This update includes a number of new core features and numerous minor improvements.
HYSPLIT-based fallout model
HYSPLIT is a detailed particle transport model that can be used for fallout deposition simulation. A HYSPLIT-based fallout model is now available as an alternative to the old WSEG-10 simulation. The model explicitly calculates how fallout particles of different sizes are moving through different layers of the atmosphere and where they are deposited due to gravitation or rain-out. This allows a very detailed, much more realistic simulation and much more complex fallout patterns:
This model is using very detailed weather data and can calculate fallout transport in complex weather conditions, for example in a hurricane:
Please remember that the new model requires a lot of CPU time, so start with small scenarios, and make sure to install HYSPLIT before you try to use it.
New fires model
A new model for fires in cities is replacing the old Binninger model. The model is based on data collected in Hiroshima and describes the percentage of burnt-out buildings. The model does a much better job describing how fires from multiple detonations would merge with each-other:
The visualization is also improved: fallout and fire data now has bilinear interpolation for cleaner, less pixelated visualization.
Early-warning systems
The early-warning system consists of radar stations and satellites in GEO or HEO orbits.
The missiles will be first detected by the satellites, then by the radar stations and the signals are channeled through command centers. If the command centers are destroyed, the warning signals will never be registered. Scenarios with an early-warning system can be used to analyse the timing of launch and detection and to demonstrate how little time a leader has to react to a warning.
Curves for effects-analysis
Overpressure, thermal radiation, prompt radiation and their fatality rates con now be visualized:
The curves can be used to better understand different physical effects and to make sure the selected fatality rate curves make sense.
AI-assisted creation of large conflict scenarios
A new tool is added to quickly create large-scale conflicts involving multiple countries:
With a few clicks it is possible to allocate all available warheads of all countries and quickly estimate the potential fatalities:
The new tool is a great starting point for new users and will be further developed in the future.
Your files are now in Documents/My Games
The scenarios, blueprints and Individuals you create will now be saved in the folder
"C:\Users\<User Name>\Documents\My Games\Nuclear War Simulator"
You will probably find that your old created objects can no longer be found. Please move all files from the folder
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\NWS"
to
"C:\Users\<User Name>\Documents\My Games\Nuclear War Simulator"
Complete list of new features and bug-fixes:
- New Feature: HYSPLIT fallout model is added as a detailed alternative to the fast WSEG-10 model
- New Feature: a function added to record and replay a scenario and all physical effects. This enables replaying the exact sequence of events and a fast replay of prerecorded HYSPLIT results
- New Feature: early warning IR satellites and radar are added to the simulation
- New Feature: the Binninger fire model is replaced by a continuous model describing how many buildings are burnt out based on Hiroshima data
- New Feature: fallout and fires visualization are using bilinear interpolation to create cleaner contours
- New Feature: it is possible to set the scenario start time using a UI
- New Feature: it is possible to display physical effects and fatality rate vs distance as charts
- New Feature: it is possible to select units, quickly give them targets and execute the plan or save it
- New Feature: it is possible to select the country of selected units
- New Feature: clearing the scenario resets everything, including effects on population. No need to restart the simulation anymore.
- New Feature: files created by user (scenarios, blueprints, human individuals, settings and authentication token for mods.io) are saved to C:\Users\<User name>\Documents\My Games\Nuclear War Simulator and are persistent between installations
- New Feature: GDAS weather files are imported into NWS and are used by the WSEG-10 fallout model and by the visualization
- New Feature: New menu to generate large conflict scenarios quickly. Countries can be added to one two sides of a conflict and plans will be automatically generated.
- New Feature: added country flag images to various items
- Bug fix: time resets to zero on scenario restart
- Bug fix: lists of blueprints could not be scrolled, now fixed.
- Bug fix: when saving a CSV file and the folder is not existing, one will be created
- Bug fix: two plans created with same name are now combined to one
- Bug fix: WSEG-10 wind direction was wrong under certain conditions
- Bug fix: civilian objects are updated on clear scenario
- Optimisation: GPU calculation is accelerated by precalculating effects curves
- Optimisation: calculation of overpressure on objects is accelerated