Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: SD67 on August 28, 2008, 06:58:00 AM
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Long I know, but I think it's worth the look.
I did a little offline night flying tonight to see just what it's like. I have quite a few screenshots.
The map is the Africa map currently in AvA I picked this map because it gives a good idea of just how far out land visibility starts.
The video settings are 1024 and the Hi-Res pack is installed. Visibility and detail sliders are maxed out, standard gamma settings are applied.
First I left icons on and headed out over the water.
The Horizon over the water is not as easy to see (but you already know that)
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss9.jpg)
The water as viewed from 10K.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss10.jpg)
The next two are just shots of the moon and cloud.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss11.jpg)
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss12.jpg)
The next illustrate the aforementioned distances of ground visibility at night.
First 25 miles from shore at 10K.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss13.jpg)
Next 10 miles, you can just pick out the coastline.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss15.jpg)
Lastly 8 miles offshore.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss17.jpg)
Here I'm about to go feet dry at 10K and I'm getting first icon on the cons.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss18.jpg)
Here I'm getting a closer look at the base from 10K.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss19.jpg)
I decided to get a look with no icons so I augered and reupped with icons off.
More to come.
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So this is looking up at the cons circling the runway as I roll. As you can see the aircraft is clearly visible in front of the ack.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss20.jpg)
Next is forward during the rollout.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss21.jpg)
And back at the T34 beside the runway. It's at this point I'm thinking it would be good to try this again later on a darker map.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss22.jpg)
Even so, the ground is clearly visible. If you need to turn your gamma up to miss this you need help.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss23.jpg)
This next shot is supposed to be of the first two cons I see. It's hard to see here though but the cons were pretty easily to see.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss24.jpg)
Another shot of the aircraft, but also difficult to see on the SS, but I had no troubles seeing them at all.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss26.jpg)
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Back in those days when the darkness of night was a regular part of the solar cycle, many players simply pushed their gamma settings up. Rumor has it that the griefers cried a river of tears all the way to Grapevine.
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I chose this type of approach because I wanted to see how they appeared without friendly ack pointing at them.
Next we have some shots looking down at the base as I close in on the first con I was looking at.
It's all pretty clear but I'll do this again tomorrow with a darker map.
You can see the con pretty clearly now
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss28.jpg)
The ack has no trouble seeing me that's for sure :lol
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss29.jpg)
No trouble hitting them at night either, but then again they aren't shooting back either ;)
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss31.jpg)
Again hard to see, but this is checking out the next con in line.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss32.jpg)
But that ack has got to go :lol
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss33.jpg)
As you can see there is no trouble seeing the targets on this map, I'll post a darker one tomorrow.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss34.jpg)
Now I'm not getting shot at, back to the issue of seeing the aircraft.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss35.jpg)
Pretty clearly a P51D :)
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss36.jpg)
Close escort?
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss37.jpg)
A P38 on the other side of the ring.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss41.jpg)
Closer. Still no troubles picking it out.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss42.jpg)
And there they are.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss43.jpg)
If this was the MA he'd be very surprised at the sudden disappearance of his lead ;)
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss44.jpg)
Going home.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss45.jpg)
There it is!
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss46.jpg)
Approach.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss47.jpg)
Trimmed up hands free in landing configuration.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss48.jpg)
And it's back on the deck.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss49.jpg)
All up I really do not see the same issues with night we used to have. I say bring it on!
:rock
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I fail to see whats the gameplay improvement with the night, it just hinders the fight. It just show how crappy is the lightning in AH, and its not realistic either (the night furballing).
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It just show how crappy is the lightning in AH, and its not realistic either.
Of course it's not realistic....it's a VIDEO GAME :uhoh
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edited
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I fail to see whats the gameplay improvement with the night, it just hinders the fight. It just show how crappy is the lightning in AH, and its not realistic either (the night furballing).
What he said... x 2
Now to the original topic poster...
I think it was Christmas night that HTC came in with his Santa Clause sleigh and turned the lights out. It was cool at first but after about 10 mins it's got old very fast. It sucked to fight in the dark and you have to remember not everyone has the latest and greatest video cards. So there were quite a few that claimed they couldn't even see icons.
It was next to impossible to see a con dropping in from above until it was almost too late. The other thing is your terrain in bright desert. the MA's have a darker ground so it's harder to see. The other thing was it was very hard to set up the other con, because it was very hard to see which direction & angle the con might be turning.
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Under the old night settings all I could see were stars unless I turned up my gamma. I couldn't even tell if I was flying upright or inverted without looking at the instrument panal. So I got in the habit of turning up the gamma. Then I was a night terror as most couldn't see me but I could see them clearly.
I wouldn't mind seeing night come back but I don't see what will be different about it this time around. Some will have their gamma turned so low they won't be able to see a thing and log off every time night falls, others will turn gamma up to see clearly and accusations of gaming the game will run rampant on the BBs.
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Night debate? I thought that was dead and buried long ago. Novelty for a few minutes but it soon turns into long threads of whines to turn it off. Hence it was left out years ago and hopefully never return to the MA.
<S>...-Gixer
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I fail to see whats the gameplay improvement with the night, it just hinders the fight. It just show how crappy is the lightning in AH, and its not realistic either (the night furballing).
I like the night! ofcourse you'd have to remove enemy icons or it's completely useless! Actually--> please remove enemy icons anyway! :rock
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I like the night! ofcourse you'd have to remove enemy icons or it's completely useless! Actually--> please remove enemy icons anyway! :rock
Yeah put icons off, and keep killshooter on !!! That is promising.
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I liked night settings when they were on
The problem was 1. - as mentioned lots players set gamma up to unrealistic settings - so those who didnt were at a clear disadvantage
2. People logged off in droves
3. - All you had left were the 25k milk running buffers
The one time I had a ball in a night setting was a semi organized - i believe in the old combat tour arena - event
Someone organized a 15 or so players bomber run -they took either lancs or 17's so it could be fun for the buffers too - - with about 10 escorts-109's and 190's
And the other side was all ponies - targets were known by all - they were to come in at 20 to 25k - and the ponies were to stop them - was a blast in the dark - hard but fun - supposedly no one was to mess with the gamma settings - im sure some did - but never the less - all had a good time
NwBie
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I did some more on the mesa map and I did notice some differences, I have pics with icons off and on.
The GV's from the air with icons off are a little harder to see, especially the T34.
The aerial cons are much the same and you can still get clear icon right out to 6k. Admittedly it's hard to pick the cons from the stars out of icon range but the movement still gives them away.
I'll post the pics up tomorrow since it's 01:30 now and I'm tired :lol
The ground and the bases are still pretty clear, no more needing to max out your Gamma to avoid CFIT. :aok
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Yeah put icons off, and keep killshooter on !!! That is promising.
Just enemy icons! The resolution is pretty good these days so identifying at least type of aircraft is pretty easy!
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Next time go into the Arena Settings and look for ColorLight(night) and move all three siders all the way to the right.
THEN take your pics. and post them. Huge diff.
When properly setup, Night is basically as clear as day.
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The 1st I heard of Aces High was when Flossy told other squaddies that she had gunned on a lancaster during a night bombing mission on a sim called Aces High.
Nuf said. I was hooked.
After AW folded, we bought subscriptions to AH.
AH is still fun. I played last week for a couple days. It is VERY much more point and shoot than it used to be. Retooled for the kids. Less my cup of tea than it was. Still fun mind you. But not like it was.
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The way Aces used to handle the night cycle was in my oppion perfect. I don't know why everybody complained so much. ...I enjoyed it!
They had it set to where it went all the way dark and then it started towards dawn. In reality It was only night for about 5min. It seems pretty lame to complain about 5min of darkness.
Total time from Sun down to Sun up was maybe 30-45 of twilight ...dark ...dawn ...what is so hard about that? In reality it was only hard to see for maybe 20min at most?
I found flying in the twilight/predawn light very enjoyable. Also the stars looked great and you could even use them to navigate by!
Why don't the whiners just adjust their gamma? ...and let the rest of us enjoy it?
Better yet, since folks dislike it so much just log off for 30min? ....gee whiz you cant live w/ out aces high for 30min? ...go eat a sandwich maybe?
.....Maybe fly an attack run? ...or a bomber run? ...up a tank? ...for the brief period of night? ......it's so tuff to deal with aint it?
Frankly I'm pretty damn tired of having to listen to the "Furball Mafia" endlessly complain about how they can't furball every second of their lives. I have never had a problem flying a fighter in the dark and since most of the complainers are better pilots then me I can't uderstand how they are so jaded that they can't deal with it? ....yeah god forbid you should have to compromise with anybody? ......gee whiz :furious
Helm ...out
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I think helm's description of 30 minutes tops would be acceptable in a 24 hour period of online play.
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Never had a problem with night flying, alot of combat took place at night.
It was a bad move, for years to come.
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GV battles at night are pretty intense and fun! :rock
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I really want my very limited playing time to be screwed by night. You kids can play all day, some of us have to work for a living though. Night just hampers the fight, it's only fun for squeakie toolshedders sneaking around trying to hide.
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I really want my very limited playing time to be screwed by night. You kids can play all day, some of us have to work for a living though. Night just hampers the fight, it's only fun for squeakie toolshedders sneaking around trying to hide.
Oh come on .....so you have what 30min to fly??...and it just so happens that the 30min you have to fly occurs at exact moment we have night time? ...B.S.
....so we should all pay the price so you can have your 30min of flying time?
I'm not a freaking kid...and I do not play all day.
Helm ...out
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I think the pattern of this thread and every other night thread, is that a good number of those who use to fly when night was around don't want it back. and those that yet to experience it do. Simply because it's different and anything different must be good. Even for 30 minutes night was a pain. Everyone complained when it was time to come in, crank up the gamma and brightness and carry on. Those that didn't adjust their monitor were left with a disadvantaged, having to be in a bright sunny room at the time was even worse.
Time AH moved on from this same old graphics engine and useless features like night. At least introduce some realistic cloud layers and a weather engine would be 100 times better and might actually draw some new players in rather then night which will fill the forums with whines as it did first time around.
If you want night save it for those little FSO scenarios or what ever they are.
And someone mentioned improved resolution? That hasn't changed either, use to look just great on my 21" CRT at 1600x1200 when I first started playing.
<S>...-Gixer
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I think the pattern of this thread and every other night thread, is that a good number of those who use to fly when night was around don't want it back. and those that yet to experience it do. Simply because it's different and anything different must be good. Even for 30 minutes night was a pain. Everyone complained when it was time to come in, crank up the gamma and brightness and carry on. Those that didn't adjust their monitor were left with a disadvantaged, having to be in a bright sunny room at the time was even worse.
Time AH moved on from this same old graphics engine and useless features like night. At least introduce some realistic cloud layers and a weather engine would be 100 times better and might actually draw some new players in rather then night which will fill the forums with whines as it did first time around.
If you want night save it for those little FSO scenarios or what ever they are.
And someone mentioned improved resolution? That hasn't changed either, use to look just great on my 21" CRT at 1600x1200 when I first started playing.
<S>...-Gixer
Useless features? ....what is useless about night flying? ...it takes more skill? ....5min of darkness is NOT beyond your abilities ....give me a break
war is about weather and environmental conditions ...it's not conducted in a test tube ...yes ...sometimes its dark...and it rains ...snow...etc etc
you act like it's going to be night time 24 hrs a day 7 days a week ....come on
Helm ...out
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Useless features? ....what is useless about night flying? ...it takes more skill? ....5min of darkness is NOT beyond your abilities ....give me a break
war is about weather and environmental conditions ...it's not conducted in a test tube ...yes ...sometimes its dark...and it rains ...snow...etc etc
you act like it's going to be night time 24 hrs a day 7 days a week ....come on
Helm ...out
War you say...i thought this was a game. Thanks for filling us in. :rolleyes:
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I don't even like the silly twilight that we have now. Going full night would cause me to log off for sure. No sane developer intentionally incorporates a feature that will drive away customers.
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I remember the old night, it was a PITA and I didn't like it a whole lot, but things have changed in the last couple of years.
If it was the way it is now I wouldn't have minded as much.
I'll be uploading the new SS's I got early this morning of the mesa map we see in the MA today.
I have also included some shots on the ground from the GV perspective.
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Useless features? ....what is useless about night flying? ...it takes more skill? ....5min of darkness is NOT beyond your abilities ....give me a break
The only skill required is cranking up the gamma and brightness, making it null and void.
<S>...-Gixer
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Since we now have many arenas All I propose is that ONE arena gets some night in it's time cycle.
I'm confident that those that try it now (It has been a long time since it was a regular feature) will like it and the extra challenge it brings!
:aok
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You're using a desert terrain. It's easier to see the planes. Use NDISLES (Tank Town) or something along those lines :aok
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The only skill required is cranking up the gamma and brightness, making it null and void.
<S>...-Gixer
Doesn't really help that much... ex...
Gamma 1.0
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/AK_Comrade/nightgamma1.jpg)
Gamma 2.05
<edit> nvm, I guess trying to take an SS of that doesn't work.
2ish seemed to be the highest before stuff started turning white.
BTW that's the darkest the arena seems to get. 5:30 at night with the colorsky[night] setting manipulated to make it darker.
Here's what night looks like on RhineSum (standard MA tiles)
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t5/AK_Comrade/nightgamma3.jpg)
BTW, night not only makes things darker, but it lowers the contrast. No matter how much brighter you make it through gamma the contrast will be lower (it will be harder to see things).
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I have experienced night on a very limited basis. (several Christmas eves, with Santa) :)
Not really sure if I liked it or not. (Not you Santa!)
Wouldn,t mind trying it again. Search lights would be kinda cool.
If I didn't like it,I would just adjust the gamma to my liking and continue playing.
I certainly wouldn't complain about it!! :furious
I have much less trivial things to complain about in here. :D
Your favorite stargazer,
Boner
Ya know now that I think of it, night would be greatly enhanced by the occasional appearance of an Aurora Borealis or Haleys comet type event!
Break out some wine and put on some Tangerine Dream, and go huntin. :rock
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OK The map is the Mesa map from the MA.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss50.jpg)
As expected it's a little darker but you can still clearly see the ground.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss53.jpg)
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss55.jpg)
Cons are not as easy to see in screenshots as on the desert terrain but their movement gives them away very easily.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss58.jpg)
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss57.jpg)
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss64.jpg)
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GV's are a little harder to spot from the air without icons
The Tiger
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss63.jpg)
The T34
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss65.jpg)
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OK now with icons on.
The GV's are a lot more visible from the air as usual.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss77.jpg)
As are the aircraft
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss81.jpg)
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss80.jpg)
The view from outside the tower.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss86.jpg)
Finally the views from the GV's perspective
The Manned ack
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss89.jpg)
A T34 from the drivers seat
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss90.jpg)
The T34 and Tiger as seen through the boresight.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss91.jpg)
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a217/sarahjeanb/Peters/ahss88.jpg)
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I just don't want to play "icon tag". As a noob I kindof enjoyed night time, I just had to put gamma up with the ATI overlay tool and had a chance of killing pple that weren't gaming the game. Freebie.
On the last night thread we kindof agreed on putting a night time on blue arena, so pple have a choice.
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The only skill required is cranking up the gamma and brightness, making it null and void.
<S>...-Gixer
My point exactly ...whats the big deal about night time?....just like you said if it bothers folks turn up your gamma. To be honest I have never needed to do this. I can see fine. Since it only takes a few seconds to adjust gamma I just cant see what the problem is?
Helm ...out
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I don't even like the silly twilight that we have now. Going full night would cause me to log off for sure. No sane developer intentionally incorporates a feature that will drive away customers.
It's a level playing field that applies to the enemy as well. They have the same level of light. It certainly is more difficult to fly in low light conditions. If you have some much trouble with it, maybe give yourself a "hard deck" of 2k over the ground and you will have no issues? Thats what I do at night. If i am bold enuff to violate my hard deck restriction then I pay more attention to what I'm doing at that moment.
Helm ...out
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On the last night thread we kindof agreed on putting a night time on blue arena, so pple have a choice.
The thing is, it's not really a choice. If you prefer the Blue Arena with its lower numbers (usually), you then have night imposed on you. Either that or you have to go to an arena where you prefer not to play. That doesn't seem like "choice" to me.
Having played this game for a very long time, I remember the issues with night. When night set in, about 1/3 of the players simply logged off, returning after about an hour. Due to the relative time cycle, you may find yourself in logging in at sunset, night or sunrise for several days in a row. Not fun for many.
If night were to be introduced again, I would suggest that it be done in a 3rd Late War arena. That provides true choice, but at the risk of diluting arena population even further.
My regards,
Widewing
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The thing is, it's not really a choice. If you prefer the Blue Arena with its lower numbers (usually), you then have night imposed on you. Either that or you have to go to an arena where you prefer not to play. That doesn't seem like "choice" to me.
Having played this game for a very long time, I remember the issues with night. When night set in, about 1/3 of the players simply logged off, returning after about an hour. Due to the relative time cycle, you may find yourself in logging in at sunset, night or sunrise for several days in a row. Not fun for many.
If night were to be introduced again, I would suggest that it be done in a 3rd Late War arena. That provides true choice, but at the risk of diluting arena population even further.
My regards,
Widewing
Might i add make it perpetual night. That way we can really see who wants night. I'd predict you'd see an empty arena.
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War you say...i thought this was a game. Thanks for filling us in. :rolleyes:
This is a game is an attempt to be a War simulation. Environmental conditions play a huge part in all military endeavors. Battles are not fought in a test tube under perfect conditions.
Helm ...out
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I give up. Night is so easy to deal with.
1) if you dont like it or cant deal with it turn up the gamma
2) You can do what I do and set yourself a "Hard Deck" of 2k above the ground
It's sad that so many great pilots struggle with this. I am a terrible pilot yet I can handle it with no sweat.
Helm ...out
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Might i add make it perpetual night. That way we can really see who wants night. I'd predict you'd see an empty arena.
I got an even better idea!...let's make it 12 noon 24 hrs a day ...7 days a week :rolleyes:
.....oh and while you are at it, get rid of the clouds as well... :rolleyes:
Get rid of those annoying mountains...sombody might be able to hide behind them! ....remember this is a "Game" not a simulation!!
Helm ...out
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I like the night! ofcourse you'd have to remove enemy icons or it's completely useless! Actually--> please remove enemy icons anyway! :rock
Turn off icons with ALT-I and let's see how quickly you turn them back on.
With all sides flying all planes you have no clue who is enemy and who isn't.
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I give up. Night is so easy to deal with.
1) if you dont like it or cant deal with it turn up the gamma
How about instead you turn down your gamma and brightness: hey presto! insta-night.
Widewing is spot on with the logging and it being night, it was particularly frustrating when i only had a couple of hours spare on the weekend to play.
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I got an even better idea!...let's make it 12 noon 24 hrs a day ...7 days a week :rolleyes:
.....oh and while you are at it, get rid of the clouds as well... :rolleyes:
Get rid of those annoying mountains...sombody might be able to hide behind them! ....remember this is a "Game" not a simulation!!
Helm ...out
Great idea no more sun in my eyes and no more attempts at hiding in the clouds. While you at it can you get rid of the fog on minni pizza map? Hiding the cv in it sucks. :aok
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Turn off icons with ALT-I and let's see how quickly you turn them back on.
With all sides flying all planes you have no clue who is enemy and who isn't.
Graphics are quite good now, I can tell type of plane from about 1.5 to 2 K ;) ofcourse the model may not be known till to late ;) Any way for me to turn icons off would put everyone else at a distinct advantage so it would be useless if it isn't population wide :D I'm very suprised with all the history buffs who play this game that there isn't more support for disabling enemy icons :frown: friendly icons could still be inplace so comunication was still effective! just my $.02
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Those that want to can disable icons. Alt+I will do it for you.
I know of at least one person who flies in the MA with icons disabled. Somehow he still lands kills :aok.