Steel Beasts Dynamic Terrain Will Come After New Terrain Engine

[Rinix]

Good news from dejawolf: http://www.steelbeasts.com/topic/11302-eta-on-terrain-patch/?do=findComment&comment=168250

initial runs with the new version has seen FPS increases from 60 to 100 fps in certain scenarios.

[Lusik]

Good  news. I was expecting something quite contrary.


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[Asid]

Good news from dejawolf: http://www.steelbeasts.com/topic/11302-eta-on-terrain-patch/?do=findComment&comment=168250

initial runs with the new version has seen FPS increases from 60 to 100 fps in certain scenarios.

Certain scenarios. Could still have a drop in certain maps. Near built up areas etc. This is encouraging though.

Thanks for posting Rinix.

[Rinix]

Talk about a communications failure at eSimGames: http://www.steelbeasts.com/topic/11302-eta-on-terrain-patch/?do=findComment&comment=168270

That FPS information is total speculation at this point and should not be repeated.  It is not official, and some features were completely disabled in the tests.

Better to wait for the final version...

http://www.steelbeasts.com/topic/11302-eta-on-terrain-patch/?do=findComment&comment=168272

in a test with a version where fps was not capped to 60 fps, FPS was 100 is what i meant.
in the capped version, average FPS has increased.
so players should experience fewer low dips in FPS and a generaly stabler framerate.

[wilso845]

Its like reading quotes from a married couple 👍

[Asid]

[Rinix]

http://www.steelbeasts.com/topic/11302-eta-on-terrain-patch/?do=findComment&comment=168285

OK that post is better. The original post was too broad, so it it was removed because it is too early to know what the exact final results of the optimizations are. Also, these results have yet to be tested on a wide range of computer specifications.

The point here for everyone is that these observations were made from an experimental test version on one specific PC, with some features disabled, and everyone should not get their hopes up as to the final performance until we get closer to release date.

As long as everyone understands this then, yes, factual statement: FPS should improve, which is certainly a good thing, but by how much exactly we do not yet know.

http://www.steelbeasts.com/topic/11302-eta-on-terrain-patch/?do=findComment&comment=168287

I can just add that I was VERY VERY impressed by the performance improvements, and I hope they will work out that way, or at least close to it, in the final product.

http://www.steelbeasts.com/topic/11302-eta-on-terrain-patch/?do=findComment&comment=168288

So much for Volcano's attempt at expectation management.

http://www.steelbeasts.com/topic/11302-eta-on-terrain-patch/?do=findComment&comment=168289

Hey, I was beeing as unspecific as possible :-P

http://www.steelbeasts.com/topic/11302-eta-on-terrain-patch/?do=findComment&comment=168291

Well "VERY VERY impressed by the performance improvements" to someone who doesn't know what your setup might suggest its absolutely fantastic (and perhaps back to the sort of numbers Deja initial quoted).

As with most Internet things, it will tend to be mis-interpreted or at least interpreted in the most optimistic way possible.

Tell people you are "VERY VERY impressed by the performance" with the performance of a family car and they'll think its a super car (or say that about say a Type 209 SSK and they'll thinks its a Los Angeles SSN).

Let alone whatever changes you guys may need to make between now and when it comes out the door which might reduce performance.

[Rinix]

An interesting note from Ssnake on map data priority: http://www.steelbeasts.com/topic/3762-map-request-thread/?page=13#comment-168722

I don't think so. We as eSim Games aren't doing much in terms of map development. But of course if those who make maps are also involved in the beta test, that beta testing will naturally cut into their time budget.

Anyway, the problem is more one of data availability in the first place. For example, German topographical service authorities want to sell map data, and higher resolutions and contemporary data go for (much) higher prices. As long as we can get free map data from other places, that's where we're going. So, that's an economic barrier as far as the Kiel area is concerned.

[Asid]

Purchasing map data can be very expensive.

How many people would even know if it was correct?

A higher resolution will be great as it could help infantry to hide instead of going underground.

Thanks for the update.

[Rinix]

http://www.steelbeasts.com/topic/7244-its-realits-bekibekibekistan/?page=2#comment-169336
I really wish Ssnake would be more clear about what he means by "later this year".

Once that the new terrain engine will make it your way - not next week, but later this year - there'll be suitable subdirectories in map-specific folders.

All future maps will receive their own folder, which should make handling equally convenient (rather than handling a file you'd handle a folder, but otherwise it's not terrifyingly different). One of the options is to have custom artwork included with the map, so you don't have to apply a mod that changes the terrain-specific artwork in every map.

Our implementation of this feature was a direct result of the initial work that had been poured into this project, so you can thank Cata for this (...and our programmers, of course).

[Asid]

Once that the new terrain engine will make it your way - not next week, but later this year

If they need time then thats ok...Better than lots of hotfixes 

[Rinix]

Once that the new terrain engine will make it your way - not next week, but later this year

If they need time then thats ok...Better than lots of hotfixes 

Yes, I agree. The issue here is that it's a sudden swerve without much clarity.

[Rinix]

http://www.steelbeasts.com/topic/7244-its-realits-bekibekibekistan/?page=2#comment-169345
Looks like they're trying to split the maps away from the installer to get the installer size down.

Maybe, but it's offset by the "height" and "terrain" folders going away, and all the individual files that they contain. Plus, you will be able to install them in a location other than C:\ProgramData. In fact, the maps will come with a separate installer which should help both in disk management, and when updating the software without touching the maps.

[Cougar11]

http://www.steelbeasts.com/topic/7244-its-realits-bekibekibekistan/?page=2#comment-169345
Looks like they're trying to split the maps away from the installer to get the installer size down.

Maybe, but it's offset by the "height" and "terrain" folders going away, and all the individual files that they contain. Plus, you will be able to install them in a location other than C:\ProgramData. In fact, the maps will come with a separate installer which should help both in disk management, and when updating the software without touching the maps.

If the maps will be seperated, then it will start looking like Arma, or other mod games. Can anyone say connection issues due to not downloading a map.

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[Rinix]

If the maids will be seperated, then it will start looking like Arma, or other mod games. Can anyone say connection issues due to not downloading a map.

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Separating maids. Anyway, Ssnake has already said that embedding maps in scenarios will no longer be possible, and that habits will have to be changed: http://www.steelbeasts.com/topic/10355-sb-pro-pe-40-discussion-thread/?page=9#comment-150890

Also, and that's the nasty part of it, chances are high that for larger multiplayer events if they aree based on a scenario with a custom map, these map files need to be put on a web server for download prior to the event as these large file sizes, particularly if they must be distributed to a larger number of clients, make it totally impractical to distribute them on the fly. Which means that clients coming unprepared to a network session will have to be rejected by the host, and may only be allowed to join the mission in progress later on after they collected the necessary files.

We haven't made the decision lightly. We don't like it at all. But we like the options that the new terrain engine offers in the long run so much better that we're willing to do it. So, there needs to be a mentality change. You just can't stumble into a network session at the last minute. The necessary files need to be downloaded and put into the right places before you even think about entering the Assembly Hall. We're sorry (yes, we truly are), but the onus of preparedness is on you. Maybe one day when everybody has fiber optics installed and a Gigabit upstream connection to the internet will it become practical again that the host will distribute the files to all clients (the functions are still there in SB Pro). It's just that until that day comes, low bandwidth connections will still dominate the interne tinfrastructure, and the sheer data size multiplied by the number of clients simply prevents this approach for all practical matters.