Flaming Cliffs 2.0 Overcast

[pauldy]

I currently don't have Black Shark, but if i read correctly.. FC 2.0 will have somewhat similar graphics engine to DCS.

 

So maybe's this might be a two pronged question.

How would the FC 2.0 overcast clouds go?

 

Back in the original Lock On and the current Flaming Cliffs, the overcast cloud cover is a nightmare since it brings most computers to a crawl... including mine.

 

So pretty much i'm stuck with "VFR" conditions all the time..

 

I hope somehow it was addressed or changed because i miss doing missions in cloudy or foul weather.

Edited March 17, 2010 by pauldy

[Grimes]

As far as I can tell the same sort of weather exists in BS. Global overcast just like in LO. I'd tell you how it performs but I got a system upgrade and honestly dont remember how overcast played on either game with my old rig.

[Maximus_G]

I've tested flying in clouds in LO recently, and don't remember any FPS trouble at all, as it was there several years ago (with an old video card).

pauldy, if you make a track and provide your average FPS here, people could measure theirs to compare and maybe make some suggestions.

[JG-1_Vogel]

I've always hated the weather system in LO. I miss the weather fronts that you used to get in Falcon. Taking off on a perfect sunny day, get to the target area to have a complete overcast unable to see the target. The fact that if you have overcast it covers the entire map is just stupid... very rarely do you get that much overcast without a single gap in the cloud!

 

I just hope that a proper system can be introduced soon... perhaps with any engine updates they put into DCS:Warthog.

[pauldy]

@Maximus G: Here's a track. Though i think it will go with your PCs specs not mine.

 

Some screenshots from the track too..

 

 

On average my fps above the cloud tops rarely goes above 10..

And the higher i am from the cloud tops, the worst the fps will be..

Also, the fps drops as i look down on the cloud cover and increase as i look straight ahead, into the horizon and above.

 

below the cloud cover, it's a bit different. The fps i have is better, around 14-15 fps.

 

Although it's the same when i look at the clouds. The fps decreases as i stare up the cloud cover.

 

So all in all, this deters me from having a cloud density of 9-10 because it would make the mission go into slide show mode..

Edited March 17, 2010 by pauldy

[Boberro]

There are always some mods for forecast.... however agree built-in LO's is really crap.

[czarnyolek]

Thats why i wait for FC2.0. Im pretty happy with FC1.13 but my FPS drop when weather is bad. I have quite good computer, even thou is a laptop, but FC1.13 does not use dual core CPU properly. I hope that with FC2.0 my fps will go up on bad weather day.

[pauldy]

@Ace: You mean the Bobocop Cloud mod?

 

Tried it, had it installed and almost no difference. Still the same slideshow..

 

 

 

 

+1 increase in fps is insignificant when your average fps rarely goes above 10..

 

 

I guess i need to stay away from overcast cloud conditions for now.... and maybe do the same in FC 2.0 for that matter..

Edited March 17, 2010 by pauldy

[czarnyolek]

Yeah, i'm using "Mitch Jensen overcast mod" and it does not make much difference either.

I've got C2D T5750 2x2.0 GHz CPU, 4Gb of DDR2 ram and GF9200M GS card, so i think it's decent enough to play a game witch is few years old. Or, is it?

Edited March 17, 2010 by czarnyolek

[Maximus_G]

On average my fps above the cloud tops rarely goes above 10..

And the higher i am from the cloud tops, the worst the fps will be..

These FPS i'm getting here, plain vanilla LO 1.12b, AA8Q, AF8, windowed 1440x1050, medium visibility range, no tweaks.

This part should not be CPU intensive, mostly a video card's game. GTX260 runs it very fine.

So, what's your rig?

[czarnyolek]

What is this graph showing? There is no units on it.

[Maximus_G]

These are FPS. And time in seconds obviously.

[pauldy]

Pentium Dual Core 1.8 ghz each

P4M900T-M2 ECS Elite Group Motherboard

Nvidia GeForce 8400GS

Windows XP SP2

[Kuky]

a tip for overcast I use is open all bitmaps in overcast folder and reduce their size to 1/4 (from 512x512 to 256x256) then convert with Bright to 8-bit bitmaps... I've done this myself long time ago and get 30fps or more with overcast even with 4xAA and 8xAF I use on 24" monitor, visually there's almost no difference from original

[Nate--IRL--]

Try Reducing Anisotropic Filtering in your graphics settings to get more Fps above the clouds.

 

Nate

[czarnyolek]

a tip for overcast I use is open all bitmaps in overcast folder and reduce their size to 1/4 (from 512x512 to 256x256) then convert with Bright to 8-bit bitmaps... I've done this myself long time ago and get 30fps or more with overcast even with 4xAA and 8xAF I use on 24" monitor, visually there's almost no difference from original

 

Can You share files then, or is it illegal?

[Maximus_G]

Nvidia GeForce 8400GS

 

Well, no wonder there's a ten-fold fps difference! Any tweaks will be just inefficient here.

Take a look at this basic chart or at that advanced one (babelfish to translate the page and choose models). Almost any video card on sale will go faster, i strongly suggest an upgrade!

Just bear in mind that a more powerful video would require more watts from PSU.

[71st_Mastiff]

Thats why i wait for FC2.0. Im pretty happy with FC1.13 but my FPS drop when weather is bad. I have quite good computer, even thou is a laptop, but FC1.13 does not use dual core CPU properly. I hope that with FC2.0 my fps will go up on bad weather day.

 

Can you please share this 1.13 version you have with the rest of the community?

[pauldy]

Well, no wonder there's a ten-fold fps difference! Any tweaks will be just inefficient here.

Take a look at this basic chart or at that advanced one (babelfish to translate the page and choose models). Almost any video card on sale will go faster, i strongly suggest an upgrade!

Just bear in mind that a more powerful video would require more watts from PSU.

 

Impossible for me.. just plain impossible............

 

Unless this rig gets busted, I'm pretty much stuck with it as it is...... also I've got to consider all other stuff like FC2.0 itself, a new joystick and other important things especially when i'm on a very tight and low budget.

 

I guess i'm really stuck with VFR.......

 

Thanks for the suggestion though.

[czarnyolek]

Can you please share this 1.13 version you have with the rest of the community?

I would, no problem its just that kind of person i'm. You would just find problem with SF verification as original DVD copy i would keep for myself ;)

Whats Your point, people share files all the time for free in meaning MODs, and i'm one of them as well as you can find some mods made by myself on other site i will not mention its name ;)

I just think if kuky shares his overcast MOD it will be quicker than if i was going to fiddle with bitmaps myself.

Edited March 17, 2010 by czarnyolek

[104th_Crunch]

There is a mod that increases your fps with overcast conditions. Check over at lockonfiles.com. Many people have been using this mod for years, but servers never have overcast. It's ALWAYS a prefect day with maybe a few clouds.

 

It is because of the FPS issues people with older systems have. So the weather is always clear to ensure people have the best FPS. I know it sucks, but not much we can do unless you want only people with top end machines playing.

 

I agree the overcast system needs replacing. I have posted about it before. FPS suck, 2D bitmap parallax looks blocky, and they fade in out with the mountains. To be fair I guess it is no easy task!

 

I have not heard of any update for FC2 for the overcast, only non-overcast clouds.

[Boberro]

Conclusion - people get low FPS because:

 

 

• they use old PC
  
• LO's engine is not good
  
• and or\also forecast implementation sucks ;]
  

[Maximus_G]

pauldy,

just in case: Take a look at what after-market could offer. As i see it on eBay, Geforce 9600 GT 512Mb or 9600 GSO could be bought for 40$. That would be the most affordable and effective (fps per buck) solution here.

[pauldy]

@Maximus G: I'll take note of that. Although by the time we get a new rig (not happening anytime soon) it could be bundled with a more powerful GPU.

 

So I assume that Flaming Cliffs 2.0 and the future DCS sims will use similar weather engine to 1.12 Lock On we have now..

 

 

That aside, are we going to have cirrus clouds or other form of water vapor decorations in the sky?

[Nate--IRL--]

Looking at some of the Warthog screenshots seem to infer the clouds, at least, being redone. It's hard to spot, it almost as if the sky has been deliberately not been captured in the shots

 

Nate