New Version 8.77 of Linux Air Combat
Combat Flight Simulator for LINUX. WW2. Network and VOIP. Open-source.
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I just published new beta-test version 8.77 here:
https://askmisterwizard.com/2019/LinuxAirCombat/Installers/index.htm
Like other odd-numbered releases, this installs in the global, /usr filesystem for use by all users of the hosting system.
Importantly, it fixes a long-standing, previously undiscovered bug in the ballistics of falling bombs and unguided rockets. It retains all of the features and bug-fixes of prior versions.
Changes in Lac08p77
We found and fixed bugs that were corrupting the ballistic flight paths of falling bombs and unguided rockets. Before this was fixed, bombs and rockets that were accurately aimed when released would turn off-course in response to pilot maneuvers even after ordnance release. Unless the player continued in a perfectly straight line after releasing bombs or rockets it was nearly impossible to accurately hit the desired target. Now players are free to maneuver after ordnance release without corrupting the ballistic flight paths of bombs or rockets in flight.
The logic and advisory/instructive text displayed when the Norden Bombsight is active has been updated with additional recommendations about ideal altitudes and speeds for bomb release. Level bombers are now able to hit opposing airfields with greater accuracy.
As a consequence of this new ballistic flight logic, bombs and rockets "fly" somewhat differently. Experienced players will need to adjust their use of these weapons accordingly. In particular, it is now easier to hit targets with rockets, but players will need to exercise additional care NOT to collide with rockets during the first two seconds after they are launched, because their rocket motors need about 1 second to ignite, and it is possible for the pilot to collide with them if he is moving rapidly and maneuvering agressively.
Unfortunately, as a consequence of these flight model changes, "Bots" are now a bit more stupid. They sometimes make sudden, wierd changes in their flight direction when flying at low altitudes. This problem does not seem to affect bots flying at medium or high altitudes. We do not know what has caused this little problem and we hope to fix it in some future version.
We also made very small adjustments to the flight models of the Grumman F6F "Hellcat", the Mitsubishi A6M2 "Zero", and the Lavochkin LA5 and LA7 fighters. (These were very minor adjustments that will not be noticed by most players.)
Changes in Lac08p73
This new version, under beta test in early Jul2022, contains all of the features of all prior versions as described below, and adds:
The cockpit's 3-line, scrolling, "SystemMessagePanel" has been enhanced. This display has long been programmed to discard any new message that exactly duplicates the previous message. This helps to minimize clutter, and avoids scrolling prior messages beyond the 3-line limits before they can be read. However, that logic left pilots unaware when identical events repeated over and over again. For example, a message like "YOU DAMAGED PLAYER 02" might be received 10 times in rapid succession during combat, but the pilot would only see it once. The improved version now displays a counter to the left of the lowest of the three scrolling lines (containing the most recent displayed text representing the most recent event). That counter cycles upward each time a new message would exactly duplicate the current message. Now players can see, at a glance, when a series of identical events is in process.
The mission menus have been optimized for better performance and quicker response to mouse motion, because some players, equipped with certin modern display adapters, have continued to suffer from slow, cumbersome response when moving their mouse pointers within those menus. (This improvement is in addition to the related improvement associated with the new "MenuHighlighting" setting, implemented in version 8.71, that's available in the LacConfig.txt file.)
We also fixed a minor bug in LacControls.txt that was double-mapping the "P" keyboard key to both "WEP" and "PREVIOUS TARGET" by default. Now the default settings use the "E" key for War Emergency Power.
Changes in Lac08p71
Version 8.71 derives directly from version 8.67.
This version contains all features of all prior versions as described below and adds:
LAC no longer disconnects or changes any mumble connection settings at startup, because users rejoining ongoing flights were suffering cumbersome, unwanted disruption of ongoing mumble conversations every time they started or re-started LAC. Now LAC only changes existing mumble channel settings when explicitly asked to do so or when the user switches to a different online mission.
On the other hand, LAC now tries to connect mumble to the "root" channel of our Mumble server whenever a user commences any of the four offline, tutorial missions. This will help experienced, online LAC pilots to use voice coaching through mumble in order to tutor newcomers during their initial, experimental use of those tutorial missions.
The default aircraft has been changed from "P38L" to "P51D" because newcomers were having too much trouble managing the P38's speed brakes and flaps.
All four of the offline tutorial missions have been enhanced. Descriptive menu text has been updated. Outdated references to missiles and rockets have been eliminated. Some of the bot aircraft have been changed from bulky, heavy bombers to agile fighters because the bombers could not pull out of dives quickly enough to avoid frequent ground crashes. Audio narrations accompanying the four offline tutorial missions have also been updated and expanded, so players now get additional coaching and are urged to begin exploring the online, multi-player, server-based missions.
The acoustic volume of wind and engine noises has been adjusted downward a bit because some computers were suffering from distorted, overmodulated sounds from time to time.
We fixed minor bugs in the logic that plays noises when the player's aircraft is damaged. Now the player can more clearly hear damage noises when bullets collide with his aircraft, but the noises heard when suffering damage from a hard landing are less irritating.
LAC's menus are now more responsive to mouse movements because the menu buttons are not highlighted when the cursor hovers over them unless the LacConfig.txt configuration file is edited to change "MenuHighlighting" from "0" to "1". Some computers (especially those equipped with the most modern graphics adapters) need this simpler menu configuration to avoid clumsy delays when the mouse is moved among LAC's menus. Most people will find no need to change the default value of "0" for this new "MenuHighlighting" variable, but those that prefer the prior, more visually appealing behavior can change "MenuHighlighting" to "1" to regain the prior appearance.
Some of LAC's menu text has been slightly adjusted to more clearly describe available missions. (The missions themselves are unchanged.)
Changes in Lac08p66
This is a more comprehensive update than most. You will notice several areas of improvement.
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 and gun lethality are now more realistic. Joystick-based throttle responsiveness is also improved.
Note that we abandoned version 8.75 (which was briefly available for beta test). This version 8.77 incorporates all of the features and fixes of version 8.75 and improves upon them fixing additional bugs as described above. Beta testers should upgrade to Version 8.77 as soon as possible.
I just promoted version 8.77 from "Beta Test" to "Production" status. It is now available from the usual production downloads area on SourceForge.net here:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/linuxaircombat/files/