Developer Diary #314 - Discussion

[Jason_Williams]

Quote

314

 

Dear Pilots!

 

Today’s Developer Diary brings us pics of the classic Sopwith Triplane in action along with some pics of B-26 liveries. The Tripe is the tenth plane for Flying Circus - Vol. II and it will be in the next update which is due at the end of the month. We continue to work on the map for FC2. The AI B-26 will be in a later update. The Tripe will have the option of mounting one or two Vickers machine guns. Work and testing for the 4.704 update is well underway and will include some new optimizations that should speed up loading times for many of you. 

 

Full Text and Visuals HERE.

 

Jason

[BMA_FlyingShark]

The planes look great.

It's been said before but here it is again: I really hope we'll get the B26 flyable one day.

 

Small question though, will the new runways be in the next update too?

 

Have a nice day.

 

[Asgar]

finally no more wooden crates. only real planes left for now

[ROCKET_KNUT]

Lovely DD and Happy Easter to all of you! As far as I´m conderned, a flyable Marauder would sell like hot cakes... Hint, hint. 

[BMA_FlyingShark]

5 minutes ago, Asgar said:

finally no more wooden crates. only real planes left for now

We're still waiting for the Mosquito.
And although it's first and foremost a wooden crate on speed, it's still also a real plane.

Have a nice day.

 

[Asgar]

Just now, FlyingShark said:

We're still waiting for the Mosquito.
And although it's first and foremost a wooden crate on speed, it's still also a real plane.

Have a nice day.

 

Nah, that's not a wooden crate, that's a real plane. Not like the WWI kites

[Rjel]

I like the looks of the B-26 model. The one pictured in NMF has the same dull gray look as the razorback P-47 has and P-51B had when first released. At least in the screenshots it appears so.

[AndyJWest]

Two wings good. Three wings better. ?

[simfan2015]

That triplane as well as the B26 look incredible ... as always true progress.

Optimizing load times are always welcome ... but in IL-2 those were already fine.

 

[... now if only ED could come up with a way to improve load times for DCS].

[Alonzo]

I really love the tactical codes we can put on our planes now. Great to see them on the FC planes too.

[JimTM]

12 minutes ago, AndyJWest said:

Two wings good. Three wings better. ?

 

        <--- Fantastic!!!

[Vishnu]

WOOT!   more and more....this game just gets better and better!

[RNAS10_Mitchell]

Tripe fever..

[JGr2/J5_Hotlead]

Super glad to see the tripe making it to FC! Those screenshots look lovely! ?

[Voyager]

Did not know the Tripe had a two gun setup. I wonder if it was technical issues or supply issues that kept it from being more widespread? Or if it was more a case of it having a short service life that hit right around the transition period? 

 

The B-26 does look very nice. I'm not usually interested in bombers, but that one intrigues me. It's interesting how many different, and largely obscure bombers Martin made. Just the other day I ran into Dark Skies' video on the A-30 Martin Baltimore, which apparently was hugely important for the British in the Mediterranean, then just sort of got forgotten about after the war. 

 

Just odd. Everyone remembers the B-25 and the A-20, but the B-26 and A-30 both just sort of vanished. 

 

I do recall both planes had evil landing characteristics. Maybe they all got effectively grounded post war, and that's why they got forgotten about? 

[BMA_FlyingShark]

5 hours ago, Voyager said:

Did not know the Tripe had a two gun setup. I wonder if it was technical issues or supply issues that kept it from being more widespread?

Deleted.

 

Maybe I'm wrong, after reading Luke's reply, he knows way more of this than I do.

 

Have a nice day.

 

Edited April 15, 2022 by FlyingShark

[LukeFF]

14 minutes ago, Voyager said:

Did not know the Tripe had a two gun setup. I wonder if it was technical issues or supply issues that kept it from being more widespread? Or if it was more a case of it having a short service life that hit right around the transition period? 

 

The short story is that there were supposed to be more twin-gun Triplanes built than actually were made, but the subcontractor Oakley & Co. had no prior experience building aircraft, so in the end they built only 3 twin-gun Triplanes before the contract was cancelled. One of the three built by Oakley is in a museum today.

 

There were a handful other twin-gun Triplanes built by other builders, but it was a very small number.

Edited April 15, 2022 by LukeFF

[Trooper117]

The Tripe looks great!!!... but will the wings fall off if the pilot breaks wind a little too hard?

[PatrickAWlson]

2 hours ago, AndyJWest said:

Two wings good. Three wings better. ?

Imagine how awesome a fourth would be?

1 hour ago, JimTM said:

 

        <--- Fantastic!!!

 

Looks like somebody strapped a motor, wheels, and a tail onto a set of venetian blinds.

2 hours ago, JimTM said:

 

        <--- Fantastic!!!

 

Fantabulous 

[Irishratticus72]

Someday. 

[Freycinet]

Very good to see the devs churning out planes that look and fly so marvellously. 

[Jade_Monkey]

Nice shots! Will the B-26 have tactical markings available?

[Voyager]

3 hours ago, LukeFF said:

 

The short story is that there were supposed to be more twin-gun Triplanes built than actually were made, but the subcontractor Oakley & Co. had no prior experience building aircraft, so in the end they built only 3 twin-gun Triplanes before the contract was cancelled. One of the three built by Oakley is in a museum today.

 

There were a handful other twin-gun Triplanes built by other builders, but it was a very small number.

 

Hate to say it, but that sounds so much like so many of the contracting fiascos the Royal Air Force seems to find itself in in that war. 

 

Wasn't part of the reason they could never get enough RR Falcons and Eagles because they'd diverted a ton of raw materials and machine tools to things like the ABC Dragonfly and BHP Adriatic? 

[[DBS]TH0R]

The B-26 is simply stunning.

[Cynic_Al]

5 hours ago, Asgar said:

finally no more wooden crates.

 

You mean until the FC3 planes start trickling out?

[76IAP-Black]

The B-26 is priceless, what a beauty

[BCI-Nazgul]

I would far prefer to have a flyable B-26 than a flyable B-25.   The B-26 is faster and carries a MUCH larger bomb load (5200 lbs vs. 3000 lbs.)  If your taking the trouble to fly a bomber in IL2 you should be able to haul more than a P-38 otherwise why bother with the bomber (except for level bombing)? 

Edited April 15, 2022 by BCI-Nazgul

[Asgar]

49 minutes ago, Cynic_Al said:

 

You mean until the FC3 planes start trickling out?

how about we cancel that, and do TC2 instead. Would be much better.

[FlyingNutcase]

Beside the fact that a full half of this DD is a  load of tripe so to speak, I've got to say that between that marvellous looking crate and recent experiences with Pat Wilson's campaign generator, FC2 is coming on my radar.

 

And the Maurader? Oh my - too gorgeous to remain AI only.

 

Nice work fellas. Enjoy Easter.

[migmadmarine]

27 minutes ago, Asgar said:

how about we cancel that, and do TC2 instead. Would be much better.

I say this as a massive tread head, I'm much more excited for further FC development.

[Noisemaker]

59 minutes ago, BCI-Nazgul said:

I would far prefer to have a flyable B-26 than a flyable B-25.   The B-26 is faster and carries a MUCH larger bomb load (5200 lbs vs. 3000 lbs.)  If your taking the trouble to fly a bomber in IL2 you should be able to haul more than a P-38 otherwise why bother with the bomber (except for level bombing)? 

Sure, but the player flyable B-25 is essential for the upcoming MTO campaign, whereas the B-26 is nice to have. 

[Beebop]

I agree the B-26 is faster, carries more ordinance but the B-25 was flown by the Russians which is the base core of BoX. Plus I could skin it as a Dolittle Raider and have some fun doing a low bombing raid over "Tokio". ?

[MajorMagee]

Next Monday, April 18th, is the 80th Anniversary of the Doolittle Raid. This time next week I'll be having dinner with the son of SSG David Thatcher (Silver Star recipient for saving the injured crew of #7, Ruptured Duck).

[Fafnir_6]

9 hours ago, Asgar said:

finally no more wooden crates. only real planes left for now

Ahhh  World War I:  when men were men and airplanes were almost airplanes :).

 

Fafnir_6

[ST_Catchov]

8 hours ago, LukeFF said:

The short story is that there were supposed to be more twin-gun Triplanes built than actually were made, but the subcontractor Oakley & Co. had no prior experience building aircraft, so in the end they built only 3 twin-gun Triplanes before the contract was cancelled. One of the three built by Oakley is in a museum today.

 

There were a handful other twin-gun Triplanes built by other builders, but it was a very small number

 

I thought it was simply that the weight of twin guns and extra ammo affected the flight performance too much ?  

 

1 hour ago, Fafnir_6 said:

Ahhh  World War I:  when men were men and airplanes were almost airplanes :).

 

Please man enough of that careless talk. I'll not have it. To call the Tripe and other WW1 buses an "almost airplane" is like calling the Spruce Goose a wooden wonder, I wouldn't wonder.

 

 

 

 

 

[Styx13]

Dear Developers, 

 

Year by year I came back to this sim to have a look on the developments. (This year the reason of the return was the shift to VR [Oculus Rift 2].) Let me start with the pros:?

- The VR is really good in Il-2, congratulations! You were right, when told me in a topic (a couple of years ago), that it is much important, than my single player complaints. 

- 4K and graphic improvements are amazing!

- There are several minor changes, which are not revolutionary, but affects the sim positively. Thanks for that. 

- I have never seen B-26 in any sim before, whilst this plane had a crucial role over Normandy. Congrat and thank you!  

 

And please accept my critics, rather personal wishes: ?

- I payed BoN to you almost two years ago, and the release date is still not visible. I know that you are a small team... 

- No significant change in the WWII AI behaviour (still uses the old Rise of Flight engine), but at least there are less suicide pilot in the AI squads. 

- No change in radio communication (the AI still does not follow the orders!), which was crucial in WWII (no need to explain why). 

- Bad formations (mostly on Western side), no individual letters/markings on the planes (like it was in the old Il-2).

 

Hope you can finish BoN soon, and I do really hope that there will be enough capacity to rework these (hopefully minor) issues, firstly the Dynamic Campaign mechanism. (For eg. you will be able to choose units not theaters because the Map coverage will be enough wide to follow some units life in WWII.) 

 

Thanks for listening.  

 

BTW I really do not know why do you have to be offended for every single critics/opinion you receive??

 

There were no proper schedule communicated around BoN two years ago (this is a fact!), just opened the online paying option.  

 

Closing such discussions instead of listening and understanding the customers is strange for me, but you know it better. 

[Asgar]

21 minutes ago, Styx13 said:

Dear Developers, 

 

Year by year I came back to this sim to have a look on the developments. (This year the reason of the return was the shift to VR [Oculus Rift 2].) Let me start with the pros:?

- The VR is really good in Il-2, congratulations! You were right, when told me in a topic (a couple of years ago), that it is much important, than my single player complaints. 

- 4K and graphic improvements are amazing!

- There are several minor changes, which are not revolutionary, but affects the sim positively. Thanks for that. 

- I have never seen B-26 in any sim before, whilst this plane had a crucial role over Normandy. Congrat and thank you!  

 

And please accept my critics, rather personal wishes: ?

- I payed BoN to you almost two years ago, and the release date is still not visible. I know that you are a small team... 

- No significant change in the WWII AI behaviour (still uses the old Rise of Flight engine), but at least there are less suicide pilot in the AI squads. 

- No change in radio communication (the AI still does not follow the orders!), which was crucial in WWII (no need to explain why). 

- Bad formations (mostly on Western side), no individual letters/markings on the planes (like it was in the old Il-2).

 

Hope you can finish BoN soon, and I do really hope that there will be enough capacity to rework these (hopefully minor) issues, firstly the Dynamic Campaign mechanism. (For eg. you will be able to choose units not theaters because the Map coverage will be enough wide to follow some units life in WWII.) 

 

Thanks for listening.  

Why do you people care about a date that much? What’s so grat. about a Normandy release? You already have 7 out of the 10 planes that are part of BoN. It has been releasing for quite some time now. Play the aircraft that are in game and stop whining. There was a global pandemic and now even more shitty things happening in the world that affect the developers and probably their partners too. So give them some slack. Enjoy the planes we got and just wait like the rest of us. They‘re still on time you know. 2 1/2 years was always the goal for BoN as was mentioned multiple times before

[FeuerFliegen]

9 hours ago, Asgar said:

how about we cancel that, and do TC2 instead. Would be much better.

 

As long as they add features similar to the WW2 flight modules, like career, advanced mission generator, rework the ground handling and trees (terrain speed should be more black and white than simply "on-road / off-road" eg. hard flat dirt with short grass should be about as fast as a dirt road, not literally half or less top speed and acceleration.  If raining, certain ground should be muddy and slower, etc.  

 

It has great potential but needs more ways to actually play it.

 

 

 

 

9 hours ago, FlyingNutcase said:

And the Maurader? Oh my - too gorgeous to remain AI only. 

 

It MUST be flyable eventually; I don't know if I'd ever get over it if it never came true! 

[Deicide]

Okay because no one seems to be asking I'm gonna ask.. Why? Why show off all this for the B-26 when we can't even use it and its only an AI model. Same thing with the B-25.. We've got the A-20, He-111, ME-410 coming soon, Il-2 and countless others but no B-25 or B-26. Only MAYBE in the future but hey here are some skins to look at for it.. Meanwhile we're getting sub-par aircraft that are beyond unknown except to those who's country it comes from. I never even heard of the IAR until I played War thunder. But you're adding that, instead of a B-25 or B-26.. umm okay?

 

 

Also what this person said

 

 

3 hours ago, Styx13 said:

Dear Developers, 

 

Year by year I came back to this sim to have a look on the developments. (This year the reason of the return was the shift to VR [Oculus Rift 2].) Let me start with the pros:?

- The VR is really good in Il-2, congratulations! You were right, when told me in a topic (a couple of years ago), that it is much important, than my single player complaints. 

- 4K and graphic improvements are amazing!

- There are several minor changes, which are not revolutionary, but affects the sim positively. Thanks for that. 

- I have never seen B-26 in any sim before, whilst this plane had a crucial role over Normandy. Congrat and thank you!  

 

And please accept my critics, rather personal wishes: ?

- I payed BoN to you almost two years ago, and the release date is still not visible. I know that you are a small team... 

- No significant change in the WWII AI behaviour (still uses the old Rise of Flight engine), but at least there are less suicide pilot in the AI squads. 

- No change in radio communication (the AI still does not follow the orders!), which was crucial in WWII (no need to explain why). 

- Bad formations (mostly on Western side), no individual letters/markings on the planes (like it was in the old Il-2).

 

Hope you can finish BoN soon, and I do really hope that there will be enough capacity to rework these (hopefully minor) issues, firstly the Dynamic Campaign mechanism. (For eg. you will be able to choose units not theaters because the Map coverage will be enough wide to follow some units life in WWII.) 

 

Thanks for listening.  

 

BTW I really do not know why do you have to be offended for every single critics/opinion you receive??

 

There were no proper schedule communicated around BoN two years ago (this is a fact!), just opened the online paying option.  

 

Closing such discussions instead of listening and understanding the customers is strange for me, but you know it better. 

 

 

I bought BON with-in a week of the announced pre-release and there was no mention anywhere I saw about a 2.5 year development and release. If I had known that I would of waited to buy it. A simple heads up would of been nice. "Hey guys this is on a 2.5 year development release" in bold would of been helpful. Instead for the past 2 years I've been watching these development diaries waiting for its release. If I had known it would be this long before I can fly the Mosquito F.B. I would of just bought the DCS one that came out instead. That's the only reason I picked up BON was for that and its literally the last vehicle on the list to be released for BON.

 

I personally am tired of the horrible and I do mean horrible AI and mission system. Its so bad you have no choice but to use PWCG, which is a 3rd party program. Which only puts a small band-aide on the real problems. PWCG is great but why do I need to use a 3rd party system just to play this game in campaign mode? Why is it the only way I can get "okay'ish" AI. The AI is one of the most frustrating parts of this game. I can't count the number of times I've watched my wingmen do nothing against enemy air even after repeated calls for "cover me" or "attack enemy air targets" only to be blown out of the sky by enemy ai or not even drop their loadouts and fly back home with x2 1000lbs still on the wings having done nothing but fly the waypoints. This is even while I'm flying number 4 or number 3 in a 4 man flight. Which is honestly the only way AI are even 'Okay'ish" and that's only if you play PWCG because in the regular campaigns they don't do anything. Scripted missions are the only place they work outside PWCG.

[56RAF_Roblex]

9 minutes ago, CrazyJow said:

Okay because no one seems to be asking I'm gonna ask.. Why? Why show off all this for the B-26 when we can't even use it and its only an AI model. Same thing with the B-25.. We've got the A-20, He-111, ME-410 coming soon, Il-2 and countless others but no B-25 or B-26. Only MAYBE in the future but hey here are some skins to look at for it.. Meanwhile we're getting sub-par aircraft that are beyond unknown except to those who's country it comes from. I never even heard of the IAR until I played War thunder. But you're adding that, instead of a B-25 or B-26.. umm okay?

 

Because building a twin-engine, multi-crew aircraft and making a proper cockpit and all the gunner stations is more than twice the work of making a fighter.  To put it another way,  if they had decided to start with a flyable B25 and B26 then we would not have any flyable Normandy fighters yet.  

Edited April 16, 2022 by 56RAF_Roblex