Micro Development Update

[Cobra847]

Hi Everyone!

 

Just an extremely quick status update from us to keep you in the loop-

 

Unfortunately, as many of you have heard, there were some personal difficulties which impacted our deliverable goals and planned roadmap in Q1 and through a pretty good chunk of Q2. Even something reasonably quickly resolved (3 weeks) can have a significant impact on timelines on certain parts of a project with small teams. We don't see this as an excusable situation and continued failure to execute is very inappropriate, however we feel obligated to be as transparent as possible and hope to be able to plan for contingencies better in the future.

 

On a positive note, despite some of these difficulties, we've shipped a substantial amount of changes and features!

Here's a partial list if anyone has been out of the loop:

 

DCS AJS37 Viggen by Heatblur Simulations

• Auto start/stop feature added
  
  
• Probable fix to NaN warning in DCS.log
  
  
• Fix to airbase names sometimes corrupting kneeboard flight plan
  
  
• Fix to "unknown weapon type" warning in log
  
  
• Fix so two RWR-lights are on when the emitter is between coverage of the two antennas
  
  
• Fix for last signal time in ELINT-analysis
  
  
• F10 markings map is now grouped by author so you can select either your own flight plan or someone else’s. Markings now also display time of creation
  
  
• Improved track-replay consistency, especially for taxiing
  
  
• Fix to Sidewinder model / smoke
  
  
• Fixed Master mode switch sound when using keyboard/joystick
  
  
• Fixed intermittent keyboard mapping bug
  
  
• Rb04 radar altimeter now works over terrain
  
  
• Fix a small issue where Rb04s wouldn't fly in parallel but instead eventually converge
  
  
• Fixed issue where only one bomb would be released per trigger press in DIRECT mode
  
  
• Fix to Emergency pitch trim clicking nose up not working
  
  
• Fixed issue where RUTA-beam would stay on the radar screen after another waypoint has been selected
  
  
• Fixed that FACKLSL warning would stay on even after reload when having only one KB-pod loaded
  
  
• Corrected amount of chaff and flares carried in KB-pods
  
  
• Fixed issue where not all chaffs would be released
  
  
• Fix to lysbomb not releasing after rearm
  
  

 

DCS F-14B by Heatblur Simulations

• NEW! Introducing TWS-Auto for the AWG-9
  
  
• Updated tutorial mission “Carrier based take off”
  
  
• Added keybinds for seat adjustment
  
  
• Added Jester keybinds for BVR
  
  
• Disabled AI kneeling (for supercarrier)
  
  
• Added holdback bar (for supercarrier)
  
  
• Added salute command (for supercarrier)
  
  
• Supercarrier compatibility added for client/player
  
  
• WIP: F-14B AI compatibility for supercarrier
  
  
• Fixed VIS FIX updating delta continuously
  
  
• Fix VDI range bar scale value not being shown
  
  
• Fixed Track Hold green light
  
  
• Adjusted pitch rate damper
  
  
• Updated Cage the Bear Campaign, including two new missions - thank you Kaba!
  
  
• NEW: Added 8 new missions for DCS: Supercarrier, 6x Quickstart Case 1, Case 3 and Carrier Quals for Caucasus and Persian Gulf, 2x COOP 2 to 8 Carrier Quals for both Caucasus and Persian Gulf
  
  
• Correlate datalink targets on TID to sensor targets
  
  
• Tweaked hostile/friendly/unknown TID symbol sizes
  
  
• Fixed Jester TWS-A /TWS-M endless loop with phoenix in air and player commands during TWS-A
  
  
• Fixed jester switching to RWS with scan ranges set to < 100 nm
  
  
• Fixed HUD steering tee in TWS-A
  
  
• Tweaks to reduce TWS ghost track formation
  
  
• Reset TID tracks on PGM RESTART (“soft purge”)
  
  
• Fixed HUD/VDI to use AHRS instead of INS heading
  
  
• Fixed HUD glow showing without power
  
  
• Major overhaul of exterior night lighting:
  
  
• Lights are now brighter
  
  
• Lights now cast glow
  
  
• Some lights now dynamically illuminate the aircraft and environment
  
  
• All lights are now visible at much greater view distances
  
  
• Lowered intensity of landing light
  
  
• Anti-collision and shoulder formation lights now cast dynamic lighting on the ground and other surfaces
  
  
• Fixed afterburner spotlight light direction
  
  
• Added salute option to comms for consistency between modules (won't trigger animation for now - Supercarrier)
  
  
• Added radio comms for “Tomcat Ball” (Supercarrier)
  
  
• Added keybind for “Tomcat Ball” (Supercarrier)
  
  
• Fixed AI wingsweep not working on ground (Supercarrier)
  
  
• Fix to comms commands for ground crew launch
  
  
• Added CVN-71, CVN-72 and CVN-73 to RWR threat library (Supercarrier)
  
  
• Fixed datalink connections with supercarrier. (Note: ACLS is currently off glideslope, we will fix it asap. ICLS is working as intended)
  
  
• Fixed nose wheel steering scaling and initialization
  
  
• Removed vJoy FFB check (Brunner stick should work now)
  
  
• Reduced flap pitch moment and adjusted it vs. airspeed
  
  
• Tweak to F110 fuel controller to reduce fuel flow overshoots
  
  
• Probable fix to engine not re-lighting after damage or death
  
  
• Adjusted flap lift and drag at speeds above deploy speed limit
  
  
• Adjusted default starting pitch trim
  
  
• Fixed issue where ground spoilers would deploy regardless of flap lever position with throttle at IDLE
  
  
• Fixed kneel switch solenoid (no longer need to hold switch to kneel nosegear)
  
  

 

 

 

Primary goals for the next several major patches through early to mid summer (now through end of July~) are:

 

• 
  
  
• F-14 interior lighting fixes & overhaul (for new lighting system)
  
• Digital engine instruments
  
• Exterior sound overhaul for F-14
  
• Exterior sound overhaul for AJS37
  
• F-14B Campaign
  
• JESTER LANTIRN (Finally!)
  
• AJS37 PBR Overhaul
  
• Initial F-14A Release (Beta, with some -B-isms remaining!)
  

 

Primary medium term release items (~late Summer) are the Forrestal class, full completion of the F-14A and new in-cockpit pilots. We decided to push the Forrestal class release and prioritize the F-14A, as this will allow us to correct remaining SC carrier issues, and to tweak the Forrestal to be better compatible with changing carrier code in the DCS platform. With the launch of the F-14A and Forrestal class and campaigns, we will be close to feature complete on the F-14, with the exception of the A-6. Our goal, as stated previously, is to be done and dusted by the 2y anniversary of the F-14 launch (Mar, 2021).

 

Hope that helps to shed some light on our current focus areas. You'll see the list above start to ship in the coming major patches until full completion and will be detailed in deeper updates through June and July.

 

Thanks for the support and patience - we look forward to sharing and shipping the above on the next 2.5.6 updates.

 

Sincerely,

Team HB

Edited May 31, 2020 by Cobra847

[Juancio]

Great news! Thank you!

[toni]

Good to know ! Could you tell us about vessel class integration into the Battle Group in next updates ? Will be interesting knowing if the CBGs will be completed with destroyers,frigates,cruisers añnd so on.

Thankyou anyway.

[Airhunter]

Thanks for being transparent. Gotta admit, I'm a little bit bummed about the Forrestal and the A-6 AI being pushed back even further but I do hope at least the Viggen will receive the last finishing touches in the near term future. As for the Tomcat, are all the previously mentioned items (in the Q1/Q1E dev. update) still planned near term? Namely proper AIM-54 guidence, the various small art corrections for the B etc?

 

Keep plugging along! :thumbup:

[nachomaga]

Thanks for the info :)

[Dave317]

Will a pilot body be included with the f14 at some point?

[j-tk]

Awesome News! Can't wait!

[Airhunter]

Will a pilot body be included with the f14 at some point?

 

Yes, that is planned.

[sc_neo]

Hrm, this sounds like the F-14 project might rap up before the Viggen...which would be quite unfortunate to say the least!

[frosen]

What about the J 35 Draken? Is it coming before the A-6?

[Lucas_From_Hell]

Are we going to have the option to remove the TCS on the F-14A? I have some casbahs to rock.

[TLTeo]

Hrm, this sounds like the F-14 project might rap up before the Viggen...which would be quite unfortunate to say the least!

 

 

Yep, although to be fair the Viggen has fewer items missing.

[Eaglewings]

Impressive how Heatblur has kept the Tomcat coming through her development.

Great to see the features still coming in.

 

I am curious though as to what Digital Engine Instruments entails.

 

Is this some features to be add in the cockpit or some behind the scene coding work?

[Marxman]

Thanks for the news!

Admittedly I'm alittle bumbed to see that the Forrestal and F-14A will likely not be released until late Summer. But I fully support the change in priority of bringing the A ahead of the Forrestal all things considered.

Out of curiosity, you mentioned exterior sound overhaul for the F-14B. Are the current sound effects inaccurate or do they simply just not match the desired quality you were after?

 

 

(Haven't seen an F-14 fly since I was like 4, so I hardly remember it, or what it sounds like.)

[TLTeo]

Impressive how Heatblur has kept the Tomcat coming through her development.

Great to see the features still coming in.

 

I am curious though as to what Digital Engine Instruments entails.

 

Is this some features to be add in the cockpit or some behind the scene coding work?

 

 

It's an update on the engine gauges of the Tomcat. Currently we have -A model gauges in the -B, which instead are supposed to look like this:

 

 

[Brown Floyd]

What does "PBR Overhaul" mean?

[Warmbrak]

PBR - Physical Based Rendering materials/textures

[Hawkeye_UK]

Thanks for the update - good to see developers communicate as not all do lol !

[Alphabet_Ghost]

don't forget about flight manual...!

[Eaglewings]

It's an update on the engine gauges of the Tomcat. Currently we have -A model gauges in the -B, which instead are supposed to look like this:

 

 

Appreciate the information.

Somewhat difficult to tell the difference between the A and the B model from that image but as least I got what and where the digital engine instruments feature will go.

I will research more on that.

 

Cheers

[crow0827]

How about the Sweden map and Marine Map?

[Kazansky222]

So still no plans to fix Phoenix Magic INS.

 

You know the MP guys would appreciate it if you did.

[TLTeo]

Can't do that until ED's side of the missile API is sorted though, or it would have been done last ~December.

[BlackLibrary]

Thanks Guys for your work!!! You made an dream come true with the Cat for me :)

[Reflected]

Thanks a lot for the update. So the A is maximum 2 months away, good to know. I don’t mind some initial B-isms, just bring it on!:)