chrisb

Congratulations BIS on the release of Arma 3 the game. I was already running the dev build in beta so not a great big step forward, but a step nevertheless. Hope all goes as you planned in the future for this game. I wish you much success with it, even though I will be staying with A2, by the looks of things, for my war game-play (A2 is more realistic). But I will enjoy sightseeing in Arma 3. I really hope you have success with this, its been a long journey getting here, but you made it. The game will fit nicely into a more mainstream market and I don't blame you for doing that, it makes sense. Though I personally wish you would have stuck to the more realistic side. The Arma series has turned a corner (for me anyway), but perhaps it had to, never mind. :( I will still gladly support your future plans for pc gaming, whatever they are. :) PS: hope you have sorted out your MP side, or that you get it sorted soon. It needs to be optimised really well to catch/appeal to the players you need for this. Regards Chris

To the thread title: Yes..;) Does it matter! Not really, may be a tad disappointing to some, me included, but really I was expecting it to be like this from a good while back. BI do what they have to do to keep it all going, so its understandable. A2 exists and has plenty of life still left in there, that’s where I will be spending my mission time for now. Sightseeing in A3 though, is great.

Thanks for this mod. I have had a good look around the terrain, its really great, performs well too, apart from one type of grass/corn/wheat (not sure) that seems to pull down performance a little, but no big deal. There is a radar tower that seems too large (out of scale), can't remember where, will look again. Anyway thanks very much for sharing this.:)

I can't really fault the game performance wise, other areas of the game I can easily fault, but that's just one of those things, we all have our little favourites (cough.. AI);) However: Altis performs well, for me anyway, pics are from A3 on my A2 pc (see sig), so its running pretty optimised, from my point of view. Arma 2 runs really well too, always has, never really had problem's with any of the series to be honest, performance wise. Just keep your machine lean & clean, should be o.k. Check for background running processes especially when gaming online. Same spot different view distance (same settings): Around 1000 Around 1500 Around 2000 __ In town, both around 1000 vd, only really use that in town, 1200-1500vd out in the open, more in the air. Here you can see the difference Terrain on 'High' against terrain on 'Standard' no hit for me really: Town 2; Terrain = 'Standard' Town 1; Terrain = 'High' __ This is the difference I find between Terrain at 'Standard' or 'Ultra'. The other settings within this group I run at the highest, just terrain drops around 10fps for me, but as you can see from the pics, there is a massive difference to ground coverage out in the open: Terrain = 'Standard' Terrain = 'Ultra' all other settings are the same just altered terrain; __ I usually play with 1200vd on heavy terrains, on the ground. In A2 with arid style terrains, I will up that to 3000vd on the ground. Of course you can have huge vd on the ground and in the air on arid terrains in A2 or A3, but to keep your AI sensible, its best to have plenty of reserve power for your cpu. Here in A3 possibly 3000vd in the air at present. Sniper type missions etc, up it again, depends on the terrain. But at the moment I don't really play A3 mission wise. Using 'dvd' mod/addon can help, I use 'ivd', that is great for altering in-game, as you move along, but its manual, 'dvd' is auto. Obviously these are for A2 but both seem to work o.k. in A3 so may help some.

The 'Editor' do anything in there, make your own missions mess around etc. Help you a lot to get used to the game..:)

Realism within reason. If realism is a simulator, it would make A3 a sort of VBS, don’t want that (training tool). So as realistic as a ‘Game’ can allow, would be what I look for. A3 is a long way away from that yet..

I have been looking more at this terrain, and really it is quite stunning. The Schrattendamm is fantastic, brief night mission to take the dam was really atmospheric (used tpw houselights). The huge area and layout of the terrain lends itself to literally 100’s of various mission types & ideas, plus it performs well. Really great job so far. Flatterman; the dam is superb, fits in so nicely on this great terrain.:).

Most all Ultra (vids in my YT channel). Terrain set to Standard or High, above that it’s a big draw fps wise, the rest in that category on the highest they go. PIP disabled waste of time, AAx2 or x4 little difference, SMAA Ultra, Atoc all trees. I never use PP, don't like it. VD on the ground 1000-1500 upto a possible 2000’ish. In the air more, obviously. That’s all on a 640 Athlon (my A2 pc, sig), no problems running the type of missions I like, top AI count of around 150’ish for A3, not that I play much A3, A2 is better. Same pc runs A2 as well, if not better, but certainly no worries regards performance in any of the series, so far.. It’s a funny game, that’s for sure, performance wise, pc to pc changes so dramatically.. Doesn't seem to care what pc you have, provided you have it setup well and its lean & clean, it will run. Setup badly, full & dirty, it won't..

I would venture to say he's not.. No, they turned into whimsical fluffy bunnies instead, floating around..;) Only imo..:p

You make your enemy AI too easy..;) mine would be using those huts.. Great to see buildings opening up.:)

Understood, but that's not what I meant when I said "its not using the building" we know they have paths to follow, that's not the problem, its once they're inside, being sensible enough to use whatever is in there in a realistic and right way, that's where the intelligence is needed.. Modded AI will always do far more than stock AI, always have, for some reason gives them freedom, not sure why, just does, especially if you mix around some mods. Going into a building and standing or crouch at a window or doorway (facing the right way) is common for modded AI in A2, using a building (larger type) and putting objects they use from the outside, inside, then they use them better, cover etc not great, but passable.

AI will go through a building making they’re way to the roof via stairs or ladder, then return down the same way. Certainly modded they do. However, if they are spawned directly onto a roof, it can for some reason cause problems, as you say walk straight off, more so for stock AI, some modded AI realise they are not at ground level it seems and will use a ladder or stairway to get down. Rarely use re-spawn so not sure regards that. Answer: never place one on a roof, have them make their way there (modded A2 really, may happen later for A3).

Using buildings reasonably well is not new. In A3 here they (AI) can use them a little better if you mod them (add a little Gl4 or even 3), its just that its restricted compared to A2 buildings use. We have a underground complex i.e. tunnels/rooms etc (underground/over-ground, so as to speak) for A2, built on the 52km desert pmc map. The AI use whatever is put inside for cover, for instance barrels, boxes etc, provided its recognised on the outside they will use it. They move through the tunnels well, will open doors (or walk through them, don’t mind that), and check rooms as they go along. I have lots of vids showing building use, plus these screenshot albums: , and . OA buildings seemed the best, but they also use some buildings from previous instalments plus of course they use many community made buildings/structures.Really though, AI will mainly use door and window positions, in a war zone where little remains of furniture, as we usually have in this game, that’s really all they need to use. As said, they already do this reasonably well when modded. I don’t think stock AI will ever use buildings as well as modded (mixed modded). Certainly they will not use a building the same way as a game that’s designed to do that, just won’t ever happen. This series is too broad in its coverage of warfare, not a spec ops only type game, but what they do, they do reasonably realistic, so its not too bad. Its not the building use, you have to have them intelligent first, which seems harder for stock AI, once they have that you stand more of a chance of them using different items in a realistic manner. :) Edit: oh, asc_eu_lights are good for effects within buildings/tunnels etc, the floor ones, can't remember what they're called.

Got to agree with that post.. __ Its about game-play, for those that thought A2 looked or played bad, it didn't/doesn't on VH settings it looks great and the game-play is worlds apart from A3. Yes, you have to mod A2 to get the very best, but it will be the same for A3, only difference is, A2 just feels more realistic, for me anyway. I would have paid whatever they priced it at for A3, that was a dead cert for me, no way I wasn't buying it. But they (A2/A3) are two different games, with a different feel to each, just imo.

Thanks for sharing these..:)

There are a few views regards A3 and all should be able to say on the forum here. There are many epic battlefields in A2 & indeed Arma. Altis is a stunning achievement, but there are other terrains that can give as much or more immersive game-play. Alwarren is right regards the movement I would say, also I think the vehicles handle like a bowl of custard. The AI is pretty much the same stock AI we have always had but with tweaks, many that have been around for years but in mod/addon form. They are still incapable of being a realistic enemy without the further need to mod, nothing wrong with that, modding is great, but don’t blame players who think it falls short in some respects. It may not fall short for others, but that’s only based on where they came from with A2 (if they played the series). However, others who have a really great A2 setup, realistic combat, credible enemy forces (AI), then of course A3 is going to fall well short, certainly in my eye's.. Its quite possibly the fault of us the players for wanting what we all independently imagined would be produced, when in-fact the game has gone in another direction, I feel, not others maybe. But it should be allowed to be said, if someone is un-happy. Look, the game is what the game is, no changing that, its where it was always going to be, I’m sure.. Some are happy with the type of game it is now, some are not, that's life..;) I would still have bought it, BI deserve the support, for its past and present projects.. Nothing against BI, they do what they need to, I would not argue with that.:) ___________________________ Edit: One thing I would say is great, 'performance', its been a real surprise to be able to put this on my old A2 pc and watch it perform as well as A2, that's a positive improvement. Problem is I bought a new pc in anticipation of struggling..:(

No its not, it looks better, that's where the comparison end's for me.;) Play a really well modded A2 and there is a world of difference, if game-play realism is your thing. Complete immersion in a combat world, not possible (yet) in A3, but there in A2 and its sister 2'ss, imo of course.. Warfare/combat levels that are way above, what A3 can give at the moment, not saying it never will, but.. If you haven't seen that in A2, then you haven't played A2 to its potential. But it does have a few years on A3, however A3 will not change, other than what mod/addon makers do with it. Its hit its marketplace spot-on, I think anyway, can't fault BI on that.

That made me smile..:rolleyes: Really, get yourself A2CO and mod it, best thing you'll ever do..;) Can't go diving of course, there again who wants too..:p

Fantastic video, well made..:)

I was expecting Altis to be good, BI do terrains really well, so in that respect it doesn’t disappoint. Performance wise, o.k. provided your not wanting anything too large scale, the type of mission I play would have been fine, maybe reduce AI numbers a little. But that was expected, a good terrain, no, a great terrain. Just the rest of the game, lumbering vehicles, awkward character movements, medical, etc.. and of course ‘AI’, still bad. But yes, Altis looks great..

Great, thanks for your continued hard work, on what is a marvellous terrain you have made. Will be DL’ing later and have a look. :)

Your video and tpw fall was good. It’s the AI being on another planet that’s shocking..;)

Shockingly bad AI..:butbut:

That's great. Are these in-game yet or will they be released as another pbo later ? Great work, nice to see building opened, my AI really like them, also rooftops if any stairs/ladders could be utilised;)

Have had time to get a good look around now. The team there have done a marvellous job of porting this properly over. I'm looking forward to the odd tweak here and there, but really its great. Thanks for all your hard team SMD_Sara..:)