Feedback Thread - F-4E Phantom II Release Hotfix, June 5th 2024

[IronMike]

Dear All,

Once again, we'd like to thank you all for your amazing feedback, comments and well wishes after the launch of our F-4E. We wouldn't enjoy doing what we do without all of your enthusiasm and enjoyment of flying our products. Thank you so much!

We've been working hard after launch day on the 22nd, and have had some very important changes in the bag since the 23rd; but these have now accrued into a somewhat longer changelog for this weeks' update. 

Our primary focus has been on improving performance, and general improvements across the entirety of the module, as well as adding a few features that we cut at the last second. Performance improvements have been focused on very busy multiplayer missions and scenarios, and doubly so on lower end hardware which was causing significant bottlenecks that we were not able to test before release. The F-4E is a very complex simulation; the most complex we've ever created; and so we've fought long and hard- and will continue to do so- to try and eek out every bit of performance we can.

We've also worked hard to squash as many general, aircraft, JESTER or otherwise bugs as possible - some of these have been significantly influencing gameplay- such as JESTER failing to call IFF voice lines or the UI freezing with odd combinations of map markers. Hopefully this hotfix patch will alleviate some of these initial issues, and from next week onwards we will again re-constitute the team and go through all of your wonderful feedback for the next rounds of improvements and fixes.

Some new additions include e.g. the reintroduction of the virtual browser and the addition of online connectivity rules for HBUI - as well as some QoL improvements in JESTER. 

Please note (!): Due to capitalization changes not propagating properly at times, the "\...\sdef\Jester\contacts" folder is named incorrectly, which will cause none of the essential JESTER calls from that folder to get played. Our sincere apologies for that. This will be fixed properly in the next patch, however you can apply a quick and easy fix yourselves in the meantime, if you would please ever so kindly. We included the fix in the "known issues" at the bottom of this post. Please do not forget to check it out. Thank you, and our apologies again.

As always we will be looking forward to your feedback and thank you for your kind and continued support!


F-4E Release Hotfix Changelog

   Performance & Core 

• Performance: Major improvements to Radar raycasting performance, especially on busy MP servers
• Performance: Radar thread affinity changed - may increase performance where the main thread was saturated on busy servers or missions
• Performance: Fixed Object Cache being over-saturated causing severe performance loss on busy missions with thousands of objects
• Performance: NEW: Added special option to reduce radar performance impact - can improve CPU performance on lower end CPUs at the cost of some additional visual noise and clutter on the radar screen
• Performance: Changed amounts of radar threads across different core setups
• Performance: NEW: Added Lower Refresh HBUI special option. This option will reduce the UI refresh rate to 30 fps, matching the F-14 Jester UI. This will reduce CPU performance impact on CPU limited machines, especially in heavy missions
• Performance: Fixed INS, ADI and other various system bugs with the “Reduced Tickrate” option enabled
• Performance: Refactored some JESTER code paths that may have caused lowered performance when an enemy was nearby
   
• CTD: Fixed a crash if Saved Games path had non-standard characters (e.g. Cyrillic)
• CTD: Fixed crash if DCS install path had Chinese characters in it
• CTD: Fixed crash on empty coords text entry
• CTD: Fixed some instances of a CTD after damage and ejection
   
• Multicrew: Fixed a major multicrew desync error when someone leaves and rejoins (can be another WSO) the aircraft
• Multicrew: Reduced network load due to an errant buffeting sensor being propagated across the network every frame
     

  JESTER AI

 

• JESTER: Fixed being able to spot bandits very far away on the radar scope during some modes
• JESTER: Fixed JESTER breaking some inputs or being unable to correctly set some switches when using HBUI elements (e.g. the Manual)
• JESTER: Will no longer call aircraft on the ground as BFM threats or targets
• JESTER: Fixed doubled calls for some calls, and fixed him saying “Gear Up” and “Flaps Up” randomly at times far after takeoff
• JESTER: Fixed Jester not asking for alignment when starting cold on a runway
• JESTER: Fixed missile reports having wrong order of words sometimes
• JESTER AAR: Added JESTER automatically saying "Ready Pre-Contact" to the tanker
• JESTER: Fixed a bug when cycling the AAR door very fast caused Jester to get stuck in radar-on mode
• JESTER: Fixed Jester being in wrong DSCG mode when switching TGT-FIND/DT fast
   

  HBUI

 

• HBUI: Fixed the Map Markers menu causing the Jester UI to freeze and become unusable
• HBUI: Fixed a crash when entering empty coordinates in the Nav section of the Jester Menu
• HBUI: NEW: Added Virtual Browser, and added “Online Mode” levels to HBUI. UI and Browser access is now controlled using a Special Option dropdown which allows selecting between:
  • Full - Free browsing
  • Offline - only offline UI features will work
  • Whitelist (Default & Recommended) - sites defined by a special whitelist file are allowed, anything else is blocked
  • Users can customise the whitelist file: hbui_whitelist.txt found in the Saved Games folder.
  • By default it has regex rules, currently covering:
    • Google
    • Youtube
    • Kneeboard.live
       
• HBUI: The Virtual Browser now also has a new landing page, allowing users to add their own bookmarks
• HBUI: Ensured that the Auto Startup clicks use the enforced version bypassing browsers
• HBUI: JESTER Radial Menu - Small resizing adjustments to the Jester Wheel (thank you amadeus!)
• HBUI: renamed JESTER radial menu "Unknown" to "Bogey" and "Hostile" to "Bandit"
• HBUI: JESTER Radial Menu - Added "Navigate To Main Menu" bind for Voice Attack users - will also open the wheel if it's closed, so that it can serve as starting point for any VA macro sequences
• HBUI: JESTER Radial Menu - Rename "Jester Presence > Enable" to "Force" for more clarity
• HBUI: Added Special Option to select UI Theme (auto, light, dark)
• HBUI: Added Special Option to shift head-tracking origin vertically
• HBUI: Updated in game manual to latest version
• HBUI: Removed browser forward nav button in manual
• HBUI: JESTER Radial Menu - Improved keyboard controls (W opens, "Back" closes wheel):
  • additionally to their regular function of navigating forward and backwards in the wheel, W ("Center/Click") and "Back" can now also open and close the wheel
     

  Radar & Weapons

 

• Radar: Fixed other RWR possibly triggering through terrain
• Radar: Fixed WSO maverick slew speed wrong
• Radar: Improved CAA lock reliability
• Radar: Fixed aspect switch setting wrong closure
• Radar: Fixed radar gimbal not boresighting in elevation in cage mode with half action held
• Radar: Fixed radar starting in standby mode despite being off
• Radar: Fixed caged mode allowing the antenna to be moved in acquisition
• Radar: Fixed bug allowing a short half second period of time without raycasting
   

• Weapons: Fixed TV weapon gimbal limits 
• Weapons: Fixed gimbal limits not being respected
• Weapons: Fixed sidewinder gimbal limit
• Weapons: Fixed sidewinder half-aperture size
• Weapons: Fixed AGM-12C not arming
• Weapons: Direct mode now shows the correct solution for the depression value in the bombing calculator
• Weapons: Added time of flight and bomb range to the bombing calculator output
• Weapons: Fixed various issues with the Shrike WRCS mode
• Weapons: Fixed Shrikes not updating after settings changed in rearm menu
• Weapons: Corrected missiles (AGM-45 and AGM-12) ejecting incorrectly
• Weapons: Made default Shrike volume quieter
• Weapons: Updated Shrike range calculations and added Shrike range and altitude bias
• Weapons: Corrected the WRCS AGM-45 Behaviour to give shrike range indications before target insert.
• Weapons: Changed pylons to rail instead of ejection as this provides a much more realistic profile for AGM-12 and AGM-45A
• Weapons: Fixed air to ground missiles being fired unarmed if the fuse switch was in the wrong position
• Weapons: Fixed Normal Jettison consent on ground
• Weapons: Fixed Mavericks/TV Bombs being jettison despite not being selected
   

  Avionics & Systems

 

• RWR: Fixed the “New Guy” audio frequency not changing sometimes or playing the incorrect sound.
• RWR: Fixed diamond not going to new guy contact for a short period of time
• RWR: Made aircraft radars that used HPRF for track use MPRF instead (WIP: not yet audible, new sounds will be added)
• RWR: Fixes to E-2C carrier frequency and beamwidth
• RWR: Fixed Track Only Radars broadcasting with no target
• RWR: Added fixed radar for units such as the F-86 Sabre (WIP)
• RWR: Fixed range being displayed incorrectly sometimes
   

• Avionics: Fixed JESTER BATH alignment not finishing in conjunction with HDG MEM available
• Avionics: Adjusted NWS heading hold toggle function: now the AFCS has to be ON to toggle it
• Avionics: Small fix to alignment completion
• Avionics: Fixed a bug where the pitch steering needle was jumping on ILS approach
• Avionics: Fixed AJB-7 heading oscillations when electric power was being applied
• Avionics: Added a kneeboard page with diagrams for INS alignment options
   
• Engines: Fixed nozzles having insufficient oil pressure at idle
• Engines: Fixed controls dying too soon with the engines off or windmilling

• Systems: Added ejection and canopy jettison inhibit when canopy is open (and not jettisoned)
• Systems: Fixed pod and ECM jettison
• Systems: Fixed neutral horizontal stab position
• Systems: Minor improvements to hit damage
   

• Inputs: Added 2 missing Crew Chief binds (ARI Disengage check and Stab Aug check)
• Inputs: Added Slow/Fast binds for HSI course/heading and Reticle Depression
• Inputs: Changed SYNC knob to sync with right click instead of left click
• Inputs: Updated Chinese keybinds
• Inputs: Added bind for "Tanker: Intent to Refuel"
• Inputs: Ensured that all backend-called commands are executed properly.
• Inputs: Added (fictional) Tape Player Volume Knob (Recorder-On Lamp rotate-to-dim)
• Inputs: Fixed following inputs that require rebinding:
  • Fixed Radar-Missile CW switch [UP]/[DOWN] binds broken
  • Fixed reversed binds Radar Polarisation CIRC 1 and CIRC 2
  • Fixed 3-pos switches on radar panel [DOWN]/[UP] binds to skip centre
  • Fixed Pilot Body SHOW/HIDE binds being reversed (and pedal crank)
     

• Crew Chief: Fixed GPU not appearing on some occasions after moving the aircraft
• Crew Chief: Adjusted GPU appearing/disappearing logic
• Crew Chief: Fixed GPU spool up sound not playing sometimes
   

  Content & Visuals

 

• Missions: Fixed various issues with training missions (- fixes almost all community reports)
• Missions: NEW: Added IA missions by Kaba (thank you!)
• Missions: NEW: Added IA mission Paradise Lost Free Flight by Reflected (thank you!)
• Missions: Updated missions by Sedlo, Reflected and Activity (thank you!)
• Missions: Added more slots to Through The Inferno COOP versions
• Missions: Updated Syria Landing mission to LOC RWY 08, added base
• Missions: Added base to Caucasus Cold start mission
• Missions: Updated training missions 1-4 CN localization
   

• Visual: Made Cockpit much brighter with Global Illumination Off
• Visual: Fixed AI afterburner visuals
• Visual: Fixed nozzle and horizontal stab LoDs
• Visual: Fixed minor LoD bugs
   
• Sound: Possible fix to random sound playing on spawn in multicrew
• Sound: Fixed gear sound bug on spawn in multicrew.
• Sound: Fixed Tapeplayer clipping audio
   
• Liveries: JASDF Jets now all have olive drab ALQ-131s
• Liveries: Improved JV Jets nose gear door art
• Liveries: Fixed JV Jets accidental overpaint on landing light
• Liveries: Updated IRIAF and IIAF liveries by ISAAC (thank you!)
• Liveries: Helmets on IIAF/USAF Jet fixed to red helmets (thank you!)

 

Known issues:

• Important: Due to capitalization changes not propagating properly at times, the "\...\sdef\Jester\contacts" folder is named incorrectly, which will cause none of the essential JESTER calls from that folder to be played. Our sincere apologies. This will be fixed in the coming patch properly, however in the meantime you can apply an easy fix yourself, if you please, after finishing the update:
  • STANDALONE USERS: Either delete the "DCS World\Mods\aircraft\f4e\Sounds\sdef\Jester\contacts" folder and run a DCS repair, and it will get restored correctly by DCS or manually rename it to use a capital C.
  • STEAM USERS: Manually rename it from "\...\sdef\Jester\contacts" to "\...\sdef\Jester\Contacts" (simply with a capital "C" instead).

Note: Deleting the folder and running a repair only works for the DCS standalone version. Steam users need to rename the folder manually, please. Manually renaming the folder works for both versions.

• Sedlo's "Have Doughnut" instant action mission has been fixed based on recent user feedback, but could not be included with this patch anymore. If you like, you can download it from the attachment below, and replace the one in: "DCS World\Mods\aircraft\f4e\Missions\Quickstart".

Please also note that following this Hotfix, Klarsnow's Shrike Guide has been updated including detailed explanation of the WRCS AGM-45 mode. You can read up on it here: https://forum.dcs.world/topic/349673-agm-45-shrike-quick-guide-by-klarsnow-updated-june-5th-2024/

 

We hope you enjoy this update, and thank you again for all of the wonderful support,

Sincerely,
Team Heatblur

F-4E_IA_NTTR_Have Doughnut by SEDLO.miz

Edited June 5, 2024 by IronMike

[peterbrownbyu]

Great work guys! Y'all have been burning the midnight oil it seems; hope y'all take some time to chill, you've earned it

Any idea when the RWR PRF tones are gonna be implemented?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Alpiinoo]

Thanks for jester hotfix tip!

[BJ55]

Thank you for the HBUI Special Option and, obviously, for all the bugfixes and improvements!

[YSIAD_RIP]

Wow... What an update. I look forward to testing out the new key binds and the cockpit illuminate fix.

Appreciate the updates and it was a good idea to use a new thread for comments after today's patch. 

 

[zildac]

Fantastic stuff, thank you

[IronMike]

Thank you for the kind words, guys!

Made a couple of edits and corrections for better clarification, also note that the shrike guide has been updated, I included the link.

[Harke]

I love all the update, they are really good, but I'm sorry I don't see any real improvement in performence, I use the instant caucasus cold start mission as a reference and I only get an headhache

r7 5800x3D, rtx 3080, 64gb, dcs in VR preset without any change

with this setting I have 72 fps fix with the AV8B harrier and surely much more if I change the setting of the headset

I barely get 30 fps on ground and 50 in flight

Edited June 5, 2024 by Harke

[Cobra847]

3 minutes ago, Harke said:

I love all the update, they are really good, but I'm sorry I don't see any real improvement in performence, I use the instant caucasus cold start mission as a reference and I only get an headhache

r7 5800x3D, rtx 3080, 64gb, dcs in VR preset without any change

with this setting I have 72 fps fix with the AV8B harrier and surely much more if I change the setting of the headset

I barely get 30 fps on ground and 50 in flight

 

What VR runtime are you using?

[Harke]

tried MT oculus and MT OpenXR, same result (I have to leave, I will see to record what I have tomorow )

ho and tried activating the 3 perf option in special

Edited June 5, 2024 by Harke

[IronMike]

8 minutes ago, Harke said:

tried MT oculus and MT OpenXR, same result (I have to leave, I will see to record what I have tomorow )

ho and tried activating the 3 perf option in special

 

Can you try in the take off mission, please, if your performance is better there? I wonder if the base impacts VR performance, it did little to not at all for me, but I do not use VR. If that is the case, I will provide a VR optimized version (without the base). Thank you.

[Harke]

43 minutes ago, IronMike said:

Can you try in the take off mission, please, if your performance is better there? I wonder if the base impacts VR performance, it did little to not at all for me, but I do not use VR. If that is the case, I will provide a VR optimized version (without the base). Thank you.

I will look that tomorrow and keep you informed of the result, I tested in hurry and only on the cold start mission before running to work ^^'

[Cobra847]

58 minutes ago, Harke said:

tried MT oculus and MT OpenXR, same result (I have to leave, I will see to record what I have tomorow )

ho and tried activating the 3 perf option in special

 

Of note for the future is to not use the OpenXR framework currently. It is causing some sort of issue and can leave to a halving of VR FPS. Thanks!

[Harke]

7 minutes ago, Cobra847 said:

Of note for the future is to not use the OpenXR framework currently. It is causing some sort of issue and can leave to a halving of VR FPS. Thanks!

I usualy use the MT with Oculus API using BIGNEWY way explained here 

 

 

[MemphisBelle]

1 hour ago, Harke said:

I love all the update, they are really good, but I'm sorry I don't see any real improvement in performence, I use the instant caucasus cold start mission as a reference and I only get an headhache

r7 5800x3D, rtx 3080, 64gb, dcs in VR preset without any change

with this setting I have 72 fps fix with the AV8B harrier and surely much more if I change the setting of the headset

I barely get 30 fps on ground and 50 in flight

 

make sure to set the max FPS limit to 40 or 45. I've set mine to 40 and with max settings I can fly the Phantom with stable 40 FPS in VR with my Quest 3. Anything higher than 45 is rediculously unnecesarry.

Setting that limit will help stabilize the performance.

Edited June 5, 2024 by MemphisBelle

[LizardKingYB]

Wow! A lot of fixes and improvements. Thx guys!!!

[gulredrel]

What an extensive list. Thanks for the support. Haven't had the opportunity to try out all the gimmicks and it's getting better.

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

This is a very impressive list of fixes, thank you!

Initial impression is that the framerates for me improved by quite a bit. On the ground I saw a bump from 43-45 fps to 50-52 fps. I will need further testing to confirm, since I only looked at Sedlo's Have Doughnut mission so far.

This is on MT and I use OpenXR (specs in my signature if that matters).

[ouky1991]

After todays update Jester doesn't operate the radar as told either via the wheel or keybind shortcut. Specifically, I'm telling him to do narrow 25nm scan and he says "no can do". Same thing with scan elevation.

Telling him to go between STBY and Active radar seems to help. This didn't happen before the update

I'm doing quick, cartrige cold start BTW

Edit: Works now, so I'm not sure what went wrong, maybe something to do with using pave spike

Edited June 6, 2024 by ouky1991

[II.JG1_Vonrd]

Thanks for the updates!

Are there any instructions about how to implement the Virtual Browser? I'm mostly interested in being able to watch Youtube tutorials while in game and being able to switch between the two. 

[hornblower793]

Cockpit is much lighter

Other fixes I have worked through so far are good.

Well done to the Heatblur team

[Stal2k]

EDIT: This was caused by an out of date SU-30 mod, thanks Painter for helping me. FWIW the latest version of the SU-30 seems to play nice, Su-30_EFM_V2.7.73b. I was only a version behind so if this is you, update or delete it

--

Hey just a question, did the bombing table feature get borked on accident? I tried to use it for Dive toss during the tutorial and also in the IA bombing range mission. 

The settings, even if replicating the tutorial images exactly result in a NaN value for drag coefficient and distance. 

I didn't exhaustively test this, both missions were air starts using Mk-82 and I did have the plane configured properly to deliver. 

Edited June 5, 2024 by Stal2k

[II.JG1_Vonrd]

So, I can open the Virtual Browser using the default RCtrl+V and also the buttons mapped to HOTAS (one for Open and one for Close). Once it's open I can't close it with any button or mouse cursor. I can select one of the options, Youtube for example, but can't type anything in the search window. Same for Google. Keyboard seems to have no input. Is there a Virtual keyboard somewhere? More instructions besides the short chapter in the HB F-4E Manual?

[Charmin2105]

Liveries: JASDF Jets now all have olive drab ALQ-131s

Mine are black now

[WolfK33]

On 6/5/2024 at 2:07 AM, IronMike said:

JESTER AAR: Added JESTER automatically saying "Ready Pre-Contact" to the tanker

 For some reason I was most happy about this in the changelog, but I just tried the Nevada Refueling Practice Mission several times but had no luck with Jester in this regard

edit: just tried in the new Paradise Lost Free Flight (best free flight mission ever, thanks!), but Jester didn´t call in "ready pre-contact" here either

Edited June 6, 2024 by WolfK33