DoctorQuest

I decided to post here since the problem seems more pronounced in Thirdwire sims but I am seeing it in other heavy graphics apps. The card is a XFX Geforce 6800GT with 256MB memory. I have uninstall and resinstalled several versions of video drivers and well as reinstalling directx. The only thing I have not resorted to is a complete reinstall of Win XP. My case and GPU temps all seem to stay well within boundries. The problem is very unpredictable which leads me to think it is hardware related. This is probably the best screenshot I've captured so far. This is WOE. I see it in most other TW sims. The artifacts come and go and seem to affect the terrain and aircraft more that the sky and clouds. It does seem to be related to more advanced graphics applications since I can run older sims without seeing any such artifacts. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I do realize I could get as good or better a card these days for not a lot of money. Thanks.

Generally, what I've seen is: 1. Improved cockpits. 2. Improved graphics. 3. Merged install capability with other TW V2 titles. If you do not have version 1 of the sim then version 2 is probably worth it. That being said, V2 of WOV leaves you without a stock A-6 to fly (granted, one can be added on fairly easily) As a V1 owner and an XP user with a older machine I don't really feel I got much for the upgrade to V2. I can't really enjoy the graphics improvements with my rig, for instance. The improved cockpits are nice. Another consideration is add-ons. Some support the V2 sims, other don't.

Yes, more information would be good but I expect they are out of my price range. That being said, I ALREADY have a good CH HOTAS setup and as long as they seem to last I won't be in the market for new equipment for a LONG time. :) The upside is that if they can use some of this money for further R&D I only see their products getting better.

A sad day. S!

Reading. Music. Naked-eye astronomy.

An interesting question in these times. I have had to take a good, hard look at this question over the last few years. Several years ago I took up a management position and eventually a project management position in pursuit of that thing known as "success." I hated both with a passion. I learned that my real passion is being a technician (IT) and that "success" is a goal for your life, not just your career. Sure, I may not end up making as much money but I'm sure as hell a lot happier and can finally sleep at night without stressing over a job I'm not cut out for. I learned that "success" is about finding a compromise between your work life and your family life. I'm with Dave on my feelings about family. My wife and I have been married 27 years and probably have a stronger relationship now than any time in the past. My kids are grown and just starting their own lives. It's a different kind of parenting at this point but very rewarding. I have been very, very lucky. In spite of my efforts to ruin it at times, my health is still pretty good. I have had a good run of bosses in my line of work. (Don't minimize that, folks.) We're not rich but we have a place to live, food on the table and a few dollars left over once in a while for entertainment. I have gotten a chance to do something REALLY different recently (voice acting for a new Wing Commander game.) And, dammit, one of these days I'm going to learn to fly.

This is very intriguing. RB with updated graphics? (Assuming I can run it on my rig, of course :)) I'm in.....

Good review. VERY nice simming cockpit, Ruggbutt. I plan to print this picture and show it to my bride when she gives me grief about MY simming rig. :) If I did not have a CH HOTAS setup right now I would seriously consider this product. I agree the CH throttle is a bit different being a slider but there are plenty of Russian aircraft that use a slider type throttle. Once you get used to it, it is really no big deal.

Good for you! Actually, turning off something like Aero is probably a good idea in any event as I imagine it uses memory that could be better used by the sim.

The only legal restriction I was ever aware of was "3.2" beer that could be sold to underage folks at one point in some states. It was also allowed to be sold in grocery stores in states that have "state stores" (state run liquor stores. PA is a good example.)

I'll go with Mr. Spock. "Computers make excellent and efficient servants but I have no wish to serve under them. Captain, a starship runs also on loyalty to one man and nothing can replace it or him." Technology aside, I think from a moral and ethical standpoint a human being MUST make life and death decisions in combat. I have no problems using a robot to get the weapons into range. That is hazardous duty and may not justify putting a human pilot at risk. I remember watching the pilots in the "Predator" episode of "Mail Call" and thinking, "I could do that. I've been practicing most of my adult life." :)

The joystick sits on an old office chair stand minus the seat. Adjustable in the vertical and can be shift from center to sidestick.

I think CFS3 has some built-in performance issues that keep it from running well compared to other sims of its era. There are probably some GFX gurus who could go through the code and work some things out but I agree that IL-2 performs much better with similar levels of eye candy. No, by itself, CFS3 is not worth even $10 in my opinion. CFS2, EAW and IL-2 give me all the WWII action I have time for.

I should be so lucky to make it to 93. For good or ill, he found a place in American history. RIP.

Avast, Spybot and careful surfing.

Works for me!

The recent thread on increasing FPS got me wondering if there is a "performance" thread in the Knowledge Base? I have been poking around and could not find one. I've been around long enough to know that your mileage may vary based on configuration but we have a lot of smart folks around here and it might be worth centralizing what we DO know. Just a thought......

I skipped SF2. I have and enjoy SF2V and will most likely get SF2E. I know it's only $20 but I have other priorities at the moment. I may stick with WOI as is. I do not mod it and really only fly it as a replacement for Jane's IAF.

Um, like most of the recent commercials for the series have been, like, huge hints, dude!

I would most definitely pay for a fully functional (given availability of unclassified info) F-22. Same for a SR-71. Same for a Tornado. Probably the same for an F-14. (Great cold war stablemate of the F-15). The point being, yes, I would pay for "study" aircraft that accurately simulated the specific avionics of that aircraft.

This is really good news. The AVH guys are maniacs for accuracy and the TW sims might give them an even better platform for their work than the MS sims did.

While I will agree that there is great information there I am not sure it has been updated for SF2. I, for one, was extremely frustrated by the lack of information regarding the move of the aircraft files from the root program folder to the users My Documents folder. The other frustration is that EVERYTHING has been packaged in CAT files unlike the original titles. The SF2 CAT files are in a new format that requires a different utility to extract (found in the downloads section.) Hubertus, you might want to look through the articles in the KB (remembering that your new aircaft will go in you My Documents\Thirdwire folder) and then stop back with specific questions.

I've always appreciated how Carradine matured into someone who didn't take himself too very seriously. RIP, Grasshopper.

Thank you! Those hints are helping to narrow down my results. I have already been narrowing my search to a specific forum.

I can't for the life of me figure out how to use the forum search. No matter what I do I always seem to get pages and pages and pages of topics completely unrelated to my search arguments. I am trying to find out if there ia a topic that addresses improving the performance of campaign missions in Operation Desert Storm. My rig just simply cannot handle the number of aircraft and other objects that are included in most missions. Can I tweak the campaign parms so I don't get missions that are quite so "busy"?