April 2 Patch News

[Nike-it]

1. Optimization of homes is almost ready, it is necessary to test for another day or two to make sure that it does not add unexpected glitches. Houses have become so fast that the flight with full houses are now just a couple fps slower than the performance without homes.

2. Optimization of the forest goes a little slower, but still looks optimistic. We'll add new setting “Variety” for woods, which roughly speaking allows you to place fir trees instead of various shrubs and trees that would raise productivity. Otherwise, the forest will be the faster due to some deterioration in the overall impression – far away trees will appear more slowly.

3. Optimization of the shadows - a separate problem from the houses (in test number 1 was measured without shadows). As it turned out, the problem is not in the code, but in the models, particularly in some cabins. We use very precise alpha on small details and this causes very big slowdowns. We must check all models, to identify all such places and to correct them; as a result we will have very strong growth of FPS everywhere, due to small loss in beauty.

4. Support for SLI - do, as soon as the number 1 and number 3. As I have already written somewhere, it can be very rapid fix but also may require serious consultation with the manufacturers of the cards that will take much longer. I can not yet say for sure.

5. Microfrizes over the landscape caused 99% by the trees. Working on number 3 will solve this. Instant uploads will still remain in the game, as it is impossible to keep all the giant map in the memory all the time. It is necessary to dynamically load the required landscaping. This happens, in my opinion, once every 12 kilometers, and is smooth and size, so it will be very little noticeable.

6. MP windows are almost ready, we need a day or two for tests.

7. Overall graphics optimization - selection of rendering into a single thread - a dramatic increase of FPS (roughly doubled). This work will take at least a month.

Thus, the plan is simple - to release next week small patches, which will include a number 1, 2, 6, and possibly number 3. Then, in the circumstances - is likely to support SLI will release along with the number 7 sometime before the end of April - early May.

[jimbop]

Originally Posted by Nike-it

1. Optimization of homes is almost ready, it is necessary to test for another day or two to make sure that it does not add unexpected glitches. Houses have become so fast that the flight with full houses are now just a couple fps slower than the performance without homes.

2. Optimization of the forest goes a little slower, but still looks optimistic. We'll add new setting “Variety” for woods, which roughly speaking allows you to place fir trees instead of various shrubs and trees that would raise productivity. Otherwise, the forest will be the faster due to some deterioration in the overall impression – far away trees will appear more slowly.

3. Optimization of the shadows - a separate problem from the houses (in test number 1 was measured without shadows). As it turned out, the problem is not in the code, but in the models, particularly in some cabins. We use very precise alpha on small details and this causes very big slowdowns. We must check all models, to identify all such places and to correct them; as a result we will have very strong growth of FPS everywhere, due to small loss in beauty.

4. Support for SLI - do, as soon as the number 1 and number 3. As I have already written somewhere, it can be very rapid fix but also may require serious consultation with the manufacturers of the cards that will take much longer. I can not yet say for sure.

5. Microfrizes over the landscape caused 99% by the trees. Working on number 3 will solve this. Instant uploads will still remain in the game, as it is impossible to keep all the giant map in the memory all the time. It is necessary to dynamically load the required landscaping. This happens, in my opinion, once every 12 kilometers, and is smooth and size, so it will be very little noticeable.

6. MP windows are almost ready, we need a day or two for tests.

7. Overall graphics optimization - selection of rendering into a single thread - a dramatic increase of FPS (roughly doubled). This work will take at least a month.

Thus, the plan is simple - to release next week small patches, which will include a number 1, 2, 6, and possibly number 3. Then, in the circumstances - is likely to support SLI will release along with the number 7 sometime before the end of April - early May.

Thanks, we almost got into an argument there

[senseispcc]

This is a GREAT game, not yet perfect but it is comming soon...

[Winger]

Originally Posted by senseispcc

This is a GREAT game, not yet perfect but it is comming soon...

That is exactly what i think too. Only problem is that i am sooo impatient. I want to PLAY

Winger

[lbuchele]

Originally Posted by Winger

That is exactly what i think too. Only problem is that i am sooo impatient. I want to PLAY

Winger

I'm having a lot of fun already even at this unfinished state.
Best news is that things only can improve with time...

[Sven]

Great news!

[sod16]

Originally Posted by senseispcc

This is a GREAT game, not yet perfect but it is comming soon...

It would have been nice if they released it in June, but without us, there would have been no Alpha testing. I suppose they have no choice especially with a team of 22 people.

thanks for the update Nike-It, can you ask luither about the multicore optimisation, or is it covered by the above points?

[jimbop]

Originally Posted by BigPickle

thanks for the update Nike-It, can you ask luither about the multicore optimisation, or is it covered by the above points?

Covered, I think - #7.

[335th_GRAthos]

M a n y t h a n k s f o r t h e h e a d s - u p !!!