Cliffs of Dover - A N00b's Perspective

[ATAG_Snapper]

Originally Posted by Heavy_Cavalry_Sgt

Words to live by, but even min specs + min settings should = playable.

+1

This sim is brutal for newcomers to get up & running. I hesitate to use the term "noob" because many who are new to Cliffs of Dover have countless hours under their belts with other challenging combat flight sims -- they know their way around a cockpit, to put it mildly.

I am a strong proponent of CoD (proud to be a fanboi! ), but there's something very wrong in having to work step by step with the newly-initiated to just get the damn thing running on their usually up-to-date PC's.

The other array of problems are well documented (I've done my share of whining.....Be Sure!). Hopefully 2012 will bring huge improvements to CoD, even if it has to be under the auspices of a sequel.

[Vengeanze]

Originally Posted by ATAG_Snapper

I am a strong proponent of CoD (proud to be a fanboi! ), but there's something very wrong in having to work step by step with the newly-initiated to just get the damn thing running on their usually up-to-date PC's.

My thoughts exactly.

Perhaps add to the manual "After installation it is strongly advicable to go to the official forum and get free help with tweaking or you will not be able to play the game."

[ATAG_Snapper]

Originally Posted by Vengeanze

My thoughts exactly.

Perhaps add to the manual "After installation it is strongly advicable to go to the official forum and get free help with tweaking or you will not be able to play the game."

Heh, wouldn't hurt. A few links to the forums would be helpful.

Most common complaint for newcomers is "the psychedelic instrument panel" (turn epilepsy filter to OFF). Stutters can be reduced by disabling Desktop Composition in the launcher.exe properties. Frame rates greatly boosted by turning off certain features in the sim's Options/Video menu, and turning other features down. Spitfire/Hurricane mirrors toggled to "OFF" in-game will yield many systems a jaw-dropping 10-15 fps increase, etc etc etc

Probably should have a sticky in each forum: "Before starting CoD for the first time, read this and FREAKING DO WHAT IT SAYS!" Many of us have got CoD running very well (per the many YouTube videos), but a lot of tweaking and head scratching came first for lots of us.

I have to think future patches will address this. Firing up a new sim should give you an "Aha - moment"; not a "WTF! - nightmare". LOL

[Heavy_Cavalry_Sgt]

Well, good news! I was able to return the game. Steam was kind enough to make an exception to their normal policies and issue a credit.