Author Topic: Initial impression: it stinks (Read 4519 times)

qts · « **on:** December 06, 2003, 08:50:41 AM »

I've played Beta 5 for approx 1 hour and my initial impression is that Beta 5 stinks.

1 GB P4-2400, XP Pro SP1 fully patched, Gf4-4200, DX9, 1024x768@32 bit, Cougar. Behind a Smoothwall firewall.

The clipboard UI has GOT to be improved. In the hangar it almost covers everything when at a usable size. It's very hard to select the fuel.

Very difficult to take off in many aircraft.

Zoom doesn't work but causes screen flashing.
Can't raise or lower flaps in assorted aircraft.
Auto-takeoff doesn't work.

When firing at buildings, I get hit sprites on farmhouses but nothing when attacking buildings on enemy airfields and no damage seems to be taken in either case.

Mouseview won't turn off and is bl**dy annoying when the clipboard is up. Can it be automatically disabled when the clipboard is up?

In the cockpit, parts of the cockpit e.g. the frame, overlay the clipboard.

The map is fuzzy.

I was switching between views and once got a front view with no cockpit. I was unable to repeat this.

Guys, please invest some time in QA. I'm confident you'll do better next time.

NHawk · « **Reply #1 on:** December 06, 2003, 09:29:44 AM »

Remember AH2 is geared toward more realistic flight and they are darned close already.

Auto takeoff works in EVERY plane. You just can't punch the throttle to full throttle and expect to take off any more. Which is the way it always should have been. Be easy on the throttle and you'll get off the ground. The exception might the the spit 9. They are aware of a bug in the model.

Heck, I wish they would model temperature and require the proper running temperature before takeoff to. Few if any planes should be flown before proper warm-up.

The mouse view can be turned off in Setup - Preferences - View Options, Un-check "Start in Mouse Look".

AKWeav · « **Reply #2 on:** December 06, 2003, 10:04:34 AM »

Quote

I've played Beta 5 for approx 1 hour and my initial impression is that Beta 5 stinks.

You DO know what a beta is don't you?

SlapShot · « **Reply #3 on:** December 06, 2003, 11:08:08 AM »

Using the descriptor "stinks" is just wrong. Maybe the phrase "needs more work" would be more appropriate ... after all it is BETA.

It is more than likely that HT has turned off a lot of things that one may expect/want to see.

When debugging and evaluating something specific, it is best to eliminate extraneous variables that could cloud or add complexity to what you are focusing in on ... such as turning off the complete damage model cause you are only focusing on the flight model at the moment.

HT, Pyro, or Skuzzy ... maybe if you guys explained what is turned on or better yet, what is turned off, then people might not get exasperated with their expectations.

qts · « **Reply #4 on:** December 06, 2003, 11:36:22 AM »

I'm well aware that it's beta - I've done software development myself.

NHawk I know of the setting within setup. It doesn't work.

And I'll refer everyone to the final line in my OP.

Kaz · « **Reply #5 on:** December 06, 2003, 12:17:40 PM »

qts the problem is in the wording of your "evaluation", HTC has enough to contend with people saying negative stuff about their product without any constructive criticism.

Remember it's a very small team of programmers working here, IMHO that makes all the negative comments so much harder to take.

Just my 2 cents...

Saurdaukar · « **Reply #6 on:** December 06, 2003, 12:37:58 PM »

Please remove/redo hit sprites. Looks great until the tennis balls show up.

zmeg · « **Reply #7 on:** December 06, 2003, 12:48:32 PM »

Is this another "DOLT" thread?

Gypsy Baron · « **Reply #8 on:** December 06, 2003, 12:57:32 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by NHawk
-SNIP-
Heck, I wish they would model temperature and require the proper running temperature before takeoff to. Few if any planes should be flown before proper warm-up.

-SNIP-

So, you're saying you won't mind being relentlessly vulched
as you sit "warming up"?

The "accurate" ground handling aspects of A/C are the least of
modeling issues I would want any time spent on.

As it stands now, the need to gradually increase power as
speed slowly increases will mean that once the enema manage
to get a few A/C over your field there will be little or no
chance that anyone will be able to get aloft. You'll then be
left with the only alternatives...up from a field farther away
and spend more time flying to a fight...or log. I'd chose the
latter.

=GB=

ergRTC · « **Reply #9 on:** December 06, 2003, 01:01:30 PM »

I dont think you can have a good flight model at > 100 mph and a bad flight model at < 100 mph. If the fm is good, it will be more difficult to land and take off.

mrblack · « **Reply #10 on:** December 06, 2003, 01:31:44 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by zmeg
Is this another "DOLT" thread?

YEP:rolleyes:

straffo · « **Reply #11 on:** December 06, 2003, 02:52:56 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by ergRTC
If the fm is good, it will be more difficult to land and take off.

hmmm ?
How can you link to different things ????

And why should it be difficult to land/take off ???

ergRTC · « **Reply #12 on:** December 06, 2003, 02:58:02 PM »

Well, when you stall out at 80 mph while dog fighting, how well does your plane behave? Do you expect your plane to behave any better when you are doing 80 mph trying to take off?

straffo · « **Reply #13 on:** December 06, 2003, 03:05:34 PM »

Are you pulling G's at take off ?

=> It won't make take off/landing more difficult.

zmeg · « **Reply #14 on:** December 06, 2003, 03:30:03 PM »

I don't understand why you guys are whining about takeoff & landing being too hard, the truth is they're still way too easy, there's no way a fighter or bomber with no hook should be able to land on an aircraft carrier, but it can still be done very easily. Instead of spending your time whining try spending some time learning to fly.