Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: AKcurly on May 28, 2001, 11:52:00 PM

Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: AKcurly on May 28, 2001, 11:52:00 PM
At 11 or so, I logged into AHs and looked with relish at the 148 participants.  Unfortunately, night was falling.  By the time it was completely dark, there were fewer than 100 participants.

Not bad, Htech, more than 48 kills in fewer than 10 minutes.

AKcurly
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: StSanta on May 29, 2001, 12:14:00 AM
Heheh this is staring to look lie reps vs democrats  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/biggrin.gif).

Remove the silly night. Until we have night fighters, it's not needed.

Or disable al fighter sand allow only buffs to fly at night.

Or install search lights over air fields and then allow Germa planes to take off for base defense.

You get my point; remove the night  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/biggrin.gif)

------------------
Von Santa
Staffelkapitän 9./JG 54 "Grünherz"
"If you return from a mission with a victory, but without your Rottenflieger, you have lost your battle."
- D. Hrabak, JG 54 "Grünherz"
(http://stsantas.tripod.com/stsanta.jpg)
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: AKDejaVu on May 29, 2001, 12:16:00 AM
I enjoy the night-time in AH.  The feeling of fighting against icons in a totally unrealistic environment just can't be beat.

Er.. yes it can.

AKDejaVu
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: Animal on May 29, 2001, 12:47:00 AM
Bring P-61 and Me110 and remove all icons in all other planes at night.
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: funked on May 29, 2001, 02:18:00 AM
It's a fun-killer.  I applaud HTC for experimenting with it, and for developing the nice star and moon graphics.  I think the night-time mode would be great for no-icons events, especially if we get radar-equipped night fighters or some kind of automated GCI.  But if you enjoy dogfighting, it's not entertaining.   Nothing tells me "time to log" like the sun going down in AH.   (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/frown.gif)

[This message has been edited by funked (edited 05-29-2001).]
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: lasse on May 29, 2001, 02:23:00 AM
I disagree, Dusk, night and dawn are fun and really a challenge to fly and fight in.

I say, keep the night !!

(And remove the inflight radar as well  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif))


------------------
 (http://www.lasse.as/twvl.gif)
The Wild Vikings
Commanding Officer
Lasse

[This message has been edited by lasse (edited 05-29-2001).]
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: AKcurly on May 29, 2001, 05:14:00 AM
 
Quote
Originally posted by lasse:
I disagree, Dusk, night and dawn are fun and really a challenge to fly and fight in.

I say, keep the night !!

(And remove the inflight radar as well   (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif))


Yeah, lasse!  Why not remove the icons too?!  Then you could fly around in dark unable to see anything and if you were lucky enough to fly up behind someone, hell, you couldn't see enough to shoot!

As it is, at night, you can't see enough to shoot unless you just guess "somewhere below the icon."

This is a crock of crap.  If we had genuine night fighters, then yeah, night fighting would be a hoot!  But flying around in the dark, unable to see targets is just nonsense.

I'll admit it's attractive, but man, attractive only goes so far.

curly
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: Staga on May 29, 2001, 06:47:00 AM
In WW2 night-fighters got usually only search-radar with range 4000-6000m but no light-amplifiers (term translated from Finnish) so pilots had to do aiming just like in AH.
 http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/7404/radars.htm (http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/7404/radars.htm)
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: Staga on May 29, 2001, 06:49:00 AM
btw I like night-time, in AH and RL(tm) too  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: Ghosth on May 29, 2001, 07:07:00 AM
Flying and getting kills at night brings a whole new level of play to this sim IMO.

Yes it's a challenge, and a darn tough one.

However, It's a LOT easier to catch someone unaware after the lights go out. Especially if you make a stealthy low 6 approach.

Plus, night time gives Ground vehicles a chance to shine. So next time instead of logging off, jump in a tank & go blow em up!
Give it a try, who knows, you might like it!
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: DamnedATC on May 29, 2001, 07:18:00 AM
Please keep the night.  I think the day/night aspect is Top Notch!

ATC
 (http://www.damned.org/images/ddemo1.gif)
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: AKcurly on May 29, 2001, 07:27:00 AM
 
Quote
Originally posted by Ghosth:
Flying and getting kills at night brings a whole new level of play to this sim IMO.

Yes it's a challenge, and a darn tough one.

However, It's a LOT easier to catch someone unaware after the lights go out. Especially if you make a stealthy low 6 approach.

Plus, night time gives Ground vehicles a chance to shine. So next time instead of logging off, jump in a tank & go blow em up!
Give it a try, who knows, you might like it!

Hey Ghosth!

Wait a minute, at night (not twilight), it is impossible to see your opponent.  There is ZERO visibility.  Maybe you can see him if you're both low near a field (something that is illuminated), but in the air?  No way!  There is no light.

I read 'Pacific Aces against the Japanese' (something like that) and one of the tales was a night fighter tale.  It was a specially adapted corsair with very short range, on-board radar.  He was vectored onto his target by ground based radar and when he got within a mile or so, his onboard radar guided him the rest of the way.  He eased up on his target until he could the exhaust flare and bingo.  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)

If we could get 1) on board radar and 2) exhaust flares (so we could see to shoot), gosh yeah, that would be a blast!

But, what going on in Aces High right is pure horse puckey.  Yeah, yeah, I know, some folks enjoy it and that's fine -- their $30.  Some folks like quake too.

But answer one question guys, just one!  What in the world does our current night flying have in common with actual night operations in WW2?

AKcurly
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: Ripsnort on May 29, 2001, 07:28:00 AM
Write me in for "Likes diversity in a simulation".
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: JimBear on May 29, 2001, 07:36:00 AM
The drop in players couldnt have anything to do with people logging off to sleep from East and Central US Time zones? End of the long weekend and all that.  

2nd Ripsnort, I like the diversity also
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: AKDejaVu on May 29, 2001, 07:38:00 AM
Ooooo... you know what would be even more diverse... is if we had a period of time where the axis of our joysticks were reversed and we had to fly around the arena like that.

Diversity does not always equate to simulation.

The nightime effect is cool... and it serves a purpose for things other than the MA.  In the MA it lasts entirely too long and serves to force VERY a-typical engagement situations.  Turn off icons at in night-time and you'll figure out just how a-typical that was.

fighting icons is not the type of diversity that is needed in the arena.

AKDejaVu
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: jihad on May 29, 2001, 07:58:00 AM
Unless I feel like flying a bomber or driving my dweebhicle  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif) <Ostwind> I just log off.

Some like it some don't - keep it for the ones who do, it won't kill ya to do something else for an hour will it?
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: Ripsnort on May 29, 2001, 08:04:00 AM
 
Quote
Originally posted by AKDejaVu:
Ooooo... you know what would be even more diverse... is if we had a period of time where the axis of our joysticks were reversed and we had to fly around the arena like that.

Diversity does not always equate to simulation.

AKDejaVu

Hmm, don't know if switching the axis's of a flight control was a "historical effect" in WW2, but I know night time was...was also a squeak to fly in, being dark and all... (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif)

Deja, rather than attack someones opinion of the night time, why not just stick to your opinion?

Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: rosco- on May 29, 2001, 08:05:00 AM
  Ive logged on a few times in the past week only to log off due to night. Its a great feature for senerios and such but no thanks for MA. Totally ruined my last squad night.

Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: Dux on May 29, 2001, 08:07:00 AM
I like the night.

My 2¢.
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: Trell on May 29, 2001, 08:08:00 AM
I dont really like flying at night eather but i dont want it gone. i think night is a great idea. i just love to sit in the tower and watch the fights above going on.

btw alot of my squad logs at 11 est every night for work the next day. so i am guessing alot of others do to.

Trell
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: SeaWulfe on May 29, 2001, 08:12:00 AM
Actually Ripsnort, there was a flight of WASPs (or WACs... err I ferget the abbreviation for the women that flew fighters from their plants to other fields and stuff) that had several (more than 20) planes with crossed controls. They figured the problem out in flight and had to learn to compensate for it before they landed.

Just some useless trivial information brought to you by me. :-)
-SW
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: JimBear on May 29, 2001, 08:15:00 AM
 (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/rolleyes.gif)

[This message has been edited by JimBear (edited 05-29-2001).]
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: Ripsnort on May 29, 2001, 08:16:00 AM
 
Quote
Originally posted by SeaWulfe:
Actually Ripsnort, there was a flight of WASPs (or WACs... err I ferget the abbreviation for the women that flew fighters from their plants to other fields and stuff) that had several (more than 20) planes with crossed controls. They figured the problem out in flight and had to learn to compensate for it before they landed.

Just some useless trivial information brought to you by me. :-)
-SW

WOW!  Cool story! Of course, the way women drive, that might have seemed *right* for them....JUST KIDDING!  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)

Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: Yeager on May 29, 2001, 08:19:00 AM
Yup, the uniqueness of night seems to ware off more with each setting sun.  Seems like half the time I log on its getting dark.

Results:  At night I cant see the damned M3s and rarely kill them but whenever Im in an M3 at night, I cant get anywhere near the NMY without being blasted byt my dearest comrades with NVG.

Frustrating as hell for me it has been all around.

Y
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: Weave on May 29, 2001, 08:20:00 AM
Put me down as an advocate of the night.
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: Mox on May 29, 2001, 08:20:00 AM
I like the night, keep it.

If you're looking for fun killers, look no further than DAR being down for 2 hours while your being gangbanged.

Mox

Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: Citabria on May 29, 2001, 08:33:00 AM
twilight should last much less time

actual night is kinda neat but it happens too often and is annoying

makes people log off no doubt about it.
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: aknimitz on May 29, 2001, 08:43:00 AM
Just to voice my opinion, I hate night.  It is a nice attraction, and pretty to look at, but everytime it comes I go (or get in a vehicle if I am that bored).  

The way the current night is implemented, there is just no way to actually find planes unless you are fortunate enough to see them over the ground.  What fun is this?  Flyin' around to get shot down by someone that was literally impossible to see?

Nim
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: Dux on May 29, 2001, 08:50:00 AM
Just as a side note... do any of you guys have any idea just how difficult it is to see another plane in the air in broad daylight in real life...?
Flying at night in AH is easier than real flying in daylight.


4¢ total now.
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: AKcurly on May 29, 2001, 08:59:00 AM
 
Quote
Originally posted by Dux:
Just as a side note... do any of you guys have any idea just how difficult it is to see another plane in the air in broad daylight in real life...?
Flying at night in AH is easier than real flying in daylight.

4¢ total now.

Sorry Dux, that's just not true.  At night (not twilight) in AH, there is zero light.  You have a chance of seeing your opponent only if he flies in front of an illuminated surface (moon, airfield & etc.)  In real life, at least I have a chance of seeing the aircraft.

curly
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: SeaWulfe on May 29, 2001, 09:07:00 AM
I can see planes and icons fine at night... I'm using custom colors (a dark blue and dark purple)... I guess it's just some cards and monitors don't illuminate properly.
-SW
ps: I like everything AH does.... but I'm easy to please.
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: AKcurly on May 29, 2001, 09:22:00 AM
 
Quote
Originally posted by SeaWulfe:
I can see planes and icons fine at night... I'm using custom colors (a dark blue and dark purple)... I guess it's just some cards and monitors don't illuminate properly.
-SW
ps: I like everything AH does.... but I'm easy to please.

Hey, a squaddie is going to help me!  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)  Ok SW, imagine the following: You have icons turned off; you are at 10,000 feet; it is night, not twilight.  Please tell me how you can see planes.  I was unaware there was a custom color for plane surfaces!  Hot damn, I'm going to make enemy planes white! I can see white at night!  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)

curly
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: SeaWulfe on May 29, 2001, 09:29:00 AM
I can see the planes flying around at night, not because of the icons... my icons are so dark that at night I can barely even see them.. but I can see the dots moving along against terrain. I just keep swiveling my head, to make sure nothing is behind me.
-SW
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: Lephturn on May 29, 2001, 09:44:00 AM
I do know that some folks find dusk and night MUCH darker than others.  My V5 renders the darker hours beautifully, but I know some others with various nVidia cards that just couldn't see a damn thing in Hostile Shores when the twilight came on.  I was fine, it was just dusk to me, but to others it was pitch black.

I think this difference has a lot to do with who likes night and who doesn't.  I love it, but I can see enough to fight in it.  Those who's video cards put them in pitch when the sun goes down I'm sure don't like it at all.

------------------
Sean "Lephturn" Conrad - Aces High Chief Trainer

A proud member of the mighty Flying Pigs
http://www.flyingpigs.com

Check out Lephturn's Aerodrome (http://lephturn.webhop.net) for AH articles and training info!
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: SeaWulfe on May 29, 2001, 09:49:00 AM
V5 5500 here as well Leph, 32bit colors... this may be the difference between seeing a well rendered night time and a pitch black sea of nothingness.
-SW
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: Wlfgng on May 29, 2001, 10:24:00 AM
It must be the hardware...I can see ok at night and enjoy the fights.

I also turn up the brightness on my monitor and can see dots that way...

have the guys that say they can't see squat at night tried that??? it helps.

I had some great fights at night under the clouds!  It was awesome.  One of the few films that I'll keep.


IMO... keep the night!
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: darling on May 29, 2001, 11:11:00 AM
Dux said:
 
Quote
do any of you guys have any idea just how difficult it is to see another plane in the air in broad daylight in real life...?
Looking out of the window right now, I can count several planes in the pattern of the local airport. Most of them are cessnas, but I can see a Katana maybe 3-4 miles out. It's overcast, visibility 15 miles or so. When I'm actually practicing flying I can often spot planes up to 7-8 miles off, or even 10-15 miles if they are Fokker Friendships or Islanders. So no, I don't know how hard it is to spot another plane, actually I find it quite easy in clear weather.

I love the night time, I like to boogie, in the disco liiiiiight.
But get rid of it anyway, numbers decrease too much when it's on.

------------------
1st Lt. Hogni "Darling" Gylfason
332nd FG "Flying Mongrels"
143rd Pursuit Wing
 (http://peterson.gm.is/img/darling_143.jpg)

[This message has been edited by darling (edited 05-29-2001).]
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: MrLars on May 29, 2001, 11:23:00 AM
If HTC is keeping tabs on our preferences, I say keep the night <and no more perking planes just 'cause people don't like gettin' killed by them <G>. I use a GeForce card and have no problems at night. The immersion factor is greatly enhanced by it IMO.

------------------
Lars
***MOL***
Men Of Leisure
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: Gunthr on May 29, 2001, 11:33:00 AM
Keep it and keep tweaking please... I love it.

Gunthr
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: Graywolf on May 29, 2001, 11:59:00 AM

I like the night too. I'm even daft enough to try and fly anti-armour missions in pitch darkness. Keeps you on your toes that does  (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif)



------------------
Graywolfe <tim@flibble.org>
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: Dux on May 29, 2001, 12:18:00 PM
Okay, maybe it is a hardware issue. If your settings/hardware don't give you at least a halfway decent night vision, it would be much harder. I guess I'm lucky in that respect.
   Incidentally, Darling and Curly, I was referring to seeing aircraft FROM another aircraft. Spotting planes from a stationary spot on the ground against a sky backdrop is one thing... I'm talking about looking through distorted, hazed plexi canopy, added to cockpit management tasks, added to an endless horizon of ground clutter. Sure you can spot planes, but are you spotting them all? Are you sure? You'd be surprised.
   Tough call on the hardware issue, though. With a moon as big and full as we get in AH every "night", illumination should be better.

But I still have loads of fun at night. I hope they keep it.
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: hazed- on May 29, 2001, 12:36:00 PM
******BROADCAST BY FAIRNESS POLICE**********************


SIMPLE ANSWER IS 1 DAY WE HAVE some 'nightime' THE NEXT DAY no'nightimes'

50/50  give and take...those that like it happy those that dont happy(well 'happyISH in AK's minds, hehe those guys NEVER entirely happy)


************* END BROADCAST****************

------------------
Hazed
9./JG54
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: SOB on May 29, 2001, 12:41:00 PM
I like it.  I'll usually up a bomber or vehicle mission in it, but I don't mind flying a fighter in it either.
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: Wlfgng on May 29, 2001, 12:43:00 PM
LOL Hazed.. the AK's ...   hehe
Title: Tell me again why this is a good idea.
Post by: SeaWulfe on May 29, 2001, 12:46:00 PM
Hazed, I hear that they are removing all the feeble LuftWiener planes...
Run along now.
-SW