Development update

[Ssnake]

It's been a bit silent over the past months, but we haven't been sitting on our hands. Today, we delivered the latest version to the Australian Army, and quite naturally all of you who may consider buying Steel Beasts Pro later this year will be profiting from the work results - a better simulation with improved ballistics and new, playable vehicles, at the same price.


The rendering engine of the original Steel Beasts game couldn't handle the roll of gun views, it required a level sight. Because of it, we skipped cant/roll of the ballistic computations, otherwise there would have been an unpredictable inconsistency between what you saw, and the ballistic behavior.

Changing this "legacy issue" wasn't trivial. It seems to be a small step, but in fact it was one of the deeper reaching surgical operations of the original Steel Beasts program code. Al Delaney has now introduced "cant", the roll angle variation for sights and ballistic computations. It's difficult to illustrate with screenshots - but there's a noticeable feeling that something's different. Plus, it makes unstabilized, long-range gunnery engagements harder, especially with HESH and similarly slow munition types. Retired and active Master Gunners will have their fun.
:)


Along with this development came the addition of a number of new, playable vehicles of the Australian Army. These don't come with a 3D interior, or a detailed unbuttoned view of the turret surface - but still, their fire control systems and weapons are being modelled. Leopard-1AS with dual magnification sights for the gunner in both thermal and day view. ASLAV-25, the Australian version of the LAV-25, with thermal view and the auxiliary sight for the 25mm Bushmaster chain gun. ASLAV-PC, the personnel carrier version. This one comes with a flex mount cal .50. Visually identical, but still different are the Command and the Combat Support versions; the first like all command vehicles with a bonus for artillery response times, the latter with fuel to fill up dry vehicles. The ASLAV ambulance cannot be manned, but at least it's an alternative to the M113 medic. Finally, we have a brand new M113 modification that is not even fielded yet - the Tenix modified M113AS4. This one sports a one-man turret with a stabilized cal .50 weapon and a thermal sight (note the additional pair of roadwheels of the lengthened hull).
We actually received a (simplified) 3D model of the turret from the Tenix engineers, so you can be sure that it'll be spot on. This way, the Australian soldiers can start first combat exercises with SB Pro even before the new vehicles arrive in the motorpools. Good hunting!

Screenshots to follow later this week.
8)

[dejawolf]

hmm, from my limited information, i don't think sabca actually has a thermal.

[Ssnake]

Early versions may not have had it, but even fire control systems evolve over the decades...

[dejawolf]

hmm. ok.

well AFAIK, the TTS programme for the leopard was cancelled.
isntead, they bought M1A1's...
now there's a total of 3 leopard AS1's fitted with TTS.
which i assume is the same TTS fitted to the M60A3.

http://www.defence.gov.au/dmo/lsd/land53/phase1D.cfm

i strongly assume the model i created only had a daysight channel.
of course, i could be wrong, and the periscope above the gunner, isn't actually a periscope, but the TTS.
hmm.. well.

[dejawolf]

complete description of the sabca FCS:

The turret is of all welded construction with spaced armour, providing increased protection levels over the original cast turret. A British - designed 105mm L7A3 gun with thermal jacket and fume extractor is the main armament of the Leopard AS1. The Tank Fire Control System (TFCS), by the Sabca Company of Belgium comprises a laser rangefinder, seven ballistic sensors and a fire control computer. The laser range finder operates through an aperture on the right of the mantlet - there is no corresponding opening on the left. The sensors provide data to the computer on air temperature and pressure, charge temperature, barrel wear, cross wind and vehicle cant. The cross wind sensor is mounted on the forward part of the turret roof, surrounded by a round wire cage for protection. The commander has a panoramic sight, mounted on the turret roof forward of his cupola. Two 7.62 mm machine guns are carried - one is co-axial with the main armament, the other can be mounted either on the commander's or loaders cupola, and in both positions it can be used in the anti-aircraft role. The gunner and commander sit on the right side of the turret, with the loader occupying the left side. A searchlight is carried in one of the armoured bins at the rear of the turret, and can be mounted on top of the left side of the mantlet.

[stuart666]

Deja, Im just curious, have you gotten that new Leopard 1 book (well trilogy actually) by Barbarossa books?

[dejawolf]

yes, bought the whole trilogy.

and here's a site describing the AS1 design.

http://anzacsteel.hobbyvista.com/Armoured%20Vehicles/leopardph_1.htm

[TankHunter]

Hey, nice job Ssnake! Cant wait to gun in a ASLAV-25! That could be fun me thinks.

[KCB]

very detailed PDF on the M113AS4
www.tenix.com/pdflibrary/137.pdf
Rocking our world Ssnake!

[Scrapper_511]

Thank you Ssnake for a well-written post. I browse many, many forums and am appalled at the quality many posts are submitted. Your update was clear and informative, grammar and spelling intact, yet easy and enjoyable to read. Very admirable and a welcome sight.

I'm not at all active around here, just endlessly waiting for SB2, but I do check in for updates every now and again. This may well be another cause for my enthusiasm towards your reply.

Out.

[BlackDeath]

ahhh new screens soon...

[DrDevice]

Thanks indeed for the update. It's great to hear from the official channels that new things are happening that will produce a better final product.

[Ssnake]

Pictures of the Leopard 1AS have been added to the screenshot albums (http://www.steelbeasts.com/modules.php?set_albumName=album29&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php).

[Lone*star49]

...

Yes, nice to see ya back in the SB office.. lol

2 items mentioned have me smiling..

1. Faster artty delieverly.. outstanding!

2. Fuel needs, and delieverly.. this should make for some interesting sce's, as with my flying sims, I tend to go out to battle with limited fuel, both for carrier/sea air operations, as well as close island support CAP, and I find that, when faced with a one-shot (out of fuel) deadstick landing back on an aircraft carrier or, making it back to land, let alone the airport, to set up the ldg, and make the forced landings, is good for the souls nerves.. lol

I see sce's designed for what I deem, "instant action" and tanks/units, getting a call to battle without time to refuel, and head out with less than full tanks.. thus, restricting fast speeds, or long distance travel (at speed) and conserving fuel, along with, getting fuel to a units location and refueling, before getting overrun, etc..

Thanks for the update Ssnake.. sounds good (challenging, with more depth involving tactics)

LS

[dejawolf]

well, actually, thats only half of the things that has been going on behind closed curtains all this time ;)

[TankHunter]

Pictures of the Leopard 1AS have been added to the screenshot albums (http://www.steelbeasts.com/modules.php?set_albumName=album29&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php).

Nice! I really like the GPS day sight pic in there. Anything pics of the TIS?

[dejawolf]

well, seems like the aussies had forgotten to tell Nils that they didn't have thermals
in their leos. but it's been fixed now ;)

[112TYR]

deleted

[richard]

The 3 most important words in this message...LATER THIS YEAR!!! :twisted: :D

[Bluewings]

Yep , in between 2moro and Dec 31st ... :roll:

Cheers . :3starSK:

[Bluewings]

Sorry :oops:

In between Dec 31st and 2moro ! :P
("positive vibration yeah ayh ..positive" B. Marley)

Cheers . :3starSK:

[dejawolf]

dude you've already released those negative waves, thats enough.
you gotta believe, man.

[Bluewings]

What negative waves ???

I am actually very positive !

Cheers . :3starSK:

[TankHunter]

What negative waves ???

I am actually very positive !

Cheers . :3starSK:

Dude, right there man! Negative waves! Calm down man. :3starSK: 8)

[BlackDeath]

What negative waves ???

I am actually very positive !

the positive attitude? By Lorie? (whose fan is rafarin :) )

[Bluewings]

Stop it . SB Pro PE is coming later this year , as Ssnake said .

Cheers . :3starSK:

[dejawolf]

yes! when we arrive, the bridge is there!

[PS-SCUD]

It's another beautiful bridge, and it's gonna be there.

[koga]

It's still up!

[stuart666]

No it aint. :?

[koga]

Looks like we're gonna have to find ourselves another bridge.

[Ssnake]

The rendering engine of the original Steel Beasts game couldn't handle the roll of gun views, it required a level sight.
...
Al Delaney has now introduced "cant", the roll angle variation for sights and ballistic computations. It's difficult to illustrate with screenshots - but...
...here's a try. It feels quite different now.
:)

[Bluewings]

Why all your recent screenshots are on Desert environment Nils ?

Cheers . :3starSK:

[Ssnake]

Well - it's either woodland or desert. And there's no difference for the Australian camouflage patterns. So I figured that a desert would fit their operational environment better, and stuck with it.

[TankHunter]

I may need some getting used to with the roll there. LOL

[12Alfa]

We now have rock (s) and roll, Whooo-Haaa

[TopKick]

Cant shouldn't be a problem for experienced gunners.