IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad News

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Hello everyone!

Today’s DD is both informative and interactive! First, we have a couple shots of our new Recon GUI that heralds our re-establishment of interactive elements into our in-game environment. We had this feature in ROF and used it for recon and artillery spotting duties. We are bringing it back for Sturmovik and it’s starting to take shape. These shots are WIP, but you can see it will add some cool new mission types to our various modes of gameplay.



EVERYONE PLEASE TAKE THIS POLL AT THE IL-2 OFFICIAL FORUM

On a much different note, we are working on some changes to the engine and it might require an increase in certain minimum system requirements. Especially in the video card category. So, we would like everyone to take this special poll below and answer the questions. This will give us some insight into what video cards you are currently using, or if you plan to buy a particular card quite soon go ahead and select what you are planning to own say within the next 30-60 days. We know upgrading cards right now is tough due to shortages, but we’d like to know where you currently are or plan to go soon with a new card to give us a snapshot. Thanks in advance.

We would appreciate it if IL-2 users who use Steam participated in the Survey. We know Steam does its own hardware survey, but it would help us to know what video cards Steam based IL-2 customers are specifically using. If you don't already have one, you'll need an IL-2 Website User Account to participate in the poll.

TAKE VIDEO CARD SURVEY

Thank you!

The Sturmovik Team

Attention ALL Pilots and Tankers!

The Lunar New Year Sale has launched!! Time to save and get up and flying!

The Annual Autumn Sale runs from 10:00am PST Jan. 27th to 10:00am PST feb. 3rd right here on STEAM.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/307960/IL2_Sturmovik_Battle_of_Stalingrad/

GAZ-MM 72-K - 40% Off
Sd.Kfz. 10/5 Flak 38- 40% Off

BOS – 85% Off
BOM – 75% Off
BOK – 75% Off
BOBP – 75% Off
FC1 – 66% Off
Tank Crew - 50% Off

Hurricane Mk.II - 66% Off
Yak-9 – 66% Off
Yak-9T – 66% Off
Fw-190 D-9 – 75% Off
P-38 J-15 – 75% Off
U-2VS -75% Off
Ju-52/3M – 75% Off
Bf-109 G-6 – 75% Off
Yak-1B – 75% Off
Spitfire Mk. VB – 75 % Off
LA-5FN – 75% Off
HS-129 B-2 – 85% Off
P-40E-1 – 85% Off
Macchi MC.202 – 85% Off
Fw-190 A-3 – 85% Off
LA-5 Series 8 – 85% Off

Ice Ring – 66% Off
Blazing Steppe – 75% Off
Fortress on the Volga – 75% Off

https://store.steampowered.com/app/754530/IL2_Sturmovik_Cliffs_of_Dover_Blitz_Edition/

Cliffs of Dover: Blitz - 35%
Desert Wings: Tobruk - 20%

https://store.steampowered.com/app/244050/Rise_of_Flight_United/

All ROF Content – 75% Off

Enjoy!

See you in the skies and on the battlefield!

The Sturmovik Team

DD 304

Attention Pilots!

Our first Developer Diary of 2022 is here and it includes our first of two heavy bombers that are coming to FC2 – the mighty Gotha C.V. is up and flying! She’s a big bird that terrorized its enemies and foretold the future of heavy bombing in later conflicts. She’s a pusher design that is not so easy to fly, but in the right hands is an effective bomber. Load her up with your friends and multiplayer sorties become a whole new experience! We think you’ll like her and she’s coming soon to Flying Circus – Vol. II. The Handley-Page O/400 is also being worked on along with the Sopwith Triplane.



In Normandy news, we are developing some new and varied runway surfaces for our airfields and tweaking some existing ones. There were quite a few different types of surfaces used in this theater. Everything from asphalt to steel to wood chips mixed together with tar were utilized to build runways and taxiways. These pics are early WIP so may change before final, but we thought they are interesting to show you what’s in the works.



And we are also adding the British C9/B with 40mm Bofors to the BON vehicle collection. She’s looking nice.



We continue to push to finish BON and FC2 and so many things are being worked on at the moment. Several twin-engine planes, two collector tanks, two big maps (Normandy and Western Front) and new GUI features are in development along with some small, but welcome improvements like adjusting Navigation Lights to more realistic visibility. The new Fuel Systems modeling is also finally coming back to beta along with drop tanks for several 109s as a start. We’re also taking a look at some other FM related issues like propeller modeling where some old issues exist. We continue to research how to improve our sky even further, not to mention the continued implementation of Tactical Codes and Dynamic Visual Damage to all our airplanes. Career mode development for Normandy is also under way and Flying Circus Career work will begin just as soon the new map has enough of it ready. And I almost forgot, Alex has built a new Spit XIV Scripted Campaign for the Rhineland map called His Majesty's Griffons. It will be free to all who own both BOBP and BON and will be in the next update. So, 2022 is off to a very busy start and it will be a huge year for the Great Battles series!

Update 4.702

Dear Friends,

We're glad to report that the work on 4.702 update is finished and it is released. It doesn't contain as many changes as the previous one, but it does bring the long-awaited P-51B-5 fighter for the Battle of Normandy! It took a very long time, but there were some reasons for this - namely the long list of its modifications. It has three different gunsights(!), two canopies - standard and Malcolm Hood where the moving part of the canopy is a single spherical shaped piece of plexiglass. This aircraft is also the first to have flexible bomb loadouts depending on the country (please note that for this feature to work you should select the aircraft skin of a country you want before generating a quick mission and not after that on the hangar screen). Of course, it also uses the new DVD damage visualization system and dynamic tactical codes.



Note: This P-51B-5 is only available as flyable for Early Access customers of Battle of Normandy. BON will be made available on Steam just as soon as it’s completed. If you are not an Early Access customer of Battle of Normandy, the P-51B-5 is available as an AI controlled opponent or wingman in all modes of gameplay.

Along with P-51B, we have a late Christmas gift for the owners of Flying Circus Vol.I - two new free campaigns Gallant Green featuring the British S.E.5a and Red Knights featuring the German Albatros D.V. There are also 10 new single-player missions showcasing all the birds of Vol.I. They were created by our friend Jaegermeister. A big THANK YOU to him for creating them. Enjoy!



As usual, there are many other improvements and additions aimed at increasing the sim quality you can see in the list below. IL-2 Sturmovik team wishes you a Happy New Year, all the best and for your dreams to be fulfilled!

4.702
1. The P-51B-5 fighter is now available for all Early Access customers of Battle of Normandy;
2. The new free campaign "Gallant Green" (S.E.5a) was added for all Flying Circus Vol.I owners;
3. The new free campaign "Red Knights" (Albatros DVa) was added for all Flying Circus Vol.I. owners;
4. 10 single missions showcasing Flying Circus Vol.I aircraft were added;
5. Visual pixelization and shimmering of medium and low-density clouds at medium and far distances was minimized. Note: Radeon users may experience some minor artifacts or visual anomalies due to this change. We are working to fix this, but the solution may take until next update as we need to discuss with AMD.
6. Radio compasses of all German planes except Ju 52 were retouched (Oyster_KAI);
7. Seats and throttle controls of all Messerschmitts were redrawn (Oyster_KAI);
8. P-51D panel lettering improved (Oyster_KAI);
9. Detail of the sight cap on all Spitfires improved (Oyster_KAI);
10. All Fw 190 A8 paint schemes, including the default, were redrawn (Martin =ICDP= Catney)
11. All Bf 109 G6 Late paint-schemes, including the default, were redrawn (Martin =ICDP= Catney);
12. All Bf 109 G14 paint-schemes, including the default, were redrawn (Martin =ICDP= Catney);
13. All Bf 109 K4 paint schemes, including the default, were redrawn (Martin =ICDP= Catney);
14. All Me 262 paint schemes, including the default, were redrawn (Martin =ICDP= Catney);
15. All P-47D-22 paint schemes, including the default, were redrawn (Martin =ICDP= Catney);
16. All P-47D-28 paint -schemes, including the default, were redrawn (Martin =ICDP= Catney);
17. Fixed number of rounds for KV-1 tank when there are two ammo types with one prevailing type;
18. Tracers and navigation lights are not visible through clouds;
19. New effects of fires of aircraft engines and fuel tanks created;
20. Fixed misalignment of machine gun and automatic gun bursts on detailed ground vehicles;
21. Fixed an issue that caused large planes at a distance of more than 10km to be invisible in binoculars;
22. Morning/evening fog is now visible at different haze settings, not only the maximum one;
23. Low visibility z-fighting of the morning fog has been eliminated;
24. Reduced "blockiness" of cloud shadows on the surface;
25. The influence of launch tubes, transport containers and paratroopers on total aircraft mass was restored;
26. The old issue where the propeller was visible through the light halo of the cockpit light bulb is gone thanks to improved technology;
27. Fixed an issue where the formation lights toggle switches on American fighters were not animated when the engine was turned off;
28. Added parameter for VR: render_eye = 0 [-1, 0, 1] to startup.cfg. If set it to -1, only the left eye camera will be shown on the monitor in VR mode, and only the right eye view if set to 1. If set to 0 it shows both eyes.
29. HUD appears faster on mission start;
30. Fixed problem with the direction of MLRS rockets in a multiplayer game;
31. Restored functionality of fixed cameras (LAlt+2) in multiplayer (both Cooperative and Dogfight modes) when starting the server from within the game with spectators allowed (difficulty option Allow Spectators).

See you on the battlefield and in the skies!

Happy New Year everyone!

The Sturmovik Team

Attention ALL Pilots and Tankers!

If you are dreaming about epic dogfights after you eat your Christmas ham or turkey this year, you’ll be happy to know we have launched our Annual Winter (Christmas) Sale! As usual we are offering HUGE discounts on all your favorite Sturmovik titles and content. And remember you can buy and send Sturmovik titles as Gifts to all your wingmates, friends and family! They always make the BEST Christmas gifts!

The Sturmovik Team wishes a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to ALL our friends and supporters around the world during this Holiday Season. As 2021 comes to a close we reflect on what a challenging year it was and how it pushed the team to its limit in ways never dreamed of. We hope the pandemic and all it’s inconveniences and distractions will finally subside in 2022 so we can make even more amazing content and features for Sturmovik with less difficulty. We hope you and your family stay healthy and safe through the holidays this year and let’s say a hardy CHEERS to an amazing 2022!!

The Annual Autumn Sale runs from 10:00am PST Nov. 4th to 10:00am PST Dec. 1st right here on STEAM.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/307960/IL2_Sturmovik_Battle_of_Stalingrad/

GAZ-MM 72-K - 40% Off
Sd.Kfz. 10/5 Flak 38- 40% Off

BOS – 85% Off
BOM – 75% Off
BOK – 75% Off
BOBP – 75% Off
FC1 – 66% Off
Tank Crew - 50% Off

Hurricane Mk.II - 50% Off
Yak-9 – 66% Off
Yak-9T – 66% Off
Fw-190 D-9 – 75% Off
P-38 J-15 – 75% Off
U-2VS -75% Off
Ju-52/3M – 75% Off
Bf-109 G-6 – 75% Off
Yak-1B – 75% Off
Spitfire Mk. VB – 75 % Off
LA-5FN – 75% Off
HS-129 B-2 – 85% Off
P-40E-1 – 85% Off
Macchi MC.202 – 85% Off
Fw-190 A-3 – 85% Off
LA-5 Series 8 – 85% Off

Ice Ring – 66% Off
Blazing Steppe – 75% Off
Fortress on the Volga – 75% Off

https://store.steampowered.com/app/754530/IL2_Sturmovik_Cliffs_of_Dover_Blitz_Edition/

Cliffs of Dover: Blitz - 35%
Desert Wings: Tobruk - 20%

https://store.steampowered.com/app/244050/Rise_of_Flight_United/

All ROF Content – 75% Off

Enjoy!

See you in the skies and on the battlefield!

The Sturmovik Team