correct as-is B-1B Low Resolution Model

[PanicMan15]

Hello. I came across this on reddit and confirmed it in game. The B-1B model seems to have been cut down in resolution compared to the newsletter picture. Is this intended or a mis-export of the model?

null

[RWC]

+1

The S3B tanker doesn't even have lights at night..... hope they add that too when the new update comes out of the S-3B Tanker...

Edited October 21, 2023 by RWC

[Stackup]

+1

The S-3 is the same way, as is the B-52.

[BigBoss_329]

I really do not understand what happened and I wish we were given a straightforward answer.

If it is a bug, just say that it is just a bug.

If the models were downgraded, to improve performance, just say it.

Even if the models showcased in promo videos, were accidentally deleted and there were no backups, so these were quickly cooked up instead, just admit it. I wish ED would stop being vague when it comes to stuff like this.

[Northstar98]

On 10/21/2023 at 3:47 AM, Stackup said:

+1

The S-3 is the same way, as is the B-52.

It's all of the models in the new format, under CoreMods\HeavyMetalCore and those models alone. B-1B, B-52H, LPWS, S-3B and all the new S-300PS models - they all look as though they're LOD1 models (i.e the next step down from full-quality) as opposed to LOD0.

On 10/21/2023 at 8:48 AM, BigBoss_329 said:

Even if the models showcased in promo videos, were accidentally deleted and there were no backups, so these were quickly cooked up instead, just admit it. I wish ED would stop being vague when it comes to stuff like this.

I mean, the B-1B lancer appears in full-quality (as does LPWS, the S-3B and the new Big Bird radar) in the recently released short cinematic:

You can also see higher-quality elements on LPWS (higher-poly EOSS and rungs present) and on the Big Bird radar (antenna elements present in 3D as opposed to just a texture).

My guess is that it's probably just a bug with the new format, though said new format makes me a bit worried because they seem to be containers (possibly encrypted) and cannot be read in the modelviewer. There are some files that cannot be accessed which are necessary for modders looking to make liveries (as right now, there's only one for each, even though the same short showed a camouflage livery for LPWS and we've seen a 69th Bomb Squadron for the B-52H in a screenshot in a newsletter).

Edited October 23, 2023 by Northstar98

[Northstar98]

Just now, Malakhit said:

Am also quite interested to know the outcome of this one.

Yeah, it's potentially going to have a pretty major impact for anyone looking to create their own liveries.

[PanicMan15]

I get why they did encrypt the files as there are some people that have ripped their models, but this is a huge part of development for not only mod makers, but also 3rd party developers.

[DanWolo4]

Also why there are no tail codes on B-52 and BONE?

[HC_Official]

+1 for another interested party

[BigBoss_329]

Quote

I mean, the B-1B lancer appears in full-quality (as does LPWS, the S-3B and the new Big Bird radar) in the recently released short cinematic:

Yeah, that gives me hope, that this is just a bug and the internal build does have the showcased models. Strangely, if you check the 2.9 Launch trailer, it is using the downgraded model, which is currently available in the game.

The loss of files was just a hypothetical scenario I made up. What I'm trying to get at, is ED should be more transparent, even if the explanation is something embarrassing. Giving us the silent treatment, or being vague just sparks suspicion, speculation and mistrust.

[Northstar98]

6 minutes ago, BigBoss_329 said:

The loss of files was just a hypothetical scenario I made up. What I'm trying to get at, is ED should be more transparent, even if the explanation is something embarrassing. Giving us the silent treatment, or being vague just sparks suspicion, speculation and mistrust.

Oh yes, absolutely agreed.

[SMH]

It's also likely giving users a false sense of improved performance. And right when we're supposed to be focused on performance with all these new graphics options.

Is it just AIs or do players' aircraft lack them too? As far as I can tell my own plane looks fully modeled in the external views and I'm pretty sure other players' planes do as well in MP.

 

[Northstar98]

7 hours ago, SMH said:

It's also likely giving users a false sense of improved performance. And right when we're supposed to be focused on performance with all these new graphics options.

But they should only be rendered in full quality at close distances (and exactly when can be determined by a setting now), so performance shouldn't really be a factor with the new models - especially when we have higher quality models (sometimes far higher quality models) with existing assets (even AI assets) than the new stuff. For instance, the AI Su-34 is higher quality than any of the new aircraft - I haven't noticed it to be particularly problematic for performance and that was with a system well below spec.

7 hours ago, SMH said:

Is it just AIs or do players' aircraft lack them too? As far as I can tell my own plane looks fully modeled in the external views and I'm pretty sure other players' planes do as well in MP.

As far as I can tell it is exclusive to the models in new format, which are only found in CoreMods\tech\HeavyMetalCore. Those are:

• B-1B
• B-52H
• S-3B
• LPWS
• The new S-300PS, excluding the new 5V55R missile model (5P85S/D launchers, 5N63S Flap Lid FCR, 54K6 BCP, 5N64 Big Bird and 5N59S Tin Shield)

Models in the existing .edm format (i.e every other model) are unaffected, including those newly added in 2.9.0, such as the aforementioned 5V55R, Kh-29L/T, Kh-59M/MK, R-60, BLG-66 and its submunitions etc (See SilverDragon's post here for the full list of changed models - some are existing models, some are complete overhauls). All of those models are modelled to perfection (including animated control surfaces and even animated seeker heads in the case of the Kh-29L/T and -59M).

Edited October 23, 2023 by Northstar98
Actually linking the post I was supposed to link

[EchoOneOne]

Check out my post 

 

 

[EchoOneOne]

Bignewy passed the concerns to the dev team. They will reply when they're ready.

[SMH]

 

7 hours ago, Northstar98 said:

But they should only be rendered in full quality at close distances (and exactly when can be determined by a setting now), so performance shouldn't really be a factor with the new models - especially when we have higher quality models (sometimes far higher quality models) with existing assets (even AI assets) than the new stuff. For instance, the AI Su-34 is higher quality than any of the new aircraft - I haven't noticed it to be particularly problematic for performance and that was with a system well below spec.

As far as I can tell it is exclusive to the models in new format, which are only found in CoreMods\tech\HeavyMetalCore. Those are:

• B-1B
• B-52H
• S-3B
• LPWS
• The new S-300PS, excluding the new 5V55R missile model (5P85S/D launchers, 5N63S Flap Lid FCR, 54K6 BCP, 5N64 Big Bird and 5N59S Tin Shield)

Models in the existing .edm format (i.e every other model) are unaffected, including those newly added in 2.9.0, such as the aforementioned 5V55R, Kh-29L/T, Kh-59M/MK, R-60, BLG-66 and its submunitions etc (See SilverDragon's post here for the full list of changed models - some are existing models, some are complete overhauls). All of those models are modelled to perfection (including animated control surfaces and even animated seeker heads in the case of the Kh-29L/T and -59M).

 

Yeah I did some more testing and that makes sense with what I've been seeing. Thanks.

[SMH]

Looks better now. (But wasn't mentioned in the Changelog.) Except maybe the B-52? Hard to say, but it doesn't feel like the same detail we saw in all those shots in the Newsletters.

[SMH]

1 hour ago, Malakhit said:

Doesn't seem to have changed as far as I can tell.

Definitely higher resolution nozzles on the B-1 than before. The B-52... not so sure. And the S-3s don't look that detailed at all (like, they have textures instead of geometry modeled vortex generators) though of course they're a great improvement over what we had before. (Now if only we had a Seahawk that didn't stick out like a sore thumb on our supercarrier decks!)

I do feel like the previews we were shown were a lot more detailed though, but need to go through them and compare, as in that Hoggit post at the top.

[Northstar98]

I'm not seeing any difference with any of the new models in the new format, including the engine nozzles. It still looks to be what I'd expect the LOD1 model to look like. The pilot in the right seat appears identical to how it looks here.

You can find the image of the nozzles posted to hoggit here, the geometry still looks to be the same. The countermeasure dispensers behind the crew compartments also still aren't there, there are still elements that are lower resolution textures that were showed off in full 3D in teasers. The AN/ALE-50 dispensers are also still quite angular compared to those seen in promotional material.

Edited October 30, 2023 by Northstar98

[SMH]

2 hours ago, Northstar98 said:

I'm not seeing any difference with any of the new models in the new format, inclueding the engine nozzles. It still looks to be what I'd expect the LOD1 model to look like. The pilot in the right seat appears identical to how it looks here.

You can find the image of the nozzles posted to hoggit here, the geometry still looks to be the same. The countermeasure dispensers behind the crew compartments also still aren't there, there are still elements that are lower resolution textures that were showed off in full 3D in teasers. The AN/ALE-50 dispensers are also still quite angular compared to those seen in promotional material.

Refer to the image in the first post on this thread. Then compare to the nozzles I just posted. It's better. (Though I'm still not sure if it's as detailed as the Newsletters led us to believe. Like, the engine nacelles in the Newsletter photo in that first post look far smoother on the sides than what we currently have. I'd hate to think they spent tons of hours on art too good for the sim to actually use.)

Edited October 26, 2023 by SMH

[Northstar98]

1 minute ago, SMH said:

Refer to the image in the first post on this thread. Then compare to the nozzles I just posted. It's better. (Though I'm still not sure if it's as detailed as the Newsletters led us to believe. I'd hate to think they spent tons of hours on art too good for the sim to actually use.)

I’m afraid I’m still not seeing the difference (though the different angles aren’t helping), in any case the hoggit post was taken before the recent update and I can’t see any difference there.

What part specifically do you think looks better?

[SMH]

The nozzle geometry. Here's a photo I took a few days ago.

You know what? Maybe it is no better. I think you're right now, I was just wishful thinking.

Surprised this wasn't in the hotfix. How hard could it be? Surely it's just something counting from 1 when it should have counted from 0 or something like that.

[Silver_Dragon]

I start to think, that is a LOD problem, as the B-52.

[Northstar98]

On 10/26/2023 at 11:14 PM, SMH said:

The nozzle geometry. Here's a photo I took a few days ago.

You know what? Maybe it is no better. I think you're right now, I was just wishful thinking.

Surprised this wasn't in the hotfix. How hard could it be? Surely it's just something counting from 1 when it should have counted from 0 or something like that.

Yeah, to me the nozzle geometry looks the same, as do surrounding elements.

On 10/26/2023 at 11:26 PM, Silver_Dragon said:

I start to think, that is a LOD problem, as the B-52.

Probably the most likely issue. It seems to be present on all new models in the new format - the B-52H, S-3Bs, LPWS and the new S-300PS units are all similarly affected, whereby in promotional material (mostly teasers such as the Sinai map, 2023 and Beyond as well as the 2.9 cinematic short) the models are shown off in higher quality than what's seen in-game. New models in the previous .edm format are unaffected and appear just as high quality as they did in promotional material.

We've already seen some examples with the B-1B - the B-52H also has elements that are low resolution textures in-game, but are fully 3D in teasers (such as the NACA ducts on the lower sides of the forward fuselage), the S-3B (ESM antennas are just a texture in-game, they were shown off in full 3D in the 2023 and beyond video), you can see 3D antenna elements on the new Big Bird radar (at least, I think so) and rungs and a higher-quality EOSS model on LPWS in the 2.9 cinematic short.

It would be nice though if we could get an acknowledgement or update on this issue though, or whether or not it's intentional or whether it's being looked into.

Edited October 29, 2023 by Northstar98

[Silver_Dragon]

The new 3D models (B-1, B-52, S-3) has a interesting detail, now make the complete engine start cicle... put a B-1B and wait to start to move to go to the Runway 5 minutes?, I think we need "cartridge start" on a Alert.

And build the feature to other cold war aircrafts.

B-1B normal start sequence.