Tank Mechanic Simulator News

[h2]Dear mechanics![/h2]

[h3]Update 1.6.1 is up![/h3]
After 1.6.0 a few things did not work great. On a few machines after sometime the game dropped a couple of null reference errors so we couldn’t not do nothing. We hope this patch 1.6.1 will address and resolve issues that some of you experienced.

This patch also adds two missing guidelines in .PDF that can be found in ModdingTools folders inside the game directory. Beside that we added a few things to help you with understanding the principles of the Museum Creator. One of them is a video tutorial we recorded during the week.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

On the Steam Workshop, as we said earlier in a previous post and also on our Discord or comments below the 1.6.0 announcement patch. We have released a few mods that give back removed content.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3361070770
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3361052165
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3361034207

[h3]Changelog 1.6.1:[/h3]
Added:

• TMS Modding Tools Guidelines.pdf
  
• TMS Museum Creator Guidelines.pdf
  
• ? Help button to Museum Creator with basic info about tools and shortcuts in the editor (English only)
  
• Additional labels with tool names (English only)
  
• Small stands as Museum Creator props
  

Modified:

• issue with double tanks spawning in main menu
  
• Game version changed
  
• Turn off Halloween event
  
• MG34 models for Tiger E changed to vehicle appropriate
  
• TMS Custom Assets Modding Guidelines.pdf
  
• Improved wide-screen support for Museum Creator Editor
  

Fixed:

• issue with double tanks spawning in main menu
  

Thanks and have a good one!
DeGenerals

[h2]Dear mechanics![/h2]

This update 1.6.0, brings a number of new features to the game, mainly from roadmap - which we have already written about in previous development statuses. This patch also turns special Halloween event :)



[h3]Museum Creator[/h3]


That is, the Museum Creator as Extended Museum. We have added an editor in which you can create your museum rooms by filling them with props. The basic things have been prepared by us based on things from the game. There are stands, posters, walls or floors. You can also use the tools to create and upload your props for use in the museum.

Tiny Desk Museum room seen on screens above can be found on Steam Workshop:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3357665411

[h3]Steam Workshop Uploader[/h3]
The tool for uploading mods to the Steam workshop has also received an update for patch 1.6.0. We have added two categories (tags): Museum Room Template and Museum Props.

[h3]PzKpfw VI Tiger Ausf. E[/h3]

We also added a new tank to the game: the PzKpfw VI Tiger version E, which we made for Tank Squad, we are also adding it here. Compared to Tiger 213, this vehicle is fully paintable, you can apply colours and camouflages to it just like other tanks in the game.

[h3]Diorama and more changes[/h3]

We have added diorama to the Overview mode, which we used to show on Discord some time ago. We have also added the choice of simulating the time of day cycle from Stage 4 of the Roadmap. The documentation for the mods has also been rewritten. The individual PDF files have been merged into one.



[h3]Worth to mention[/h3]
Steam has introduced new restrictions, forcing us to fill in the questionnaire for Age rating for Germany again.

We filled it out and marked truthfully that the game contains symbols banned in Germany. We appealed that we were not promoting Nazism etc. but Steam decided that this was not good enough. We have few choices like to exclude Germany market from selling TMS or for example to remove them completely.

This is something that we as creators do not agree with. First of all, we do not support any totalitarian or criminal regimes, we want to show history as it was. This makes us all the more surprised by this move when it will soon be five years since we released the game on Steam and now suddenly this is an issue.

At the moment, in patch 1.6.0, items containing swastikas - mainly museum stands with the Third Reich flag - as well as medals and other decorations with swastikas have been censored. Nevertheless, we will not leave it at that. In conclusion, the Steam workshop can be helpful ;)




[h3]UPDATE 1.6.0[/h3]

Added:

• Custom Museum (Museum Creator)
  
• New vehicle: Tank33 - PzKpfw VI Tiger Ausf. E
  
• Day night cycle option
  
• Halloween event
  
• New museum collectables
  
• New museum weapons (MP18, Mauser C96, SVT-40, Kar98k)
  
• New museum badges (Eastern Medal, German Cross, Virtuti Militari, Red Star, Patriotic War, Bronze Star, Berlin Badge)
  
• New switchable scene to Overview - Diorama
  
• Overview scene now have options to change materials on vehicles/tanks
  
• Day/night cycle mode setting to Proving Grounds
  
• Prop shop panel
  

Fixed:

• Camo not applying on Vehicle Shader when DefaultTextures are turned on
  
• Extinguisher stays immobile when opening fuel hatch
  
• Visible halloween & christmass stuff from Workshop when player is in museum creator
  
• Tiger II barrel not aligned
  
• M18 engine pushrods
  
• M8 Greygound bolts
  
• IS-2 right driver's peeriscope materials
  
• Maus periscopes
  
• UI fixes when screen resolution was small
  

Modified:

• TMS_Manual_EN.pdf
  

Removed:

• Removed side smoke launchers from Tiger E
  
• Nazi symbolism (swastika) from flags on museum stands and badges - Thanks Steam (October 2024 change, almost 5 years after release)
  

Thanks and have a good one!
DeGenerals

[h2]Dear mechanics[/h2]

[h3]Tank Mechanic Simulator is going to be part of PlayWay Publisher Sale 2024!

You can get a copy of Tank Mechanic Simulator with a -75% discount![/h3]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/407130

[h3]First Supply DLC with a -40% discount![/h3]

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1485420/

Have a good one!
Degenerals

[h2]Dear Mechanics,[/h2]

Welcome to our one hundred and sixteen development status update.

We are coming to you with some news and work in progress update regarding in-game museum editor called by us Museum Creator.

[h3]PzKpfw VI Tiger Ausf. E[/h3]



As promised in the last development update. With the upcoming update 1.6.0 (which you can read more about here) we will add a new tank. Yes, yes, another Tiger, this time version E, which we made for Tank Squad a month ago and which we will also include in TMS.



This one is a bit different in comparison to Tiger 213 which uses final textures with camo/colours already applied. Tiger E is made in "classic" approach where colours, camouflage, decals can be applied as you wish. The model itself obviously contains few changes. Few elements have been added and few have been removed.



There is also a commander version in Tank Squad but… fourth Tiger in TMS? Maybe T-70? :)

[h3]Upcoming patch 1.6.0[/h3]



We are preparing a major update tentatively numbered 1.6.0, which will include a number of new features and fixes. One of the most important things the patch will bring is Stage 2 of the Roadmap. The main fiddle here is played by the Museum Creator. We wrote about it in Dev Status #114.



In addition to an editor for the museum, where you can build and configure rooms to your heart's content, there will also be a decorator props shop. This includes a shop with so-called ‘Museum Collectibles’ aka ‘Metal Objects’. - that is, what can be extracted on extraction missions, i.e. weapons including machine guns, medals, decorations. In addition to this, the patch will also include the aforementioned Tiger E.



So yeah, altough we are working heavly on Tank Squad we did not forget about TMS ;)

[h3]Console update[/h3]



We have come to an agreement again with Console Labs. The original company porting TMS to ‘old’ generation consoles. Robert and I decided that, unfortunately, there are only 24 hours in the day and a lot of work to do, whether it's on Tank Squad or unfinished business at TMS, so we couldn't make the port on our own in time, even though we had managed to order development versions for the ‘new’ generation of consoles. Ordering the port to Console Labs was also recommended by our main investor.

More here: Official Console Labs statement

screens from latest console build

Console Labs is currently working on a port for the ‘new’ generation. The port will include this game in version 1.5.5 which means for sure both DLC1 and DLC2. What is planned for version 1.6.0 should also be included in the port, especially as work on the Museum Creator has been going on for some time and the current version of the repository used by Console Labs already includes this editor.

screens from latest console build

For more information about the port, follow their Facebook profile where information about the port will be posted.

https://www.facebook.com/consolelabs

screens from latest console build

That's as much as we wanted to show you, let us know what you think in the comments!

Thanks for all the support and have a good weekend.
DeGenerals

[h2]Dear Mechanics,[/h2]

Welcome to our one hundred and fifth-teen development status update.

[h2]WW2 Games Sale Fest[/h2]


We as DeGenerals S.A. are organizing a military event. A festival of World War II games in a wide range of genres from a variety of developers who share a common passion to military and history set games. Multiple titles are on sale, make sure to check them out!

Our games Tank Mechanic Simulator and Tank Squad are taking part. TMS and both DLC will be on discount. TMS -75%, DLC1 -40% and DLC2 -20%.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/407130/Tank_Mechanic_Simulator
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1485420/Tank_Mechanic_Simulator__First_Supply_DLC/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1065400/Tank_Mechanic_Simulator__Shermans_DLC/

Head on over to World War 2 Games Sale, on now with discounts, demos and more through June 6th at 3rd at 7am Pacific time.

Link to sale event: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/44891389/sale/WW2GamesSale

[h2]Tank Squad - Demo update[/h2]



We took the opportunity to update the Tank Squad demo version. We have gathered a lot of feedback from playtests and also from the current demo version. The demo version contains a number of improvements, many new things and fixes. We have introduced many things to the game according to your feedback and suggestions.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2622470/Tank_Squad_Demo

Below is the list of changes in the new version:
[h3]Features:[/h3]

• New rendering pipeline
  
• Tank Crew mode
  
• Xray/Hit cam (kill cam not yet implemented)
  
• Additional effect like suppression, damage indicators
  
• Optic ocular changing scale while zooming
  
• Extinguishers
  
• Smoke grenades
  
• Localization
  
• Notebook updated (visuals and logic)
  
• Vehicle status on Repair Station
  
• Visors (Tiger I)
  
• VFX update
  
• German voice overs (partly, still work in progress)
  
• New engine sounds for Tiger I
  
• Proving Grounds (Shooting range)
  

[h3]Overall & performance & graphics:[/h3]

• Changed BiRP to URP 14 (rendering pipeline feature)
  
• CPU & GPU Optmization
  
• Tanks, characters, weapons shader/materials optimization
  
• Desync fixes
  
• Improved ballistics
  
• Spalling (when penetrating vehicle armor)
  
• Shrapnels (every explosion)
  
• APHE effect (explosion after triggering HE fuse and reaching designated meter offset)
  
• HEAT effect (as a cone after first fuse trigger)
  
• Effective armor calculation - based on attack angle
  
• Effective projectile armor penetration - also based on attack angle
  
• AI infantry anti-tank behaviour
  
• Changed and optimized vegetation shader
  
• Optimized vegetation meshes
  
• Changed SSAO to HBAO
  
• Implementation of Beautify postprocessing
  
• Added texture arrays, for better CPU-GPU memory handling
  
• Optimized environment meshes
  
• Streamlined GPU usage (no more CPU waiting for GPU rendering)
  
• Optimized Indirect Instancing
  
• Changed Shuriken particle system, for VFX Graph (still in implementation)
  
• Better looking Impostors (far away meshes)
  

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1498130/Tank_Squad?snr=2_groups_partnerevents__100703

Thanks for all the support and have a good weekend.
DeGenerals