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| TADS symbology buffer now has things to render |
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| "Needs more cowbell" (some of you might get that ref) |
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| Boeing trainer press/web photo link |
The TADS/FLIR camera rendering will be based on the shaders I did for the PNVS, currently it's just an edge-enhanced image, there's no heat or light mapping applied so it doesn't look as FLIR like as it should. Irritatingly because the camera is attached to a helicopter, small forces in the physics body (vibrations) transmit themselves to the TADS image. It shakes like a son-of-bitch at high zoom. I need to add camera stabilisation to the simulation! Go figure. The alternative is to detach the camera from the helicopter chassis and apply a bit of smoothing, which is easier.
Darn, still got coffee
AD asked me not to post one of these because one of the collectives has yet to be moved to the correct position (I'm left handed so I don't have a problem with it *grin*). He's all over the Chinook like brownout in a sandstorm. Anyway, because it looks so darn good and it will kill another 5 minutes while I drink my coffee here are some of his progress screenshots.
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| In engine real-time captures |
Finally after many hours of memory issues and AO burning pretty much every surface has now been mapped.
SHOOT, Shoot the cow! Hehe, you can bet that will be the first thing that I'll do once I buy and play your initial Firing range game/module.
ReplyDeleteThe good thing about HE/incendiary bullets (that for example the Apache cannon have) is that you not only kill the cow you will also cook it at the same time! hehe, just kiding
Finally you started working on TADS wohoo ! :)
ReplyDeleteShakes is probably one of the worst problems, not only in systems sights, but too telescopes;) Therefore, the standard tripods can weigh up to 20-30 kg.Interesting how it is resolved stabilization system in Apache .Chinook cockpit looks great, but can not be so that it will be nicer than Apache :|
The nature of working over time is that you get better at it. So it's inevitable that the Chinook will look better than the Apache, but is also probable the Apache will get some retro-active love, as has happened in the past.
ReplyDeleteThis is our first full simulation title so I anticipate that we'll make some blunders and will get better with time. To expect to nail it first time is unreasonable.
Keep in mind that there's a TON of code you don't see, wiring up the symbology for the TADS is simply a matter of referencing existing fields and a bit of graphics work. All the ground-work has been laid, the PNVS worked out the FLIR problem (PNVS was the hardest to do technically).
There's a lot of logic bugs that need working through.
As for the exploding cows, they shouldn't explode and I need to remove that effect, it's simply wrong. But maybe I'll hide a config option in there just for that ;)
Cows must be! Diablo 2 had cow level , Ch will have exploding cows:)
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIn the meanwhile (regarding exploding cows) just pretend that they are full of methane. LoL
ReplyDeleteRegarding things getting better over time, don't worry about it, this is afterall exactly what we all want.
And since as you said the Chinook interior will be walkable that IMO justifies why the Chinook cockpit/interiors will likely have better detail than the Apache one.
if you ever remember, set the value "morecowbell=1" in the config and let the methane antics begin.
ReplyDelete"morecowbell=1", roger bookmarked! That's definitly one thing what I'll try just for fun.
ReplyDeleteStuff like this remembers me of old times when for example I played UFO (The original Microprose title) when I put the pistol bullet with the same explosive power of the Alien Missile Launcher (the most powerfull weapon of the game). Of course when I played seriously I didn't do this but it was fun doing this once in a while just like it will playing with explosive cows in Combat Helo :)
Microprose where are all those publishers :(
ReplyDelete"Amen" to that! Microprose was definitly the best sim/game developer and publisher that I ever seen in the PC game world (at least to me). I really miss Microprose...
ReplyDeleteMicroprose UK was one of the few companies that had their own boxing production line. It was housed in what looked like a metal barn, it looked more like a milk plant than a software house but my memory might be playing tricks, was a loooooong time ago.
ReplyDeleteThe venture into console carts and arcade cabs cost a lot.
Microprose was good and all but they never MADE A SWEET PIT LIKE THAT!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt would be so cool if they somehow came back and entered the high-end sim market. the three kings (Flex/AD, Eagle Dynamics and them) would really be a feast for us starving simmers.
I wonder if the "boxing plant" could have been used to make the manuals too?
Nobody can enter the high-end sim market without some level of subsidy. Correct me if I'm wrong, I understand ED get government (tax payers) money from military contracts. Even DiD produced a TIALD trainer. Falcon 4.0 was released in 1998 and still a WIP but modified builds are used by the Dutch. Bohemia Interactive have military contractors opening their wallets for the VBS system. So us tax payers do in some part pay for making all those sims and games. Comforting to know.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of F4 I was knocked out by Falcon 4 BMS, really nice 3D pit and a HUD to die for. All I can do is watch the videos as sadly I don't have the time or patience to learn how to get the thing off the ramp.
We're not even in the same ball-park as ED, apart from the obvious fact they are simulation producers and we are making games (technical games focused in one area but still games which is a different discipline) to produce software like that you need a team of people, five years, several generations of software to build on. M1 Tank Platoon it isn't.
The Microprose boxing plant did nearly everything except the printing, to help with costs it was leased out and used to box other folks games.
It's actually a standard D variant that I'm working on. In fact the pit will be much more standardized than the D's being used by the US Army today as a good number of them have been upgraded to include some glass instruments (ADI/HSI/Digital map.
ReplyDeleteThe next step up is the F which is a fully integrated digital cockpit with 5 MPD's and it also has an extra controller behind the thrust controllers. Not sure quite what that's for.
Cheers
The new BMS is absolutely fantastic, and gives the concept,how CH will look like, it's the same class i think .Unfortunately, understanding of all systems is the study for several weeks if not months.Fantastic shadows in the cockpit, a fantastic view BHOT WHOT(flir!!)Delicious explosion.This is perhaps the biggest positive surprise of recent years(Skipping CH;)).Completely rebuilt simulator from DX7 to DX9.
ReplyDeleteYes, BMS really looks great but I miss the IFF interrogator, the sounds and GPS weapons which are modeled in FreeFalcon 5.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, the new DirectX9 for Falcon 4 BMS really transforms this sim! My dream regarding Falcon 4 would be the graphics and game stability of BMS with the features that I mentioned above of FreeFalcon 5.
Unfortunally I also didn't have the time to fully dedicate to Falcon 4 BMS.