Vietnam SP v0.8 PUBLIC BETA

PMC Youtube channel · Post by **Snake Man** » 2002-08-04 11:45:00

Vietnam Theater v0.8 Public Beta for SuperPAK (SP) has been released.

DISCLAIMER: DO NOT DOWNLOAD THIS INSTALLER IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO BE A BETA TESTER AND RUN BETA SOFTWARE IN YOUR COMPUTER. PMC WILL TAKE NO RESPOSIBILITY WHAT SO EVER REGARDING THIS RELEASE. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Yeah its finally here. You can find more details on both the Vietnam page and all the latest beta testing development info from NAM BETA page which will be constantly updated when we have new information or bugs reported.

The one and only place to send feedback of anykind about v0.8 beta is this forum right here. If you must, you can email us directly but we would prefer that you post the text related material at least to this area. If you cannot host screenshots (JPG PLEASE PEOPLE!) you can email them to us.

Enjoy the testing

PMC TFW
Snake Man

twaelti · Post by **twaelti** » 2002-08-04 12:15:00

Woohoo - downloading as I write

Thanks - thanks - thanks for all your Theatre work! I just flew my first mission in ODS, simply great! Now moving over to Vietnam...

ccc · Post by **ccc** » 2002-08-04 13:14:00

no comment......just G_R_E_A_T!

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » 2002-08-04 13:50:00

Hi Snakeman,
Just got back from a sightseeing-flight over Dien Bhien Puh, and i must say that it looks good so far.
Once again: Great Job.
Greetz
Ryan
87th VFW

RoyHilliard · Post by **RoyHilliard** » 2002-08-04 17:59:00

I wonder if some of these people have got nothing to do all day but watch thier monitor just in case a somthing new hapens in the Falcon4 world, Vietnam is only released five minutes.
Im downloading now and i'll let you know my opinions
T Buster

hotel26 · Post by **hotel26** » 2002-08-05 00:16:00

I was very exited about the Nam theatre release.
Downloaded and installed both Nam and ODS but alas Nam keeps giving me an error at what used to be the last part of the pie screen.
Something about a cyclic rate error.
Tried everything i know now what ?

Duron 750, 512mb ram, hercules 4500 64mb card, SB audigy mp3 sound card, Win XP home all with the latest drivers.

Any help would be welcome.

H26

PMC Youtube channel · Post by **Snake Man** » 2002-08-05 00:31:00

quote:Originally posted by Hotel 26:
installed both Nam and ODS but alas Nam keeps giving me an error

Does ODS run ok when you switch to it?

quote: at what used to be the last part of the pie screen.

Hmm this usually is something to do with the terrain I think...

Can you tell me how many megabytes is your terrdata\Vietnam\terrain directory?

quote:Something about a cyclic rate error.

Does it give a error dialog in your screen? How about crashlog?

PMC TFW
Snake Man

hotel26 · Post by **hotel26** » 2002-08-05 03:01:00

Hi Snakeman
Turned out to be a bad install of the Nam theatre.
At least I hope so as I'm now flying it ok and enjoy it immensley.
Just hope it hasn't trashed the OSD theatre.

Something about installing new stuff for F4 I've noticed is that it's always a learning experience.

H26...... " Funny old game F4, at least it
is the way I play it ".

Ps. Sorry for the misquote Henry.

Intruder · Post by **Intruder** » 2002-08-05 06:47:00

Hi Snakeman

Vietnam is superb

But i has two Questions too, the first, why i cant change Teams in Tactical Engagement(North is Blue, and South is Red), and second, i missing Aircrafts like A-4 and A-7.

Great Job

Regards Intruder

PMC Youtube channel · Post by **Snake Man** » 2002-08-05 09:22:00

quote:Originally posted by Intruder:
why i cant change Teams in Tactical Engagement(North is Blue, and South is Red)

To tell you the truth, I don't know.

TE is not my speciality as I'm strong supporter of campaign (sounds like politicians answer doesn't it heh)

What I do know of the te_new.tac file is that if you have same ownership as in campaign files, then you get the team 6 (in our case north vietnam) in white color and if you recon/status the objectives you get immediate CTD.

This is old info, maybe I should re-check my stuff soon. But like I said, TE is not my speciality.

quote:and second, i missing Aircrafts like A-4 and A-7.

Yes because if I recall, both planes are marked with * and don't work in SP3.

I think the A-7 doesn't even have 3d model in SP3 files, I know Fred Balding has made great model for it so its under way, but not in the released SP3 version we are downloading all over the place right now.

Also F-105's are not included, they do have 3d model but no weapons and run out of fuel pretty much soon after they takeoff. So they are no good in campaign, dunno if you can load any weapons on them at TE though.

PMC TFW
Snake Man

Gatling · Post by **Gatling** » 2002-08-05 09:46:00

Help. I can't get this theater installed.

I haven't had any problem with installing previous SP3 theaters (ODS, Korea 2005), but can't get this one installed. My F4 is in the default directory (C:\Microprose\Falcon4).

I run the EXE file, and the InstallShield Wizard goes to the Terrain Installer screen. It then gives a message box which reads "Vietnam Theater not installed in the default F4 location. Select the location for F4 SP installation."

Whatever I then select, it still gives me this message. I cannot progress past this point. How do I install this theater?

ccc · Post by **ccc** » 2002-08-05 09:46:00

Thanx to Fred and artists, we'll got a nice A7. a very nice model indeed.
As for A4, got to wait. the developement priority seems changed.

ccc · Post by **ccc** » 2002-08-05 09:49:00

quote:Originally posted by Gatling:
I run the EXE file, and the InstallShield Wizard goes to the Terrain Installer screen. It then gives a message box which reads "Vietnam Theater not installed in the default F4 location. Select the location for F4 SP installation."

http://www.pmctactical.org/f4/cgi-bin/u ... 3&t=000089

Gatling · Post by **Gatling** » 2002-08-05 11:05:00

Thanks, CCC. It was an old Vietnam subdirectory in the Uninstall Information directory, as that thread suggested. Removed that, and got Vietnam installed with no problems, and it works like a charm. Just flew an IA over the Red River Delta! Great!!

T_Rex · Post by **T_Rex** » 2002-08-05 20:23:00

Interesting write up of Vietnam observations in this thread by Parislord at FW.

http://forums.frugalsworld.com/vbb/show ... post228278

starron · Post by **starron** » 2002-08-06 00:42:00

I had the same prob with loading camp..Turned out to be a bad F4E cpt. Switched to ayers, works fine....

PMC Youtube channel · Post by **Snake Man** » 2002-08-06 08:46:00

Btw CCC next time when someone has uninstall problem, post the FAQ page link

Some important information: Vietnam Installer uses KOREAN OBJECTS directory as source when installing new database. So if you have some third party patches active in falcon you need to unapply them for the duration of vietnam installer. Then you can apply them again.

I don't have any examples of which patches (if any) could cause problems, but any user made patch that modifies files in terrdata\objects directory for example Skins.

All is fine if you are running standard SP3 installation.

PMC TFW
Snake Man

Rainey · Post by **Rainey** » 2002-08-06 13:53:00

Installed the Theater and it is awesome, up there with ODS, the textures are really great, new and fresh and also tile quite well.

One little problem I noticed is that I created a TE from the airbase just above the island in the top-right corner of the map. I'm not sure which one exactly, but I made an USA flight, but whenever I join, my plane is a DPRK F-16, quite strange indeed. I'm not sure if its an error on my behalf, or something with the Theater, but I'm about 85% sure its something with the Theater.

Anyway, great work and I appreciate it heaps, keep it up, I look forward to trying and giving feedback in the future.

icebrain · Post by **icebrain** » 2002-08-06 16:42:00

For the next beta you need to remember to copy the lcktxtrc.irc file over from the default SP installation. That's why your B-52's aren't showing up (it can't find the string for their name).

PMC Youtube channel · Post by **Snake Man** » 2002-08-06 17:14:00

quote:Originally posted by icebrain:
copy the lcktxtrc.irc file over from the default SP installation. That's why your B-52's aren't showing up (it can't find the string for their name).

Oh never knew that. You mean its why they aren't showing up on Tactical Engagement?

PMC TFW
Snake Man

icebrain · Post by **icebrain** » 2002-08-06 20:47:00

quote:Originally posted by Snake Man:
Oh never knew that. You mean its why they aren't showing up on Tactical Engagement?

PMC TFW
Snake Man

Yeah, if it can't find the text string corresponding to the aircraft it won't show up... it'll also bring the designations into line (AV-8B would otherwise show as "HARRIER" for example). That file also contains the strings for campaign descriptions and such.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » 2002-08-06 22:13:00

I have several Theaters installed. Would it affect the others?
Greetz,
Ryan
87th VFW

Frogman · Post by **Frogman** » 2002-08-06 23:10:00

A job well done guys,

I do have a small problem.

Whilst in mid-flight, the program freezes for 2-4 seconds then continues. I also have had CTDs whilst in mid-flight.

Can you help with this one?

System Specs:

AMD K6/2 500Mhz
384 RAM
Creative TNT2 32Meg Graphics
Win98
SoundBlaster AWE 64/64Pro Soundcard
Latest Drivers

Frogman

PMC Youtube channel · Post by **Snake Man** » 2002-08-06 23:51:00

quote:I have several Theaters installed. Would it affect the others?

No.

quote:Whilst in mid-flight, the program freezes for 2-4 seconds then continues. I also have had CTDs whilst in mid-flight.

I don't know. You could post the crashlog's here so we can check out what causes the crash.

Remember to delete the crashlog in the falcon root dir, then play and when you get CTD then post the contains of the crashlog here. This way you do not send us crashlog possibly from some other CTD.

PMC TFW
Snake Man

Frogman · Post by **Frogman** » 2002-08-07 07:45:00

Thanks Snake Man,

Here is the Crash Log.

Frogman

[adming edited crashlog, thanks its been saved for debugging.]

snowball · Post by **snowball** » 2002-08-07 08:28:00

Wow...Vietnam theatre...Wow....

nice terrain tiles and sky fix...wow

hot hot hot...

Dead_Again · Post by **Dead_Again** » 2002-08-08 13:00:00

G day all
I found a runway in the water i tryed ctrl-Z-L but it did not come up. the airport i took off from was THAKHEK
when you take off from there you will see another airport (next to the one you take off from)its in the water thort you would like to know. I cant send you the pic & TE you can try it or i can send it to you through I.C.Q my number is 95559854 with the name RAM

P.S great job you all done keep up the good work

PMC Youtube channel · Post by **Snake Man** » 2002-08-09 00:38:00

quote:Originally posted by Dead_Again:
i tryed ctrl-Z-L but it did not come up.

Hold down CTRL and press Z then release both keys and press L.

Its kind of wicked like that

PMC TFW
Snake Man

icebrain · Post by **icebrain** » 2002-08-09 04:26:00

Mission generation in the campaign seems a bit weak... when I started I got a few F-4 flights and some BUFFs... now I get plenty of B-52 and F-111 flights, and the occasional A-6 mission (I relocated them to the carrier). I've seen F-4's airborne in the 3D world (flying CAP or something) but have no idea where they're coming from, since I don't see them listed in the ATO.

Maybe this has something to do with it being nighttime though... the campaign starts in late evening, and right now I'm at 0004 on day 2. I'll wait till daylight to see if the F-4's start generating again.

On the plus side, I took a lone F-111 (sent the wingies home; in Vietnam the Varks flew alone at low level) in to the outskirts of Hanoi and blew up a depot... that was awesome, skimming the hills at 200 feet in medium ride and not being able to see a thing out the cockpit. I've found that coming in real low on a target and using retarded bombs works well (though on one occasion it literally blew up in my face... my target was on a hill, I was dropping BSU-50's, and didn't compensate for the increased height... fragged myself).

ccc · Post by **ccc** » 2002-08-09 06:43:00

confirm invulnerable mig17 bug. its [damage by XX weapon] values are all zero in vnam object folder.

PMC Youtube channel · Post by **Snake Man** » 2002-08-09 09:20:00

quote:Originally posted by ccc:
confirm invulnerable mig17 bug. its [damage by XX weapon] values are all zero in vnam object folder.

Thanks CCC, bug added into the bug list.

PMC TFW
Snake Man

ccc · Post by **ccc** » 2002-08-09 13:58:00

fly vnam campaign for hours. great job!!

my 2c:

1. yankee station, probably too close to Hai-nan island.
2. USS constellation placed too south?
3. we need mig17 badly! sure, and lots other stuff.
4. B52 should use B52D model i think. later with G model?
5. OV10 and F5 Sq?
6. we need some Huey flying here and there, the wardog and symobol of nam theater.
7. use JimG's AAA edit?
8. add few more infantry and engineering units, to simulate NVA man power resource and repairing/transport ability.
9. SV Airbase can use some hawk sam site.
10. SM do you keep the veitnamnese vocals i sent you ages ago? dunno if we can link these vocals to infantry units..could simulate some cinemic audio effect in external view, thats old trick in FA days, Jim knew that, very cool feature.

I'd say this beta is pretty good, once SP4 out, it will definitely promote the immersion to a new height.

PMC Youtube channel · Post by **Snake Man** » 2002-08-09 18:18:00

quote:Originally posted by ccc:
1. yankee station, probably too close to Hai-nan island. 2. USS constellation placed too south?

I tried to place it accurately by looking the images found on hmm maybe it was on Hamms old site or somewhere.

quote:4. B52 should use B52D model i think. later with G model?

Okay I noted that to the campaign creation script.

quote:5. OV10 and F5 Sq?

Where should I place these squadrons and how many, any idea?

quote:6. we need some Huey flying here and there,

I have to look how close to the FLOT the army bases are where the Huey's and AH-1's are stationed. Mostly it can be that there is no need for CAS or distance is too long.

quote:7. use JimG's AAA edit?

Send it to me and I'll use it. Or instructions how to apply such edits in f4browse?

quote:10. SM do you keep the veitnamnese vocals i

Yeah I still have those.

quote:dunno if we can link these vocals to infantry units

No idea of the falcon 4 voice stuff.

quote:I'd say this beta is pretty good,

Considering the amount of bugs found, Yeah!

PMC TFW
Snake Man

barcl_m · Post by **barcl_m** » 2002-08-09 19:51:00

Hi All

Am enjoying getting shot down in a new enviroment. Heres a couple of bugs. have some 3d modles in the water. ( Oil rig tower look cool though). Also debrif screen have double entrys. Ah... erm whats the best way to get you the jpeg & the txt file?

Marcel

Doh! Read.....note...at....top..
RECORD BEGIN TIMESTAMP 8/9/2002 16:04:32.
Game is Campaign type Local

Mission Type: SEAD Strike
Flight Unique Id: 169981968
4 Ship Flight
Ac type: F-16CG
Contry: SVNAM

FLIGHT EVENTS
Event Viper joined as Fury11 at 05:50:00
Event SA2 launched at Viper 06:03:20
Event SA2 launched at Viper 06:03:31
Event SA2 launched at Viper 06:03:42
Event NVNAM SA-2 destroyed by Viper at 06:03:42
Event NVNAM SA-2 destroyed by Viper at 06:03:42
Event NVNAM SA-2 destroyed by Viper at 06:03:42
Event NVNAM SA-2 destroyed by Viper at 06:03:42
Event NVNAM SA-2 destroyed by Fury13 at 06:03:47
Event Viper ejected at 06:03:48
Event Viper exited from Fury11 at 06:04:12

-------------
PILOT SLOT 1:

Human Player: 2Lt. Joe Pilot
Callsign: Viper
Pilot status - MIA
Aircraft status - DESTROYED
AA Kills 0
AG Kills 4
AS Kills 0
AN Kills 0
Shoot At 3
Other Player Kills 0

WEAPON DATA

LOADOUT 0: 20mm M61
Starting Load 510
Fired 0
Missed 0
Hit 0

LOADOUT 1: AIM-120B
Starting Load 2
Fired 0
Missed 0
Hit 0

LOADOUT 2: AIM-9M
Starting Load 2
Fired 0
Missed 0
Hit 0

LOADOUT 3: AGM-88
Starting Load 2
Fired 0
Missed 0
Hit 0

LOADOUT 4: CBU-52B/B
Starting Load 2
Fired 2
Missed 0
Hit 2
Event CBU-52B/B released at 06:03:05@72hit SA-2 - damaged
Event @72hit SA-2 - damaged

LOADOUT 5: ALQ-131
Starting Load 1
Fired 0
Missed 0
Hit 0

--------------------------------------------------------
RECORD BEGIN TIMESTAMP 8/9/2002 16:04:32.
Game is Campaign type Local

Mission Type: SEAD Strike
Flight Unique Id: 158649880
4 Ship Flight
Ac type: F-16CG
Contry: SVNAM

FLIGHT EVENTS
Event NVNAM SA-2 destroyed by Viper at 06:03:42
Event NVNAM SA-2 destroyed by Viper at 06:03:42
Event NVNAM SA-2 destroyed by Viper at 06:03:42
Event NVNAM SA-2 destroyed by Viper at 06:03:42
Event NVNAM SA-2 destroyed by Fury13 at 06:03:47
Event Viper downed by NVNAM SA-2 at 06:03:50

-------------
PILOT SLOT 1:

Human Player: Joe Pilot
Callsign: Viper
Pilot status - KIA
Aircraft status - DESTROYED
AA Kills 0
AG Kills 4
AS Kills 0
AN Kills 0
Shoot At 0
Other Player Kills 0

WEAPON DATA

LOADOUT 0: 20mm M61
Starting Load 510
Fired 0
Missed 0
Hit 0

LOADOUT 1: AIM-120B
Starting Load 2
Fired 0
Missed 0
Hit 0

LOADOUT 2: AIM-9M
Starting Load 2
Fired 0
Missed 0
Hit 0

LOADOUT 3: AGM-88
Starting Load 2
Fired 0
Missed 0
Hit 0

LOADOUT 4: CBU-52B/B
Starting Load 2
Fired 0
Missed 0
Hit 0

LOADOUT 5: ALQ-131
Starting Load 1
Fired 0
Missed 0
Hit 0

PMC Youtube channel · Post by **Snake Man** » 2002-08-09 21:13:00

The nambeta page explains the details on bug reporting.

Double debrief entries are EXE issue and nothing to do with theater I believe.

Was those reports from the Present Day campaign as I noticed you got AIM-120B's in loadout?

PMC TFW
Snake Man

172ndhamm · Post by **172ndhamm** » 2002-08-10 02:25:00

re: location of "Yankee" & "Dixie" stations

quote: Originally posted by ccc:
1. yankee station, probably too close to Hai-nan island. 2. USS constellation placed too south?

As far as I know Yankee and Dixie stations werent at fixed positions- I've never seen anything suggesting they were... With two and sometimes as many as four Carrier's in the AO there was often 50 or more miles between them.
Also in interviews with the Captain of the USS Oriskany, John Iarrobino tells of sailing all over the damn Tonkin Gulf trying to find enough wind to launch his planes. The old 27 Charlie carriers catapults couldn't work up enough steam to launch without at least a 10 knot wind...

Here's the url where I have the map that Snakeman mentioned, it's near the bottom of the webpage...

Hamm.
http://members.shaw.ca/hamm172/utility2.html

(this link has been fixed 06-01-2003)

ccc · Post by **ccc** » 2002-08-10 02:50:00

thanx Hamm, great reference info and pic!
as that pic shows, i think yankee station could be placed accordingly. in current campaign its too close to Hainan. Also i heard some A6 was shot down by j6 due to violate chinese terriotries during nam war.

172ndhamm · Post by **172ndhamm** » 2002-08-10 03:17:00

I just read a book by Cmdr John (Pirate)Nichols Ret. about the USN's experiences on Yankee station, and he records that 4 of the 5 Attack, Recon, or Tanker aircraft lost in Air-Air engagements prior to the 1968 bombing halt were shot down by CHICOM migs. A KA-3 over Hoihow, China in 1966, an A-4C and two A-6As from the Connie in August of 1967, and finally two Choral-Sea A-1's near Hainan Island in 1968.
I haven't found references to Fighter losses yet, but Nichols writes they often had to detour south around Hainan on their way to Pack6 missions, with to occasional nuggets getting lost OVER Hainan...

ccc · Post by **ccc** » 2002-08-10 03:37:00

so we can set China as hostile side, place some interceptors for minimal BARCAP missions

Parislord · Post by **Parislord** » 2002-08-10 03:55:00

I've been playing this for a week now, and it's really great! However, I have a dumb question:

The only hostile aircraft I ever encounter are MiG-17's but there are none stationed at any of the red airbases...

Also, there is no tasking for NVAF aircraft! I've advanced the clock for over 48 hours and not received a single MiG-mission.

Is there something I have to tweak to fly for the oppo?