This patch continues my work on correcting reported issues on the 1.0 features, while also improving some of the existing systems to support time scale during landing, improve lessons and missions, improve Save States, and improve the Gemini EVA. See the patch notes in the bottom for a full list.
Note: If this patch causes new issues for you, please report them. You can always revert back to a previous version using the Steam Betas tab for the game. The latest previous version is: 1.0.8.
Timescale during Landing/Splashdown
One key feature this patch contains is the first support for time scaling during landing. Time scaling is generally a very hard problem to work with and support. Systems usually need some recovery-logic when they "return from their time travel", and figuring this out can be very hard. One of the key areas yet to support time scale is during landing. Unlike ascent, you do not have much to do other than completing some minor checks and waiting for splashdown.
I am happy to now roll out the initial support for time scale during landing. You can use the keyboard buttons [1] -> [4] to set the time scale to the same amount as what they key is, so [4] is [4x]. The maximum time scale I support in this first iteration is 4x, but this is something I can work to improve once I know the current implementation is stable.
In addition, I have made some improvements where some players who have very high fps could experience a slower descent, making the waiting time during landing longer than normal. I made some corrections to the logic to prevent this from happening.
Credit: Martha Gooch
Gemini EVA
I have improved some of the main elements related to Gemini EVA. First of all, I improved the reaction system to better account for weight and solved an issue where the weight of the Gemini craft was too light, making it spin when colliding with it.
The attitude control sensitivity of the astronaut during EVA is also improved and should now give you much finer control during attitude maneuvering.
I also added a breathing sound effect as requested during Gemini EVA as a test.
Save State improvements
I have been working on some of the core save state logic to solve some issues reported related to the mission progress when saving/loading save states. The state would insert you in the orbit you had when saving the state, but mission progress would for some users not continue from where it was when the state was saved. Going forward I will keep iterating on the Save States to also support burn plans and computer states.
Note: If a step of a mission blocks you from proceeding you can use the DENY button on the Message or on the Current Objective to automatically complete the current step and proceed with the mission.
Mercury Cage logic
I made a fix for the Mercury gyro cage logic. In Mercury, the gyros are slaved to the horizon scanners, where they try to maintain a local vertical orientation, meaning the horizon is your zero attitude. You can decouple the gyros from the horizon scanners by setting the gyros to free. This will make the gyros stay fixed relative to the stars instead. You can then re-align the gyros to any attitude by caging the gyros.
An issue made so the platforms x-axis got inverted during gyro cage. It was not easy to notice as the outcome was that your pitch attitude needle would move up instead of down in pitch, something that also can feel natural without knowing.
I also fixed an issue that caused the Horizon Scanners to stop driving the platform after separating the retrograde engines.
Perform star marking in the SXT
In the Apollo Command Module you use stars during navigation, and need to center a target on them to perform marks. These marks must be very precise. To get the needed precision, you use the SXT as it has a very narrow field of view. However, the mission and logic would allow you to perform marks using the SCT instead, but this mark would not get captured and no error was given. In this patch I make it required to perform the MARK through the SXT, and adds a note about this in the checklist and the optics lesson.
Language support
This patch rolls out contributions and fixes to both the Russian and French language support. All of these contributions are made by other players in the community so a big thank you for those who has contributed.
Note: The Discord has international channels for both French and Russian speaking players.
Thanks to all who has helped me with feedback, bug reports and suggestions.
Patch notes:
Fixed an issue where the Mercury Horizon Scanners would stop slaving the platform after retrofire.
Ultimate Reflection probe tuning
Updates to mission texts, typos
Pulled in latest language support contributions (FR, RU) - thanks to all contributors!
Fixed and balanced the Gemini/Astronaut weight during EVA
Improved the physics forces of landing chutes to attempt make them equal across various hardware and fps
Added support for time scaling (up to 4x) during landing
Animated the Landing Attitude transition in Gemini
Attached the Gemini panel lights to the hatch models
Fixed an issue where Gemini cabin pressure would some additional time to load during missions starting in orbit
Mercury Gyro Cage inverted up-axis fix
Save State Improvements for all programs
Time Scale resetting to 1 when receiving a message while timescale is 0.5 (slow) - it should keep the slow mode
Made so it is required to be in the SXT to press the MARK button
Made timescale multipliers consistent between all programs
Make it clear that in CM lesson 10 the orb rate is normal but it will stabilize when sep.
Jukebox will reset position and orientation on toggle
Added a breathing SFX for Gemini EVA
Fixed Saturn V exhibition footstep SFX
Gemini Altimeter model improvements