SimplePlanes News

It's been a while since we had an update, but after several rounds of beta we've released version 1.8. It's packed with new features that we think you're all going to enjoy. To those of you who saw the beta posts, most of this will be familiar, but to those who did not, here are some highlights.

We've added rotor engines so the commoners among us can make helicopters without going to such great lengths to do so. They simulate ground effects, translational lift, and all the torques you can imagine thrown into the mix, which the tail has to deal with to settle things down. The rotors use actual wing physics to produce the lift at the blades, so if the tail isn't up to the task of countering the torque of the main rotor, things can get quite spinny. Even with all the standard options, we knew there would be cases where some people can't get their heli to fly quite like they'd wanted, so in addition to all those, there are a bunch of additional XML properties to really tweak it.



The aircraft carrier is now one of the most exciting places in the known universe, and has so much more room for activities! It has a catapult to launch random items (airplanes?) at blistering speeds. Wanna slow down? We've got you covered with an arresting hook to get things back to the sub-blistering range. If you stroll on over to the red boxes on the deck, be prepared for the ride of your life as the elevator brings you to the lower deck where the party really starts. Just kidding, there isn't much down there, but if you use your imagination, anything is possible!



The magnets and winches allow you to pick up all the trash you've been dropping around the islands and carry them to other parts where your guests can't see them.



In addition to all the features, there are lots of tweaks/bug-fixes, so make sure to check out the list. We wanted to thank all the beta testers for their hard work, they helped us find a lot of bugs that would've slipped past, it is much appreciated! On that note, there are still some issues that we're working on, which will be addressed in a post-launch update in the coming days.

• Added Helicopter Parts
  
  
  
  • Main Rotor: Highly customizable helicopter rotor system.
    
  • Tail Rotor: Counteracts torque from the main rotor system(s) and provides yaw control.
    
• Added Winch part: Rotating drum that extends and retracts a cable. Works great with the new magnet part.
  
• Added Magnet part: Turn it on with an AG and this powerful electromagnet will stick to anything with the slightest hint of metal.
  
• Added Hollow Fuselage part: The visuals are hollow, but the collider is quite solid.
  
• Added Arresting Hook part: Helps to slow down quickly when landing on the aircraft carrier
  
• Added Catapult Connector part: Tells the aircraft catapult where to connect to your plane. (Not strictly required for catapult connection.)
  
• Major updates to the USS Beast aircraft carrier
  
  
  
  • Brand new mesh
    
  • Catapult launch system
    
  • Arresting cables
    
  • Elevators
    
• Upgraded game engine to latest version of Unity (2018.3)
  
• Added new stock helicopter: Gator 2 (modeled after a Huey Gunship)
  
• Added Fast Forward mode
  
• Added shift+click to yank a single part off a disconnected part group in the designer.
  
• Added option to specify the "Engage At %" for a propeller engine's throttle governor.
  
• Added Delay setting for detachers to allow for delayed detachment.
  
• Added Reconnect Part button to designer
  
• Added UI Scale slider to settings page in the main menu
  
• Added a VSync quality setting in the quality settings UI
  
• Added Sun Flare and Tone Mapping that can be toggled via a new Image Effects quality setting
  
• Added a camera look back (left/right) input for use in cockpit and first person cameras. Includes Cockpit/CameraVantage modifier XML attribute 'lookBackTranslation' to translate the camera (left/right, up/down) when looking back.
  
• Added a ModLoadLog.txt file that logs messages, warnings, and errors related to loading mods.
  

• Improved UI for part rotation to allow entering exact angles.
  
• Save player's settings for nudge and rotate amounts in part transform flyout.
  
• Several performance improvements
  
• Added ability to set a part's Input to Disabled in the designer part properties
  
• Added bindable keyboard shortcuts for toggling Part Transform, Part Properties, and Color panels.
  
• Counter measures now have hidden autoDispenseDelay XML option.
  
• Updated the input system (hopefully better controller support)
  
• Updated SimplePlanes logo in the main menu
  
• Improved support for splane/spmod file association handling on Android (some file managers will still have issues unfortunately)
  
• Improved file association loading of splane/spmod files while the game is running for GOG / DRM-Free builds.
  
• Reduced part drag calculation precision in order to improve performance for calculating drag for large crafts.
  

• Fixed a bug where fuselage inlets would revert the player's changes when immediately selecting another fuselage inlet before closing the Part Properties.
  
• Fixed a bug where the nudge part inputs would not work until the transform part panel was opened
  
• Fixed a bug where the download progress bar would report very high values on Mac
  
• Fixed bug which could cause the propeller engines to hunt for target pitch and never be able to reach it...could cause wild swings in lift.
  
• Only display "Aircraft Damaged" in Sandbox if the plane is hostile.
  
• Fixed speed of destroyers to match the aircraft carrier's speed
  
• Fixed the wind heading not showing up in the compass.
  
• Fixed a bug where the rings would spin oddly after passing through them in a race
  
• Fixed a bug where the view would rotate backwards if the player attempted to rotate the view too quickly.
  
• Small islands are no longer shiny and are now have friction for wheels.
  
• Fixed a bug where two rigid bodies could not be connected directly to each other at more than one place. Existing aircraft will continue to work this way, but new aircraft will support multiple physics connections. Old aircraft can be updated to use the new approach by changing their legacyJointIdentification attribute to "false" via XML.
  
• Fixed a bug with multiple conflicting inputs being deactivated when activated via ActivateCameraLook
  
• Fixed the position of the scrollbar on the mods menu
  
• Fixed a texture quality issue with low quality water.
  
• Fixed a bug where the fuselage properties would revert player's input text if their number ended in a zero.
  
• Fixed a bug where a designer undo step would not always revert the craft to the correct version.
  

• The build process and format of mods has slightly changed. When building mods for Windows/Mac, Unity will need both the Windows and Mac build components installed (mod tools should warn you if this is not the case). PC/Mac mods now include separate asset bundles for both platforms in a single mod file. You will likely noticed larger mod file sizes with this update. A new 'Debug' build option is available which builds the mod only for Unity's current target platform with the DEBUG symbol defined (should be a faster build than the other build options).
  
• A bunch of classes received interfaces which have been added to the mod tools. You may be able to get away with using less reflection code by taking advantage of these interfaces. These live in the "Jundroo.SimplePlanes.ModTools.Interfaces" namespace.
  
• Fixed a bug with the starting locations reflection proxy code which may have caused the spawining of AI aircraft to fail.
  
• Fixed a bug with mod level duplication when saving mods.
  
• Fixed a bug that prevented the cloning of parts with a hinge joint.
  
• Mod Builder Window style/layout tweaks
  
• Some additional info on changes and upgrading can be found on the modding wiki

• Since we updated Unity with this upgrade, several mods are likely to be broken. For this reason, mods will be automatically disabled the next time you start SimplePlanes. Nathan has been able to find some very clever ways to allow some mods to still function, but several mods will be broken with this update. We recommend turning them on one by one and testing each one to verify whether or not they still functions and don't cause any problems.
  

Changes since last beta

BUG FIXES

• Fixed collider misalignment on helicopter blades
  
• Fixed issue w/heli blade collider being incorrect when the hub is scaled.
  
• Fixed a bug where the camera could move wildly after un-pausing.
  

If you'd like to help us test, go grab the beta and if you find any issues let us know using this Bug Report Form.

We've got some new stuff for you to check out! Philip and Kevin have really outdone themselves and added a completely new propulsion system to the game. Helicopter parts, one of the most highly voted player suggestions, are now available. Quite possibly the best part ever added to SimplePlanes, which I find to be hilariously ironic. It includes highly detailed visuals, such as showing how the linkages and swashplate respond to cyclic and collective controls. It also supports ground effects, translational lift, and autorotations.



William and Kevin also significantly improved the aircraft carrier and added a launch catapult and arresting cables.



Nathan has been working in his laboratory, perfecting the mod support and doing what he can to save the current library of mods. Some mods will continue to limp along, but unfortunately many will have issues. If you are a mod developer, please consider upgrading your mods to work with the new mod tools.

• If you are concerned about losing data (such as planes, settings, unlocked locations), I highly recommend backing it up before trying the beta. There is always risk of losing data during betas. If that makes you uncomfortable, I'd recommend not trying the beta right now.
  Data folder: %APPDATA%..\LocalLow\Jundroo\SimplePlanes\
  

• Added Helicopter Parts
  
  • Main Rotor: Highly customizable helicopter rotor system.
    
  • Tail Rotor: Counteracts torque from the main rotor system(s) and provides yaw control.
• Added Winch part: Rotating drum that extends and retracts a cable. Works great with the new magnet part.
  
• Added Magnet part: Turn it on with an AG and this powerful electromagnet will stick to anything with the slightest hint of metal.
  
• Added Hollow Fuselage part: The visuals are hollow, but the collider is quite solid.
  
• Added Arresting Hook part: Helps to slow down quickly when landing on the aircraft carrier
  
• Added Catapult Connector part: Tells the aircraft catapult where to connect to your plane. (Not strictly required for catapult connection.)
  
• Major updates to the USS Beast aircraft carrier
  
  • Brand new mesh
    
  • Catapult launch system
    
  • Arresting cables
    
  • Elevators
• Upgraded game engine to latest version of Unity (2018.3)
  
• Added new stock helicopter: Gator 2 (modeled after a Huey Gunship)
  
• Added Fast Forward mode
  
• Added Speed button so mobile players can switch between slow-motion and fast-forward modes.
  
• Added Autopilot On/Off button for mobile players
  
• Added shift+click to yank a single part off a disconnected part group in the designer.
  
• Added option to specify the "Engage At %" for a propeller engine's throttle governor.
  
• Added Delay setting for detachers to allow for delayed detachment.
  
• Added Reconnect Part button to designer for mobile players
  
• Added UI Scale slider to settings page in the main menu
  
• Added a VSync quality setting in the quality settings UI
  
• Added Sun Flare and Tone Mapping that can be toggled via a new Image Effects quality setting
  
• Added a camera look back (left/right) input for use in cockpit and first person cameras. Includes Cockpit/CameraVantage modifier XML attribute 'lookBackTranslation' to translate the camera (left/right, up/down) when looking back.
  

• Improved UI for part rotation to allow entering exact angles.
  
• Save player's settings for nudge and rotate amounts in part transform flyout.
  
• Several performance improvements
  
• Added ability to set a part's Input to Disabled in the designer part properties
  
• Added bindable keyboard shortcuts for toggling Part Transform, Part Properties, and Color panels.
  
• Counter measures now have hidden autoDispenseDelay XML option.
  
• Particle systems no longer show under water
  
• Updated the input system (hopefully better controller support)
  
• Updated SimplePlanes logo in the main menu
  
• Improved support for splane/spmod file association handling on Android (some file managers will still have issues unfortunately)
  
• Improved file association loading of splane/spmod files while the game is running for GOG / DRM-Free builds.
  

• Fixed a bug where fuselage inlets would revert the player's changes when immediately selecting another fuselage inlet before closing the Part Properties.
  
• Fixed a bug where the nudge part inputs would not work until the transform part panel was opened
  
• Fixed a bug where the download progress bar would report very high values on Mac
  
• Fixed bug which could cause the propeller engines to hunt for target pitch and never be able to reach it...could cause wild swings in lift.
  
• Only display "Aircraft Damaged" in Sandbox if the plane is hostile.
  
• Fixed speed of destroyers to match the aircraft carrier's speed
  
• Fixed the wind heading not showing up in the compass.
  
• Fixed a bug where the rings would spin oddly after passing through them in a race
  
• Fixed a bug where the view would rotate backwards if the player attempted to rotate the view too quickly.
  
• Small islands are no longer shiny and are now have friction for wheels.
  
• Fixed a bug where two rigid bodies could not be connected directly to each other at more than one place. Existing aircraft will continue to work this way, but new aircraft will support multiple physics connections. Old aircraft can be updated to use the new approach by changing their legacyJointIdentification attribute to "false" via XML.
  
• Fixed a bug with multiple conflicting inputs being deactivated when activated via ActivateCameraLook
  
• Fixed the position of the scrollbar on the mods menu
  
• Fixed a texture quality issue with low quality water.
  
• Fixed a bug where the fuselage properties would revert player's input text if their number ended in a zero
  

• The build process and format of mods has slightly changed. When building mods for Windows/Mac, Unity will need both the Windows and Mac build components installed (mod tools should warn you if this is not the case). PC/Mac mods now include separate asset bundles for both platforms in a single mod file. You will likely noticed larger mod file sizes with this update. A new 'Debug' build option is available which builds the mod only for Unity's current target platform with the DEBUG symbol defined (should be a faster build than the other build options).
  
• A bunch of classes received interfaces which have been added to the mod tools. You may be able to get away with using less reflection code by taking advantage of these interfaces. These live in the "Jundroo.SimplePlanes.ModTools.Interfaces" namespace.
  
• Fixed a bug with the starting locations reflection proxy code which may have caused the spawining of AI aircraft to fail.
  
• Fixed a bug with mod level duplication when saving mods.
  
• Fixed a bug that prevented the cloning of parts with a hinge joint.
  
• Mod Builder Window style/layout tweaks
  
• Some additional info on changes and upgrading can be found on the modding wiki
• We recommend getting started on updating your mods now, but holding off on publishing them on our site and the Steam Workshop until the release goes public, so as not to disrupt players not currently in the beta.
  

• Since we updated Unity with this upgrade, several mods are likely to be broken. For this reason, mods will be automatically disabled the next time you start SimplePlanes. Nathan has been able to find some very clever ways to allow some mods to still function, but several mods will be broken with this update. We recommend turning them on one by one and testing each one to verify whether or not they still functions and don't cause any problems.
  

• Test all the new stuff!
  
• Test as many airplanes as you can and make sure they feel like they are flying and behaving the same as they do in 1.7
  
• Test the races, combat missions, and challenges
  
• How is the performance? Do you feel the game is running faster, slower, or roughly the same?
  

Thanks for helping us test!

• Open the Steam client and go to your Library
  
• Right click on SimplePlanes and select Properties
  
• Go to the Betas tab
  
• Select Public Test from the beta dropdown
  
• Click Close
  

The Steam Winter Sale is here and you all know what that means! Our games are on sale and we also put together a special bundle for all of you aerospace enthusiasts with an extra 15% discount.

For those of you who already own SimplePlanes on Steam, this bundle is a great way to get SimpleRockets 2 at a nearly 30% discount during this Winter Sale.

That's a great deal and I hope you check it out! Thanks for playing!

After more than two years of development, it's finally ready! SimpleRockets 2 is now available on Steam for PC and Mac.

SR2 is in Early Access now, so we are going to keep working on it and making it better with every update. Check our roadmap to see how we're doing and if you have any ideas then leave a suggestion here. It's already loaded with features, which you can read about on the Steam page.

Full release day info can be found here

When you are building rockets, you're most likely going to run into the occasional rapid unscheduled disassembly. It happens to even the most experienced rocket surgeons. You might as well embrace it and take advantage of the opportunity and snag some spectacular photos.



In addition to the visuals, we also improved the physics of the explosions quite a bit. Now larger fuel tanks will create much larger explosions. We also approximate the surface area of parts and use that to determine how much it should react to an explosion. I've spent far too many hours now sitting on the launch pad blowing up parts before realizing that I had long ago crossed the line between working and playing. Don't tell the other devs.

Here are some more great shots I got this weekend. And of course, a GIF to make this post look complete.



I apologize to the BaconAircraft, Tully, CjrLdy, Shigure, and CoolPeach for blowing up their beautiful crafts.

I would like to apologize to everyone for the intermittent outages on our websites. Our service provider is having issues and they are aware of the issue and working on it. Hopefully, they will figure this out soon.

Also, I should probably mention something about schedule (I know my fellow devs love when I talk about the S-word). We are not going to be launching in October and we are now most likely going to be launching in early November. Please, don't send me any black licorice. I have already purchased some and will be munching on it soon. Sorry for the slippage, but thanks for sticking with us! We hope it will be worth the wait!