HT, a few requests

[USRanger]

Regarding terrains and settings, I have a few requests.  Just wanting some stuff back that we've always had that is missing from the new version, and is a step backwards imho.

1-Can we please have the ability to change the water color back?  It makes a big difference, especially in PTO terrains.  The single blue water color we have in the alpha won't work as a one size fits all if you want as much variety in the game as we want to give you.

2-Can we please have underwater textures back?  It made such a beautiful difference in terrains in AH2.  IL-2 has basically the same water, with waves on the shorelines & such, and you can change the water color and add underwater textures, so I know it's possible.  I just want to make the terrains as beautiful as possible to bring in new players and keep the "vets" happy.

3-Currently the "page" on the clipboard map under Arena Settings to change the colors of the sky, fog, etc. is totally blank.  Can we please have this ability back?  Having the same shy color in every terrain, every time ruins the "feel" of many terrains.  No variety=boring to players, especially when the game had these features before.  Losing all these things I've just mentioned is a huge step backwards imo. 

Nicer trees & building models is good for the game, but losing all the variety we were previously able to implement is going to make all the terrains look the same, just with the landmass in different spots.  Without the ability to use the variations we have always had until now, terrains are just going to become blah.  They will all look the same.  As I always have, I want to push the limits of the TE to make this game look as beautiful as possible.  Sadly, that's what attracts new players nowadays.  Without getting back these functions we always had before, I (we) can no longer deliver that to/for Aces High.  I want this for you so that the game lives on, but I(we) can't by taking away all the variety we had before.

 

[USRanger]

Example:

avaAtoll in AH2:



avaAtoll in AH3:



I could give pics of probably 30 more examples, but I think everyone can see what I'm talking about.

[ImADot]

I noticed the missing color settings...I figured it's early in the Alpha and these types of things will make it back eventually.

[Easyscor]

I agree Dot. It's Alpha.

Hence I make do with water at zero because there's so much to do before it can be put back to higher elevations, if ever. Colors on the other hand, and textures, well that seems trivial by comparison, and I know they want it to look good.

[BaDkaRmA158Th]

Or they haven't added more dept in water because it would allow you to see the submarines!


 

[USRanger]

I know it's the alpha, but the sooner I ask, the better.

[Easyscor]

I know it's the alpha, but the sooner I ask, the better.

That's alright, I have a dry land project for you. 

[49Dallas]

Dang that's pretty! Doesn't look like anything I've seen ingame!

[Easyscor]

Dang that's pretty! Doesn't look like anything I've seen ingame!

You can create a custom arena and see it. The AvA has special terrains. Not all but most have the ava prefix.

[hitech]

Regarding terrains and settings, I have a few requests.  Just wanting some stuff back that we've always had that is missing from the new version, and is a step backwards imho.

1-Can we please have the ability to change the water color back?  It makes a big difference, especially in PTO terrains.  The single blue water color we have in the alpha won't work as a one size fits all if you want as much variety in the game as we want to give you.

Very very doubtfull, the water doesn't really have a color associated with it.

2-Can we please have underwater textures back?  It made such a beautiful difference in terrains in AH2.  IL-2 has basically the same water, with waves on the shorelines & such, and you can change the water color and add underwater textures, so I know it's possible.  I just want to make the terrains as beautiful as possible to bring in new players and keep the "vets" happy.

Not sure, the system again just dosn't work like the old did. Since we now have real elevations, the blending and elevations would cause drivabilty issues.

3-Currently the "page" on the clipboard map under Arena Settings to change the colors of the sky, fog, etc. is totally blank.  Can we please have this ability back?  Having the same shy color in every terrain, every time ruins the "feel" of many terrains.  No variety=boring to players, especially when the game had these features before.  Losing all these things I've just mentioned is a huge step backwards imo. 

No. Again there is no concept of sky color. The system calculates air density /reflectivity excetera and ends up with a color based on where the sun is.

Nicer trees & building models is good for the game, but losing all the variety we were previously able to implement is going to make all the terrains look the same, just with the landmass in different spots.  Without the ability to use the variations we have always had until now, terrains are just going to become blah.  They will all look the same.  As I always have, I want to push the limits of the TE to make this game look as beautiful as possible.  Sadly, that's what attracts new players nowadays.  Without getting back these functions we always had before, I (we) can no longer deliver that to/for Aces High.  I want this for you so that the game lives on, but I(we) can't by taking away all the variety we had before.

 

Actually for localization now, you can make anything you wish. The large 4x4 air base is a good example of what can be done with out the terrain system. You could if you wish make a perfect clifs of Dover as several 4x4 objects. You still can make all your own tiles.

HiTech

[ImADot]

...the water doesn't really have a color associated with it.

Do think there could ever be some way to assign a water type, like "tropical" or "north sea" or "inland lake", etc.?

...no concept of sky color. The system calculates air density /reflectivity excetera and ends up with a color based on where the sun is.

Very cool. I was wondering how you got the dawn/dusk colors to work so nicely.


Do you think there might be a way to have a setting (lat/long, or some other way) to describe a geographic area so the sun's angle from the horizon will change based on simulated location on the Earth for the terrain? So for instance, an "equatorial" terrain would have the sun high overhead at noon but a "northern" terrain would see the noon sun lower in the sky?

[hitech]

Do you think there might be a way to have a setting (lat/long, or some other way) to describe a geographic area so the sun's angle from the horizon will change based on simulated location on the Earth for the terrain? So for instance, an "equatorial" terrain would have the sun high overhead at noon but a "northern" terrain would see the noon sun lower in the sky?

That is doable. Something I always wished to do, along with night sky, just never have. It mostly just involves me doing the research for the calculations. The writing it self would go fairly quickly.

HiTech

[Chilli]

Again there is no concept of sky color. The system calculates air density /reflectivity excetera and ends up with a color based on where the sun is.

I have one last question along these lines.  Will we be able to dabble with the color / intensity of the sun, or the density / reflectivity of the air?  

Okay I fibbed, second question; is there anyway to dabble with the reflectivity of objects (not vehicles) and assuming this can already be done for terrain tiles (via bmp layers).

[hitech]

I have one last question along these lines.  Will we be able to dabble with the color / intensity of the sun, or the density / reflectivity of the air?

No

Okay I fibbed, second question; is there anyway to dabble with the reflectivity of objects (not vehicles) and assuming this can already be done for terrain tiles (via bmp layers).

With skins and such, yes.

HiTech

[10thmd]

Ohhhh I want the Cliffs of Dover. Get on that Ranger