We've just enjoyed great new success in our labs: THE BOTS ARE NOW SHOOTING BACK AT THE PLAYER!
In all of our offline missions and in any of our server-based, multiplayer missions when no Sentient peer or Replay Bloke has connected (or when LAC is configured to function without a connection to a server), LAC's alpha-test bots now take shots at the player.
Although bots still fly erratically sometimes, about 99% of the time their flight behavior is credible, and they take shots at and often claim damage against the player when a reasonable firing solution results from the current, complex "bot dance". The result is more fun than any of the offline missions LAC has ever offered since abandoning the old, arcade-style flight model from gl-117.
The cockpit's compass tape (displayed across the top of the windscreen) is improved too. Whenever graphic quality is set to "4" or "5" (the two highest settings), numeric indicators are displayed below the compass tape to help the player understand the working of his compass with greater realism. When headed directly North, he sees "000". When headed directly West, he sees "270". When headed directly South, he sees "180". When headed directly East, he sees "090". Halfway between each of those compass headings, the player sees "045", "135", "225", and "315", exactly as one should expect. Here is a YouTube video clip demonstrating this version during an alpha test flight:
Linux Air Combat continues to improve. This clip shows alpha-test version 9.54 which includes new code enabling offline "bots" to oppose the player with machine guns in air-to-air combat. Although LAC's "REPLAY BLOKES" have long been expert at this, that requires connection with the free LAC server. Now that our offline "bots" fight back, all of our missions are now a lot more fun even if you don't connect with our server.
This clip also provides a nice view of the new accelerated stall "shudder" that has recently been coded into LAC's flight model math. As you can see at several points in this clip, when pulling very hard turns and as the player's eyesight begins to fade into blackout, the aircraft begins to shudder due to the induced turbulence in the air around the highly stressed airframe surfaces. This is a well-known attribute of air-to-air combat in high stress situations.
Because this is alpha-test software at time of publication on 13Nov2023, ordinary users cannot yet enjoy this experience. We expect to be beta-testing this functionality in early Dec2023. If no serious problems are found, you can expect to see these features in LAC's production releases commencing in early Jan2024.
Last edit: bbosen 2023-11-20
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Here's another delightful little video clip showing the improved performance of LAC's bots in upcoming version 9.55, now undergoing alpha testing in the LAC development labs:
This clip also demonstrates some new sound effects. Wind noises are much more prominent at high speed. Also, listen carefully during high-stress turns as the new "shudder" develops. You'll hear some subtle changes in the associated wind noise, resulting from the well-known "burbling" as the normally smooth slipstream begins to develop ripples and curls and forces the aircraft to decelerate. This, of course, is usually associated with pilot blackout.
Last edit: bbosen 2023-11-18
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
We've just enjoyed great new success in our labs: THE BOTS ARE NOW SHOOTING BACK AT THE PLAYER!
In all of our offline missions and in any of our server-based, multiplayer missions when no Sentient peer or Replay Bloke has connected (or when LAC is configured to function without a connection to a server), LAC's alpha-test bots now take shots at the player.
Although bots still fly erratically sometimes, about 99% of the time their flight behavior is credible, and they take shots at and often claim damage against the player when a reasonable firing solution results from the current, complex "bot dance". The result is more fun than any of the offline missions LAC has ever offered since abandoning the old, arcade-style flight model from gl-117.
The cockpit's compass tape (displayed across the top of the windscreen) is improved too. Whenever graphic quality is set to "4" or "5" (the two highest settings), numeric indicators are displayed below the compass tape to help the player understand the working of his compass with greater realism. When headed directly North, he sees "000". When headed directly West, he sees "270". When headed directly South, he sees "180". When headed directly East, he sees "090". Halfway between each of those compass headings, the player sees "045", "135", "225", and "315", exactly as one should expect. Here is a YouTube video clip demonstrating this version during an alpha test flight:
Linux Air Combat continues to improve. This clip shows alpha-test version 9.54 which includes new code enabling offline "bots" to oppose the player with machine guns in air-to-air combat. Although LAC's "REPLAY BLOKES" have long been expert at this, that requires connection with the free LAC server. Now that our offline "bots" fight back, all of our missions are now a lot more fun even if you don't connect with our server.
This clip also provides a nice view of the new accelerated stall "shudder" that has recently been coded into LAC's flight model math. As you can see at several points in this clip, when pulling very hard turns and as the player's eyesight begins to fade into blackout, the aircraft begins to shudder due to the induced turbulence in the air around the highly stressed airframe surfaces. This is a well-known attribute of air-to-air combat in high stress situations.
Because this is alpha-test software at time of publication on 13Nov2023, ordinary users cannot yet enjoy this experience. We expect to be beta-testing this functionality in early Dec2023. If no serious problems are found, you can expect to see these features in LAC's production releases commencing in early Jan2024.
Last edit: bbosen 2023-11-20
Here's another delightful little video clip showing the improved performance of LAC's bots in upcoming version 9.55, now undergoing alpha testing in the LAC development labs:
This clip also demonstrates some new sound effects. Wind noises are much more prominent at high speed. Also, listen carefully during high-stress turns as the new "shudder" develops. You'll hear some subtle changes in the associated wind noise, resulting from the well-known "burbling" as the normally smooth slipstream begins to develop ripples and curls and forces the aircraft to decelerate. This, of course, is usually associated with pilot blackout.
Last edit: bbosen 2023-11-18