Friday Update, February 24, 2012

[phoenix1963]

I think the really interesting question raised by this much vehicle detail is whether Luthier et al have managed to distribute the AI control of many vehicles across many computers.

If they have managed this difficult job - hard because the AI actions have to appear to be the same on every flyers computer - then there's the possibility of very large (mostly AI) tank engagements with us flying ground attack - like Kursk.

I always felt that was one of the big limitations of il2 '46, the numbers of vehicles that could be handled was always too low.

Now, I suspect they haven't solved this problem, because it would mean huge amounts of data to be communicated. But if they have, and the "spheres of influence" effects that we see affecting ship positions may be a way of limiting communication load to nearby vehicles, then that really would be a huge step forward for the series.

56RAF_phoenix

[He111]

F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C !!!

World of tanks meets BOB! pity you couldn't FOV45 (close in)

cannot wait.

Do i see a BOM with Kursk option?

.

[Osprey]

Originally Posted by phoenix1963

I think the really interesting question raised by this much vehicle detail is whether Luthier et al have managed to distribute the AI control of many vehicles across many computers.

If they have managed this difficult job - hard because the AI actions have to appear to be the same on every flyers computer - then there's the possibility of very large (mostly AI) tank engagements with us flying ground attack - like Kursk.

I always felt that was one of the big limitations of il2 '46, the numbers of vehicles that could be handled was always too low.

Now, I suspect they haven't solved this problem, because it would mean huge amounts of data to be communicated. But if they have, and the "spheres of influence" effects that we see affecting ship positions may be a way of limiting communication load to nearby vehicles, then that really would be a huge step forward for the series.

56RAF_phoenix

AI activity is computed by the server and the 3D point in space of each object distributed to each connected player for rendering, but only those within visual range. That's how I understand it anyway. Offline it is all on your machine.

[Silver_Dragon]

Next infantry vs artillery and royal navy vs Kriegmarine...... and the battle of Britain has been complete. Of course, new planes and fixed the errors, and the future.... battle of moscow.....

[phoenix1963]

Originally Posted by Osprey

AI activity is computed by the server and the 3D point in space of each object distributed to each connected player for rendering, but only those within visual range. That's how I understand it anyway. Offline it is all on your machine.

Indeed, but they have to communicate a lot more than just the 3D point in space - for example where the gun is pointing, when it fires, the trajectory of the shell, the damage to the vehicle....

My point is about the AI decision making - whether that could be distributed - as I understand it, that is all done on the server and would be a huge load for Kursk-like battles.

Maybe all the vehicles within a client's sphere-of-influence could be "controlled" by the client, taking load off the server? But then what happens when more than one client is within range?

56RAF_phoenix