New bug: on Nurburgring clouds disappear . . .

[Martin_320nm]

With version 1.04 when I play on Nurburgring in arcade mode, there seems to be a new glitch: often the clouds don't appear after I have set the time of day / time progression in the "Track Settings" menu!

Basically what this means is that when you start the race you get a totally blank sky -- either plain blue or just grey, but not a single cloud anywhere! If the sky is blue then the sun is a huge white ball which blinds me. Also without any clouds to refract the light, sunrises and sunsets look horrible. PD please fix this.

 

[VBR]

I posted this after the 1.04 update;

...the lighting on Nurburgring 24 Hour has been altered. It looked absolutely jaw dropping before, driving at 19:30 with a clear sky, now it just looks...meh. There's also an intermittent bug where all the clouds disappear, & the sun doesn't change colour when it sets. Glare in mirrors used to look awesome, now it just looks underwhelming.

I really hope they go back to the way the lighting was in 1.03, as it looked much better & had no bug.

 

[Johnnypenso]

[URL="https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/gt6-glitches-and-errors-thread-read-first-post.291414/"]Giant Thread for GT6 Bugs and Glitches[/URL]

 

[Martin_320nm]

I posted this after the 1.04 update;




I really hope they go back to the way the lighting was in 1.03, as it looked much better & had no bug.

Ok -- I hope they fix it in the next ninja hotfix.
By the way, I think it looks as awesome as 1.03 when I can manage to get the clouds to re-appear. It's just that when there are no clouds, you lose all the nice colours in the sky -- because there is nothing for the sun to refract with.

Update:
It seems to be a global problem. I just played some other tracks and the same thing happened in Matterhorn : Totally clear sky, blazing sun, and not a single cloud. Then I went into 'Track Settings', moved the time progression by only one notch, came back out, restarted the circuit, and presto -- the clouds by magic suddenly reappeared and everything looked much better again.

Likewise in career mode -- I did a stage on Brands Hatch with totally clear blue sky and no clouds. Came out of it, re-started, and suddenly the sky was full of clouds. ;-)

 

[Convergent]

Clouds are clouds...

 

[Martin_320nm]

Clouds are clouds...

But clouds disperse light. Without them it's like the sun in the Sahara: Blinding light in the sky, and sharp shadows on the ground.

 

[Convergent]

But clouds disperse light. Without them it's like the sun in the Sahara: Blinding light in the sky, and sharp shadows on the ground.

And....

 

[Martin_320nm]

And....

what is your question?

 

[Convergent]

But clouds disperse light. Without them it's like the sun in the Sahara: Blinding light in the sky, and sharp shadows on the ground.

It's normal...

 

[Sander 001]

I read this and didn't think much about it but then sometime later I was playing and we went to Willow Spring and when the race began the sky looked quite strange, just one odd shade of pastel blue, no clouds. Never seen anything like it.

 

[VBR]

I recently checked a replay of me & a mate going for a drive on The Ring 24 hour, we did it the day before the 1.04 update. I set the time for a nice sunset & remember that there were lots of pink fluffy clouds, a real vanilla sky! However, when I checked it in the 1.04 update, all the clouds were gone, & the sky was just pure blue.

It's definitely a bug.

 

[xiando]

They're probably responding to complaints about lighting and somewhat overblown sky effects (stars the size of saucers, nebulae and galaxies visible even though the closest and brightest galaxy is only visible in black sky conditions using peripheral vision without a telescope or binoculars), so we'll just have to be patient while they shake out the bugs.

 

[CeeJay]

I'm wondering if they removed the sky effects to help the bad framerate?

 

[xiando]

That could be it as well. There have been so many complaints that they're probably just trying their best to figure out how to balance the customer demands with the environment (software/resources) demands.

 

[Martin_320nm]

That could be it as well. There have been so many complaints that they're probably just trying their best to figure out how to balance the customer demands with the environment (software/resources) demands.

That did cross my mind, but I don't think it's the reason. Because sometimes the clouds just come back again if I start a new race, or if go into the 'Track Settings' menu, play with setting, and come out again to start a new race. (And when the clouds are back, all the sunset effects look just as colorful I remember them in 1.03!).

It definitely seems to be an intermittent bug in 1.04. (and I don't see any difference in framerate -- either with clouds or without clouds).

 

[VBR]

I'm wondering if they removed the sky effects to help the bad framerate?

I've found that the frame rate is worse after the 1.04 update. I'm guessing they tweaked the weather to free up more processing power for something else, maybe the tyre model where it's now cold to start off with & then warms up. All I know is I really liked the vanilla sky effects in 1.03, & I shall miss them.

 

[xiando]

That did cross my mind, but I don't think it's the reason. Because sometimes the clouds just come back again if I start a new race, or if go into the 'Track Settings' menu, play with setting, and come out again to start a new race. (And when the clouds are back, all the sunset effects look just as colorful I remember them in 1.03!).

It definitely seems to be an intermittent bug in 1.04. (and I don't see any difference in framerate -- either with clouds or without clouds).

Well all I was saying was that it's a possibility. It's rare that we know authoritatively *why something happens in the game or why or what they've changed. Even when they post a reason for a glaring change. In my own work, I post bullets like

" - fixed bug in (blah blah) that was causing (such and such bad behavior)
- changed (some behavior) to improve (this or that)
"

etc. In addition, when behaviors are changed non transparently (they affect basic behavior beyond "fixing" some specific error condition), I add new help or other informational content to describe the deviation and often additionally, the "why" behind the change(s). PD does not do this, so we're (almost) all left in a little town I like to call "Speculationville"

All I know for certain is
a) there's a bug
b) resources are very tight in GT6
c) Many complaints have been made about the lighting affects and framerates
d) PD routinely makes changes as a result of conglomerate customer complaints, without providing background info.

No biggy to me. I'm concerned with large things like the missing custom course editor and community features far more than whether the clouds are in evidence.

 

[Martin_320nm]

I've found that the frame rate is worse after the 1.04 update. I'm guessing they tweaked the weather to free up more processing power for something else, maybe the tyre model where it's now cold to start off with & then warms up. All I know is I really liked the vanilla sky effects in 1.03, & I shall miss them.

What I'm saying is that there is no discernible difference in framerates between clouds in Nurburgring v1.04 at 7.30pm compared with no clouds in Nurburgring v1.04 at 7.30pm.
And it can't be a 'tweak' because sometimes the clouds magically re-appear in Nurburgring v1.04.
NB. If it was a "tweak" then the behaviour would be consistent -- ie we would either have clouds all the time, or no clouds all the time. But that's not the case here. Therefore it is a bug and PD should fix it.

and @ xiando . . We should not let PD off the hook on this by making excuses for them. It is a biggie for me and many others to not to have fantastic sunsets on the Nurburgring at the time of day when they are supposed to happen on that track.

 

[VBR]

@Martin_320nm - What I mean is that they have tweaked the weather in 1.04 as it is also different from 1.03, that's what introduced the bug, see my first post in this thread for details.

 

[xiando]

What I'm saying is that there is no discernible difference in framerates between clouds in Nurburgring v1.04 at 7.30pm compared with no clouds in Nurburgring v1.04 at 7.30pm.
And it can't be a 'tweak' because sometimes the clouds magically re-appear in Nurburgring v1.04.
NB. If it was a "tweak" then the behaviour would be consistent -- ie we would either have clouds all the time, or no clouds all the time. But that's not the case here. Therefore it is a bug and PD should fix it.

and @ xiando . . We should not let PD off the hook on this by making excuses for them. It is a biggie for me and many others to not to have fantastic sunsets on the Nurburgring at the time of day when they are supposed to happen on that track.

I'm not making excuses. I'm simply speculating on a possible reason why. Fact is, whether anyone likes it or not, the PS3 is being pushed to its limits by the new changes to the game, and it's clear (at least to me as a programmer) that they're trying to balance the demands of the new physics models with compromises in other areas.

For me, the course maker is important. The physics is important. Taking photos that are so realistic I could show them to friends and play it off as if I had really been to Sarthe or Willow Springs or Nurburgring instead of just telling them I use software that is a *close approximation of the real thing is trivial.

In any case, I meant no harm. I was simply speculating, due to the void in info we receive from the company.

 

[Martin_320nm]

. . . In any case, I meant no harm. I was simply speculating, due to the void in info we receive from the company.

No harm intended :-)
And I do agree -- there is a void of info from PD. Although they have gone a small step in the right direction by posting hotfix notification info in the game.
And hopefully somebody at PD is reading this forum . . .

 

[cjr3559]

They're probably responding to complaints about lighting and somewhat overblown sky effects (stars the size of saucers, nebulae and galaxies visible even though the closest and brightest galaxy is only visible in black sky conditions using peripheral vision without a telescope or binoculars), so we'll just have to be patient while they shake out the bugs.

But I liked the unrealistic realism!

Either way, as far as the clouds, as in real life, sometimes they exist and other times you get a perfectly clear sky. It's just like when you select 25, 50, or 100% weather conditions at startup; it can be raining at variable degrees or just overcast.

 

[VBR]

After the 1.05 update, this bug is still here. I've noticed that if you get the clouds to appear before you got to track (in Free Run via Garage), then go into Settings & back out a few times they sometimes disappear there as well. So, definitely a bug that needs fixing.

 

[xiando]

Where would you rank it on the list of important things for PD to accomplish?

(not saying it's not a bug, just curious if it's more important to you than say, finishing the course editor or community features. Point being, all these little irritations seem to be all PD is really focusing on)

 

[Sier_Pinski]

I had one bug at Nordschliefe where, after setting the time to morning from evening, there would be two suns on opposite sides. Two suns! And I don't recall this happening in GT5. Although the shadows only came from the morning sun and not the 'fake' evening one, and after messing with the clock the fake sun goes away along with the clouds.

 

[VBR]

Where would you rank it on the list of important things for PD to accomplish?

I guess it's a matter of personal opinion. At the moment all GT6 is good for to me is doing the occasional Free Run, & 99% of the time it's done one The Ring 24 Hour with sunsets.

 

[xiando]

True enough, it is a matter of personal opinion. I suppose that's what I was really wondering, ie, what's your personal opinion on the issue of the importance of PD concentrating on minor bugs versus major missing elements?

Thanks for the reply

 

[VBR]

True enough, it is a matter of personal opinion. I suppose that's what I was really wondering, ie, what's your personal opinion on the issue of the importance of PD concentrating on minor bugs versus major missing elements?

Thanks for the reply

Some may consider B-Spec to be a 'major missing element', but seeing as I never played it, it's only a minor missing element from my point of view. What I really want is more options. What do you consider to be "major missing elements"?

 

[xiando]

For me, primarily the course editor, and then community features. Like you, I never befriended B-Spec (and personally agree re: minor), although many others do, so I suppose that "technically" is also a "major" missing feature.

But The course editor and community features are pretty big. In fact, although I'm not complaining quite yet, the critical reason I bought GT6 is because of the advertised, promised improvements in the course editor including the larger track footprint and GPS addon. Otherwise, new physics or not, (yes, I enjoy the new physics) I think I would have simply stayed at GT5. I don't do much online, so that would have been no loss, had I opted for that choice. But most of my play until GT6 was centered around creating and driving custom courses, so at least for me, the absence of the course editor represents a pretty big hole in the product.

Having said that, you probably wonder why I say "community features"... Well, IFF I am on GT6, (which I am) then online is still available, and so community features are of import, both for private racing and for course sharing (presuming sharing will be limited to one's friend's list - ie, community - as it was in GT5)

I understand this is becoming a "thick" product, and I don't necessarily fault PD for the rushed release, and as a programmer myself I understand things can become slower than we hope for in releases, but I do wish they'd communicate their intentions re: the major missing features, beyond "sometime in the future, someday" since some day quickly turns into next year, when their focus will likely shift to GT7 and their former promises will be both moot and regarded by Sony as "water under the bridge"

 

[VBR]

Shuffle racing is at the top of my wish list, followed by the online community updates like online clubs etc. Not that into the course generator, but am interested to check out the new version if we ever get it. The clouds bug is minor compared to all that, but it's very infuriating for me as I've put in about 1,500 miles on The Ring 24 Hour since getting the game on Dec 7th. Especially as the bug wasn't there before the 1.04 update.