TFS Developer Update – Nov/Dec 2018

[Bonkin]

Hello everybody,

 

Yes I know... its now December and I missed getting you all an update last month. For this I of course offer sincere apologies. I won't trouble you with the details suffice just to say that real work life has been unexpectedly frantic and family comes before anything else, i.e. getting the balance right is key. Contrary to what some may postulate, I am still alive and no, I didn't drop my phone down the toilet again ?.

 

For the reasons stated above, this is a shorter update than normal but I will continue to answer questions etc. in later updates when things have settled down. Let's start straight away then with a video:

 

As you can see, a lot of work has been done on object modelling for the environment. The new ships we hope to include in TF 5.0 are as follows:

 

German:

 

S-28 E Boat
Type VII U-Boat
1936 Type Destroyer
Leipzig Class Light Cruiser:  KMS Nurnberg

Admiral Hipper Class Heavy Cruiser:  KMS Prinz Eugen

Deutschland Class Heavy Cruiser:  KMS Admiral Scheer

Scharnhorst Class Battlecruiser:  KMS Scharnhorst

Italian:

Spica Class Patrol/Destroyer Escort:  RM Spica

Zara Class Heavy Cruiser:  RM Gorizia

San Giorgio Class Armoured Cruiser/Tobruk Harbour Defense ship:  RM San Giorgio

British:

Vosper Class MTB
Tribal Class Destroyer:  HMS Cossack
Leander Class Light Cruiser:  HMS Ajax
Renown Class Battlecruiser:  HMS Repulse

Revenge Class Battleship:  HMS Ramillies

Queen Elizabeth Class Battleship:  HMS Warspite

Merchant Ships:

Large Freighter
Older Freighter
Medium size Coastal Freighter
Small Coastal Freighter
 

Hopefully you watched the video before reading to this point because I didn't want to spoil the surprise content. It is very important to stress that the map textures are all in alpha form at the moment. Neither do they include vegetation, grass, shrubs or rock formations - or dust effects for low flight. This is all work in progress and hopefully you can now see that we have solid foundations - all created with the map tool I mentioned in earlier updates. Don't forget either that we are always looking for new members who are interested in working on map development. Coding skills are not necessary,  but Photoshop would be helpful. Please get in touch if you think you could help.

 

Other work that is underway right now is the beta testing of the AI changes that have been made. The team is getting valuable feedback from the testers and this is being used to make further refinements.

 

A big thank-you to all who supported the server test. Changes have now been made and we would like to repeat the exercise - so once again we call on your support to help us stress the server. This time it will be on ATAG Server 1 on Saturday December 8th at 1900 GMT for approximately 1 hour.

 

Thank you for your continued support, patience and understanding.

 

For and on behalf of Team Fusion Simulations,

 

Bonkin.

[Enceladus828]

You know, I probably never would have imagined that the Scharnhorst, Prinz Eugen, Admiral Hipper, Scheer, and Renown and Revenge Class would be in TF 5.0. I guess this means the Arado 196 will possibly be flyable in TF 6.0.

 

You guys rock?

[peregrine7]

Keep up the good work!

[Buzzsaw]

41 minutes ago, Novice-Flyer said:

You know, I probably never would have imagined that the Scharnhorst, Prinz Eugen, Admiral Hipper, Scheer, and Renown and Revenge Class would be in TF 5.0. I guess this means the Arado 196 will possibly be flyable in TF 6.0.

 

You guys rock?

Sorry to say, but the Arado's will only be decorative.  They will not be flyable.

 

Too much coding required to implement catapult launches and too much time involved to create a flyable external and cockpit.

 

Same with the Walruses on the British ships... only decorative at this point.

 

We do hope to implement these types of features for TF 6.0 if we get to that stage. 

 

At this point we wanted to provide a good selection of the types of ships which might have operated off the coast of N Africa or in the English Channel. 

 

Note, some of the German types did not operate historically in the English Channel in 1940 or the first half of 1941,  but could have.  Same with the Italian Zara Class Cruiser, did not operate off the coast of Libya, but could have. 

 

At this stage the Italian Battleships were either being repaired after being sunk or damaged at Taranto or were being kept safe in Naples or other northern Italian harbours. 

 

The British ships are limited to the types which did operate in the Med or English Channel in 1940 and early 1941.

 

The Italian Littorio Class, German Bismarck Class, British King George V Class and the Rodney Class Battleships as well as aircraft carriers will come in TF 6.0 when we have maps which better reflect their usage.

 

Thanks  ?

[keeno]

Nice update!

 

Cheers

[FTC_Woop]

Thanks for the update Bonks!

[Semor76]

[=FEW=Hauggy]

Nice to see that thing are progressing at a good pace!

And I'm glad that Bonkin is alive and well!  

[OBT-Lionel]

Just a question: WHEN ??? ?

[DD_Arthur]

Nice one Bonkin!

 

Really good, interesting update showing great progress.

 

Rostrum camera on the cockpits should be adopted as a TFS update trademark

[JV69badatflyski]

Thanks for the update!

in the video,  the dogfight above the "brown'ish "textures, is this the Derna area?

[Buzzsaw]

51 minutes ago, JV69badatflyski said:

Thanks for the update!

in the video,  the dogfight above the "brown'ish "textures, is this the Derna area?

Yes, it is the Derna area... one of the more interesting terrain wise... with a combination of the dry river courses and multi-coloured rock.

 

The dry river courses are relatively common, but not the rock colours.

[Ala13_pienoir]

I do not know if it will be a question out of place

I have colleagues who do not even think about giving it a chance by not implementing the VR

 

And I also wanted to know if they are going to do something about this :

 

 

 

 

 

I also wanted to be told once and for all if you plan to fix the engraving system, which does not allow you to do so without leaving the game, as well as a way to move freely through the recording track

 

I know it's a lot of work that the guys have and we are very grateful, but there are a couple of points that I personally worry about

 

regards

 

 

 

Edit:

I think BOS has implemented rain and condensation in a masterful way

I also think that has laid the foundations of what can be missing and what not in a simulator of this generation, and no doubt although it seems silly, no one will want to fly between clouds and check that nothing happens!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 7, 2018 by E69_pienoir

[JV69badatflyski]

11 hours ago, Buzzsaw said:

Yes, it is the Derna area... one of the more interesting terrain wise... with a combination of the dry river courses and multi-coloured rock.

 

The dry river courses are relatively common, but not the rock colours.

Buzz, thanks for the answer, i thought i recognized the area 
as i fellow tobruk map maker, i'd like to give some "comments" on the area, not to criticize (because that's easy but the art is difficult, a french saying ) but  because is saw some points for possible improvements and it's easier to tackle this when in alpha stage then when it's released.... so if you want to hear my thoughts i'll gladly do it via PM .....'cause i so want this map to be as beautiful as possible, it would be like the child of my map made for il2-46

[Haza]

Just now, JV69badatflyski said:

Buzz, thanks for the answer, i thought i recognized the area 
as i fellow tobruk map maker, i'd like to give some "comments" on the area, not to criticize (because that's easy but the art is difficult, a french saying ) but  because is saw some points for possible improvements and it's easier to tackle this when in alpha stage then when it's released.... so if you want to hear my thoughts i'll gladly do it via PM .....'cause i so want this map to be as beautiful as possible, it would be like the child of my map made for il2-46

 

@BuzzSaw,

 

Sounds like you might have another tester!?

14 hours ago, OBT-Lionel said:

Just a question: WHEN ??? ?

 

202X perhaps?

[69thSpiritus]

@E69_pienoir VR is the first thing on our list after 5.0. We cannot delay 5.0 for it. The groundwork has been laid so once 5.0 is released, VR will start.

 

Not sure what you mean about the engraving system? 

 

Clouds/weather are being looked at. 

[Ala13_pienoir]

Hello

 

 

 

I want to say that there is no key to activate the recording at any time, as in BOX

 

And inside the track there is no way to go back, if you missed a shot at the end, you have to swallow the whole recording again.

 

In BOX there is a progress bar that places you at the time you choose within the recording

 

 

 

 

 

EDIT:

 

those who make videos know it

 

the system is a punishment

 

you have to give ESC to play in "start recording" give it a name

 

and return to the cabin ............. pfffffff

 

 

Edited December 7, 2018 by E69_pienoir

[II./JG27_Rich]

One of those things that we don't gripe about and hope will be fixed one day

[Buzzsaw]

9 hours ago, JV69badatflyski said:

Buzz, thanks for the answer, i thought i recognized the area 
as i fellow tobruk map maker, i'd like to give some "comments" on the area, not to criticize (because that's easy but the art is difficult, a french saying ) but  because is saw some points for possible improvements and it's easier to tackle this when in alpha stage then when it's released.... so if you want to hear my thoughts i'll gladly do it via PM .....'cause i so want this map to be as beautiful as possible, it would be like the child of my map made for il2-46

Hello Badatflyski

 

Feel free to send me a PM.

 

Thanks  ?

[=KG76=flyus747]

Looking forward to the 111 with torpedoes!

[II./JG27_Rich]

On 12/6/2018 at 2:48 PM, Buzzsaw said:

Yes, it is the Derna area... one of the more interesting terrain wise... with a combination of the dry river courses and multi-coloured rock.

 

The dry river courses are relatively common, but not the rock colours.

I posted this up in the ATAG forum so I thought I'd post it here too. This is Derna today with all of it's colour contrasts to see for real.

 

[Buzzsaw]

A small update to the content:

 

We had mentioned previously there would be no torpedoes for the Beaufighter IC in TF 5.0 as we cannot confirm their use at this point.  AFAIK they were not used till the Mk VI  model.

 

The following aircraft will have torpedoes in TF 5.0:  (as an option in addition to various bombs)

 

Heinkel He-111H-6 (dual)

 

Wellington IC  (dual)

 

Wellington IC will also have many additional bombs added to those present in the original game, including 1000 lber GP and 2000 lber AP.  We will also introduce depth charges for various types.

 

The He-115 (AI) will of course, continue to use torpedoes.

[InProgress]

Depth charges, that sounds cool. Maybe anti mine magnetic ring one day

[Feathered_IV]

On ‎12‎/‎11‎/‎2018 at 5:42 AM, II./JG27_Rich said:

I posted this up in the ATAG forum so I thought I'd post it here too. This is Derna today with all of it's colour contrasts to see for real.

 

 

How many individual textures can be used on one map?  As I recall in the old 1946, there were a maximum of 24 landscape textures, not including those for woods and water.  How does CloD differ from this and is there a limit?

[7./SchG2_Willi]

very nice ships.

[InProgress]

If there will be a career mode and you destroy some big named ship like Admiral Scheer, will it be destroyed forever? Like in dynamic career or it will just be in next mission. Same goes for buildings or bridges.

[Mysticpuma]

On 12/17/2018 at 11:30 PM, Buzzsaw said:

A small update to the content:

 

We had mentioned previously there would be no torpedoes for the Beaufighter IC in TF 5.0 as we cannot confirm their use at this point.  AFAIK they were not used till the Mk VI  model.

 

The following aircraft will have torpedoes in TF 5.0:  (as an option in addition to various bombs)

 

Heinkel He-111H-6 (dual)

 

Wellington IC  (dual)

 

Wellington IC will also have many additional bombs added to those present in the original game, including 1000 lber GP and 2000 lber AP.  We will also introduce depth charges for various types.

 

The He-115 (AI) will of course, continue to use torpedoes.

 

Depth charges sound interesting. Does this mean the water depth issue has been resolved so bombs no longer explode on the surface of water? Also depth charges indicate that submarines will be able to surface and submerge so water depth sounds like it has been resolved? Will this also be fixed in the Channel Map? 

 

Finally...as some vehicles are driveable, is there a possibility of  simple periscope option to allow players to fire torpedoes from submarines? 

 

Cheers, MP

[Buzzsaw]

23 hours ago, InProgress said:

If there will be a career mode and you destroy some big named ship like Admiral Scheer, will it be destroyed forever? Like in dynamic career or it will just be in next mission. Same goes for buildings or bridges.

I would assume so... although the Admiral Scheer had sister ships in the Deutschland and Graf Spee... and it is supposed to represent all three of the "Pocket Battleship" class of heavy cruisers.

 

We are only making one of each class of ship... there are many minor differences in ships even of the same class... but the extra work to do each individual ship is not really worthwhile.

20 hours ago, Mysticpuma said:

 

Depth charges sound interesting. Does this mean the water depth issue has been resolved so bombs no longer explode on the surface of water? Also depth charges indicate that submarines will be able to surface and submerge so water depth sounds like it has been resolved? Will this also be fixed in the Channel Map? 

 

Finally...as some vehicles are driveable, is there a possibility of  simple periscope option to allow players to fire torpedoes from submarines? 

 

Cheers, MP

We are working on solutions for the first set of questions.

 

There will not be the option to fire the main armament of ships, it will be AI controlled... AAA however, will be manable, and we hope to allow the players to control the ship's movement from the 'Bridge'.