Aircraft Skins for Missions

[earl1937]

  I know this has been asked for before, but really Hi Tech, how much trouble would it be for a player posting a mission, to select aircraft skin to be used in mission, just like he does with fuel and ammo load outs? I realize we have the "default" skins now used in mission planning, but to be able to select the squadron colors for a mission is just one of those "little" things which would make the game more attractive to players!

[bustr]

You could always take a baby step and ask for a mission info sheet popup from the mission planner. It tells you the plane, load out, and skin the mission planner would like to see everyone in when you click on the plane you would like to use in the mission. But, then everyone gets the default skin anyway.

In theory your request is not complicated. Once you join the mission, then you also accept the skin change for that ride. Error control would happen upon finding that skin is not in the player's skins folder so the default skin is changed to. Some might argue that being forced into a skin other than the default would cause some players to avoid missions. Others might argue there would be problems even privacy concerns with the game program having to run local inventory scans of your hard drive.

I've always wondered why we end up in the default skin versus, we launch in whatever skin our ride is currently sporting. Then my baby steps recommendation would be more likely while Hitech wouldn't need to scan your hard drive to enumerate the skins you have.

[earl1937]

You could always take a baby step and ask for a mission info sheet popup from the mission planner. It tells you the plane, load out, and skin the mission planner would like to see everyone in when you click on the plane you would like to use in the mission. But, then everyone gets the default skin anyway.

In theory your request is not complicated. Once you join the mission, then you also accept the skin change for that ride. Error control would happen upon finding that skin is not in the player's skins folder so the default skin is changed to. Some might argue that being forced into a skin other than the default would cause some players to avoid missions. Others might argue there would be problems even privacy concerns with the game program having to run local inventory scans of your hard drive.

I've always wondered why we end up in the default skin versus, we launch in whatever skin our ride is currently sporting. Then my baby steps recommendation would be more likely while Hitech wouldn't need to scan your hard drive to enumerate the skins you have.

As usual, you make a good point! Maybe if he could just list "5" skins as default and the mission planner then could select which he would like to use!

[bustr]

Yes but, does he then inventory each mission member's skins directory, and have a special server cache with skins that those who don't have that skin on their PC get a download when they accept the mission. Who decides what skins will be in that cache?

It could be if you the mission planner have that skin on your PC, when you build the mission you have an upload to perform like squad nose art to a temporary cache on the server. Then say 10 minutes after the mission launch a house keeping polling cycle flushes your uploaded skin. You are still left with a server side inventory of each mission member's skins folder on his PC.

So back to KISS. Hitech makes it possible that whatever skin your ride currently has on is your skin when the mission launches. Then the mission planner fills in the info screen message with the skin he would like each ride in the mission to have as the current skin. Like FSO where your briefing also gives you the skin for the current event.

You would not get 100% compliance but, probably better than 75% due to players feeling like they have a choice. And Hitech doesn't have to implement something with unintended consequences.

[earl1937]

Yes but, does he then inventory each mission member's skins directory, and have a special server cache with skins that those who don't have that skin on their PC get a download when they accept the mission. Who decides what skins will be in that cache?

It could be if you the mission planner have that skin on your PC, when you build the mission you have an upload to perform like squad nose art to a temporary cache on the server. Then say 10 minutes after the mission launch a house keeping polling cycle flushes your uploaded skin. You are still left with a server side inventory of each mission member's skins folder on his PC.

So back to KISS. Hitech makes it possible that whatever skin your ride currently has on is your skin when the mission launches. Then the mission planner fills in the info screen message with the skin he would like each ride in the mission to have as the current skin. Like FSO where your briefing also gives you the skin for the current event.

You would not get 100% compliance but, probably better than 75% due to players feeling like they have a choice. And Hitech doesn't have to implement something with unintended consequences.

I am not very knowledgeable when it comes to computers and how they work, but what I am saying is, at present, when I post a mission, a "skin" is already "canned" for the aircraft listed in the "planner" when posting, I am just saying why couldn't he pre-load 3 or 4 other skins, just like he does the default skin now! I guess its really no big deal as to what skin we use in missions, just be kinda nice to have a option!

[FLS]

Selecting a skin wouldn't make it available, the player has to have it already. The default skins are the only ones you can be sure all the players have downloaded on their computers. 

[bustr]

Thus my comments previously.

1. - Hitech has to violate the privacy of your HD and run an inventory to see what skins you have. Still this can be reduced a bit by every time you logon to the arenas, the AH client application we call the "game program", runs an inventory into a results file that the mission application backend on the server looks at to determine your skins. Then you get a forced download if you are missing a skin for the mission in your local inventory file.

2. - The Mission planner person could be required to temporarily upload the skins he requires for the planes in his mission. Then when you select a plane the inventory runs and if you don't have it, you incur a down load and forced to wear that skin. Uploading, down loading, so much band width spent transferring files. Yes you could require Skuzzy in his spare time to maintain a mission skins master download area for forced downloads. I would rather roll in broken glass and douse myself in cheap vodka before forcing Skuzzy to do anything.

3. - Hitech changes the mission itself so that your current skin is your mission skin. Then the mission planner application is changed so the person filling it out can place a message in it recommending the skins he would like players to change into for the aircraft they choose in his mission.

Forced down loading of a skin can be problematic for some players. Insulting to others in the "informal" MA.

Who knows, maybe Hitech might change it for the FSO CM's and the new process subsequently dove tails into the MA mission planner process. The CM's would only need a limited number of skins available to the players per scenario.

[earl1937]

Thus my comments previously.

1. - Hitech has to violate the privacy of your HD and run an inventory to see what skins you have. Still this can be reduced a bit by every time you logon to the arenas, the AH client application we call the "game program", runs an inventory into a results file that the mission application backend on the server looks at to determine your skins. Then you get a forced download if you are missing a skin for the mission in your local inventory file.

2. - The Mission planner person could be required to temporarily upload the skins he requires for the planes in his mission. Then when you select a plane the inventory runs and if you don't have it, you incur a down load and forced to wear that skin. Uploading, down loading, so much band width spent transferring files. Yes you could require Skuzzy in his spare time to maintain a mission skins master download area for forced downloads. I would rather roll in broken glass and douse myself in cheap vodka before forcing Skuzzy to do anything.

3. - Hitech changes the mission itself so that your current skin is your mission skin. Then the mission planner application is changed so the person filling it out can place a message in it recommending the skins he would like players to change into for the aircraft they choose in his mission.

Forced down loading of a skin can be problematic for some players. Insulting to others in the "informal" MA.

Who knows, maybe Hitech might change it for the FSO CM's and the new process subsequently dove tails into the MA mission planner process. The CM's would only need a limited number of skins available to the players per scenario.

  I guess what I am having trouble understanding is just this: If anyone, who joins the mission, is going to automatically be placed in an aircraft with the designated default skin, why can't other skins can't also be used by the mission planner....maybe if we just had an option for say, 2 skins. I guess what I don't understand is why would my computer or anyone's else have to be interrogated by Aces High, when the default skin is there when you download the game. Not arguing the point, if everyone who has downloaded the game can now receive the default skin, why can't they also receive any other skins.

[guncrasher]

  I guess what I am having trouble understanding is just this: If anyone, who joins the mission, is going to automatically be placed in an aircraft with the designated default skin, why can't other skins can't also be used by the mission planner....maybe if we just had an option for say, 2 skins. I guess what I don't understand is why would my computer or anyone's else have to be interrogated by Aces High, when the default skin is there when you download the game. Not arguing the point, if everyone who has downloaded the game can now receive the default skin, why can't they also receive any other skins.

people have other skins disabled.  and they also may not have all the skins downloaded.  you have been asking this same wish for a couple of years now.  but you fail to understand that you will never see every plane in your mission with the same skin.

besides there's some people like me who always fly with the same skin.  it is my signature skin and I wont change it unless it is a scenario or a fso.  If the requirements to join your mission were to fly a different skin I wouldnt join.


semp

[FLS]

  I guess what I am having trouble understanding is just this: If anyone, who joins the mission, is going to automatically be placed in an aircraft with the designated default skin, why can't other skins can't also be used by the mission planner....maybe if we just had an option for say, 2 skins. I guess what I don't understand is why would my computer or anyone's else have to be interrogated by Aces High, when the default skin is there when you download the game. Not arguing the point, if everyone who has downloaded the game can now receive the default skin, why can't they also receive any other skins.

Having 2 skins per aircraft as default doubles the size of the skins folder in the initial download. If we had 2 skins the next request would be for 3 etc.

The current system where people choose which skins to download and use keeps the basic game download smaller and lets each player choose for themselves. There is generally downtime in the tower before mission start for skins to be suggested for those players who have them.

[Lab Rat 3947]

WHAT IF joining a mission does NOT change your fovorite skin that you fly in ?

However, would it be possible to add a line to the mission box where the mission poster could put in what skin he would like to see, on each type of plane used ?
That way skins could be changed by each participant that does have that skin dowloaded.

This would be a plus for those that like to post videos of missions.


LtngRydr

[APDrone]

1. - Hitech has to violate the privacy of your HD and run an inventory to see what skins you have....

How is this any different than when you log into an arena, it is determined your machine doesn't have the map loaded, and it downloads the new map automatically?

[APDrone]

I fully support ET's request, and have made it a few times, myself, over the years.

The beauty of missions is that you set everything up for all the participants.  As the mission leader, you're not constantly ( and I do mean CONSTANTLY ) having to repeat the field, loadout, runway, skin, launch time.. etc ad nausem, for the insanely numerous requests ( even if you type it in text!!! )  It truly is frustrating having to repeat the same thing over and over.

Unfortunately, and I cannot understand this priority, but I accept it, there are those that despise the default skin of missions and will not join missions for that very reason. Also, if you launch in a mission with the default skin, you have to go reset that skin in the hangar the  next time you fly that plane. ( another particularly annoying PITA aspect of missions )
 
I understand there are those who do not load/desire to have extra skins on their machine, so forcing people to use them to be in the mission may not be the result you desire..

With that in mind, I propose that a skin can be set as 'optional' in the mission builder, thus giving the builder the option of allowing non-specified skins in the mission.



Another change, to go with this, is that the mission launcher should NEVER change the skin that is set in the hangar for a particular plane.

[earl1937]

How is this any different than when you log into an arena, it is determined your machine doesn't have the map loaded, and it downloads the new map automatically?

I appreciate your comments and support in this matter! I am just having trouble getting my head around what some of these guys are saying! I have never seen one player spawn out in one of my missions, who did not have the default skin!
The point I am trying to make is, if Aces High can have one skin designated as default, then why not let the mission planner select the skin he wants...I have guys join the mish all the time, go ahead and select the skin they want to use, spawn out on the runway and wait until mission launches...I realize I could request everyone do that, but as I said, don't understand why the mission planner does not have that option, just like bombs and gas!

[FLS]

The only skins you download with the game are the default skins. In order to see different skins on other aircraft or on your own aircraft, you need to download the different skins. If your PC struggles with AH then having more skins can reduce your performance. It can be a good idea to only have the skins you use yourself.

Are you asking for the mission planner to list the selected skin or to provide it?