Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: lasse on January 21, 2003, 12:14:16 PM

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: lasse on January 21, 2003, 12:14:16 PM

I know there is much work to do until AH II gets released.

Will we get releases on the current AH version, while you are working on AH II ?
Or does the work on this version end now, and the focus will be 100% on AH II in the future ?

I know you never respond to "when" questions, but I have to ask, do you plan to release AH II in 2003 ?

Keep up the good work :)


Regards
Lasse

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: Mini D on January 21, 2003, 12:15:59 PM

If I had to guess...

They are going to need new planes in AHII to complete planesets.  Those planes should be addable to AH.

MiniD

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: hitech on January 21, 2003, 12:29:26 PM

Game plan is to do some graphic open beta testing with a compatible to the current version of AH.

Simlar to when we were upgrading to a different DX version before.

HiTech

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: Revvin on January 21, 2003, 01:06:36 PM

HT> Does this mean AHII will be a totally new graphics engine or an major update to the existing one?

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: nuchpatrick on January 21, 2003, 01:14:36 PM

HT> You say you get one 1 avatar per side.. so if we fly Allies do we get 1 life, but multipul reups..ie... can we land replane or rearm/re-fuel the a/c?  Also, If I bail..from my damaged a/c or get a ditched a/c.  How does that effect the avatar? No reup even though were not killed.

Also, how will this work with squads? Or will squads not work with the mission arena.

BTW, It's a great idea I hope it works!!!  I for one would drop the MA in a heart beat for this!

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: hitech on January 21, 2003, 01:16:59 PM

revvin: Isn't that simple of question,what consist of a total new GE? There are many parts to a GE.

A few of the main pieces,are board level interface,terrain drawing, object drawing,speacial effects, and user interface.

Over the years ive changed chuncks of a GE a lot of times, infact in the life of ah we have changed some big chunks.

The real net effect of GE changes is what do you see on the screen, not weather you change the whole thing.

So now what realy is your question? I.E. what do you wish to see that your wondering if a ground up rewrite of a GE will occure?

HiTech

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: Octavius on January 21, 2003, 01:19:22 PM

Awesome on the open beta!  

But..

Its sounding like AcesHigh II will be a separate application?  Will this be a separate bill ($14.95/mo) too?

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: vorticon on January 21, 2003, 01:24:28 PM

hmm open beta...that means people can play during the beta without pay right???

anyway im assuming that more german bombers will be added eventually because if they arnt then the axis will be seriously disadvantaged

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: Revvin on January 21, 2003, 01:25:18 PM

I appreciate the work that's been done on the engine even if it's purely from an end users POV with the various DX enhancements you've made use of. From an end users POV if I can word this right is from a users point of view will this be a totally new engine ie the kind of change from a users POV that Warbirds went through from say WBI to WBII (D3D) or WBII to WBIII? I know there are still many parts to a GE but does this explain my question better? purely from an end user who only see's the end product and not the systems that go together to make that end product such as the object drawing etc.

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: vorticon on January 21, 2003, 01:36:18 PM

will we be able to get our own plane (kind of like in red baron) once we get to the highest ranking??? that way if we lose our plane we have to buy a new one and customize it...

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: hitech on January 21, 2003, 01:38:50 PM

To that I would say yes.
Terrain will be completly different.

Special Effects will change.

Planes will have more damage effects along with better textures.

HiTech

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: Paxil on January 21, 2003, 01:47:16 PM

Awesome! This will be a very exciting year for AH.

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: Mickey1992 on January 21, 2003, 01:54:10 PM

Will ALL sorties be mission-based?  Will there be no last minute joining as a gunner, or manning field or CV ack?

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: Revvin on January 21, 2003, 02:03:18 PM

Thanks for clearing that up HT

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: lasse on January 21, 2003, 04:04:05 PM

Thank you HiTech, for a quick answer :)

Open beta sounds excelent :D

Lasse

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: culero on January 21, 2003, 06:01:10 PM

HT, I realize a precise answer probably isn't possible, but can you estimate approximately how much the minimum system requirements will be increased due to the changes?

Or, on a more personal level - will my P3-550/512MB PC100RAM/32MB AGP TNT2 system that runs AH now just fine be able to handle it? :)

culero

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: NUTTZ on January 21, 2003, 06:06:06 PM

HiTech, a quick few questions.
Will a new TE come out with AHII?

Also, I don't know if this is slated but can ambient or a reflective light sourse be coded?
Example: Terr0000 (Water)  would reflect more light than Terr0005 (forest) and "shiney" objects? Metal opposed to cloth?

NUTTZ

Quote

Originally posted by hitech
To that I would say yes.
Terrain will be completly different.

Special Effects will change.

Planes will have more damage effects along with better textures.

HiTech

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: NUTTZ on January 21, 2003, 06:10:50 PM

Hiyas Ol' Bud:)
I know the newer Graphics cards have pixal shading. I would Imagine HiTech would take advantage of this. So, I think ( just my observation) AHII would be in addition to AH , and I doubt your system you would see the full effect, unless there is a user end filter like F3,F2,F1 as we have now, or something of this nature.

NUTTZ

Quote

Originally posted by culero
HT, I realize a precise answer probably isn't possible, but can you estimate approximately how much the minimum system requirements will be increased due to the changes?

Or, on a more personal level - will my P3-550/512MB PC100RAM/32MB AGP TNT2 system that runs AH now just fine be able to handle it? :)

culero

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: ChuBBs on January 21, 2003, 06:17:43 PM

Will damage have puffs of smoke and fire like in CFS2?

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: brendo on January 21, 2003, 08:34:19 PM

Thanks for the announcement, I am very much looking forwards to developements. (volunteers to be a graphics tester person)

Most people say that they are excited by this news, but I expect that you guys at HTC would be personally very excited yourselves. It will definately be even more interesting times for all you guys in the office.

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: lasse on January 22, 2003, 06:44:24 AM

I do still wonder, will we se AH II this year ?

I shure hope so ;)

Lasse

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: Arlo on January 22, 2003, 12:37:52 PM

Probably will with the Harry Potter fireball patch (curious look).

;0)

Quote

Originally posted by ChuBBs
Will damage have puffs of smoke and fire like in CFS2?

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: culero on January 22, 2003, 07:52:13 PM

punt ;)

Quote

Originally posted by culero
HT, I realize a precise answer probably isn't possible, but can you estimate approximately how much the minimum system requirements will be increased due to the changes?

Or, on a more personal level - will my P3-550/512MB PC100RAM/32MB AGP TNT2 system that runs AH now just fine be able to handle it? :)

culero

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: Vulcan on January 22, 2003, 09:15:53 PM

What about bump mapping for the sheep?

Title: HEY Hitech
Post by: Dlamb on January 22, 2003, 09:34:35 PM

i Would Like to be a beta tester how do i become one heh?

Title: Re: HEY Hitech
Post by: lasse on January 23, 2003, 08:46:34 AM

Quote

Originally posted by Dlamb
i Would Like to be a beta tester how do i become one heh?

If you (HiTech) consider this, please choose people after when they signed up as a customer, that way you get more experienced people to testing it out ;):p

[Member since Day one of open AH beta, and 1.06 of Warbirds]
:DLasse:D

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: Eagler on January 23, 2003, 08:52:38 AM

hope it doesn't go down the road FA did

from FA to FA2 major graphic changes changed the game for the worse for me and others

wouldn't want to see the planes jump from the tight little icons to huge framerate eating monsters say of IL2 - the graphics change would affect the gameplay in probably a negative way

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: culero on January 23, 2003, 09:03:10 AM

~innocent whistle~ :cool:

Quote

Originally posted by culero
HT, I realize a precise answer probably isn't possible, but can you estimate approximately how much the minimum system requirements will be increased due to the changes?

Or, on a more personal level - will my P3-550/512MB PC100RAM/32MB AGP TNT2 system that runs AH now just fine be able to handle it? :)

culero

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: Shane on January 23, 2003, 09:05:06 AM

Quote

Originally posted by culero
~innocent whistle~ :cool:

i doubt he can give any answers until they actually have something to test.... or even some design specs in mind.

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: culero on January 23, 2003, 04:34:23 PM

Prolly so, I was just hoping that a WAG was possible. If a quantum leap forward in requirements is gonna be necessary, it'd be nice to be able to start planning. Like I said, ain't looking for anything precise, just a "mas O menos" guess.

culero

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: Shane on January 23, 2003, 04:50:09 PM

Quote

Originally posted by culero
Prolly so, I was just hoping that a WAG was possible. If a quantum leap forward in requirements is gonna be necessary, it'd be nice to be able to start planning. Like I said, ain't looking for anything precise, just a "mas O menos" guess.

culero

 

considering all the AI (programming *and* actual planes) that will be involved, along with the hordes trying it out initially, i'd say yeah, it's gonna take  mas.  plus new gfx engine and what not.

Title: Question for HiTech.
Post by: Wlfgng on January 23, 2003, 05:55:36 PM

Quote

hope it doesn't go down the road FA did

oh ye of little faith.... have patience.


Pixel shading option please :]
oh btw HiTech.. what do I owe you now?  I need to  know how deep I am in debt so I know what I can bribe you with in the future...
(I got the reduced Icons I wanted)