Friday 2009-10-30 Screenshots Update discussion thread

[philip.ed]

Oleg, loving the shots!

I have one gripe though, and maybe it is something we should take to PM's?

I am an avid collector of RAF flying clothing/equipment (especially the Battle of Britain period) and I have noticed some inaccuracies with the pilot you have shown.

Firstly, the irvin didn't have pockets, and for a correct Battle of Britain period portrayal the irvin should hve a 2-panel back. Looking at my irvin, there aren't those big seems on the arms as you have shown. For what, I think, you ca do with the engine: the b-type-flying helmet looks fine. Some colour tuning around the leather-ear-domes may be in need, but otherwise it is fine.
The SD trousers are fine, and so are the 1936 pattern boots. If you need any pictures of kit, let me know. I can give you a complete list of the different types of kit they wore, and I may be able to show you pictures of them wearing it.

Edit: BTW, the colour of the wool on the irvin is wrong as well, it should be a nice tan colour. Again I should point out that whatever model you are working from is sightly inaccurate. I could point out as well that there is a reproduction Irvin Jacket that looks like the one you have modelled here, and it is incorrect. If this is the case, then it is not your fault!

Let me know, I hope you read this

[Kurfürst]

Why is the Bf 109E model still missing the head armor piece in the cocpit..?

Hopefully it isn't final.. there are plenty of pictures of Bf 109Es that were taken during the Battle, both with and without the back armored headrest.

Those with the headrest also show the curved top armor place (protecting the pilot from deflection attacks from above) present or missing.

One example being Bartlel's Bf 109E-1, WNr. 6296, forced down in air combat on 24 July 1940 - this one has both the armored headpiece, and curved armor piece on the top.



Obviously there was some irregularity with the fitting of these items, maybe preference of pilot, or unit commander, or delivery of these kits to units..

I am not sure if the engine allows such, but if it allows different 3D models to be loaded individually for each aircraft, it would be best if both options would be present for player choice, ie. player selects wheter he wants armor headrest present or not. Or it is set fixed for some units, based on photographic evidence. For example if player plays with III/JG 26, he has no choice and the headrest will be present.. if plays as pilot of other fighter unit, there will be no headrest. But probably simple player choice is better, simpler solution...

[JVM]

Wasn't the improved head armor only introduced in the E4 version? This one seems a E3 version to me...

[Oleg Maddox]

Originally Posted by Kurfürst

Why is the Bf 109E model still missing the head armor piece in the cocpit..?

Hopefully it isn't final.. there are plenty of pictures of Bf 109Es that were taken during the Battle, both with and without the back armored headrest.

Those with the headrest also show the curved top armor place (protecting the pilot from deflection attacks from above) present or missing.

One example being Bartlel's Bf 109E-1, WNr. 6296, forced down in air combat on 24 July 1940 - this one has both the armored headpiece, and curved armor piece on the top.



Obviously there was some irregularity with the fitting of these items, maybe preference of pilot, or unit commander, or delivery of these kits to units..

I am not sure if the engine allows such, but if it allows different 3D models to be loaded individually for each aircraft, it would be best if both options would be present for player choice, ie. player selects wheter he wants armor headrest present or not. Or it is set fixed for some units, based on photographic evidence. For example if player plays with III/JG 26, he has no choice and the headrest will be present.. if plays as pilot of other fighter unit, there will be no headrest. But probably simple player choice is better, simpler solution...

Probably you may see that there simply absent the datails of cockpit yet except gunsight...

And... there are many photos both with and without. And we probaly will have the same things in a sim. This things that are important for the gameplay we try to implement in enough amount (versions)

[Kurfürst]

Thanks Oleg.

A question about Bf 109E versions - which ones you plan to include? Only E-3?

What about E-1, E-4 (ie. same as E-3 but with Mine shell firing MG FF/M. Even 3d model can remain same as most were simply converted from E-3 by repacing cannons)
Maybe E-4/N, E-7?

I am really hoping for E-1, because it was 2nd most important version in Battle, and a very fun airplane with the all-machinegun armament for simple dogfights.

Also question about wheater propeller pitch mechanism on Emil will be manual or by manual/Verstellautomatik? Both were present in Battle (similiar question as case of headplate)

[Oleg Maddox]

Originally Posted by Kurfürst

Thanks Oleg.

A question about Bf 109E versions - which ones you plan to include? Only E-3?

What about E-1, E-4 (ie. same as E-3 but with Mine shell firing MG FF/M. Even 3d model can remain same as most were simply converted from E-3 by repacing cannons)
Maybe E-4/N, E-7?

I am really hoping for E-1, because it was 2nd most important version in Battle, and a very fun airplane with the all-machinegun armament for simple dogfights.

Also question about wheater propeller pitch mechanism on Emil will be manual or by manual/Verstellautomatik? Both were present in Battle (similiar question as case of headplate)

With the reelase we only limited in time. So currently in plan E-1 and two differences for E-3

[Kurfürst]

Thanks again, Oleg!

[Schuetz]

Thank you for this nice update. That the E-1 will be also flyable is great.

[V.4_Maggi]

"I want to ride my bicycle!"

[Lionman]

Oleg, I am a huge fan of your work and have been since the original IL2 Sturmovik. As a retired city of London marketing manager and head hunter I have also always admired the strategic intelligence of your long term marketing plan, saving the most easily saleable BoB program with the new physics engine until you have built up the market for it with your former air-combat sim product generations. Plus the emminently sensible target of creating a combat air sim sub industry around your apex product just as one arose around the FS series, now conveniently no longer in competition. Finally I admire the obsessive detail, accuracy and realism of your approach which has always made your product line unique and enabled you to defeat the mighty MS CFS series with your very first product.

I used to feel that you paid insufficient attention to the ground detail and realism but that has more than been addressed in BoB SoW from the screenshots I have seen and now you have a real time weather engine too. (Ground texture tiles still appear to produce herringbone patterns from altitude but perhaps that can be randomised?)

I have only one remaining caveat which may well also prove misplaced. In all the screen shots I have seen the incredibly detailed and realistic machines, aircraft, vehicles, buildings, countryside and roadways have remained empty and sans people. Hopefully in the final release the ground environment will be populated with AI soldiers and civilians, all artillery and AA guns will be manned and all aircraft in flight will have populated cockpits and gun positions? I also want to look down and see my own knees and hands on the stick in the cockpit (as in LOMAC). If so this sim is definitely going to be the all-tim bench mark for online air combat and worth every second of the long wait.

Now to the point of my post. The latest rumour in the online air-combat community is that BoB SoW is to finally be published in November 2009 later this month with the first patch to come in 2010.

You are THE MAN Oleg so is it true?
(I have had it on pre-order and pre-paid for for ages.)

I have built my whole new PC system in anticipation of BoB and am anxious to start engines and get airborne.

So will there finally be a Scramble Klaxon in November?

Hell I even have a fan on my desk so that when I srt engines with the cockpit open I will feel the backdraft and yes I am a retired single man whio urgently needs a new girl friend! LOL

Tally Ho!