Author Topic: Tagless? (Read 423 times)

K8QLW · « **on:** October 14, 2002, 04:44:43 PM »

I am a refugee from Fighter Ace "Advanced" (Realistic). About a year before Fighter Ace 2.5 went to 3.0 they decided to pull the tags. (Only friendlies on radar and there was a little "Whisker" on the map own plane icon that pointed to the nearest enemy asset. At more than 2,000 feet all planes were square pixels, but grew wings at about 2,000.)

Anyway, at first it was very diffiucult, but in time we came to love it!! You could use terrain to hide your approach and sometimes made a pass to just find out what your adversary was flying before engaging.

It might be interesting to try tagless with full FRIENDLY only radar during daylight and full FRIEND and FOE radar at night.

Just a thought.

Soulyss · « **Reply #1 on:** October 14, 2002, 08:24:59 PM »

You can set your own icons up to be friendly only (Alt+I to toggle the modes if memory serves) the problem is getting everyone ELSE to do the same.

J_A_B · « **Reply #2 on:** October 14, 2002, 08:53:15 PM »

You might fund that kind of playing fun; what's fun is defined by the individual.

Problem with flying a computer game without ICONS is it's essentially a simulation of being legally blind.

J_A_B

Miska · « **Reply #3 on:** October 14, 2002, 09:03:39 PM »

JAB, I have found that playing with friendly icons only is highly doable. In fact, that's what I always do

Löwe · « **Reply #4 on:** October 15, 2002, 07:51:59 AM »

If I had a machine with good enough graphics to go no icon I would. However I think the no icon idea won't work well for everyone. It's not a common part of the program, like fuel weight or stall speed. Not everyone has the same machine, and monitor. Some can do the no icon thing and it's an exciting challenge. Some can do it, and it's a handicap. Even with icons I'm wearing reading glasses, and have my nose so close to the screen it fogs up in a hard fight.

I do hope someday a common graphics, and hardwarwe solution allows no icon play to be the norm.

Dukebro · « **Reply #5 on:** October 15, 2002, 11:31:33 PM »

First, please pardon if what I am about to say sounds like rambling ( probably will be anyways!:) )

Miska...your "no icons" argument is very valid, it would "immerse" the player into a somewhat "more real" environment, but not completely. Going off what Lowe stated, I think it would make the game extremely unenjoyable to the majority of players in the CT, and our numbers would be lower than what they are now.

Another point...the visual acuity required to see and Identify a contact before entering the merge is just not possible with today's video card/ monitor technology. Shape breakout, let alone color breakout, and depth perception are just not there. Without the aid of GCI, people would wind up going from one friendly group to another and quit from the frustration of never finding the "fight".

I think wanting to make tthe CT more realistic is truly admirable, but I feel "no icons" is not the way to go. How about turning on friendly collisions?? That would definitely make furballing more realistic

Well, just my 2 cents worth

1Duke1 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 15, 2002, 11:58:14 PM »

Yeah, what that good looking guy in the previous post said:cool:

J_A_B · « **Reply #7 on:** October 16, 2002, 01:10:01 AM »

Not having icons is NOT more realistic.

It IS more difficult.

Don't confuse the two. "Harder" isn't the same thing as "realistic". ICONS are more realistic for combat purposes because you simply can't SEE the same things in AH that the "mark 1 eyeball" can see. In AH, you have resolution and scale concerns as well as no true 3D depth perception.

I'm well aware of the benefits of having increased difficulty levels in games to progress through and see nothing wrong with having no ICONS for those who like the added challenge. I just ask those who go without ICONS to not confuse the difficulty with realism--it's not the same thing.

J_A_B

Miska · « **Reply #8 on:** October 16, 2002, 10:06:02 AM »

That's the beauty of friendly icons only. You DO get that Friend/Foe ID at a realistic range AND you don't get artificial SA benefits in a close in fight.