Friday 2010-11-12 Dev. update and Discussion

[Avimimus]

Originally Posted by Oleg Maddox

To remove is more easy than to insert .
we will check with the map of diferent vegetbles and trees.

It is very nice to see that ecology is being taken into account.

Ideally, placement tools should allow transitional areas between different vegetation types.

It would also be very nice to have a tool which took into account the slope of the ground and whether it is concave or convex (important for matching plants to drainage ponds vs. exposed hill tops).

In any case - it is more than brilliant, as usual.

[Peffi]

Originally Posted by Avimimus

It would also be very nice to have a tool which took into account the slope of the ground and whether it is concave or convex (important for matching plants to drainage ponds vs. exposed hill tops).

You must be joking ! It's a FLIGHTSIM !!!

[Avimimus]

Originally Posted by Peffi

You must be joking ! It's a FLIGHTSIM !!!

I still remember the story of a bush pilot who was suffering vertigo - he figured out which way was up by looking at the orientation of a Caribou. The Caribou was above him. Patterns of vegetation can add variety - they can also be useful for navigation.

We model rivets with such detail - why not model the world they exist in? If we just wanted to model flight we would have the calculations with neither planes nor landscapes...

It isn't that hard to build a tool for altitude, latitude, concave vs. convex rules (compared to the other stuff Oleg is doing). Of course, it isn't a priority. I'm just impressed enough by what Oleg is already doing to let my imagination run wild.

[tourmaline]

Everything just looks stunning.

Can't wait to get my hands on the stick again.

[Sutts]

Amazing work Oleg and team. The lighting effects are incredibly real and compare well to real period photos. Here's a few piccies for comparison. Love the ripples in the skin BTW.

Can some of our resident Lufwaffe experts enlighten me on the use of flat paints on german aircraft of this period please? I know many Allied aircraft of the time featured VERY flat non-specular paint that was specially designed using angular pigment particles to scatter light and prevent skin sheen/reflections. Just look at the belly of a wartime Lancaster as an example.
This paint would only develop a sheen in areas that had been rubbed or had oil/grease contamination.

I'm hoping our Spitfires and Hurricanes have a nice drab non-reflective finish much like my wartime jeep. Anything more glossy will start to look like a modern day warbird with low maintenance satin or gloss paint. Any chance you could confirm this please Oleg?

I'm not familiar with German finishes but the shots below clearly show quite a reflective surface on the Stuka which is replicated beautifully in SoW. Did all German aircraft have a satin finish like this?

[Peffi]

Originally Posted by Avimimus

why not model the world they exist in? If we just wanted to model flight we would have the calculations with neither planes nor landscapes....

Isn't that exactly what Oleg is doing, modelling the world the planes exist in? Just because Oleg doesen't model every flower and bush that exist in England and put them in their right spot doesn't mean he just as well should skip modelling airplanes, horizon, landscape etc. Your reasoning is completely void of logic.

[Avimimus]

Originally Posted by Peffi

Isn't that exactly what Oleg is doing, modelling the world the planes exist in? Just because Oleg doesen't model every flower and bush that exist in England and put them in their right spot doesn't mean he just as well should skip modelling airplanes, horizon, landscape etc. Your reasoning is completely void of logic.

Well, rather my point was that the level of detail on airplanes is also well beyond what is necessary for a basic simulation (64x64 textures would work fine etc.)

I agree that it probably isn't very important for England. But, some countries do have very complicated terrains (eg. extensive marshlands, or major changes in elevation) which can have very different types of plants at different elevations etc.

It may not matter now - but it could become extremely useful for modelling some parts of the world.

P.S My argument in the post you refered to is excessive precisely because it applies logic - it is devoid of common sense though.

[MD_Titus]

excellent vids, absolutely first rate.

Originally Posted by Avimimus

Well, rather my point was that the level of detail on airplanes is also well beyond what is necessary for a basic simulation (64x64 textures would work fine etc.)

I agree that it probably isn't very important for England. But, some countries do have very complicated terrains (eg. extensive marshlands, or major changes in elevation) which can have very different types of plants at different elevations etc.

It may not matter now - but it could become extremely useful for modelling some parts of the world.

P.S My argument in the post you refered to is excessive precisely because it applies logic - it is devoid of common sense though.

very good point actually. travelling over flat areas that vary between dry and marshland would, without proper vegetation, be indistinguishable. however, one can be landed on, t'other ditched in.

[kedrednael]

Originally Posted by Avimimus

Well, rather my point was that the level of detail on airplanes is also well beyond what is necessary for a basic simulation (64x64 textures would work fine etc.)

I agree that it probably isn't very important for England. But, some countries do have very complicated terrains (eg. extensive marshlands, or major changes in elevation) which can have very different types of plants at different elevations etc.

It may not matter now - but it could become extremely useful for modelling some parts of the world.

I think the cliffs of dover a good example of change in elevation, we also saw a low- res photo from an online map with mountains, the tops didn't have any trees and the lower parts did. So if I have understood you well enough everything can be modelled.
And sow is not a basic simulation, it's a highly detailed flight simulation.

Fantastic update, it looks absolutely great! The amount of houses and details really amazes me.

[ATAG_Dutch]

Has anyone noticed the gorgeous sea mist along the cliffs in the Tiger Moth sequence?

Then the misted valley/estuary behind the 109?

This bodes well for the inclusion of smog effects over cities.

I'm sure they'll iron out the bug associated with white outlines when on fire. It may even be a low res youtube issue. Anyone?

If this is 'early display version with limited features', we're in for some good immersive stuff.

Superb.