Vietnam Theater v0.4

PMC Youtube channel · Post by **Snake Man** » 2001-03-06 10:56:00

Vietnam Theater v0.4 release, discussions.

Major bugs that were found on BETA 4 has been fixed, this is now release version 0.4 - not a beta. It doesnt mean that his is final product or without bugs.

Got it?

This release should work for you guys a while, it just might be that next version is coming out not until next winter... we will see.

Any comments, bug reports or guestions you might have, please post them here.

PMC TFW
Snake Man

GigaShadow · Post by **GigaShadow** » 2001-03-09 21:21:00

Installed the BETA 4 and the V0.4 Vietnam Theater. Put it on a fresh installed Falcon 4 with the 1.08us Patch and expanded F4-Patch.
Falcon didn´t start. Always a window pups open saying the following:

No such file or directory: Couldn´t read block offset data

Error: 81 C:\falcon\Graphics\Terrain\Tlevel.cpp Dec 9 1999

Have the same problem with the israel Theater.

PMC Youtube channel · Post by **Snake Man** » 2001-03-10 06:07:00

quote:Originally posted by GigaShadow:
Installed the BETA 4 and the V0.4 Vietnam Theater. Put it on a fresh installed Falcon 4 with the 1.08us Patch and expanded F4-Patch.
Falcon didn´t start. Always a window pups open saying the following:

No such file or directory: Couldn´t read block offset data

Error: 81 C:\falcon\Graphics\Terrain\Tlevel.cpp Dec 9 1999

Run ntF4PTinstall.exe - select Vietnam dir and let it run, this will take few minutes depending on your computer speed.

PMC TFW
Snake Man

GigaShadow · Post by **GigaShadow** » 2001-03-10 16:37:00

I have been running TInstall.exe. Falcon does now start, but when I want to start a campaign, I got CTD.

Here are my system specs:

Celeron 400
Voodoo 5 5500
SB Live! Player
256 mB Ram
Saitek X-36 USB

Windows ME
All drivers are up-to-date.

PMC Youtube channel · Post by **Snake Man** » 2001-03-10 17:59:00

quote:Originally posted by GigaShadow:
I have been running TInstall.exe. Falcon does now start, but when I want to start a campaign, I got CTD.

Do you see Vietnam map? Do you see Vietnam squadrons? Did you select the rolling fire (middle) campaign?

PMC TFW
Snake Man

GigaShadow · Post by **GigaShadow** » 2001-03-11 02:13:00

Yes, to all your questions above. I think it´s a problem with the missing DOS-mode in Win ME.

Foxtrot · Post by **Foxtrot** » 2001-03-11 04:34:00

I get the same with Windows 2000.

AMD Thunderbird 750
Voodoo 3 3000
Aureal Vortex 2
392 megs

What exe is the theater made for? Or does that even matter? I'm using 108i2 and RP4.

Foxtrot

PMC Youtube channel · Post by **Snake Man** » 2001-03-11 04:50:00

quote:Originally posted by GigaShadow:
I think it´s a problem with the missing DOS-mode in Win ME.

Hmm it should not matter, as we dont have new tiles. v0.4 installer dont even try to run the pkzip.

Can you show me the filenames and filesizes of the directory terrdata\Vietnam\terrain please.

PMC TFW
Snake Man

PMC Youtube channel · Post by **Snake Man** » 2001-03-11 04:51:00

quote:Originally posted by Foxtrot:
What exe is the theater made for? Or does that even matter? I'm using 108i2 and RP4.

To this date the theaters are all compatible with all exes.

PMC TFW
Snake Man

GigaShadow · Post by **GigaShadow** » 2001-03-11 11:16:00

quote:Originally posted by Snake_Man:
Can you show me the filenames and filesizes of the directory terrdata\Vietnam\terrain please.

PMC TFW
Snake Man

Theater.l0 - 73.310KB
Theater.l1 - 18.629KB
Theater.l2 - 4.764KB
Theater.l3 - 1.243KB
Theater.l4 - 335KB
Theater.l5 - 98KB
Theater.map - 2KB
Theater.mea - 32KB
Theater.o0 - 256KB
Theater.o1 - 64KB
theater.o2 - 16KB
Theater.o3 - 4KB
Theater.o4 - 1KB
Theater.o5 - 1KB

[This message has been edited by GigaShadow (edited March 11, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by GigaShadow (edited March 11, 2001).]

Greywolf · Post by **Greywolf** » 2001-03-14 01:21:00

Installed a fresh install of Falcon4, updated it to the 108US patch, then added F4Patch_322 with iBeta_108i2 from Bierlings site. I also added the F4Patch_Cockpit's, F4Patch_Skins, and F4Patch_Sounds all from Bierlings site. Then added the Vietnam Theater 0.4. Works fine except for a 108i2.exe error I get when exiting the game. Any ideas as to what is causing it?

Greywolf · Post by **Greywolf** » 2001-03-14 05:04:00

Ok, heres more on what I've seen. This error message 108i2.exe ERROR only seems to occur when I am leaving the game AFTER flying in the Campaign. Also, someone else on another thread mentioned that he's not getting any missions in his Frag Order, I'm seeing that too. It seems that in Campaign mode, I can only fly out of Da Nang. Myself and my squad have been flying your Vietnam_Beta4 for about a month or so almost every night, and it was fine. This new version seems to have a ton of bugs in it. Also the new version seems to have a ton of TU16's and IL-28's in it. What happened to the Mig 21's, or do they come in later in the campaign.

PMC Youtube channel · Post by **Snake Man** » 2001-03-14 08:24:00

quote:Originally posted by Greywolf:
This error message 108i2.exe ERROR only seems to occur when I am leaving the game AFTER flying in the Campaign.

And that is a problem, error message when exiting a game? I mean, it dont keep you from flying or anything

quote:I can only fly out of Da Nang.

I have got flights scheduled from B52/F111 squadrons.

quote:This new version seems to have a ton of bugs in it.

Which are ?

quote:ton of TU16's and IL-28's in it. What happened to the Mig 21's, or do they come in later in the campaign.

I never added TU16's, if there are those then we got something wrong. Mig-21's are on Vinh and Kep if I recall.

PMC TFW
Snake Man

Greywolf · Post by **Greywolf** » 2001-03-14 15:21:00

Snake Man,

Sorry about being so abrupt yesterday, I had a bad day and I was looking forward to flying Falcon last night but we ran into those problems. Like I said, I'm involved in a small (4-5 guys)squad, and we love to fly in the multiplayer campaign. We had been using your beta 4 version and we enjoyed it immensely, we figured we would update to your latest version.

Brewskie, posted a message in another thread that mentions some of the things I'm seeing. Now I am an experienced Falcon4 user, and I'm used to the little tricks with installing Falcon, and the way you need to expand package to install F4Patch and its components.

Here's what I'm seeing in a nutshell.
Flights are not being scheduled from Korat, Ubon, Amphoe, & Nakon. If you start a campaign from any of those bases, upon enetering the Campaign you will see briefly a mission in the Frag Order screen, but after about 10-15 seconds, the Frag Order screen empties out and you cannot fly that mission. I've even attempted to advance the clock to see if the planning screen comes up and places makes new missions available. Thats a No Go, it doesnt happen at all.

Regarding Plieku and Da Nang, the missions are working but I'm not getting any sentry vectors either.

Regarding Mig 21's from Vinh or Kep, I'm not seeing any Mig 21's at all. What I am seeing when I'm flying (were in Day 2 of a Campaign) is TU-16's and IL-28's mixed occasionally with some Mig 19's. This is usually while we are enroute to target area's along the coast.

Also, I'm not sure if this is what you intended .... but in your Beta4 version, flying out of Da Nang or anywhere else for that matter, there were a lot of 4 ship missions. In this version, flying out of Da Nang I'm seeing many more 2 ship missions than the previous version.

I apologize for getting off on the wrong foot with you, and I realize that you need more information from me to figure out whats wrong. Hopefully I've given you enough to point you in the right direction for a fix. If there is anything I can do as far as testing in the future please let me know. Right now, your Vietnam is about all my squad fly's when we are doing online multiplayer.

PMC Youtube channel · Post by **Snake Man** » 2001-03-14 15:39:00

quote:Originally posted by Greywolf:
Sorry about being so abrupt yesterday,

No problem, dont worry about it.

quote:I'm involved in a small (4-5 guys)squad, and we love to fly in the multiplayer campaign. We had been using your beta 4 version and we enjoyed it immensely,

Thats very nice to hear you like the theater.

quote:Flights are not being scheduled from Korat, Ubon, Amphoe, & Nakon. If you start a campaign from any of those bases, upon enetering the Campaign you will see briefly a mission in the Frag Order screen, but after about 10-15 seconds, the Frag Order screen empties out and you cannot fly that mission.

Okay this is news to me. I personally havent flown much Vietnam since beta 4 and the quick test I made after the fixes everything was fine (of course didnt test those bases). I have not changed anything about the squadrons and its very strange that the missions disappear from the schedule.

quote:Regarding Mig 21's from Vinh or Kep, I'm not seeing any Mig 21's at all.

Well I remember seeing Mig-21's on my last flight along the coast. But I guess its back to do more testing.

quote:What I am seeing when I'm flying (were in Day 2 of a Campaign) is TU-16's and IL-28's mixed occasionally with some Mig 19's.

Now that I checked out the campaign file there indeed are TU-16 squadron. Why, that I dont know

quote:but in your Beta4 version, flying out of Da Nang or anywhere else for that matter, there were a lot of 4 ship missions. In this version, flying out of Da Nang I'm seeing many more 2 ship missions than the previous version.

I have no idea how to effect what kind of flights the campaign engine schedules. It could be that if there are now less squadrons available (there IS squadrons but something is bugging) it schedules less planes per flight... I dont know, just a wild guess.

quote:Hopefully I've given you enough to point you in the right direction for a fix. If there is anything I can do as far as testing in the future please let me know.

Thank you for reporting them, will try to fix them asap.

PMC TFW
Snake Man

PMC Youtube channel · Post by **Snake Man** » 2001-03-14 16:23:00

Ok I have small campaign update for you guys.
First let me show you how it works for me.

There are rather large images so I wont attach them here. In these images you see Few bases and the flights that got scheduled.
http://www.pmctactical.org/f4/screensho ... v0_4-1.jpg
http://www.pmctactical.org/f4/screensho ... v0_4-2.jpg
http://www.pmctactical.org/f4/screensho ... v0_4-3.jpg

And the fixes I made, well most obvious is the "crash" error after exiting campaign, thats now gone. Also there was TU-16, Mig-23 and even Mig-29 squadrons added (gee, how did that happen), they are now gone. One thing I noticed when made few tests is that the U.S. 211th Supply batallion surrenders when campaign starts... heh hmm

Anyways here is rather small updated campaign file. To install: make sure Vietnam Theater is active at F4Patch and then unzip this zip to the campaign\Save directory.
http://www.pmctactical.org/f4/VietnamCa ... 2-beta.zip

Let me know how it goes.

PMC TFW
Snake Man

PMC Youtube channel · Post by **Snake Man** » 2001-03-14 16:26:00

I forgot to mention, my system is Falcon 4.0 - Version 1.79921z (from eRazor crashlog).

PMC TFW
Snake Man

Greywolf · Post by **Greywolf** » 2001-03-14 20:20:00

Ok thanks, I'll check it out later tonite and let you know how it works out. We haven't been using any eRazor patchs, were mostly using the 108i2 stuff, will this be a problem with your fix?

Greywolf · Post by **Greywolf** » 2001-03-15 15:21:00

Snake_Man

Ok, I downloaded your patch and checked it out last night briefly.

The fix for the 108i2.exe is fine, didn't have a single error message all night.

Ok, no more TU-16's and I'm seeing Mig 21's coming up from Vinh now.

Still having problems getting a F4E Squad to fly out of Ubon. I think I selected the 10th FS at one time, and again upon entering the Mission Screen, I briefly see a Strike mission listed in the Frag Order, but again after about 10-30 seconds that mission disappears.

Ok, flying out of Da Nang, you mentioned how the US 211th Supply Battalion surrenders at the start. Yes, I saw that ... however, if you go out of Ubon, the Update message isn't of the US 211th, it's about a NVD Infantry Battalion surrendering. Check that one out.

Other than that, the only thing we are seeing but were unsure if its a connection issue is this. We get a mission order for a Pre-Planned CAS, and were supposed to strike a Tank Battalion at the target area. We get to the target area, and see Nothing, nothing on Radar, nothing visually. We start to circle the target area, and suddenly the TWR starts lighting up, we still see nothing and then the enemy just starts to appear, like out of no where. Again, I'm not sure if this is a connection issue or not. I'm on Cable when I host and I'm setting it up at 28.8, and asking the guys to join at 14.4, we did this with your Beta4 and things worked just fine. Were now experimenting with adding a -pf 200 command to the executable line.

OK thats it for now, if I find any other items or problem areas I'll let you know. Thanks again for the quick response and all your hard work with this project.

TheSilkMan · Post by **TheSilkMan** » 2001-03-15 19:20:00

Make sure all bubble settings, Object density and patches in use are the same between all parties. Have all users connect at a speed of 33.6.

Greywolf · Post by **Greywolf** » 2001-03-17 06:11:00

Silkman,

Thanks for the tip about the object density and the connect speed. Since we all went to the same density level, and picked up the speed a bit were running fine now and we are all seeing the same thing.

I'm on Cable and hosting at 56k, my joiners are coming in at 33.6 ..... smooth as silk, guess thats why they call you Silkman huh <gg>

TheSilkMan · Post by **TheSilkMan** » 2001-03-17 06:59:00

Youuuuuu've got it!

brewskie · Post by **brewskie** » 2001-03-18 01:45:00

quote:Originally posted by Greywolf:
Snake Man,
Regarding Plieku and Da Nang, the missions are working but I'm not getting any sentry vectors either..

When i reinstalled the theater i found that you have to make sure that you don't have any bullseye patches checked in F4patch. Sentry works perfectly now.

BH_Viper · Post by **BH_Viper** » 2001-03-18 07:08:00

Installed Vietnam Theater v0.4

I get the following error when I try to run Falcon

Error: 81 D:\Data\PROJECTS\Falcon4\FALCON4\Graphics\Terrain\Tlevel.cpp Mar 5,2001

PMC Youtube channel · Post by **Snake Man** » 2001-03-18 13:11:00

quote:Originally posted by BH_Viper:
Error: 81 D:\Data\PROJECTS\Falcon4\FALCON4\Graphics\Terrain\Tlevel.cpp Mar 5,2001

Read upwards.

PMC TFW
Snake Man

Greywolf · Post by **Greywolf** » 2001-03-18 18:44:00

Brewskie,

Thanks for the tip, disabled bulleye patchs in F4Patch and sentry works fine now.

PMC Youtube channel · Post by **Snake Man** » 2001-03-21 14:32:00

Sakon Nakhon, 9th Squadron F-4E Air-To-Air. Old or updated campaign.

Can somebody please test this, just select for example the first flight it offers (should be SWEEP), click commit and wait... in my setup it hungs on the pie screen (second pie).

Darn, I'd like someone to confirm this or is it just me.

PMC TFW
Snake Man

brewskie · Post by **brewskie** » 2001-03-21 17:32:00

Okay, i didnot install the update for the 108.i2 crash since it doesn't prevent you from running the theater. So i just did as you said, committed to the sweep, hit the F-16 icon and a Blue GUI window came up that said my flight has been cancelled. That's it, i did it several times, same result. No crashes, no frozen screens, nada.

PMC Youtube channel · Post by **Snake Man** » 2001-03-21 18:56:00

quote:Originally posted by brewskie:
committed to the sweep, hit the F-16 icon and a Blue GUI window came up that said my flight has been cancelled.

eFalcon v1.0799.2 just hungs on the pies second slice.

Thats weird. Well I'll try to see what if creating that squadron again does.

PMC TFW
Snake Man

brewskie · Post by **brewskie** » 2001-03-21 20:50:00

well with rp4.1 i don't get that far, to the pie screen. After my initial flight is canceled, all the other flights fade away.

brewskie · Post by **brewskie** » 2001-03-24 17:13:00

Snakeman,
good job on the AAA, i'm getting slammed, i haven't seen flak like that since rp2.1 and there's bullet holes on my canopy

PMC Youtube channel · Post by **Snake Man** » 2001-03-24 20:02:00

quote:Originally posted by brewskie:
Snakeman,
good job on the AAA, i'm getting slammed, i haven't seen flak like that since rp2.1

Actually there are less AAA units than Beta 4 because of the new PathMaker made THR file effects the ground units of god know why to surrender on large numbers. So we lost few AAA/SA-2 units along with normal ground troops.

PMC TFW
Snake Man

PMC Youtube channel · Post by **Snake Man** » 2001-04-21 05:44:00

I have compiled BETA v0.5 now, there is really nothing major new stuff... the campaign should be working now (no crashes, no tu-16's and no flights get cancelled), the terrain is a bit differently tiled. More helicopters... umm thas about it.

It was a though of putting this out before summer, but its all up to you guys of how interested you are to get little improved version

If anyone is interested of testing it let me know.

PMC TFW
Snake Man

brewskie · Post by **brewskie** » 2001-04-21 20:17:00

I'm interested,
as soon as I get a descent
size break, i'll let you know.

Widowmaker · Post by **Widowmaker** » 2001-04-22 01:47:00

Hey I am intersested too

Will test (enjoy) it next week when I'll get cable...
still tree nights of sleep...lol

Widmak

Greywolf · Post by **Greywolf** » 2001-04-23 17:58:00

Definitely interested in testing the new Beta, my squad flys anywhere from 3 to 5 times a week, and all we have been flying is the multiplayer campaign with your Vietnam addon.

PMC Youtube channel · Post by **Snake Man** » 2001-04-28 17:57:00

I should almost create beta v0.5 forum area but ...

It seems the the 1.08i2 does the nasty flight cancellation, could someone who have downloaded v0.4 and uses the old exe confirm this?

In eFalcon v1.09 (the only real exe to use for falcon) it works just great, no problems.

PMC TFW
Snake Man

Hiro · Post by **Hiro** » 2001-05-01 03:48:00

Hi, SnakeMan.

I've tried Vietnam theater v0.4 with 1.08i2 and RP4.1.

Starting campaign F4-E squadron specialized for A2G mission at Da Nang. I got first mission that required me to strike the enemy HQ near Dong Hoi AB, TOT 10:10. Succeeding it and returning to Da Nang, Tower said we should divert airfield, so I landed airstrip north of Da Nang. The airstrip I landed was so crowded that I couldn't help declaring emergency.

After that, I waited next mission. Around 16:00(!), I got two strike missions on Mission Schedule but they disappeared instantly. Then I waited, waited...till 05:00 2nd day, but I got no mission scheduled and gave up. Should I have waited further more if I want to get any tasks?

BTW, I also added an updated "save0.cam" that might remove TU-16 from NV, but I read some TU-16 flights bombing SV in Intel briefing window while I was waiting for mission scheduled.

PMC Youtube channel · Post by **Snake Man** » 2001-05-01 08:40:00

Yes seems that the 108i2 will cancel the flights... I have no idea why this is happening (except that 108i2 is old technology and sucks! use eFalcon! hehe).

The updated campaign should have everything running fine.

I really recommend installing eFalcon v1.09 - there is no reason to stay with geeky 108i2.

PMC TFW
Snake Man

brewskie · Post by **brewskie** » 2001-05-01 20:53:00

LOL,I love snakemans totally unbiased opinions

Right now i can't even get 108i2 to run
without a crash. Can't figure out what went wrong, but it started when i upgraded to F4patch 4.

[This message has been edited by brewskie (edited May 02, 2001).]