v810.4 is now available in the beta branch, which you'll find in your Steam client when you buy CAP2. After we've ironed out any initial bugs we will push the update across to the default branch. If you would like us to notify you when we do this please submit your email address here:
http://combatairpatrol2.com We will continue adding lots more eye candy and footage to this article over the coming days detailing the new improvements the update brings so stay tuned! Terrain editor
We've completed a lot of background work on the terrain editor which means we can now rapidly improve areas of interest from the base imagery and OSM data. We intend to make the editor available in the future for people to customise and share terrains, together with a mission editor.
Training missions
We've used the improved editor to begin building the Yuma training missions. You may discover the newly populated target ranges. We expect to complete these missions from 810.5 onward.
Mission planner Improvements
We've fixed some of the issues with the mission planner and it also now shows elevation as well as coast line. You will see that the map now includes most of the UK and the Yuma Map extends up to the Grand Canyon. In the future we will also extend the satellite imagery and OSM data - either through DLC or a future update.
Easter Egg
Have you found it? Try the UK map! ːsteamhappyː
Richer environment
As you can see from the screenshot below of the Harrier leaving Khasab we have added thousands more buildings and lots of additional vegetation. You may be aware (and have contributed ːsteamhappyː - thank you!), this is done by adding more OpenStreetMap data. It's been done as an aside and hasn't impacted general development. Abu Musa and Kaneohe Bay are also now more significantly built up. We've also added a host of custom objects including power lines, lighthouses, water tanks, ATC towers, rigs etc.
Fuel Tanks
As you can also see from this screen, the Harrier now has external fuel tanks, including associated fuel flow logic and displays.
Terrain Lights Promo
We've added lighting to roads, runways, taxiways and buildings, illuminating villages and cities which really adds to immersion. You can also see from this promo that we have improved vegetation, adding different trees and increasing their density.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeAuQ6urkBc&feature=youtu.be
There is also a hint to the mission play we have been working on, which has been a major focus of this update. As you can see briefly in this video its become fairly perilous flying over Abu Musa, now with populated target ranges. More coming on that soon.
Cockpit illumination
As you can see from these before and after shots, the Harrier cockpit now has night illumination. It's easy to see dials/gauges around sunset. You can separately adjust the lighting intensity for self illuminated instruments and the cockpit floodlights. The full day/night cycle will come in a subsequent update. We've got a sky shader to complete which bounces a lot of rays through the atmosphere and produces great sunsets and sky throughout the 24hr cycle.
New and improved MiG-21
