Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: Manedew on November 01, 2004, 10:59:18 AM

Title: animated water
Post by: Manedew on November 01, 2004, 10:59:18 AM
I like it for the most part .. it's nice looking .. .just seems to much of a 'static' feel around the edges ..it feels like refelctions should be more angled to sun and be less of flickers alltogether ....

it just seems like overkill on my FE with the flickers ... but other parts are great.

anyone else feel flickers could be toned down a bit?  they are nice .. but too much now IMHO
Title: animated water
Post by: streetstang on November 01, 2004, 11:03:31 AM
The water looks real sweet. Not to much feed back on what I think should be diff about it.

But I will say that when its on, and I'm in a plane, it looks like a slide show. Its not "smooth" in any way for me.
Title: animated water
Post by: moot on November 01, 2004, 11:04:35 AM
Looks too much like video snow from afar.
Title: animated water
Post by: Swoop on November 01, 2004, 11:07:14 AM
From altitude, the sun reflection on the water looks like.........white noise.  On my system it's a pixelated mess that looks......well......horrible .

Is my card too old for this?   GF4 4600Ti 128Mb.

(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/209_1081438631_swoop.gif)
Title: animated water
Post by: oboe on November 01, 2004, 11:19:38 AM
Odd, I don't see any difference whatever with the water.  I double checked my video setup, and the new Hardware Texture checkbox IS enabled.

I have a Radeon 9800 Pro, 128 Mb.   Seems like I shoudl see something close to that film of the new water Hitech posted a few weeks ago.
Title: animated water
Post by: Swoop on November 01, 2004, 11:21:36 AM
Quote
Originally posted by oboe
Odd, I don't see any difference whatever with the water.  I double checked my video setup, and the new Hardware Texture checkbox IS enabled.
 


in game go to video setup, the one with the slider bars for graphical detail.  On that screen is a checkbox for animated water.  Click it.

(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/209_1081438631_swoop.gif)
Title: animated water
Post by: Manedew on November 01, 2004, 11:56:43 AM
looks better for me now .. updated vid driver ... but also suns not setting

 maybe setting sun makes it look worse.....or vid driver makes it look better ..... ?
Title: animated water
Post by: Captain Virgil Hilts on November 01, 2004, 12:29:36 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Swoop
in game go to video setup, the one with the slider bars for graphical detail.  On that screen is a checkbox for animated water.  Click it.

(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/209_1081438631_swoop.gif)



I don't have that checkbox. I downloaded the patch a couple hours ago.
Title: animated water
Post by: hitech on November 01, 2004, 12:30:28 PM
If you don't have the check box, your card dosn't support it.
Title: animated water
Post by: Captain Virgil Hilts on November 01, 2004, 12:36:03 PM
Thanks, I thought that was the case.

As an after thought, I suppose the dark water is part of the new water effect?  Makes it real hard to see on the deck, and forces those with lesser video cards to pay a price for a feature they don't get if it is.
Title: animated water
Post by: soda72 on November 01, 2004, 01:07:37 PM
Its a lot easier to see ships now with it enabled...
Title: animated water
Post by: AKIron on November 01, 2004, 01:13:20 PM
Pretty big frame rate hit for me. Running full AA on my 9800pro, water off: 92fps, water on: 12fps

Does look very nice though.
Title: animated water
Post by: oboe on November 01, 2004, 01:17:31 PM
OK I found the "Animated water" check box and enabled it.   From certain distances and angles, it does look amazingly like real water.

Up real close, or from quite a distance it sortof loses its realism though.  Not sure what it is - may the highlight color is a little too yellow?    Maybe the speed of the sparkle animation a little too fast?   Not sure.   Its a cool effect for little frame rate hit though.
Title: animated water
Post by: United on November 01, 2004, 03:51:00 PM
Had the same problem Akiron.  I usually run around 80-90 OTD, but with new water im lucky to get double digits.

Im gonna screw around with texture settings though, I had mine all the way to 1024.

I must admit though, it looks great.
Title: animated water
Post by: Raider179 on November 01, 2004, 04:56:46 PM
Tried the animated water. Not sure what is going on with it but I dont like it. Cuts 20fps off my frame rate and it looks like static. More of a distraction than anything.
Title: animated water
Post by: 68DevilM on November 01, 2004, 05:15:35 PM
great!!!!

cant wait to download this patch, me with my little ati 9200 128mb card.

sounds like my ah days are about up until i can afford another card:(
Title: animated water
Post by: Tarmac on November 01, 2004, 05:27:58 PM
Quote
Originally posted by 68DevilM
great!!!!

cant wait to download this patch, me with my little ati 9200 128mb card.

sounds like my ah days are about up until i can afford another card:(


A hint: turn off the water effect.  No FPS hit then.  

Although it runs on my old gf4ti4200 with no noticeable frame rate hit.  

If you build it, they will *****.
Title: animated water
Post by: United on November 01, 2004, 05:38:46 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Tarmac
A hint: turn off the water effect.  No FPS hit then.  

Although it runs on my old gf4ti4200 with no noticeable frame rate hit.  

If you build it, they will *****.

Did you originally get 15 FPS? :D

I believe you because that card is better than the one I have, FX5200.
Title: animated water
Post by: eilif on November 01, 2004, 07:06:29 PM
its some of the best water i have seen in a game, up close its stunning, i ran the t34 right into it and looked at it from 2 feet away, really nice. as many have mentioned the frame rate hit me too. its strange how it works tho, at the close to medium distances its fine, something is going on with the horizon water animation tho, it goes all grainy like the normal terrain does if mip mapping is off.also when im looking at the granulated horizon this is where i get the 12 to 21 fps. All n all its a giant leap from the old water, but there are  still some tweaks to be done before i can play with it on. And as capt vergil hilts pointed out, the water is dang dark when its on the old default way. I lose the enemy in it when diving on em.
Title: animated water
Post by: KurtVW on November 01, 2004, 07:33:36 PM
I was really hoping the water would be a cool addition, but its got some problems...

1) Its a massive frame rate killer.. My FPS goes down to 12!!  I normally get >40 average.

2) its far to blue.

3) I agree with the above posts that its just a flickery mess at altitude.

I have disabled it but hope that it will be improved in an upcoming patch.
Title: animated water
Post by: Elfie on November 01, 2004, 07:36:06 PM
for me the new water is just a frame rate hog. I turned it off, dont plan on turning it back on anytime soon :)
Title: animated water
Post by: Dux on November 01, 2004, 07:51:32 PM
The effect is very nice, especially at low alt... no discernible FR hit for me.

...but...

That Godawful color, tho... 0-0-255 is not a color found in nature! :eek:
Title: animated water
Post by: rabbidrabbit on November 01, 2004, 08:05:18 PM
I killed it quickly too.. just looks wrong in most situations.  Wish I knew why I get such terrible frame rates with a higher end machine.. somehting still is not right.
Title: animated water
Post by: nopoop on November 01, 2004, 09:15:24 PM
Turned it off after one flight. Big framerate hit and I have the juice.

With it off the reflection on the water isn't too bad. But the contrast makes the water almost black.

Some more fiddlin is in order :D

487 in the Main when I logged.

That's good !!
Title: animated water
Post by: Waffle on November 01, 2004, 10:31:09 PM
I went from a steady 75 Fr to about 11 over the water...cant use it, plus looks a little funky to me - looks like static.


Amd 64 3200+
1.5 gb ram
ati 9500pro/9700
Title: animated water
Post by: Flyboy on November 01, 2004, 10:48:40 PM
Big FR hit for me too..

just a guess but i think only ATI based cards get the massive FPS drop.

i have a R9800P.. lowered the AA from x8 to x4 and AF to x8 from x16

still trying all kinds of configurations
Title: animated water
Post by: United on November 01, 2004, 10:50:01 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Flyboy
Big FR hit for me too..

just a guess but i think only ATI based cards get the massive FPS drop.

i have a R9800P.. lowered the AA from x8 to x4 and AF to x8 from x16

still trying all kinds of configurations

Ive got a GeForce FX5200 and I get the massive frame hits.

I tried everything but the most I can get is 17FPS with it on when Im usually around 100.
Title: animated water
Post by: vorticon on November 01, 2004, 10:52:21 PM
i dont even get it, but thats what i get for running 200mhz above min reqs... but the square of light water chasing me around is pretty cool...
Title: animated water
Post by: Flayed1 on November 02, 2004, 12:28:23 AM
I'm runnin a Radeon 9600 pro and had no FR hit what so ever with the new water.
Title: animated water
Post by: wasq on November 02, 2004, 02:38:26 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Flayed1
I'm runnin a Radeon 9600 pro and had no FR hit what so ever with the new water.
Radeon 9600pro as well: Frame rates dropped from 60 (max for me since my lcd is running 60Hz) to 12-20.
Title: animated water
Post by: Kermit de frog on November 02, 2004, 03:57:11 AM
I enabled animate water.

I all got was the sun reflecting off the textured water,
the sun had a polygonish reflection to it, no water moving.....:(

I got a TI4400 at 295mhz   128mb
P4 2.4Ghz
1gigDDR400 ram
8mbcache120gig harddrive

Is there a problem with water?
Title: animated water
Post by: moot on November 02, 2004, 04:02:55 AM
no problems or frame rate drop here.

P4 2GHz
512MB PC333
X800P
XP SP2
DX9c
latest drivers
Title: animated water
Post by: Manedew on November 02, 2004, 04:36:10 AM
here's a couple of water animation screen shots i made

In my opinion .. things look better lower ... the sun effect is too much at alt IMHO

but still pretty :D

(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/814_1099390167_ahss10-new.jpg)

(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/814_1099390220_ahss11-new.jpg)
Title: animated water
Post by: Gixer on November 02, 2004, 05:33:43 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Manedew
here's a couple of water animation screen shots i made

In my opinion .. things look better lower ... the sun effect is too much at alt IMHO

but still pretty :D



Does the sun move at all or just stay at around midday? As water colour, appearence is effected greatly my sun angle and cloud reflection. A big change would be adding colour differences to the water texture to a lighter colour close to land especially so for islands. Early days I guess for the water effects and these over time will probably be added.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/davest/water2.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/davest/water6.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v449/davest/water10.jpg)
Title: animated water
Post by: Flyboy on November 02, 2004, 06:45:42 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Gixer








 


You Bastige! :D
Title: animated water
Post by: Mak333 on November 02, 2004, 07:27:41 AM
Seems Odd.  Wouldnt they check these changes in a patch of several different computers before they put out the patch?  I do see your point where it is an OPTION, but still, if 99% of the computers can not run it smoothly, why put it out?
Title: animated water
Post by: Flayed1 on November 02, 2004, 09:25:12 AM
Ummm I think thats Y they put the on off toggle in the vidio setup. :)
Title: animated water
Post by: FiLtH on November 02, 2004, 09:54:58 AM
White noise is about right. It looks too solid around the edges if the light isnt reflecting off of it...like some of the desktop options in windows. Its cool its available, but I prefer no animated water for now.
Title: animated water
Post by: Halo on November 02, 2004, 10:13:31 AM
Yeah, when the update came out the water was so dark couldn't even see DE near the CV.  

Often when we get an update the gamma is at 1.0.  Fiddle with gamma setting to lighten the dark water.

Setup, Video, Video Settings, Gamma (e.g., moved from 1.0 to 1.6 to lighten water).
Title: animated water
Post by: Wurger on November 02, 2004, 10:42:48 AM
Water looks fine on my setup, and no FR hit either.  It looks especially cool when you have to bail out and float down to it and then when your sitting in it :D

Bazi
Title: animated water
Post by: dragoon on November 02, 2004, 12:05:56 PM
i turned it on...its looks good....i took a huge framerate hit down to 9 FPS....so i turned it back off. the water with it off is way to dark.


p4 2.26
512 ddr 333
geforce fx 5500 256 meg ddr 8x
jetway p4x400bp mainboard
soundblaster live
win98se
Title: animated water
Post by: mars01 on November 02, 2004, 12:22:40 PM
I turned it on, then took off.  Thought it was on, checked setup and noticed it was not on.  

Clicked it on and all these white spots were on the water.  Looked kinda silly honestly and frame rate hit was rediculouse so I turned it off.
Title: animated water
Post by: Raider179 on November 02, 2004, 02:05:57 PM
I dont know where those screenshots are from but  My animated water looks nothing like that. Is that AH2? Gixers screens that is


For realistic water check out CS:S or Joint Operation Typhoon Rising. These have really good looking water.
Title: animated water
Post by: United on November 02, 2004, 02:23:59 PM
Quote
I dont know where those screenshots are from but My animated water looks nothing like that. Is that AH2? Gixers screens that is

No, thats not AHII.

AHII water is what Manedew posted.

Be sure you changed your video settings to include animated water.  Its not on by default.
Title: animated water
Post by: Gixer on November 02, 2004, 02:28:58 PM
Water actually looks pretty good, just the colour is wrong and the sun reflection. But unfortunetly I took a massive frame rate hit, down to about a 11 to 15fps slide show at altitude with the water animation on. Which must be something wrong as I can run FS9 and very high detail with max clouds and animated water as in the pics above and still stay over 20 fps.

I guess it's early days for the water effect and HT will soon bring out a fix/updates look forward to seeing how it develops.

Personally for the water I'd rather just see something more basic but better texturing as in the pics, with changes in the water colour close to land,reflections and a coastline.

For a flight sim clouds make a much bigger difference, though unfortunetly clouds like FS9 would probabably make a bigger frame rate hit then the water. Though FS9 has a modification where the distant clouds are drawn in 2D instead of 3D which means even on a meidium system you can run max clouds which looks incredible.

I can live with ground and water detail cranked right down, just give me real world weather effects. Every time you log on the map would be different just because of the days weather.  :D



...-Gixer
Title: animated water
Post by: Gixer on November 02, 2004, 02:52:13 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Raider179
I dont know where those screenshots are from but  My animated water looks nothing like that. Is that AH2? Gixers screens that is


For realistic water check out CS:S or Joint Operation Typhoon Rising. These have really good looking water.



Sorry, I should of said. Those screen shots are from FS9 which by default has terrible water and effects, original animatated water looks like a sea of bubble gum. But with modification as above it can look pretty good. But again the big difference is that clouds effect the water texture from light blues to dark and greys. Plus it alters with water depth.



...-Gixer
Title: animated water
Post by: maik on November 02, 2004, 02:53:10 PM
THose who got Big FR-Hit might check there driver settings. If you have Antisotropic Filtering enabled(in the Driver),turn it off. Did the trick to me.

Running 9800 pro here.


greets
Title: animated water
Post by: 68DevilM on November 02, 2004, 04:25:23 PM
well i downloaded it last night and i must say

hightech!!

water and fire look awsome!

only problem i had was with when i tryed upping a env. limeted plane the game froze my computer up 4 times, dont know whats up with that..


ohh yeah forgot about the best part!

my framerates doubled

so much for thinking my little ati 9200 128mb video card would be crushed by this patch.
Title: animated water
Post by: mechanic on November 02, 2004, 04:29:51 PM
all round the new patch is great! :aok


only problem i can see with the new water is that when you dive vertically down, it is almost impossible to judge the distance to the sea. I think a few flecks of white water on wave crests (a la AH1) would greatly improve the depth perception for the diving plane.

other than that,   all looks great.

especially now we have extra planes for me to shoot down. :)

bat
Title: animated water
Post by: DipStick on November 02, 2004, 04:41:33 PM
Think it looks pretty good for first draft. A bit pixelated. Do wish it was lighter. Hard to judge distance like Bat said. Have 9700 Pro and had no FR hit.

PS... Like to see the water lighter closer to land like Gixer said. Also like to see the beaches back (that'd be great). Lighter bluish water overall.
Title: animated water
Post by: Stang on November 02, 2004, 09:18:17 PM
Hmmm, I get the reflection effect from the new water, and do think it's a nice start to better environment graphics, but I can't figgure why the water doesn't have that ripple effect that its supposed to.  Yes, I have the checkbox enabled for the water, for some reason it is reflective but it does not ripple.  Any thoughts?  :confused:
Title: animated water
Post by: Vulcan on November 02, 2004, 10:12:02 PM
mmm gixers right the water colours are wrong...

Poor HT, can't spell and colourblind :D

Title: animated water
Post by: Swoop on November 03, 2004, 01:25:58 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Stang
 Yes, I have the checkbox enabled for the water, for some reason it is reflective but it does not ripple.  


Me to.

I see the reflections (ok, let's call em white dots not reflections cos on my FE that's what they are) but I see no ripples.  Just a texture scrolling past.....

I get the impression this water effect is very dependent on graphics cards.  Apparently my GF4 4600Ti won't cut it anymore.

 (http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/209_1081438631_swoop.gif)
Title: animated water
Post by: thebest1 on November 03, 2004, 05:09:40 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Manedew
here's a couple of water animation screen shots i made

In my opinion .. things look better lower ... the sun effect is too much at alt IMHO

but still pretty :D

(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/814_1099390167_ahss10-new.jpg)

(http://www.onpoi.net/ah/pics/users/814_1099390220_ahss11-new.jpg)


My animation doesnt look like that mine looks ****ty!!!1
Title: animated water
Post by: mars01 on November 03, 2004, 05:20:14 PM
Problem is it still doesn't look like any water I have ever seen and not worth the FPS hit.
Title: animated water
Post by: Kaz on November 03, 2004, 08:55:53 PM
It's odd that some people are seeing frame rate hits while otheres aren't. I'm in the 2nd category, no frame rate hit and it gets better with alt.

Read something about either AA or AF being a factor, not sure about that but it's worth looking into.
Title: animated water
Post by: Joc on November 04, 2004, 04:09:21 AM
I usually have fps of about 50ish over water,turned the animated water on and I was down to 12fps LOL!:eek:
Title: animated water
Post by: Waffle on November 04, 2004, 04:15:13 AM
You should try the animated sheeps wool....FR hit down to 3.....:)
Title: animated water
Post by: Joc on November 04, 2004, 05:38:25 AM
Framerate of 1 wouldnt stop me chasing the wooly wonders! ;)