Steel Beasts Dynamic Terrain Will Come After New Terrain Engine

[Rinix]

http://www.steelbeasts.com/topic/11831-next-sb-pro-pe-upgrade/?tab=comments#comment-178746
Has anyone else noticed that Ssnake has only been forthcoming about predicted release dates in the release notes, and has been strangely silent about predicted release dates on the forum? Does anyone on that forum read the release notes? Because judging by the rest of that thread, the answer is no.

The problem is that we missed the window of opportunity to make a major new release in last September/October. We tried to get it ready by then but it didn't work out. Since then we're stuck with working on contractual obligations, and that will stay this way for a while. We still have some team members working on the terrain engine but even if all remaining issues were reported "solved" tomorrow morning we would still need to launch another beta test. A beta test ties down more team resources than we can afford to assign to non-contractual tasks, and it would be irresponsible to release a new version without a proper beta test. For a release all lights need to be green, and that lamp will remain solid red for a while.

So, version 4.023 represents the essence of what came out of the last beta test, as far as 4.019 bug fixes were concerned, so we decided to at least push that part out.

[Asid]

Beta test? Really? 

[Rinix]

The beta test for 4.0 was 4 months long, since it started in April 2016 and 4.0 was released in August 2016. If we use that length for the beta test, and the new terrain engine is coming in July as per the release notes, then we should be hearing about the next beta test starting in March.

[Asid]

I was just curious about their Beta test process. It seems that there is often obvious bugs released. Some of which are quite bad. This is disappointing.

[Rinix]

I was just curious about their Beta test process. It seems that there is often obvious bugs released. Some of which are quite bad. This is disappointing.

Yeah, it's been so disappointing that we've had to stick with 4.019. Ssnake has said that there's going to be at least 1 more free update before the new terrain engine. Now would be a good time to fix the 4.023 bugs and get that free update released.

[Rinix]

http://www.steelbeasts.com/topic/11831-next-sb-pro-pe-upgrade/?tab=comments#comment-178777
This raises the question of why they haven't started rewriting the code for ease of maintenance to lighten their workload.

Thank you for your understanding.
Our team is much bigger than it used to be ten years ago, but in order to sustain the larger number of programmers we also have to accept more customization work from our other customers. This leads to a weaving of work on the PE version and then on the classroom version again, which is sensitive to delays unfortunately. We can't change contractual obligations easily, so we cannot afford that work on the PE version delays deliveries on other projects.

[Asid]

http://www.steelbeasts.com/topic/11831-next-sb-pro-pe-upgrade/?tab=comments#comment-178777
This raises the question of why they haven't started rewriting the code for ease of maintenance to lighten their workload.

But that would make sense 

[Rinix]

http://www.steelbeasts.com/topic/11831-next-sb-pro-pe-upgrade/?tab=comments#comment-178777
This raises the question of why they haven't started rewriting the code for ease of maintenance to lighten their workload.

But that would make sense 

It looks like Ssnake's finally figured it out, so there's hope: http://www.steelbeasts.com/topic/11831-next-sb-pro-pe-upgrade/?tab=comments#comment-178891

Hey, 2009 we still had 1 programmer. End of 2010, three. End of 2012, five. Whether we can expand the size to seven or eight (my target figure) hinges entirely on the amount of money that you army guys are willing to spend on purchasing licenses and paying for maintenance (development contracts don't do me much good since they eat up all the additional programming capacity that I need to modernize the code base). With a modernized code base we could be a lot more productive, so that's a bit of a catch-22.

[Wax Savage]

I have something to add to this thread.

I exchanged some emails with Ssnake a few weeks back. We corresponded on the subject of how much benefit the new LIDAR scan data would be for the SBproPE user. Like you, I had assumed that the LIDAR data would make a big improvement in SB. Ssnake responded, 'yes and no'. 

Per Ssnake, to benefit from LIDAR, the map file must be constructed to take advantage of LIDAR. Unfortunately, all existing maps and scenarios were written to use DTED2 data. The SB maps as they currently exist cannot read the new LIDAR scan data.

Ssnake explained that LIDAR scan data is harder to come by and quite expensive. His feeling is that government agencies who have sophisticated mapping systems and access to LIDAR data will benefit.

Ssnake stated that the computer code team at eSim Games has no plans to rewrite the existing maps currently included with Steel Beasts.

What benefit SBproPE users will see from the new terrain engine remains a question.

[Rinix]

I have something to add to this thread.

I exchanged some emails with Ssnake a few weeks back. We corresponded on the subject of how much benefit the new LIDAR scan data would be for the SBproPE user. Like you, I had assumed that the LIDAR data would make a big improvement in SB. Ssnake responded, 'yes and no'. 

Per Ssnake, to benefit from LIDAR, the map file must be constructed to take advantage of LIDAR. Unfortunately, all existing maps and scenarios were written to use DTED2 data. The SB maps as they currently exist cannot read the new LIDAR scan data.

Ssnake explained that LIDAR scan data is harder to come by and quite expensive. His feeling is that government agencies who have sophisticated mapping systems and access to LIDAR data will benefit.

Ssnake stated that the computer code team at eSim Games has no plans to rewrite the existing maps currently included with Steel Beasts.

What benefit SBproPE users will see from the new terrain engine remains a question.

Very interesting, thanks a lot! My takeaways:

• Old scenarios will not be able to use LIDAR data
• This means that the old maps will have to remain to maintain backwards compatibility, which is confirmed by the fact that they have no plans to rewrite current maps
• We won't see many LIDAR-based maps
• Considering how little the new terrain engine will actually add, its release had better come with a decent selection of new vehicles, even if none of them are crewable
• Edit: If I'm reading you right, then all of Steel Beasts' maps using DTED2 means they have 30m terrain resolution, while Steel Beasts currently has a maximum terrain resolution of 12.5m, which means that none of the old maps will benefit at all

[Wax Savage]

Very interesting, thanks a lot! My takeaways:

• Old scenarios will not be able to use LIDAR data
• This means that the old maps will have to remain to maintain backwards compatibility, which is confirmed by the fact that they have no plans to rewrite current maps
• We won't see many LIDAR-based maps
• Considering how little the new terrain engine will actually add, its release had better come with a decent selection of new vehicles, even if none of them are crewable
• Edit: If I'm reading you right, then all of Steel Beasts' maps using DTED2 means they have 30m terrain resolution, while Steel Beasts currently has a maximum terrain resolution of 12.5m, which means that none of the old maps will benefit at all

As I recall the conversation with Ssnake, the existing maps read DTED2 and/or DTED3 mapping data (DTED3 displays detail to ~10m terrain resolution). Most likely, the early
boxed SB game was DTED2 resolution.  Whatever.., the LIDAR mapping data can't be read by ANY existing SB maps. All existing SB scenarios, therefore, cannot read LIDAR.

Though Ssnake and I did not discuss it, you make a good observation... the new engine will need to be backwardly compatible for DTED3 data for us 'mortals'.

Since LIDAR map data is scarce, I can imagine we retail customers (SBproPE) will still be writing DTED3 scenarios into the future.

p.s.
For those geeky enough to be interested, attached is a document that explains DTED quite well.

[Rinix]

OK, thanks for confirming that some of the maps are DTED3. Those maps will see some improvement, since they are 10m terrain resolution, and Steel Beasts currently has a maximum terrain resolution of 12.5m.

[Rinix]

http://www.steelbeasts.com/topic/12038-spintires-tank-mods/?tab=comments#comment-179296
I thought for a while about where to post this, and finally decided to post it here.

We need to be able to handle 100x100km², some of our customers would rather have 300x300, or why not have the entire globe available right away, while we're at it?

[Rinix]

https://www.steelbeasts.org/showthread.php?8420-Gibt-es-schon-einen-Termin-f%FCr-5-0&p=58587&viewfull=1#post58587
I'm having to settle for posting this, due to a lack of better information:

There are not even plans for a version 5.0
Currently 4.1 is in progress. And as soon as we have concrete plans, I will announce them.

The 4.023 release notes , and Ssnake has said that "The full feature disclosure will usually begin six to eight weeks prior to the anticipated release date." So we can expect a stream of news no later than the middle of June, assuming no delays.

[Frankie]

Thanks for the German to English version of this update Rinix. I too am hoping for a 'patch' of some sort for 4.023, be it in an actual hotfix or a newer version of Steelbeasts.