ODS beta test report

Operation Desert Storm theater

Moderators: Lone Wolf, Snake Man

ccc
Chief of Staff
Posts: 4857
Joined: 2000-08-06 22:01:01

ODS beta test report

Post by ccc »

install flawlessly. awesome theater!
instant action/TE/Campaign works.

few CTD noted in campaign, approaching target, it seems somebody drop ammo, then CTD. probably (unfinished) wpn database related.

two forward airbases( closer to Repubic Guard), F16 and A10 got no sortie scheduled.

where's massive ground forces?

about ODS UI background pic, request use a "darker" pic instead. you'll find it hard to tell the a/c icons/names in campaign, flight page. just too bright.

short of tanker support( or lack of drop tanks), many flights aborted. dunno if SP3 smart air refueling/tanker functionality can help.

ok, any updated campaigns for b test? :D
I'll try to add few Sq for fun, hey Snake Man, do you add Sq/unit following Red Dog's list(strictly)?
ccc
Chief of Staff
Posts: 4857
Joined: 2000-08-06 22:01:01

Re: ODS beta test report

Post by ccc »

one more, i feel we need a "Squadron Patch util" badly. ODS' really taking shape!! :)
ccc
Chief of Staff
Posts: 4857
Joined: 2000-08-06 22:01:01

Re: ODS beta test report

Post by ccc »

fly some mig23 sorties, lots fun to fight against allied forces.

strange most flight plan plotted in red, short of fuel to accomplish mission?

btw A10 sq in front base near kuwait got no AG missions assigned for hours. guess we have to place more armor units.
Snake Man
Commander-In-Chief
Posts: 9784
Joined: 2000-07-31 22:01:01
Gaming Interests: ArmA, ArmA 2, Falcon 4.0 and OFP.
Editing Interests: All, I (try) to edit everything.
Location: PMC

Re: ODS beta test report

Post by Snake Man »

quote:few CTD noted in campaign, approaching target, it seems somebody drop ammo, then CTD. probably (unfinished) wpn database related.
After I reinstalled DX 8.1, video and sound drivers I have not encountered a single CTD in ODS campaign action view.
quote:where's massive ground forces?
Not yet added I suppose :)

PMC TFW
Snake Man
Important PMC Tactical Forum New User Registration please read new info here.

PMC since 1984

Editing knowledge, visit PMC Editing Wiki
The leading, most detailed and comprehensive modification made for the Vietnam War - Vietnam: The Experience homepage
View our videos in PMC Youtube channel

PMC Tactical forum Advanced Search is power.

"ALPHA BLACK TO PAPA BEAR. ALL RUSSIANS ARE TOAST. OVER."
ccc
Chief of Staff
Posts: 4857
Joined: 2000-08-06 22:01:01

Re: ODS beta test report

Post by ccc »

just to say ODS rocks..from early beta to latest one. we need full scale development, and focus on this one.

terrain, guess it's almost ready in major operation area.
obj placement, ? suggest focus on major operation area to reduce total obj number.
3d stuff, most combat vehicles are available.
skin/texture, use previous ODS skin package for initial release, will need more to cover everything.
info research/support, limited, Red Dog's list do great help, but short of item quantities and naval/ground part.
campaign edit, pending.
UI, on the way i think.
Manual, ?
beta test..need organization but,,no serious beta at this moment?
Snake Man
Commander-In-Chief
Posts: 9784
Joined: 2000-07-31 22:01:01
Gaming Interests: ArmA, ArmA 2, Falcon 4.0 and OFP.
Editing Interests: All, I (try) to edit everything.
Location: PMC

Re: ODS beta test report

Post by Snake Man »

quote:Originally posted by ccc:
terrain, guess it's almost ready in major operation area.
ODS terrain tiles has been in the state you see on the various screenshots for a long time. Altough I have the fancy terrain type bitmap ready - we have no tiles... no tiles to make all that different terrain to show up.

Anyways, I've get used to the current desert look, I guess its better than nothing :)
quote:skin/texture, use previous ODS skin package for initial release
Do you have any idea how to use the old theater skin pack with SP3?
quote:campaign edit, pending.
Pending?

Hmm true it takes few days to add tons of ground units so that they don't surrender and it takes even more days to draw links between objectives until Codec's arm has been twisted enuff and he codes some wicked functions for link drawing.
quote:UI, on the way i think.
Like I posted earlier, Widowmaker mentioned that Terry the UI graphics God is aware of this ODS and other theater's UI upgrade need.
quote:Manual
Nothing has been done for the last manual. I had the impression that manuals come from the F4UT Documentation Team.
quote:beta test..need organization but,,no serious beta at this moment?
Are you dissing my elite beta test team? :eek:

There are few possibilities, either ODS don't have many bugs or the internal beta test guys aren't reporting them. Some reports have come in as you can see in the beta forum here but I'd say most of those are the SP2 reports which are fixed in SP3 exe.

Like I posted earlier, since I reinstalled DX 8.1, Video and Sound drivers + SP3 final build all over again I have not encountered any CTD's in campaign action view. And thats good!

Anyways, there is bugs no doubt about it.

PMC TFW
Snake Man
Important PMC Tactical Forum New User Registration please read new info here.

PMC since 1984

Editing knowledge, visit PMC Editing Wiki
The leading, most detailed and comprehensive modification made for the Vietnam War - Vietnam: The Experience homepage
View our videos in PMC Youtube channel

PMC Tactical forum Advanced Search is power.

"ALPHA BLACK TO PAPA BEAR. ALL RUSSIANS ARE TOAST. OVER."
ccc
Chief of Staff
Posts: 4857
Joined: 2000-08-06 22:01:01

Re: ODS beta test report

Post by ccc »

Anyways, I've get used to the current desert look, I guess its better than nothing

yeah, current one looks great. further terrain tile upgrade could take long time.

Do you have any idea how to use the old theater skin pack with SP3?

sure. on SP3 out and i confirm the skin# of all items, i'll rush one for ODS, i mean take what usable in previous pack to new theater. guess many a/c will use 512x512 bmp textures, so i have to ask some artists to redo their skins. as for secondaries, i mean ground/buildings, use previous ones should do.

Are you dissing my elite beta test team?

oops! i forot theres's ODS beta team.. God forgive my innocence. :o
ccc
Chief of Staff
Posts: 4857
Joined: 2000-08-06 22:01:01

Re: ODS beta test report

Post by ccc »

BTW Man, Julian said Sqadron patches can use perl to insert/Edit like our ingame map pics. so..maybe i can generate some list for you to run perl?
Snake Man
Commander-In-Chief
Posts: 9784
Joined: 2000-07-31 22:01:01
Gaming Interests: ArmA, ArmA 2, Falcon 4.0 and OFP.
Editing Interests: All, I (try) to edit everything.
Location: PMC

Re: ODS beta test report

Post by Snake Man »

quote:Originally posted by ccc:
maybe i can generate some list for you to run perl?
Yes please - I have no idea where the squadron patches are located.

PMC TFW
Snake Man
Important PMC Tactical Forum New User Registration please read new info here.

PMC since 1984

Editing knowledge, visit PMC Editing Wiki
The leading, most detailed and comprehensive modification made for the Vietnam War - Vietnam: The Experience homepage
View our videos in PMC Youtube channel

PMC Tactical forum Advanced Search is power.

"ALPHA BLACK TO PAPA BEAR. ALL RUSSIANS ARE TOAST. OVER."
ccc
Chief of Staff
Posts: 4857
Joined: 2000-08-06 22:01:01

Re: ODS beta test report

Post by ccc »

OK, Let play patches..

in this folder:
C:\MicroProse\Falcon4\art\patches\imageids.id

that file store all sq patches, flag labeled 1-50? i guess. Use F4browse, you can find each Sq got a patch numer, like "1", means it uses that #1 Sq patch.

so, imgieids.id is a collection of compressed pics, Julian said it can be extract/edit use Perl. suppose the same perl used for ingame map pic? pliz try it.

if ok, then we got to decide:
1. build a brand new imagineids.id for ODS, swap it while theater switching
2. or attach more pic onto curret file, then you'll got hundreds of patch# there.

let me know if this part ok and the format of Sq patch, pixels.

proceed, EW has collected many patches and stored at:
http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/f4 ... =t&.view=t

the collection, refer to Red Dog's list, only covers Sq on USN battle groups.
i do a rough check, EW's collection is quite complete, so i propose follow Red Dog's list, like this:

Saratoga a/c and Sq:
1 f14 VF74
2 f14 VF103
3 F18 VFA81
4 F18 VFA83
---- skip SH3/chopper unit.---

follow the order on list, the FIRST # is the FLAG # for that patch. add them in order.

saratoga 8 patch
america 8
JFK 8
T Roosevelt 9
ranger 7
midway 8
---------------------
total 48 patches for USN sq. USAF and allied sq will triple this number.

pliz test if perl operation works.
Snake Man
Commander-In-Chief
Posts: 9784
Joined: 2000-07-31 22:01:01
Gaming Interests: ArmA, ArmA 2, Falcon 4.0 and OFP.
Editing Interests: All, I (try) to edit everything.
Location: PMC

Re: ODS beta test report

Post by Snake Man »

quote:so, imgieids.id is a collection of compressed pics, Julian said it can be extract/edit use Perl.
Actually the art\patches\imageids.id text file is just list of the patches. The real patches patches.idx/.rsc file can be found on art\resource directory and that you can unpack with the perl script.
quote:1. build a brand new imagineids.id for ODS, swap it while theater switching
That seems doable since its art\ directory which can be easily swapped with theater switcher like you said.
quote:let me know if this part ok and the format of Sq patch, pixels.
The stuff that was on my art\resource\patches.rsc file contained the images in TARGA format where resolution was somewhere between 68x79 256 colors to 96x96 16bit colors.

I think if we keep it that range we have no problems.
quote:pliz test if perl operation works.
It works. What should we do next, grab few Ender's patches collection images and add them... maybe you can sort out some examples for me and I'll try to get them added in-game?

PMC TFW
Snake Man
Important PMC Tactical Forum New User Registration please read new info here.

PMC since 1984

Editing knowledge, visit PMC Editing Wiki
The leading, most detailed and comprehensive modification made for the Vietnam War - Vietnam: The Experience homepage
View our videos in PMC Youtube channel

PMC Tactical forum Advanced Search is power.

"ALPHA BLACK TO PAPA BEAR. ALL RUSSIANS ARE TOAST. OVER."
Snake Man
Commander-In-Chief
Posts: 9784
Joined: 2000-07-31 22:01:01
Gaming Interests: ArmA, ArmA 2, Falcon 4.0 and OFP.
Editing Interests: All, I (try) to edit everything.
Location: PMC

Re: ODS beta test report

Post by Snake Man »

This comes off from the Code Gods
quote:Squad Patch - the patch graphic for this squadron. This should be a number between 0 and 58. They map into resource IDs between 70001-70058.

it is limited to 58 by an internal table

If the id is 0 though, it will attempt to pick one based on the name of the squadron.
PMC TFW
Snake Man
Important PMC Tactical Forum New User Registration please read new info here.

PMC since 1984

Editing knowledge, visit PMC Editing Wiki
The leading, most detailed and comprehensive modification made for the Vietnam War - Vietnam: The Experience homepage
View our videos in PMC Youtube channel

PMC Tactical forum Advanced Search is power.

"ALPHA BLACK TO PAPA BEAR. ALL RUSSIANS ARE TOAST. OVER."
ccc
Chief of Staff
Posts: 4857
Joined: 2000-08-06 22:01:01

Re: ODS beta test report

Post by ccc »

1. i'll grab some and generate a list for you. pliz send me few sample tga pics.

2. what? only 58 slots? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
USN patches take 48 slots..where to place USAF/USMC/allied forces? any chance to increase this number, or some exclusive permisison for exe-editing?

Return to “Operation Desert Storm”