Any chance of an update on progress with 8 months to go?

[Mysticpuma]

1/3rd of the year gone, would it be possible to get an update on progress TFS? 

 

No negativity, just asking how progress is going? Any new betas coming, how is Speedtree integration going, any new B17/FW-190 images that can be shared, any Truesky progress? 

 

Cheers, MP

[SCG_Schneemann]

Speedtree integration is progressing. It's a juggling match between three different shaders that interact, so a lot of fiddling. Then we have to do it during all times of the day. then we have to do it for fall and winter. then we have to do it for the desert (Tobruk)... it's not just the trees.

[Dagwoodyt]

4 hours ago, SCG_Schneemann said:

Speedtree integration is progressing. It's a juggling match between three different shaders that interact, so a lot of fiddling. Then we have to do it during all times of the day. then we have to do it for fall and winter. then we have to do it for the desert (Tobruk)... it's not just the trees.

No mention of VR so maybe it's still crashing the beta. Speedtree 8/9 remains alpha(?)

[Dagwoodyt]

 

20 hours ago, SCG_Schneemann said:

Speedtree integration is progressing. It's a juggling match between three different shaders that interact, so a lot of fiddling. Then we have to do it during all times of the day. then we have to do it for fall and winter. then we have to do it for the desert (Tobruk)... it's not just the trees.

 

[LLv34_Flanker]

S!

 

A small spring update sure would be nice😎

[BENKOE]

Leave it as it is. TF -Blitz- is the one and only WWII shooter that offers an atmospheric accurate snowy landscape at +15°Celsius at sea level. What can be considered actual simulation instead of game.

 

Edit (postscript):

 

On 3/9/2024 at 6:30 AM, Buzzsaw said:

 ... ... Temperatures are now correct at altitude.  (based on the temperature being set correctly at sea level) ... ...

Edited May 13, 2024 by BENKOE

[BladeMeister]

On 5/3/2024 at 1:05 PM, Mysticpuma said:

1/3rd of the year gone, would it be possible to get an update on progress TFS? 

 

No negativity, just asking how progress is going? Any new betas coming, how is Speedtree integration going, any new B17/FW-190 images that can be shared, any Truesky progress? 

 

Cheers, MP

No!

 

S!Blade<><

[Buzzsaw]

As Schneemann mentioned, we are making good progress with the Speedtree integration.

 

Speedtree 8.42 is up and functioning within our in-house Alpha.  However, the shaders, i.e. the overall colour and look of the vegetation needs to be set correctly.  We don't want to release a version of Speedtree to the Beta whereby the trees look like day-glo psychedelic dreams... 😉   We are currently working on this aspect.  Once that is complete, we will add Speedtree to the VR Beta.

 

The work in bug-squashing in VR is progressing as well.   We have recently brought a new programmer into TF, and he is working with our lead VR programmer on identifying and eliminating the source of the crashes which have been a problem in VR.  Overall VR is working very well, our testers report it is looking better than either DCS or GB, but inevitably a crash occurs... typically within about 20 minutes of the player starting a mission.  Obviously we can't release VR with this problem, so our focus is on finding and eliminating the bugs causing these crashes.

 

Once we have Speedtree into the VR Beta and once we have eliminated the crash bugs, we will open the VR Beta to all users for a final round of tests.

 

No timeline at this point.

[No.54_Reddog]

Is now a bad time to mention that plant factory and plant catalogue are now released entirely free?

[Dagwoodyt]

16 hours ago, Buzzsaw said:

Once we have Speedtree into the VR Beta and once we have eliminated the crash bugs, we will open the VR Beta to all users for a final round of tests.

 

No timeline at this point.

After more than two years of beta testing crashes in VR persist, so no timeline can ever be set for VR. OTOH a timeline for TF 6.0 has already been advertised. If that timeline is other than hyperbole, TF 6.0 might well launch flatscreen only.

[Buzzsaw]

4 hours ago, Dagwoodyt said:

After more than two years of beta testing crashes in VR persist, so no timeline can ever be set for VR. OTOH a timeline for TF 6.0 has already been advertised. If that timeline is other than hyperbole, TF 6.0 might well launch flatscreen only.

No.

[Buzzsaw]

On 5/8/2024 at 6:25 AM, No.54_Reddog said:

Is now a bad time to mention that plant factory and plant catalogue are now released entirely free?

Not sure what you are suggesting?

 

The Plant factory and catalogue are free to licensed paid users of the Speedtree software, but cannot be used without the purchase of the Speedtree Source Code... and any attempts to do so would be met with legal action by Speedtree.

[SCG_Schneemann]

He's talking about Plant Factory software. Bentley Systems has just announced they are eliminating the licensing for that particular piece of software. However, what I am reading, is that is isn't optimized for games, but more for static pictures, and is fairly resource heavy. It's probably close to Speedtree, but without the full library, so we would have to make all the foliage ourselves, then figure out how to incorporate it into the game. It appears that we would have to export out the FBX file anyway, so why not just do it in Blender? Part of Speedtree is that the features built into the developer package are already done, like wind, etc. I'll research it a little more, but so far it doesn't look like it would be better for gaming.

[Dagwoodyt]

On 5/8/2024 at 1:18 PM, Buzzsaw said:

No.

So if no solution to VR crashes is found then no TF6.0?

[jdu]

1 hour ago, Dagwoodyt said:

So if no solution to VR crashes is found then no TF6.0?

This forum is only alive because of the intervention of killjoys.

[Mysticpuma]

5 hours ago, jdu said:

This forum is only alive because of the intervention of killjoys.

Rare for anyone else to comment. 

[BOO]

7 hours ago, jdu said:

This forum is only alive because of the intervention of killjoys.

 

1 hour ago, Mysticpuma said:

Rare for anyone else to comment. 

 

Since every Clod thread rapidy turns into the same 4 or 5 of us lobbing hand grenades at each other I can see why no-one else bothers anymore (Im as guilty as anyone for doing this and even i'm bored of it). The aim of the game now is less about out flying your foe in the big blue and more about keeping your head down in the mud filled trenches whilst awaiting the next big push.. 

[343KKT_Kintaro]

5 hours ago, BOO said:

4 or 5 of us lobbing hand grenades at each other

 

 

Hand grenades in a forum in the internet? How is that, Boo? Well, personally, I don't think it's that hard to explain. Simply think about the following: three combat flight simulators are called "IL-2 Sturmovik", chronologically they were released in 2001, 2011, and 2013. The forum in the il2sturmovik.com domain (here, where we are) had been designed as the official forum of one of the three games only. And so it is managed.

 

In other words: wanna discuss peacefully about that sim called "Cliffs of Dover Blitz". Simple => go to the ATAG forum, I think it is considered as thge official one. My guessing is that the only hand grenades there are those that the ATAG moderators would drop on the... "killyoys". And that's why they, the "killjoys" keep warm their headquarters here. Mmmm... it's so goody... huh?

 

Gentlemen: have a nice day, or night, wherever you are in the world.

 

 

[Dagwoodyt]

 

On 5/3/2024 at 10:36 AM, SCG_Schneemann said:

Speedtree integration is progressing. It's a juggling match between three different shaders that interact, so a lot of fiddling. Then we have to do it during all times of the day. then we have to do it for fall and winter. then we have to do it for the desert (Tobruk)... it's not just the trees.

Reality strikes yet again😉

[HazMatt]

Thanks for all the hard work. Looking forward to release.

[BladeMeister]

While keeping my head down in the mud in the trenches I am also looking forward to the graphics update. Not holding my breath anymore, even that the update will drop this year, as I have now opted to hope that it will be released before I, A. Lose all interest in Combat Flight Sims or B. before I die. I am 60 years old for the record.

 

S!Blade<><

[Mysticpuma]

15 hours ago, BladeMeister said:

I have now opted to hope that it will be released before I, A. Lose all interest in Combat Flight Sims or B. before I die. I am 60 years old for the record.

 

S!Blade<><

I'm 57...fired up CloD for the first time in 3-months two-days ago. Flew for about 20-minutes and then put it away again. Hard to know where that passion went, but I understand what you're saying.

Edited May 12, 2024 by Mysticpuma

[BOO]

31 minutes ago, Mysticpuma said:

.fired up CloD for the first time in 3-months two-days ago. Flew for about 20-minutes and then put it away again. Hard to know where that passion went, 

Pretty much sums up my first marriage..

[BOO]

On 5/12/2024 at 11:10 AM, Mysticpuma said:

Hard to know where that passion went, 

 CloD and GB were always Multi Player games for me. Unlike DCS, they have never appealed to me in  SP for various reasons. After playing the original IL2 series from the day of its release in 2001 to about 2008 as a SP, I lost the bug and didnt discover CloD and flight sims un general until 2014/15. By that time TF had put in several patches, making the game playable at least in MP. Moreover it played well on my GTX750ti upgraded 8 year old PC that I literally pulled out of a puddle at the back of my garden outhouse. Between 2015 and 2019 I put about 3500 hours into the game and loved every minute. Storm of War was a highlight but the ATAG server in the evenings and weekends was always fun whilst Dangerdogz was my go-to during the day. As well as a Random I was a part of TWC before going blue and flying alongside the awesome 9/JG52 and JG4.

 

After Blitz was released, things fell apart for Clod. Some stopped playing as the game was more performance hungry and a lot went over to BoS which has found its feet, other fell out with TFS. I went too but I never found the same level of enjoyment as I did in pre Blitz Clod despite flying with some wonderful squads (SCG and 9/JG52) and terrific people. Evenutally IL2GB also lost its appeal as late war stuff came to dominate gameplay and I took refuge in a DCS Mi8.

 

For me then, I think the passion for the MP aspects of CloD is still there but its the players who are perhaps not. Back in the day I didnt know enough or care if the DM was good or the FM was accurate. I didnt really care about anything but jumping on a side, getting on TS and having some fun. I enjoyed gaming the game and enjoyed the communities (lets acknowledge there were factions).  Even with limited map circulation I alwats found something to do.  It was (and is) the best £6 I ever spent.

 

Come 2025, I'll be back in a position where I can sim again. After so long out and, having had time to digest and think about it all, I'll be installing Clod again regardless of if TF6 or the VU is out. It might all fall flat but the game still evokes enough emotion in me to give it a go. 

 

 

[Snowdon]

On 5/11/2024 at 7:33 AM, BOO said:

 

 

Since every Clod thread rapidy turns into the same 4 or 5 of us lobbing hand grenades at each other I can see why no-one else bothers anymore (Im as guilty as anyone for doing this and even i'm bored of it). The aim of the game now is less about out flying your foe in the big blue and more about keeping your head down in the mud filled trenches whilst awaiting the next big push.. 

 

[Dagwoodyt]

 

I'm imagining someone jumping through all the hoops needed to get into the "Closed" beta and almost two and a half years later VR is still crashing(?). Amazing🤕

[BOO]

43 minutes ago, Dagwoodyt said:

 

I'm imagining someone jumping through all the hoops needed to get into the "Closed" beta and almost two and a half years later VR is still crashing(?). Amazing🤕

 

Why would someone having to jump though hoops affect how long a bug takes to resolve?  Clearly there are ssues but I dont understand your point. 

[Snowdon]

3 hours ago, BOO said:

 

Why would someone having to jump though hoops affect how long a bug takes to resolve?  Clearly there are ssues but I dont understand your point. 

 

I'm guessing Dag wanted a more stable beta? and can we say whether this crashing bug is the same crashing bug as before. 

 oh crap I'm sounding too reasonable, deploying gif!!!  

[BOO]

8 minutes ago, Snowdon said:

 

I'm guessing Dag wanted a more stable beta? and can we say whether this crashing bug is the same crashing bug as before. 

 oh crap I'm sounding too reasonable, deploying gif!!!  

makes sense. Sadly though all the exasperation in the world won’t make it happen any faster. Jeesh,  this reasonable thing is infectious…….

[LLv34_Flanker]

S!

 

Will be interesting to test the open beta when time comes. Even I am not a VR user, the other things being implenented are more than enough. Wait is long but got other games keeping me busy.

 

With age and all the annoying things coming with it flying has decreased from the peak years in IL-2, Aces High etc. Back then logged over 200hr per month in AH alone😅Now it is a few sorties now and then which is way too little to keep skills up😬

[Dagwoodyt]

So no one knows if/when VR crashes can be solved. Nevertheless there is capacity to support an "open" beta for the TF 5.0 VR/VU and a (presumably) separate alpha/beta for TF 6.0. 🤔

[BOO]

8 minutes ago, Dagwoodyt said:

So no one knows if/when VR crashes can be solved. Nevertheless there is capacity to support an "open" beta for the TF 5.0 VR/VU and a (presumably) separate alpha/beta for TF 6.0. 🤔

 

I do have to wonder why (or if) an open beta at all given the shortening  timescles to the slated date for TF6.0.  My reading was always TFS had enough flatties and gogglers on board to see them through the beta.

 

Does then TF6.0 end up becomming something of an open beta for VR if those issues have not been fully resolved before launch?  I cant see anyone playing soley in VR wanting to take a full price punt on a TF6.0 with partially resolved tech set given the history or the implementation efforts to date.  

 

 

 

 

[FTC_Rostic]

I'm quite optimistic about TFS will solve VR crashing. There was a bug in beta on flatscreen that was crashing the game some times, but with help of reports from beta testers describing the way how to reproduce that bug, they solved it and now beta on flatscreen is very stable and smooth. Now, I can't wait to see it with new speed tree (and maybe something else?)

[Dagwoodyt]

On 5/7/2024 at 3:23 PM, Buzzsaw said:

Once we have Speedtree into the VR Beta and once we have eliminated the crash bugs, we will open the VR Beta to all users for a final round of tests.

 

No timeline at this point.

The problem created in volunteering a commitment like this is that TFS' capacity for hosting a true "open" beta while maintaining the timeline already avertised for TF 6.0 seems questionable at best. As has been endlessly restated, TFS operates part-time only. The Team is apparenty so busy now that it cannot provide unprompted updates on their progress for either the VR/VU or for TF 6.0. If you look at the OP there is request for info on TF 6.0 progress. That request hasn't been addressed in Team' responses to date. I think I remember a time when TFS stated that anyone who wanted to join the VR/VU "closed" beta could do so. That offer has since been withdrawn. Too busy perhaps.

[BOO]

I re read the thread, probably incorrectly and perhpas theres some cross purpose between the VR/VR aspect and TF6.0 in the TFS responses. 

 

Perhaps then there is a possibly that VR/VU may well arrive before the launch of TF6.0 (and also perhaps that TF6.0 may slip as a result of the work still needed on the VR/VU by the coders). 

 

Either way, nothing said or done here will change anything. Im quite sure of that.

 

I does seem however that "Killjoy HQ", contrary to the belief of some and  largely through the valiant efforts of @Mysticpuma, remains the primary source of information form TFS. 🙂 

 

 

 

Edited May 16, 2024 by BOO

[343KKT_Kintaro]

Boo, I have no idea if whether or not you assumed something like me including you in the "killjoys" bunch. I didn't. Nevertheless, my position stands: the real thing is that we are at the main forum for the "Great Battles" game... with subforums that allow discussions about '46 and Cliffs. Still at the moment, even ten years after the GB's release, in terms of business and numbers of players, none of those two latter, '46 and Cliffs, is a serious competitor for "Great Battles"... but while '46 cannot become a competitor, Cliffs could, if TFS manages to efficiently upgrade the game. So this is why the moderation, here in il2sturmovik.com, allows so much sarcasm and acressivity to those who are violently comptentuous of Cliffs (too often out of proportion, too often forgeting the manners). Not that the "killjoys" could earn something by means of the sabotage of the development of the Dover series, but the internet with no doubt reflects human nature... and in normal conditions those being excessively agressive in a forum are normally intercepted by the moderation. Funnily... they are not intercepted, on the contrary they even manage to stick to their guns... accordingly to what the moderation allows here for years. Sad, very sad.

 

 

[BOO]

23 minutes ago, 343KKT_Kintaro said:

Boo, I have no idea if whether or not you assumed something like me including you in the "killjoys" bunch. I didn't. Nevertheless, my position stands: the real thing is that we are at the main forum for the "Great Battles" game... with subforums that allow discussions about '46 and Cliffs. Still at the moment, even ten years after the GB's release, in terms of business and numbers of players, none of those two latter, '46 and Cliffs, is a serious competitor for "Great Battles"... but while '46 cannot become a competitor, Cliffs could, if TFS manages to efficiently upgrade the game. So this is why the moderation, here in il2sturmovik.com, allows so much sarcasm and acressivity to those who are violently comptentuous of Cliffs (too often out of proportion, too often forgeting the manners). Not that the "killjoys" could earn something by means of the sabotage of the development of the Dover series, but the internet with no doubt reflects human nature... and in normal conditions those being excessively agressive in a forum are normally intercepted by the moderation. Funnily... they are not intercepted, on the contrary they even manage to stick to their guns... accordingly to what the moderation allows here for years. Sad, very sad.

 

 

 

Hello Kintaro, I remind you that it was you who coined the phase "Killjoy HQ" not I.

 

At the time of your first post about ATAG I did venture a look. At the time I looked, 9 out of the 10 most commented threads had nothing to do with TFS, or Cliffs, or TF6.0, the majority were about DCS, 2 were war memoirs and 1 was about car racing.  The last update by TFS on ATAG was late dec 23. 

 

When it comes to moderation, who do you think rules the roost here in the Cliffs section of the forum? Its Buzzsaw. Without breaking forum rules here that was made patently clear to me in private conversations with the last and current Community Managers. So,for your sake, perhaps be a little more circumspect with the open critisism. 

 

 

 

Edited May 19, 2024 by BOO

[343KKT_Kintaro]

56 minutes ago, BOO said:

Hello Kintaro, I remind you that it was you who coined the phase "Killjoy HQ" not I.

 

 

I took the term "killjoy" from our fellow colleague jdu (see above) because he simply is right (again, see above). I completed jdu's comment by pointing out that this forum and website are permanently and shamelessly used as headquarters by the so-mentioned killjoys. So yes, you may say that I coined that term, "killjoys' headquarters", but I wasn't the first who mentioned the "killjoys"... others aren't happy with them neither, so please do not forget that I'm not the only one who's fed up with some users here. Enough is enough.

 

 

56 minutes ago, BOO said:

At the time of your first post about ATAG I did venture a look. At the time I looked, 9 out of the 10 most commented threads had nothing to do with TFS, or Cliffs, or TF6.0, the majority were about DCS, 2 were war memoirs and 1 was about car racing.  The last update by TFS on ATAG was late dec 23.

 

 

Whatever problems you may find there do not prove anything against the palpable truth that there's one serious problem here. Please do not mix up forum mod liabilities there... and here.

 

 

1 hour ago, BOO said:

When it comes to moderation, who do you think rules the roost here in the Cliffs section of the forum? Its Buzzsaw.

 

 

Buzzsaw? Oh sure... since when? And whatever the elapsed time this is, what margin of freedom had him for years and years if compared to what other mods have done here in this Cliffs of Dover subsection of the IL-2 forum... for years and years? Please Boo, remember that I'm talking about a long-standing problem. Nevertheless, this happened recently and it was Buzzsaw who put and end to the ridiculous circus into which that other thread had turned (let's put this with a better wording: "the circus it was since it's very beginning"). Such a natural and competent moderation action... brings some hope to the present Cliffs of Dover subsection. We'll leave alone the other fans of the other games and they (or whoever else) will leave us alone here in the present subsection. That's all I ask.

 

 

1 hour ago, BOO said:

Without breaking forum rules here that was made patently clear to me in private conversations with the last and current Community Managers.

 

 

 

Oh, is then Buzzsaw the lone mod here at this subsection where we are? He may be the only one now (I doubt it), but not since the beginning of the present version of the  overall IL-2 forum. Again, Boo, my argument consists in pointing out a nonchalance that had been clearly intended by some moderators so that some users can act freely and short-cut the peaceful interaction between all of us... on this subsection of the forum, the Cliffs of Dover subsection. With bold arrogance and permanent sarcasm, such are the methods of those "killjoys" that jdu mentioned above.

 

 

1 hour ago, BOO said:

So,for your sake, perhaps be a little more circumspect with the open critisism.

 

 

There's no problem to me with admitting that Cliffs of Dover still now is a game that presents a number of serious problems. Open criticism, respectfully expressed, will always be accepted as far as I'm concerned. Please Boo be honest: you have to admit that there are plenty of threads which intend to pointing out serious problems in this game... with not a single intervention of mine. What I'm talking about strictly refers to the bold witch-hunt attitude that some users shamelessly show here.

 

 

 

[BOO]

@343KKT_Kintaro  I think the moderation has pretty much been as it is now since the "official" Cliffs sub forum was created here. Before that no buts its been here with a TFS mod since March 2018 in one form or another.  Is Buzzsaw the only mod? No of course he isnt but this section is pretty much left to him.

 

Im not sure that I follow your point when you ask "Buzzsaw, oh sure,since when?" then provide an example of his moderation powers. I suggest you go back over all the historic threads, that might give you the answer through the threads he's closed for similar reasons. Ultimately its not a mods job to protect you from hurt feelings resultant from reading different views. Forums will always lead to extreme points of view being expressed. If you dont agree, you can make a counter point or ignore the post. This place is such an echo chamber anyway, what either side says makes absolutely zero difference given how few undecided there are. 

 

Im also not mixing up anything - you claim that ATAG is now the one light and truth, Im simply pointing out that its not updated by TFS as much as this forum and that its far from a vibrant place to discuss TF6.0.

 

The open critisism I was taking about, by the way, was the allegations of biased moderation you were making thus breaching rule 6. I was not talking about critisism of the game or TFS.

 

Finally, I do agree that some threads and posts serve only to stir the pot. Equally others are annoyingly fanboi and rose tinted.  If I disagree or feel its pointless to chalenge, I ignore em. Its very liberating.  

 

Anyhow - as weve both taken this topic way off thread as usual, Im pretty sure this will now go the way of all things Clod and be red lined by one mod or the other.  I wonder who it will be? 

 

 

 

[BladeMeister]

Blah Blah Blah Blady Blah Blah! Move along you two, these are not the droids you are looking for!

Edited May 19, 2024 by BladeMeister