Cloud improvement

[Newt]

(Moved this from the Dynamic Weather overview thread)

 

I'm curious to know if there has been any discussion on upgrading the cloud system. As of right now, it seems like there are only a few types of clouds. (Don't get me wrong, the clouds are pretty good as they are, but they can still be vastly improved.)

 

What would it take to model a big cumulonimbus cloud? lol As of right now, thunderstorms are being developed in what look like thick nimbostratus (which could create rain, but I don't know about a thunderstorm), or, stratus or alto stratus clouds (which do not a thunderstorm make).

 

I know it must be difficult, but there is a lot of talk about ground textures, etc. and little talk about improving the cloud system, which imo, is also very important in making the sim look as real as possible.

 

Also, are the current clouds static? I was flying a dynamic weather test and it seems as though the clouds don't actually move...

Edited August 11, 2011 by Newt

[thaisocom]

I'd also love to see improvement on the cloud. The current cloud placement seem to be, I'd say too ordered...not mentioning that all of them seems to be on same level.

[Speed]

Yea... it would be great to see all cloud types in the sim, with realistic weather patterns and formation... for example, wouldn't it be great to see some pop-up cumulonimbus thunderstorms on a hot afternoon, for example?

 

The weather is certainly a bit more interesting with the dynamic weather system, but it could be so much more...

[thaisocom]

I wish they would make something like REX for FSX. It'd be really nice! :D

[Newt]

I wish they would make something like REX for FSX. It'd be really nice! :D

 

This caused me to look up some youtube videos on FSX to see their clouds and I hate to admit it (previously I didn't even want to give FSX the time of day, although I do not know quite why I have such animosity towards FSX) but their clouds do look better, albeit they seem highly glitchy and less dimensional (more 2D); but there are a variety of clouds, thicker (in height) better highlights and at more varying altitudes.

 

However, when the overcast clouds are on in DCS and the plane is above them, the DCS clouds look nice. But sadly, very stratus like with no real height.

 

I still like DCS more by far. Don't worry ED :)

 

I just suddenly have a longing for better clouds... :P

Edited August 11, 2011 by Newt

[Frostiken]

This caused me to look up some youtube videos on FSX to see their clouds and I hate to admit it (previously I didn't even want to give FSX the time of day, although I do not know quite why I have such animosity towards FSX) but their clouds do look better, albeit they seem highly glitchy and less dimensional (more 2D); but there are a variety of clouds, thicker (in height) better highlights and at more varying altitudes.

 

FSX completely blows DCS out of the water graphically, this is known. I really wish DCS looked like it, as well as the fact that they have pretty much the entire world available...

[EtherealN]

Just you wait. ;)

(And what's up with the throttle handling in that vid? The start there is just weird...)

[Newt]

Which video are you speaking of?

 

And "just you wait"? Interesting tease... o.O

[The Flying Goose]

I would also like to see improvement to the tops of the clouds, especially when it's overcast. I don't think I need to post pictures, because if think if anyone's ever flown on an airliner at cruising altitude, they've seen those big fluffy mountains of clouds that just seem to rise out of nowhere. Right now I feel like when flying above cloud cover it's just a boring, perfectly level desert, with mountains popping through in the distance. It would be an absolute joy to have some of those clouds and sort of random, beautiful columns and tufts and billows.

 

 

Just you wait. ;)

I dont understand the rest of your post but , does Yo-Yo have something impressive in the works? That would be awesome if he does.:thumbup:

 

Other than that I don't know what you could be implying:huh:

[thaisocom]

This caused me to look up some youtube videos on FSX to see their clouds and I hate to admit it (previously I didn't even want to give FSX the time of day, although I do not know quite why I have such animosity towards FSX) but their clouds do look better, albeit they seem highly glitchy and less dimensional (more 2D); but there are a variety of clouds, thicker (in height) better highlights and at more varying altitudes.

 

However, when the overcast clouds are on in DCS and the plane is above them, the DCS clouds look nice. But sadly, very stratus like with no real height.

 

I still like DCS more by far. Don't worry ED :)

 

I just suddenly have a longing for better clouds... :P

FSX might have lot of eye candies but when it come to flight models, DCS is lot more fun to fly. :D

[Newt]

FSX might have lot of eye candies but when it come to flight models, DCS is lot more fun to fly. :D

 

 

I totally agree! But, I don't think it's wrong to point out where I believe the game can improve. :)

[amalahama]

Clouds improvements are welcomed, but even better would be a more complete weather configurator in the mission editor. Too many things are randomized, we have little control about how the weather will be. And some sort of weather forecast with isobaric maps and all that fancy things in the mission planner would be nice too.

 

Regards!

[thaisocom]

I totally agree! But, I don't think it's wrong to point out where I believe the game can improve. :)

Of course not. Anyone would love to see DCS getting better. :thumbup:

[SNAFU]

In my eyes RoF has currently the best clouds for a PC sim. Don´t know if they are suitable for fast-movers, but with the Bi-planes I can spend hours just circling around them.

 

:pilotfly:

 

Few examples (acutally with the old, limeted viewing distance):

[Newt]

Wow... Those clouds are pretty amazing!

 

Schön... :)

[Cali]

Cloud improvement in lock on has been talked about for years. Falcon 4 has some good looking clouds and the night time looks awesome. I wish FC2 had some things that F4 had and vise versa.

[thaisocom]

RoF's high altitude cloud looks strange to me, but other than that? They sure have nice cloud. :thumbup:

[leafer]

Do clouds look like crap up close in ROF?

[SNAFU]

Do clouds look like crap up close in ROF?

 

No, you just get lost if you get too close. Especially with the old Biplanes it is recommended to stick to the VFR... ;)

 

You can also try it yourself. RoF is free to download and the free version comes with 2 flyable planes. Enough for testing.

:pilotfly:

[Newt]

huh.. I didn't realize it would be free.

 

I will admit that the clouds in the third image look a little weird. They look like... idk... blurry whipped ice cream? It could be better in motion, but it looks like there, it's not meant to be seen so close. It looks too smooth and blurry. Or something...

 

But the fact that they have more than just cumulus, cirrus, and perhaps nimbostratus clouds, is nice.

 

(again, I'm not bashing DCS. ED, you are by far my favorite. I only want your sims to get better and better. :) )

[BTTW-DratsaB]

Yeah, RoF clouds are sweet. Water droplets that react correctly to airflow on your goggles when you fly through them too.

[Newt]

Hahaha... oooh, this

made me laugh. Sorry, I shouldn't because it's kind of mean to laugh at him just for not knowing how to fly; most ppl don't know how. But it made me chuckle, nonetheless.

 

"....they do give you about 30 different options and boxes that you can check to make flying as easy as possible. I have every single one of them checked because when I turned them off, the plane was being battered around in the air by wind."

 

lol

 

But, back on topic, yes, after seeing the videos, the clouds are very well done in that sim.

 

I'd love to see clouds like that in DCS. :)

Edited August 22, 2011 by Newt