Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: earl1937 on June 22, 2013, 07:18:00 AM

Title: Lost Asset
Post by: earl1937 on June 22, 2013, 07:18:00 AM
 :airplane: It gives me a "sad", "sad" feeling to see players leaving the game who have contributed so much to this game! There is another on line sim game which is attracting players because of their graphics, but their aircraft "suck", when compared to Aces High! Some how, some way, someone has to get through to Hi Tech that the graphics system needs to be up graded to a more "realistic" feel when flying in this game.
There are a number of things which could be added to make the game a lot better and deter people from wanting to leave. Example: A Navy PBY4 aircraft assigned to each port, (5) each. The PBY4 would be stealth, would not show up on radar and would show no dar. These of course would be used to locate enemy CV groups and scout ahead on Naval aviation missions posted in the CV groups. They would not be able to be killed by anything except Japanese aircraft, although, I know, some were used in the Atlantic theater, but less keep it simple. This way they would not be "cannon fodder" for 262's and would be useful tools to players in the game.
Aircraft sitting around on ramps and hangars, ground vehicles moving about on bases, maybe even some ground personnel moving about to make it more realistic! More trains moving about on all the different maps to promote more Hvy fighter attacks on same.
Clouds! I know that they are working on this at AH, but if other sim games can have clouds without interfering with ones computer frame rate, then AH can do the same!
Bring back the Curtis C-46 Commando, which AH thought was a C-47 when I first came into the game, only have 3 assigned to any one base, but they would be able to carry 3 boxes of field supplies for base and strat resupply.
How about some "grass" aerodromes, such as those that were in Germany and France and other countries during the WW2 theater of operations. Would be kinda neat to see 10 ME-109's or something similar, taking off, line abreast, just like they did during the WW2 war!
Multi section bridges which can be destroyed and damage points awarded for such?
There is just a ton of things that can be done with this game and without question, would, because of the aircraft modeling, garner the majority of on line sim players.
And it would probably make Hi Tech a "billionaire"!!!! LOL
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: zack1234 on June 22, 2013, 08:29:21 AM
There is nothing up with the game :old:

Stop moaning and have fun :)
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: Shifty on June 22, 2013, 08:31:41 AM
There is nothing up with the game :old:

Stop moaning and have fun :)

Indeed

Here Here

Tish tosh and all that rot!   :aok

 :salute
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: Myg on June 22, 2013, 08:49:14 AM
Its best not to be ignorant of your surroundings, but not put down by them either. Yes, alternatives will take players away from the fold, that is inevitable. I really like some of the ideas, like the grass fields and "stealth" pby's. I think storch's should be like that as well. It would certainly open up another front of playing.
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: uptown on June 22, 2013, 08:56:07 AM
What if HTC just wants a good, affordable product that's easy to manage with relatively low overhead?  Why do they have to become the Starbucks of flight sims? Maybe HTC doesn't want to cater to millions of customers.

If I were a business owner I'd want to keep it small, yet profitable enough to make a decent living.



BTW.....I'm all for the PBYs @ ports  :aok
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: asterix on June 22, 2013, 09:11:39 AM
Example: A Navy PBY4 aircraft assigned to each port, (5) each. The PBY4 would be stealth, would not show up on radar and would show no dar. These of course would be used to locate enemy CV groups and scout ahead on Naval aviation missions posted in the CV groups. They would not be able to be killed by anything except Japanese aircraft, although, I know, some were used in the Atlantic theater, but less keep it simple.
You have got to be kidding on this one.  :rofl Right?
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: KG45 on June 22, 2013, 09:42:24 AM
been playing flight sims and other games for 12+ years. game play was and is infinitely more important to me than graphics.

there is no MMPOLG that compares to AH in terms of playability, accessibility, scenarios, player participation and volunteerism (CMs), product support, and price.
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: Zacherof on June 22, 2013, 11:34:36 AM
Correct me if I'm wrong, but ist the pby4 a modified B24D with a single rudder?
Thus the privateer requires a runway to operate, as it lacks the required floats and boat hull of a flying boat.
Therefore I don't see it operating out of a port as it doest have a runway.

Slight difference between the b24 and pby4, the engines are placed vertically as oppose to horizontaly, it has a single massive rudder as oppose to the tail boom it had before, It has 2 top turrets, a different nose turret, different blister positions, and not sure if it had a ball turret.

 http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolidated_PB4Y-2_Privateer

http://www.timemoneyandblood.com/HTML/aircraft/americanAircraft/privateer.html
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: Lusche on June 22, 2013, 11:40:18 AM
Correct me if I'm wrong, but ist the pby4 a modified B24 with a single rudder?

No that was the PB4Y  The PBY4 would be a Catalina variant (PBY-4).
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: Zacherof on June 22, 2013, 11:44:07 AM
Oh................ :uhoh :bolt:

All these designations for naval aircraft are not for the tired minded :old:
my mistake guys. Thanks lusche  :salute







P.s. I wouldn't mind have this bird :t
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: Wiley on June 22, 2013, 12:41:48 PM
It is really starting to irk me how many people think better graphics is something you just 'turn on'.  I wouldn't bother to count the number of posts stating they need to do a new graphics engine, or license cryengine, or move to DX11 or whatever.

If they did that, that's just swell.  Now, to take advantage of that they have to redo every. single. piece. of artwork and models in the game.  Trees, buildings, ground textures, vehicle artwork, vehicle models.  Every bit of it would need to be redone.  Artwork is the vast majority of the work in a 3D game, not backend programming.  Also, every single map would need to be redone if they wanted higher detail on the ground shapes.

But yep, it's just that simple.  Recreate the entire game world.  Should only take a couple weeks, right?

/rant

Wiley.
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: gyrene81 on June 22, 2013, 01:31:00 PM
i think Earl found his grass stash from '65...and it may have been dusted with some pesticide.
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: SirNuke on June 22, 2013, 01:37:20 PM
It is really starting to irk me how many people think better graphics is something you just 'turn on'.  I wouldn't bother to count the number of posts stating they need to do a new graphics engine, or license cryengine, or move to DX11 or whatever.

If they did that, that's just swell.  Now, to take advantage of that they have to redo every. single. piece. of artwork and models in the game.  Trees, buildings, ground textures, vehicle artwork, vehicle models.  Every bit of it would need to be redone.  Artwork is the vast majority of the work in a 3D game, not backend programming.  Also, every single map would need to be redone if they wanted higher detail on the ground shapes.

But yep, it's just that simple.  Recreate the entire game world.  Should only take a couple weeks, right?

/rant

Wiley.

the AH2 engine is 9 years old, thank you for the rant
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: gyrene81 on June 22, 2013, 01:39:27 PM
the AH2 engine is 9 years old, thank you for the rant
and yet, here it still stands when every other mmo flight sim has come and gone. says something about perception doesn't it...

the real question is, if you dislike it so much, why are you still here lurking in the forums?
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: LCADolby on June 22, 2013, 01:40:53 PM
AcesHigh is in desperate need for a more efficient graphics engine.
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: SirNuke on June 22, 2013, 06:15:12 PM
and yet, here it still stands when every other mmo flight sim has come and gone. says something about perception doesn't it...

the real question is, if you dislike it so much, why are you still here lurking in the forums?

wait are we talking about the graphics, me, or the game? cause I still like the game, not the graphics tho, and I still log in from time to time.
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: helbent on June 22, 2013, 06:47:11 PM
The true games have never been about graphics.

My brother talked me into flying in 97 in AW, I played for a bit and said "man these graphics SUCK!"  He then told me that the game was not about the graphics.  He was correct then, it is correct now.  Graphics are merely the eye candy and when it comes to a knock down drag out sweating and shaking hands fight, they mean very little.

I am confident that HTC knows this, but I will mention it anyway.....

Pay no heed to these type of posts and keep doing what you are doing to provide an excellent product.
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: LCADolby on June 22, 2013, 09:11:53 PM
Immersion factor is aided by visuals.  :old:
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: zack1234 on June 23, 2013, 04:51:11 AM
When I started playing this game I was told it was a WWII combat sim not WWII flight sim :old:

I play Rise of Flight and I have a top of the range PC, the Graphics are good but multiplayer is not as good AH :old:

Graphics are good in AH on my PC :old:

How Disrespectful is this to the AH team and all the other people who like the game?

How many people complaining about the game have scores in double figures is the interesting point :)
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: HawkerMKII on June 23, 2013, 05:36:59 AM
When I started playing this game I was told it was a WWII combat sim not WWII flight sim :old:

I play Rise of Flight and I have a top of the range PC, the Graphics are good but multiplayer is not as good AH :old:

Graphics are good in AH on my PC :old:

How Disrespectful is this to the AH team and all the other people who like the game?

How many people complaining about the game have scores in double figures is the interesting point :)


Just like the graphics, who care about score or rank.....remember it's all about the combat :x :x :x :x
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: Rich46yo on June 23, 2013, 06:28:42 AM
The graphics are dated. 1/2 the membership is gone. Game play is poorer.

The rest is denial.
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: gyrene81 on June 23, 2013, 08:20:33 AM
The graphics are dated. 1/2 the membership is gone. Game play is poorer.

The rest is denial.
and you think the loss of subscribers is due to the graphics? must be an interesting planet you're on...
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: The Fugitive on June 23, 2013, 09:14:41 AM
and you think the loss of subscribers is due to the graphics? must be an interesting planet you're on...

While I don't think it is the main reason it IS a reason. I'm sure many of the new players who check this game out as well as World of thunder and others looking for a "flight game" give it bad marks right off the start due to the graphics. You have to admit the other games graphics look far superior to these. If your looking to buy a car and of the ten sitting in front of you one looks really cool, which one are you going to look at the most?

Sure if your smart enough your NOT going to base your choice on looks alone. The other factors are not in HTC's favor either. Price, the other have free to play.... no brainer for most "gamers" these day. Ease of play, again the others are much easier to play, heck you don't even need a joystick to be competitive right out of the box. Game play, not sure about the others, but here your IN a horde, or trying to fight AGAINST a horde during "prime time US". Community, again I don't know about the others, but here we can have a pretty toxic community, both here on the boards as well as in the game. Yesterday afternoon the topic was religion on 200. I squelched a bunch of people and it was ok, but then the Bish horde won the map and I got to do it all over again.

What pluses does this game have to someone who jumps in for their 2 week trial? Understand that a newbie isn't going to be able to appreciate a great flight model, nor the damage model nor the game play options available as they are relentlessly hammered both in the sky, and verbally on the radio.  

So what is "good" about Aces High for the newbie?
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: matt on June 23, 2013, 10:03:13 AM
While I don't think it is the main reason it IS a reason. I'm sure many of the new players who check this game out as well as World of thunder and others looking for a "flight game" give it bad marks right off the start due to the graphics. You have to admit the other games graphics look far superior to these. If your looking to buy a car and of the ten sitting in front of you one looks really cool, which one are you going to look at the most?

Sure if your smart enough your NOT going to base your choice on looks alone. The other factors are not in HTC's favor either. Price, the other have free to play.... no brainer for most "gamers" these day. Ease of play, again the others are much easier to play, heck you don't even need a joystick to be competitive right out of the box. Game play, not sure about the others, but here your IN a horde, or trying to fight AGAINST a horde during "prime time US". Community, again I don't know about the others, but here we can have a pretty toxic community, both here on the boards as well as in the game. Yesterday afternoon the topic was religion on 200. I squelched a bunch of people and it was ok, but then the Bish horde won the map and I got to do it all over again.

What pluses does this game have to someone who jumps in for their 2 week trial? Understand that a newbie isn't going to be able to appreciate a great flight model, nor the damage model nor the game play options available as they are relentlessly hammered both in the sky, and verbally on the radio.  

So what is "good" about Aces High for the newbie?
Question sir when the rooks win the map is it because of a horde. or only when bish win?
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: zack1234 on June 23, 2013, 10:08:21 AM
The graphics are dated. 1/2 the membership is gone. Game play is poorer.

The rest is denial.

Are you telling me Hitech creations have not a got a AH on par with all the other flight simulators in regards to graphics :rofl

AH will always have a limited niche market in regards to gaming :)

I know everything there is to know about this market....................... ..............oh I don't :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl 
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: Slade on June 23, 2013, 10:12:08 AM
Quote
The true games have never been about graphics.

I agree.

I also agree the current trend in perception is that games must BLOW YOU AWAY graphically for the game to be good...and they'll eventually get around to the content stuff or not.

My son is a hard core gamer.  The "hard core" name is abused.  Let me put it this way.  He is and has been ranked number one on various current game engines.  He has a level of objectivity that most do not poses.  He also has a tech day job and is doing well for his age.  My point in bringing this up is that he and those near his skill level feel that game quality, AI and depth of play is currently suffering hugely during this current graphic mania trend.  They feel it is being done to dumb down games for the masses.

I salute AH for staying commited to the flight model and other aspects that we all cherish...and getting around to that uber graphic stuff would be cool...or not.

Slade  :salute
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: guncrasher on June 23, 2013, 11:05:48 AM
I keep hearing on wot how their airplane game is a big fail.  why don't you try it. I did, its bad.


semp
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: Lusche on June 23, 2013, 11:13:06 AM

IMHO a lot of people on both sides of the arguments here do have a very limited point of view and often use only their own, personal pet peeve as the sole argument for or against everything.
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: zack1234 on June 23, 2013, 11:22:36 AM
How dare you!

I demand a full apology! :old:
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: Lusche on June 23, 2013, 11:23:41 AM
How dare you!

I demand a full apology! :old:


No, I won't.


Are you going to do the glove slapping thing now?  :x
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: The Fugitive on June 23, 2013, 11:28:06 AM
Question sir when the rooks win the map is it because of a horde. or only when bish win?

Don't know, I haven't seen the Rooks win a map in a while  :neener:

When I was on yesterday the bish were using 30-40 guys to take V bases. I don't know what you call that, but I call it a horde. If they would have split their force and took 3 V bases at the same time I would have applauded them for their skill at the game. Instead I get to shake my head observing the lack of game play.
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: LLv34_Dictonius on June 23, 2013, 11:45:15 AM
Maybe its not the graphics but the community that has gotten it all wrong and drives the new comers away with their ideas of how this game should be played. Maybe, just maybe, a new simultor is met with this expectation of a fresh air. Maybe it is the enchantment of the blank slate. That the players get to do their own rules of conduct within this new game community?

I find AHII just fine considering the graphics, but there are lots of other things that we can do to improve the game experience...
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: zack1234 on June 23, 2013, 11:59:20 AM

No, I won't.


Are you going to do the glove slapping thing now?  :x

Only if rubber is involved :old:
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: The Fugitive on June 23, 2013, 12:18:53 PM
Some of the graphics could be taken care of by players. Case in point, look at the map Fester was working on.

(http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x205/p38fester/ahss32.jpg)

No pyramids there. It seem that the tools are there if there is a willingness to put in the time to do it. Unfortunately Hitech has already said if he hired someone to build maps he would have him working on a bunch of other stuff instead anyway.  :(

Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: Lusche on June 23, 2013, 12:22:32 PM
Only if rubber is involved :old:

I'm game!  :x
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: ImADot on June 23, 2013, 12:28:19 PM
Here are some screenies of the MA terrain I started over a year ago, but haven't worked on for a while. The water is just there to show where water is; the last thing I would do after everything else is done is to texture the coastlines. And this is all with the standard textures - nothing custom at all.

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll239/ViperDriver/AcesHighII/Terrain%20Samples/HQ2BayLookback.jpg) (http://s289.photobucket.com/user/ViperDriver/media/AcesHighII/Terrain%20Samples/HQ2BayLookback.jpg.html)

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll239/ViperDriver/AcesHighII/Terrain%20Samples/HQ2Bay.jpg) (http://s289.photobucket.com/user/ViperDriver/media/AcesHighII/Terrain%20Samples/HQ2Bay.jpg.html)

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll239/ViperDriver/AcesHighII/Terrain%20Samples/ahss18.jpg) (http://s289.photobucket.com/user/ViperDriver/media/AcesHighII/Terrain%20Samples/ahss18.jpg.html)

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll239/ViperDriver/AcesHighII/Terrain%20Samples/ahss15.jpg) (http://s289.photobucket.com/user/ViperDriver/media/AcesHighII/Terrain%20Samples/ahss15.jpg.html)

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll239/ViperDriver/AcesHighII/Terrain%20Samples/ahss14.jpg) (http://s289.photobucket.com/user/ViperDriver/media/AcesHighII/Terrain%20Samples/ahss14.jpg.html)

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll239/ViperDriver/AcesHighII/Terrain%20Samples/ahss13.jpg) (http://s289.photobucket.com/user/ViperDriver/media/AcesHighII/Terrain%20Samples/ahss13.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: earl1937 on June 23, 2013, 01:13:33 PM
Here are some screenies of the MA terrain I started over a year ago, but haven't worked on for a while. The water is just there to show where water is; the last thing I would do after everything else is done is to texture the coastlines. And this is all with the standard textures - nothing custom at all.

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll239/ViperDriver/AcesHighII/Terrain%20Samples/HQ2BayLookback.jpg) (http://s289.photobucket.com/user/ViperDriver/media/AcesHighII/Terrain%20Samples/HQ2BayLookback.jpg.html)

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll239/ViperDriver/AcesHighII/Terrain%20Samples/HQ2Bay.jpg) (http://s289.photobucket.com/user/ViperDriver/media/AcesHighII/Terrain%20Samples/HQ2Bay.jpg.html)

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll239/ViperDriver/AcesHighII/Terrain%20Samples/ahss18.jpg) (http://s289.photobucket.com/user/ViperDriver/media/AcesHighII/Terrain%20Samples/ahss18.jpg.html)

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll239/ViperDriver/AcesHighII/Terrain%20Samples/ahss15.jpg) (http://s289.photobucket.com/user/ViperDriver/media/AcesHighII/Terrain%20Samples/ahss15.jpg.html)

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll239/ViperDriver/AcesHighII/Terrain%20Samples/ahss14.jpg) (http://s289.photobucket.com/user/ViperDriver/media/AcesHighII/Terrain%20Samples/ahss14.jpg.html)

(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll239/ViperDriver/AcesHighII/Terrain%20Samples/ahss13.jpg) (http://s289.photobucket.com/user/ViperDriver/media/AcesHighII/Terrain%20Samples/ahss13.jpg.html)
:x Now you are talking! Looks great, but it just isn't the graphics as everyone implies! There are a number of things which could be added to the game to make it look more realistic!
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: Myg on June 23, 2013, 01:20:50 PM
I am sorry guys, but none of these screenshots look any better then what we have now.

There is still a definate lack of polygons, because that's just how the maps are limited at the moment.

If you simply doubled the amount of polygons, or quadroupled them; you would instantly notice a HUGE difference to what we have now.

Now if HTC can't do something about it, fine; we should accept that. But let us not kid ourselves over a few select screenshots that are no different from what we normally see in the arenas.

(New MA maps are always welcome of course)
Title: Re: Lost Asset
Post by: zack1234 on June 23, 2013, 03:51:44 PM
I am not looking at trees that much to honest :rofl