No icons for AH3

[shift8]

Im sure almost no one will agree with me, but Id like to see no icons in AH3 for the MA. Aces high has one of the best dot systems of any sim out there, and it would be awesome to be able to use it properly. For friend or foe we could have icons at 1000m or less.

[shotgunneeley]

Im sure almost no one will agree with me, but Id like to see no icons in AH3 for the MA. Aces high has one of the best dot systems of any sim out there, and it would be awesome to be able to use it properly. For friend or foe we could have icons at 1000m or less.

-1. Not all computers are created equal. This also undermines players with poor eyesight.

What I would like to see is for the icon to get progressively smaller as distance decreases. The icon could also fade out more when the player is directly facing a target, then fade in more when the target is not directly in front.  Sometimes that big red icon can be distracting when in firing range, especially so when I'm firing at a dark plane against dark ground as the backdrop.

[shift8]

-1. Not all computers are created equal. This also undermines players with poor eyesight.

What I would like to see is for the icon to get progressively smaller as distance decreases. The icon could also fade out more when the player is directly facing a target, then fade in more when the target is not directly in front.  Sometimes that big red icon can be distracting when in firing range, especially so when I'm firing at a dark plane against dark ground as the backdrop.

1) so upgrade your comp already

2) Really, poor eyesight? who cares. Whats next? a box of hearing aides when you order the game?

[Krusty]

The "no icons" falsehood was propogated by an elitist faction of IL2 that proclaimed that anybody flying with icons is cheating, a lesser pilot, holds their manhood cheap compared to those that use "no icons" and so forth.

It's a blatant lie and basically just ego-stroking.

We have had discussions on these very forums before detailing the science of optics, distances and details visible at those distances. We have referenced real life air traffic personnel at airports, commercial, private, and military pilots, we have referenced anecdotal WW2 reports of being able to ID planes at distances using the fuselage codes and all of these details.

What we can see in-game is a joke compared to reality. It's nice, but it's not REALISTIC. The icons make up for a massive loss of detail that would equate to all players in this game playing like legally BLIND pilots in real life. They never would have been able to get pilots licenses at any point with eyesight like this game portrays. There are many reasons for that: including pixel dots, sizes, the need to have a wider FOV for rendering screens and depictions. The icons make up for that.

Removing the icons doesn't help gameplay at all, despite what the AvA crowd tried to push for so long. It hurts gameplay. In every respect from WW1 onwards, BFM have been a part of dogfighting. Before-Fight-Maneuvers. The posturing and positioning you undertake to get an advantage on your opponent BEFORE you're in lethal kill range. It's a massive part of air combat, and with no icons you literally cannot even determine a very rudimentary shape, range, or even orientation and angle of an enemy plane until it's already inside kill range.

No icons leads to unaware picks, simulating legally blind pilots and/or the baby seal clubbing effect. That's the only true reason to ever demand/request it be forced on everyone. The demander/requester wants easier kills for their own benefit.

[guncrasher]

1) so upgrade your comp already

2) Really, poor eyesight? who cares. Whats next? a box of hearing aides when you order the game?

you can already get rid of icons.  try it for a month see how it works out.


semp

[Wiley]

1) so upgrade your comp already

2) Really, poor eyesight? who cares. Whats next? a box of hearing aides when you order the game?

1) It's not about better hardware.  Most of the time in a no icon environment, lower end hardware has an advantage because the dots are bigger.  The point is, fiddling with your hardware to get the most capability to see aircraft should not be the single most important aspect of the game.

2) So it's far better that you should need to pass a physical to play?

The best part is, as semp said you can turn it off.  Wish granted!

Wiley.

[JunkyII]

New players struggle enough as is with icons, turn it off if you want a challenge.

[waystin2]

You can turn your icons off if you want the additional challenge.  Turning them off for all players is just not good for the game.  Try FSO or Scenarios or the AVA to experience shortened or icons turned off.  You'll have fun!

 

[Oldman731]

You can turn your icons off if you want the additional challenge.  Turning them off for all players is just not good for the game.  Try FSO or Scenarios or the AVA to experience shortened or icons turned off.  You'll have fun!

As others have said, the debate has been extended and heated.  In the end, I think everyone (at the time) generally agreed that no-icons isn't for everyone, so it's better to enjoy it in AvA or FSO, as Waystin says.  IMHO you really should put a good four hours into flying in a no-icons environment.  Many real-world tactics that make no sense in the MA suddenly become important.

- oldman

[Vraciu]

-1 OP.

/thread

[JimmyD3]

-1

[USCH]

you can already get rid of icons.  try it for a month see how it works out.


semp

+1

[Beefcake]

2) Really, poor eyesight? who cares. Whats next? a box of hearing aides when you order the game?

As someone who has suffered from poor eyesight his entire life I hope you never have to deal with what I have to deal with. The dots in AH can sometimes be hard for me to see and even with icons stuff still "pops up" on me.

-1

[Zimme83]

Without Icons there are no way to separate the good guys from the bad guys, it only works if you have a fixed plane set were you can tell friend from foe by identifying the plane type. But in MA that would be impossible.

[bustr]

Three countries and you can fly any fighter you want at all times. In a three country open world, how do you know you are looking at an enemy plane if there is no icon to tell you? No icon works for two country only games where the opposing sides fly country specific aircraft with country markings which allows visual identification of friend or foe. It also makes it easy to guess for old guys with poor eyesight that going in the direction of the other country will have a high probability of bad guys when they see a dot.

I've been wondering if our forum is going to get trolled as AH3 is closer to going live, to help us be our natural worst selves to try and drive away potential new players. We have had years of this wish, but not one so obvious in trying to get a rise out of posters.