Author Topic: graphics? (Read 5714 times)

CheeseDip · « **Reply #105 on:** August 14, 2007, 09:57:21 AM »

Krusty,

When I flew in AH the night time was fun but I do remember people logging off. I wasn't aware of dusk being a problem but the current fog equates to dusk on my computer. Every 45 minutes, if that is how long it was there, wasn't too bad but forever? I'm very surprised that people don't find that a bit much.

Along those same lines the new orange and blue arenas can only hold a limited number of players? This subject is about graphics and after flying AH with 600 people in one arena I can't believe it's due to graphics issues. What happened there? I recall there was something for everyone all under one "roof". Even the milk runners had some place to go. There were furballs with so many people it looked like a huge ball of gnats from a distance with more than 35 planes in the fight. Very strange. Not graphics, right?

A last change that might be a little off topic but related to changes an old flyer might see on his return. I looked at the early war arena. 5 people? About 8-10 planes available? At least half of those are perked? Why would someone perk planes in an arena where there are only 5 people flying? I suppose there needs to be an arena for 8 people to play in but perk planes? I thought these were supposed to be planes frm a specific era. Graphics is obviously not a issue. Doesn't H2H fit that requirement? Few players, set up any way you want, perk what you want. Has reason gone out the window? Waste of resources? You decide.

After returning I find AH2 isn't quite the same game it was. I have to wonder where it's headed. I hope AH doesn't follow in AW's footsteps and get sold so it disappears from the virtual world in favor of some first person shooter game.

This is not a condemnation of the game. Just a returning players observation of what was and what is. When someone gets too close to something it sometimes gets difficult to step back and take a look at what's going on. It is a great game. Then again so was AW.

Krusty · « **Reply #106 on:** August 14, 2007, 10:02:59 AM »

I'm still not sure what you mean by "fog".... I don't think what you're describing is really fog.

The reason for the 2 arenas is to split the player base into even groups. Each arena could hold 600+ players, but if you have large caps you'll find one full 100% of the time and the other unused by all but a handful of players. By creating the changing limits on these arenas the player base is distributed more evenly across both of them. They only stay around 250-350 each because there's 500+ players on (half in each late war arena). I think it was Sunday night that I saw one of the caps go up to 400+ because so many folks were logged on.

It's for the better, in my opinion. Still has bugs, but a step in the right direction.

Hap · « **Reply #107 on:** August 14, 2007, 10:12:13 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Krusty
By creating the changing limits on these arenas the player base is distributed more evenly across both of them.

They only stay around 250-350 each because there's 500+ players on (half in each late war arena).

I think it was Sunday night that I saw one of the caps go up to 400+ because so many folks were logged on.

It's for the better, in my opinion. Still has bugs, but a step in the right direction.

If you say so.

The Fugitive · « **Reply #108 on:** August 14, 2007, 10:18:59 AM »

CheezeDip, I don't know who you are, seeing you havn't signed your posts, so I'm inclined to think you post are a troll, on the other hand...

The "fog" you speak of,was put in to ease FR in the game. With a distance fog added in machines don't have to draw all those details hidden by the fog. When the fog was first put in, it was a bit much, however after a trial period it was toned down. Enough so that most don't even see it any more... see Krusty's post above.

The early war arenas and the mid war arenas were made to have arenas where people could fly with always having to worry about the "late war" muscle machines thundering in. Early war has those planes that were avalible then, with a couple that were "new" at that time period of the war hence the "perked" rides. The same in the Mid war arena.

The late war arena was split due to the "health of the community" there was too much hording, and not enough fighting, and HTC retention of clients was getting effected. The arena was split, and an automaticlly adjusting cap system applied to try and keep the population in both arenas more even as the climbed and dropped in cap totals.

All of this info is easily avalible by runing a search on these boards. Yes the game has changed from the old days, but some things are better, some maybe not, but where are ya going to find a flight sim thats even half as much fun?? No where !

So, join the fun, or don't, its your choice !

Krusty · « **Reply #109 on:** August 14, 2007, 10:22:31 AM »

I vote he joins the fun!

CheeseDip · « **Reply #110 on:** August 14, 2007, 12:08:04 PM »

The Fugitive,

Since when is an honest observation of a before and after experience a troll? If you feel that way then I apologize to you and everyone.

I had just mentioned sometimes people get too close to something and don't notice the change. When I began flying in AH there was no fog. The frame rate was good. The game upgraded to AH2 and fog with horrible tiles was present. It was so bad people complained and it was fixed. the frame rate was still good. The fog is back. NoBaddy said he's been present since the game started and he also says it's back. I am not putting words in anyones mouths. These are statements of fact.

I can't say I remember your name from those days but I don't remember other ones either but I must have missed something because the arena was full and I don't remember anyone complaining about it. Maybe I should rephrase that. When I flew a while back there seemed to be a small group of people who used the forum to complain about everything about the game. They were always on the forums but flew rarely. Most of the players never read the forums and just played. I came into the forums to get updated information about the game. But as long as I've flown there has always been milk running and furballs. There appears to be no other changes in the arenas. There are still 3 countries that fight each other, if two countries see that one country is losing they both gang up on it. No big deal there. That has always been the nature of the game and there appears to be less people playing now than before so I have no idea what that's about. 200 and 280 players spread out over 2 arenas still doesn't equal the numbers that used to be in 1 arena but appears to separate friends. Odd but true. One other thing I've noticed that's different is the way perks are assigned due to individual country numbers. It almost seems fair. Almost until two countries with less people but equal to 2X as many as the one country with more individual players and they both gang up on one front with better quality planes. The country with a few more individual players fights a losing battle against superior odds in both planes and players. I guess that's fair. After I've had a few gin and tonics. Krusty already mentioned when it got dark people logged off. I guess I can do the same when the odds get one sided and come back when it's more even. I guess that's what people do today.

One thing I do ask is please don't think I am so anal as to go back and read years of forum topics. I am just trying to figure out what's happened to the game after being away for a few years. While the changes seem strange my only real issue is with the present day fog. The rest can be dealt with since the planes seem to fly the same as they did before.

As I've said, everything is an observation of before and after. Facts are pretty much facts. How things have arrived at this point is lacking because I wasn't around to witness the changes. Only that the changes are there. I'm not even particluar about the one sidedness of anything just that the graphics should be fixed so I can actually see the plane I'm fighting. Krusty, I'm sorry I somehow missed your note on fog and limited visibilty. I think there is a difference between fog and haze. Haze allows you to see what appears to be dot out there and fog hides the dot all together. The reason I call it fog is because at 1200-2000 yards I should be able to make out the direction the plane is going and not be surprised that one second he is going away and the next he's pointed at me for a head on. When I maneuver in a fight I am always angling to arrive at the guys 6. Take that away and some of the fun of a dogfight is gone. It doesn't matter what color the plane is if every single one washes out against a grey water background then something is very wrong.

I'm not sure what you meant by not signing my posts. I'll sign them. Sorry. I have to choose a new name since I'm sure my old one is not available. I'll change from a number to name soon.

Sincerely,
CheeseDip

Furious · « **Reply #111 on:** August 14, 2007, 12:08:30 PM »

Cheesedip,

Could you take a screenshot of the "fog" and post it? Because, honest man, I just have not seen any fog.

...and just email skuzzy, he will give you your old nick back in game.

NoBaddy · « **Reply #112 on:** August 14, 2007, 12:10:35 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by CheeseDip
NoBaddy, I've moved the gamma bar all over the place. Other than things get brighter or darker the clarity remains the same. Atari? Hehe. I started flying with a Mac. I can't remember if it had a 100 Mhz CPU but I had to upgrade the CPU in my Mac a few times until I finally got over 20 frames per minute. There were different plug-in, after market, CPU's available for a few hundred bucks. I also paid an hourly rate to fly that wasn't very cheap and the internet gateway was a bulletin board. I think there were only a few providers that you could access flying through.

Well, part of the difference is that now planes become shapes, instead of dots, farther out. Seeing those "shapes" in the haze can be a bit tough. By lowering the gamma, the shapes became darker...hence, easier to see.

Quote

Originally posted by dedalos

Really? How about you follow your own advice then?

Just replace eye-candy with options, fog, etc

Having taken the time to go back and read what you have posted (well, at least what Skuzzy hasn't deleted), I have determined that the basic thrust of your posts here are directed at flaming anyone that doesn't agree with you. Therefore, congrats!!! You are the 2nd person to make my ignore list!

Have a nice day.

Krusty · « **Reply #113 on:** August 14, 2007, 12:10:55 PM »

I think that would help if possible. To quote Inego Montoya, "I do not think it means what you think it means..."

I think we're having a miscommunication about "fog."

dedalos · « **Reply #114 on:** August 14, 2007, 12:23:58 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by NoBaddy

You are the 2nd person to make my ignore list!

Ohhhh Noooooozzzzz, not the ignore list!

I really did care about what you had to say. It was always very constructive. Especialy when you ask people to leave if they want something from the game.

Who is flaming who again???????

CheeseDip · « **Reply #115 on:** August 14, 2007, 12:29:15 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by NoBaddy
Well, part of the difference is that now planes become shapes, instead of dots, farther out. Seeing those "shapes" in the haze can be a bit tough. By lowering the gamma, the shapes became darker...hence, easier to see.

NoBaddy,

I was unaware the shapes can now be seen farther out. I thought the resolution controlled shapes to a certain point and at that point a pixel is a pixel. The only difference was the size of the pixel. It was either large or small depending on how far you sit from your monitor. I tried lowering the gamma which darkens everything but it also makes the washout near the ground worse.

Krusty said people logged out when it got dark. Isn't darkening the gamma doing the same thing? You are going from a foggy grey shape to a dark shape that blends in with the darker background, especially water.

This is a serious flaw that from past experience really needs to be here?

Thank you all for the help.

Sincerely,
CheeseDip

Krusty · « **Reply #116 on:** August 14, 2007, 12:33:58 PM »

Cheesedip, more has changed from AH1 to AH2 than just the "fog"...

The number of things rendered has probably quadruppled on CVs alone. The details on fleets, the details on trees, buildings, and many other things has all been increased. Even if the settings were 100% identical to AH1's graphics, you'd have a much lower FPS because over time more and more has been added to the game. I know, trust me. I had a system that ran AH1 but slowly got worse and worse with every AH2 update, until it couldn't run the game at all. I had to upgrade (this was a pretty low-end system, mind you).

The fog we are thinking about is only at the horizon, far far out, way past icon range. We're not entirely sure if you are talking about the same thing we are. Can you please take a screenshot of it and post it for us? You may be having a hardware/software problem with how the game displays (maybe, not sure).