16.11.2017
As you may have already noticed, the huge map of Battle of Kuban comes in three seasons (Spring, Summer and Autumn), so there is no winter one. However there are many existing winter maps in our sim, so we had to update the winter landscape quality to match the new map quality level. In the end, after some experiments, we had to remake the chilly skydome, adjust the color palette and contrast to reflect the winter visibility conditions. The existing lighting wasn't bad, but we have found a way to improve its quality and make it even more realistic to get more contrast, bluish shadows which are characteristic of the chilling weather. The overall color temperature also became colder. All this combined allowed for more 'clean air' and deep visual feel. Of course, it's hard to describe such changes with just words, so please take a look at these comparison screenshots...
03.11.2017
Today we'll briefly tell you about two new features. First, in conjunction with increasing the landscape rendering distance, we also increased the clouds rendering distance - they are now visible almost three times further than before. Together with the new gamma and gradient for the skydome we showed you earlier, it gives the sim a significantly new look. For example, the 'feeling of flight' became even more natural at medium and high altitudes and when you fly under the clouds the new perspective is stunning. We also improved the look of cumulus clouds, making them more realistic and diverse; they can also appear at two layers now. It is interesting to note that we were able to recreate one of the real life effects - the Earth projecting its shadow on the opposite to the setting sun part of the sky). As the popular saying goes, one picture is worth a thousand words.
27.10.2017
The winter is coming and we're approaching the Battle of Kuban release run. The Career mode texts are finished and being translated right now. Cooperative mode is in the internal testing phase. P-39L, .A-20B and Yak-7B flight models are nearly finished, Bf 109 G-6 and La-5FN exterior models are ready and their cockpits are in the works. Today we can show you the current state of the A-20B bomber interior.
20.10.2017
Another week has passed and we have interesting IL-2 news for you once again. First of all, our programmers started the work on the next new gameplay mode: Cooperative.
Aaand, of course, we continue the 'surprise month'. This Work-In-Progress video is worth a thousand words:
13.10.2017
The month of surprises continues and today we present you a new kind of them - instead of a new plane it will be a new tech. Our lead programmer and lead landscape designer were developing new stuff for a couple of months already: it will allow us to make the visual image of the sim drastically more realistic and modern looking in the next update.