News from the Russian Front (Dev Answers 54)

[=38=Tatarenko]

Not a lot to report this week. Lots of stuff about uninstalling previous, using the new launcher and how to spell launcher in Russian. Loncher seems best.

 

So what's new?

 

• Clouds are coming in March. They are big, ok for FPS, lots of varieties based on humidity settings, progressing well.
• In the summer (and probably post-release) there will probably be a second generation of the cloud engine.
• Servers can be set to No Externals.
• Wind can be set for different directions/strengths at different alts.
• The clouds will move according to the wind
• The overall weather will not change during a mission - the sky will be seeded with clouds at the beginning. We don't plan 5 hour missions.
• Everyone on a (multiplayer) server will of course see the same clouds
• The IL-2 was armoured against rifle calibre bullets not armour-piercing 20mm. It is a flying tank compated to the Stuka, not the T-34.
• IL-2 is not meant to be survivable alone. It needs fighter cover against bandits and group tactics against AA.
• No, Loft isn't going to change his avatar.
• The radio at the moment talks a lot so the programmers know what the bots are doing or plan to do. Much of this will be removed so that the radio works better and isn't full of chat. Be patient.
• The IL-2 semi-detached tail is a bug.
• Aiming for 64 players in multi

plus lots of thoughts on why things are the way things are but I'd better get back to work!

 

 

[150GCT_Veltro]

Not a lot to report this week. Lots of stuff about uninstalling previous, using the new launcher and how to spell launcher in Russian. Loncher seems best.

 

So what's new?

 

• Clouds are coming in March. They are big, ok for FPS, lots of varieties based on humidity settings, progressing well.
• In the summer (and probably post-release) there will probably be a second generation of the cloud engine.
• Servers can be set to No Externals.
• Wind can be set for different directions/strengths at different alts.
• The clouds will move according to the wind
• The overall weather will not change during a mission - the sky will be seeded with clouds at the beginning. We don't plan 5 hour missions.
• Everyone on a (multiplayer) server will of course see the same clouds
• The IL-2 was armoured against rifle calibre bullets not armour-piercing 20mm. It is a flying tank compated to the Stuka, not the T-34.
• IL-2 is not meant to be survivable alone. It needs fighter cover against bandits and group tactics against AA.
• No, Loft isn't going to change his avatar.
• The radio at the moment talks a lot so the programmers know what the bots are doing or plan to do. Much of this will be removed so that the radio works better and isn't full of chat. Be patient.
• The IL-2 semi-detached tail is a bug.
• Aiming for 64 players in multi

plus lots of thoughts on why things are the way things are but I'd better get back to work!

 

Very interesting, thank you a lot.

[Blooddawn1942]

I'm curios how the clouds will look compared to those in Rise of Flight!

By the way. Thanks again for gathering and translate those informations!!!!

[Aracno]

 

 

• Aiming for 64 players in multi

 

Yesterday i was playing a IL2 SEOW with more than 70 pilots online, and i remember missions with even more players.

IMHO 64 are not enought.

[Mags]

Very interesting about the clouds.

Thank for your time, Tatarenko!

[Pierre64]

Constant improvement. Thumbs-up!

The best "investment" in Flight simulation since 2000 and maybe ever.

[150GCT_Veltro]

 

Yesterday i was playing a IL2 SEOW with more than 70 pilots online, and i remember missions with even more players.

IMHO 64 are not enought.

 

 

64 doesn't mean we could not have more players online, and compare today BoS with IL2 is a nonsense, quality for quantity. The problem is not 10 players more or less online, because we could host games with more than 64 players for sure with a good server. I would like have myself 100 players, but considering the quality of this simulation, 64 is a fine limit as standard or default setting. The problem is, or will be, the land battle enviroment online.

Edited February 25, 2014 by 150GCT_Veltro

[sallee]

Thanks again, Tatarenko.

What's wrong with his avatar?

[Matt]

Their 100(+) players announcement last year sounded too good to be true anyway.

 

Seems like the player limit will be the same as or very similar to RoF. Now I'm curious if that's also true for AI planes/units, which would be a shame.

Edited February 25, 2014 by Matt

[Feathered_IV]

Plenty of information to be going on with there.  Thanks once again Tatarenko for gathering it all together for us!

[Zak]

Seems like the player limit will be the same as or very similar to RoF. Now I'm curious if that's also true for AI planes/units, which would be a shame.

Not true for AI content: real players do not drain that much CPU as bots do.

[Georgio]

Thanks for the update Ian, good to hear what's happening out of the back door as it were.

64 players is fine if it means that everyone ingame has a warp-free, experience. 128 or more has to be a long-term goal but small steps, get the 64 limit stable then go for the big strides imo.

All I hope is that come final release we can have a decent amount of planes, vehicles and atmospherics to really make this experience a worthy successor to the original.

Of course by the time all this is sorted out and we're happy, the Oculus Rift will be released and then we can all be blown away by probably the most realistic visuals since I started this journey with Red Baron in 1980...

 

http://youtu.be/YCIpux1a01k

 

[Finkeren]

Good to hear, that the weather isn't too far off. The features seem to be a happy compromise between realism and technical restraints.

 

Sad thing about the 64 player limit, though I suspect that could change, if the stability permits it. For starters it will do just fine.

[Zak]

Sad thing about the 64 player limit, though I suspect that could change, if the stability permits it. For starters it will do just fine.

We're not limiting online with 64 players, there must be something lost in translation. It's just a well know number among players that we use to describe a balanced player+AI mission. But there's no 64 players limit if you create your own misson and make it light for the CPU (i.e. add less bots).

[SYN_Mike77]

64 is a drop from RoF. I have seen 75 in a full realism server for RoF.

[Zak]

64 is a drop from RoF. I have seen 75 in a full realism server for RoF.

Not is - would be.

Please

[Finkeren]

We're not limiting online with 64 players, there must be something lost in translation. It's just a well know number among players that we use to describe a balanced player+AI mission. But there's no 64 players limit if you create your own misson and make it light for the CPU (i.e. add less bots).

 

Great!

 

Thanks for the clarification Zak. Once again your on-the-spot communication saves a lot of false rumors from spreading.

[Matt]

Not true for AI content: real players do not drain that much CPU as bots do.

I know, has been the same in RoF. That's why I'm curious.

 

But has there been any success in reducing the CPU usage of AI units (especially ground units) compared to RoF? If so what would be a realistic player/AI combination for MP?

[150GCT_Veltro]

We have to ban AI planes, correct?

 

We're not limiting online with 64 players, there must be something lost in translation. It's just a well know number among players that we use to describe a balanced player+AI mission. But there's no 64 players limit if you create your own misson and make it light for the CPU (i.e. add less bots).

 

Good to know.

As usual, the best way to play online is without AI.

[ParaB]

As usual, the best way to play online is without AI.

 

No.

 

In fact it's a matter of personal preference.

[SeriousFox]

I'd like to see improved version of cloud in this game. (not like one from RoF, cuz it has ugly thick cloud graphics..)

[Zak]

I'd like to see improved version of cloud in this game. (not like one from RoF, cuz it has ugly thick cloud graphics..)

We'll add new cloud later this spring. They are on the artist's workdesk right now.

[6./ZG26_Emil]

Great news thanks Iain!

 

Zak if you read this do you think it will ever be possible to add a lobby type system in to the MP server window so we can talk to people before entering a game (a bit like HL?)

 

Also you said that while there wont be co-op in the release you have the technology to make it. Could you tell us if you have had any more thoughts about this? It is something a lot of people would love to have

[Obelix]

What does it mean "The IL-2 semi-detached tail is a bug"?

 

Too weak? Visual aspect?

Edited February 25, 2014 by GCN_Obelix

[T6-ADStukadriver]

Thank you and your excellent team, Zak. You guys are very, very impressive. I am enjoying your efforts and look forward to the future improvements and additions in this sim. Hope you guys don't get frustrated with all the "suggestions"...

It is interesting to see all the requests and comments for adding this detail or that detail without much regard for PC hardware limitations. It would seem that if you tried to put all the suggestions into the game that you have received, you would eventually run into the same problems of Cliffs of Dover - BOB. Then the forum would be full of complaints about how the game does not run right. I think you guys are handling this development with excellent planning and execution. Great stuff. 

[Obelix]

Ok, I understand! It would be fine to have a fields mods coming with some strong I beam to reinforce the tail

[Jaws2002]

Thanks for keeping us in the loop Tatarenko.

[reddog=11blueleader*]

This is great news, thanks for keeping us updated.

[=38=Tatarenko]

We're not limiting online with 64 players, there must be something lost in translation. It's just a well know number among players that we use to describe a balanced player+AI mission. But there's no 64 players limit if you create your own misson and make it light for the CPU (i.e. add less bots).

 

Loft was asked about 100 players - he said he couldn't be sure that would work but 64 players should do. Not that it was a fixed limit.

[SimFreak]

http://forum.il2sturmovik.ru/topic/1225-obsuzhdenie-54-j-chasti-dnevnikov-razrabotchika/?p=139297

 

 

yak pics

[Zak]

Loft was asked about 100 players - he said he couldn't be sure that would work but 64 players should do. Not that it was a fixed limit.

Yep, exactly.

[smink1701]

Thanks for the Tuesday update!

[Voidhunger]

http://forum.il2sturmovik.ru/topic/1225-obsuzhdenie-54-j-chasti-dnevnikov-razrabotchika/?p=139297

 

 

yak pics

Thanks!

[[JG2]R7_Blackadder]

Thanks Tatarenko !

[Jason_Williams]

Great news thanks Iain!

 

Zak if you read this do you think it will ever be possible to add a lobby type system in to the MP server window so we can talk to people before entering a game (a bit like HL?)

 

Also you said that while there wont be co-op in the release you have the technology to make it. Could you tell us if you have had any more thoughts about this? It is something a lot of people would love to have

 

We are not planning an MP lobby where you can chat.

 

Jason

[JG4_Sputnik]

Thx for the info!

[Freycinet]

The Yak looks great, very good to see it for the first time.

[ATAG_Slipstream]

So this is 64 human players plus AI? I regularly fly campaign missions with 60-70 humans and 40 plus AI bombers in CoD, please tell me that will be possible or am I missing something in translation?

[bivalov]

So this is 64 human players plus AI? I regularly fly campaign missions with 60-70 humans and 40 plus AI bombers in CoD, please tell me that will be possible or am I missing something in translation?

LOFT said - we guarantee good work with 64 players, maximum, other numbers like 100 could be, but not guaranteed by developers...

 

nothing about AI, although, looks like including AI, because bots have analogical FM etc...

 

your numbers of players looks interesting, because we have old discussion with devs, about numbers of players in online and priority of this discipline...

[pilotpierre]

Once again, muchos grassy arse for posting this informative post Tatarenko.