Early Access v0.0.13 is now available on the main branch!
This update brings a couple of highly requested features (Steam Workshop support and a VTOL fighter) as well as many improvements, fixes, and optimizations. Some highlights and a full list of changes are below:
Steam Workshop
VTOL VR now features full Steam Workshop integration for user-made missions, campaigns, and maps. You can upload your content directly from the in-game editors with a click of a button, and play workshop missions directly from the in-game VR workshop browser.
F-45A
The F-45A, a stealthy VTOL capable aircraft, has been released as a work-in-progress. There are still a few features missing on this vehicle, such as quicksave and some advanced weapon/sensor/equipment features, but there's plenty to play with as-is. The F-45A will continue to be improved on as a side-project while the game moves towards a more complete state.
Operation: Desert Cobra
Additional missions have been added to the included F/A-26B campaign. Continue your mission with the carrier group, striking key enemy targets in remote lands.
Game Engine Updated
The version of Unity3D that the game is built on has been updated to v2019.1, which among many things includes an updated PhysX engine over what the game was previously built on (v2017.1). This brings substantially improved CPU performance when there are many aircraft flying in missions.
What's next?
Almost all of the features I had originally planned for, and more, are in the game in one way or another. I still plan on improving parts that have been left as placeholders (such as the damage model, communication systems, and some of the vehicle systems), but the main focus for the remainder of early access will be gameplay content. That means more varieties of allied and enemy units, target structures, missions, and maps.
Full change log:
Alpha v0.0.13
F-45A
- Work-in-progress release
F/A-26B
- Added missions 6 and 7 to Operation: Desert Cobra
A/V-42C
- Fixed hand position on grab bar
- Fixed issues in Basic Weapons tutorial
- Added GBU-12 racks
General
- Updated to Unity 2019.1
- Updated Oculus SDK to latest version (1.37)
- Improved gun director sight to account for target acceleration/turning
- Changed water depth shader render texture format for compatibility
- Fixed carrier arrestor cables yanking aircraft too much
- Fixed carrier optical landing system inconsistency between vehicles
- Fixed non-spherical clipping at edge of render distance
- Handle error caused by duplicate custom map ID when loading game
- Fixed missing helmet shadow in FPV
- Updated to latest SteamVR Input system
- Added support for Valve Index/Knuckles controllers
- Added option for SteamVR skeleton hand animations
- Added quick in-flight game menu (grip + trigger + menu/b/y)
- Fixed occasional g-force induced death on catapult launches
- Updated shadow library
Equipment
- New nav map display
- Fixed rocket salvo balancing
- Fixed weapon firing order to try to maintain symmetry
- Fixed AGM cruise missile not using final waypoint as ground target if no live targets were optically acquired
- Fixed over-powered chaff countermeasures
- Increased pitbull ranges of active radar missiles
- Hide TGP HUD icon when in FWD mode
- Fixed: Sea-skimming anti-ship missiles usually crashed into water right before impact
- Improved anti-ship missile terrain following behavior to reduce crashing
- Fixed MARM guidance when firing at a target above your current altitude
- Fixed GBU-12 price
- Fixed imprecise throttle control caused by floating point errors
Radar
- Adjusted radar cross sections of aircraft
- Fixed: RCS was not being affected by attached weapons for certain aircraft
Mission Editor
- Fixed: unable to select Akutan from new mission map selector
- Fixed scrollbars receiving unwanted inputs
- Fixed issues with non-lowercase extensions in images used for mission thumbnail
- Fixed issues with mp3 files in briefing notes
- Added triggerable colored flares
- Added Oil Platform static object (destroyable)
- Added Static Object conditional node to conditional editor
- Added Static Object category to event action browser
- Added Expand button to minimap
- Changed mouse input to solve disabled input issues
- Fixed broken campaign mission reordering
Map Editor
- Changed Open Map UI to list by map name instead of file name (if available)
- Fixed: Map preview did not update on save until editor was closed and reopened
- Changed the way height maps are saved and loaded to increase height precision, reduce jaggedness (will only affect new edits/saves)
- Changed mouse input to solve disabled input issues
Units
- Fixed catapult designations on allied aircraft carrier
- Setting "Engage Enemies" on radar units will enable/disable the radar
- Changed AI VTOL landing program to be "on rails" for consistency
- Fixed typo in enemy SAM Launcher unit description
- Added F-45A AI unit
AI
- Fixed issue with bombing routine where they pull unneccessary Immelmann before bombing run
- Fixed AI sometimes firing ASMs at dead ships
- Improved evasive maneuvers vs radar missiles
Quicksave
- Fixed QS Error with FLKM-100
- AI VTOL landing state persistence
- AI VTOL take-off state persistence