Friday Update, February 3, 2012

[BlackSix]

Good morning gentlemen!

Another quick update today. As promised, we’re going to show a few more screenshots of the I-16 damage model. We’re also doing another community Q&A.

We’re working on the patch and the sequel same as before. A more detailed description of the process can be found in our last week’s update.

Tune in next week for a German bomber, ground units, and video footage of an unexpected new feature.


1. Will the new graphics engine have improved SLI/Crossfire performance? SLI currently gives minimal frames per second increase for many players and can introduce stutters.

I’d rather not say anything at all until we have final code with verifiable benchmarks.

2. To dev team regarding the SpeedTree technology. We all know the problems with them: shimmering, LOD changes and what not. I scoured thru SpeedTree forums and saw similar issues with trees and also solutions. Add that there are new versions of it etc. So my question is that has dev team worked with SpeedTree Inc and using newer version and tools? Can anything be done with trees?

The code we use for trees has very little in common with stock SpeedTree technology. I doubt you would find any other game that uses SpeedTree in quite the same way we do. So while it may seem that we’re experiencing common problems, we usually cannot use common solutions.
If you thought that we could just install a patch from the internet or insert a few lines of code from a forum and voila, better trees, I wish it was this easy.
I also have to add that our project currently has a lot more pressing problems than shimmering trees, many of which have to be solved by the same people who can improve on trees. We’ll get there when we get there.

3. Do you have any plans to enable 6DOF vision in the bombardier's seat? Bombing without the horizontal stabilizer in the Blenheim is hard enough and 6DOF here would help a lot.

The bombardier’s seat on the Blenheim does have limited 6DOF in the normal (non-zoomed) mode. The idea is, while you’re looking for the target, you can look around and so on. Once you lean in, that’s it, you’re looking through the sights and there’s no use fidgeting.
We talked this over amongst ourselves. Perhaps we’re missing something – how would 6DOF help while you’re looking through the sight?

4. Do you plan to expand (or explain) server settings for client control? Currently a dedicated server only has the ability set netspeed and turn VAC on/off through the [Net] code but there is no options to control the clients connected. This is resulting in exploitation.
For reference, some of the relevant IL-2 settings are checkServerTimeSpeed, checkClientTimeSpeed, socksHost, checkTimeSpeedDifferense, checkTimeSpeedInterval, farMaxLagTime, nearMaxLagTime, cheaterWarningDelay, cheaterWarningNum.

Not in the upcoming patch for sure.

5. Have you considered a formal bug tracking system that the community can get involved in? It is difficult to tell what bugs the devs are/are not aware of at the moment since the bug threads do not get feedback.

Sorry, we have no technical capabilities to set up a public database, or resources to maintain and update it.
A community-run database however would not be a terrible thing at all!

6. Oleg didn't promise, he just alluded to the hypothetical suspect of the probable but unconfirmed existence of occasional glints from distant planes' canopies, and only in the version of the game compiled at the time of his propositions. Now, can we have those reflections again?

I might probably allude to the hypothetical possibility that this feature might or might not eventually make it into the game.

7. Will the Russian aircraft be modelled historically in terms of equipment? For example most Russian fighter aircraft (especially early war) had only a crudely painted gun sight. Radios were usually removed to save weight as the quality was poor and often they were useless. Except of course with the GIAP regiments who had access to the best aircraft and equipment.

We’ll have to disappoint you somewhat in that historically early-war Guards regiments flew the same aircraft as everybody else, the only difference being the monthly paycheck.
But yes of course, we do plan to model all aircraft and their systems with full attention to historical realism.

8. Are you planning to return to the reflections on aircraft surfaces as shown in this video?
http://youtu.be/Ye_VY1aV3Zg

These exact same reflections you see are there today, just toned down.

9. Are you planning to fully support force-feedback joysticks such as MS FF2, which are currently not supported the game?

We are using standard DirectX drivers to interface with controllers. Chances are, if you’re using an ancient joystick model discontinued in 2003, its 10-year-old drivers made for a different OS and a different DX version will glitch.
This is no different than if you were having graphic glitches trying to run CoD on a 10-year-old card.
We have absolutely no plans to hack dedicated support for individual peripherals. We’ve never done that in the past. We’ll just go insane if we do that.

10. Will there be a closed beta for the next project?

Of course.

11. Are you planningto make different octane fuels an option for the plane load out?

Not for Cliffs of Dover.

12. Are you planning a working airmass model that affects aircraft, including propwash etc?

Yes, it’s one of the major features that’s been continuously put on the backburner for years. Gotta have it.

See you later!

Oh, completely forgot a tiny detail.
Benchmarks on the BETA version of the new graphics.
Testing FPS on the first British campaign mission. Max details.
Old graphics – 74 FPS average. New graphics – 134 FPS average.
i7-870, 4Gb RAM, GeForce GTX 570



Blacksix Responses to questions below: (thanks mate!

Originally Posted by Ailantd

8. Are you planning to return to the reflections on aircraft surfaces as shown in this video?
http://youtu.be/Ye_VY1aV3Zg
Quote:
These exact same reflections you see are there today, just toned down.

So, will you consider tune it up again?

Maybe we will set up

Originally Posted by FS~Phat

B6 You dont happen to have any info you can share with us on if the CTD/memory leak issue has at least been identified and worked on possibly for the next patch?

Originally Posted by O_Smiladon

look forward to the update.. One thing will we see the new graphics patch on COD or will it be down in one complete whack..So you buy BOM and with that you get the new G/E for COD?

Graphical patch created for CoD

Originally Posted by Pluto

but what about the online problems with constant game crashes when in multiplayer, suddenly disappearing planes, poor visibility of planes and stuff, will that also be resolved with the next patch ?

And ..., WHEN will this next patch come, this spring, in summer, autumn next year ? When ?

Originally Posted by Feathered_IV

Benchmarks for the beta sound encouraging. Wasn't there plans to release the beta for public testing?

I can not tell yet accurate information on this

Originally Posted by JG52Krupi

So can we take from the new data on fps that you guys are now in a closed beta stage of the new patch?

Testing of the graphical
...

Originally Posted by Tvrdi

Any info on the fixing memory leak and the fix for slowdowns (drop of FPS) when effects are near (dust, fire etc.)?

Now we can not give information

Originally Posted by jimbop

BlackSix, I'll post something more detailed tomorrow but regarding bomber 6DOF the problem is that you can currently swivel your head but not move it in actual 6DOF as in x- and y-axes. The target gets hidden behind cockpit features (e.g. panels framing the canopy glass) on the final approach and you can't look around them to see it. Nothing to do with the sight view.

Ок

Originally Posted by tumu

thx for info.

Only one question , i can understand work its very hard and needs too much time ( last update ) , this its the question.

¿ its programated turn some actually non-flyables planes to flyable?? like Defiant, gladiator, beaufighter...

No. Maybe there will be modifications of flyables aircraft

Originally Posted by Ploughman

Whilst there wont' be any more content for CloD you will still be looking to improve FMs won't you?

Yes, maybe

Originally Posted by 6BL Bird-Dog

Thanks for the update Black Six,the new FPS figures look impressive,are there any figures for ATI/AMD gpus please?

Also is there any further feedback from the questions and request list you took 12-28-2011, 09:10 AM ?

No. Feedback will not be

Originally Posted by Kodoss

B6, can you ask Ilja to run the blackdeath track with the new graphic engine and post min., average and max. frame rates by highest setting and resolution?

Yes

Originally Posted by addman

I guess this means it might be out in beta form soon, am I right?

Wait for the news, can not say
....

Originally Posted by III/JG53_Don

Don't want to kill your excitement, but B6 wrote sth. about "ground units". As far as I understand it, he propably meant sth. like Sovjet/German tanks, cars, Artillery etc.

Yes

[NSU]

thx for the Infos and the nice pictures

[JG52Uther]

Thanks! Nice update.

[pupo162]

nothing really new.

still waiting for a patch release till then its all small talk.

also, average is never been the issue i had in cliffs of dover. i can easely average 60 fps ( wich is more than what i average in il2 1946!!) thre problem is the stutters.

[FS~Phat]

Nice job B6!

[335th_GRAthos]

Originally Posted by BlackSix

Oh, completely forgot a tiny detail.
Benchmarks on the BETA version of the new graphics.
Testing FPS on the first British campaign mission. Max details.
Old graphics – 73 FPS average. New graphics – 134 FPS average.
i7-870, 4Gb RAM, GeForce GTX 570

That was a tiny but great news detail!

Thank you for the punctual update Blacksix,

Nice weekend!

Next time, if possible, some information on which bugs may be fixed (on existing planes) would also be welcome... e.g. fix for the automatic course navigation (gyros) of the HE111 and JU88...

~S~

[archer11]

Thanks for the info, B6.

[Liz Lemon]

Excellent!

[Ailantd]

Question for next update regarding point8:

--------
8. Are you planning to return to the reflections on aircraft surfaces as shown in this video?
http://youtu.be/Ye_VY1aV3Zg
Quote:
These exact same reflections you see are there today, just toned down.
--------

So, will you consider tune it up again? at least to the point where that calculations are not wasted in something not visible?

Than you!

[BlackSix]

Originally Posted by 335th_GRAthos

That was a tiny but great news detail!

Ilya is added at the last moment))