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I've spent a considerable proportion of my day looking at this. I have surmised:-

1. That in the Russian version you can manually turn off the filter through conf.ini

2. Ilsya and Co. know there is a problem - they only implemented this Anti-Epilepsy filter because there simply wasn't enough time to 'correct' some of the things that have the potential to cause a fit.

3. They are working to remove the filter entirely from the Russian release, and expect to have a patch ready within days.

4. We will not be so lucky with the Western Version - until they have manually changed all the things that may cause a fit, they will not remove the filter.

5. With the manual changing of all the things that may cause a fit, it is likely that visual fidelity will be impaired. Case in point is Ilya lamenting the fact that they have changed the propellor discs and now they look nothing like they are meant to, there is no way to change it back, but is now epilepsy 'safe'.

I'm fairly confident, based on the above, that there is plenty of scope for getting a mutually beneficial solution.

However.

I am Goddam angry at the world in General. I mean, I know all this stuff will get sorted out, but FFS. How has the world arrived at a juncture where one of the potential best sims ever made has to be changed 'just in case' a tiny, tiny minority of the population, not even the player base, may be effected by epilepsey. Why should the vast majority of user have to suffer because a miniscule number of people may be effected by something?

Its like local councils in the UK - Picture the scene:-

Two men sitting in an office, discussing a place of 'outstanding natural beauty'. The place they are discussing is amazing - foothills covered in mature woodland, leading up to a majestic snow capped peak. Waterfalls cascading down the face of the peak, turning into burbling streams that meander their way through the wood. Ok, My writing ability is crap - its #%&*$# nice, OK?

Jobsworth 1: Well, this place is pretty nice, but you know, there are at least 2 people in the County who can't access it beacuse they are in wheelchairs.
Jobsworth 2: Really? Well, thats not right! The countryside is for everyones benefit. I know what we'll do, we'll put in a huge tarmac carpark, lay down some concrete paths through the woods, and put a stairlift up the mountain.
Jobsworth 1: Yeah, that'll work! We should get a national award for increasing accessability!

It just so happens that on the day all the work is completed I turn up to go for a walk, and notice to my dismay the changes. Jobsworth 1 is on hand, proud of his work.

Me: WTF?!
Jobsworth 1: Great isn't it? Now everyone can enjoy this area of outsanding natural beauty!
Me: Buu......WTF?! Wheres all the trees?
Jobsworth 1: Oh, most of those had to go unfortunately, to make way for carpark. We had to divert most of the streams as well, otherwise the land was too marshy to build on.
Me: WTF HAVE YOU DONE?!!! WTF?!!!!!!!
Jobsworth: But just think how many more people can enjoy this place now.
Me: Enj.........WTF? THERES NOTHING LEFT!!!!!

Ok, maybe those two things aren't the same at all.

Oh what an amazing world we live in

Craig

Whereas in the UK an epileptic would have about as much chance of being shagged by a broken-backed legless stegasaurus as winning a case for damages over a game giving him a seizure after he ignored clear warnings not to play it.

But we shouldn't let that deter Ubi from enjoying it's politically correct wank-fest.

So, as we were running out of time, WE decided to implement this epilepsy filter as a stop-gap measure.

The filter sits on top of the game's graphics wrapper. It saves a previous frame, and then compares it pixel-by-pixel to the new frame. When two pixels are found with a high degree of contrast between them, the new pixel is toned down to make the change less drastic.

This causes a visual effect somewhere between bloom and motion-blur that removes virtually all instances of high-contrast flashes.

However this pixel-by-pixel frame analysis and modification takes up additional resources, it in fact delays the showing of each new frame until each pixel of it checked, and therefore the filter is causing deteriorated performance that is especially notable on lower-end machines.

We are continuing to work to optimize the game and to increase its framerate. Ubisoft has been very patient and understanding with us throughout the entire process, and we are continuing to work with them very closely to find the best solution to epilepsy issues.

In summary, I want to stress that it is OUR code and OUR game engine that is causing performance issues. And it US who has to make it better, and that's exactly what we pledge to do. "

Werner: It's nice to see you're still ignoring 1C's post on the subject






But I'm sure you'll be along shortly to claim that this is not what they *really* meant to say and that it's actually Ubisoft's fault ...