This update will mainly correct bugs (some blocking) and issues with Academy and Campaign. I am also looking into a sub name change.
Info: Games sub name change
I am researching the procedures of renaming the sub name of the game from:
"Reentry - An Orbital Simulator"
to
"Reentry - A Space Flight Simulator".
The reason for this is that "An Orbital Simulator" does not really make sense for most players, at least if they do not know too much about orbits and what they are. In addition, space flight simulation is the primary goal of this game.
Given that Reentry is about flying and operating spacecrafts, and is an entry point for many into space flight simulators, it is a more sensible name, and makes it easier to understand what the game is really is about when seeing the thumbnail or reading the name while scrolling down the game list in Steam.
I am also considering "A Spaceflight Simulator" but that is a bit harder to read at the first glance and conflicts with another title.
I am testing this by changing the sub text in the logo used while running the game.
Academy and Campaign updates
A major part of this update is small but important updates and fixes to multiple academy lessons and campaign missions. I have also received hundreds of contributions with corrections to lessons and missions that has been applied.
I have corrected issues some have experienced related to one of the Gemini docking missions (Gemini campaign, mission 5), and many of the in-game academy lessons has been updated with better descriptions, and concepts that the old deprecated quickstart used to teach you.
Blocking: CSM LM UMB cripples the O2 cryo tank
I have fixed an issue where the CSM LM umbilical would cripple the O2 T2 cryo tank in the CSM. This has blocked the execution of multiple missions. This was typically identified during the 2nd mission in the 3rd campaign, but present whenever the CSM LM UMB bus was powered (MNA or MNB cbs closed and the bus powered).
Blocking: LM ascent batteries fixes
I have corrected an issue recently introduced where the LM ascent batteries would not last long enough to perform an ascent from the Lunar surface to the orbiting CSM. This issue has now been fixed but might still require some balancing. Let me know if you are still having issues with this.
Minor Main Menu design updates
I have moved some components a few pixels here and there, and added the games logo to the Main Menu.
I also changed the placeholder complete/incomplete label on missions to a checkmark, and moved it in front of the mission name.
Black artifacts during landing removed
I have removed some thin black lines and artifacts visible in external view during the landing scene in each spacecraft.
Inflatable flotation in Mercury
I have corrected an issue that prevented the inflatable floatation devices in the Mercury Capsule to inflate when landing.
Cockpit refresh during external view
I have corrected an issue that prevented the cockpit from refreshing or receiving input while in external view or while being in another active spacecraft.
Export Telemetry Data
By request from devs in the Reentry community, I have added a flag: IsFlashing that can be used to animate the flashing VERB and NOUN digits on the CMC and the LGC.
I have also exposed the flags: HideVerb & HideNoun. These flags can be used directly instead of IsFlashing to follow the animation in the game. However, the sync of this has not been tested.
You can find more information about the tools made by the community using these features here:
Patch notes
- Research: Game sub name change
- Fixed the thin lines/black artifacts during ocean landings
- Fixed the inflatable landing system in Project Mercury
- Minor Changes to the Main Menu
- Added a realism setting for auto prograde rotation
- Corrected an issue with the LM ascent batteries
- Fixed an issue where the CSM LM umbilical would cripple the cyros
- Fixed: Cockpit not updating while in external view
- Fixed: Campaign 2 (Gemini) - mission 5 updates
- Updates mission files with community corrections from GitHub PRs
- Updates to the pre-launch academy missions of Mercury and Gemini
- Updates to the Gemini ascent academy lesson
- Revisited many of the other Mercury, Gemini and Apollo academy lessons not mentioned above
- Added IsFlashing/HideVerb/HideNoun to DSKY export data