Developer Diary, Part 170 - Discussion

[=SqSq=switch201]

I am so excited for the reworked campaign mode. PWCG is great and all but it will be nice to have something that's built into the game itself. I am especially excited to see how the user's actions and performance influence the war front. Great work guys.

[coconut]

When are you guys going to fix the share web thread post atribute?  

 

This action doesn't work! When trying to share the thread it only goes to the beginning of the web pages first post.

 

sharepostthread.jpg

 

Sorry for the off-topic, but it works fine for me (using firefox)

[ST_ami7b5]

Go, go, go!
 

 

[SOLIDKREATE]

That P-39L is looking really nice guys!

 

 

MURICA!

[pilotpierre]

This game sucks. Too many a/c to choose from, I get a head ache deciding what to fly.

 

So please devs, no more new aircraft.

 

And while I am at it, too many maps also, this just exacerbates the decision making factor.

 

It is getting to the stage where one will need a degree in decision making before enjoyment of flying is possible.

Edited September 8, 2017 by pilotpierre

[LLv24_Zami]

This game sucks. Too many a/c to choose from, I get a head ache deciding what to fly.

 

So please devs, no more new aircraft.

I feel you brother!

 

It`s not fair 

[Feathered_IV]

Great to see the P-39, and I've got high hopes for the new campaign. I hope that ViKs with his background in multiplayer gameplay, squads and competitions can correctly identify the very different needs for successful singleplayer gameplay.

SP gameplay does not need leaderboards again for example. Its how the missions are presented, the voices over the radio, how the wider world and the world close at hand are hinted at in-between missions. Not scripted, but in a framework of small impressions that allow the players own mind to fill in the blanks.
In MP you end a mission wanting to know the score. In SP, the first thing you will ask is how many of your people were lost. How a mission ends is just as important as how it begins. And in good singleplayer gameplay - half the immersion occurs before you even hit the Fly button.

Edited September 9, 2017 by Feathered_IV

[Nibbio]

In my view the career mode should provide a sense of purpose. The player should feel that his actions and the success of his mission are relevant and contribute, however little, to reach the strategic objectives of the faction he is fighting for.

 

This is the reason of the success of TAW, and this is why people still rave about the old Falcon 4 dynamic campaign.

 

Without this it all becomes rather bland, and players seek purpose in other things, like scores and leaderboards, that are ultimately not satisfying.

[Barnacles]

What aircraft, other than those included in BoK, will be flyable in the BoK campaign? I know someone posted the list but I can't find it anywhere.

[ShamrockOneFive]

What aircraft, other than those included in BoK, will be flyable in the BoK campaign? I know someone posted the list but I can't find it anywhere.

 

Quite a few. I'm not sure if there is a list but... Bf109G-2, FW190A-3, Ju87D-3, Ju88A-4, Yak-1 S.69, Yak-1B S.127, LaGG-3, La-5, Pe-2 S. 87/110, even the I-16 and MiG-3 will probably make it in there.

Edited September 9, 2017 by ShamrockOneFive

[Field-Ops]

Quite a few. I'm not sure if there is a list but... Bf109G-2, FW190A-3, Ju87D-3, Ju88A-4, Yak-1 S.69, Yak-1B S.127, LaGG-3, La-5, Pe-2 S. 87/110, even the I-16 and MiG-3 will probably make it in there.

P40 should as well

[Ceowulf]

Saving the best for last.  I bought this game for career mode - can't wait.  P39 and A20  are much anticipated, too.  

 

And I can smell the Pacific...

 

Just don't forget Rise of Flight.

 

Ceowulf<>< 

[katdog5]

mama mia!

[ShamrockOneFive]

P40 should as well

 

Yes! The P-40 as well. I don't know of the E models were still there or if they were on the M or K but ... I'd be ok with it on Kuban. It'd continue to be a decent fighter-bomber.

[71st_AH_Mastiff]

Sorry for the off-topic, but it works fine for me (using firefox)

using chrome.

[Yogiflight]

 

 

P40 should as well

Not to forget the Ju52.

[Gambit21]

Yes! The P-40 as well. I don't know of the E models were still there or if they were on the M or K but ... I'd be ok with it on Kuban. It'd continue to be a decent fighter-bomber.

Hey Shammy...from Romanenko

 

"All aircraft were delivered to the 25th ZAP on Soviet territory (Adzhi-Kabul, Azerbaydzhan [near Baku]). This regiment was formed on 30 October 1941 for training in the LaGG-3, and with the opening of the southern route was re-profiled for foreign fighters. The training in the Kittyhawk began here on 19 November 1942 when the first three P-40Es arrived in the regiment (nos. 1533, 1547, and 1548 [23]). Almost immediately (23 November 1942) they were assigned to the 45th IAP for training. Because of a lack of sufficient numbers of aircraft of a single type, the regiment was trained in two types: Airacobras and Kittyhawks. The instructors and students were in training almost simultaneously, but in a wholly serious manner. 32 pilots completed 671 hours of training, including 1,682 landings, 155 training aerial engagements, 112 passes at ground and 98 at air targets, and 134 routine cross-country and 113 instrument flights.

 

The regiment returned to combat duty on 16 February 1943, flying from the Krasnodar airfield (Kuban area). It was equipped with 10 P-39D-2, 11 P-39K-1, and 9 P-40E-1 (serials from 41-36941 to -36944, from 41-36947 to -36950, and no. 1773). This regiment distinguished itself in the famed "Battle over the Kuban" ("Blue Line" in German parlance), destroying 118 German aircraft in two months with relatively modest losses (7 Airacobras shot down in combat and 8 damaged; 1 P-40E shot down and one damaged in an accident)[24]. The low loss rate for the Kittyhawk can be explained by their quite limited employment. Combat experience showed that they were already incapable of contesting with the Bf-109G (especially with the ace pilots of JG 3, JG 51, JG 52, and JG 54). All the summaries regarding the P-40E have a pessimistic tone (insufficient speed and maneuverability, high weight, weak engine), and the conclusions are the same: the aircraft was suitable only for PVO aviation"

[Missionbug]

That P-39 looks awesome guys, waiting eagerly to see it clothed and in game along with the A-20.  

 

 

Wishing you all the very best, Pete.  

[BlackSix]

What aircraft, other than those included in BoK, will be flyable in the BoK campaign? I know someone posted the list but I can't find it anywhere.

Preliminary plans:

 

Bf 109 G-2

Ju 52/Зm

Ju 87 D-3

Ju 88 A-4

He 111 H-6

 

IL-2 AM38 m.1942

LaGG-3 s.29

La-5 s.8/La-5F

P-40E-1

Pe-2 s.87/110

Yak-1 s.69

Yak-1b s.127

[MarcoPegase44]

I hope that the dynamic campaign will be viable solo and historically.

and will profit from the very nice potential of IL2, BOS, BOk.

For all planes with opportunities to take advantage of using the skins made by the community.
*
To make history for dates, units, aces and nations (Romanian, italy, hungary in addition to the VVS and Luftwafe)

The documentation exists and is available in different books.

[=SqSq=Sulaco]

Great to see the P-39, and I've got high hopes for the new campaign. I hope that ViKs with his background in multiplayer gameplay, squads and competitions can correctly identify the very different needs for successful singleplayer gameplay.

 

SP gameplay does not need leaderboards for example. Its how the missions are presented, the voices over the radio, how the wider world and the world close at hand are hinted at in-between missions. Not scripted, but in a framework of small impressions that allow the players own mind to fill in the blanks.

In MP you end a mission wanting to know the score. In SP, the first thing you will ask is how many of your people were lost. How a mission ends is just as important as how it begins. And in good singleplayer gameplay - half the immersion occurs before you even hit the Fly button.

 

Couldn't agree more Feathered, when it comes to single player in flight sims, atmosphere is king.

 

EDIT: As a side comment on atmosphere, as much as I love the loading screen art we currently have, some images of pilots on the ground hanging out, playing cards around the aircraft, chatting, or mechanics working on the planes would all do wonders to enhance the atmosphere that Feathered is speaking about above. So much of what single player simmers enjoy about these games comes from the stories we build around them ourselves and images like this all drive those stories home in a meaningful way.

Edited September 9, 2017 by Y-29.Sulaco

[JG4_Sputnik]

Nice, I've always kind of liked the P-39, it is the most "car" like plane there is

[216th_Lucas_From_Hell]

Preliminary plans:

 

Bf 109 G-2

Ju 52/Зm

Ju 87 D-3

Ju 88 A-4

He 111 H-6

 

IL-2 AM38 m.1942

LaGG-3 s.29

La-5 s.8/La-5F

P-40E-1

Pe-2 s.87/110

Yak-1 s.69

Yak-1b s.127

No little I-16 for 84 IAP?

 

Just kidding, that's a really extensive and well-varied list. It'll be fun for years on end!

[BlackSix]

No little I-16 for 84 IAP?

There is no 84(A) IAP in our list, this regiment didn't take part in the Battle of Kuban.

You can read this text

[216th_Lucas_From_Hell]

Interesting info, didn't know! I'd seen a few photos of their pilots labelled as April 1943 in the Caucasus and figured it was from the front. Thanks for the correction

[Blitzen]

Even though the P-39 was a bit of a dog,the Russians used it effectively as a low level attack aircraft.Inspite of it probably being cannon fodder for the German fighters,I am looking forward to giving it ( it was fun in the original Il-2 when if you could gaet a hit with that big slow firing cannon ,you had a kill...)a bit of a spin...Speaking of which I wonder if 777's flight modelers will be able to duplicate the flat spin it was so famous( infamous?) for.

[216th_Lucas_From_Hell]

Blitzen, the P-39 was specifically a dog at high altitudes where the British and Americans needed them to fly.

 

Down on the deck it's a hot rod - one that will kill you without ceremony if you're not soft on the hand.

[Finkeren]

And the VVS used the P-39 as a full-blown fighter - not as an attack aircraft. At least not to any greater extent than other fighter types.

[JtD]

The P-39 was pretty fast for a plane as oversized, overweight and underpowered as it was. It suffered from poor lateral control and poor longitudinal stability. There are good reasons the British preferred the Spitfire and the US preferred the P-40 - only one of which is rather poor altitude performance. In fact, the P-40 was worse at that and the US still preferred it.

 

I'm pretty sure though that in game the P-39 will compensate all the conservative modelling of the P-40 and will again be the clownwagon it used to be in Il-2:1946. The reputation it had in the Soviet Union is that it was the awesome plane which Pokryshkin flew, and if I just read the developer update, I know it's that kind of version we're getting. I'm betting it will be competing with the Yaks and LaGG in terms of airframe efficiency, up in their own league, for magic reasons, and not suffer from any of the issues it had in real life.

 

Do I have to explicitly mention that ever since the clownwagon versions of IL-2:1946, I really, really hate the P-39, or is it obvious enough from the above rant? Anyway, gotta go, the absolutely awesome and way, way cooler than P-39 P-40 needs to be taken for a spin.

Edited September 9, 2017 by JtD

[Freycinet]

The P-39 brings me many years back to the first demo of the original IL2, not a easy task to master this plane but a lot of hours of fun.

 

On the runway, under rainy clouds, waiting to take off and intercept a flight of German bombers...

 

Still the most significant moment in my flight-simming career.

[A_radek]

I'm pretty sure though that in game the P-39 will compensate all the conservative modelling of the P-40 and will again be the clownwagon it used to be in Il-2:1946. The reputation it had in the Soviet Union is that it was the awesome plane which Pokryshkin flew, and if I just read the developer update, I know it's that kind of version we're getting. I'm betting it will be competing with the Yaks and LaGG in terms of airframe efficiency, up in their own league, for magic reasons, and not suffer from any of the issues it had in real life.

 

 

Obviously you feel you can criticize this product and what's behind it in whatever way you can think off. As if you were attacking some anonymous higher corporation that wouldn't take notice anyway. Consider this, it's a few regular guys working very long hours. What does that make you?

[Cloyd]

...Do I have to explicitly mention that ever since the clownwagon versions of IL-2:1946, I really, really hate the P-39, or is it obvious enough from the above rant?...

Hehe, I think we got your point JtD.

 

Cloyd

[216th_Jordan]

The P-39 was pretty fast for a plane as oversized, overweight and underpowered as it was.

What? o.O It never appeared any of the above things to me. And somehow this oversized, overweight and underpowered plane as you call it scored hundreds of kills on the russian side while the kittyhawks got trashed quickly...

[Roast]

On the runway, under rainy clouds, waiting to take off and intercept a flight of German bombers...

 

Still the most significant moment in my flight-simming career.

 

Ah yes, the memories

[Danziger]

Obviously you feel you can criticize this product and what's behind it in whatever way you can think off. As if you were attacking some anonymous higher corporation that wouldn't take notice anyway. Consider this, it's a few regular guys working very long hours. What does that make you?

I think a lot of people need to realise this. Some people make complaints, accusations and insults here like they would be writing to some anonymous Microsoft tech support rep. It's actually about 20 die hard flight simming fanatics who work extremely long and hard to create this series.

[-=PHX=-SuperEtendard]

The P-39 was pretty fast for a plane as oversized, overweight and underpowered as it was. It suffered from poor lateral control and poor longitudinal stability. There are good reasons the British preferred the Spitfire and the US preferred the P-40 - only one of which is rather poor altitude performance. In fact, the P-40 was worse at that and the US still preferred it.

 

I'm pretty sure though that in game the P-39 will compensate all the conservative modelling of the P-40 and will again be the clownwagon it used to be in Il-2:1946. The reputation it had in the Soviet Union is that it was the awesome plane which Pokryshkin flew, and if I just read the developer update, I know it's that kind of version we're getting. I'm betting it will be competing with the Yaks and LaGG in terms of airframe efficiency, up in their own league, for magic reasons, and not suffer from any of the issues it had in real life.

 

Do I have to explicitly mention that ever since the clownwagon versions of IL-2:1946, I really, really hate the P-39, or is it obvious enough from the above rant? Anyway, gotta go, the absolutely awesome and way, way cooler than P-39 P-40 needs to be taken for a spin.

 

Embrace the P-39 in all it's glory and you shall be forgiven

 

One nitpick to make about the 3D model, looks like the canopy is lacking the top bar (above the pilot), but as a WIP i'm sure it will be fixed when we have it o7

[Finkeren]

One nitpick to make about the 3D model, looks like the canopy is lacking the top bar (above the pilot), but as a WIP i'm sure it will be fixed when we have it o7

You're right. Unless it's a special feature of the L/K model, there should be a second bar over the pilots head.

[Habu]

Interesting info, didn't know! I'd seen a few photos of their pilots labelled as April 1943 in the Caucasus and figured it was from the front. Thanks for the correction

There were I16 and I153 in the kuban battle, but i can't tell you the regiment. In my ressearch, i found many documents which talk about fight with I16 and I153.

[ZachariasX]

Great news!! Love to see such progress!

 

And now back to the awesome plane that Caldwell flew...

[csThor]

BlackSix

 

The choice of the Bf 1909 G-2 over the G-4 is curious as both II. and III./JG 52 received many factory-fresh G-4 in March 1943 that the G-2 became an "also ran" minority in their inventory. I. Gruppe and the croatian Staffel received them far later, that is true, but then I./JG 52 was less of a player at Kuban than the other two Gruppen.