MotorWings! (Now with Constant-Speed Propellers!)

[19//Moach]

 

 

New build (Mk.1f) Just Uploaded!

Unedited Screenshots:

 

 

 

 

See latest post for details!

 

 

Dev. Build Test Footage:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

----- original OP ----

 

This is what I've been working on since last year:

 

 

I've found it to be most efficiently described simply as:  "Kerbal Space Program + Crimson Skies"

 

It is an early access venture, with emphasis on early, since this is the first generally presentable state I have managed to achieve since starting out on it.

Though to be fair, even though I "officially" started mid last year, the larger half of that time was spent cobbling together a PC to work from, plus a myriad unrelated, yet delaysome troubles that had to be worked either out or around.... Long story.

 

Anyways. Now it is in a state where showing it to people is possible without them having to also be programmers in order to understand what's going on. It is naturally, still all very rough, as is to be expected of all such ongoing developments. The project is still so "young" that new updates can be released in a matter of every few weeks, or even days sometimes. In the other hand, the "to-do" list remains considerably longer than the post-it sized one marked "done"

 

For the time being, the game is offered free.

This because right now, it is more important to get people involved with the project than anything. Even if our budget is only so vast as the amount of loose pennies found under my seat cushions. 

 

Soon, a Pre-Order option will be available, and as per the usual early-access development model, that'll be the best possible cost-benefit deal for anyone buying the game, as free updates will follow the one-time purchase all the way until completion.

 

The plan is to incorporate and set up shop as a proper game dev studio in the near future. This cannot be afforded in my present situation, even though some rather unusual conditions allow me to work on the game as a full time occupation, if only by myself.  Moving on to full-scale production will require either a gradual build-up of Pre-Orders as a crowd funding effort, or finding someone willing to invest as a business partner while the opportunity is still up for grabs. Either option or combination thereof should be workable, however the latter would certainly allow for things to happen far more quickly.

 

Anyways.  That's my game.  Our game, really. This is all about the player community, and the invaluable support that can be gained that way.  

 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

Edited February 22, 2021 by 19//Moach
Added new video

[LLv34_Flanker]

S! 

 

Fond memories of Crimson Skies back in the day, lot of fun. Best of luck to Your endeavour, hopefully take offs well ?

Edited April 16, 2020 by LLv34_Flanker
Typos

[19//Moach]

Build Mk1c is now available!

 

See changes and download here.

[NiiranenVR]

VR ???? ?

[19//Moach]

Coming as soon as I can afford buying one 

[19//Moach]

New version just out!

 

https://www.motorwings.net/updates

 

 

 

 

[19//Moach]

Ok, new stuff just in!

 

https://www.motorwings.net/

 

Here's the news:
 

• Updated Map Generator; Performance improvements, better position tracking for detail.
• Improved Terrain Texturing and Elevation Generators.
• Added Tweakable System to Parts.
• Added Part Selection Highlighting and Preview Effects.
• Added Part Reshaping Capability, aka: AeroMorphing (a complex, yet very flexible system, meant to be addon-friendly)
• Wing Sections may now be reshaped via Tweakables Interface when selected.
• Wing Section shape changes affect their flight characteristics.
• Wing Sections can now have their control surfaces assigned as Ailerons, Flaps or Disabled.
• Added Flap Controls. (defaults F: Raise, V: Lower)
• Drag Model Overhauled, More realistic handling across various airspeeds.
• Added Crash Camera behavior for much improved crashing experience and explosion appreciation.
• Crash and Stress Damage (fatigue) tolerances readjusted.
• Engines May now be turned on and off. (press I key)
• Wing Sections form into grouped spans, sharing tweakable values across several parts.
• Span Sections Can be Set to Straight or Break, allowing tweak discontinuities at any selected part.
• Hold Ctrl while attaching a Wing Section to install it as a separate span group for independent tweaking.
• Control Surfaces now affect Wing Section Drag according to their angle of deflection. (realistically causes adverse yaw)
• Open Attachment Points proportionally increase part drag according to each point's drag coverage value.
• Reworked default controls to a WSAD-and-Mouse friendly configuration
• Mouse Back thumb button causes main flight controls to operate respective trims.
• Mouse Forward thumb button prevents main flight controls recentering to trimmed position until released.
• Made lots of unseen progress on the soon-to-come user addon SDK.
• Added Ctrl+Z (undo) Functionality to Hangar
• Added Ctrl+Y (redo) Functionality to Hangar for undoing inadvertent undos
• Hangar deck (floor) now fades out smoothly as camera crosses underneath.
• Parts can no longer mode below Hangar Deck while camera is positioned above it.
• Parts attached to tweakable parts should move in response to aeromorph displacement of their attachment points.
• Wingtip Vortices and Downwash logic improved.
• Various other small tweaks and assorted bug fixes.
• Added Splash Screen Logo and Program Icon.
• Free undiscovered bugs. (let me know in the forums if you find anything new and weird)

 

[Beebop]

Just discovered this.

Interesting.  I just d/l'ed it and tried a flight with a pre-built bird.  Being a HOTAS type of guy my attempts to fly with mouse and keyboard were laughable to say the least.  I'll get the hang of it, probably about the time you get joystick support built in LOL.

I also ventured into the hanger.  I could assemble some parts but don't yet understand quite how it all works.  Any 'Basic/For Dummies' tutorials yet?  Not a lot on the forums so far.

 

overall this looks pretty darn good and a great way to have some light fun.

One other questions at this time, when you do the actual release will I need to buy or will there be a discount(?) for us "early access" guys to upgrade to the full working version? 

Just read more throughly everything.  If you start a crowd funding let us know, (send me a message please),

 

At the very least, thanks for making this and letting us 'dip our beak' as Fannuci said in The Godfather II.

Edited September 19, 2020 by Beebop

[19//Moach]

Just now, Beebop said:

One other questions at this time, when you do the actual release will I need to buy or will there be a discount(?) for us "early access" guys to upgrade to the full working version?

 

 

 

The plan is to follow the same pattern from KSP or Minecraft, that is, the earlier you buy it, the better deal you get.

 

If no investors or publishers can be found, considering how "ungood" I am at doing this whole people business bit, I'll probably set it up for crowdfunding sometime soon. Gotta have some good footage to catch ppls eye for that though, it ain't like it used to be - Feels to me like everybody out there and their dogs have one or more games they made and are trying to sell... Makes it real hard when you're working all by yourself.

 

If/when I set up a Kickstarter or some such, I had thought of offering (besides the game itself and all subsequent updates) perks such as acknowledgements on the credits and actually naming locations and items in the game after people who help out.  

 

Anyhow, the Pre-Order run will probably the best bang for buck anyone can get - Basically the price will scale in proportion to completion, as I've detailed on the website's Feature Gallery page. All updates are free from then on, until we wrap up that "cycle" and start on a new major DLC (which would then be a full-sized expansion pack. With game-changing new features, not just a "more stuff" release)

 

 

And there will always be a free demo available as well, probably a stripped-down version with only the local area to fly around and such... Can't elaborate on that just now. Even though I got a business plan all laid out, when it comes down to practicalities, I'm basically making this up as I go along (the Indiana Jones method of planning)

 

 

I could use some videos anyways, if anyone wants to help me out - Making videos takes a long time, which I'd rather spend developing...

 

Enjoy, and Cheers!

 

[Soarfeat]

This is very cool Moach !!! 

Nice work !!!!

 

[19//Moach]

Hey, everyone!


New build today!     


Now you can use your joystick(s) to fly your glorious/infamous creations around!

It also includes the plane in the picture above, the Hellcaster Sovereign

And I've fixed a bunch of weird bugs that were making the drag model act all weird (basically, induced drag was acting backwards - it's correct now)



Get it while it's hot!

[NO.20_W_M_Thomson]

Cool, good too see people being creative. See you use unity for your engine. You prefer it over unreal?

Haven't looked into it much just yet, When I have time I'll fly it. Is there head tracking for this? 

And please hurry up with that time machine.

[19//Moach]

I like Unity - it's really quite powerful and extremely versatile.

I don't have any real experience with Unreal, so I can't really compare. But I'd guess in the end they're pretty well matched. 

 

 

Haven't implemented head tracking yet, but that's also on the to-do list.

 

Anyways, Welcome aboard!

 

 

[NO.20_W_M_Thomson]

On 10/23/2020 at 7:17 PM, 19//Moach said:

I like Unity - it's really quite powerful and extremely versatile.

I don't have any real experience with Unreal, so I can't really compare. But I'd guess in the end they're pretty well matched. 

 

 

Haven't implemented head tracking yet, but that's also on the to-do list.

 

Anyways, Welcome aboard!

 

 

I've been playing with unreal for a bit, I like the visual scripting over learning c++, I haven't looked into Unity much, I believe they use some visual scripting as well. 

I see we're almost neighbors. I'm a B.C'er as well. You have a discord channel?

[19//Moach]

Now with 100% more weather!

 

 

Here's what's new: https://www.motorwings.net/updates

 

Enjoy!

 

 

[Beebop]

On 9/18/2020 at 4:09 PM, 19//Moach said:

• Added Ctrl+Z (undo) Functionality to Hangar
• Added Ctrl+Y (redo) Functionality to Hangar for undoing inadvertent undos

THANK YOU!  Now if we can only get the Devs to include that in the ME.

1 hour ago, 19//Moach said:

Now with 100% more weather!

Nice!  In a short time you have brought this up from a high quality 'DOS'-sy look to to mid IL-2 1946 standards.  In a year it will rival Great Battles. ?

Thanks for staying with this.

[19//Moach]

Just a sneak peek at what's coming up next 

[19//Moach]

Did I mention that the build is up there? Anyways, it is.  Now you can retract your landing gears!

 

Next one should have more useful cockpits, I think - After that we can start adding guns and stuff to shoot at

 

Cheers!

 

[ST_Catchov]

I'm very much liking this Moacher. I loved Crimson Skies back in the day. So much so I bought the PC and Xbox versions and replayed them repeatedly. Have you done this by yourself? It's an outstanding effort.  Keep up the good work and all the best with it. 

 

I give it 5 gold stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and a strawberry ?

[19//Moach]

We all loved Crimson Skies, didn't we?

 

 

And wonder of all surprise, the Hughes Aviation P21-JMK11 Devastator turns out not only to be a fully airworthy design, but actually a fantastically stable and maneuverable design within the near-realistic MotorWings flight model! 

 

It tends to be nasty only after going into a full spin, then it's quite hard to recover - But it takes some doing for it to depart like that in the first place.  The elevators tend to "mush down" and gently lower the nose before it actually stalls out. Quite a gentle ride, at least until you do stall  - Then it topples over like a bag of potatoes and you die, but until then it flies great! 

 

Edited December 30, 2020 by 19//Moach

[19//Moach]

Anyways, a few more parts added today:

Also gave the old runway a good revamp, with an overlay arrangement for much sharper textures

 

This should be in the next build, but for now there isn't enough new stuff to be worth doing a whole release just yet.

Gonna make some more new parts first 

[ST_Catchov]

Moachy, I hope you're enjoying doing this as much I enjoy seeing your updates. 

 

On 12/30/2020 at 1:05 PM, 19//Moach said:

 Devastator turns out not only to be a fully airworthy design, but actually a fantastically stable and maneuverable design within the near-realistic MotorWings flight model! 

 

Surely you didn't expect anything less ....

[19//Moach]

7 hours ago, ST_Catchov said:

Moachy, I hope you're enjoying doing this as much I enjoy seeing your updates. 

 

You betcha! The day I made machinegun-pod parts and set them up to fire in sequence, with muzzle flashes and a lovely .50cal-esque "Boomsh" sound (even if shooting only blanks for now) was one of those days spent in a more or less continuous state of manic giggling and occasional outright cackling like a super-villain on the warpath.

 

There's something about making things go "BOOM" which appeals at a very much fundamental level. Deep stuff, man.... 

 

 

I also had always suspected that at least half of the original CS aircraft designs should be fairly airworthy, if some a bit more than others perhaps... 

 

As you're probably already thinking, those pusher engine pods are indeed very well suited for assembling a Firebrand analogue - Though flying wings still need some more wing tweaks (like Elevon controls) before they're actually practical...

 

Would be nice too if there was another set of tweaks for adjusting the camber and profile along a wing - But those tweaks are fiddly as all hells and I still need to work out some proper system to make them more author-friendly... (user-friendliness is tricky enough, but I also worry lots about how to make it modder-friendly too)

 

Anyways, I think at least Elevons will be possible on the very next build.  We also need parts for making roomier cockpits, for jumpseats and tail gunners and such... 

Edited January 7, 2021 by 19//Moach

[ST_Catchov]

Not to mention zeppelins !!!!  

[19//Moach]

On 1/7/2021 at 11:04 AM, 19//Moach said:

Anyways, I think at least Elevons will be possible on the very next build.  

 

 

Elevons are definitely possible on the very next build!  In fact, they're in it already!

 

 

The flight model has also been significantly evolved, It turned out necessary to do this so that more unusual designs may work properly.

Notice the curving streamlines over some of the wing sections:

 

All airfoil parts actually have this going on (they're all the same code, really) - The image above shows only a few of them because of the Debug Declutter setting I've worked in so that drawing all those lines wouldn't lag the game down too hard. It also makes it easier to see what's going on without everything going all over everything else. 

 

Anyways, because of this and other updates, things now fly a lot more airplanely

 

 

Oh, and yeah, Cockpits!

 

Edited January 30, 2021 by 19//Moach

[Missionbug]

First time I have seen this I think 19//Moach, looks great, if it is as much fun as Crimson Skies could be then I hope it proves to be successful for you.

 

Take care and be safe.

 

Wishing you all the very best, Pete.

Edited January 30, 2021 by Missionbug

[19//Moach]

Now with constant-speed propellers!

 

https://www.motorwings.net/updates

 

 

Still free for now!  Only cost is please tell everyone who will listen (or can be held in place with rope or something) about it so that we can build up a proper playerbase.

 

Enjoy!

 

 

Now hear this:

I will grant players who make videos showcasing the game, it's concept and potential, the title "Media Partner" and with it, a free copy with all updates and future expansion packs when it becomes a commercial product.

This offer stands as long as it takes to make it popularly known as "An open-world Crimson Skies remake, with KSP mixed in". -When I google "crimson skies remake" and find MotorWings videos and images near the top, that's when the offer will no longer be necessary.

The MotorWings theme music is free to use in any videos of the game. (or in videos of other stuff too, as long as you mention where it came from (I wrote it))

Edited February 20, 2021 by 19//Moach

[19//Moach]

 

[Soarfeat]

Keep up the great work !!!!

Impressive !!

[19//Moach]

Another build today!

 

Mk.1f4-NT is now live!

 

Bunch of bugs got fixed on this one - simulation feels lots more cromulent! 

 

Game is still free, so please keep telling people about it so that one day this may become a real thing that I can make a living from...  

I wouldn't have the gall to charge for it until more game-making features (like things to shoot at and get shot by) are in - Until then, it's all about spreading the word. 

 

 

I've explained all this before, haven't I?  I'm following the same business model as KSP in its very early days. 

 

Except that, unlike my brother, (HarvesteR, the lead dev for KSP) I am not profitably employed by a media company that just happened to have decided for giving their "new guy" a chance to "make this game of his" and break into the gaming industry while at it...

Instead, I'm in a career-investment type phase, whereby drastically minimizing living costs (by the "moving back in with mom" method) I can devote full time effort into this.  It's an inglorious 36-year-old-teen lifestyle, but hey, gotta break some eggs....