Developer Diary #332 Discussion

[Han]

 

[sevenless]

Thanks! Bright times ahead, it seems.

[AndyJWest]

Looking good. And just enough enigmatic vagueness about the "new, massive goal" to keep everyone busy with guessing games until the next DD. ?

[DD_Arthur]

Wow, ambition!  It all sounds very positive.  Welcome to the new era.

 

Han, are you project manager or producer now?

[354thFG_Leifr]

I find this particularly encouraging, thanks for the update Han.

 

[Enigma89]

Thank you for taking the time to do the stream.

[IndianJones]

All very encouraging! I'm looking forward to the future and everything it holds for the sim.

[Mtnbiker1998]

Exciting times for sure. Can't wait to hear more!

 

Hopefully this will shut up all the doomposting in the other threads...

[Jade_Monkey]

Very cool to hear the ambitious plans, I'm very supportive of the overhaul.

 

Just to be crystal clear, there is another announcement with the next battle coming, right?

 

Also, will all existing great battles be upgraded to the new engine? I dont know if I missed that part, i will have to listen to it again.

[Hotaru_Ito]

Just now, Mtnbiker1998 said:

Hopefully this will shut up all the doomposting in the other threads...

 

It hasn't.

 

I'm excited though. If this were any other company I'd be cynical, but so far these guys have delivered on their promises, so I'll take them at their word till they give me a reason not to.

[TP_Sparky]

I'm disappointed in the 'next project' tease. I buy everything offered, even things I'll never use (Tank sim, etc.) to support the company. Previous modules were announced closer to the preceding release.  What benefit's gained by the live-stream hype where everyone expected to learn of the new module? I've heard rumor of Khalkhin Gol.  We're your loyal users and shouldn't 'hide the ball.'  At least, don't tease us with 'events' and then make us angry.  I'm going to buy each module when it's first offered, but I don't like childish tricks.

[Hotaru_Ito]

Just now, TP_Sparky said:

 We're your loyal users and shouldn't 'hide the ball.'  At least, don't tease us with 'events' and then make us angry.  I'm going to buy each module when it's first offered, but I don't like childish tricks.

 

To be fair, they never once said or even implied that there would be an announcement of the next module on this stream. I was hoping for it but not really expecting it, and I certainly don't feel tricked or lied to.

[migmadmarine]

I don't think the implication us a standalone new engine guys, especially with how much discussion bast time around was devoted to the upgradeability of the existing one last interview. This will hopefully be new higher standards going forward that can apply (with some work) to the existing stuff, like PBR or some similar tech.

[76SQN-Minimayhemtemp]

Quote

At the moment our graphics engine gives us more than competitive visuals and performance.

 

What? There are ample threads about artefacts dissapearing, stuttering, time dilation, and many other issues.  Or is that considered 'competitive visuals and performance'?

 

I mean yeah competitive visuals against CFS3 and competitive performance against a calculator (OK OK exageration there), but that statement feels very rich when you compare the game against its actual competitors (I count WT, DCS, MSFS in that bucket).

[CUJO_1970]

In addition, we plan to create several more Collector Planes, which will be the modifications of the various aircraft that exist in the sim.

 

I found this part to be quite interesting, many possibilities for all sides here.

[Voidhunger]

Thanks you, it looks promising.

Han, please are there any plans for TC?

[PA_Keko_]

Thank you for the update, Sounds really interesting!!

[Rjel]

26 minutes ago, Jade_Monkey said:

Very cool to hear the ambitious plans, I'm very supportive of the overhaul.

 

Just to be crystal clear, there is another announcement with the next battle coming, right?

 

Also, will all existing great battles be upgraded to the new engine? I dont know if I missed that part, i will have to listen to it again.

I hope everything continues to build on what we have now. That's maybe the best feature of this entire series to my mind.

[Voyager]

I'm pretty much fine with the current GUI. It gets the job done and doesn't get in the way. 

 

The only think I could recommend is streamlining the game start process, so you don't have to wait through multiple loading sequences.

 

I would think moving log-in information to the the Launcher would solve that. Basically click the launcher, that window loads quickly, and holds the log-in credentials, then you launch the game and it handles all the loading until you're in. 

[HBB*Hunger]

Thanks guys, love your ambitious plans. Hunger's Bunte Bühne stays with you on your way!

[Hotaru_Ito]

19 minutes ago, Voidhunger said:

Thanks you, it looks promising.

Han, please are there any plans for TC?

 

He actually answered that, sort of--basically it's up to the Digital Forms folks whether there will be a TC2 or not. I think he also said they're having a meeting with Digital Forms next week, which suggests we might get some word after that.

Edited November 9, 2022 by Hotaru_Ito

[Voidhunger]

4 minutes ago, Hotaru_Ito said:

 

He actually answered that, sort of--basically it's up to the Digital Forms folks whether there will be a TC2 or not. I think he also said they're having a meeting with Digital Forms next week, which suggests we might get some word after that.

Aha ok, thanks

[Avimimus]

I just wanted to say that the graphic are excellent (with a few areas for improvement) and the damage model is exceptional (with the exception of the lack of meaningful waterline hits/AP rounds against shipping, maybe the WWI aircraft wing damage model being overly simplified, and a couple of bugs).

 

The big weakness of the sim is the AI. The simulation really needs to have different AI 'repertoires' for different aircraft/eras/nations and to have more skilled pilots choose an appropriate 'repertoire' for a particular opponent (with the low AI picking something foolish). This would also help address the periodically broken WWI AI (which from Rise of Flight to today requires the player to pick tactics to avoid accidentally luring the AI into crashing).

 

The other area for revolutionary improvements would be to have an ability to save and load the sim state (allowing time jumps in missions) or optimizations to increase time acceleration further. If optimizations could allow larger formations or more AI gunners (and possibly involve a rethinking of how gunner AI logic works at a fundamental level)... that would also pave the way for larger ships, formations of aircraft, or more ground units in the distant future.

 

So if I were significantly reworking major systems - those would be my priorities (not graphics or damage models). That is my 'two cents' anyway, for what it is worth (from someone following this series for 22 years now).

[szelljr]

...so next preorder in 2025. 

[=gRiJ=Roman-]

Fourth, we have already started the creation of the technical design documents for the new aircraft and one of these aircraft is already in development. The work on new pilots models is already underway. The pre-production of the new map has started - our designers are doing various research on the new area. This work is very extensive and complex because the chosen theatre of war is very interesting and visually appealing. But the reference documents and materials are not easy to come by. In fact, as it was before in our team experience, it looks like we'll not only create a new memorable realistic combat sim, but make a contribution to the history as a science by uncovering new data. At the very least we'll do our part in refreshing the public memory of these events.

 

New pilot models .... so, from different nationalities than the ones we have now?

The new theater of war ... from the description, it doesn´t seem to be Italy at all. It seems like a very unknown theatre?

Now I am REALLY confused!

[III/JG52_Al-Azraq]

Thanks for doing this guys, you really made us rest easy regarding the future of the franchise. During the stream you have transmitted optimism and passion to the players.

 

Can't wait for all the improvements, they sound great!

 

Keep up the good work.

[1PL-Husar-1Esk]

I would like to see objects damage model with physic engine applied, not what we have now, just one frame switch to destroyed model, you can hit truck moving  at 50 km /h and it stops in one frame with model switched to destroyed.

[[CPT]Crunch]

Thanks for laying your game plan out, very good news long term for us about the modular build style engineering upgrade to the engine, may be a bit slow to start out with but in the long run will bring us more planes, equipment, and maps.  It's great you can concentrate on the quality and allow others to fill in the quantity.  Its a big task but nobody better to tackle it.  Best of luck guys.

[ghbucky]

I really appreciated you taking the time to do this.

 

Very informative and I love the honesty of your responses. Shame the fuel system didn't work out!

[Jamppa]

Game could really use a pilot log book. I mean it would be a huge immersion thing that shows pilot photo, all the info and all the kills with plane name, date and location. Also pilot "upper body" with uniform showing all the medals etc he has earned... This stuff should not be impossible to create and i think most players would like this.

[danielprates]

. In addition, we plan to create several more Collector Planes, which will be the modifications of the various aircraft that exist in the sim

 

 

Maybe the B26 will become flyable!

[Mad_Mikhael]

"(...) chosen theatre of war is very interesting and visually appealing. (...) refreshing the public memory of these events." FINLAND! ?

 

Edited November 9, 2022 by Mad_Mikhael

[Habu]

I hope that drop tank will be a high priority with Normandy map.

 

We don't need to have the fuel managment for all the planes at one time. It can be in several update like we had with tactical code.

[LLv44_Damixu]

Thank you for an excellent Q&A session.

I even had one of my specific question answered. (Terrain graphics improvements plans, been a bit cartoonish, spoiled by MSFS) ? and I am very confident about the future of the sim progress and priorities with the resources they have.

Where's the link to pre-order next DLC?  ?

Edited November 9, 2022 by LLv44_Damixu

[IckyATLAS]

1 minute ago, Habu said:

I hope that drop tank will be a high priority with Normandy map.

 

We don't need to have the fuel managment for all the planes at one time. It can be in several update like we had with tactical code.

Han confirmed it will be part of the development in the coming BoX. But what they had developed up to now, that was a model compatible with all airplanes was a failure. Maybe they will go in steps.

[sevenless]

21 minutes ago, =gRiJ=Roman- said:

This work is very extensive and complex because the chosen theatre of war is very interesting and visually appealing. But the reference documents and materials are not easy to come by. In fact, as it was before in our team experience, it looks like we'll not only create a new memorable realistic combat sim, but make a contribution to the history as a science by uncovering new data. At the very least we'll do our part in refreshing the public memory of these events.

 

Sounds like a theatre which hadn't been touched in flight sims before.

[Trooper117]

This new direction and way forward will not be part of 'this' GB series as far as I could make out.

Improved AI, drop tanks and a host of other improvements cannot be implemented into into the current series, but will be available to the next venture.

If anyone has any other information on this please enlighten me.

[Hotaru_Ito]

6 minutes ago, sevenless said:

Sounds like a theatre which hadn't been touched in flight sims before.

 

That definitely fits the Burma theory. My great uncle flew C-46s and -47s there, so I'm a little biased, but I do think it would be "interesting and visually appealing," and it's never been done as far as I know--certainly not any time recently.

 

Presumably they reckon the plane set would sell all by itself. I expect they're right, Zeros and Oscars vs. "Flying Tigers" would be a big selling point even if CBI isn't the most famous theater of the war.

Edited November 9, 2022 by Hotaru_Ito

[Habu]

5 minutes ago, IckyATLAS said:

Han confirmed it will be part of the development in the coming BoX. But what they had developed up to now, that was a model compatible with all airplanes was a failure. Maybe they will go in steps.

I heard but I don't necessarily agree with what was said, even if i understand that it's not an easy work.

 

I hope that it will come sooner as he said because having a map such the Normandy without drop tank is a non sens.

[sevenless]

15 minutes ago, Hotaru_Ito said:

 

That definitely fits the Burma theory. My great uncle flew C-46s and -47s there, so I'm a little biased, but I do think it would be "interesting and visually appealing," and it's never been done as far as I know--certainly not any time recently.

 

Presumably they reckon the plane set would sell. I expect they're right, Zeros and Oscars vs. "Flying Tigers" would be a big selling point even if CBI isn't the most famous theater of the war.

 

Sounds good for me and would be a welcome switch to new axis (this time japanese) planes. This might also lay the groundwork for a later PTO module including carrier ops. Hopefully they let the cat out of the bag before x-mas. Fingers crossed.

 

https://scholars.wlu.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1097&context=cmh

Edited November 9, 2022 by sevenless