UBOAT News

Dear skippers,

A third hotfix for B129 is now ready for download. It brings new bug fixes and general improvements to UBOAT.

This update doesn't affect saved game states in any way. If you would like to find out more, please take a look at the changelog below!

[h2]Changelog[/h2]
[h3]User interface:[/h3]
- Fix: There was a slight offset in the bearing displayed in the periscopes and UZO.
- Fix: Launch toggles near torpedo launchers in the UI didn't had their state preserved after closing and opening the launchers UI back again.
- Fix: Tooltips that describe port were appearing after hovering mouse over the port officers.
- Fix: It was possible to purchase reputation upgrades that were marked as inaccessible.
- Fix: Lock tip in the periscope could appear above some of the periscope tools.

[h3]Missions:[/h3]
- Fix: Enigma recovery mission wasn't progressing correctly in some cases.
- Fix: After pulling the diver back during the Enigma recovery mission at the last stage, it's now possible to resume the story (after sending the diver again) at the stage where it was left.
- Fix: In the side-mission with an ally calling for help, player was sometimes receiving supplies from the ally instead of sharing his own supplies.
- Fix: After being damaged by the plane in the tutorial #4 and leaving the game on its own for long time, the leak was eventually repaired automatically by another engineer and it wasn't possible to continue with the tutorial.

[h3]Technical:[/h3]
- Major memory usage optimizations - largest gains are at the lowest settings.
- Updated Unity from version 2019.4.29f1 to 2019.4.30f1.

[h3]Crew:[/h3]
- Fix: All officers could silently knock out a panicking sailor, while only leaders with an appropriate skill should be able to do it.
- Fix: Permanent assignment of a sailor to officer in the management view was sometimes stopping to work.

[h3]Localization:[/h3]
- Major Korean localization update by Zaswedx.
- Chinese localization update by SparrowSHEN (Q:173678441).
- Czech localization by Spid3rCZ.
- German localization update by Ruby.
- Italian localization update by BeeTLe BeTHLeHeM.
- Spanish localization update by Tordo.

[h3]Physics:[/h3]
- Ship wrecks are now becoming slightly buried in the seabed after sinking and become much more immobile at such point. This change fixes various physics issues on high TC due to interaction with the seabed.

[h3]General:[/h3]
- Fix: Fixed a second CTD on launch issue related to multi-screen setups.
- Fix: After destroying the tanks in Aruba, leaving the area and coming back, the tanks were there again.
- Fix: Game states saved right after completing the tutorial #2, #3 or #4 could in some cases not load.
- Regression fix: NPC ships weren't anchoring correctly since Hotfix 2.

Yours,
DWS

Dear skippers,

The second hotfix for B129 is now complete. It brings new bug fixes, general improvements and balance tweaks to UBOAT.

This update doesn't affect saved game states in any way. If you would like to find out more, please take a look at the changelog below!

[h2]Changelog[/h2]
[h3]Optimizations:[/h3]
- Optimizations focused on improving performance when a high time compression is in use on the map.
- Improved performance when there are many contacts present on the map, for example after using "Detect" command in the console.

[h3]Graphics:[/h3]
- Periscope bearing now looks better on screen resolutions above 1080p.

[h3]World simulation:[/h3]
- Fix: Ships could at some point disappear, without a clear explanation, if the convoy to which they belonged to had spread out over a very large area.
- Fix: When a large group of ships was divided into a few smaller ones, all ships were disappearing and appearing again after a short while.
- Regression fix: While moving away from a group of ships, it could at some point change a position without explanation since Hotfix 1.

[h3]Technical:[/h3]
- Rolled back Unity from version 2019.4.30f1 to 2019.4.29f1.

[h3]Physics:[/h3]
- Fix: When sailors were going into a ragdoll state, they were instantly moving into a lying pose. This behaviour was increasing chances of unusual ragdoll behaviour, like getting stuck inside the walls.
- Fix: Added a collider to the external hatch, to ensure that ragdolled characters won't ignore it.

[h3]User interface:[/h3]
- Fix: "Unlock" tip was appearing in the periscope's view after rotating it 180 degrees from the locked target.

[h3]Localization:[/h3]
- Italian localization update by BeeTLe BeTHLeHeM.

[h3]General:[/h3]
- Selling prices are now by default lower than the buying prices. Only officers with the Merchant skill may buy and sell everything at the equal price. This fixes an exploit, where it was possible to buy items with an officer having the Merchant skill at a reduced price and then sell them at a full price with another officer.
- Fix: Game was instantly crashing at startup on certain systems. It was linked to multi-monitor setups.

Yours,
DWS

Dear skippers,

We just finished working on the first hotfix for B129. It brings some bug fixes as well as a few general improvements.

This update doesn't affect saved game states in any way. If you would like to find out more, please take a look at the changelog below!

[h2]Changelog[/h2]
[h3]Technical:[/h3]
- Updated Unity from 2019.4.29f1 to the latest Long Term Support release 2019.4.30f1.

[h3]Missions:[/h3]
- Fix: Mission with recovering gold from a merchant ship wasn't stating how much gold needs to be loaded. Note: this change may take time to propagate to all language versions of the game.

[h3]Localization:[/h3]
- French localization update by FvJ and Placebo.

[h3]World simulation:[/h3]
- Fix: Convoys were sometimes shifting away on the map after approaching them.

[h3]User interface:[/h3]
- Fix: It was possible to add a single sailor to the same shift multiple times.
- Fix: Order of targeting a ship by the officer was sometimes not working and it was necessary to click a few times.

[h3]General:[/h3]
- Added possibility to throw overboard items from the main storage.
- Adjustments to the bearing present in periscope views to ensure that it remains visible in all view modes.
- Fix: Game was becoming stuck right after launch on some systems, if game couldn't connect with Steam for any reason (antivirus could be one possibility).
- Fix: Fix to an issue with some game states not loading correctly. They will load fine after this update.

Yours,
DWS

Dear skippers,

Version B129 is now the new stable version of UBOAT. It's the largest update to the game that we made thus far and hope that you will enjoy it!

The list of changes is very long. We prepared a quick summary below and invite you to take a look. It's not a complete list, but some of the top highlights.

[h2]Campaign[/h2]
The largest addition in this update is a campaign that adds a much needed variety to the usual u-boat's service of performing patrols.



During the campaign, your u-boat will have to travel all around the world and engage in special activities.



Most of the missions in the campaign are based on well documented operations that actually happened during World War II, some are based on stories and rumors that we found intriguing and one is a result of artistic liberty although it's also strictly rooted in history.



[h2]Prize rules and newspaper stories[/h2]
From now on, your u-boat may sink all shipping that is headed towards the blockaded enemy ports. Also, some enemy ships are now flying a false flag as a deception. If you suspect that either of these things may be true, you can send your team to inspect a neutral ship and find out the truth.



Such less obvious targets are more likely to carry a very valuable cargo. If you manage to sink them, you may get an additional reward and maybe even appear in a newspaper.



[h2]Languages[/h2]
This update brings a Portuguese and Czech translations into the game. They are a result of dedication and work done by Roliçonho (Portuguese) and Spid3rCZ (Czech) from the community.



There also were major updates to all of the existing languages:

• Russian by Hard.
  
• Spanish by Tordo.
  
• Chinese by SparrowSHEN (Q:173678441).
  
• Turkish by tokyo.
  
• Italian by BeeTLe BeTHLeHeM.
  
• French by FvJ and Placebo.
  
• ...and of course German by Ruby.
  

Warm thanks guys!

[h2]Supply ships[/h2]
Submersible supply ships of Type XIV also called "milk cows" are now part of the game. You can receive them as a reward for various campaign missions. They are an invaluable help, while performing missions near the American coast!



[h2]Bogue-class aircraft carriers[/h2]
These carriers are used by U.S. Navy and Royal Navy and complement the existing Illustrious-class already present in the game.



[h2]New navies[/h2]
This update adds Spanish, Portuguese, Argentine and Swiss navies with hundreds of historically correct ships.

We also added hundreds more ships to existing U.S. and British navies.

[h2]Quality of life improvements[/h2]
[h3]Removed loading splash screens[/h3]
The paused loading screens whenever u-boat enters a coastal area are now gone. Everything happens in the background instead.



[h3]Reworked radio[/h3]
Radio was reworked from the previous list interface into a separate screen that is much more immersive and feels more appropriate.



[h3]New time compression level[/h3]
Newly added 140x time compression level dramatically improves the flow of gameplay. You will be unable to live without this one once you get used to it.

[h3]Reworked campaign setup[/h3]
Each update so far was adding new realism settings to the campaign setup. We felt that this screen needed an update to make it more pleasant and easier to use for the new players.



[h3]Optimizations[/h3]
Despite adding a lot of new content, this version due to added optimizations is most likely going to have higher FPS and less stutter than any previous release. Enjoy! ːsteamthumbsupː

[h2]Crew management[/h2]
[h3]Immersive damage control[/h3]
Sailors now autonomously react to leaks on board and try to block them on their own before an engineer arrives to make the final repairs. Everyone involved in the damage control now places various utilities around and stacks boxes to access a highly elevated damage.

These changes together make the damage control much more immersive and life-like in our opinion!



[h3]Discipline rework[/h3]
Discipline was reworked in this update into a new system. From now on, discipline usually changes over long periods of time, while newly added stress may rise and fall much more quickly during the combat and spread panic on the ship.

These two mechanics are interlinked together, so if the discipline is high on your ship, you will likely not have to deal with stress effects in most battles.



[h3]Sailors working at the radio[/h3]
Since this update, regular sailors work at the radio station when there is no officer present. This way, you will get notified whenever an incoming radio transmission appears and don't have to keep your radiomans at work 24/7.

[h3]Skill system overhaul[/h3]
The skill system was completely overhauled. Many existing skills were reworked and there are numerous new ones added.

New leader skills: Navigator, Gunner, Personal skills, Supporter.
New engineer skills: Pyrotechnic, Engine specialist, Handyman, Torpedo Mechanic.
New radioman skills: Propeller recognition, Radio usage practice.
New language skills: English speaker, French speaker, Spanish speaker, Portuguese speaker and Linguist.
New personal skills: Merchant, Thrifty, Runner, Thorough, Tough.



[h2]Simulation[/h2]
[h3]Long-range hydrophone detection[/h3]
Previously, due to technical limitations, only nearby propellers in the range of up to 15 km could be heard when hydrophone was used manually. This update has reworked many underlying systems to allow you to hear them from any distance from which hydrophone was historically able to pick them up.



[h3]Funnel smoke above horizon[/h3]
Funnel smoke is now visible from a much higher distance than before, even when the ship emitting it is hidden behind the horizon.



[h3]Hydrophones dead zone[/h3]
Previously, dead zone was present only when player was using hydrophone manually on the u-boat. This update ensured that AI is affected by it in the same manner.

[h3]Balance pass for device noise levels[/h3]
Noise levels of all devices on board were reworked to make them more realistic and provide a more balanced gameplay.



[h3]Food management[/h3]
Food management in the game is now optional. You can disable this module, while preparing a new campaign.



[h2]Graphical improvements[/h2]
[h3]Crews on NPC ships[/h3]
This update adds NPC crews on all ships and aircraft. They are looking much better than before, walk around the decks and do various work.



[h3]Volumetric lighting effect[/h3]
Volumetric lighting is a fog-like effect that is most intense near the light sources as they light up particulate matter in the air. It's a quite mood building addition in our opinion.



[h3]Subsurface scattering effect[/h3]
Subsurface scattering is a subtle effect that makes people appear more life-like by propagating the light through skin.

We first added this effect a long time ago, but certain rendering upgrades made it incompatible and we had to remove it before the first release of the game. This time we added a new, lightweight implementation that shouldn't have a noticeable effect on the performance.



[h3]Diesel exhaust effect[/h3]



[h2]Torpedo overhaul[/h2]
[h3]Animated torpedo launches[/h3]
Torpedoes no longer appear in front of the launcher, but instead the torpedo launch sequence is now fully animated ːsteamthumbsupː



[h3]FAT and LUT torpedo programs[/h3]
Torpedoes now exist in FAT and LUT variants that have a built in program which in case of a miss start to steer the torpedo into a special zig-zagging pattern that increases a chance to hit another random target inside the convoy.



[h3]Magnetic and impact detonators[/h3]
Before launching a torpedo, you will now have a possibility to determine, if you want to use an impact or magnetic detonator. They both have their strong and weak points, so choose wisely!



[h3]Reworked torpedo detonation effect[/h3]
Torpedo detonations were completely reworked and are much more satisfying than before!







[h2]Map improvements[/h2]
[h3]Paper-like skin[/h3]
A new map skin was added that looks more paper-like than the others. It's now the default look of the map.



[h3]Spoiler-less markings[/h3]
We removed all spoilers from the map markings and from other parts of UI. You will no longer know ahead what you are dealing with and experience that thrill of meeting the unknown vessels in the middle of ocean.



[h2]Miscellaneous[/h2]
[h3]New items[/h3]
This update introduces various new items for the purpose of simulating a more realistic shipping in the game. These items include:
- Iron ore.
- Coal.
- Tea.
- Tobacco.
- Grains.
- Rubber.
- Tire.
- Gold.
- Valuables.
- Lumber.
- Money.
- Karabiner 98k.



[h3]Prisoners of war[/h3]
It's now possible to rescue survivors from sunk ships and shot down aircraft and carry them back to port for a reward. You will be especially rewarded for bringing back captains, first engineers and pilots.



[h2]Full changelog[/h2]
If you would like to read the whole changelog, please follow this link: Full changelog.

Yours,
DWS

Dear skippers,

Update B129 Preview 31 is now complete and ready to download on the public testing branch.

This version brings a few important memory usage optimizations and with it we are now almost ready to publish B129 as the new stable version. Keep your fingers crossed! ːsteamthumbsupː

[h2]Changelog[/h2]
[h3]Graphics:[/h3]
- Major optimizations to the memory usage of the game.
- Fix: If game was running at the lowest settings, shadows were missing on the skipper customization screen.
- Fix: Tweaks to camera placement for a dialogue with the recruitment officer at La Spezia, Kiel and Bergen.
- Fix: Improved alignment of the enemy ports to match the new terrain in B129.
- Fix: Brightness mismatch between segments of certain large ports like Bergen.

[h3]Modding:[/h3]
- Fix: Modding tools were exporting mod manifests in a deprecated format.

[h3]Localization:[/h3]
- Spanish localization update by Tordo.

Yours,
DWS