Battle of Britain - more than dynamic campaign!

[effte]

Very tempting this.. but my plan was to wait for Cliffs Of Dover..

 

Do you want us to try and change your mind? If you have US$20 to spare, it will be a great way of spending the waiting time if nothing else. And you will be up to speed on the geography once CoD is out. :)

 

This simulator, once MP is working, may be able to deliver the ultimate WWII simulator experience. Imagine taking off into a cold 1940 summer morning with friends on your wings, with a steer and an altitude for an incoming formation of Dorniers, in a complete live environment with hundreds of planes in the air going about their business...

[Rusty_M]

I was the same as effte. Bought it. Waited for delivery. Installed, played. I thought "why do people make a big deal out of this?"

 

Then I installed the patch and thought "aaah now I get it. Now to try to get it"

[Bucic]

Can you turn off the horrible tie-fighter fly-by sounds? Preferably server-side, for MP... :)

You have to manually delete the sounds or try to use my sound mod first. It's already listed in the BoB 2 mods directory

 

http://a2asimulations.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=12021&start=45 The flyby sounds files are usually named flb*

 

 

Also, can the aforementioned boost cutout limiter be disabled? Some aircraft had that feature, but none of those which flew in BoB to the best of my knowledge (although I don't have a

 

Bf109 manual at hand, so I may be mistaken there).

If you're sure about that (I am not) then you can simply choose not to use it.

 

 

 

Then... then... then...

 

...I found the 2.11 patch.

 

Wow!

 

No time to write more about it. I have to go continue buzzing the British countryside! I love it. The Spit feels like a mega-horsepower thoroughbred (or kilo-horsepower, if you want to

 

be anal about it, but mega sounds a lot better!), the landscape is stunning, flying by something at 250 mph feels like... well... for lack of a better description, just like flying by

 

something at 250 mph. It feels right, just in the way that Il-2 doesn't (anymore) if you have ever been at the controls of an aircraft.

I'm glad you like it :) If you sometimes feel like using external views better use F10 view (press once or twice). The default external view (and fly-by view too) is quirky when doing meneuvers and I personally hate it.

 

 

This simulator, once MP is working, may be able to deliver the ultimate WWII simulator experience. Imagine taking off into a cold 1940 summer morning with friends on your wings, with a

 

steer and an altitude for an incoming formation of Dorniers, in a complete live environment with hundreds of planes in the air going about their business...

Hundreds is not necessarily an exaggeration in BoB 2 WoV ;) I also recall that when RAF (my side) started to loose the war and massive fighter and bomber raids were a usual occurence over my home airfield in southern England I felt during take offs like I was just about to hit a ceiling of 109's if I'll climb too steep. I had to keep my eyes around my head as you'd never know when a pack of 109's would choose to zoom upon me using huge altitude and position advantage (AI takes sun position into account). My only hope was that AI in BoB 2 does NOT see through aircraft fuselage, engine cowling, wings and some clouds...

 

 

 

I was the same as effte. Bought it. Waited for delivery. Installed, played. I thought "why do people make a big deal out of this?"

 

Then I installed the patch and thought "aaah now I get it. Now to try to get it"

Damn, why would someone launch a decade old game without installing the latest cumulative update?! :P

[Yskonyn]

I can't get my TM WH and my CH Pedals working in BoB 2...

I assign all the axis manually, but then I load a mission and all I can do is pitch up and down with the WH and yaw left to right with the rudder, but for some reason the roll axis gets deleted again...?

Any ideas why this might happen?

[effte]

Damn, why would someone launch a decade old game without installing the latest cumulative update?! :P

 

Probably since it is not exactly clear what you get when you buy and download. One could assume it would be the latest version. ;)

 

The product update link only points you to the general forum - took a while to find the right thread with the 2.11 update!

 

I'll try to gather the energy to point this out to the BDG/A2A.

 

 

Regarding the boost limiter, I have still have my Spit manuals in a box somewhere after moving, and I don't think they were for the right Mk anyway. Is the correct versions available somewhere? I'd like to find a good solid reference on their existance or non-existance.

 

 

Yskonyn,

no problems with my TM WH here, so you're not up against something impossible. No idea why it's not working for you though, I'm afraid.

[Bucic]

I can't get my TM WH and my CH Pedals working in BoB 2...

I assign all the axis manually, but then I load a mission and all I can do is pitch up and down with the WH and yaw left to right with the rudder, but for some reason the roll axis gets deleted again...?

Any ideas why this might happen?

Please try the following:

- disconnect all of your controls and restart the game

- connect only the problematic controls

- map problematic axis

- test in-game and report back

 

 

Probably since it is not exactly clear what you get when you buy and download. One could assume it would be the latest version. ;)

 

The product update link only points you to the general forum - took a while to find the right thread with the 2.11 update!

 

I'll try to gather the energy to point this out to the BDG/A2A.

Oh please, it's a standard action for everything. You get a piece of hardware, you lookup the latest drivers, you get a new game - you check for the latest patch/update. If someone learns that the hard way, the more persistent that knowledge will be :smilewink:

 

On the other hand I do admit that I personally think BoB 2 is very mistreated by A2A. checking..................... Ah, yes.Their page about BoB2 points to 2.08 as the latest update! http://www.a2asimulations.com/bob/ Yes, I agree, you should definitelly rant about that on the official forums. Lack of information is barely acceptable. Misinformation - not acceptable at all.

 

 

Regarding the boost limiter, I have still have my Spit manuals in a box somewhere after moving, and I don't think they were for the right Mk anyway. Is the correct versions available somewhere? I'd like to find a good solid reference on their existance or non-existance.

I recall I did some digging for the same thing. Let me see if I can find anything on my disk...

[Rusty_M]

I did it because I'd heard it had come quite a long way, so wanted to see for myself. I wanted a before & after impression.

[Bucic]

I did it because I'd heard it had come quite a long way, so wanted to see for myself. I wanted a before & after impression.

For the good of science, I see :thumbup:

[effte]

Regarding the boost limiter, I've read the manual now and we are talking about two different things. The boost cutout limiter, as modelled, is simply the gate or peacetime throttle lever movement limit wire. I'm talking about manifold pressure regulation, and whether or not these early marks had automatic MAP regulation or if it was manual.

 

With manual manifold pressure regulation, you set the MAP for takeoff, being very careful not to overboost (easily done with a supercharged engine). As you climb and ambient pressure reduces, MAP will drop off so you have to inch the throttle forward to successively open the throttle valve and keep the desired MAP (boost setting). Eventually, the valve will be full open and the MAP will drop. You are approaching the ceiling of the aircraft, as power will drop with the MAP.

 

On later marks, sometime after reaching full open is when you engage the second stage blower to restore MAP. On these early marks, there is just one stage.

 

With automatic, a set throttle position corresponds to a fixed MAP (boost setting), and this is all done automagically.

 

I'm trying to find a reference on whether or not these engines had automatic boost regulators.

 

Cheers,

Fred

[Yskonyn]

I think the problem I had was with TARGET. I thought BoB2 didn't support more than one joystick so I combined the throttle and the stick in TARGET.

 

Now that I have assigned them seperately it seems to be working fine.

Pfew, this game is still a resource hog! I went with a package of 12 Stuka's on an anti-shipping mission, but framerates suffer greatly when looking at the formation of aircraft!

Are there any display settings tips you can provide? (see my sig for my specs) I am running in 1680x1050x32 res.

 

Thanks!

[effte]

While researching, I found that the Merlin III will go up to +12 psi using 100 octane fuel rather than +6 on 87 octane.

 

I demand a mod where we can go hijack a fuel truck and get a tankful of 100 octane!!! And a new boost gauge... :D

[Bucic]

effte,

go ahead and download the A2A simulations WOP AND AccuSim manual for their latest Spitfire addon. You'll find there all you need.

[effte]

I think I'll have to do that.

 

Just think I found the answer. There's a boost limiter, but if you move the tab (not a gate nor a shear wire) you override this limiter and can go higher on the MAP.

 

Now, the question remains if you regulate boost manually up to the limiter, or if it is automatic.

 

I'll follow your recommendations. Thanks for the tip!

 

Edit: For others reading, the Mk II pilot's notes and Accusim tech manual can be found here.

 

Cheers,

Fred

Edited February 7, 2011 by effte

[Bucic]

Thanks for sharing, effte!

 

Yskonyn,

few posts back I posted a link to all of my settings. With those settings I managed to pull off 35-45 FPS during campaign games on the following system:

 

Intel Core2 Duo E7200 2.53GHz @ ~ 3.5GHz

4 GB DDR2-800 RAM

NVIDIA GeForce 9600 GT 512 MB (Gigabyte GV-NX96T512HP)

 

With Vsync enabled. On my system and my settings the bottleneck was the graphics card.

 

 

 

The biggest FPS killers in BoB 2 WoV are:

particle density

weather detail

ground object density

 

 

You can set everything else to max. Pretty much. If you have at least an equivalent of my system that is.

 

 

The graphics driver settings guide:

read more here http://a2asimulations.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=12621&start=15

If you set graphics options as per my guide don't forget to set 8x or 16x anisotropic filtering in game options (in-game UI)

 

 

 

Post #89 has the answer to your question :) Read it carefully.

 

I'd say your CPU is comparable to mine as BoB 2 makes good use of up to 3 cores (!). Your res is higher but your GF card is better as well. So, there you go.

 

Start with everything maxed out except particle density. Keep Vsync OFF until you're satisfied with FPS! Use historical missions featuring massive air battles as a benchmark.

 

Satisfied? Then turn Vsync ON. You can enable Vsync ONLY IF your FPS is usually higher than half of your monitor's refresh rate e.g. you usually get 30+ FPS for a 60 Hz display refresh rate. I strongly encourage everyone to try a dogfight at 60 FPS at least once in their lifetime.

Edited June 11, 2011 by Bucic

[Yskonyn]

Thanks Bucic. Sorry I missed the earlier post. I even learned a new trick about AA from you! Will try it out today. Thanks

[RogueRunner]

Bucic, your sig is kinda misleading now isn't it?!? :P :P

[Bucic]

Thanks Bucic. Sorry I missed the earlier post. I even learned a new trick about AA from you! Will try it out today. Thanks

BTW, BoB 2 WoV will probably be the only game you've ever seen to run on 3 cores of your quad ;)

 

Bucic, your sig is kinda misleading now isn't it?!? :P :P

How so? :D

If it's really annoying I am open for suggestions.

[RogueRunner]

Just giving you some gas :D I actually thought it was about CoD (geez, that name again :P ) but now clicked the link and saw the light :D

Edited February 8, 2011 by RogueRunner

[Yskonyn]

I am still having problems with BoB2 though.

Half the times my TrackIR wont kick in in-game. All the lights are illuminated on the device, but the head movement doesn't work in the cockpit.

 

I have to reset every axis binding EVERY time I start the game or only half of the axis work. Quite annoying really.

And no I have not unplugged or changed the ports on any controllers.

[Bucic]

I am still having problems with BoB2 though.

Half the times my TrackIR wont kick in in-game. All the lights are illuminated on the device, but the head movement doesn't work in the cockpit.

 

I have to reset every axis binding EVERY time I start the game or only half of the axis work. Quite annoying really.

And no I have not unplugged or changed the ports on any controllers.

I've never used TIR. It's about time you hit the A2A simulations forums support section ;)

[Bucic]

PC Gamer Top 100 best games of all time has BoB II in the top 50 at no.49

" Dozens of WWII flight sims deliver thrilling, challenging dogfights. Only one, this one, manages to make those dogfights feel earth-shattering important. In BoB II's amazing unscripted campaigns, every downed Dornier and savaged Stuka is a personal landmark, a step - a tiny step - towards British salvation. "Per ardua ad astra" indeed."" -- Tim Stone

 

Thanks to Deathwing and empeck for heads up.

[martinistripes]

I decided to buy this and give it a try.

 

The menus, resolution and controller setup are terrible. Still not sure why there are no keys allocated to all the different functions when I go into controller setup.

 

Anyway, I patched to 2.11 and had a quick fly about today. Played one on one. And tried your nvidia control panel settings Bucic. Notticed some glitches, I think in near clouds and AA smoke puffs. Nice effects though.

 

One thing I dislike is the physics and damage model seems different to IL2. For instance in IL2 I can make an un powered landing in a field and survive. I like the way the plane will skim across the floor eratically, sometimes kart wheeling and exploding. Sometimes staying in tact. With BoBII, it seems any contact with the floor immediately takes you to 'the death screen' ie rotating around your burning aircraft -which is also rubbish.

 

It deserves more attention though for sure. And it is nice to have some different AI behaviour!

[Bucic]

If you set graphics options as per my guide don't forget to set 8x or 16x anisotropic filtering in game options (in-game UI)

 

UI is bad for two reasons. First - for most users it will run full screen in a non-native LCD resolution. This simply has to to look bad. Second - the layout is too complicated. Hence my UI tutorial (see below).

 

Make sure you understood the controller setup (read the appropriate manual chapter and appendix).

 

The game has some glitches everyone will see e.g. objects seen through some clouds, a "checkerboard" on the stratus layer clouds and some more.

 

Yup, the damage modeling visualization is somewhat limited. In some areas too limited. In that particular case the game code triggers a fatal crash when wing tip touches the ground. That's it. A little bit more annoying is a similar trigger done for fatal damage while flying high. Camera goes crazy and plane dives in an awkward manner sometimes. These elements have been identified as too time consuming and hard investment to fix for a small voluntary group BDG is. That said belly landings are perfectly possible. Plus even when you get a blowup animation thrown in your face there are still high chances the game routine will qualify you as a wounded survivor.

 

Indeed, the AI is state of the art. No wonder, the gentleman who works on it used to work on artificial intelligence for aerospace industry. See the second video.

 

 

 

another 2.10 preview

[Bucic]

'text errors', crashes and general troubleshooting

please follow my advices regarding troubleshooting. 95% of BoB2 crashes is caused by a window/dialogue that pops up in the background whcih BoB2 don't tolerate. Investigate that first and if that does not help do this

http://a2asimulations.com/forum/view...p?f=17&t=24567

http://a2asimulations.com/forum/view...p?f=17&t=10138

You should get help in no time.

[Bucic]

High altitude clouds 'checkerboard' - one of the major graphical glitches of BoB 2 FIXED

This is a must-have mod by Stickman one of the major moders/contributors to BoB 2.

 

Link to mod: http://a2asimulations.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=186257#p186257

 

 

 

Edited April 12, 2011 by Bucic