The A2A Simulations Community

"Come share your passion for flight"
It is currently Tue May 21, 2013 12:30 pm

All times are UTC - 5 hours




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 19 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
PostPosted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 6:58 am 
Offline
Airman First Class

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 8:28 pm
Posts: 71
When I try to do head-on attacks against Hurricanes I can see them in the distance, but as soon as they come closer they disappear, and when they are very close (like 1000 metres away) they appear again. That makes the head-on attacks difficult if I don't use the padlocking and the "peripherial vision" cheats.

Once I tried to do the head-on attack towards a large white cloud. I could see three aircraft as dots in the distance. I saw them turning towards me and after a second they disappeared one by one. They disappeared completly. I new where to look for them, there was a bright white cloud in the background, but I couldn't see anything, and then they appear again roughly 1000 metres in front of me.
The other day I saw the dots, then the a/c disappeared but their contrails kept coming towards me, while the actual a/c were invisible. At a close distance they appeared again.

Is it a known bug or something is wrong with my video card?
Can you guys see that aircraft disappearence at mid-distance?

Thank you guys for your efforts :)


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 9:59 am 
Offline
BDG
User avatar

Joined: Fri Feb 17, 2006 6:06 pm
Posts: 1645
:) There are some issues with clouds covering objects up.Could you post some screen shots if it happens again :)
It may be a videocard setting,so any other details may help. :)


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 10:18 am 
Offline
BDG
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 30, 2005 12:59 pm
Posts: 12262
Location: South East Texas, USA
Hi sguk12,

I think you are on to some issues with the head on attack.

The z-buffer issue (gets the wrong object distance wise) in BOBII is well known and documented. I do not know of a fix for it in BOBII and it does happen in clouds and other areas.

The LOD (level of detail models for different distances) may not be tuned for a head on attack with fighters closing at over 500 MPH as they are tuned for slower closing speeds, I think.

I think you will need to use the padlock red box to see the head on targets effectively but it will still be difficult, I think. I some times use the red padlock box and also use the following BDG.txt parameter so I can see the AI's direction (red X):

Novice_Gunnery_Predictor=ON # NOTE Must padlock target to see predictor, switch to view F8 to practice

I also use the Novice_Gunnery_Predictor=ON to get the added information on the status of both squads (number alive, goHome (red)status, etc.) during the fight.

I really do not think you can fix all these issues with a video card tweak.

_________________
Buddye

Intel I7 920 processor (2.66GHz, 8MB cache), 6GB DDR3 Triple Channel @1333MHz, 1.8GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 295, Sound Blaster X-Fi PCI Sound Card, Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit , CH Fighter Stick & Pedals ,TrackIR4 Pro thanks to BobII crew.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 2:54 pm 
Offline
BDG
User avatar

Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2004 2:10 pm
Posts: 9662
Location: Bletchingley, Surrey, UK.
Whilst some of the LODs could be slicker from the head on perspective, this sounds extreme. What screen type/ screen res are you using?

_________________
"Ah yes, Michael (Parkinson)," Bader replied, "But these particular Fockers were Messerschmitts..."

Intel Core I7 920 @3.57GHz
GA-EX58-UD3R Mobo
8GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 PC3-12800 (1600MHz)
ATI HD4870 1024M
Win 7 Home
Saitek X52 Pro


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 6:23 pm 
Offline
Airman First Class

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 8:28 pm
Posts: 71
I'm using 1600X1200 screen resolution. I'll try to lower it and see...
BTW my video card is Nvidia 9600GT.

This doesn't seem to be the infamous Z-bufer problem as the aircraft disappear even when there is no clouds at all.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 9:25 am 
Offline
BDG
User avatar

Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2004 2:10 pm
Posts: 9662
Location: Bletchingley, Surrey, UK.
I have to confess that I use the single character text labels a bit (red + for Jerry, green 0 for RAF) and you can make them fairly subtle by making them semi-transparent, fading with distance).
Visibility can be tricky from some angles and distances, yes. In fact the LODs are well done, I think. But as has been discussed on so many forums, the display systems we use aren't perfect..

_________________
"Ah yes, Michael (Parkinson)," Bader replied, "But these particular Fockers were Messerschmitts..."

Intel Core I7 920 @3.57GHz
GA-EX58-UD3R Mobo
8GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 PC3-12800 (1600MHz)
ATI HD4870 1024M
Win 7 Home
Saitek X52 Pro


Last edited by Bader on Sun Nov 23, 2008 1:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 11:28 am 
Offline
Senior Airman

Joined: Mon Mar 27, 2006 3:57 pm
Posts: 153
Location: Omaha, Nebraska USA
Yes, the single character thing works great, I can now really enjoy this game. I highly recommend using that 'cheat'. I just use different colored dots.

_________________
Race you to the Mucky Duck!


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 4:12 am 
Offline
BDG & A2A

Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2004 1:18 pm
Posts: 5230
Location: Germany, near the Rhine
sguk12, does not sound like any known issue.
If it persists and you want us to help, we need more info, say a video.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 8:09 am 
Offline
Airman First Class

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 8:28 pm
Posts: 71
Yes, the issue persists. I reinstalled windows and the problem is still there. You can reproduce the issue yourself if you like:
1) start a luftwaffe campaign as a commander, not an SPC
2) select a target. I usually select the radar at the island in front of Southampton, but I think any target around Southhampton should be good enough
3) set up a raid in the following way: 1 bomber Me110, no escorts, altitude 24000 feet (you would need to apply this altitude to all the waypoints, so you are not intersepted too early).
4) run the mission, there will be 3 aircraft that will intercept you.
5) frag into me 100 when they are at 12000 feet (you should be at 24000)
6) close the throttle, drop the bomb, pess F1 to mark the leading Hurricane with the read diamond, turn and dive at the diamond
7) when you get through the clouns you will see them, then they disappear.... then appear
8 ) If it was too quick, you can see the disappearence again:
Extend away from the hurricanes, open the throttle, shallow climb at about 15degrees, when you speed drops to about 350km/h, turn towards the hurricanes and see something like the below screenshots:


1)there are 3 Hurricanes: one in the red diamond, another one to the left of the diamond, and the third one is already invisible, it is to the right of the diamond
Image

2)All 3 Huricanes disappeared, leaving diamond empty.
Image

3)the right Hurricane popped up
Image

4)the left Hurricane popped up as well. The diamond is still empty...
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 7:19 pm 
Offline
BDG
User avatar

Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2004 2:10 pm
Posts: 9662
Location: Bletchingley, Surrey, UK.
Sorry, sguk12, no one replied to this one. That is impolite, especially since you took the trouble to post very clear pictures. Thank you.

You are highlighting something that has been around a long while. I suspect that the D-LOD to C-LOD transition isn't right.
Sadly, it's actually a ton of work to fix these things. You have to have access to all the aircraft models and then be in a position to recompile them. That may sound easy, but it's not.

I'd love a fix for this too, personally.

Geoff may be the one to fix this, maybe, but I know he is doing trees right now....

_________________
"Ah yes, Michael (Parkinson)," Bader replied, "But these particular Fockers were Messerschmitts..."

Intel Core I7 920 @3.57GHz
GA-EX58-UD3R Mobo
8GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 PC3-12800 (1600MHz)
ATI HD4870 1024M
Win 7 Home
Saitek X52 Pro


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 1:34 am 
Offline
BDG
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jul 30, 2005 12:59 pm
Posts: 12262
Location: South East Texas, USA
Hi sguk12,

Outstanding testing and reporting. Thanks.

_________________
Buddye

Intel I7 920 processor (2.66GHz, 8MB cache), 6GB DDR3 Triple Channel @1333MHz, 1.8GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 295, Sound Blaster X-Fi PCI Sound Card, Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit , CH Fighter Stick & Pedals ,TrackIR4 Pro thanks to BobII crew.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 7:23 am 
Offline
BDG

Joined: Wed Dec 07, 2005 9:38 am
Posts: 577
Location: Birmingham England
Hi Bader

Sorry, but I cant help out on that one. I dont use 3dsMax, and I have not succeded in importing the existing plane models fully into Blender. I can get the static parts in OK, but anything with an animation in it I cannot import successfully. I have tried a few file format options but nothing worked properly. This one would have to be done by someone with access to 3dsMax.

Geoff


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 7:25 am 
Offline
BDG & A2A

Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2004 1:18 pm
Posts: 5230
Location: Germany, near the Rhine
Bader wrote:
You are highlighting something that has been around a long while.


It has? Some questions that might help me get an idea re cause:
Does it happen for everyone? Since when? For every plane type? In any situation or for example do there have to be clouzds around?

I know I looked at the LoDs of the Spit recently ( cant remember why) and they looked good.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 8:50 am 
Offline
Airman First Class

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 8:28 pm
Posts: 71
I will try the cloudless weather and other plane types tomorrow.


Last edited by sguk12 on Thu Dec 04, 2008 9:50 am, edited 1 time in total.

Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 10:35 am 
Offline
BDG
User avatar

Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2004 2:10 pm
Posts: 9662
Location: Bletchingley, Surrey, UK.
Osram wrote:
Bader wrote:
You are highlighting something that has been around a long while.


It has? Some questions that might help me get an idea re cause:
Does it happen for everyone? Since when? For every plane type? In any situation or for example do there have to be clouzds around?

I know I looked at the LoDs of the Spit recently ( cant remember why) and they looked good.



it has been there forever. Look *very* carefully head on on all the aircraft at the (I guess) C->DLOD transition. It's mainly an issue head on. These shots are strongly zoomed in so aren't really representative of normal play, but in head on situations, it's quite noticeable. A long while back the priority was crashes, AI etc. It's a measure of how far we have come that this is even an issue :)

_________________
"Ah yes, Michael (Parkinson)," Bader replied, "But these particular Fockers were Messerschmitts..."

Intel Core I7 920 @3.57GHz
GA-EX58-UD3R Mobo
8GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 PC3-12800 (1600MHz)
ATI HD4870 1024M
Win 7 Home
Saitek X52 Pro


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 19 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group