What is required to make Single Player a great experience, rather than what we currently have?

[Mysticpuma]

I can think of a lot of things, but firstly we have to look at the Ai.

The longest standing issue has to be how unrealistic it is. How the death spiral still continues, how the gunners in bombers twitch like they are having a seizure as they try to decide a target, how the Ai knows your cross hair has ligned up and you can see the moment the Ai switches on, how they fly like drones once they can't 'see' the enemy and RTB forgetting you exist, how they don't respond to the radio commands, how they never feel like they are there for you, etc. etc...

I know we are supposed to get V6 sometime next year (maybe Christmas 2025), and while visually it will look way better than now, the sad thing is, the Ai is still terrible and unless some real dedication is given to it, once the multiplayer crowd die off.....the offline experience will continue to be tragically underwhelming.

 

A starting point would have been during the years of development, to get these working from the original release.

Edited October 21, 2024 by Mysticpuma

[giftgruen]

You are completely right.

However - there have been so many AI discussions and threads already, but no substantial changes / progress.

 

It's simply that IL2 needs commercial success and "good AI" makes a lot of work but is not a very good selling point.

( same with accurate flight models or game balancing - e.g. missing early two-seaters in FC )

 

From commercial point of view I understand this.

From "pilots" point of view it's a pity.

[Aapje]

The AI radio commands is the one part they already promised improvements for, so I don't really understand the point of this thread.

[Mysticpuma]

25 minutes ago, Aapje said:

The AI radio commands is the one part they already promised improvements for, so I don't really understand the point of this thread.

It's a forum where we discuss things like "What is required to make Single Player a great experience, rather than what we currently have?"

[Aapje]

OK, but it has already identified as an issue by the devs and they plan to fix it, so what do you actually want to discuss then?

 

You are not making any suggestions beyond fixing the existing design and your final sentence is in fact a desire to retroactively change history, which is not going to happen: "A starting point would have been during the years of development, to get these working from the original release."

[Mysticpuma]

29 minutes ago, Aapje said:

OK, but it has already identified as an issue by the devs and they plan to fix it, so what do you actually want to discuss then?

With their workload, they may have forgotten?

Anyway, other suggestions as this is a thread about Single Player experience rather than confrontation (surprise, surprise 🤔)

 

A built-in, rather than external app. to create Dynamic Campaigns. TheOden has spent a good while building an external app. to do the job, but this should be about building/growing a player base. Making new players/investors, search forums to find software that isn't part of the original install, is always a negative. Make it available as part of the installation. New players (the ones we want to encourage), should have all the assets available to use. A DCG is essential to grow the Single Player base.

 

A QMB that gives players the option to fly multiple scenarios, on multiple maps (give them options to choose any maps in the library like the Island maps also different seasons of the year) opens up another range of possibilities. The QMB should essentially mimic IL2:1946. Individual skins can be applied to the player's flight, weather conditions, time of day, variety of maps, variety of situations, positive, negative altitude, chased or chasing, ground, base or air targets, mission requirements (destroy 'x' to complete the map). Should a QMB be created that the player feels is epic, there should be an easy export option so it can be shared online and other player could download it from a repository. A larger variety of Single Player Missions would then be created and TFS could, (if they decide), create a monthly upload to the game.

 

I am sure there are more ideas to discuss, without the negativity, so we can make CloD great again for a larger player base?

[Buffo002]

It's like a broken song over and over again, the complaints. I asked a year ago and was assured that one of the many works TFS is working on will be a single player, i.e. that they will work on AI so that each separate campaign has its own statistics (number of downed planes, destroyed ground targets, etc.) and a lot of other things, we were also talking about dynamic campaigns ... everyone who bought CoD years ago (even with the former developers ) after some time since the unfinished flight simulator, these developers left and the game was not completed as it should have been. And be glad that the TFS team got hold of this unfinished product and started to improve it. The original game was only in 2D, so VR, graphics and a lot of other things are still being solved, it's not just about expanding maps, new types of aircraft and other objects in the game, but about creating an overall new basis for the game. Some people still don't get it and will gossip and complain all the time... if you don't like it then don't play it...

[Mysticpuma]

54 minutes ago, Buffo002 said:

he original game was only in 2D, so VR, graphics and a lot of other things are still being solved, it's not just about expanding maps, new types of aircraft and other objects in the game, but about creating an overall new basis for the game. 

So VR will improve the Single Player experience. Good suggestion, already being worked on. 

[Buffo002]

Personally, I'm not interested in VR, I don't use it, and mainly I wasn't just talking about VR, but mainly about the single player and a lot of other things that TFS is working on...

Edited October 21, 2024 by Buffo002

[Dagwoodyt]

I don't know that anyone not in TFS upper management and possibly the publisher can speak to what TFS is currently "working on", whatever "working on" even means😊

[BraveSirRobin]

5 hours ago, Mysticpuma said:

With their workload, they may have forgotten?

There have been approximately 10 million threads on flight sim forums where people complained about the AI.  So, no, they haven’t forgotten.  But I’m sure AI thread 10 million and one will inspire them to create the greatest pilot AI in flight sim history.  Thanks for your part in making this possible!

[PO_Baldrick]

Personally I find dogfighting over the channel in Cliffs the closest thing I have found to recreating a Battle of Britain experience akin to the 1969 movie. The only downside as a Brit is the British fighter AI seem better behaved than the German, so the better experience seems to be in a 109. Hopefully we will see improvements to the 109 AI soon.

 

I tend to find campaigns and careers all a bit cheesy so happy just to dive into single missions. I am not particularly bothered about comms once embroiled in a fight but it would be nice to have a simple method for comms you could map to a hotas. I appreciate this may not be a typical use case but what works for me.

[Mysticpuma]

Not all heroes wear capes.... let's hope TFS hears the offer...

[LLv34_Flanker]

S!

 

AI being worked on as stated by TFS, numerous times. A dynamic campaign is not just like let's add it. It took a lot of work and time for Falcon 4.0 devs to get it done. Enigma has a good interview of it on his YT channel for those interested.

[Mysticpuma]

9 hours ago, LLv34_Flanker said:

S!

 

AI being worked on as stated by TFS, numerous times. A dynamic campaign is not just like let's add it. It took a lot of work and time for Falcon 4.0 devs to get it done. Enigma has a good interview of it on his YT channel for those interested.

Do you have any current links that state Ai work is in progress. The last update from Buzzsaw appears to suggest it isn't ongoing and will only start once VR/VU/ST update is released?

Happy to read of any new developments in the Ai?

[marcost]

To your question Mysticpuma... for me as SP, the key improvements would need to be:

 

1) AI

2) Pilot voices & ground comms

3) Campaign system that records progress details and awards etc.

 

I don't think VR, new trees, clouds, new aircraft or new theatres come before these essentials for me as SP.

 

 

Cheers,

 

M

 

[BOO]

On 10/21/2024 at 9:44 AM, Aapje said:

OK, but it has already identified as an issue by the devs and they plan to fix it, so what do you actually want to discuss then?

 

You are not making any suggestions beyond fixing the existing design and your final sentence is in fact a desire to retroactively change history, which is not going to happen: "A starting point would have been during the years of development, to get these working from the original release."

 

I would venture the point was something along the lines of wheels not necessarily needing to be reinvented. Though given most of these commands never seemed to work one has to wonder if they are nothing more that unconnected placeholders with little actual scope for remedial fixes. 

 

I dont see any harm in such threads. Its often only as a result of them we get an insight at all from TFS. Some could view it as trolling or pointless but that is to misunderstand the passion Mysticpuma has for the title. 

 

“There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.”

 

 

 

[Guest deleted@424816]

I think an improved AI and a dynamic campaign are the pressing needs for this sim to fulfill its promise. I guess the former to be much harder to deliver than the later but lets wait and use TheOden program for our career fix meanwhile...

[Bussard_x]

22 hours ago, marcost said:

To your question Mysticpuma... for me as SP, the key improvements would need to be:

 

1) AI

2) Pilot voices & ground comms

3) Campaign system that records progress details and awards etc.

 

I don't think VR, new trees, clouds, new aircraft or new theatres come before these essentials for me as SP.

 

 

Cheers,

 

M

 

 

I agree on these 3, though Campaign system would be my number 1.