LOTUS-Simulator News

[h2]The simple non-scheduled AI is finally here![/h2]

What the simple AI can do:

• Drive straight ahead
  
• Stop
  
• Go
  
• Turn
  
• Merge
  
• The opposite of merge
  
• Show consideration for the user vehicle (bus and tram)
  
• Clear the intersection (simple)
  
• Traffic jam
  
• Know traffic lights
  
• "Right before left" and other right-of-way rules
  
• indicators, tail lights, headlights
  

What the simple AI can't do yet:

• Change lanes
  
• driving uneven speeds at the same speed limit
  
• Clear the intersection (complex)
  
• Overtaking
  
• Multiplayer
  

What's not there yet:

• Driving AI cars from Oriolus. First of all, take the great CV2 that Rolf has made available to you all from his addon. Later on there will definitely be modern AI cars!
  

In addition to what should already work, we are happy about clear bug reports. To make them useful we need a video of the bug and a screenshot of the AI-paths on the map at the location, preferably from the same perspective.

More patchnotes:

- Simulation - Multiplayer - Bugfix: Bug in position algorithm fixed. This fixes the problems with bad internet connection.
- Simulation - Multiplayer: Loading and unloading of multiplayer players improved, but the lags still happen as soon as a player becomes visible!
- Simulation - Multiplayer: Improved synchronization, there are still rare bugs with bus players
- Simulation - Multiplayer: Pure AI vehicles are no longer in the vehicle selection list
- Simulation - Multiplayer: Notification when someone joins the game (untested)
- Simulation: Entrypoints now sorted alphabetically

- Content: LCD matrix updated by Tene
- Content: New version of the Diorama map
- Content: Streckenzubehoer updated by Rolf
- Content: Stevens Bus PIS updated
- Content: The developers of the Düsseldorf Addon have donated addon content for the LOTUS standard scope! Many thanks!

Please note: Patch notes are always published first here. If you want to stay up tp date, visit our forum. You do not need a registration!

- Simulation: Texture loading completely revised: Textures should be loaded much more "lag-free" and the memory usage should be lower, because the textures in the distance are first loaded in lower resolution. Fine-tuning is still missing, e.g. when textures are loaded in which resolution and when they are unloaded again. The mentioned change does not yet affect BMP textures. The feature is not yet finished. In the options you will find a slider for range control.
- Simulation - Script processing in a separate thread
- Simulation - Bugfix: Loading problem of RelifeKoblenz fixed
- Simulation - Bugfix: mouse coordinates in scripts of modules now available
- Simulation: Optimization of verification in case of server failure
- Simulation - Bugfix: Calculation of the position of the sun in other time zones and places in the world

- Multiplayer - Bugfix: Create or join a new game if you have been in a multiplayer game before and have not restarted LOTUS in between
- Multiplayer - Bugfix: No more kick when entering a wrong chat channel
- Multiplayer - Bugfix: The entry points of a previous game were still displayed in the configuration of the new game.
- Multiplayer - Bugfix: GUI error (I, II, IV, etc.) fixed
- Multiplayer - Bugfix: If the group you are in was still in an MP game and then disbanded, you were also thrown out of a singleplayer game, if applicable
- Multiplayer: Added interim chat in the developer options (is less buggy than the original chat ;) )
- Multiplayer: Company of a friend is now also displayed in the friend list - still gives errors
- Multiplayer: Chat slightly improved
- Multiplayer - Bugfix: leaving (/gleave) and re-joining an MP game caused error 400
- Multiplayer: Chat opens automatically when an alert comes in (e.g. server shutdown)
- Multiplayer - Bugfix: When creating a second game without restarting after leaving the 1st game, a game could be created although no map was selected

- Simulation - GUI - Bugfix: Chat form (when you open the chat with the Enter key) was always the last channel where something was written and not the last channel where you wrote yourself

- MapEditor: Remembers the last setting of the workshop filter

- ContentTool: Checking possible whether a module has been assigned to a specific slot: function GetModuleSet(self: integer; slotindex: integer): boolean;
- ContentTool: Handling added if you have too few letters on the bitmap in the Font Tool
- ContentTool: Building type "Education" added
- ContentTool: Handling added if script texture is not present

- Content: FIS file updated from Steven3233
- Content: "Streckenzubehoer" updated from RW1HH
- Content: among other things the switch cabinet to test signal circuits added by Yufa
- Content: Masts for 3,5m track center distance from Florian added

- Simulation: Performance optimization when many multiplayer buses are in a game
- Simulation: splash screen at program start
- Simulation: Alternative camera control added: You can now also work with the right mouse button; then the following combinations apply:
* Right mouse button + Shift = Pan
* Right mouse button + Ctrl = move horizontally (F4 view only)
* Right mouse button + Shift + Ctrl = move vertically
* Right mouse button without anything = still secondary function of the control elements
- Simulation - Bugfix: Problems with initialization of other cars in the own train
- Simulation - Bugfix: Almex crash on PIS without routes is prevented

- ContentTool: New building category "fire brigade"
- ContentTool: "InitReadyForMovement" now also works in the modules

- Content - DL: VEHICLE_ROLLING is now sent
- Content - DL: ATBUSSTOP informs the ticket printer that it appears to have stopped at a stop (in the case of the DL, the stop brake is used)
- Content - DL: Almex printer can now enter special characters - for this purpose, the special character code in "L/S/K mode" as the second character after the line.

- Content - GT6N: New viewing directions in the driver's compartment "left" and "diagonally left"
- Content - GT6N - Bugfix: If you "touch" any controller (which does not affect the setpoint generator), the setpoint generator position was reset to 0.
- Content - GT6N - Bugfix: Show error when displaying the topmost stop in the "total list"

- Simulation: Streets module enabled
- Simulation: Force feedback support
- Simulation: mouse coordinate variables should now also work in the modules
- Simulation - Bugfix: Error/crash during transmission of broadcasts across couplings

- Simulation/ContentTool: Rear-view mirror with real-time reflection: switch on in the game via the graphics option "real-time reflections" (performance-relevant!)
- Simulation/ContentTool: The Complex* materials have a new parameter "Oblique view reduced. transp. and increases refl.". The background is that in reality the more oblique you look at a glass pane, for example, the less light is transmitted but more light is reflected. This parameter should be set for vehicle window panes, for example.
- Simulation/MapEditor/ContentTool: Uneven road surface for road vehicles, freely adjustable amplitude and "wavelength".

- MapEditor: Filter regarding the source (base content, payware addon, own object or certain workshop item) - feedback required!

- ContentTool: Error messages without text fixed :)
- ContentTool: New parameter for ComplexNormal material: scaling of normal maps compared to their mapping
- ContentTool: Logfile entry in the TexChange-Tool for non-existent textures of the original object added - the TexChangeSet can still be created for this object (but of course omitting the faulty texture ;-) )
- ContentTool: There are three new procedures to control ForceFeedback:
- Strength of centring: procedure SetForceFeedbackCenterforce(axisID: string; coeficient, saturation, offset: single)
- Friction: procedure SetForceFeedbackFriction(axisID: string; coeficient: single)
- Vibration effect: procedure SetForceFeedbackVibration(axisID: string; magnitude, period: single)

- Content: The Berlin double-decker bus is included for you for the first time! :-) Streets module required!
- Content: Krüger-Matrix now contains more variants for buses
- Content: LCD displays of Teneberus added
- Content: PIS file "Berlin Bus" of Steven3233 added

Language file changes:
- cont.objveh.importFromCorrDir ==> "You've tried to import from another directory. The x3d file has to lay in the same directory like the *.lob file."
- cont.objveh.importTexsMissing ==> "Textures are missing!"

Dear Ones, the first birthday of LOTUS Early Access has passed. If we leaf back through the patches of the past year, a lot has happened. We can only thank our addon developers, beta testers, players and admirers a thousand and one times! Thanks for all the support, the encouragement, the error messages, the biting through and the numerous beautiful screenshots - we love our simulator and we won't stop improving it with and for you! :)

On the occasion of this birthday there is a huge update of the Munich addon that you shouldn't miss, traffic light requests in LOTUS and - finally - the start of the public beta test of the LOTUS multiplayer.

The following features await you with today's patch, version 1.EA.043:

- Simulation/MapEditor/ContentTool: "Simple" traffic light requests are now possible and can already be tested on the Diorama map!

- Simulator: Multiplayer enabled for everybody! Please note: It is a beta test! :)
- Simulator: Small Performance Improvement (FPS)
- Simulation: If you switch from the F4 view to the F1 or F2 view and then back again to the F4 view, LOTUS "remembers" the old F4 camera perspective (but not if the train crossed a tile boundary in between). - You may still need some adjustments!
- Simulation - Bugfix: TimeOfDay should not become negative after 23:57:10 now
- Simulation - Bugfix: Clickspots "move" in F2 view at longitudinal inclinations

- Simulation/ContentTool: Adjustable rolling drag (basic drag and curve drag). It can be adjusted in the "Object settings" at the bottom (two new parameters).

- MapEditor: Reduction of visibility possible for better performance
- MapEditor: Further performance optimizations

- MapEditor/ContentTool: Complex signals now possible - on the one hand those that light up under more complex conditions (e.g. W0) or that can display several terms (combined optics or several optics in one housing etc.)

- ContentTool: Four new script commands for reading the FIS routes:
* procedure PIS_GenerateTempRouteListByLine(self: integer; line: integer): integer; - Creates an internal temporary list of route indexes containing all routes belonging to the line "line
* procedure PIS_SortTempRouteList(self: integer); - Sorts the internal list by route code
* function PIS_GetTempRouteListCount(self: integer): integer; - Returns the number of internal list elements
* function PIS_GetTempRouteListItemIndex(self: integer; templistindex: integer): integer; - This can be used to output the route index at the "templistindex" position of the temporary route list.

- ContentTool: New sound property "Random start position if endless sound". This is active by default (this corresponds to the previous playback behavior). If it is switched off, the sound (if it is an endless sound) always starts at the beginning of the sample (if it was stopped before) or at the place where the sound was played before (if it was paused before, see below).
- ContentTool: If the control variable of a loop sound is assigned via script "-2", then it is not stopped (i.e. the sound position is reset to 0) but paused, so that it continues at the previous position when restarted.

- Content - Signals: There are various signal boards (St2, W14, stopping boards, speed signals) as well as a universal, white switch status display, which also supports any number of terms in one optic (to be configured as a complex signal) and an optic, with which all digits from 1 to 15 can be displayed (also to be configured as a complex signal). In addition, suspensions for the overhead line have been added.
- Content: W0 is prepared for complex signal logic
- Content - GT6N: The GT6N now has rolling and curve drag. The intensity has to be fine-tuned.
- Content - GT6N: Switching command is still sent over the full 100m even if a beacon has been passed in between
- Content - GT6N: The train now sends a message of the type "VEHICLE_ROLLING" to the on-board computer as soon as it starts rolling (value = 1) or stops (value = 0).
- Content - GT6N: Sends "SWITCH_SEND_ACTIVE" to IBIS, where Value = 0 means that the 100m the turnout signal has been sent have "expired" and Value = 1 means that the 100m have just started.
- Content - GT6N/IBIS: Sends the wagon number with "INITSTRING" to the IBIS, which transmits it as a string in case the IBIS is reset.
- Content - IBIS => Flipdot: Broadcast "PIS"/"OFFSTRING", which transmits a string that overwrites the normal line/destination representation on the matrix.
- Content - diorama FIS file: Line 444 added with Route 1, which represents the operational ride