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1.6 beta review for the developers,

6,338 KDS  6.8 years ago

Note I haven't dug deep into everything, this was just my general first impression on how everything was working and slightly using everything.

Wind Physics (and features built around that)

I like this, I think the wind's max setting is crazy and huge but fun if you're trying to go for the "Fly in a tornado" effect, though I just set it too a light breeze for some fresh air. The windsocks on the airports are a nice touch to show the wind blowing and show it's there and not some invisible force.
I think the new "Cross Wind Landing" challenge is a bit tricky. I did it on my second try but still. I think maybe decrease the wind speed a little and move the start point a bit farther away. So it's easier. But it's still easier then flying in 100+MPH winds which means you're in a tornado.

Torpedos

I like this, it's been awhile since we got a new weapon of some kind. I wish you added two and made a 500 lb. torpedo for even more damage. Granted it's easy to make one via XML but still. Also you might want to add the torpedo into the tutorials because they aren't in there so new players will have no idea how to use these. Maybe a combat challenge called "Torpedo training" would help?

Featherfall Squall, (and other bug fixes)

The main bug everyone cared about that was so darn hard to unlock. I spawned at Avalanche airport and unlocked it immediately. I am glad you made that bug fix. I think Andrew missed the joke about Mirage speedway and I sorta liked it being visible only on medium/high settings, making it a "Mirage" on that setting. Though I don't overly mind it's just there. Minor.

Gyroscopes,

Okay, I love this new part set. Now that gyros are official, it renders mods like the Gyro cockpit mod and interesting gyro concepts built in-game obsolete. You could still download and use it but you really don't need to now. The sphere and hemisphere is a nice touch for helicopter LG. Really though it's a tricky thing to get the hang of, and new players trying to decide weather they specialize in making helis will have not much clue on how to use this. I think there should be a helicopter building tutorial personally that's quick and involves the basics of using the gyro.

HUD Display

I made a little section to talk about this real quick. I like the new HUD, it looks sharp. Though it is a little bigger and slightly more annoying when trying to get a close up view of your plane and don't want to see that. Of course you can always press F9 and make it disappear but still. I think maybe add some HUD type options so if people liked the old one, they can have that, or the new one. Maybe add a few more HUD looks like for old planes, futuristic, ect. and you can change this in settings. Might just make a user voice vote on that.

Extra notes,

So far my older designs haven't had a problem or very noticeable difference in flight. I am building a new plane on the beta and I like the performance so physics seems normal (well, still drunk physics but normal for SP).
I honestly think this update is amazing and the payoff for the wait was good. I guess you could call this the gyro update as that feels to be the most important addition to the game in this one. I sorta wish it had more in it considering how long everyone has waiting but beggars can't be choosers. You guy's are doing a great job, and frankly I think this will motivate semi-innactive (not uploading but talking) players to become fully active again. Plus the timing of the update works out.

All in all, i'm happy with it, I wish it had a little more but considering you guy's are working hard on SimpleRockets 2, it's good. I think this is exactly what the community needed and the timing couldn't have been better. I hope you could bump out one more small update just as SR2 comes out but if you can't that's ok. Just my first impression, all happy, no notable major bugs, good job devs!
8.5/10 on this update. :)

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    @Hectord27 Thanks for the tip. We uploaded a new version, let me know if it's working now.

    6.8 years ago
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    3,870 Hectord27

    Hey, just a heads up. I updated SP for Mac through Steam and the game no longer seems want to launch. I have verified the files and reinstalled the game and it won't launch. I restarted the computer and everything. | MacOS 12.6 Macbook 12" | @AndrewGarrison

    6.8 years ago
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    896 sunburn

    @AndrewGarrison okay so quick question, does wind just blow around naturally or does it HAVE to be in a set direction at a set speed? I'd like to fly around my fighter bomber and stress test it vs random wind around places. Thanks for the feedback

    6.8 years ago
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    @KDS
    @AndrewGarrison
    do parachutes get affected by wind directions?
    i have tried to do this in 1.5, but because there were no wind physics, parachutes go backwards, my idea was to make a "sail" that looks like parachutes, but the parachute goes backward even if it's 0mph

    so the point is, i would be able to put a fuselage or a wing and attach it to a floppy rotator in 1.6, and thanks to the wind physics, it will move ...right?
    so can parachutes get affected by wind, i mean can they help the boat to move? or they will always point backwards to act as an airbrake

    6.8 years ago
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    @Kerbango No promises, but we can look into it.

    6.8 years ago
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    86.2k Kerbango

    @Testin123 whatever the origin, it's already in the game why not make it part of the game for everybody. That's all I'm saying.

    6.8 years ago
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    8,433 Testin123

    @Kerbango He didn't make any of his mods.
    He simply took models from https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com and uploaded it saying it was his.

    6.8 years ago
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    86.2k Kerbango

    @AndrewGarrison I am building a car and I like to use flattened clear cockpit from @Gestours cockpit mod, as glass. Is there any way we can get a clear cockpit from his mod and make it a part? Or just incorporate the whole mod. If possible in 1.7.

    6.8 years ago
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    I use iOS so I can't test 1.6, but I agree its you on adding a little more, it's a great update (I assume) but some more stuff would be nice, like a heli rotor, you can only get one by xml or downloading an xml, that seems common sense to me, but again they have their hands full with sr2, so I'm not mad, and I can't wait for it (the update) to come out on iOS!

    6.8 years ago
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    @Kerbango That is true. However, if we do that then I'm sure some players would be unhappy the wind setting changes after restarting.

    6.8 years ago
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    @AdrianFlyingAce Yep, I changed the forums landing page yesterday.

    6.8 years ago
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    @SazonAir No companies. Yes on the modding. We are using Unity for SR2, which is the same game engine as KSP and SimplePlanes. Not yet sure on struts. Depends on how wobbly the rockets are.

    6.8 years ago
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    @JetWondy I'm sorry, but no. Maybe if we do SP2 someday ;)

    6.8 years ago
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    86.2k Kerbango

    @AndrewGarrison on the Wind feature I noticed that when you reload it will start at the same wind speed that you crashed at previously. It would be nice if it would reset down to like 10 or something so we could increase it at our will without it blowing our planes over off of the runway at restart.

    6.8 years ago
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    11.1k JetWondy

    @AndrewGarrison I don't mean to be one of those annoying guys who begs for multiplayer, but will that ever be possible for android?

    6.8 years ago
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    @AndrewGarrison I think the torpedo idea is great although they look something like these i think a larger one would be nice as well. thanks heaps for the update!

    6.8 years ago
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    The wind and crosswind landing are really fun. The gyroscope opens a lot of possibilities. I have been away from simple planes for a while but tinkering with the latest beta has peaked my interest once again. Nice jobs SimplePlanes!

    6.8 years ago
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    @Planefun Sorry, but no plans for that. If we ever do SimpleBoats, then maybe ;)

    6.8 years ago
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    6,338 KDS

    saves torpedoes as a sub assembly and uses them forever, @AndrewGarrison

    6.8 years ago
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    @SazonAir We are now shooting for Q1 2018.

    6.8 years ago
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    @SazonAir v1.7

    6.8 years ago
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    6,338 KDS

    lol, I did it with a SS plane i'm making. @Flightsonic

    6.8 years ago
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    49.1k Flightsonic

    Imo the new challenge is easy, first try with a scale replica of a 747. But fun nonetheless lol

    6.8 years ago
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    6,338 KDS

    Keep the torpedoes in, they are fun to mess with, early treat perhaps? :P @AndrewGarrison

    6.8 years ago
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    8,281 12ocketguy

    @SazonAir Q1 of 2018 is when SR2 will be released.

    6.8 years ago
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