War Thunder: a wake-up call for Prepar3d+FSX

[GaryGB]

Hello:

This is a copy of my post over at AVSIM which I thought might be particularly interesting to folks here at SOH / Combat Flight Center.


FYI: I am personally a steadfast enthusiast of the MSFS platform, and generally not a fan of anything to do with warfare. http://forum.avsim.net/public/style_emoticons/default/Peace.gif

However, I was recently made aware of a fascinating new "simulator" involving flight and other user pilot-able vehicles, ships etc. which, IIUC, can all be concurrently active on screen in a massively multi-player environment using both on disk and online content


This "sim" reportedly also allows a form of free-flight without engaging in combat, which is what I found particularly intriguing. http://forum.avsim.net/public/style_emoticons/default/Thinking.gif


The rendered appearance of pilot-able objects, scenery, effects, and reported frame rates using newer Direct-X technology is rather impressive. http://forum.avsim.net/public/style_emoticons/default/Hypnotized.gif


I'd love to see Lockheed-Martin implement some of this technology into their future work with Prepar3d (aka "P3D"). http://forum.avsim.net/public/style_emoticons/default/Idea.gif



For those with an interest in what is now possible to do with this type of newer "game" technology on the Windows platform:


http://warthunder.com/

http://warthunder.co...ia/screenshots/ (http://warthunder.com/en/media/screenshots/)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUfJFFzEi6o&list=PL0440A3988EA4BE94



PS: Virtual Cockpit flyers with Track-IR and/or EZ-Dok might enjoy this live in-sim video (NOTE: audio is in Russian)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4qqQqFRHbs


BTW: Observe the highly efficient rendering of the cockpit shadows and scratches in the windscreen which change with angle to the sun, terrain textures, autogen etc. ! :icon_eek:



...And another great example of this project's "look and feel":


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hItyYdQxABQ



Just thought this might stimulate some discussion and further innovation in preparation for the coming New Year ! http://forum.avsim.net/public/style_emoticons/default/cool.png

GaryGB

[Sundog]

I'm going to have to check this out when I return from vacation just so I can check out the He-112 and the P-26!

[Roger]

Looks WoW! Hope there's a free flight option to just explore the landscape.

[falcon409]

I'll have to read deeper into the game-play instructions, but based on chatter in their forum it appears that it is rank based progression utilizing certain aircraft based on the level you achieve. Aircraft damage must be repaired and those repair costs are taken out of the accumulation of points you accrue during the battles. The higher the levels, the more difficult the battles and the better chance you have of sustaining heavy aircraft damage. It looks like it's very possible that your aircraft could sustain so much damage that you would be unable to fix it and continue playing. Besides the Combat aspect of the game, "Economy" as they refer to it, is also a major part of being able to continue the missions and thus continue the game. Building up a hefty "points bank" would be paramount to maintaining your aircraft and progressing through the Combat Missions.

[stiz]

brought to you by the same guys that did wings of prey ;)

[roger-wilco-66]

The graphics look a lot like Wings of Prey or Il2, and it seems to be more oriented towards the game crowd, not for us simulation freaks.

There's something cooking with P3D V2.0. Theres an ominous statement from W. Bard, Software Development Manager of P3D:

[..]
Hey Colin -
That's not the case, so no need for any shooting - except in the custom Prepar3D v2.0 weapons system.
[...]


I hope that means that they work on a weapons subsystem.

Cheers,
Mark

[stovall]

"The graphics look a lot like Wings of Prey or Il2, and it seems to be more oriented towards the game crowd, not for us simulation freaks."

My first thought as well Mark. Graphics just about everything in the video looked like Wings of Prey.