Game version 4.701 discussion: Next Gen Clouds, DFW C.V, Yak-1b in 4K and other improvements

[airsheep_VR]

Unfortunately I can't play the game  with medium-high clouds settings. My 1080ti can't handle better graphics in vr, I play with low quality clouds.

But the pictures shows they look fantastic.

[IckyATLAS]

6 hours ago, 352ndOscar said:

try this……

 

 

 

Excellent answer. Your prize is a picture of :

 

 

[RAAF492SQNOz_Steve]

Very pleased with the latest update. Am getting a few extra fps flying in the Reverb G2 at 100% SS.

 

Also, some microstutters have disappeared in quick missions that I fly when testing performance. 

 

AAAA++++ effort by the IL 2 Team and a great Xmas present for us

 

[Beebop]

1 hour ago, rowdyb00t said:

I would say it’s in the sky file. So remove the whole thing. Hopefully that fixes it. 

Yes it did.  I can run with Mods ON and have the new clouds but.....now it's too bright (my personal setting has always been .08 gamma) and too blue.  See below.

I tried a lower gamma but then it's too dark and still too light blue which also affects the land tiles.  I like the deeper blue in the Mods Off screenshot.

But, I can at least run with Mods ON as the squad I fly with uses them.  Our CO said that the winter maps were quite blue as well.

Thanks at least for this much.  I'd have no issues with running a skydome mod of yours if it will cut back on the brightness and blue-ish-ness.

[US103_Baer]

Clouds are awesome guys!

Complete game-changer for the slower, under-powered WW1 aircraft.

 

Some clouds are so large and complex there's no going over or through them, while going round them funnels you into narrow paths.  The strategic implications are huge. 

 

Also great to see the following bug addressed.  Helps create confidence in followup/reporting process

Fixed shaking of both SPAD VII.C1 150 hp and 180 hp in the absence of a control signal at high (but lower than buffeting) speeds

 

Edited December 9, 2021 by US28_Baer

[ATA_Vasilij]

in my opinion clouds are too blurred.

 

In reality cumulus have sharp edges from long distance view, but in game is everything blurred. 

Are you sure this is improvement?

At least upper side of clouds should be more sharpened.

[senseispcc]

Wonderful, not only the great change to the reproduction of weather but also the flight  itself is more realistic or so it seems. And never forget that a simulation is all about impressions not reality. Thanks to the team for the progress they permit us to share. I waited for a lot of time to have a chance to fly the Typhoon  and now this dream is reality in this simulation! Or game. Thousand thanks and salutes to the team of artists how reproduce this reality so perfectly.  

[Beebop]

ADDENDUM to previous posts;

 

I continue to try all the variations in the AQMB and am having better results with different times of day and maps so maybe that brightness/bluish issue isn't as big a deal as I thought (?).  Anyway I would still be interested in any skydome stuff you might like to share.

 

rowdyb00t, your Clouds Mod was o u t s t a n d i n g and I really got spoiled by it.  AFAIAC the Devs should have left the whole improvement project to you (and given you a lifetime of free DLC's to the game).

 

 

Edited December 9, 2021 by Beebop

[Guest deleted@50488]

WOWWWWWW !!!

[Beebop]

ADDENDUM II:

 

I do agree with our CO, the snow is waaay too blue.  See attached.  Velikiye Luki winter, 8:30 AM:

I think it should be a lot lighter, closer to the snow that tops the revetments.

 

Edited December 9, 2021 by Beebop

[MajorMagee]

I'm seeing a lot of color banding in some of the cloud types during early morning lighting conditions. Is there some setting I'm missing?

[DD_Friar]

Salute,

Many thanks for the update.

 

Just looking in the mission builder I notice under the atmosphere settings there does not appear any new cloud settings, so do I therefore assume that the new clouds will over write the existing clouds for multiplayer missions?

 

DD_Friar

[Beebop]

10 minutes ago, DD_Friar said:

Just looking in the mission builder I notice under the atmosphere settings there does not appear any new cloud settings, so do I therefore assume that the new clouds will over write the existing clouds for multiplayer missions?

That's my understanding.  I have been checking my missions to see the differences between what I had set using rowdyb00t's Cloud Mod and what the game now presents.  It's a little different but not too far off.  My experience has been so far that there are no really different looks, just degrees of difference.

[Crashbangwallop]

Very possibly coincidental, but I have a glitch here - checking to see if anyone else has problem with game loading

 

Launcher appears as usual. Click 'Play' button, but game fails to materialise. Hit Launcher shortcut again after 30 secs, and I get 'another Il2 is running', and after a bit more time ' the game is failing to respond'

 

I'm pretty sure I opened it up at about 4pm uk time, which I think was before the upgrade was issued. Hoping this is a coincidence. Am all backed up ready for uninstall/reinstall, but my computer guy suggested I check out forum before beginning all that hassle in case the update is relevant. No problems at all prior to this, computer seemed to close down perfectly ok Tuesday night. Running Nvidia ultra graphic settings etc

 

As I say, anyone else had the same thing?

 

Clouds look gorgeous, by the way... ?

Edited December 9, 2021 by Crashbangwallop
Replaced second 'Play' with launcher shortcut

[=EXPEND=CG_Justin]

13 minutes ago, Crashbangwallop said:

Very possibly coincidental, but I have a glitch here - checking to see if anyone else has problem with game loading

 

Launcher appears as usual. Click 'Play' button, but game fails to materialise. Hit Launcher shortcut again after 30 secs, and I get 'another Il2 is running', and after a bit more time ' the game is failing to respond'

 

I'm pretty sure I opened it up at about 4pm uk time, which I think was before the upgrade was issued. Hoping this is a coincidence. Am all backed up ready for uninstall/reinstall, but my computer guy suggested I check out forum before beginning all that hassle in case the update is relevant. No problems at all prior to this, computer seemed to close down perfectly ok Tuesday night. Running Nvidia ultra graphic settings etc

 

As I say, anyone else had the same thing?

 

Clouds look gorgeous, by the way... ?

 

Were you able to install the update?

[E69_Cananas]

4 hours ago, Beebop said:

MODS Enabled breaks new clouds.

 

So are the Dev's sending a message?  If so just remove the Mods Option in the Settings.

 

The only message a Dev could sending you is: you have a problem with your game installation and you should double check your issues before writting these sentences.

 

The clouds work the same with MODS ON or OFF, if you does not have nothing wrong remaining from others Mods that can conflict with the new clouds system.

Edited December 9, 2021 by E69_Cananas

[Crashbangwallop]

5 minutes ago, =EXPEND=CG_Justin said:

 

Were you able to install the update?

Yes, I thought that might kick any problem into place. it didn't

 

Downloaded automaticaly. Installed itself. Hit Launcher, same outcome...

 

Come to think of it, that was a while after my first attempt, which didn't involve the update.

[Swatius]

First off I'd like to say the update looks amazing! But I have one issue, I now have massive stuttering and pauses while flying through the clouds. Before the update I had never had a single fps stutter or pause, but it's nearly unplayable now. Any ideas?

[VBF-12_Stick-95]

1 hour ago, MajorMagee said:

I'm seeing a lot of color banding in some of the cloud types during early morning lighting conditions. Is there some setting I'm missing?

 

Don't get me wrong, the clouds are amazing and would not want to go back to the old ones, but I too experienced heavy banding during an evening sortie. 

[BlitzPig_EL]

7 hours ago, Thad said:

 

Temperture setting?

 

-9C should do it.  That's the temp on the totally snow covered map.

 

And while I'm here...

 

How do the names of the clouds in the AQMB correlate to the way they are named in the FMB?  I have yet to find the towering cumulonimbus clouds while working in the Mission Builder. 

Edited December 9, 2021 by BlitzPig_EL

[DD_Friar]

When this type of release is made as well as the new features, which are of course very welcome, do the devs also include any outstanding bug fixes? for example a while back I reported and had accepted the issue of setting the server to have "Safe Collisions" (thinking it may be a work around for tanks hitting and being damaged by invisible / small objects like the water wells and hand carts) which made a player tank invulnerable. 

Of course I know I could fire up a server and test but in the release notes it might be nice to have a section on any historical bug fixes that may been included?

 

Salute

DD_Friar 

[I./JG52_Woutwocampe]

Clouds have improved yes but they are too blurred imo. Gives them a bit of an unrealistic/cartoonish look imo. 

[AEthelraedUnraed]

16 hours ago, Han said:

Mission Editor changes
65. Location of the toolbars are saved correctly, system toolbars and sections are removed;

I noticed the surface editing bars have been removed. Was this on purpose?

 

The tree/water/height editing bars didn't work with our version of the Mission Editor anyway, so they can be safely removed, but the surface editing bar was actually quite useful for creating scenario-specific scenery and/or improving the existing scenery.

[ScotsmanFlyingscotsman]

Sounds great. I'll probably wipe my previous campaigns and start again, looking forward to this when it eventually downloads, THANK YOU 

[Ribbon]

Clouds look nice but it seems it came at performance cost in my case!

In VR on empty map with cloudy weather i get stutters and frame drops when near clouds.....with old clouds it was smooth.

I7 10700k, rtx3080, reverb g2 (shadows and mirrors off, high/ultra preset, clouds high, 70% ss at steamVR, forced smoothning), fps drops to 40 and stuttering occurs..

 

Edit: seems Kuban map was the reason for sudden framedrops and stuttering ....not clouds

Edited December 11, 2021 by =VARP=Ribbon

[Toots_LeGuerre]

The new clouds are stunning. Not perfect, but WOW.

It's tempting to forget the war and just go sightseeing.

And what will the inevitable Pacific Theater bring in the way of towering technicolor sunsets?

Ooo la la . . . .

[FTC_Mephisto]

New clouds are amazing, had a quick sortie on Combat Box yesterday, so many new tactical options: 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 9, 2021 by FTC_Mephisto

[AtomicP]

2 hours ago, VBF-12_Stick-95 said:

 

Don't get me wrong, the clouds are amazing and would not want to go back to the old ones, but I too experienced heavy banding during an evening sortie. 

I've had this issue with the game for ages but never found out what the problem was. I'd guess something to do with the bit depth of the shading used on the sky. There's an unofficial fix using Reshade (search the forum) but I haven't tried it.

[BlackSix]

12 hours ago, Epiccow400 said:

Are all the scripted campaigns updated too? I want to start fortress on the volga again. Will i start with the new clouds? And if i dont is there any way i can? Thanks.

Yes, I've updated all my free and paid campaigns. In all missions, the most optimal cloud cover was selected, close to the original idea, some routes above the clouds were fixed and many more small improvements were made.

 

Also I know that both tank campaigns have been reworked.

[Guster]

localization of precipitation on the map

 

?

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

12 hours ago, kissTheSky said:

Dang! Got home late from drive-the-kids-around-for-practice duty and now it’s too late to try the update! Aaaaaaargh!

Less typing, more playing!

[BigMotor]

Beautiful work, thanks for the update.

[Rjel]

4 hours ago, Crashbangwallop said:

Very possibly coincidental, but I have a glitch here - checking to see if anyone else has problem with game loading

 

Launcher appears as usual. Click 'Play' button, but game fails to materialise. Hit Launcher shortcut again after 30 secs, and I get 'another Il2 is running', and after a bit more time ' the game is failing to respond'

 

I'm pretty sure I opened it up at about 4pm uk time, which I think was before the upgrade was issued. Hoping this is a coincidence. Am all backed up ready for uninstall/reinstall, but my computer guy suggested I check out forum before beginning all that hassle in case the update is relevant. No problems at all prior to this, computer seemed to close down perfectly ok Tuesday night. Running Nvidia ultra graphic settings etc

 

As I say, anyone else had the same thing?

 

Clouds look gorgeous, by the way... ?

I had it happen three times last night. I checked to see if IL2 was being allowed through the firewall. An IL2 exe wasn’t checked but I can’t say for certain it was for my current install. I’ll need to explore this more tonight. 

Edited December 9, 2021 by Rjel

[Crashbangwallop]

11 minutes ago, Rjel said:

I had it happen three times last night. I checked to see if IL2 was being allowed through the firewall. An IL2 exe wasn’t checked but I can’t say for certain it was for my current install. I’ll need to explore this more tonight. 

Just done my reinstall - works fine. I have absolutely no idea what caused my game fail yesterday. Thinking about it, the fault first occurred just before update was issued, so - rationally - it was probably just coincidence that the game got itself in a tangle at that particular time. What were the chances though?...

 

My other computer guy advised I should just go ahead and un/reinstall. Saved all my 'input' folder and skins/missions stuff, and slotted them back. Keyboard/Joystick/rudder pedals configured themselves as before. If anything it works smoother than pre-fail, and, I blew up a train on my first trial run. Which was nice

 

Hope you resolve your own prob -  easily, I hope. I know how frustrating that feels... 

[40plus]

6 hours ago, airsheep_VR said:

Unfortunately I can't play the game  with medium-high clouds settings. My 1080ti can't handle better graphics in vr, I play with low quality clouds.

But the pictures shows they look fantastic.

I run the sim on a 1080ti, most every graphics setting maxxed out, Reverb G2 with no issue.

[enyak]

1 hour ago, BlackSix said:

Yes, I've updated all my free and paid campaigns. In all missions, the most optimal cloud cover was selected, close to the original idea, some routes above the clouds were fixed and many more small improvements were made.

 

Also I know that both tank campaigns have been reworked.

 

Fantastic! Is that already included in the current release?

[Jaws2002]

This was a really good update. The clouds are really nice.

 

Now, Is there a way to make stronger clouds shadows in game. I have the shadows to Ultra, but I really wish this amazing clouds would cast stronger shadows.

Maybe the whole game could use stronger shadows.

[BlackSix]

16 minutes ago, enyak said:

Fantastic! Is that already included in the current release?

That is already included, it was worth a lot of effort but it was worth it)

[DiFiS]

I know that work on the new clouds went on for a year. A lot of hours and effort went into this beauty. A huge thank you to the developers for their work.
I can't stop enjoying it.

[Rjel]

39 minutes ago, Crashbangwallop said:

Just done my reinstall - works fine. I have absolutely no idea what caused my game fail yesterday. Thinking about it, the fault first occurred just before update was issued, so - rationally - it was probably just coincidence that the game got itself in a tangle at that particular time. What were the chances though?...

 

My other computer guy advised I should just go ahead and un/reinstall. Saved all my 'input' folder and skins/missions stuff, and slotted them back. Keyboard/Joystick/rudder pedals configured themselves as before. If anything it works smoother than pre-fail, and, I blew up a train on my first trial run. Which was nice

 

Hope you resolve your own prob -  easily, I hope. I know how frustrating that feels... 

I typically do a complete reinstall after a major update too. I agree it usually makes the game seemingly run better for me also. It’s on the agenda for this evening.