bbosen - 2022-06-01

Beta testing is now complete for new Linux Air Combat versions 8.66 and 8.67. Both of those versions will soon appear as "Production" releases in the "Files" section of our SourceForge.net web pages according to the usual pattern.

Versions 8.66 and 8.67 both offer identical features. They differ only in the way they are installed: Version 8.66 installs in the user's local ~home folder. Version 8.67 installs in the global /usr/filesystem.

As a consequence of our successes beta testing those two new versions, we have just created an AppImage, designated "8.69", with all of the same features. It is now available for beta testing. Like other AppImage applications, it is precompiled for universal compatibility with all of the most popular, mainstream desktop LINUX distros. You can download all three of these new versions here:

https://askmisterwizard.com/2019/LinuxAirCombat/Installers/index.htm

Note that this new AppImage version 8.69 is NOT guaranteed to be of "Production" quality. We know it works on all of the X86 computers in our lab running Ubuntu desktop Linux and PcLinuxOs with nVidia and ATi graphics, but one of our beta testers reported trouble when using it with his highly customized Ubuntu system (he reports that it runs some of our online missions but not all of them). Please help us with beta testing by reporting any problems into this forum thread.

Here's a description of what you can expect when using any of these new versions:

Sound effects are improved. You will hear a small improvement in engine noise according to your throttle setting, and a big improvement in wind noise according to your airspeed.

Players that rely on mouse and keyboard controls (because they have not connected a joystick or console game controller) will notice increased realism in the management of their throttle controls (previously the keyboard throttle controls allowed throttle settings far, FAR beyond reality....)

"Bot" logic is improved somewhat. The bots are still somewhat stupid, but it's fair to say that they are now LESS stupid and that their stupid, repetitive maneuvers now look more realistic.

"BLAKE'S MISSION" has been rewritten and is now stable. Accordingly, the menus no longer advertise it as "BETA TEST". This is now our simplest mission, taking place in a new rocky grassland terrain, and limited to pure fighter versus fighter dogfighting with no ground gunners or tail gunners. Bombers (and other aircraft with tail gunners) are not allowed.

The flight model has been improved for all aircraft if the player uses the "SETUP OPTIONS" -> "GAME" -> "DIFFICULTY" buttons to set "difficulty" to "4" or higher (or if he edits the corresponding "difficulty" setting within his hidden ~home/.LAC/LacConfig.txt file). When thus configured for increased realism, the flight model feels considerably more respectable when flying any of LAC's aircraft at extremely slow speeds. Roll rates and elevator responsiveness diminish, and the overall feel gets increasingly "mushy" as airspeed diminishes, more-or-less as a real pilot might expect. Landings and takeoffs are correspondingly more realistic, and attempts to turn or loop at extremely low speeds now have a much more realistic "feel". However, once airspeed exceeds stall speed by 15% or more, all flight characteristics return to the well-established and comfortable norms that have been in place since LAC07r90, and any player that always wants to enjoy that relaxed realism can just diminish the value of "DIFFICULTY" through LAC's prominent "SETUP OPTIONS" -> "GAME" -> "DIFFICULTY" buttons. At extremely high speeds with "difficulty" set above "3", compressibility effects are now more realistic. Joystick-based throttle responsiveness is also improved.

More realistic gun lethality. When configured for maximum realism, aircraft machine guns and cannons are more lethal, making them more realistic. In our online missions, this helps to balance everything out: Some players, flying with relaxed realism, will be able to maneuver better, while other players, flying with maximum realism, will be more restricted when they maneuver at extremely high or extremely low speeds, but their more lethal, more realistic gunnery compensates to keep everything more-or-less fair!

 

Last edit: bbosen 2022-06-02