Lowered Graphics Expectations

[Halo]

As a persistent advocate for external views in all arenas, I have to say I have reduced graphics expectations for AH II after playing Fighter Ace a couple weeks with its abundant eye candy.

It's great fun walking around the fighter, watching the cockpit close as the engine cranks up, using the mouse to swirl around for whatever external aircraft view you want, watching the dust swirl behind the prop and wheels, and enjoy the attractive scenery heading toward combat -- sometimes taking off in a fog-shrouded valley and flying through rain toward the target.

BUT ... what a frame rate penalty.  Tonight, in the most difficult 9 level theater, in attacking an isolated target all by myself, in clear weather, nobody else around, my P-39 would get slower and slower as I dove on the target, and actually FREEZE just before pulling up.

Couldn't believe it.  Like some of the worst of the early on-line games.  

I fly a nice computer too -- P4 2.26 gHz, no graphics slouch at all.  And no problems in Aces High.  

So, however Aces High II evolves, whenever a choice must be made, I vote for faster frame rates over purtier pitchurs.

[NHawk]

I don't think the problem is the better graphics in AH2 which while the object graphics have improved greatly, terrain improvements have yet to really be seen and is a totally different topic, I think it's the number of bitmaps being loaded that is slowing it down.

Even AH1 is capable of photo-realistic terrains without a frame rate hit, I've done it many times on my own experimental terrains. But for some reason nobody, including myself ever submits an MA map with photorealistic graphics.

But, not including the plane skins or objects(hangars etc.) AH1 loads I think it's either 20 or 21 bitmaps for a terrain. I would bet that's up to 50 or so in AH2. The trees alone are taking 2 or 3 bitmaps a piece, plus bushes and the ground tiles.

All in all, if we are going to take a 50% or greater hit in frame rate personally I think a move to OpenGL would have been a better choice than DirectX.

[MC_Honky]

Halo,

I've heard nothing but bad things about Figther Ace.  Is it any good?

[Arlo]

Originally posted by MC_Honky
Halo,

I've heard nothing but bad things about Figther Ace.  Is it any good?

Try it, you'll like it.

[_Schadenfreude_]

Originally posted by MC_Honky
Halo,

I've heard nothing but bad things about Figther Ace.  Is it any good?

The higher level room 9 and 10 are nice, no icons, realistic flight model, no ranges, spins and stall enabled - but only 10 or so peeps in them at any one time.

The number of a/c modelled is good - over a 100, graphics are good but you need a lot of puter.

The most popular level - ie 5 is arcadish in the extreme, guns reach out 2000 feet, no spins, no stalls, transparent cockpit and the planes behave like something out of star wars.

The maps are very small - and are country specific - you fly GB, GE, SU, JP or US.

I know a lot of people who have moved from FA to AH - I never met anyone who moved from AH to FA.....

Also I think their subs base is rapidly losing steam - they've just introduced 2 weeks free trials and increased their cost to 14.95 per month - used to be about 150 to 200 online during prime time.

Try it for the two weeks free trial - let us know what you think.

PS also they are extremely sensitive to criticism - disagree with anything and it's like the end of the world as we know it.....I think they're going to fade away in a year or so...people who are into ww2 flight sims want it to be realistic, not as easy as possible.

[Sikboy]

Originally posted by _Schadenfreude_


PS also they are extremely sensitive to criticism - disagree with anything and it's like the end of the world as we know it.....

Good thing the AH crowd isn't at all like that

-Sik

[Halo]

MC_Honky, I agree with Schadenfreude.  I've enjoyed seeing what Fighter Ace is like and its whole approach to WWII aerial combat.  

I like Fighter Ace most for its great external viewing.  For something different, I even like its strange invisible cockpit view with key gauges at the bottom of the screen.  Arcadish?  Definitely.  But novel, and provides the ultimate visibility in aerial combat; yet, strangely, it seems too much and not nearly as satisfying as the regular cockpit views of Aces High.

I might keep it another month or so just because I like flying around in the external views.  Sort of like a simpler but combat flight version of FS 2004 or X-PLane.   The huge selection of more than 100 aircraft is also fun to explore.  

I would consider keeping Fighter Ace longer except the frame freezes in even the simplest combat situations make the game unplayable, even for a 2.26 gHz Pentium 4.  Something is really wrong with that kind of design.  

No doubt about it, Aces High remains the best WWII flight sim I've ever seen for overall playability and immersion.

[_Schadenfreude_]

Originally posted by Sikboy
Good thing the AH crowd isn't at all like that

-Sik

hehe...the FA boys make the worst of the AH fans seem like like the voices of sensible reason...

[MC_Honky]

Arlo,

I'm really tired of you.  Anybody that critizes AH in anyway gets flamed by you and the rest of the sheep.  Now your bugging me to no end.  Please stop.  


Skuzzy,

When are you going to finally ban this guy?  You've banned so many for less.  Why is Arlo still around.

Flossy,

I don't care about your opinion.

Regards

[Ack-Ack]

Aren't we a little touchy today.  All Arlo suggested was that you try FA and see how you like it.  I didn't see any attacks aimed at you but rather a friendly suggestion.  You really should take that chip off your shoulder or your head out of your ass.



ack-ack

[hitech]

Simmer down gents.

HiTech