DCS AJS-37: Road to Release

[Cobra847]

 

DCS: AJS37 Viggen - Road to Release

 

Dear All,

 

As part of our effort to move the Viggen out of Early Access, we’ve today released the first of our Release Candidate patches. Today’s Viggen comes with the following changes and improvements:

 

• NEW: Added “Wrath of Thunder” (Caucasus) Campaign
  
  
• Climb back into the cockpit, directly following the events that happened in "The Mjolnir Response". Help to end the war in Georgia. Enjoy!
  
  
• NEW: Added Pilot Body in Cockpit + associated keybinds
  
  
• NEW: Added Ram Air Turbine (RAT) visuals. The RAT will deploy with weight on the front wheel.
  
  
• NEW: Added Radar Night Filter (not clickable yet)
  
  
• Minor tweaks to cockpit graphics.
  
  
• Fix to TILS station being on the wrong end of a runway when landing in the opposite direction
  
  
• Fix for afterburner not relighting after high alt flame-out
  
  
• Increased max cockpit FoV
  
  
• Sight ballistics improved for LD-bombs (tossing)
  
  
• Fixed IRRB FRAMSTEGN (Sidewinder missile step)
  
  
• Corrected issue where inputting wrong wind data would increase Bk90 accuracy
  
  

 

We will follow-up this patch with another Release Candidate patch next year, which will focus on delivering the final major elements that will complete this product. While DCS will continue to be a moving platform and we will have to continually fix bugs or make improvements, this brings our major feature roadmap to a close for the Viggen itself, and fulfills our content promises made on release day in 2017! We sincerely hope you agree that flying the Viggen over the last years has been an enjoyable experience and that these final additions justify your amazing support over the past years.

 

In summary, the major changes planned to the Release Candidates of the Viggen are;

 

NEW: Launch of “Wrath of Thunder” Campaign

Our full campaign for the Caucasus theatre is now complete! It’s comprised of two parts; “The Mjolnir Response” mini-campaign (which we hope you’ve all played by now!) and this new, main part: “Wrath of Thunder”.

 

The campaign picks up right after the events at the end of The Mjolnir Response left off: A few hours ago, the largest naval strike since the Falklands war took place. Multiple Russian ships were hit, unknown how many were sunk. Three days have passed since the opening of hostilities, and the situation is dire. GFOR assets at the beginning of the conflict were not equipped for a major engagement, however further forces have arrived. F-14 Phantoms from KG-71 “Richthofen” and G.R.1 Tornados from RAF 14 Squadron have entered the fight and further NATO reinforcements are enroute.

 

Your role is to support the main force and to push back the enemy, so we can regain the ante bellum situation.

You will have to fly the Viggen to the limit of its abilities and strike with determination. This conflict must end, and we expect you to do your very best, Pilot!

 

FREE Addition of “Red Flag 16-2 Viggen Campaign”!

 

We’ve purchased rights for this fantastic campaign from the great Bunyap and Wags, and will now be including it for

free

for every Viggen owner!

 

Here’s what’s in store for you in this great NTTR based campaign:

 

The AJS-37 Viggen: 16-2 Red Flag Campaign is a depiction of flying the AJS-37 Viggen during a typical Red Flag exercise in the skies over Nevada. Take the role of a US Air Force exchange pilot to the Swedish Air Force as you return to take part in a Red Flag in the cockpit of a Viggen. This campaign includes extensive briefing, map, and lineup card PDF files for each mission and was designed by the creators of the Spitfire: Epsom and Mustang: Charnwood campaigns.

 

All of the missions are based on input from pilots that have flown in Red Flag exercises and will provide you a challenge that will test even the most skilled virtual pilots.

 

Features:

• 10 handcrafted mission that depict number of types of strike missions a Viggen pilot would fly in combat
  
  
• Highly detailed mission briefings, mission maps, and lineup cards as PDF files
  
  
• Custom voice overs and hundreds of triggers
  
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Addition of In Pilot Body

We’ve added this long requested feature and an initial version has shipped in today’s patch.

There are some changes and improvements to be made to this feature; which will ship in RC2.

 

 

 

Addition of RAT Visuals

 

This feature has long been in the pipeline; and just awaiting final integration.

The RAT will now deploy with weight on the front wheel when landing. The appearance of the RAT will be further tweaked in RC2.

 

 

 

New Sounds

 

The RC2 patch of the Viggen will come with new exterior sounds, accurately depicting the mighty Volvo RM8 engine, recorded from the real SE-DXN!

 

Overhauled PBR Texture-set

The Viggen will receive a significant update to it’s exterior textures, with native PBR textures, yielding more physically accurate lighting responses and integrating ambient occlusion appropriately. This will yield significantly improved visuals, especially on glossy liveries. We’ve also fixed some of the longstanding minor issues in the exterior artwork; such as the poor RWR details, mirrored stencil texts, and more.

 

 

 

Other Changes

 

Various other misc changes and improvements will be made, and continue to be made post RC1 & RC2.

We’ll detail these further in the future.

 

 

Overall, we hope you’ve been pleased with your Viggen purchase and these final improvements to the product. Above all, however, we’d like to thank you for all of your support and amazing feedback over these past couple of years. Thank you for making this simulation happen!

 

Sincerely,

Heatblur Viggen Team

 

Edited December 19, 2019 by Cobra847

[Cobra847]

Also, we aware of a number of issues that happened due to a botched commit for today's patch. They've all been remedied for the Hotfix on friday, namely:

 

• Missing textures on RAT
  
• Missing texture on oxygen hose
  
• RAT clipping through fuselage
  

 

Apologies for the inconvenience!

[Gascan39]

Thank you, I look forward to all your developments

[Eldur]

Looking forward to that big step. Then you can gather your powers to work on the Tornado IDS

 

Things I'd really like to see soon are a better texture on the weapon selector knob, audio when actuating them with keyboard/HOTAS binds and flaps raising only after the gear is up already.

[crow0827]

Thanks, Cobra.

 

Looking forward to seeing next year updates.

BTW, what is the missing features at now?

[Harlikwin]

Also, we aware of a number of issues that happened due to a botched commit for today's patch. They've all been remedied for the Hotfix on friday, namely:

 

• Missing textures on RAT
  
• Missing texture on oxygen hose
  
• RAT clipping through fuselage
  

 

Apologies for the inconvenience!

 

Thank god there is a hotfix planned for friday. Deka and the JF17 just shat the bed, they aren't gonna get much sleep fixing that....

 

Viggen looks hawt tho. :thumbup:

 

And do I get a refund for the red-flag campaing now that its free? :megalol:

Edited December 19, 2019 by Harlikwin

[Nighthawk]

Thanks for those awesome additions to my favorite module, HB, much appreciated! Can't wait to try them out!

Haha, I literally just bought the Red Flag campaign for the Viggen yesterday, but I don't regret my purchase, I'm glad I could support it :-)

Any word though on when RC2 of the manual will be released?

[CommanderRabb]

Congratulations on (essentially) finishing the AJS-37. Now to finish the F-14 and get on with your next project.

[JonathanRL]

Can we expect skins with dynamic numbers in the future as well, pretty please?

[mrkline]

Awesome news!

 

The RC2 patch of the Viggen will come with new exterior sounds, accurately depicting the mighty Volvo RM8 engine, recorded from the real SE-DXN!

 

Can we expect fixes to the in-cockpit engine sounds as well? Like we discussed in February, there's some nasty looping effects.

[doedkoett]

Can we expect skins with dynamic numbers in the future as well, pretty please?

 

...with sugar on top!

[TLTeo]

"f-14 Phantoms from KG-71" Hehe that fruedian slip :D

 

 

Congrats on being close to full release!

[Shimmergloom667]

Now I feel stupid that I bought the Red Flag Campaign in the Halloween Sale, but on the other hand I don't feel stupid for supporting the game I love, so here's to a brilliant release!

[Skyracer]

I believe it when i see it! There has been alot of talk and no action.

[cuervo111]

Great stuff! I was very surprised by the red flag campaign addition that was a really nice touch. Thank you!

[veenee]

Now I feel stupid that I bought the Red Flag Campaign in the Halloween Sale, but on the other hand I don't feel stupid for supporting the game I love, so here's to a brilliant release!

 

 

Yeah, this is a bit..... strange. Any plans to keep those who paid for this campaign happy? ;)

[IronMike]

I believe it when i see it! There has been alot of talk and no action.

 

 

A bit odd to post that under the first part of actual release updates... You, uh, should be able to "see it"... :)

[IronMike]

Yeah, this is a bit..... strange. Any plans to keep those who paid for this campaign happy? ;)

 

 

As for the inclusion of the red flag campaign:

 

To those of you who have paid for it already, please note that you supported bunyap and the campaign developers with that. This is a good thing, bunyap is a great guy and is worth to be supported, so he can bring us more great campaigns in the future.

 

We're sorry that we could not announce it earlier, but such endeavours take time of course to negotiate etc.. We thought in light that those who paid had their time with it most likely in most cases by now, it would not hurt to make it available for everyone else yet to come. We, too, support with this purchase the campaign creators in the hopes that they bring us many more such great campaigns.

 

In that sense we did not plan to give something to those who already purchased it. I hope this decision of ours is both acceptable and understandable to you, as we support the campaign creator together. In the end it means more content for everybody.

 

Thank you for your kind understanding.

[splash]

I have the Red Flag campaign and I understand perfectly your decision, it is very welcome for other customers who does not own the campaign already. Great campaign by the way.

[phtate0830]

Have the Red Flag campaign as well and also agree with your decision making. Love flying the viggen and congrats on this milestone! Looking forward to flying the new campaign.

[QuiGon]

Great update, especially once the new stuff (especially the IR FRAMSTEGN button!) will actually work correctly after the upcoming hotfix!

 

The inclusion ofthe Red Flag campaign is really awesome, because I already own it and have played through it and its a really outstanding piece of work that I should now be able to modify for coop use (as the DRM protection is gone), which will make it even more awesome :)

[TOViper]

Great update guys, thanks for your efforts right before Christmas! :thumbup:

To be honest I lost hope a little bit (maybe just like some others) during the last weeks, but now I have a good feeling about suggesting this module to a friend of mine a few days ago.

I'm recognizing all your efforts and I appreciate it very much!! THANK YOU!

Also I think that giving the Red Flag campaign to users is a very good idea. I enjoyed this one very much (this was a long time ago ...)

 

I'm looking forward for more bug fixes for the final version in the next weeks, since there are still some left. Also, I would bet that the mighty "mirror" and "tape player" codes from the F-14 would make their way into the Viggen (at least I hope this, since the mirror code e.g. works fantastic). I'm sure you guys will spend many more hours to improve all this (e.g. lights, autopilot, g-force indicator, just to name a few ... ), but in fact we are moving continuously forward, and this one was a bigger step.

 

...We sincerely hope you agree that flying the Viggen over the last years has been an enjoyable experience and that these final additions justify your amazing support over the past years. ...

 

I agree, I am coming back to the beast more and more, with every update you release (poor Cat though ...).

Don't know why, but flying a bug-free beast is a better experience than flying with lots of bugs. :P

To say in mathematical terms: "Fun is an inverse function of existing bugs."

I think it is about "reliability of the system", don't know how to say it better.

[veenee]

As for the inclusion of the red flag campaign:

 

To those of you who have paid for it already, please note that you supported bunyap and the campaign developers with that. This is a good thing, bunyap is a great guy and is worth to be supported, so he can bring us more great campaigns in the future.

 

We're sorry that we could not announce it earlier, but such endeavours take time of course to negotiate etc.. We thought in light that those who paid had their time with it most likely in most cases by now, it would not hurt to make it available for everyone else yet to come. We, too, support with this purchase the campaign creators in the hopes that they bring us many more such great campaigns.

 

In that sense we did not plan to give something to those who already purchased it. I hope this decision of ours is both acceptable and understandable to you, as we support the campaign creator together. In the end it means more content for everybody.

 

Thank you for your kind understanding.

 

 

Fair enough, Bunyap is a great guy, he was one of the reasons why I bought the campaign.

Nice to see Viggen getting close to the release.

[JonathanRL]

The Red Flag Campaign is one of the more engaging Campaigns I flown in DCS. Bunyap did a terrific job in making it interesting and very, very challenging. It was so frustrating flying, waiting at the hold point, run into heavy SAM country and then not hit the target :D

[john4pap]

I felt you had something cooking for Christmas for us Viggen die hards. Many thanks, keep it up, and I hope to see the plane complete soon!