bbosen - 2020-04-28

I just made a new, experimental version of LAC available from our EXPERIMENTAL downloads area here:

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

I am declaring this version "EXPERIMENTAL" until more users report experiments with it because it does some new things. Nevertheless it remains operationally compatible with all versions since 7.92. Here is a brief description:

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Four experimental changes in the late-Apr2020 version (Lac08p05) include:

1 The Main Menu has been expanded with an extra button, labelled "ONLINE DOCUMENTATION". It activates an Internet browser for the user from within LAC and conveniently presents several pages of specially chosen online documentation and training video clips. By default, LAC tries to use the "firefox" browser, but the user can specify a different browser by editing a new line, near the bottom of the "LacConfig.txt" file. This makes LAC's documentation easily available within LAC.

2 The Mission Detail menus for the three online, server-based, multiplayer missions have been enhanced with clickable areas that cycle Team affiliation back and forth between BLUE and RED and that cycle "REALM" through all available values from "00" to "31", so it is no longer necessary to edit the LacConfig.txt file to specify Team and Realm affiliation. (Keep in mind that with the small population of users currently active in LAC, we are urging everybody to limit activities to REALM 0 so we can find one another.)

3 Two types of user misbehavior are better managed as follows:

1 of 2: In MissionNetworkBattle01 and in MissionNetworkBattle02, if a user in flight presses <esc> to temporarily exit a difficult tactical situation and then returns without reasonably exercising menu buttons, he sees "<esc> ABUSE DETECTED" in his SystemMessage Panel and he gets destroyed as punishment. The player community has expressed outrage versus players that have been using this tactic, which has been labeled as a type of "cheating".</esc></esc>

2 of 2: Anytime the player damages a friendly aircraft or facility in any of the three online, server-based, multiplayer missions, he sees "YOU INFLICTED FRIENDLY FIRE!" on his SystemMesssage Panel and, if he is participating in MissionNetworkBattle01 or MissionNetworkBattle02, he loses access to IFF for a period of time that is proportional to the amount of friendly damage inflicted. If the damage is extremely serious, he suffers other consequences, building up to permanent loss of HUD, RADAR, Tactical status reports, target vocalization, airfield service, and finally, upon landing, summons to court-martial for treason.

4 The Makefile was enhanced with the "-fPIE" compiler option for better compatibility with popular compilers.

This version remains functionally interoperable with all versions since Lac07r92, but it provides a nicer, more robust experience overall.

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If users do not find new problems with this version I will bring it over to our main download location here on SourceForge and it will become an official "Production" version. Watch this space for more info.

Your evaluations are solicited. THANKS!

-Bob-