Friday 2009-11-20 Screenshots Update discussion thread

[Oleg Maddox]

Originally Posted by zapatista

Oleg,

thanks for the new stuka pictures

Question 1: in the dynamic campaign, will we be able to take of from an airfield and then request from the local area "command center" an update on aircraft activity in our sector ? with information on approximate numbers of suspected enemy planes, and their heading and altitude ?

this would mean
- not just having limited information on the one specific mission we are flying, but getting an overview of all activity in that sector
- at very busy times this could have low information detail, just giving approximate numbers of formations and aircraft types
- at less busy times it could give more precise information, like enemy reconnaissance plane in sector X, or damaged enemy bombers returning home at low altitude in sector Z etc..

question 2: can we have some type of visual feedback on the damage status of our own aircraft ? in real life we get much more information on the damage to our aircraft because we feel the hits it takes and we feel the changes in how the plane behaves in the air when it is damged (for ex increased vibrations when we slow down, more sluggish to turn left then right etc..). sitting behind a monitor in our livingroom removes a lot of those clue's
- ? is it possible to have a "visual damage report" that either with an image or text gives us a damage status ? (something we can turn on/off to have a quick report and see our status). you can add some uncertainty to it to make it more realistic so it isnt 100% precise, for ex "right wing root multiple hits, possible structural weakening" etc..
note: this would be an option you can turn on/off in the setup, so people who prefer not to get this information can continue to fly uninformed

Can't answer now. We have in design doc even more...But what we will get in final it is currently under question

[Oleg Maddox]

Originally Posted by TheGrunch

The only problem is that where you don't have many flyables, multiplayer can get quite predictable.

Perfect definition.

[Mysticpuma]

I wasn't requesting a Gore Fest as some may think, I was actually suggesting that a pilot model in the cockpit could have a 'damage' model, so that you'd understand why you couldn't operate the rudder or stick properly. It doesn't have to be gushing out, just a stain on the leg or arm indicates limited movement of a control surface from that appendage.

Secondly, the pilot model could just be switched on or off, that would be the pilots choice not one persons opinion of what should and shouldn't be in the sim for all players as could the pilot damage model!

Just because it's requested, doesn't mean you have to use it! Think of CEM in IL2, I don't use it, but it doesn't mean I tell everyone we don't want it! Blimey!

Thanks for the reply Mr. Maddox, I am glad that you will include a pilot for interior views too. Cheers, MP.

[mark@1C]

Originally Posted by Mysticpuma

I was actually suggesting that a pilot model in the cockpit could have a 'damage' model, so that you'd understand why you couldn't operate the rudder or stick properly...

I think what you want can be indicated by some animated icons on gamescreen,no need to build a whole pilot-in-cockpit_view...
Maybe as BOSS has already said.."We will have minimal animations..."

[Lucas_From_Hell]

Originally Posted by Talisman

I would like to see and use the cockpit without a dummy pilot getting in the way. This is a flight sim, not a cartoon game.

For some reason, all the times I got into a cockpit I could see myself, my legs and my arms and etc. I guess I'm living in a cartoon, then?

Maybe this could be done as in DCS, where this is optional - want pilot? Shift+P and you have a completely moving pilot. Don't want a pilot? Shift+P again, and you don't have a pilot.

It would be nice to see the pilot moving all around, instead of that ghost and empty cockpit. Imagine that cockpit, with those shadows, and with a animated pilot moving the controls around! That would be awesome. As MP said, it adds to immersion.

[Feathered_IV]

Originally Posted by TheGrunch:
The only problem is that where you don't have many flyables, multiplayer can get quite predictable.

Originally Posted by Oleg Maddox

Perfect definition.

I would respectfully suggest that large numbers of flyable aircraft do not contribute much to mission-variety when they can only perform two tasks ie: bomb something or shoot something down. In Il-2 the only variety is where you fly to to do one of these two basic tasks.

I love the Il-2 series, and have done for many years. I think that I have pretty much outgrown it though. There just isn't enough variety in the mission goals to make me want to do it all again for another eight years. I hope SoW will give more thought to the many roles and objectives of a pilot in WW2.

[ECV56_Lancelot]

I´m sorry but that´s an oversimplification, and in any case combat aircraft are made to either shoot something down, bomb something, and transport something. And most of us are mainly interested on the first two roles, otherwise we would be flying a boeing 737 on a civilian simulator.
There is none two bombing missions equal, and none two aerial combat equal, each engagement is diferent, and that´s what make it interesting to do it all over again, specially when you are getting more and more real physics modeled.
Also there is a lot of varitey of targets and combat areas that make everything diferent.
If you are tired of flying missions where you have to bomb something os shoot something, then why bother to buy and fly a combat flight sim?
I´m not against the idea of having maybe rescue mission, or flying a transport aircraft to a pocket zone and drop cargo to the troops while there artillery explosion all around, and come back, but they should be rare exception because you will get tired of them way more quickly than flying combat missions.

Anyway, its just an opinion.

[Avimimus]

Originally Posted by mark@1C

I quite approve.
It's a tactical Sim,not a horror film...

What about tomato sauce? I seem to remember a somewhat disturbing scene involving a He-111 pilot in that old Battle of Britain movie.

Not to mention soup (as in the Memphis Belle movie)...

[AdMan]

personally I like the ghost pilot, as well as in driving sims too, I have enough problems keeping my own hands out of the way of the screen and instruments without virtual-me getting in the way. I also like to be able to see how the control mechanisms in the cockpit move and it helps to make sure controls are calibrated right, for instance looking down and seeing the rudder peddles is a simple way of checking your axis, with a pilot modeled in-cockpit, you'd generally only be able to see his knees

Also it's already been said that pilot movements would take too much time for release because animating all movements for 6DOF devices is complex

[Lucas_From_Hell]

Originally Posted by ECV56_Lancelot

I´m sorry but that´s an oversimplification, and in any case combat aircraft are made to either shoot something down, bomb something, and transport something. And most of us are mainly interested on the first two roles, otherwise we would be flying a boeing 737 on a civilian simulator.
There is none two bombing missions equal, and none two aerial combat equal, each engagement is diferent, and that´s what make it interesting to do it all over again, specially when you are getting more and more real physics modeled.
Also there is a lot of varitey of targets and combat areas that make everything diferent.
If you are tired of flying missions where you have to bomb something os shoot something, then why bother to buy and fly a combat flight sim?
I´m not against the idea of having maybe rescue mission, or flying a transport aircraft to a pocket zone and drop cargo to the troops while there artillery explosion all around, and come back, but they should be rare exception because you will get tired of them way more quickly than flying combat missions.

Anyway, its just an opinion.

Totally agreed. For example, I've been having lots of fun recently in the same sort of mission, most of the time - CAP - in the marvelous "For the honour of French Wings" (or something similar) DGen campaign.

What makes it more or less interesting is the challenge you're facing. Leading six planes into a hot spot against 12, 20, 30 or more fighters, and eventually bombers, can offer a good challenge to you. And during the Battle of Britain, this was more likely to happen.