Asid on May 20, 2015, 09:27:24 PM: OK time to start building... :D
Title: Re: Specialised hardware
Post by: Frankie on June 16, 2015, 01:30:53 AM: (http://i1378.photobucket.com/albums/ah81/boonsengkam/Saitek_zpsuzsi5ihw.png)
Link: http://store.madcatz.com/brands/saitek/?search=Saitek+Farming+Simulator+Vehicle+Side+Panel+for+PC+and+Mac (http://store.madcatz.com/brands/saitek/?search=Saitek+Farming+Simulator+Vehicle+Side+Panel+for+PC+and+Mac)
At least these don't cost thousands of moolah. Still, what can't you accomplish in SteeBeast with the humble mouse and keyboard?