Well, regarding that ROF screenshot, it definately doesn't represent highest quality settings. Looks like it's even set to low landscape (which you definately don't need to set, if you can run CloD...).

However, the terrain in ROF looks more generic and very flat at longer distances. Especially at the horizon it looks a little off. Worst thing however, are the trenches, roads, railroads etc. They just look sticked on top of the normal landscape (which they practically are) and make the engine look older than it is.

I prefer the CloD landscape, because it seems more unique and less generic, but it's still far from perfect. The colors still look funny and i could live with a bit less bump mapping. Also while the water looks very well from high altitude, it seriously suffers when you fly low. I think ROF has the edge (only at low altitude though), even without the new 3d water of the coming update.

As for the future looking bright etc., i don't think that's true for either ROF or CloD...

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/7124/new3uh.jpg
By furbs9999 at 2011-07-31

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/8195/day5g.jpg
By furbs9999 at 2011-07-31

And not a landscape, but something else missing from CLOD...

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/8981/new5fx.jpg
By furbs9999 at 2011-07-31

Beautiful SE5a pic it looks so crisp. :)

Map size, while presenting a set of initial challenges, is not a large problem in this day and age.

Streaming, instancing, etc etc solves the performance issue completely.

The best clouds I have seen implemented in a current game are most likely the ones present in ArmA 3.

I believe they use a middleware which I cannot recall the name of now-- alas all cloud solutions based on real-world light scattering shader tech look quite alike.

http://www.arma3.com/full/wp-content...t_1107_025.jpg

http://img.youtube.com/vi/I0untAgEncI/0.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DOvMJkppCv..._arma3_2_4.jpg

There is actually a way to increase the saturation setting in ROF which can improve things for those finding it too washed out.

You need to edit the startup.cfg file located in Rise of Flight / Data.

Change the saturation setting from the default of 0.75000 to whatever floats your boat (mine is currently at 0.81500).

http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/...__23_11_14.jpg

Also, I'm no expert on this but the ROF manual says:

Shader Quality. This setting affects the appearance of certain graphical effects such as the appearance of the water, lighting and ground. You can choose from Low, Medium, High and Maximum. When you choose maximum the ground will have a special texture applied to it to look bumpy and this is called Parallax Mapping. Parallax mapping is triggered when you fly close to the ground

So is Parallax Mapping the same as Bump Mapping?

This is parallax mapping..

http://www.wingsofhonour.com/news/20...80x800x24b.jpg

Like I said ROF is nicer when close to the ground, above it I prefer cod.

Parallax Mapping is a more advanced shader technique than bump mapping, but in laymans terms-- they serve the same purpose.

A proper parallax shader gives real feeling of depth, even if the render perspective is close to the surface, whereas normal/bump maps are lacking in this area. Parallax shaders are also these days expanded to tesselate and properly offset a surface:

http://www.abload.de/img/1n93h.jpg

At the end of the day both games look amazing, but RoF has more polish due to being out for longer.

http://www.wingsofhonour.com/news/20...80x800x32b.jpg

http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/a...720_214012.jpg

This is what parrallax mapping looks like in RoF

http://riseofflight.com/SharedResour...12_04_06/1.jpg

[QUOTE=Skoshi Tiger;458837][QUOTE=Bob_Marley;458836]Rise of flight has nice clouds.:grin:

Ill have the ROF trees any day over CLOD trees!!