Friday 2010-07-02 Dev. update and Discussion Thread

[ECV56_Lancelot]

Originally Posted by RyansPlace

...If understand Oleg, he has up to 40 aircraft in a single formation. This is a good start, but looking down the road, we're going to see a need for even larger ones. Heck, the 1943 8th Air force SOP i'm using requires 60 bombers in a single formation. But that can easily be divided into nine subgroups (see graphics from the first post) of six to seven aircraft each. Numbers aside, I’m encouraged to hear this is being addressed in the next release.

One of the major issues that detract from any sense of historical accuracy is the AI simply can't handle how to attack a large formation. You should be able to program the AI. Add options to the waypoint tab that specifies a priority targets at each waypoint of the flight. Fighters, bombers, ground targets, or avoid enemy contact are the basics. You should also be able to assign what type of attack to perform with a pulldown menu with several options (such as, head on, flank, stern attacks, massed attacks, ect). AI simply can’t make these decisions yet, so it should be left open on the FMB.

Escort fighters should have a ‘wander limit’ option on the waypoint tab that limits how far they will pursue an enemy threat before they break off the engagement and return to there assigned escort group.

To put these into practice: Lets say for example, in the FMB I have a 40 ship formation of German bombers with 12 escort fighters that I want to attack with a group of 20 British fighters. The bombers are broken into two wings of 20 aircraft. The lead wing is assigned the escort with a wander limit of 1000 meters. I take eight of the British fighters and place them ahead of the others with the priority set to 'fighters' on the waypoint. They are the element to draws off the German bomber escorts and otherwise keeps them occupied. The other 12 British fighters have there priority set to 'bombers' with attack type set to 'head on attacks'. Meaning, they will concentrate on the bombers, but only attack from the 12 o'clock position. As the scenario plays out, the escort takes the bait but only tangles with the British fighters until they wander outside the 1000 meter range limit from their assigned escort detail, then immediately breaks off the engagement and attempts to return to the formation. Maneuvering only to avoid British attacks. Once reunited with the formation, they attack British aircraft that pose a threat to there bomber group.....

I understand perfectly, and there is a lot of good ideas. I think you should also post this here

http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthr...t=6909&page=57

Its the LONG thread of questions and requests about SoW. Even if its long, you must know that Oleg and its team read and follow that thread, most likely you will not get an answer, but surely it will readed by them.

[Il2Pongo]

RyansPlace
your description highlights my concerns about what your request would mean to the AI routines.

[tourmaline]

Originally Posted by Il2Pongo

RyansPlace
your description highlights my concerns about what your request would mean to the AI routines.

Or the specs of your computer...

A propos, speaking of computer specs any insights of what we need to run the game?!

[lbuchele]

Originally Posted by tourmaline

Or the specs of your computer...

A propos, speaking of computer specs any insights of what we need to run the game?!

Not yet, but I decided to wait for my upgrade until Q1 2011 when we probably will have Intel Sandy bridge (rumours are saying with 2.5 GHz clock is already faster 20 % than Core i7 975 extreme) and ATI 6870 and 6970 (dual GPU) that will be probably way more faster than a Nvidia GTX 480 and more efficient too (28 nm process)
This time I´m planning to spend serious money in my setup, only because SOW and already decided to wait for this next generation chips, even if SOW is already launched, because I want to play it with the most eye candy I could do.

[zapatista]

Originally Posted by tourmaline

Or the specs of your computer...

A propos, speaking of computer specs any insights of what we need to run the game?!

oleg repeatedly stated he wont give a formal announcement of specific specs until the release of the game is finalized, but......

going by more general statements he has made on that topic you can assume this much:
- whatever is a high end pc at release time, and that means a high end "gamer" pc (indicating cpu, gpu, & ram suitable for at least 1920 x 1200), not your mum's office pc, then you can expect fluid frame rates with most options/details turned on, and can play the sim in all its glory on a single decent size monitor (and need a monster gaming pc to use multiple monitors)
- a medium level "gamer pc" with a "good cpu" and "good gpu" will be able to have fluid game play at release, but with some eye candy turned down and maybe a step down in resolution

for those expecting to use multiple monitors you also already know the motherboard types you will need (ie at least 3gfx card slots if you plan to go high end with 3 monitors, and make sure they are all 16x). and yes, quad cores will be an advantage, we already know that much to.

in addition to that we know oleg and Co are testing game play on medium level machines right now to ensure most people with modern pc's will be able to play it at release time (if he only aims it at people with uber pc's he is cutting out 80% of his prospective customers, and obviously he aint no fool)

since the current intended release time is 15th of september 2010, you have a fairly good idea of what "high end" pc means right now. if closer to that date it looks like there will be a 1 or 2 months delay that wont change much spec wise. if all goes pear shape and there are major delays, and you better pray there isnt because the development team cant financially afford further significant delays, then an early 2011 release would mean the spec levels will have gone up one notch and the new cpu/gpu generation will be out (making them the new yardstick for "high end"). also note this might mean a mb chipset change for multiple gfx card users.

if you have half a brain and are able to use common sense you obviously dont want to make major upgrade purchases BEFORE the game has been released (or oleg gives specific specs), and reports come in from reviews for different gfx cards performances (partic ati vs nvidia).

it really is that simple

[lbuchele]

I fully agree with zapatista.

[philip.ed]

I agree as well (although all he needed to write was the last line, as the rest I think is still speculation)

[Borsch]

From what I saw in WW2 footage, Oleg's vision of smoke is pretty good...

Here's a snap from some real WW2 footage:

[zapatista]

Originally Posted by philip.ed

I agree as well (although all he needed to write was the last line, as the rest I think is still speculation)

no, it isnt speculation at all

all you need to do is pay attention to what oleg himself has said in the past, and in this case it was VERY recently

in a recent reply of his to an umpteen'ed time question about system spec (mid june 2010)

Originally Posted by Oleg Maddox

earlier I told that we will say when we will be close to release.
However now I can say that as more power - more better anyway, like for any other good and looking excellent game.

and you will find my above posts contains a fairly good translation of that oleg'ish statement to plain english