GROUND BRANCH News

CTE Update #11

This is what we hope to be the last CTE update before moving 1032 to the main branch. Just about there!

Game:
Build ID : 8053926
136MB

DS:
Build ID : 8053938
80MB

- squads in tablet layout now placed in two columns and should scale down with large player counts
- ready room floating name sizes tweaked
- minor changes to UI effects and layout
- freelooking with tablet fixed
- new animation selector implemented (using new GOAP plugin) with new equipping and unequipping animations implemented
- fix for red dots disappearing on firearms
- detonator is now droppable
- drop and pickup actions made less janky
- kill house target app now disallows starting with 0 enemy and disallows changing enemy/friendly count during a round
- general stability and crash fixes
- art pass on AOR-1 and AOR-2 camos
- added equip/unequip sounds for tablet, grenade, binos, breaching charge
- various sound fixes including on training level
- log warnings generally cleaned up - should make things a bit less laggy
- added missing rifle to shoulder/shoulder to rifle anim actions
- fixed weapon collision trace start ended up behind capsule in high/low ready rifle (i.e. the rogue collision when backing into wall)
- added ambient cubemap to Ready Room to help with overly dark metallic surfaces like weapons and shell casings
- tweaked sway intensity to make aiming down iron sights easier
- fixed AI barks not working at all
- fixed rangefinder not being usable
- new sounds for handgun end reload animations
- mag check icon cleaned up
- tweak to M14 recoil when not aiming down sights
- replaced MP5 straight mag in pouches with the in-game curved mag
- fixed M14 not showing ammo out message
- fixed various bugs in spline mesh tool
- added breach charge attachment sockets to a few more doors that had been missed, affecting Compound, Tanker, City and maybe other levels
- spline meshes in Compound converted to static meshes due to out of sync collision - should reduce log spam and hopefully also reduce rubber-banding
- default setup of various platforms swaps out long grenade types for frags
- added City (Streets) and City (Subway) terrorist hunt missions, and replaced existing full map mission with a combination of these two
- fixed floating laptop in Compound intel retrieval missions

CTE # 10

Only a couple big items left to fix. Should be counting days until final 1032 release and not weeks now.

Big thing for this build is we updated Wwise (Sound engine) to take care of some bugs. Hopefully most, if not all the big sound problems we have had in the CTE builds are now gone or severely minimized.

Known Issue:
- kit restrictions are a work in progress and likely to be bugged, especially if you change them mid-game

Game:
Build ID : 8029971
119MB

DS:
Build ID : 8029976
41MB

Changelist:

- clean-up audio work on Storage Facility and Run Down
- breach charge attachment points added to Rig bulkhead doors
- small adjustments to G3 sights that help with initial aiming when first ADS
- wwise updated to latest version
- lots of small things under the hood to improve stability and reduce log spam
- new character head icons
- tablet screen brightness tweaked
- updated extraction point icon
- visual overhaul of team elements (~squads) icons and colours
- new mission variants: Compound (Close Spawns) for Intel Retrieval; Compound (Compound Only) and 747 (Plane Only) for Terrorist Hunt
- fixes to items culling out too fast in City
- fixed issue with G33 Magnifier flipping back to 'in use' position based on LOD
- changed opening direction of 2 doors in Compound that were opening into other larger ones
- optimization to player and firearm attachments by setting bUseAttachParentBound to true where appropriate
- Mk46 reload animations fixed up
- item equip/unequip animations patched up (is a WIP)
- fix for floating item setup view
- player blips and clickable target positions removed from training map ops board
- time of day input widget now much more flexible with regard to input times, e.g. 17 is taken to be 1700
- admin button should only appear for admins on DS and for listen server hosts
- re-generated soundbanks with new version of Wwise
- increased occlusion effect on VoIP, voice lines and footsteps
- OnDuty field on server roster now works, will cull text if too many admins for space
- tweaked name plates (RR and Spectator) to work better with new team element icons
- changed materials on RR roster boards to bring colours under control
- fixed light intersecting trigger guard on M17 pistol
- various fixes in general to lighten player and firearm materials
- also turned off extra PPVolume in Compound and reduced contrast
- added in an AmbientCubeMap to Compound PP to help with dark metallic surfaces (weapons) in areas without direct light (WIP, day only)
- added GroundBranch/Props/GameMode to cook list (extraction points were being missed out of builds and not loading in IR missions)
- added camo directional masks for ACU and ACU rolled shirts
- adjusted brightness of various pants and shirts greyscale base map
- fixed white area on M4 upper reciever/dust cover
- created base material instance for each shirt type

CTE Update #9

The changelists are getting smaller as the outstanding issues get resolved. We have a few known issues to be aware of though.

Known Issues:

- People's kits will break if they were using custom platforms
- Some network latency (Rubberbanding) may show up with high network traffic (high ping and/or lots of players/AI firing at once)
- Still a few sound issues during gameplay to iron out
- kit restrictions have had a pass but may not work 100% at this time

Main Items:

- Breaching Charge placement on doors fixed
- Should no longer be able to hear other players in opposing Ready Room
- Stance indicator in HUD is now on by default (Can turn off in Settings)
- Voting/Map Change kicking players fixed
- Work on Kit Restriction functionality for online play

Game:
Build ID : 8008453
117MB

DS:
Build ID : 8008467
59MB

Detailed Changes:
* Removed some badging on a couple vehicles
* revised the new map voting restrictions to avoid using admin commands (causing disconnection of non admins starting votes)
* took out a load of logging from various game mode scripts
* Changed default behavior for bShowStanceCrouched and bShowStanceStanding to True
* Easy way to help new players have an idea how the weapon posture/stance stuff works.
* Fixed small collision issue with tarp on Power Station roof
* Changed spatial volumes priority in Ready Room to 20 to make sure it's always highest - should help with hearing the other team from customization room.
* Fix for black ceilings in and wall LOD incompound
* adjusted BP_Door_Swinging so that breach charges should work better - now uses sockets in door meshes with a backup
system if no sockets found
* updated and improved breach charge placement - now uses socket rotation to determine correct side of door for charge
(is much more robust)
* added additional phys geo to G33 magnifier to make sure it blocks offset rails that would otherwise clip with it in the
down position.
* updated WBP_StanceIndicator to update logic related to high/low ready when also engaged.
* Cleaned up balaclava head mask as some areas of the face were masked out that shouldn't have been
* Added icon for map tablet
* updated BP_Firearm_Master
* removed param from ChangeReloadHint() and renamed it to just ShowReloadHint().
* updated ShowReloadHint() show alternate reload hints based on ammo compoent, chambered round type etc.
e.g. if mag with ammo is in firearm, but there is no chambered round, it will prompt user to tap reload to wrack the bolt.
* updated shotguns to not have separate UseMainHand anymore.
* slightly tweaked GBCharAnimAction to try to fix issues with getting locked into manually pumping the SDASS
* moved some logic from GBKitFunctionLibrary to GBAssetManager.
* updated GBAssetManager
* updated GetValidSkinNames() and RestrictedAsset() to add AssetTypeName param.
* renamed GetValidSkins( ) to GetValidSkinDataAssets() and added AssetTypeName param.
Skins are stored based on the asset type they are associated with as they do not have a primary asset id.
* created RestrictedPrimaryAsset() for use with assets that do have a primary asset id, to save using RestrictedAsset() with AssetTypeName set to None.
* updated GBGameState to support changing UseTeamRestrictions game rule mid-game.
* no longer have to restart the map etc.
* updated BP_Platform_XXX
* fixed socket names on meshes.
* updated default setup to make sure correct names were being used.
* should fix misc floating pouches, overlapping pouches etc.
* updated default team kits & restrictions
* Blue team can use Black, Blue & Navy.
* Red team can use Tan, Khaki & CoyoteBrown.
* updated WBP_ServerBrowser to make the password text box use the "password" setting to hide the password being typed in.
* removed unused WBP_Friend

CTE Update #8

We are almost there for a full 1032 release as we believe we have hit the main issues.

Main Items:

- Fixed eyewear being visible in first person on training map (hopefully last occurrence of this bug)
- Killhouse timer app displays a reminder to reload when resetting (players are no longer resupplied automatically)
- Map vote display now displays map name properly (with variant, if present) and game mode
- Lots of inventory and attachment icons added
- Shotgun shell pouch now holds 12 shells instead of 7
- Vote.ini now has two new settings (bAllowVotingOffMapList and PermittedGameModes) to restrict map change votes on servers
- By default, all map voting will now be limited to the server's current map list
- Quick pass on ladders to make them more usable (finalised ladder handling now probably pushed to 1032.1)

Game:
Build ID : 7997724
73MB

DS:
Build ID : 7997739
35MB

Detailed Changes:

* changed target app widget (killhouse timer) to display reminder to reload on reset
* first pass on making change map vote display proper map name (including variant) and game mode
* fix for eyewear being visible after resetting killhouse runs
* iteration on map vote stuff
* disabled LAN button in Server Browser (LAN doesn't work currently, but is planned)
* finished vest platform attachment icons
   * magazines
   * grenades
   * equipment
      * FIXME: Tablet BP lacks an icon value; I've made one (ICON_Tablet), so just needs hooking up
* changed shotgun shell pouch capacity from 7 to 12 (is what the real-life counterpart holds)
* minor readability and style tweaks to HUD inventory menu
* renamed several files for consistency and accuracy
* fixed up redirectors
* big Zookeeper update to add new bAllowVotingOffMapList and PermittedGameModes entries in Vote.ini to allow server owners to restrict player map change votes
   * added new PermittedGameModes and PermittedMissionFiles calls to ZK to get relevant lists
* changed AGBGameMode to give players DeclaredReady status when sent to play area (might fix some edge cases reported in game modes). Some people had NotReady status because they hadn't clicked in when ready timer expired
* first pass of Kris' version of ladder animation handling (Still big  work in progress)
    * doesn't need anything replicated (so far)
    * uses existing movement component implementation *as is*.
* hid admin button in SP/lone wolf (it did nothing)
* changed climb ladder speed from 100 to 80
* added temp bOnLadder replicated value to GBCharacter for non-owning clients.

CTE Update #7

We are getting a lot closer to a full 1032 release, but have a few more things to take care of.

We think we took care of most of the customization issues, though it is possible some still exist. It's a deceptively complex system to debug given how many way things can be used.

There are also still some audio issues on a few maps. Those will hopefully be ironed out very soon.

Main Items:
Continuing to add more missing icons to the UI
New dialog in customization letting you know if you do not have ammo equiped for one of your firearms
New 'Out of Ammo' icon when reloading (Temp icon)
Fixed issues with equiping different sights and removing others
Fixed binocular sensitivity being ignored
Overall customization replication should be more reliable


Game:
Build ID : 7985502
66MB

DS:
Build ID : 7985523
39MB

Detailed Changes:

* remade Rundown TH mission (was still old bugged mission it turned out)
* new suppressor, underbarrel attachment icons, light and laser attachments icons
* fixed a few icon file names
* fixed default JPC platform setup.
* updated WBP_DiaglogueBox_TextInput to use a rich text bock for its message
    * allows multiiple lines among other things.
* updated WBP_ItemEditor to use a copy of the character from WBP_CharacterEditor, minus items of the type being edited
    * ensures that the character ref used by the character editor is unaffected by any shenanigans pulled by the item editor / modular pouches etc.
        * updated BP_XXX_DragDropOperation, BP_ModularAmmoPouch_Master and other affected Blueprints.
        * NOTE: It is important to do this to avoid using the *wrong* character as the GBInstigator for items in the item editor.
    * easy to dispose of entire bad character.
    * changed item build name to empty if not already editing a build.
    * updated dialogue to include suggest random item build name.
* added edit button to item and item build buttons
    * allows you to go directly to editing the item / item build instead of having to select it first.
* updated BP_GameState to not create a death over if player is in inactive state / not alive.
    * prevents death overlay conflicting with character editor
* updated WBP_CustomOperator to create a death overlay if coming from character editor into dead body.
    * prevents not being able to repsawn once coming out of character editor into a dead body.
* updated initial logic in ValidateDecodedItem() for GBFirearm, GBClothing & GBPlatform to all be the same.
    * Since items being edited can have a valid GBInstigator while not being attached or part of a characters inventory,
    changed UICharacter check to simply GetAttachParentActor() == GBInstigator.
    * Also ensure that item is the first and only version in the inventory.
* updated BP_CharacterEditor_Character
    * made all added inventory not replicate
    * changed bUseRefPoseOnInitAnim to false by default.
* create ABP_CharacterEditor::CopyPoseFrom() that will copy pose from another anim instance and blend from it to the current animation.
* cleaned up logic in AGBPlayerCameraManage::UpdateFirstPersonView()
   * fixes binoculars sensitivity being ignored.
* updated RailAttachmentReplication replication method to use the PushModel.
    * will only be replicated when manually setup by using the MARK_PROPERTY_DIRTY_FROM_NAME() macro.
* removed bCorrectlyAttached logic from AGBRaileAttachment & AGBMuzzleDevice
    * seems DetachFromComponent() call may remove items root comp from parents replicated attched children array.
    This may/may not be why some rail attachments end up in wrong location.
* hooked back up rail check to BP_Attachment_DragDropOperation
    * moved its location AFTER checks related to lasers/flashlight dupes.
* fixed typo in voting messages
* fixed up hover/unhover stuff for cog and bin on item preset buttons
* cleaned up build name examples
* cleaned up and moved CLEAR ALL button in Item Editor
* tweaked "Do not show again" prompt text
* tweaked Delete Build button (bin icon) behavior
* Fixed arm mask masking out to much on some rolled sleeve shirts
* Re-oriented the 308 round model to new weapon axis
* Fixed incorrect rotation and placement on all MP5 furniture.
* Brightened skylight a bit on PowerStation and Tanker to help with the overly dark shadowed areas
* updated BP_DialogueBox to add change message to rich text box.
* created TextArrayToMultiline macro in BPML_Object
* updated WBP_CharacterEditor to display a message when one or more firearms lacks ammo.
* updated WBP_AmmoCheckIndicator to optional show text and indiction.
* added no ammo message via WBP_AmmoCheckIndicator when reload stops due to not finding more ammo.
* created phsycs assets for MK110 & MK110K1
* updated GBDroppedItem to ensure physics assets is set.
    * Mesh copying process does not copy over physics assets.
* Run Down: new spatial volume layout that should result in a bit better performance
* stutter is still to be expected, especially when firing during leaving and entering the main building - we narrowed down the issue to a bug on Wwise' end that should be fixed when we update the API (soonish)
* fixed MP5A4 using the A5's icon