BETA PATCH v.1.07.18301 - June 29, 2012

[naz]

First Impressions...very good.

I verified on Steam first...cleared cache and then installed the beta. Did a quick fly around in a free flight Quick mission...CTD as I tried to exit. I have since loaded the game three times separately to do individual quick missions and have had no more CTD, so perhaps the crash was a one off as the cache was rebuilt? (no idea on that).

Anyway...FPS is definitely lower for me, but the game is also a lot smoother, so its a trade off I am happy with. FPS pretty stable in the 40s so all is well. Stuttering still exists low level but it is so much reduced that I am ok with it. Once I was in a fight, I didn't notice it anymore. Trees pop into view at a much shorter distance which hurts the immersion and I hope this is not permanent (was using low trees, but I will try another setting tomorrow as I read in an earlier post in this thread.). Clouds do drop FPS further, but nowhere near as much as before (single digit FPS pre this beta)....the game remains playable as I was in and near clouds in these quick tests....nice.

All in all, it seems a good improvement on my machine. When I was getting lower FPS it felt like it was due to my computer lacking grunt rather than the game engine. That's the way it should be.

I Just did the Manston attack mission in a spitfire at 8pm game time...lighting was gorgeous...the moon's reflection over the channel was fantastic. LOVE how the tracers look now. I also don't remember the bullet ricochet before, but they are very noticeable now with the new tracer settings.

Haven't had a good test of the AI commands, however the Spits that were following me instantly attacked some 110s that were in front of me when I ordered them to...so something seems to be working in that regard. I still couldn't get clearance to land (could have been my fault) and my wingie still folllowed me down when i landed without permission, but instead of crashing next to me, he zoomed up and away.....promising.

So, a very brief test for me (Good God its nearly 4 am!). I haven't flown for a couple of months due to work/lack of time...so I enjoyed this brief little session.

In game setting pretty much on High except for Trees (Low), Land shading (Med) and Building Detail (Low).

Cheers all.