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[EA SITREP #2] New Fixes, New Features, New Scenarios

[p]Note & credit: action screenshots were provided by players on the game's discord. Big thanks to them![/p][p]Welcome back, admirals![/p][p]It’s been another busy week, building the game around a strong - if somewhat stress-inducing - launch. To soothe everyone a bit, here’s the latest contribution from JP Ferré to our marketing efforts, who compiled a few unused trailer rushes into an original video. A good way to kick off this update on an oneiric note.[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][p][/p][h2]The News of the Week[/h2][p][/p][p]As we were saying, so far, the game works properly for most of you, foundations are good, we're now busy with improving the rougher mechanics & the polish overall. We have kept on updating the game on our testing build, and the following changes, fixes and improvements are expected to be pushed next week. Some were already as part of the February 5 update (please refer to the in-game patch notes on startup for more details)[/p][p][/p][p]Air Ops[/p]
  • [p]Added a "Clear Deck" button to the Air Plot screen. This moves as many aircraft as possible into the hangar; any remaining aircraft are moved to the bow. This feature is experimental - if you experience crashes while using it, please report them and include your email.[/p]
  • [p]Fixed cases where aircraft could remain stuck on the flight deck indefinitely with engines running and landing gear up.[/p]
  • [p]Updated SBD payload configurations to more relevant ones:[/p]
    • [p]Offensive configuration now uses a single 1,000 lb Mk13 bomb.[/p]
    • [p]Endurance configuration now uses one 500 lb Mk12 bomb and two 100 lb Mk4 bombs.[/p]
  • [p]B-17s and B-26s now use 500 lb Mk12 bombs instead of 1,000 lb Mk13 bombs, as they historically should.[/p]
  • [p]Improved the B-17 flight model.[/p]
[p][/p][p]Naval Ops[/p]
  • [p]Improved aircraft ship avoidance (mostly visible during torpedo attacks).[/p]
  • [p]Fixed wrong assignations in the AIR OOB panel when splitting/merging fleets.[/p]
  • [p]Fixed bugs in formation editors when working with multiple fleets.[/p][p][/p]
[p]Eye Candy & UI[/p]
  • [p]Added proper tactical map 3D models for most of the missing ships.[/p]
  • [p]Improved Akagi's nets rendering.[/p]
  • [p]Fixed bad textures on USS Atlanta.[/p]
  • [p]Added true Benham class destroyers in the Midway scenarios. [/p]
  • [p]Fixed old empty shells still being listed in the AIR OOB panel.[/p]
  • [p]Fixed planes & pilots marked as MIA by the original carrier after some time despite having landed properly elsewhere.[/p]
  • [p]Fixed pilots not being properly marked as available when a mission about to takeoff is canceled because of damages.[/p]
[p]The tactical map 3D models are important, not only as a way to streamline the visual experience, but also because they are used for the future upgraded Tacview library. Gone will be the days where a B-1 or a B-2 silhouette was flying in the skies above your 1942 task force! Big thanks to Skyblazer for his hard work.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]As you can see with the family reunion, pretty much 50% of all ships and aircraft are already in-game by now. Some of the missing ones aren't too simple to integrate (Wasp, I am looking at you) and we still need to complete many auxiliaries, but we're closer to the end than we are from the beginning (fortunately, you'd say!). Talking about auxiliaries, we have a few new victims waiting for their last trip to the paintshop before final deployment.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Big thanks to Rizki and Julien for the new upcoming models, to Akos for the research, and to Reis for their integration (along with an impressive list of fixes for gun directors!).[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Next stage is all about more "critical" hardware, as Saratoga (in her June 42 configuration), Ryujo and Junyo will join the fleet. Nagato is on her way too, and then we have Chitose, the E8N seaplane, etc... As you can guess, there's some heavy duty rumble in the air. We still lack half a dozen hulls after that to make Midway complete, but that's a good part of the job done already.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]New scenarios incoming[/h2][p][/p][p]We're also about to get you guys new scenarios. Here's a small introduction to the next three operations, which will make good use of some of the new assets we're about to introduce in-game. [/p][p][/p][h3]1. An Early Payback - December 8, 1941[/h3][p]Historically, Nagumo’s carrier strike force was supposed to detach Zuikaku and Shokaku on its way back to safety in order to bombard Midway Island as a target of opportunity. For various reasons, Nagumo and his staff decided to forgo this option, certainly a wise choice considering that Hiryu and Soryu were soon detached to support the Wake operation after its initial failure. In the end, only two destroyers, sent separately with a support ship to act as a mobile refueling base, shelled Midway Island, causing a single casualty.[/p][p]At that point, the defenses of Midway Island were not nearly as developed as they would be six months later. What would have happened if the plan had been to invade the outpost immediately instead, offering the Japanese Navy a strategic stepping stone in the Hawaiian chain? In this scenario, the destroyers depart Japan as expected, but are accompanied by several fast transports, with the intent of executing a coup de main in the fashion of the Wake operation. As this operation goes beyond a mere demonstration of force, Nagumo provides the heavy support expected of him.[/p][p]This larger operation does not go unnoticed. PBYs operating from Midway spot the small invasion flotilla and report it to CINCPAC. Admiral Kimmel, still reeling from the shock of Pearl Harbor, sees a chance at partial redemption. With short notice but great determination, Admirals Halsey, aboard Enterprise, and Brown, aboard Lexington, converge on the small island with the explicit mission of repelling the enemy assault. Lexington in particular, tasked with delivering a Marine dive-bomber squadron to Midway, is highly motivated, as the flying Leathernecks still aboard, though relatively inexperienced, are eager for payback with interest. Letting down the Marine defenders will simply not do. Little do they know that they may encounter Japanese carriers, but at least, the feeling happens to be mutual![/p][p][/p][h3]2. Wake-Up Call at Tulagi - May 4, 1942[/h3][p]Historically, the operation known as the Battle of the Coral Sea opened with a lightning raid by USS Yorktown against Japanese landing operations off Tulagi, in an area soon to become famous for other reasons in the annals of naval history.[/p][p]This raid was successful partly due to a series of misfortunes on the Japanese side. Indeed, had everything gone according to plan - a recurring issue in Japanese naval operations throughout 1942 - Admiral Takagi’s carrier strike force, centered on Carrier Division 5 (Shokaku, Zuikaku), should have been just north of Tulagi at that time and could have caught Yorktown by surprise. Unfortunately for the Japanese, in a stroke of bad luck, a failed delivery attempt of Zero fighters to Rabaul due to bad weather, followed by an impromptu need for refueling, meant that the task force was nowhere near where it was supposed to be. This scenario assumes that Takagi delivers the Zeroes to Rabaul on schedule, refuels afterward, and is conducting routine operations north of Santa Isabel Island.[/p][p]Yorktown’s attacks meet unexpected resistance over the Tulagi invasion group. In addition to the historically present Pete floatplanes, carrier fighters are spotted as they are rushed to the rescue. Lexington is down south, having just refueled, but may need a full day to join the fight.[/p][p][/p][h3]3. Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Cold - May 12, 1942[/h3][p]Historically, Takagi received a bloody nose at the Coral Sea. Although the situation was not yet desperate, Port Moresby was saved in extremis by Admiral Inoue’s reluctance to push his luck, leading him to recall the MO operation against the wishes of the Combined Fleet. But what if Shokaku had escaped damage on that fateful day, and if the air groups had been somewhat less depleted?[/p][p]In this scenario, we explore the possibility that, as was historically the case, Lexington sank and Yorktown was heavily damaged. We assume that Admiral Crace’s force was unsuccessful in repelling the invasion in the Jomard Passage, as Carrier Division 5 did not suffer losses anywhere near as severe as those sustained historically, having surprised TF-17 early on with a knife in the back while it was busy striking at Shoho. With troops landed at Port Moresby and its Allied airfields neutralized, all appears to be going well for the Japanese. Admiral Takagi even goes so far as to launch a raid against Cooktown and Cairns in Australia, pursuing Crace and Fletcher down the coast and giving the invasion additional room to proceed unhindered.[/p][p]Admiral Halsey, who is about to enter the area with Enterprise and Hornet, is not recalled to Pearl Harbor for the Midway operation just yet. Instead, he seeks to exploit this opportunity to strike a decisive blow against the Japanese fleet as its carriers and transports retire northward around the New-Guinean peninsula. The only way to do so is to commit fully across the Coral Sea, within range of search assets and Rabaul’s strike aircraft. Nimitz, though initially reluctant, understands that this is the only way for the US Navy to reassure Australia of America’s commitment after the Coral Sea disaster, and is told in no uncertain terms by Admiral King and Washington that passing up this opportunity would reflect poorly on his judgment. Although diminished, the air groups of Carrier Division 5 remain combat-ready and more experienced than they were a week earlier. Leaving his destroyers behind, Halsey drives forward at full speed through the night, hoping to catch the Japanese forces with their pants down.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p] [/p][h2]The other news of the Week [/h2][p][/p][p]Spotlight today on two other games about to rumble, both firmly rooted in the past - that is, the good parts of the past.[/p][p]First up, the remaster of F-22 Air Dominance Fighter has been announced and is set to release on the 17th. It is a full refurbishment of the classic air combat simulation. Many of you likely have fond memories of this important stepping stone toward Total Air War, a series that is arguably the magnum opus of DiD’s modern combat lineage.[/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]This upgrade very much follows in that spirit. Much of the underlying technology was originally developed as part of an ADF upgrade, and if the game finds its audience, all that passion - along with the new features - is expected to make its way into Total Air War in short order. Videos circulating online have been fantastic, evoking a more polished, less crude version of childhood memories - something we can all wholeheartedly cheer for. Go support it, days away from release, they need it more than ever![/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p]On a slightly closer chronological front, Bracer’s Battleship Command has a new devlog out. Head this way for some solid sim tech, Made in Kriegsmarine. Yeah don't worry, we'll do something about our clouds-related gameplay soon enough too, but in the meantime... Enjoy![/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][p][/p][p] [/p][p]That’s all for today. Thank you all for your continued support, and see you next week with more progress - hopefully![/p][p][/p][p]With love,[/p][p]The TFA Team[/p]