DCS World 2.0 and New Maps Discussion Thread

Ah, fair enough. Any information explaining the features/differences of EDGE?

Support for DX11, dynamic shadowing of terrain, clipmap support. Im sure theres some more that im forgetting

Sorry to be a noob guys, I have the simulator for just 2 days. What is EDGE? :-/

The new terrain engine. Under development.

While I know that an exact release date cannot be given, is it possible to know if the Nevada project is on track or if it is running into issues that may perhaps delay it? o.O

Sorry to be a noob guys, I have the simulator for just 2 days. What is EDGE? :-/

Welcome to the world of simulation. :)

Support for DX11, dynamic shadowing of terrain, clipmap support. Im sure theres some more that im forgetting

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clipmap

Does this mean that the new terrain engine will be capable of supporting larger theaters than the current terrain engine?

From what I understand it will allow for more detail in the areas around the camera, but also manage memory use to fit that detail in video memory. The overall terrain size would be limited by system ram, disk space, and ability to chain the terrain artists to their desk.

Nate

and ability to chain the terrain artists to their desk.

 

Nate

Sounds like the ED team is really on a tight budget, all the terrain artists sharing a desk. :D

and ability to chain the terrain artists to their desk.

Haha, that made me laugh. :)

So when we ask that the map be expanded to include such-and-such area, what we're really asking is for the artists to have yet more time away from home and family. ;)

Almost makes me want the Nevada update to be as small as possible. ...Almost.

--NoJoe

Sounds like the ED team is really on a tight budget, all the terrain artists sharing a desk. :D

It's a big desk. :D

Will feature EDGE a round world, or it will be still flat?

Regards!

I drove my DCS:UAZ to the north pole when I was trying to see if it would run out of gas (It didn't) so I am pretty sure the world is round, not flat. The sun acts a little glitchy when you cross the pole from eastern to western hemisphere though. I am sure they won't fix that until we have a polar terrain update.

I drove my DCS:UAZ to the north pole when I was trying to see if it would run out of gas (It didn't) so I am pretty sure the world is round, not flat. The sun acts a little glitchy when you cross the pole from eastern to western hemisphere though. I am sure they won't fix that until we have a polar terrain update.

Are you talking about Nevada or Caucasus? Current (DCS) world is flat, have a look at this:

http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=1279727&postcount=23

Regards!

Will feature EDGE a round world, or it will be still flat?

I'll play Devil's Advocate here :)

How is the fact that wanting a round world as opposed to the flat one at present important in the greater scheme of things?

I am talking about the Black Sea map. The DCS world may render flat, but the coordinate system is definitely spherical. The closer you get to the north pole, the more your longitude drifts if you were not going absolutely north. Once you are close to the north pole, you can actually drive circles around it where you have to constantly turn to stay at the same latitude. The game also adjusts the sun angle based on latitude.

...The DCS world may render flat, but the coordinate system is definitely spherical...

That is correct.

I'll play Devil's Advocate here :)

 

How is the fact that wanting a round world as opposed to the flat one at present important in the greater scheme of things?

It's not a real big issue, but it'd be a nice feature. It would solve some of the problems with mislocation between map and 3D world. And it'd get more important if *wink* the next DCS module *wink* is based on a naval aircraft with A-G radar, able to execute low-level antiship missions.

Regards!

I drove my DCS:UAZ to the north pole when I was trying to see if it would run out of gas...

Good GOD, Man...

You need a hobby.

:D

(no disrespect :) )

If only we could generate maps and scenery ourselves. I am sure the community would drop plenty of new theaters, even in acceptable quality. Some kind of editor, SDK or Howto would be nice. In return more people would tend to get interested about DCS and buy some...

*dreams of a new era of simulation franchise and regarding DCS as the cradle of that future*

If only we could generate maps and scenery ourselves. I am sure the community would drop plenty of new theaters, even in acceptable quality. Some kind of editor, SDK or Howto would be nice. In return more people would tend to get interested about DCS and buy some...

Already exists - that's how the original Nevada terrain was started. There's also allegedly some groups working on Aghanistan type terrain. It's just a difficult and time-consuming task.

http://en.wiki.eagle.ru/wiki/All_about_land

Yes I know that one. But I also noticed many topics there not being figured out yet. So in my eyes it doesnt cover enough information, half of the used plugins lack information completely. At least that scares me off :p

I'm looking foward to playing a little Russion Roulette with the Bellagio Hotel and a pair of CBU-97.

I'm looking forward to playing a little Russian Roulette with the Bellagio Hotel and a pair of CBU-97.

Nothing roulette bout a cbu.....it's a Russian win-win ;)

Are you talking about Nevada or Caucasus? Current (DCS) world is flat, have a look at this:

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=1279727&postcount=23

 

Regards!

Regardless of whether or not the world being round or flat is important or not, it does make for some interesting talk and reading... :smartass:

I am talking about the Black Sea map. The DCS world may render flat, but the coordinate system is definitely spherical. The closer you get to the north pole, the more your longitude drifts if you were not going absolutely north. Once you are close to the north pole, you can actually drive circles around it where you have to constantly turn to stay at the same latitude. The game also adjusts the sun angle based on latitude.

This is incorrect. The coordinate system is cartesian: x, y, and z. ED calls their own coordinate system LO coordinates. Just because ED has some functions in their code that artificially project a spherical coordinate system into DCS cartesian coordinates doesn't mean anything- the other coordinate systems in DCS, lat/long and MGRS, are used solely for coordinate displays to the user. The game code itself, when referencing spots on the map, creating waypoints, plotting routes, setting fire at points for artillery, etc- IT'S ALL CARTESIAN. Perhaps they do in fact do some astronomical graphics based off of lat/long, but if so, they are the exception to the rule.

My best guess for how they set up coordinates and lat/long projection in DCS:

With this set up, one can get a decent approximation of lat/long on a flat map, but for one hemisphere only. So you drove to the north pole- congratulations, you're a famous polar explorer :D. Now try to repeat the feat at the south pole. My guess is that you will find yourself unable to drive circles around the south pole, as the south pole will be stretched from a single point to a circular line something like 80,000km in circumference.

Anyway, don't think I'm criticizing ED for their choice of a flat earth. I don't think there is any need for converting DCS over to a spherical earth, not at least until we get much larger theaters. Spherical coordinates (r, theta, and phi) are A LOT harder to work with than cartesian!!!