Need a video card expert.

[rudewarrior]

I am having a problem with my video card. When I view ships in heavy fog, at distance, I can only see the smoke plumes. I am assuming that I shouldn't be able to see anything. I saw in another posting that someone else had the same problem with the same card, but they didn't post a solution, if one even existed. I will give you as many system specs as possible. Anyone who can help, please let me know if you need any more info. I have downloaded the latest drivers for my card (specifically from the omega drivers website).

Video Card: ATI Raedon 9250 256 Mb
CPU: P IV 3.06 GHz
RAM: 1 Gig
Windows XP (SP2)
Sound: Creative SB Audigy 2 ZS (WDM)

I'll post some screen shots, hopefully you will be able to see them. Thanx in advance! I will be posting over in com.help at Silent-Hunter III also, in case you would rather reply there.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f311/rudewarrior/4.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f311/rudewarrior/3.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f311/rudewarrior/2.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f311/rudewarrior/2.jpg

[JU_88]

I have totally different card a 6600GT and I get somthing similar, I can see flames though the fog, are you sure its not just glitch in the game? like the light house lights than can be seen though any solid object?

[McBeck]

I didnt get that with my 9700 Pro :hmm:

In heaving fog, I didnt see anything at all untill thet were VERY close :88)

[SmokinTep]

Same here with a 9800 Pro.

[ref]

Ati 9200 se, the same, I thought it was normal, fog low over the water, you can see tall things (smoke) over it.

[irish1958]

I'm not sure what the problem is. You can't see through fog; that's why, before radar, they used fog horns.
If the problem is your video is out of focus, try using shift+page up/down. If AA is out of wack sometimes the video is out of focus.
I have an ATI Radon 9700 Pro with 128 MB.
irish1958

[rudewarrior]

Yeah, I originally thought that it was supposed to be that way, too. Basically my only real "naval" experience was a cruise in the Gulf of Mexico, no fog there. Then someone mentioned it in another thread as a "problem" and I did some thinking. :hmm:

Well if it's fog, and I can't see through it; how can I see anything? If the smoke plumes are above the fog, then why should it matter if I am still in it, as I shouldn't be able to see it? Yeah, when they get at ~300m I can see the ship, but I can always see the plume, and that just can't be right. And its definitely not the curvature of the earth issue, as the earth would have to be curved the other way for the smoke to be "higher" up. :doh:

So back to the original problem. I now know that several people are experiencing the same issue. Is there a way to fix it? I don't think my video is out of focus, everything is crystal clear on the screen, but I am also not at home. I will try it later on today.

Any other suggestions are welcome. :yep:

[ref]

Ati 9200 se, the same, I thought it was normal, fog low over the water, you can see tall things (smoke) over it.

Clarifying my post, I can see the smoke when ship is at long range,
3000 mts +, when they close I lost the smoke until they are in short range, can see the silouette of the ship at about 500 mts, and id it at 350 mts, that's why I thought it was normal.

Ref

[rudewarrior]

Okay, I get it. I always see the smoke, and I don't think that I notice it getting more or less visible, dependent upon range.

Don't know if seeing smoke at distance and not seeing it closer would be correct tho, doesn't make any sense from an optical viewpoint.

Heh, optical viewpoint. :rotfl:

[MidgetSub]

I have this problem as well. Here are more details and things I have noticed:

- Same as others, I can see parts of ships clearly through the fog, but the main hull is not even visible until VERY close. It is as if the fog applies to some of the part models that make up a ship, but not to all.
- I went near an island and I can see the trees clear as day, as if they are floating in the air. But, the land is not visible until I am VERY close. Again, some models seem to not be affected by fog, but others are not.
- I personally believe this to be a bug. It is either a problem in the program (not applying fog correctly for all objects), or a problem with the video drivers not supporting fog as SH3 is using it.

I am using IUB, with the atmosphere mod (so I can see farther). Still this does not help much, if at all, in fog - as I see the same effects.

Gosh, if someone knows how to fix this issue I would be VERY pleased if they would share the fix.

For me, I agree that in fog you would loose visibility of the ship (or land) once enough "fog" was between you and the object. But, you would loose visibility for ALL objects, not just the land or the hull of the ship.

midgetsub

[rudewarrior]

Yeah, this is the main issue that keeps me from using the excellent smoke mod, 'cause I feel like I am cheating even more.

Since people aren't responding I'm starting to think there isn't a fix.