Racing Configuration Tips

[TracerX]

Hello Racers, Post your ideas on your AH configuration settings and any other tips that help make attending the races easier.  Someone make sure to post the CM Eye mode setup if I don't get to it first.

Things to consider:
Preferred views
Sound settings
Video Settings
Radio Settings
Joystick Settings
Music selections
Drink selections
Prerace sacrificial ceremonies...

Opps, got a little carried away there, but you get the idea.  Try to keep it on topic and to the point since it will be a constant point of reference for newcommers.

[OOZ662]

All the time, people yell and complain about people who leave their engines on because they can't hear over it. Well, he's a way to fix that.

Go onto your clipboard and click Options>Preferences>Voice
In this menu is a slider called "Effects Volume." Adjusting this will adjust the background noise level while a VOX transmission is taking place.


This is where I keep mine set. It allows you to hear VOX very clearly while still hearing what's going on around you to a moderate degree.

[TracerX]

Very nice post there OOZ.  Thanks for getting the ball rolling.  

Anyone want to tackle CM Eye Mode setup?

[OOZ662]

First, an explanation on how CM Eye mode works. CM Eye is as if you were a spirit of some sort in the game. There are no limits to your movement except you cannot go below ground. You can twist, hover, roll, and fly. You use three settings, "Forward," "Back," and "Map." Forward and Back will move your seeing spot toward and away from the point you're looking at, respectively. Map is an oddball one where you are looking straight down upon the map and can move only along two axis, left/right and up/down in relation to the screen.

The whole thing is controlled by your joystick. Your stick controls your movement as if it were a plane; pitch, yaw, roll. The throttle controls your speed of movement as well.

Open your joystick mapping settings with Options>Controls>Map Controllers.

Click the button on your joystick twice quickly that you want to become Forward. Select "View" and "CM Eye Move Forward." Apply the setting.



This is the simplest form and will give you enough to work with that you can move and get a feel for the system. Repeat the above steps for the other two options, if you wish.

To actually use the CM Eye, hit F5 in the tower. If you end up looking at the tower as if it were a farther out F3 view, the CM Eye has been disabled for the arena you're in. If you get a funky view from the center of the runway, you can now use your joystick and the Forward button to move through space.

[HB555]

OOZ,
That was a  pretty good infomercial on the God's Eye Mode (or CM's Eye) setup.
I would like to cover what you said and a bit more.

You will have to set up CM-Eye for it to work, here's how.
There are a few ways of course but it is easier to set up
a 'Mode 3' and use your joystick buttons and throttle.
1) Go into Options > Controls > Map Controlers
2) Open the Mode Selection menu, select 'Mode 3'
3) Hit the 'Copy Mode 1' button
4) Select Button 0, set to 'View CM Eye Move Forward'
5) Select Button 1, set to 'View CM Eye Move Backward'
6) Select Button 2, set to 'View CM Eye Move Map'(optional)
7) Go to 'Map Keys' and set an available key to select Mode 3.
    I personally set it to the * on the keypad.
   However, there are other keys you can use, but be careful not to reset one that you use for something else. A "that button is in use. Do you want to remap it" message will pop up if the button you wish to use is already in use.

CM Eye should now work.
Hit F5 from the Tower, then your key to enter Mode 3.
The combination of using your joysticks buttons 0, 1 and 2 and using your joystick in the normal push, pull, left and right will move you around in CM Eye. It does take some time getting used to using it..
Your throttle controls how fast you move.

[HB555]

Terrains, Maps, and race information as of 2/24/07

If we post a race on a map (Correctly called "Terrain") that you do not have loaded, a trip to the downloads room is in order. Any htc page that has the Aces High logo with a green header bar that includes a DOWNLOADS button will get you on the right path. Click DOWNLOADS, look for Terrains and click. Then scroll through the main arena and Special Event arena sections until you find a map named close to what we called it in our description. They will not alway be exact. The first one listed is AHBALTIC.EXE, while I might say Baltic, for instance. We can use any map listed (and some that are not, more on this in a minute) so look carefully, and use an educated guess to download the required map. A point of confusion might be the Rhine map, of which there are two. The newer of the two is Winter Rhine, and is the one that has the snow. I will always specify in that case.
Back to the maps that are not listed. Most of the SEA maps are player built, and the htc staff waves their magic wands over them to be useable in game, then makes them available, but is not always quick to update the downloads box. If this is the case on any given track, you might have to wait until Sunday night after the host CM puts it up in the SEA, and get the autodownload. There is not much we can do about this. You migh consider getting all the listed terrains unless you have a storage issue with your computer. To find out which you have, start>my computer>C>program file>HTC>AcesHighII>ahiiterr  They will be RES. file, which will propably not open for you. Make a list of what you have then go back to the main dl page to compare what is available.

The maps of the course and descriptions.
The actual picture and description should always be posted at
http://ahevents.org/      under the AHEARL (Aces High Extreme Air Racing League) button by Sunday night, but remember, the CM's occasionally have a life too, and several travel for a living, so you will just have to be patient sometimes. I personally have the traditional 9 to 5, so am fortunate that I can usually post early to give you time to practice off line.
If you do go off line, set your arena up as listed, paying particular attention to the Fuel Burn Rate. We usually use 2 so this will affect the amount of gas you load. (and now you know why we give you that list of info you were wondering about.)

These forums will also have a heads up about the next race. Some CM's will post the entire picture/desription, other CM's only give you a link or notice to the ahevents site. Because I am a swell guy, (and again, I have time to do so) I will do both, but the guys who are travelling just don't have the time to do it. (They are swell guys too, but the ticking of the clock is a constant reminder that you just can't always do all that you would like.)

[RDRTrash]

I wanted to add a "TIPS" or primer for new folks:

Welcome to the races, we're all glad that you want to fly.

As a seasoned veteran of the AHXAR, I can tell you that usually the first few races, possibly even the first season, can be somewhat frustrating.  At the same time I would tell you that I recommend you stick it out through the frustration because once you start to get the feel of racing, it is quite rewarding even to be placing in a good position.  

First thing I'd recommend to you is to find a Racing Team to race with.  By doing so you will gain the advantages of having some Tutelage and coaching and your teammates will generally divest some of the 'secrets' of racing to you.

Second thing I'd recommend to you is to reread this whole forum's threads, there are a great many secrets already contained (buried) in them that you will benefit greatly by.

Third thing I'd recommend is PRACTICE... I really can't say it enough to the new guys, but if you want to compete, I mean really be a competitor and have a chance to win, you MUST practice.  You must practice just handling the airplane of the week, practice the course of the week, practice WEP, Fuel, and E management, and finally practice what can only be called "the smooth", which you only really start to understand when you've spun a few tracks.

When you are practicing with Teammates or after a race, REWATCH the films from the perspectives of the ones that win or go fast; you will learn so much it's just not funny.

Lastly, but not least, have FUN at it.  This IS a recreational activity.

[OOZ662]

Go to the folder where you installed Aces High II. Open the folder called "films." Inside you should find at least one film. If not, just make a simple tiny film in-game and head back to the folder.

Double click on the file and select "Select the Program from a List." Click "Browse..." and navigate to the folder that Aces High is in. Click "ahfilm.exe" and hit Open. Type in a description for the file if you like, make sure the Always Use box is checked, and hit OK.

Now whenever you double click a film file, it will open in the AH Film Viewer. You don't have to open the film viewer and navigate to the film any more!

[4440]

As season 8 was my "rookie" season. everything that RDRtrash has listed here was of great help. I opened the season with DNF's and netted a win on week 11.

It was truly frustrating to observe guys week after week essentially fly circles around me, but the sheer thrill of racing overcame that.

Tips I have:

1. Watch films of your practice with others. fly in their shoes for a moment.

2. Ask questions of the hosting CM/Course designer via these forums. Make sure you understand the course!!!!  If you have any question on the route your taking, double check, it could cost you a great run.

3. Be open to constructive criticism. Everyone one in here is great and mean you no disrespect:aok

[RDRTrash]

Thanks for contributing 4440

[chase4]

when is the next race scheduled for? i really wanna get involved in this

[OOZ662]

The races are every Tuesday.

http://www.ahevents.org

We're AHXAR.

[RDRTrash]

Chase4,

I'm responding to this thread as well as your post in the 'rules' thread...
You do not need to register to race for the AHXAR events.  The races are on Tuesday evenings at 10pm eastern.  OOZ662 has already kindly supplied a link to the AHEvents website above.  With the exception of the Season Finales (4 times per year), and the Annual Championship "68KO" Cup (1 time per year), every racer is welcome every week.  

Looking forward to seeing you on the tracks.

[Cmustard]

Originally posted by OOZ662
All the time, people yell and complain about people who leave their engines on because they can't hear over it. Well, he's a way to fix that.

Go onto your clipboard and click Options>Preferences>Voice
In this menu is a slider called "Effects Volume." Adjusting this will adjust the background noise level while a VOX transmission is taking place.

<Quoted Image Removed>
This is where I keep mine set. It allows you to hear VOX very clearly while still hearing what's going on around you to a moderate degree.

[4440]

Sometimes if the map and MOTD description of the track don't match, here is what I do..

I hunt down the hosting CM through the BB to get clarification, and in the meantime while waiting for the answer I practice the track both ways. Also, by posting it on the BB, everyone will get the same correct end info.


Try to ask your questions in the thread that announces the race. Check to see if someone already asked the question and has gotten the answer. The CM's regularly check the boards, so don't worry someone will make every attempt to get back to you.

Don't wait till race race time to ask, you may be disappointed in the end.