zovirl 0 Posted December 7, 2001 Could someone tell me what algorithms are used in OFP to calculate sunrise/sunset, moonrise/moonset, moon phase, and tides? I have looked at the sunrises and they do not seem to be generated by a "real" sunrise algorithm. I expect that means BIS used a simpler algorithm. The length of the day seems to be a simple sine curve, but I can't figure out an easy formula for the time of sunrise. I could figure out a complex formula...after all you can approximate any curve with a complex enough formula. But I expect BIS used something easy. So...what is it? I wanted to make a simple calculator program that would tell you what times certain things would happen. Useful for mission makers who want to have a certain thing happen in their mission (i.e. want to make a mission with a full moon just coming over the horizon...) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PlaneShifter 0 Posted December 8, 2001 I've always preferred the "screw the math, I'll just fiddle with it until it looks like it works" method :D - PlaneShifter - Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zovirl 0 Posted December 8, 2001 Well, yeah. There is that method, but I was bored and figured a program to just tell you would be cool. If they would just tell me what formulas they used (it isn't like it is a complex trade secret ) then it would be really easy to make the prediction program Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Espectro (DayZ) 0 Posted December 8, 2001 Well, its different of what time a year it happends....thats all I know... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PlaneShifter 0 Posted December 8, 2001 It WOULD save quite a bit of time. Cycling through the months & days to find the right enviornment can take awhile. As a side note, it's too bad mission designers aren't more particular with what time of the year their mission takes place--a suprising amount of stuff changes! - PlaneShifter - Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zovirl 0 Posted December 9, 2001 Hmm, what changes based on seasons? I never noticed that much. I just thought it would be handy to know sunrise times Still looking for an answer from BIS... Also, is email notification ever going to come back? I keep missing posts since it is gone... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zovirl 0 Posted December 11, 2001 I just had a look at the tides. I don't think we will be able to come up for a prediction for those without some help from the programmers. It is too bad because there are some places on the map where tides can really change what is going on. Take a look at Everon, Eb04. There is a small point of land that goes out into the ocean. At low tide, it is connected to the main island. At high tide you drown if you try to get back to the main island. Now...if you wanted an early morning mission here at high tide, how long would it take to find the right date? I'm betting it would be a while... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zovirl 0 Posted December 20, 2001 Shameless bump because I still want to write this utility... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bloodmixer 0 Posted December 20, 2001 *BUMP* I only know the sun rises in the west... or was that setting ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zovirl 0 Posted December 21, 2001 heh...if only they would tell us what formulas they used, we could figure it out Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
amos m 0 Posted December 21, 2001 hhmmmm....The formulae. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
amos m 0 Posted December 21, 2001 I noticed the sun doesn't get any bigger as it approaches the horizon. But the formula...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zovirl 0 Posted December 21, 2001 Why would the sun get bigger as it approaches the horizon? It doesn't in real life... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zovirl 0 Posted January 9, 2002 The 1.40 patch is out...it is after Christmas...it must be a quiet time at BIS, so maybe someone could answer my question now (Yeah, I know, they are probably already hard at work again...) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
