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Star Citizen Pre-Alpha: 'Arena Commander' Dogfighting
- Thread starter MrBig
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Well that explains why my 4½-year-old modem kept giving up the ghost after being pushed to the max for several hours the new one seems to be working like a champ but it doesn't explain why my screen occasionally goes to black for a moment followed by making the Star Citizen window black and giving me graphical glitches in Firefox's tab bar.
I can only think that it's Crimson's fault or it's Windows 10's fault I installed both one after the other on Friday and this never happened before that.
It has AO, it is just CryEngine's AO actively avoids to have halo'ing and over-darkening based upon lighting conditions (which is something that most AOs do and most people expect from it). But if you were to go into a dark corner, where there are no point lights around, it would be as dark as any other AO.
It uses two techniques. Colour bleeding & G-buffer light awareness.
SSDO 1, SSDO 2 (page 16)
May be it isn't covering all areas? The second shot you posted earlier looks off. The region under the stairs, for example, needs to get some AO at least.
Accepted.
hmm. What CPU and GPU do you have? Don't do the tutorial, it is borked.
try putting settings on low.
I7 3700K and GTX670.
Zalusithix
Member
The 670 is going to be the biggest bottleneck. Star Citizen doesn't like older GPUs. Going from a 500 series to a 900 series was a night and day difference. Can't imagine the 600 series being much better off.
Ok. so your problem shouldn't be cpu bottleneck (though the game is pretty CPU limited currently). It is definitely your graphics card. Put your settings on low and go from there.
UpDownLeftRight
Banned
Yeah my old fermi card runs like crap even though its got 3gb of ram and a hefty 384 bit bus speed, plus heavily overclocked. Glad to hear 9xx series are holding up better since I just noticed my new 970 is coming two days earlier than expected
Zalusithix
Member
Yeah my old fermi card runs like crap even though its got 3gb of ram and a hefty 384 bit bus speed, plus heavily overclocked. Glad to hear 9xx series are holding up better since I just noticed my new 970 is coming two days earlier than expected
The 970 runs SC well. It's obviously not going to be capable of pushing the game to its max, but with reasonable settings it can maintain playable framerates. In contrast the 590 I had could barely keep itself out of nausea inducing low framerates in SLI mode. Take away the SLI and you practically had a slideshow at times. No amount of RAM is going to help a 500 series as they just don't have the raw power to keep up.
I can't speak for how much a Kepler card would improve things first hand, but going by general benchmarks, not nearly enough. Anything short of a Maxwell based card is going to require low settings and possible ini tweaks. The game eats the best hardware available alive... Multiple generation old stuff just doesn't stand a chance.
More people have Hornets for one. Take our org as an example. Of the people that have added to the roster, we have 11 Super Hornets. The Gladiator count is at 3. Two of those being from the Armada pack that Rephin and I picked up for the Idris. Were it not for that pack we'd be over a 10:1 ratio.
Secondly, the Gladiator is a bomber and thus more of a missile boat. Once those are depleted, it has way less to offer than a Hornet in a dogfight. And that's fine since it's not supposed to be in a dog fight with fighters to begin with. It's made to take down larger multi-crew ships effectively while actual fighters intercept any of the more nimble craft. The Gladiator wont shine until the PU is stable enough to make use of it in missions.
Edit:
That IRC thing isn't really needed by the way. It's fine if you want to use an IRC client that you normally have up, but it's not needed. Any XMPP client can handle the job, or just use the web chat interface on RSI. The org channel isn't even used currently. While that will change going forward once it's linked into the game, for now it's just a barren wasteland.
Rephin
Member
Personally speaking, I prefer the Gladiator over the Super Hornet and had one even before I picked up the big Armada pack. It has decent punch with guns but the big missiles really do it for me. As a combat fighter the Super Hornet has more staying power and doesn't have to rely on missiles as much, though.
So I finally got the damn thing downloaded but I can't get it to run past the Main Menu. It shows the "loading game" splash screen for several minutes followed by one of three things:
> Kicks me back to the Main Menu with an error message that says "server full." The error message doesn't go away when I click OK but I can exit or try to go back into the universe nonetheless.
> Kicks me back to the Main Menu with an error message that says "kicked." The error message doesn't go away when I click OK but I can exit or try to go back into the universe nonetheless.
> Kicks me back to the Windows desktop with a standard Windows error message saying that Star Citizen has stopped responding and needs to be closed.
I guess I can't play the PU.
> Kicks me back to the Main Menu with an error message that says "server full." The error message doesn't go away when I click OK but I can exit or try to go back into the universe nonetheless.
> Kicks me back to the Main Menu with an error message that says "kicked." The error message doesn't go away when I click OK but I can exit or try to go back into the universe nonetheless.
> Kicks me back to the Windows desktop with a standard Windows error message saying that Star Citizen has stopped responding and needs to be closed.
I guess I can't play the PU.
Rephin
Member
masterkajo
Member
Aurora LN package or Reliant LTI ship? I also own a Cutlass package.
Joseph Merrick
Member
2.0 is pretty cool. eva'd by accident. couldn't figure out how to get back in the hornet. lmao. drifting away
Dictator93
Member
Being in screen space, it cannot actually calculate AO there.
----
I am considering grabbing the Avenger Titan today. First pledge increase since I grabbed my Mustang Beta last year.
VanquishUK
Member
I'm trying that offline 2.0 method but the damn downloader is the slowest thing I've ever seen...
Dictator93
Member
Do you mean the SC download client? It is so intensive on "hyperspace" that It is the only DL client that has ever maxed my bandwidth and prevents normal webpages from loading correctly lol
VanquishUK
Member
Rephin
Member
No, the CTD problem is common as well, it's not just you. I have a pretty decent rig and I'm seeing that.
staticneuron
Member
Seems cool, Hud seems cool, traversal of space seems cool, absolutely HATE the ship design. I can't see myself playing the game for that reason alone.
Zalusithix
Member
It would help if you elaborated why you were aiming at one or the other. The Reliant is most likely going to end up being a more capable and versatile ship overall, and the LTI is a boon. The only reason that I can see where you'd go for the LN package if you already have a Cutlass one is if you were doing the NPC angle where additional packages = AI NPC crewmate.
Elite certainly has a more monolithic, blocky external ship design. The Imperial / Gutamaya ships stray the furthest from the "flying wedge/block" concept, but unfortunately in an effort to keep the identity of the manufacturer, FD has made all Gutamaya ships more or less scaled clones of each other with a bit of morphing. SC isn't perfect, but does this much better. Take the Aegis ships. They look like they came from the same manufacturer, but the ships themselves have very different shapes / silhouettes.
Then there's the fact that SC ships are fully modeled and can be walked around. It changes the the game from "you are this ship" to "you are in this ship". It might seem like I've strayed from the concept of ship design, but I really haven't. Design is more than superficial looks on the outside, and extends to the interior. In this case the interior is essential to provide the gameplay that the PU will bring. Being able to get up out of the seat after a battle, head over to a panel to replace a failed component, then EVA out do a patch repair on the hull. Or being able to fend off a boarding attempt by pirates. It just lends a sense of presence that isn't possible if you're bolted to your seat.
Imagine landing a Gladiator inside the scarab compartment of a Crucible after a bombing run where you've gotten a wing blown off. You get out of the ship with the other guy and start helping the crew on the Crucible to repair your ship. Halfway through the repair, a fleet of Vanduul jump into the system and now you're scrambling to get the Gladiator flight ready before the enemy is on top of you. You aren't a Gladiator, and you aren't a Crucible. You're just a peon of a human using the tools available to you to survive. Sometimes those tools will live and die with you. Other times you'll outlive them, or if you're unlucky, they'll outlive you. It's that sort of potential gameplay that has me excited, and it's directly tied to the extremely detailed ship design in SC.
I preferred Star Citizen's ship design by far as well. Since then, Elite's ship designs have absolutely grown on me. Don't let that stop you. ;p
They're not as complex in shape as SC's ships and certainly a lot less detailed. The "cheese wedge" design of some of them stopped bothering me the moment I could fly them though. ^^
Zalusithix
Member
Well of course the shapes stopped bothering you when you flew them, as you could no longer see the ship! Short of outfitting and using the debug cam, you never actually see the entirety of your ship in Elite. =P With Horizon we'll see the ships from the rover's perspective which should help some, but that's still a far cry from how often you see your ship in SC.
So yeah, external ship design will be the last thing that'll be a problem for enjoyment in Elite. If any design is going to bother you, it'll be the cockpit design for a given ship. Once you hit the end game ships, you're going to be staring at the same cockpit elements from the exact same position for a long time.
Cool, thank you kind sir.
Rephin
Member
Yes, Hangar and Arena Commander are currently available, and soon(ish) Alpha 2.0 will go public (once they fix the server errors/crashing issues).
masterkajo
Member
Well, I don't own an LTI ship and I really like the idea of the Reliant as a part alien ship with different flight modes. I am worrying that the Reliant is too similar to the Cutlass (two seater with about the same cargo mass). But the Aurora is just a small starting ship and has the benefit of the package. Decisions, decisions. In the end I can't really say why but I just want the Reliant (also)... I guess it is starting... help me before I spent any more money.
Every package gives you access to alpha and beta and the full game (single and multiplayer) now.
Dictator93
Member
I love the magazine check animation when you tap 'r'.
http://fat.gfycat.com/CooperativeBetterElephantbeetle.webm
http://fat.gfycat.com/CooperativeBetterElephantbeetle.webm
Anyone else start out thinking they would buy just a starter pack Aurora or something, then end up with many ships? I want to focus on exploring/trading/bounty hunting and couldn't decide between any one ship, so I finally ended up with:
315p LTI
Super Hornet LTI
Freelancer DUR LTI
Freelancer MAX LTI
Constellation Aquila (not LTI because it was a package)
I need to hide my credit card quick, because that Carrack is still calling to me in my sleep...
315p LTI
Super Hornet LTI
Freelancer DUR LTI
Freelancer MAX LTI
Constellation Aquila (not LTI because it was a package)
I need to hide my credit card quick, because that Carrack is still calling to me in my sleep...
That's part of it as well. Most designs however grew on me over time. I guess I was very much biased against Elite' ships, as all I can remember before actually trying the game was the Cobra's shape, which I didn't find attractive then. It's among my favorite ship designs now. There are some exceptions of course - i still dislike the clipper because of its duck nose (while I love the Cutter).
Vigilant Walrus
Member
Think about the impact this game is going to have on kids and teenagers going to be obsessed about going to space after playing this.
Kids are going to become crazy ass engineers, gonna grow up and plow a lot of talent into NASA.
My point is- this is the type of "science-y" entertainment that the world needs.
Kids are going to become crazy ass engineers, gonna grow up and plow a lot of talent into NASA.
My point is- this is the type of "science-y" entertainment that the world needs.
Ahhh.. so that's the issue. Would HBAO+ work?
Love it. Is there a use for it in gameplay or have they thrown it in just for kicks?
Zalusithix
Member
The Reliant is pretty much the only game in town if you're after something a bit different than the usual human ships at that price point, that much is for sure. It's not a truly alien design, but has enough of those elements to feel unique, so I can see the draw. As for similarity to the Cutlass in cargo, that's because the Reliant is designed for it while the Cutlass is rather poor in that regard. The base Cutlass is a piracy / combat oriented ship. You're far better off with a Freelancer than a Cutlass for cargo hauling in the same price bracket. That said, there are alternative variants of the Reliant planned that will shift the focus of it outside of cargo duty so that it wont overlap so much with the Cutlass. You can always CCU the LTI reliant to a variant when the time comes.
Part of it I imagine comes from working up to the ships. After putting dozens of hours into obtaining, and then dozens more in outfitting a ship, it grows on you. The once ugly bastard becomes your baby. I was never crazy about the Anaconda, but after owning it I slowly warmed up to it. (Before I burned myself out.) I can only assume that sort of conditioning will be even stronger in SC with the more involved relationship you have with a ship when compared to Elite.That's part of it as well. Most designs however grew on me over time. I guess I was very much biased against Elite' ships, as all I can remember before actually trying the game was the Cobra's shape, which I didn't find attractive then. It's among my favorite ship designs now. There are some exceptions of course - i still dislike the clipper because of its duck nose (while I love the Cutter).
Possible, much like Star Trek, Star Wars, and other such movies/books have inspired people to go into space related career paths. At the same time, I think it needs to be tempered with something like KSP to appreciate reality. Dream big, but don't lose sight of what's realistic. Games like this are more fiction than science.
HBAO also operates in screen space.
king grimlock
Member
As someone that most likely will not have a second for the super hornet the regular hornet would probably be better, right?
someone please help me justify the extra $55 it's so sexy.
Zalusithix
Member
The Super Hornet works fine with only one person. A second would just make it more effective by giving gimbal/turret aiming to a second brain. That said, getting a single AI crew mate should be relatively simple so there's nothing stopping you from having a second for manning the SH anyhow.
However if you want a single seater to match the SH, the Sabre has your name on it. As a bonus, it's even sexier.
king grimlock
Member
Well I just read that the second seat could be used to subdue bounties and I can actually fly the hornet now so I guess I'll shoot for the super hornet, but I'm definitely looking at all the real life plane inspired ships(retaliator, vanguard, saber) as they are all pure sex.The Super Hornet works fine with only one person. A second would just make it more effective by giving gimbal/turret aiming to a second brain. That said, getting a single AI crew mate should be relatively simple so there's nothing stopping you from having a second for manning the SH anyhow.
However if you want a single seater to match the SH, the Sabre has your name on it. As a bonus, it's even sexier.
I believe I read somewhere that you can also use the second seat to strap in a bounty hunter target. If you're looking to do any type of bounty hunting.
staticneuron
Member
Fully agreed. I imagine there is alot of times where you can be just cruising in space. When that happens I will most likely put it in 3rd person view to admire ship and surroundings. Of course that will not be a great idea in the heat of battle or if you need to adjust something at a station inside of the ship but so far, even in the ships you can fly and those you cannot, they are incredible to look at and watching videos of the 2.0 alpha bring excitement to know that the cohesive design permeates every aspect and is a defining feature of the experience.
Zalusithix
Member
Quote this post for the link. A base entry is already there for you since you joined the org some time ago, so you'll just need to fill in the details.
Dreams-Visions
Member
Fortunately I have E
to play and scratch the itch or I might be you. As such, I'm very happy with my starter pack. Fuck that nonsense.
Zalusithix
Member
Fortunately I have E
I can't say playing Elite lowered my desire to support SC. Rather, it just gave me another game to dump money into. =P
Then again, I didn't go in to SC with the intention of only having a starter package. When I first decided that the game was plausible and bit the bullet, I knew I was going to be committing to at least $500. It's an insanely ambitious game that's going to need a comparatively crazy amount of money to see it through to completion. Starter packs alone aren't going to fund a game of this scope, so others that are more intent on seeing it through have to pick up the slack.
That's not to say that there aren't those that are buying ships for other, more selfish reasons...
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