Author Topic: Things Move Forward Why Don't You  (Read 4136 times)

Offline thndregg

  • Platinum Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 4053
Re: Things Move Forward Why Don't You
« Reply #15 on: August 01, 2009, 09:34:02 PM »
As the sole bread winner supporting my family of five on a lousy $14K per month, living on 10 acres out of town where you can raise your own food (fortunately), in a 14x60 mobile home (with its own improvement challenges) in the arse-end of eastern Oregon, I can tell you that upgrading my PC is something I was holding off until next spring. I've got a '95 Buick with computer problems (money out), still owe the dentist several hundred despite the limited "benefits" my stone-age job has (money out).

The only thing that enables me to squeeze a few bucks out for PC upgrade is that we are not exorbidantly in debt with the bank, credit card outfits, nothing. Everything we own is paid for. I have heard from most of the local farmers here that this area (Malheur County, Oregon) is a place that you can make a living, but not much beyond that. If you're smart with your money and don't get into unrecoverable debt, especially now that the economy is crap, you can manage to squeeze an upgrade here & there if you need to.

Former XO: Birds of Prey (BOPs - AH2)
Former CO: 91st Bomb Group (H)
Current Assignment: Dickweed Heavy Bomber Group

Offline FiLtH

  • Platinum Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 6448
Re: Things Move Forward Why Don't You
« Reply #16 on: August 01, 2009, 09:55:36 PM »
  Folks...I had an old computer for years...recently I had squirreled away enough spare coin to finally get a new pc. One that I can run this update on. The game is so much more beautiful, Im glad I did it. Yes , change can suck, even more so if you arent prepared for it.

   They cant hold up progress on this game for the benefit of older machines. If it were me, I'd risk losing a few, and take the chance all their hard work in improvements, would bring in 10 fold. Don't feel like you are'nt important enough to matter. Whats the old saying, "Sometimes you have to break a few eggs, to make an omlette."?

    If your egg gets broke, find a way to gather some spare cash. You'd be amazed how if you really want something, you can find a way to get it.

Humpty out.

~AoM~

Offline Kweassa

  • Platinum Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 6425
Re: Things Move Forward Why Don't You
« Reply #17 on: August 01, 2009, 09:57:12 PM »
 10 years isn't enough to save for a new PC?

 ...

 AH has maintained its basic playbility for a really, really, really long time. I've started the game around AH1.05, and that was around winter of the year 2000. My system remained basically the same all along through AH2 without any problems, barring the occasional changes around every 2 or 3 years in adding a little bit of more RAM, saving up for a new GFX card until the old one became absolutely obsolete after some 4~5 years of use. At a given time my system was never state of the art, but always around one or two steps behind and that was still plenty enough to enjoy AH1 and AH2. I've finally quit the subscription due to the upset in the cancellation of Combat Tour project, but I checked the recent version out and it still runs fine on my system which is currently unchanged for about 3 years since 2006.

 This kind of compatibility with old PC systems is by all means almost unprecedented in the history of PC gaming, and the way HTC constantly tried to keep people with obsolete systems (..which probably went extinct around 65 million years ago) in the loop, is to be commended with great respect, if not with a hearty thanks from the customers.


 Give them an inch, and they'll ask for a mile.

 After 10 years of keeping visual upgrades to AH at minimal levels - relying on basically the same GFX engine since AH1 - with very low-resource consuming changes and all the rest relying purely on 'cosmetics' involving better textures, AH finally took another small step... and considering what kind of system other games require nowadays, this new version is still shockingly friendly to low-end users.

 If your system can't handle AH2, then seriously, dude, you're driving a Ford Model T in the 21th century highway. At least try to get a car from around 1970s or something... and stop expecting people will cut slack for your car from 1908.

Offline TwinBoom

  • Gold Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2960
      • 39th FS "Cobra In The Clouds"
Re: Things Move Forward Why Don't You
« Reply #18 on: August 01, 2009, 11:01:03 PM »
10 years isn't enough to save for a new PC?

 ...

 AH has maintained its basic playbility for a really, really, really long time. I've started the game around AH1.05, and that was around winter of the year 2000. My system remained basically the same all along through AH2 without any problems, barring the occasional changes around every 2 or 3 years in adding a little bit of more RAM, saving up for a new GFX card until the old one became absolutely obsolete after some 4~5 years of use. At a given time my system was never state of the art, but always around one or two steps behind and that was still plenty enough to enjoy AH1 and AH2. I've finally quit the subscription due to the upset in the cancellation of Combat Tour project, but I checked the recent version out and it still runs fine on my system which is currently unchanged for about 3 years since 2006.

 This kind of compatibility with old PC systems is by all means almost unprecedented in the history of PC gaming, and the way HTC constantly tried to keep people with obsolete systems (..which probably went extinct around 65 million years ago) in the loop, is to be commended with great respect, if not with a hearty thanks from the customers.


 Give them an inch, and they'll ask for a mile.

 After 10 years of keeping visual upgrades to AH at minimal levels - relying on basically the same GFX engine since AH1 - with very low-resource consuming changes and all the rest relying purely on 'cosmetics' involving better textures, AH finally took another small step... and considering what kind of system other games require nowadays, this new version is still shockingly friendly to low-end users.

 If your system can't handle AH2, then seriously, dude, you're driving a Ford Model T in the 21th century highway. At least try to get a car from around 1970s or something... and stop expecting people will cut slack for your car from 1908.

i shoudnt have to upgrade
Machine name: DELLXPS
   Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.090206-1233)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.               
       System Model: Dimension XPSGEN5           
               BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A04
          Processor: Genuine Intel(R) CPU 3.00GHz (2 CPUs)
             Memory: 3070MB RAM
          Page File: 315MB used, 5664MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
  DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
          Music Tab: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.
        Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS
     Manufacturer: NVIDIA
        Chip type: GeForce 8800 GTS
         DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0193&SUBSYS_22521682&REV_A2
   Display Memory: 320.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (75Hz)
          Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
  Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
      Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0011.8206 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 2/9/2009 13:18:00, 6185088 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 2/9/2009 13:18:00, 6307328 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-42D3-11CF-3C55-590203C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x10DE
        Device ID: 0x0193
        SubSys ID: 0x22521682
      Revision ID: 0x00A2
      Revision ID: 0x00A2
      Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_B ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D ModeWMV9_B ModeWMV9_A
 Deinterlace Caps: {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
         Registry: OK
     DDraw Status: Enabled
       D3D Status: Enabled
       AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
 D3D7 Test Result: Not run
 D3D8 Test Result: Not run
 D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: SB Audigy 2 ZS Audio [CCC0]
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0004&SUBSYS_20021102&REV_04
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
         Driver Version: 5.12.0001.1196 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 8/11/2006 15:45:38, 499584 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: Creative
         HW Accel Level: Standard
              Cap Flags: 0xF5F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 4000, 192000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 64, 62
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 64, 62
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: Not run
TBs Sounds 
39th FS "Cobra In The Clouds"NOSEART

Offline jimson

  • AvA Staff Member
  • Platinum Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 7202
      • The Axis vs Allies Arena
Re: Things Move Forward Why Don't You
« Reply #19 on: August 01, 2009, 11:15:53 PM »
As the sole bread winner supporting my family of five on a lousy $14K per month,



Is that a typo?

$14K a month = $168,000 per year.

Doesn't sound like your cost of living could be too high, living in a mobile, no  credit card debt and all.

If I made that, I could afford to support 2 or 3 families of five and buy a new, high end computer once a week, and toss the old one.
« Last Edit: August 01, 2009, 11:29:54 PM by jimson »

Offline DaveJ

  • Nickel Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 697
Re: Things Move Forward Why Don't You
« Reply #20 on: August 01, 2009, 11:41:50 PM »
this new version is still shockingly friendly to low-end users.

Spare me. You don't know what it is like playing this update on a LOW-LEVEL card. As has been said NUMEROUS times before, the graphics are little better than Super Nintendo/Atari/Pong/Game Boy. The only thing "friendly" about it, is that people, like myself, have managed to keep their frame rates up, while taking the ultimate dump down the graphics side.

~DaveyJ~
Jokers Jokers


Noseart

Offline MrYellow

  • Zinc Member
  • *
  • Posts: 11
Re: Things Move Forward Why Don't You
« Reply #21 on: August 01, 2009, 11:44:43 PM »
Most of who have been reading these forums know that it was coming and now are poo pooing the work that HTC has gone through to keep us interested and make more enjoyable to use.


I think over-zealous forum moderation can be blamed for much of that.

When you moderate forums too heavily you end up with a massive crowd of "yes men" who will tell you that everything is great and that you're perfectly on target.
While the people that have had their messages edited or deleted by moderators leave the forums and aren't here to object and give real balanced criticism.

HTC polluted their own feedback by culling all but the favourable and fostering a forum culture of fan-boys.

The information and feedback quality suffers greatly on many forums that go this route.

-Ben

Offline Wingnutt

  • Silver Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1665
Re: Things Move Forward Why Don't You
« Reply #22 on: August 01, 2009, 11:45:32 PM »
alot of you people squeaking and crying can thank yourselves.. and the others who DID NOT participate in the beta testing..  

I dont know how many times I logged in to see less than 4 or 5 people in there..  and guess what.. those people are who HTC got ALOT of their bug info and data from before going "live".

Granted, nobody was forced to participate, and its your $15.. (oh noes 50 cents a day  :rolleyes: ) etc etc and that whole rant.. But guess what?  there is no way HTC could properly test the beta themselves for the myriad of different component possibilities all the players have.. so the participation of the community was very much needed, and there wasn't much of it.  

so before you open your pie hole about how your rig wont run it properly or you are having problems..  where were you during the open beta testing?  ignoring it?  You knew this was coming, you had a test version to try out to make sure your ducks were in a line when it got here.. and what did you do?







Offline MrYellow

  • Zinc Member
  • *
  • Posts: 11
Re: Things Move Forward Why Don't You
« Reply #23 on: August 01, 2009, 11:49:09 PM »
alot of you people squeaking and crying can thank yourselves.. and the others who DID NOT participate in the beta testing..  

If there were any actual real-world demand for the upgrade then people would have been in there.

-Ben

Offline BaldEagl

  • Plutonium Member
  • *******
  • Posts: 10791
Re: Things Move Forward Why Don't You
« Reply #24 on: August 01, 2009, 11:59:45 PM »
As the sole bread winner supporting my family of five on a lousy $14K per month, living on 10 acres out of town where you can raise your own food (fortunately), in a 14x60 mobile home (with its own improvement challenges) in the arse-end of eastern Oregon, I can tell you that upgrading my PC is something I was holding off until next spring. I've got a '95 Buick with computer problems (money out), still owe the dentist several hundred despite the limited "benefits" my stone-age job has (money out).

The only thing that enables me to squeeze a few bucks out for PC upgrade is that we are not exorbidantly in debt with the bank, credit card outfits, nothing. Everything we own is paid for. I have heard from most of the local farmers here that this area (Malheur County, Oregon) is a place that you can make a living, but not much beyond that. If you're smart with your money and don't get into unrecoverable debt, especially now that the economy is crap, you can manage to squeeze an upgrade here & there if you need to.



$14K/mo.?  That's only slightly more that 3x the average U.S. household income (http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/012528.html).  I can see where things are tough for you.   :rolleyes:
« Last Edit: August 02, 2009, 12:07:15 AM by BaldEagl »
I edit a lot of my posts.  Get used to it.

Offline thndregg

  • Platinum Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 4053
Re: Things Move Forward Why Don't You
« Reply #25 on: August 02, 2009, 09:12:46 AM »
Is that a typo?

$14K a month = $168,000 per year.

Doesn't sound like your cost of living could be too high, living in a mobile, no  credit card debt and all.

If I made that, I could afford to support 2 or 3 families of five and buy a new, high end computer once a week, and toss the old one.

Sorry, that was a typo from my tired brain. $1,400 a month is the correct wage. It's humble, but we have the basics.
« Last Edit: August 02, 2009, 09:14:52 AM by thndregg »
Former XO: Birds of Prey (BOPs - AH2)
Former CO: 91st Bomb Group (H)
Current Assignment: Dickweed Heavy Bomber Group

Offline bj229r

  • Platinum Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 6735
Re: Things Move Forward Why Don't You
« Reply #26 on: August 02, 2009, 09:28:24 AM »
tried that
intel dual 3.0`s
8800gts 320meg 3 gigs crucial ram
so its not a slow pc and it stutters with out without detail
anymore bright ideas?

btw i run pacific fighter at full detail maxed out
TB you have nearly the same machine as I (8500 Core duo/Geforce 8800 Gt)--I dl'd the his-res pack, have EVERYthing enabled and maxed, is like flying in a animated movie. There has to be an answer for your problem
Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers

http://www.flamewarriors.net/forum/

Offline 1pLUs44

  • Gold Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3332
Re: Things Move Forward Why Don't You
« Reply #27 on: August 02, 2009, 09:35:55 AM »
If there were any actual real-world demand for the upgrade then people would have been in there.

-Ben


There was, first day of beta, I saw 200+ in the arena. My computer couldn't handle it, but I didn't care, I played anyways.
I'm sorry, but if you can't take your graphics down, like what I'm doing, then... that's you're problem. I'm going graphics down right now, and I think the game still looks better than the old version.



I have a hunch you haven't even given it a try playing, and you're just sitting here whining. I got a 4 year old computer, 100% stock parts, about 70% is filled up with games, and I have an ancient video card. In the old version of Aces High, my average frame rate was 10 or so. The new option HTC gave us for the new version gives me a FR of about 40. For once, I can actually fight and not have to expect the next move of a plane, because it's so jerky because of the slow FRs.
No one knows what the future may bring.

Offline BEARING3

  • Persona Non Grata
  • Copper Member
  • **
  • Posts: 130
Re: Things Move Forward Why Don't You
« Reply #28 on: August 02, 2009, 12:38:17 PM »
I have been moving forward. I am not ready yet to come back to the game. I enjoy the forum , and rairly comment unless I tinker with under age beverage. I work at walmart, and I am glad I don't have any kids, or pay any child support. You kids need to grow up and move forward

Offline Anodizer

  • Silver Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1941
Re: Things Move Forward Why Don't You
« Reply #29 on: August 02, 2009, 01:28:38 PM »
Clear Pepsi?

Umm...I think it was Crystal Pepsi..  And that stuff was nasty.... :uhoh
I like classy, beautiful, intelligent woman that say the "F" word a lot....

80th FS "Headhunters"