Friday 2009-12-04 Screenshots Update discussion thread

[Eldur]

Originally Posted by Lucas_From_Hell

People aren't really thinking of business here: the more options, the better (for the game and for sales). It was the same on that dicussion about pilot in-cockpit (I know it won't happen, but it can be used to demonstrate the ideology): if you can make two options to please two different groups, do it. Just because it doesn't please YOU it doesn't mean that the idea is stupid and useless. Someone will use it (otherwise they wouldn't be requesting and discussing the subject).

Right. I might also suggest something regarding the "wonder woman view". It would be great if there would be split options. One option that allows the use of simple gauges and another that allows rotating through normal cockpit, half transparent cockpit, no cockpit and "guncam view". The simple gauges could show lots of information. It should be possible to see all information that you normally could read in the cockpit gauges.
I think Rise of Flight has pretty good simple gauges.



I love the red limit thing in the RPM gauge. Getting in there can seize the engine. The cool thing about it: The limit changes depending on the engine temperature. Actually you can see what the max RPM is for a cold engine for example. You actually have to warm it up. The compass also shows the wind direction, if there's wind. The small gauge in the upper row center just shows the radiator flap position, throttle and mixture.

Originally Posted by Insuber

Nice idea, that would be a great training tool to understand aces' techniques ... but what about privacy ? (kidding of course)

It could be a selectable option of the server "view from others' cockpits", why not ?

Something like Ctrl+F2, just with F1
Asked for that ages ago. Would be great.

Originally Posted by Oleg Maddox

There is minimal dots 2x2 pixels in Il-2. They are always the same minmal size doesn't matter which resolution using players as well as they disapearing also on one the same distance with any resolution.

That makes the problem. Higher resolution = the pixels are smaller and therefore harder to see. I kept flying at 1024x768 for that reason, online and offline. Until Vista 64 forced me to use my desktop resolution as there's absolutely no fix for the good old 60Hz bug in x64. At least for Il-2 (=OpenGL it just won't work, other DX games are fine). And I have a hard time spotting things now with just 1280x960. 1600x1200 makes me virtually blind.
And I think the dots are just 1x2 pixels (mostly one dark and one bright next to each other). Was a 2x2 black dot back in the old Il-2 though.

Originally Posted by Foo'bar

Drop tanks explode? Ah...

Normally they shouldn't. But under certain circumstances yes. When I drop a half-full tank and some bombs at the same time (and the don't get separated too much on their way down), the bomb explosion should make the fuel burn/explode, increasing the power of destruction. The same goes for shooting incendiaries or HE shells into the tank when it's still on the plane.

[AdMan]

It's a much more fulfilling experience to learn to read gauges and pilot an airplane based on the viewpoint a pilot actually has, external and no-cockpit views is already noob enough. The idea to have certain levels of realism and training to advance the skill level of less experienced pilots is the right way to go. Make it too many arcade options then you just make it too easy for those who simply don't want to learn and spend too much time catering to the arcade crowd rather than focusing on actual simulation.

[Eldur]

Originally Posted by AdMan

It's a much more fulfilling experience to learn to read gauges and pilot an airplane based on the viewpoint a pilot actually has, external and no-cockpit views is already noob enough. The idea to have certain levels of realism and training to advance the skill level of less experienced pilots is the right way to go. Make it too many arcade options then you just make it too easy for those who simply don't want to learn and spend too much time catering to the arcade crowd rather than focusing on actual simulation.

Right, therefore it's an option that can be disabled. I might add that performance tests in Il-2 have been done with arcade cockpit, just because it gives TAS values. I would really love not just to learn the gauges, but also all the buttons. Try some radio usage in DCS Black Shark and you'll know what I mean . I still use the Win+Home to start everything, just because it's quite hard to learn the startup procedure. But it will be an achievement when I finally can do it by heart. WW2 planes don't have all these avionics, but still it's not just about pressing I and then pushing the throttle forward to take off. I want to do everything a real pilot had to do in the cockpit.