Originally posted by DA98
AI has been rebuilt from zero. Add to that complex engine management, an improved damage model with much more parts to hit, more accurate flight model, better graphics, bigger maps (finnish map is enormous for IL-2 standards), ultra-detailed cities, etc... and you need a better PC to run it well.
AI has been redone, but that doesn't necessarily mean it requires more cycles to be better- they could of simply changed how it works.
I keep hearing about an improved damage model, but the only thing I heard officially from Oleg was that they improved the round penetration and how it reacts with the model. I don't think the damage model has actually been changed, maybe it's been tweaked so it's more consistent... but this wouldn't require more CPU cycles, it could in fact require less.
The flight model, again, could of been tweaked and not take up more CPU cycles- could take up less or just be the same.
Better graphics- just pixel shaders added as far as I can tell from press releases and Oleg himself.
The map size would only matter in terms of memory and how long it takes to load. The actual viewing distance on the terrain hasn't changed from what I've read.
Ultra-detailed cities... from what I've seen they are no different than the cities currently modelled. Massive amounts of buildings, bridges and a few added models of real world buildings/structures. This doesn't necessarily mean more speed is needed.. the current large cities are killer on all but the highest end machines right now.
EDIT: Complex engine management doesn't necessarily mean it's doing stuff leaps and bounds beyond what Il2 currently does- it just require the user to control it now rather than the CPU...
"Better PC" is all relative- but from the posted minimum specs it doesn't appear to have changed from Il2... of course nothing has been released as to what kind of system you will need to run it well.
I've heard GF3/1600Ghz PC will run FB just fine.
-SW
